So there I was, in Kent, Ohio, looking for a casual lunch spot—and somehow ended up dining inside a full-blown sci-fi-tiki-medieval spaceship-themed fever dream. Welcome to Mike’s Place, where the food is legendary, the decor is unhinged (in the best way), and your sandwich might come with a side of action figures.

Not Just Lunch. An Adventure.

From the moment you pull into the parking lot and see the life-sized X-wing fighter, you know you’re not just grabbing a sandwich—you’re entering another dimension. Inside? Themed rooms, pop culture overload, medieval décor, and what I can only describe as “garage sale meets Comic-Con.”

This Place is a visual delight to the eye with so much to look at with pictures and signs everywhere with clever sayings or jokes.

we were seated and our waitress Stacie was super friendly and told us as first timers what to focus on, their menu is 6 pages long and filled with imaginative culinary delights. this is a unique restaurant where although kitschy they take their food seriously! from Homemade salad dressings all the way to house made Cinnamon rolls.

I told Stacie i was a chef and loved to try unfamiliar places, she said her son was a Chef as well. and she was excited to tell us about the menu, she brought us out a couple side salads on the house so we could try the salad dressings, a great blue cheese dressing, a good Garlic ranch and our favorite the white French.

Stacie said that their most popular sandwich is their Ruebens and on the list was the mad Hungarian, it had all the things i love about a great sandwich lots of meat, good cheese on Quality bread. so, I had to try it.

Enter: The Mad Hungarian (Now with Extra Slaw)

Let us get to the main event: The Mad Hungarian sandwich. This beast is a triple-stack of roast beef, corned beef, and turkey, topped with Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing, all grilled to perfection on rye bread.

But here is the key move: add coleslaw. And I did.

That cool, crunchy tang of the slaw cuts through the richness like a flavored ninja. Honestly? Best decision of the day. It is no longer just a sandwich—it’s a journey.

The Experience: Where Food Meets Fandom

The tables might be made of old car doors. The ceilings are decorated with tiki torches, toy airplanes, and disco balls. The menu reads like a stand-up comedy act. But the food? Absolutely serious.

Whether you are sitting in a castle booth or next to a mannequin wearing a sombrero, the vibe is all heart and humor. You do not just eat at Mike’s—you experience it.

Want to Visit? Here’s Everything You Need

Website: www.mikesplacerestaurant.com Address: 1700 S Water St, Kent, OH 44240 Phone: (330) 673-6501 Hours: Mon–Sat: 7 AM – 10 PM Sun: 8 AM – 10 PM

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Final Thoughts

It is weird. It is wonderful. It is everything you never knew you wanted in a lunch spot.

If you are within driving distance of Kent and not at Mike’s right now, you’re doing lunch wrong. Get the Mad Hungarian. Add the coleslaw. Soak in the delightful madness. Then walk it off by trying to count how many action figures are glued to the ceiling.

Mike’s Place: Come for lunch. Stay for the spaceship. Return for the slaw.