Battleground is an upscale Mexican restaurant that absolutely nails authentic flavor. The food, drinks, and atmosphere all come together perfectly. The cocktails are creative, balanced, and reasonably priced -- I had the hibiscus mezcal margarita, which had an incredible depth of flavor. For my main, I ordered the Cena de Tacos, which comes with your choice of two out of five sides. I went with a creamy corn bowl and a side of Mexican rice -- both rich, flavorful, and comforting. My wife ordered the shrimp bowl with rice, which was just as delicious. What really stands out here is the authenticity -- every bite tastes like it was crafted with care and respect for traditional Mexican cooking. The interior is classy and modern, yet relaxed enough to feel comfortable. I also love the thoughtful touch of their craft beers being named after social justice initiatives. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable. Despite the restaurant being nearly full -- she was quick to serve. If you're looking for genuine Mexican flavors served in an elegant but welcoming setting, Battleground is a must-visit. read more

I'll premise this by saying I had very high hopes for this experience because we recently relocated from Texas, and after reading the reviews, I thought we may have a restaurant that contended with the authentic Mexican and TexMex we got down there. But alas, I don't think we will return to The Battleground. The service was awkward. The hosts and our waiter were, for a lack of better words, socially awkward young men dressed like they just left school and may have tossed their backpacks behind the hostess stand. It was a weird contrast for the slightly upscale prices and interior they present. The waiter seemed nervous, which, in itself isn't a bad thing, but they awkwardly lingered when it wasn't necessary and was hard to get their attention when we needed our check and to pay the bill. The food and drinks were a mixed review. The Battleground margaritas were delicious. The chips and salsa were not great, we mostly got a basket of tortilla shards. My partner got three tacos--carne azada, al pastor, and fish. His big takeaway was, "they're not very hot (temperature) and they're kind of bland." Similarly, we got the margs "spicy," but my Texas palate said, "this is spicy?" It had a tajin rim, from what I can figure. ...Maybe we're not the normal Ohioan clientele. A bright note, the refried black beans and esquites were awesome and the esquites big enough to share. I ordered the Pescado Veracruz, the plating and sides were good but the mahi mahi was chewy and only slightly above room temperature. Like I said earlier, maybe I did myself a disservice by hoping to find my new favorite Mexican restaurant... but, I just don't see us going back for great margaritas and sides. read more

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Great vibes, patio, and food! Everything was cooked well. The cod tacos were thick on the batter but the batter is definitely from scratch, has its own consistency and I didn't mind it was so thick. Shrimp cocktail was delicious read more

The Battleground - Shrimp cocktail - Mexican Near Me - Kent, Ohio

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Never ever again. For complete disclosure, we did not stay long enough to order entrees. We intended to stay but the drinks and appetizers convinced us it could only get worse. Our waitress did her best to make it better but the kitchen was definitely the problem. Salsas were off tasting and watery. Fundito cheese dip was a nasty mess. A table near us were complaining about the meal and left very angry. Table next to us had to send apps back to the kitchen. Decided to cut our losses and eat somewhere else. Was told this place is closing and reopening as an Italian place under the same owner. No thank you!!!! read more

great food, drinks and service! Enjoyed saxophonist and guitarist while dining on the patio! read more

Really cool spot nestled into the neighborhood. Service was prompt. Even though they were really busy we got drinks right away and they were tasty (maybe a bit strong?) The guac was ok as a starter. Easily our least favorite part of the meal. You could tell it wasn't made as orders came in. The texture was really smooth like it went through a blender. The entrees were all really good, Cuna salad, steak and pork tacos, and the shrimp bowl. Everything was very good and came out quick. We are definitely going again. Will probably try to come back when the patio is open. It looks like a lot of fun. Would recommend for families or a casual date night. Lively dining room made for a fun atmosphere. read more

I've sat outside multiple times now. The back patio is the perfect place to relax. The food was great. The brunch and dinner menus are both great. The queso is not for everyone but the tacos are great. Service was good. MUST GET CHURROS read more

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Excellent food and service, we will be back! We tried 5 different tacos, all great. The corn and black bean sides were very tasty too. read more

I think they are closed?? We drove 40 minutes on a Friday for dinner and no one was here. No sign explaining why the inside was under construction and clearly not open for business. I called their phone and got a voice mail stating they're open. Who knows what's going on. I suggest calling before coming here. read more

Yummy and unexpectedly different Mexican food in a bespoke and politically-aware brewhouse on an otherwise residential street. Bartender was observed to be exceptionally professional with regulars who had overindulged. Not your average taco burrito joint (prices reflect this). read more

Everything is so delicious. I've been here twice. The margaritas are insane. I love the hibiscus one. The Baja fish tacos are def my favorite. Salsa is also super tasty. Staff is always very welcoming. Would definitely make a romantic date night or a chill place to sit at the bar and have some quality beer. It's such a burst of fresh air to have a gorgeous place like this near in Kent! read more

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Fantastic again! We stopped in for brunch this time and loved every minute. I had chilaquiles on a trip to Mexico several years ago and have been looking for someplace in the states that can compare. Everywhere else they are soggy or the flavors aren't there. The battleground nailed it. The flavor combo was perfect on top of fresh made tortilla chips. The beautiful patio outback was the best place to enjoy the great weather and relax with a drink (carajillo - mmm) and great food. Our waiter was friendly and quick. All of the staff was extremely nice and made sure we had everything we needed. Can't wait to bring friends back for brunch and to stop one evening for a drink on their patio. read more

The Battleground - The patio - Mexican Near Me - Kent, Ohio

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I have visited this establishment several times, and it has been wonderful each time. Our waiter, Michael, was very kind and helpful. The hibiscus mezcal margarita is delectable, and the chile sopresa will make you plan your next visit before you've even left the restaurant! read more

The Battleground - Hibiscus mezcal margarita - Mexican Near Me - Kent, Ohio

Wonderful little gem with excellent foods and MicroBrews on tap. Everything we had was delicious.

Our Sunday brunch was absolutely perfect. The food and mimosas were super tasty. Wonderful customer service. Owner came over to speak to me about something I was in the area for and had great recommendations. Will stop back in anytime I am in the area. read more

3.5 stars. First time here. Arrived right at 4pm, opening. The space is a little more modern and "upscale" than we were expecting to find off the beaten path of Kent. Service was prompt and overall great. The menu was a little lackluster for us. Everything is ala carte and the entree list was very limited. As a self proclaimed Mexican food foodie, I am l firm believer that no matter what; chips & salsa should be free...so that was a turnoff at first, especially when they are your generic salsa verdes and tortillas. We waited an hour for our entrees... Again, we arrived at opening. One of two tables. During our wait, we watched as my entree sat on the bar for 10 minutes, surrounded by servers and customers before making its way to our table. Had it not been in a piping hot lava bowl I'm not sure I would've eaten it. I proceeded to wait another 5-7 minutes before my husbands entree arrived. The food was good.. Nothing remarkable, but good. Portion sizes were on the smaller side all the way around; food and drinks. $77 for two, I would say it was a little overpriced for quality. read more

The Battleground - Mexican Near Me - Kent, Ohio

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We've always enjoyed battleground in the past. Never really felt it was a very good value. But now, the quality has gone downhill substantially. My wife had shrimp tacos and the tails were left on. I had an Asada taco and it seemed that the beef was cooked days ago and just barely warmed up. Saturday evening and there were maybe a dozen people outside on the patio, but only one other couple inside. Weird vibe. Seems like other people are finding that this place has gone downhill also. read more

Decent restaurant in Kent. Food was good. Overall good experience. Might be back. This is a restaurant in a housing area perhaps misplaced but just be aware of it. read more

Good authentic Mexican. Owner is friendly and likes to hear about your eating experience

After hearing many recommendations from our friends, we finally were able to try it for ourselves! Our experience was a little mixed. First of all, the hostess sat us at a table just a few inches from another table, even though there were plenty of open tables. It was hard to enjoy our conversation because we could hear the people right next to us (and therefore, they could hear us too). I understand if they seat guests closer so that they can share a waiter. But it's not that big of a space to begin with, and there were other employees just standing by the bar the whole time we were there, so they weren't short staffed. The big redeeming factor was the food, everything tasted great. We ordered guacamole to start, then tacos and carnitas for our entrees. Overall, the food was delicious but the ambiance was sub-par in my opinion. read more

The Battleground - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Kent, Ohio

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Great modern Mexican restaurant. Not the typical boring fair most places sell. Staff is very friendly and the kitchen puts out quality food quickly. They have built two out door areas and tried to separate them from the parking lot. The larger outdoor area has professional design and installation look about it. Recommended read more

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Learn how to make salsa and queso. Their salsa was the worse I have ever tasted at a Mexican restaurant. They served their queso burned and it could not be eaten. The tacos were good and the waitress was nice. read more

Super well seasoned, lots of good GF options-- definitely worth the try! A little more expensive than expected, but worth the quality of food. Super clean, super modern atmosphere that was a good mix of casual and bougie. read more

Very relaxed with great food. We had the chips and Roja salsa. Just the right amount of spice. The esquites was outstanding. The fish taco and asada taco were very tasty and perfect portion size. Crema poblano was unique and satisfying. Lastly my son got the chilaquiles with chicken and enjoyed very much. Service was quick and courteous. Very nice seating with subtle background music. read more

My friends and I came here on a double date a few weeks ago on a Saturday evening. We made a reservation, which I suppose we would have needed if we would have eaten outdoors, but we sat inside and only about three tables indoors were occupied. The restaurant doesn't have much parking, so plan to find street parking nearby. The patios have great ambiance if the weather is nice. The server was super attentive and friendly. Lots of yummy options were on the menu including daily specials - unfortunately they were already out of the specials we wanted by our reservation at 7pm. We wound up ordering a large selection of tacos - all reasonably priced and good sized. 2-3 are plenty for one person. We didn't try the entrees although they look quite good. The entree price point is much higher than the tacos, however. My friend ordered the margarita and she was happy with it. I had a speciality soda and my husband and our friend ordered Mexican beer. The restaurant has a nice selection of speciality cocktails and beers to choose from. The owner came over and checked in on us which we appreciated. Our server was not quite as attentive but to be fair, she had her hands full with tables outside. I would come back again to try other tacos - I particularly enjoyed the fish taco. Great flavor. read more

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M- ok authentic as to contextual however portions are quite small quite expensive à la cart offerings. I believe that pensant food should stay away from fine dinning concept. Really Tex-Mex is a better way to go and you leave with some change in your pocket. Id rather not do battle at the dinner table just give me my chips and salsa for free. read more

The food was delicious and service was great!The back patio was amazing and can't wait to go back!

Love this place! Beautiful outdoor dining space, great service. Don't expect Tex Mex here, the food is very authentic eclectic Mexican food with the freshest unique ingredients! Margaritas are on spot, several to choose from and no icy machine here. All made from scratch.. A wonderful and delicious experience you must try read more

Overall I was very pleased with the quality of the food and and our waitress was fantastic. You can see management walking around checking on guests and service. The food was hot, fresh, and more Mexican than Mexican-American. Our waitress Erika was funny and sassy and added to the experience. There's 2 outdoor patio areas, that is where most guests are seated. They lost one star because the hostess was a bit rude. Only 1/3 of the tables were filled and they wouldn't seat us outside. We waited 30 minutes inside, and when we went outside most of the tables remained unfilled. I think they're working out how to balance reservations with walk in guests. But she could have been more accommodating and polite. We didn't mind waiting. But she didn't need to be it's be snippy about it. read more

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Patio!!!!! One of the best. Near complete shade after 6pm. Amazing Margs Homemade tortillas Loved all the tacos we've tried. Most of the entrees are amazing too. Had a mahi catch of the day that the fish wasn't great Pollito or Carne asada entree was great. We loved salsas, guac, queso fundido Dessert we had brownie tamale which was a neat treat for my son. Churros and pineapple upside down cake. We brought out of town family who loved it too. What a nice dinner with great service read more

Great cocktails and a nice outdoor patio! The patio was perfectly shaded when we arrived at 6pm! Unfortunately we had to swat away bees some of the time- those pesky uninvited dinner guests They take reservations which was so nice for a group of 6! Menu has something for everyone and I loved the esquites. Recommend 2 tacos with a side. Churros are great to share with the table. read more

The Battleground - End of summer cocktail - Mexican Near Me - Kent, Ohio

Loved the food we ordered, but the general manager who served us was a gem! We love sitting on the back patio listening to music.

This place is amazing! It's great food, beautiful seating, including outdoor seating, amazing drinks.

This was the second time my husband and I had visited (Saturday afternoon June 21, 2025) this restaurant and were very much looking forward to wonderful food and experience like we had the first time. However, this will definitely be our last trip there. The appetizer we got was ice cold and the waiter explained that "yes, it should be thick like that". We should have walked away at that point but having had the first visit experience of really good food, we took the chance and ordered our meals. The food arrived (once again) ICE COLD and the waiter apologized and offered us a free dessert. 90% of our food was left and they offered free dessert! Paid our bill ($50) in full and left - could have complained to management but both my husband and I felt that management was not on premises and it was not worth the confrontation . They lost our business because we will NEVER return and will NEVER recommend the place to anyone. read more

The food was wonderful. I loved the presentation of the food and the uniqueness of the dishes used to serve. The lady and I visited here on a Friday with a 4:45pm reservation. We sat outside which boasted a lovely outdoor patio with lights strung above. Our appetizer was a standard chips and salsa as well as their soup POZOLE (first picture). It was wonderful. I was a bit disappointed with the price compared to the portion size. The $14 soup should have been priced a $9. For our main course, we ordered their special (not mentioned on the online menu) of shredded pork (see second picture). Our second disappointment came with the serving size. This $25 entree was tiny. I would have like to see $14 based on the portion size. Maybe $19 on the very high end. $25 dollar entrees with tiny portions is something I'd expect to see at Flemings or Morton's. While the food and ambiance was great, it's not worth of flemings prices. We also ordered an assortment of tacos. The tacos are delicious. Keep in mind that these are street taco size so order a few. We found that 4 was enough for one person. Our server was absolutely wonderful. Smiles and quick service. I appreciate the owner visiting us at the end of the meal to insure a quality experience. With a unique location placement nestled where you wouldn't expect, Battleground is a perfectly good Mexican restaurant with overreaching prices of competitors on the next tier. Food authenticity will be on the next level most Ohioans are not used to but still won't compete with restaurants found near the southern Mexican border. A wonderful experience with delightful service, this is a perfect place for a light authentic meal. read more

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Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday. It looks like they have a good amout of outdoor seating but it was a windy day so we ate inside. Not too crowded or noisy when we were there. A nice, clean dining room and friendly service. We ordered some guac which was very good. I tried the Asada and the Al Pastor tacos- very flavorful! A bit more pricey than some places, but good for an occasional splurge meal. read more

Ordered Carne Asada and Shrimp Tacos. Shrimp was room temperature; Steak was tough and over cooked. Employees hung around the bar with one male playing hand drums on the bar several times. Will not return. read more

Very poor service from a young and confused waiter. One of the specials for the evening was a cauliflower taco. The cauliflower was deep fried to into little cauliflower crisps. So disappointed. The rest of the food was very ordinary. read more

Not authentic Mexican food. The food is over priced and the portions are small. Go to La Mexicana Cantina and Grill in Tallmadge, much better. read more

Best Mexican restaurant in Ohio. Authentic, high quality food and attentive service in an historic Kent neighborhood. Great selection of tequilas and mezcals. read more

The Battleground - Incredible carne asada. - Mexican Near Me - Kent, Ohio