We enjoyed another fantastic meal here where we have celebrated our great aunt's 93rd bday and my wife's xyz birthday! Haha The meal was outstanding - with us sharing a ribeye with my son, as well as my wife and her cousins getting Prime Rib. My daughter enjoyed sliders with tater tots! We had homemade ice cream from the creamery The Service was outstanding the meal was a great value! The place is so iconic and amazing - we only the character and ambiance too! read more

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I actually heard about this place scrolling on tik tok looking for things to do in Branson and I'm so glad I found it! The staff are students working to pay for their college tuition so the service was great! The food was good (most ingredients on site also made by students) portions were huge, the price was decent, place was clean and much better then any touristy type restaurant near or on the strip, so much so we came here for dinner 2 nights in a row. The students are so interactive if you ask them questions and they also have the place they are from on their name tags which can be conversation starters. It does take them a little time to get through service so make sure you have a little time to wait. They serve 2 types of bread with bread service and 3 different butters alongside those. The apple butter was delicious. The first night I had the meatloaf which was very good. The second night I had their special for the night which was a stuffed chicken with spinach and cheese, vinegar potatoes and some mixed veggie side that was delicious. There is also a store area where you can buy student made items to take home with you. I wish we had a program like this near us because we would support it frequently. Definitely make reservations and give this place a try. read more

The Keeter Center - Cobb salad and the special for the evening - Hotels Near Me - Point Lookout, Missouri

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This is such a neat place. It offers fresh farm to table type meals, many ingredients are sourced right from the college programs. The staff are students working to pay for their tuition. It is a large elegant building with plenty of room for groups, but at times there is a wait. We had the chicken fried chicken and the meatloaf entrees. Both were served with green beans and mashed potatoes. They offer complimentary bread with three types of butter. We really enjoyed the apple butter! And dessert is not to be missed. We had the apple pie, and it was delicious, and more than enough for the two of us. You can peruse the shop before or after your meal to see some of the student made products. read more

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No visit to the college of the Ozarks is complete without visiting the Keeter Center. The food is absolutely amazing. The students working there and waiting the tables are eager to share their stories with you. All the food is farm to table with dairy cows being raised on site. Save room for dessert because it is out of this world. The prices are a little on the higher side, but the experience makes it all worthwhile. Also remember, all money made helps offset the tuition cost for these students as they do not pay tuition rather they work in order to get their education. The views from the dining room are amazing. Be sure to notice the details, including the beautiful ceiling. Our experience was perfect and we have recommended this to strangers and friends alike. read more

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A beautiful facility and great Lodge, the students that run the restaurant provide top-notch service. We found the food to be too busy. I had the duck and it had very sharp flavors that in my opinion did not go together. I had the fried green tomatoes. The thick cornbread coating was very dense. It was drowning in sweet jam and sauce. The tomatoes themselves inside of their concrete like casing were crunchy and tangy. From now on, I will stick with the basic dishes and look out for any weird fruits, nuts or sauces added read more

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The food was excellent. A bit different having tomato in a Cesar Salad but fresh and flavorful. My turkey and pork club was a great choice with a great flavor combination. Our waitperson was not aware our table had been assigned to them and seemed a bit flustered. Our drink orders were taken followed by our meal order. They didn't seem to recover entirely from the rough start. The dinning room seemed to have a few too many tables. Neither we nor the waitstaff were able to access all areas of our table. read more

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Now that's some exceptional service! Haley did a superb job ensuring we enjoyed a wonderful dining experience. Beautiful restaurant, with a talented piano player. The fried green tomatoes appetizer was delicious. The prime rib with loaded baked potato and asparagus couldn't have been better. She brought us a surprise desert to celebrate our 5th anniversary, even though we also ordered the 250th Anniversary apple pie with homemade ice cream. Everything but the prime rib was grown or made right there at the College of the Ozarks. read more

Beautiful view. Upscale rustic decor for the interior. Students staff the place. Service was slow but very pleasant server and helpful with menu questions. Too hungry initially and forgot photos of salad and entree. The peach and burrata salad was a nice mix of greens paired with salty bacon and sweetness of peaches which made for a delightful dish. Shrimp and grits was well executed, nice portion of both shrimp and bacon. Excellent seasoning, warm and filling. Tried the hummingbird cake which was also well done. Entire meal was gluten free!! read more

The Keeter Center - Hummingbird cake - Hotels Near Me - Point Lookout, Missouri

Located on the College of the Ozarks campus is this culinary secret. The Keeter Center is a student run restaurant that prides itself in superior service and home cooking. We came for lunch on a snowy day and were blown away. Our server Harley was exceptional. Friendly, informative and oh so professional! We had the most delightful experience. The food was delicious and the service first class! The dinning room gave off a rustic Ozarks feel. Everything is homemade right down to the jellies and ice cream! If you plan to visit MAKE RESERVATIONS! The secret is out and this place gets busy read more

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So keep in mind these are students earning their tuition or working since there was no tuition. The service was okay with minor goofs of starting position to remember who had what but not a big deal. Drinks were refilled timely and check back after 2 minutes was right on the money. Served from the left and cleared from the right was followed and done seamlessly. The food was good but not wow! The bread they deliver pre-meal is really good. A variety of raisin biscuits and dinner rolls are really fantastic along with the butter, strawberry butter and apple butter choices. Stroganoff was also not served warm and flavors were good but not great. Corn fritters, uhh not very good at all. Consistency was great but again not a wow factor. The ambiance is just gorgeous and you have to come and see the place. A beautiful dining room with a huge fireplace and floor to ceiling wi does overlooking a spectacular landscape. I can imagine after a big snow storm that view would be amazing. Overall you do have to come and experience this place, the people and the food. We all really enjoyed our time and we will come again. Maybe just for dessert because they looked delicious. read more

The Keeter Center - The entrance to Keeter Center - Hotels Near Me - Point Lookout, Missouri

If you are looking for a special evening out you won't be disappointed with the College of Ozarks dining room at the Keeter Center. First of all, the space is a lodge and beautifully massive. It's like taking a trip back in time. Home cooked food. No alcohol. Students run everything. We only noticed one gentleman who appeared to be the supervisor. Our server was a hospitality major from Illinois. She was very friendly and attentive. Several gluten free options. My husband had the meat loaf and I had chicken fried steak. Both were delicious. Soup was tomato bisque and appetizer was smoked salmon crostini. The bread and butter options are worth the trip. Hummingbird cake was perfect ending. We left with plenty of leftovers! Parking lot in front of the Keeter Center is huge. The lobby is worth extra time. read more

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Best place to eat in Branson! If you go to eat anywhere make sure it is here! The service was outstanding! Our waitress was so kind and very attentive. The food was perfectly cooked and had so tons of flavor. We had the steak and prime rib. The restaurant is so clean and very beautiful. Great view of the college. Overall 10 out of 10! read more

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Visiting from Florida, we were told about this Farm to Table restaurant. It's a beautiful rustic lodge setting with an elegant flare. Students working their way toward graduation are eager to serve with professionalism and charm. (Congratulation to our server Thomas who graduates in a couple of days). The food was uniquely created and stylishly severed. We even enjoyed the flavorful and creamy ice cream in the lobby. read more

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This was a highlight of our trip to Missouri. The College of the Ozarks campus is absolutely beautiful with so much stonework, colorful flowers, and water features. Of special note is the monument commemorating 9/11. We enjoyed visiting the stained glass shop and the basket weavers. There are many shops where you can buy products, many of which are handmade by the students, and no visit is complete without a meal in the dining room. The students work in the restaurant, and our server, Easton, was very friendly and we really enjoyed talking with him. This was also some of the best food we had on our trip. The meatloaf I enjoyed was bacon wrapped and topped with pepper jelly ketchup. It was chef's kiss delicious! My husband enjoyed the day's special of schnitzel with potato cakes and said it was wonderful. We also enjoyed a visit to the creamery before we left and shared a double scoop of raspberry mascarpone ice cream that was cool, creamy, and so yummy! If you have the opportunity don't miss out on a visit to the Keeter Center. You will be so glad you stopped by! read more

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We have never been disappointed with anything at the Keeter Center. We've stayed here in the past and absolutely fell in love with the turn-down service of warm cookies and cold milk. They also used to host a Sunday brunch that nothing else in Branson could even come close to rivaling, in my opinion. On this most recent trip, we had a waitress who rivals any server we've ever had. Rainbow was amazing! She interacted with us like she was our best friend and was completely on top of our service the entire time. Our food and desserts were perfect as always. read more

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We were at the Keeter Center today for our usual visit when in Branson. Every visit up to today has always been exceptional...wonderful food and the service outstanding. But today was diffetent....food we could tell was not up to par-seemed to have been warmed up and not fresh. Even the apple pie had an oatmeal topping that was soggy! The wait staff seemed rushed and seemed spread too thin. We waited long periods of time between courses as we watched our server rushed between guests and from one side of the dining room to the other. We hope this was just a one-off! read more

Our server was fantastic, he was kinda shy but he really worked to be social and friendly with all his tables. I really enjoyed him and our experience. He did a great job answering our questions and if he didn't know he found out. The food was really great! The portions were big two of us shared the chicken salad sandwich and pasta salad. It was plenty of food! That way we had room for some of the amazing ice cream! Do not skip the ice cream! The ice cream was really good. Best birthday cake ice cream I have ever had. I really enjoyed the dark chocolate too. Do not skip the keeper center or school! Such a great experience. read more

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Wonderful gem in Branson that run by the Ozark college and seems to be fully operated by students from the baking and cooking to the management and serving. The dining hall is beautifully adorned with cabin-esque motif and overlooks the campus and mountains. The menu has a great variety and notes items that are made by the students (e.g. butters and cakes). Their complimentary, fresh made bread basket with three types of butters was a fantastic start to the meal. We ordered the mushroom soup, the pork belly sandwich w/ fries, and the shrimp and grits. I will say that the pork belly po' boy was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had in my life! I almost stayed in town longer on the second day just to order it again. The pork belly was smoky, tender, and sweet and paired so well with the grain mustard, pickled onions and arugula -- superb balance of flavors. My husband also noted the shrimp and grits was some of the best he's ever had. The shrimp and pork belly in the dish were perfectly cooked and the Cajun spices were well balanced. And we have to tell you to try their fresh desserts. The brown butter chocolate cake was a special ending to the meal. This is an excellent stop and our student server provided excellent service - they're doing a great job there and is a highly recommended of ours during your stop during your visit to Branson. read more

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Great customer service! The food was delicious. My grilled salmon was perfect. Served hot with grilled asparagus. Beautiful interior, great view of the school/farm. The meatloaf was lean and moist. Perfect. Note: we had mochas after dinner. Made with fresh cows milk. Can't get that at Starbucks read more

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This place is a gem, The Keeter Center has an awesome restaurant, they make everything in-house. Service was incredible, place is incredible clean/comfortable. Food was beautifully presented, you can taste fresh ingredients. All the food we ordered was seasoned to perfection, mashed potatoes were creamy and melted in your mouth. They also make delicious Ice cream read more

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When traveling we always try to find something out of the ordinary. Dinner at the Keeter Centet fit that bill. It was EXTRAORDINARY! College of the Ozarks offers great programs to help their students pay their tuition. They can work in the restaurant, the hotel, etc. They have serve beautiful meals made from their farm to table. Homemade butters, jams, salad dressings were awesome. Our server, Charleigh, was welcoming and attentive. We loved hearing her story. In building is beautifully done with copper ceiling tiles, artistic furniture and stone work. The rustic design is not my mode, but it is gorgeously done! Our meals were amazing! read more

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This college dining is a unique experience. Students who earn tuition by working around campus is a cool idea. The food grown and prepared by students was creative and mostly delicious. The house salad is a marvel! The espresso cream ice cream was memorable. The entrees were solid. We had Gemelli pasta, chicken fried chicken, and shrimp and grits. All were good. Yeast rolls and butters were also fantastic. My only complaints were tables are close together and we had to listen to our neighbors talk loudly, the server was nice but not super attentive, and the bakery closed before the dining room so I was unable to take home the pastries I had eyed on the way in. read more

Coming here was an experience in itself. Knowing that students are the workers and preparing the food blew my mind. I was also blown away by their hospitality, professionalism, and high quality food. Stand out dishes were the meatloaf, carrot cake and sunrise drink. I would return just for those three items. Honestly, the menu is huge. I'd love to come back for brunch too. I believe brunch is only offered on Sundays. Oh, and the bread!!! Wow. It was so yummy. The rolls were baked to perfection, paired with three different homemade butters. Sooo good. I got the seafood pasta which had a very strong seafood taste. I don't think I'd order it again. It wasn't my jimmy jam. The restaurant is clean, organized and the views are awesome! We enjoyed walking around the hotel after and buying a few items from the gift shop. I highly recommend coming here! read more

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Always a great meal at the Keeter Center. Everything tastes fresh and you can tell it's homemade. The serving staff is always great and the desserts are always fantastic!. read more

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I love everything about this restaurant. The menu has a good variety and the food is really good. The atmosphere is awesome. The students, who work there, are very polite and helpful. read more

This is ALWAYS a treat coming here! To grab cookies, ice cream and especially for meals. The students are always fantastic as they are the ones who serve and run the center. The center is absolutely breathtaking! The place always looks amazing. Service tonight was perfect! Addison was attentive and made sure we were well taken care of. The Pork Chop was great taste but a bit dry. The Beef Stroganoff was amazing to the eye but was not piping hot nor over the top tasty. Their bread and fresh butter ahead of the meal was perfect (so good). Also perfect, was their homemade Carrot Cake! read more

The Keeter Center - Carrot Cake - Hotels Near Me - Point Lookout, Missouri

My second time at the keeter. Let me preface this review I love what the college stands for and its students. I've been to keeter two years ago and again this October. The food changes in quality were significant and it wasn't the best. My family and had a variety of entrees as well as appetizers. I was not impressed. The service is phenomenal and everyone is extremely friendly. It's white cloth dining is a good break in Branson. The restaurant has a log cabin feel and a lot offer. They sell homemade jams, has ice cream shop, and other handmade products. read more

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First time here and I loved it! The shrimp and grits were so rich and decadent. The pork belly sent it over the top. Husband got the chicken sandwich with pepper jelly. It looked really delicious but I don't think it was quite his vibe. Too saucy m/messy for him. Love the complimentary rolls and biscuits they serve. The butters were yummy too. Highley recommend! read more

The Keeter Center - Shrimp and grits - Hotels Near Me - Point Lookout, Missouri

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What a dining delight! The entire staff and there were a lot, were all so friendly and kind! And just look at this place! Beautiful ice sculpture and dessert tray! Not to mention a wall of windows to look out at the beautiful campus! Then you get your meal and I have never had chicken cooked as perfectly!! It is a MUST eat kind of place!! read more

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TLDR: The Keeter Center is a must-visit in Branson: phenomenal student service, lively (loud) rustic-elegant atmosphere, and those fried green tomatoes are legitimately life-changing. Burger and club sandwich were solid but not mind-blowing. Make a reservation and come hungry; 4.5/5, will absolutely return. My wife and I slipped down to Branson for a quick fall getaway and decided to treat ourselves to dinner at The Keeter Center, the student-run fine-dining restaurant on the College of the Ozarks campus. We'd heard great things, and it did not disappoint, mostly. First, a pro tip: Make a reservation. This place is legitimately hopping, especially on weekends. Walk-ins can face 45-60 minute waits, even in the shoulder season. AtmosphereThe dining room is one large, high-ceilinged space with warm wood tones everywhere, think elegant rustic lodge meets old-school tearoom. White cloth napkins, close-together tables, and a touch of dated charm give it character. It's cozy and "homely with class," but it is loud. Conversation from three tables away is perfectly audible. If you're looking for a quiet, intimate evening, this isn't it. If you enjoy a lively, bustling vibe, you'll feel right at home. ServiceOutstanding. Every server is a student, dressed sharply in white dinner jackets and black slacks, and they are on it, polished, attentive, and genuinely warm without being overbearing. Easily some of the best service we've had all year. The Food Fried Green Tomatoes - Hands-down the star of the entire meal. Perfectly golden crust, still-firm tomatoes, artful balsamic drizzle, a dollop of pepper jelly, and fresh greens on top. Every bite was an explosion of tangy, sweet, creamy, crunchy perfection. I'm still thinking about them weeks later. Order these. Trust me. House-made breads with trio of butters - Warm rolls and cornbread muffins served with plain, strawberry, and fresh apple butter. The strawberry butter was dangerously good; we may have asked for seconds (or thirds). Burger - Solid, not spectacular. Cooked exactly to order, fresh toppings, nice brioche-style bun. A perfectly respectable burger, but nothing that's going to redefine the genre. Club Sandwich - This was the one mild letdown. All the meats (turkey, ham, bacon) were piled in the center, so the outer edges were essentially bread and lettuce bites. Flavor was fine, bacon crisp, but the construction needed work. Fries on both plates arrived piping hot and well-seasoned, zero complaints there. OverallThe Keeter Center is a delightful experience wrapped around exceptional service, a charming (if noisy) setting, and a few absolute home-run dishes. We went light this trip, but the larger entrées coming out of the kitchen looked fantastic, next time I'm saving room for the chicken or the pork chop. And obviously another order of those fried green tomatoes. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Branson who wants a nicer-than-average meal with real personality. Just book ahead, lean into the energy of the room, and start with the tomatoes. You can thank me later. read more

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We made reservations the day before and didn't even have time to look around the wonderful building before we were seated. I was impressed by the professionalism of all the young staff. Two of us had meatloaf and I had the salmon. Everything was perfect and reasonably priced for the ambience and service. read more

This place is a must. Best dinner we had by far while visiting Branson. Also the college as a whole is amazing

This place is awesome! Very nice chairs and tables. Menus are well organized and an experience themselves. Billy was our waiter and he did a great job handling our large party of 10. We will definitely be going back when we are in the area. read more

Overall 3.5 stars The Keeter Center "restaurant" is part of the College of the Ozarks University where students learn the culinary and hospitality industries. The campus is wonderfully laid out but the highlight of the campus is the Keeter Center where the restaurant is located within. It is a magnificent large log cabin building with beautiful log cabin architecture and the inside is quite spacious. Ambiance: 4 stars As you walk into the main entrance, you are greeted with long and beautiful lobby with a gift shop on one side and multiple leathered couches and chairs on the other side. The interior of the log building makes you feel cozy and warm as you wait for your table. The host / hostesses will greet you with a beautiful smile and youthful energy. He or she will guide your party to your assigned table where your server will greets you warmly. Server: 4 Stars Our server was friendly, professional and enthusiastic. Due to dinner rush there were alot of diners and the noise can be quite loud. We had to ask him to repeat a couple of times so we can hear him. He answered all of our questions. Food: 3 Stars We preview the menu before we made reservations and after reading other reviews, we had higher expectations. Well, we were disappointed with food. Which is a a bummer. We ordered the following: 1. House Harvest Salad - 3.75 Stars $7 or $12. It is a blend of Baby Lettuces, Blueberries, Toasted Sunflower Seeds, Tomatoes, and Crumbled Hemme Brothers White Cheddar. The salad was light and fresh however I had to pick out a few of baby lettuces that still had the bottom stalk on it. Also, blue cheese dressing wasn't an option. 2. Appetizer: 4 Stars Charcuterie Board $22 Campus Salami, Hemme Brothers Aged White Cheddar Cheese, Red Grapes, Warmed Brie with Red, White, and Blueberry Fruit Spread, Crisp Sliced Apples, Cucumbers, and Pickled Red Onions. The portion was large and could easily be shared up to 4 people unless you are really hungry. We asked for a takeout container due to the size. Entrees 3. Meatloaf Mignon $24 - 3 Stars Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf blended with Ground Chuck, Campus Pork, Mushrooms, and Student-Made Pepper Jelly Ketchup. Served with Garlic Whipped Potatoes and Sautéed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions. The meatloaf was dry, which was disappointing. The green beans and mash potatoes were seasoned well and flavorful. The smoky bacon which wrapped the meatloaf was tendered with a hint of crunch to it but it didn't help the overcooked meatloaf. 4. Seafood Pappardelle $28- 2.75 Stars Sautéed Shrimp, Smoked Salmon, Prosciutto, Spinach, Green Peas, Pappardelle Pasta tossed with a Rich, Lobster Cream Sauce. I was looking g forward to this dish and it let me down big time. The shrimp wasn't sautéed but were cold, no seasoning or flavor and felt like it was added at the last moment. You can barely taste the prosciutto and the smoked salmon because it was shredded very fine and tossed in the lobster cream sauce. Also, the cream sauce was neutral at best. It lacked seasoning of salt, pepper, butter, garlic, and white wine. I understand there are many variations of a lobster cream sauce but the flavor was too bland for my taste. Now, with that said, the fresh mixture of peas, spinach, green and red peppers were delightful and delicious. The extra wide and freshly made noodles were al dente were done perfectly. We didn't ordered desserts because they have Zero sugar free options which is a bummer. They had gluten free options but lacking the sugar free options. I hope they will add it as an option for their guests. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE sugar but it would be nice to have another option and it will be a great learning experience for the culinary students. When we come back to Branson, we will give the Keeter Center another try. Hopefully, when they have a Prime Rib night. read more

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Dobyn's Dining Room at the Keeter Center is definitely worth the visit. This is a beautiful, rustic dining hall. Think huge exposed logs and wooden furniture. The service was great from start to finish. Our server, Kevina, was attentive without hovering over us. We started with fried green tomatoes. These were next-level. My wife loves fried green tomatoes and I'm usually ambivalent about them. These were the best fried green tomatoes I've ever eaten. I would definitely order them again. We both ordered the shrimp and grits. We've tried this dish at several different places in SW Missouri and in the St. Louis area. The shrimp and grits served at Dobyn's were the best by far. This is an excellent dish that I would recommend to anyone. The rolls, muffins, and different butters were all good. I really enjoyed the rolls. The strawberry gelato was great. As for the coffee-- well I'm not really a fan of coffee. I prefer tea and just tolerate coffee. However, the coffee we were served was actually good. This was easily the best coffee I have tasted at any restaurant in the area. My wife, who is somewhat of a coffee snob, said this coffee was the best. This is high praise from her. This was truly a great experience and we will be back. read more

The staff here is all students from the cooks to the servers, and they are all expected to provide top drawer service and high quality food. Everything excels here from the menu to the decor to the excellent servers. read more

Marvelous restaurant at the College of the Ozarks. The students run the restaurant and use mostly product grown or raised on campus by other student workers. The food and service were both exceptional, and the rustic decor was warm and inviting. You can tell there is real pride in what is being placed on the table here. The fried green tomatoes really reminded me of home, and both the soup and salas had some of the freshest ingredients we've had in a long time. The hummingbird cake was the prize and a great way to end. We definitely see why so many people dine here whenever they visit the area! read more

Such a cool place! First of all the location is beautiful and quite lovely. This college campus is beautifully clean and well designed. It was worth coming just to see their facilities. The food was outstanding. I have the chicken fried chicken and white gravy. It too was outstanding. My wife had the bacon wrapped meatloaf and loved it. The young adults who waited on us were just the best. We enjoyed talking with them about their life on campus and her plans for the future. Truthfully, it was slightly pricey for what you get. Still, the service from such joy-filled faces made it more than worthwhile. I was happy to pay it knowing That the money went toward schooling for these students. read more

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5 star experience all around! If you're going through this area their restaurant is more than worth a stop. The Keeter Center sits inside the gated College of the Ozarks campus. The campus is gorgeous! Our room in the lodge was amazing and spacious. The service we received from all the staff was top notch. The students are so kind and take pride in providing excellent service. They have a turndown service each night with the most delicious milk and cookies. The food we had each morning for breakfast was delicious! Check this place out if you haven't already. read more

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A friend had recommended we visit this place for dinner probably about 4 or 5 years ago and we just had never planned the time for it until today, and boy were we missing out! I can't believe as many times as we have been to Branson and never took the time to eat here. We were simple surprised by the whole meal. All of the staff from the minute we walked in until we left were so nice and welcoming. Our waitress, Sara, helped us pick out our entree's and later our delicious desserts! Many of the items are created by the students and we see on the menu, which is very cool. When you arrive, you enter through a security gate for the college and then you wind your way around to a beautiful lodge looking building. The inside is equally beautiful with all the wood furnishings, and you can't miss the dessert tree! Oh, and it was my birthday, so we got a little extra dessert that was great! read more

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