A Kent must try! We had a long wait but it was worth every second. We requested outside also so that delayed the wait time. The hostess was very nice and accommodating. The patio was so perfect overlooking the river with such great views and furnished so nicely. We ordered the charcuterie board as an appetizer and it was good with plenty variety at a decent price. My husband ordered a special of truffle spaghetti and meatballs. It was so good with a great truffle balance with the marinara sauce. I got Big Kent Sandwich because obviously you have to try the local sandwich. Everyone we were with loved their food. The portions were great for the very reasonable prices. The drinks were so great! So many to choose from can't wait to go back and try more. read more

The River Merchant - Ube Halaya - New American Near Me - Kent, Ohio

I have been here multiple times and have always enjoyed myself. Good menu, small enough they can execute it but with enough options to please most crowds. Service is always friendly and even when they are busy the staff is attentive. They have a nice outdoor seating area that is NOT, I repeat not in the parking lot. Sorry putting tables in or next to the parking lot is one of my pet peeves. Don't do it. Just don't. read more

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I want to like this restaurant and have given it three tries now. But I just find the experience too bland to return. They use good quality ingredients BUT food is consistently under seasoned during preparation. It feels like someone is on a crusade against sodium, and we are all suffering because of it. My burger was high quality meat, but tasted as if there was zero seasoning when cooked. The maple Brussels sprouts needed salt and pepper, and gave off "we use frozen veggies" vibes. Bartenders were ok, but very focused on finishing their side work and cutting out for the night vs. asking if food and drink were satisfying. This restaurant is a decent dent in the wallet for a night out, each time I've left without feeling satisfied. read more

We met some friends in Kent last Saturday and ate lunch at the River Merchant for the first time. The hostess and wait staff were all polite, friendly, and accommodating, and the food was excellent. We will stop again the next time we are in Kent. read more

Great pick. This place opened during COVID and survived through a tough time. After eating there I can see why. Steak frites was great, a little too many tomatoes for me but those frites were excellent! Roasted vegetable orzo is the most ordered meal surprisingly. It to was great. Sweet potato tots were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Overall really enjoyed my visit and hope to be back again. read more

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Have you ever seen peace sign dipping sauce?! This restaurant should definitely be on your radar if you are ever visiting the Kent state campus. Featured: 1. Homemade #foccacia with #yinyang olive oil and balsamic 2. Korean BBQ Brisket Tacos (AMAZING!) 3. Cherry cobbler (#omg) 4. #homemade dream bars 5. Fresh #crumbcake This spot was so yummy, we went back 2 nights in a row. Check out therivermerchant , and you're welcome. I will be back! read more

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My new go to place when in the area. They do an excellent job, COVID precautions, in my opinion. Food is excellent, have never had a bad experience here. Tip for the evening, make sure you make a reservation. read more

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Stopped here while on the road and it was well worth the wait! The best food service and atmosphere!! Top quality meat that was so tender...DIVINE! We can't wait to return!! read more

Impressive drink menu-- great selection and great variety for just about anyone's taste. Food was done well, very flavorful-- burgers and chicken sandwich were worth the try. Overall friendly staff with good timing despite it being very busy when we went. Comfortable atmosphere with a great view. read more

For a high end restaurant, I was very disappointed with the chicken paprikash. My dish was very very bland, lacked salt and the meat was overcooked. The noodles were not drained properly, as my plate had a pool of water. (The noodles looked home made and had a nice texture. It will taste good if it was accommodated with a good sauce or seasoned properly. )The watery noodles were topped with 2 fried breaded chicken thighs. Chicken thighs are fattier meat and yet they were overcooked and dry. The chicken is topped with some paprikash and sour cream sauce as well as fried onions. The chicken breading was nice and crispy but it had no flavor. The sauce was bland. Even the sparse fried onions did not provide any saltiness to the chicken or to the watery noodles at all. The broccoli with the dish tasted like it was boiled, again no seasoning. I requested for some extra paprikash sauce. This took a while to deliver. (And there is an upcharge for extra sauce.) I gave the feedback to the wait staff about how bland the dish was, but there was no response from him. read more

I'm gonna be kind of a whiner here with this. All though this place is usually a little in for drinks, service, food and general pleasantries, this time gel short. Ordered the Korean bbq apps which were so frogged good. Three tacos, tender meat, slaw and just perfect. I ordered the BIG kent sandwich with sweet potato tots. This sucker is supposed to have brisket, slaw and pickle jalapeños on marble rye. I'm sitting here watching plates go out with gnarly masterful food just piling on the plates, so excited thinking "if that's a normal plate, some titled BIG Kent is gonna be epic" This sandwich comes out on regular looking square bread, an inch of slaw, and no joke, MAYBE an ounce of fatty brisket. Shit was so disappointing. The flavor was OK but it was literally a slaw sandwich. Should have gotten literally anything else. River Merchant, for the loss. Tacos were on point tho. read more

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This place has it all. Great vibe, great food, friendly and attentive staff. We don't live in the area but come this way to visit friends and family. Have been here 3 times. Love the rotating menu. read more

Delicious unique menu items. The perogi, sweet potato tots, salads, are all great. Bonus if you can sit on the back deck during nice weather. read more

They set us back in the corner at around table but there was a cold draft and the ceiling fans were going. I'm sure this would be an amazing spot to sit in in the summer when they have both of the huge glass garage doors raised out onto the balcony but it was a little too cold and uncomfortable for us. However, the food was amazing! Everything was delicious and the staff were super friendly. read more

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So I've always been a fan of The River Merchant! Excellent food Amazing staff Beautiful atmosphere The place has it all. I've reviewed it before and have been back many times since, but this week?!?! GAME CHANGER! This week they added amazing laminated size business cards in the restrooms that you can hand the staff if YOU or the washroom needs assistance! Cameron and the team at The River Merchant are always one step ahead and having this little addition for all guests to feel safe is awesome!! read more

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I've been here for so many different reasons: business, family dinner, wine selection for a gift and simply the views. Everything I've gotten has been on point and they're kid friendly. If you're simply looking for a great selection of wines or craft beers, this is also your place. I like ambiance when choosing my wine... going to a grocery store just doesn't appeal to me and this is worth the extra "hassle". If you go, know that you can park next door and definitely sit overlooking the water with an Aperol spritz. The joy is in the name after all! read more

My favorite spot in Kent! Great bar & food never disappoints! Nice for celebrations or just amazing weeknight meal.

This was our first time to The River Merchant, and we were blown away! We sat at the bar while we waited for a table (30 minute wait, they take reservations but only for parties of 5+). They have a great selection of drinks, from local craft beers to upscale wines. When we were seated, we were so happy to get a table outside by the river. Such a nice view! The food menu was somewhat short, but everything on it sounded good. We ended up getting the Nashville Chicken Gyro and Chicken Paprikash (which was a special). Both were amazing, and we can't wait to try more of the menu soon. This is definitely a new favorite for us! read more

The River Merchant - Nashville Hot Chicken Gyro - New American Near Me - Kent, Ohio

Delicious food, good amount of wine to choose from. Excellent surroundings, and if it's warm eat on the deck and enjoy the river view.

Wow! This place was great! We went on a Tuesday night and the only seating available was the bar. I had the Big Kent without a bun, it was delicious! My husband had the Beef Tips and while he said it was good, he was still hungry and finished up my fries. We normally don't order dessert but the Dream Bar sounded great and it was delicious! Tons of coconut. Husband ordered a Brown Buttered Old Fashioned and it was wonderful too. We can't wait to go back. read more

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The only good thing about this place is the back patio, if you do not sit there, there is no reason to go to this restaurant.

Great food, service and ambiance! Been here several times when we've visited our son at Kent St. Love this place!

Cocktails - 10/10 after attending over 10 times I can confidently say this is one of my favorite stops in town even if you're just passing through. Food - if you're at all an olive lover, yes, yes, a must try as a starter! Everything on this menu has been absolutely wonderful so far. The burgers and sandwiches are amazing. The entrée protein dishes are cooked to perfection. The flatbreads are unique and delicious. Atmosphere - I've never had a bad experience and the staff are nice/knowledgeable. You can dress up or down for this establishment. It's great for a quick drink, a quick bite, or a special occasion you're celebrating. It has a very laid-back rustic vibe in the warmer months. The walls come up and turn into the outdoors. The patio backs right up on top of the Cuyahoga river, enjoying the glamour of a secret gem hidden under a canopy of trees. The ambience is very romantic at night with twinkle lights in the air. read more

Delicious food, great drink selection and service was fantastic! We had a really good - modern- delicious meal .

Great find! My husband and I went for lunch today. It's a very cute atmosphere, with wonderful food and service. Very clean. I'm looking forward to going back and maybe eating out on the patio on a warm Summers night and enjoying a glass of wine. read more

It's a great location. The food is great and I would recommend sitting outside by the rail with a view of the river. The service was great and view even better. read more

I've been wanting to go here since they opened and am bummed I missed making it during warmer weather to enjoy the beautiful back patio. But after the wonderful experience we had on Valentine's Day weekend, I know we'll go back to try that patio this spring! We made a reservation a week out and when we showed up about 15 mins early, we were seated in our booth right away. Our waitress was wonderful and reviewed the specials and drink menu with us when we said we were first timers. My husband went with the maple bacon old fashioned and I almost got the special wine flight but just went with the Riesling, my go-to wine. I liked that they offer a 9 oz pour instead of just the usual 6 oz. we were treating ourselves so I went 9! We had the focaccia with balsamic oil appetizer and it was brought warm and soft to our table pretty fast even though the place was busy with couples celebrating. My husband ordered the surf and turf special--bacon wrapped filet, scallops, and tomato risotto. I got the shrimp scampi with garlic sauce, polenta, and shaved Brussels sprouts. When our meals showed up, they were plated just beautifully. We are eaters and love the experience of eating out in general, so while the food looked very classy, we were glad it wasn't tiny portions like some "nicer" restaurants like to serve. We both got full from our meals and I even left nearly a whole polenta cake. We unfortunately had no room for dessert, but tiramisu was the special. The restaurant itself is beautifully lit and decorated, and the kitchen is open so you can see the chefs cooking. The bar is a large U and wraps around. There are booths, tables, and high tops. The staff were all wearing masks AND gloves, and it's clear they take pride in offering a clean, safe dining experience. The bar had dividers, too. We just absolutely loved our meals and it was the perfect date night out. The prices were also appropriate given the upscale experience. The little market in front has both chilled and regular beer and wine to go. Like I said, an all around great experience and I'm looking forward to going back for the patio views some spring! read more

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Beautiful setting by the river. Patio was busy when arrived- 6:30 on Wednesday- but was emptying out the longer we stayed. The food was good, our steak and burger both a little overdone from how we ordered but flavorful. read more

The River Merchant - Cali Burger - New American Near Me - Kent, Ohio

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The food and service make this restaurant one of the best in Kent! I highly recommend this location.

Hadn't been to the RM in the winter.. Cozy atmosphere in the winter with the doors down and the patio closed and a little tight with the seating but still great service, had a great old fashion and my wife found a good bottle of wine and our meals from kitchen where delicious and filling! Only disappointing thing is that they were between desserts from the kitchen and nothing jumped out at me read more

Okay that creamy leek sauce with the Kobe Meatloaf & asparagus is DANGEROUS! I could drink it. Don't ever take it off the menu!

Came here for lunch with family and was SO pleasantly surprised! The food was delicious, incredibly flavorful and the menu was full of options that looked amazing! Definitely recommend stopping here if you're in the Kent area! read more

Got the Cali burger! It was really good and tasteful, while the fries were crispy. The waiter was quick and was always around if you needed anything. As for the seating, we sat in a booth which was very clean. The place has moody lighting which is kinda nice and calm. Overall I would come back to eat. read more

Went here for a dinner with my parents and boyfriend, first time back in the area in years & I've heard incredible things about this spot. Fantastic views, great vibe, delicious food but TERRIBLE server (Sean?). He was obviously having a bad day and my parents chose to look past it but he was incredibly rude and looked at my dad like he was from a different planet when he asked for a glass of water without ice. He clearly didn't want to be at work. Looked around and the rest of the servers seemed great so I think if we had a different server, I would give it 5 stars no doubt. read more

After making an outdoor reservation (which is a big plus these days, that not many restaurants offer), I went to The River Merchant with my husband and parents. To begin, the atmosphere and outdoor seating were great. There was plenty of outdoor seating, and everyone was spaced out well. We were sat promptly at our reservation time and brought water immediately. However, we then waited over 10 minutes for a waitress to come to the table. Throughout the meal, she was not terribly attentive which was kind of a bummer. However, it didn't ruin the experience. It just made for a very slow, casually-paced dining experience. We tried a wide variety of different menu items, including: Fire Roasted Feta Dip (based on all the Yelp reviews - was very good), House Caesar Salad, Oven Roasted Whole Wings, Chicken Breast Entree, Prosciutto Flatbread, & Smoked Salmon Flatbread. They were all good but not mind-blowing. I had the Prosciutto Flatbread and would definitely order it again. The only slight negatives were that the chicken breast was pretty plain and dry, and the salad was soaked in dressing. Some people like that, but I would definitely get dressing on the side next time. As an overall opinion, I would come back here for small plates/flatbreads and to try some cocktails (that menu looked great, but we didn't try any this time). read more

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They did a fantastic job with the renovation. It's so open and trendy. We got reservations to sit on the patio. You can't beat the view. The service was great too. The pesto flatbread was absolutely delicious. I would order it again in a heartbeat. The burger was solid, but wasn't as memorable as I was hoping it would be. I thought I would taste more of the bacon jam, but honestly didn't even remember it was on there until I was done. Just an everyday burger, which is fine. I also ordered it medium rare and it didn't even really have any pink in the middle, but was still juicy, so that's good. Loved the fries! Good beer menu. The mixed drinks were pretty pricey, but I guess that's what you're going to run into at a really nice place like this. read more

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Ambiance- nice, comfortable, cozy. The deck is nice in the summer overlooking the River. Food- a little bit hit and miss. Menu is somewhat limited. My daughter really liked the sweet potato crusted pizza w chicken. GF options are actually better than most places. Creative but pricey cocktails -&13 for a good but tiny margarita; blackberry alcohol free mule was good at half that price. Flat iron steak was pretty tough though cooked to medium rare as ordered; a sweet sauce/glaze was too sweet. Accompanying vegetables were cooked well though under seasoned. Mashed potatoes- eh. Service - friendly but inattentive. Plates piled up, water glasses not filled. read more

Another "must" in Kent Ohio. Remarkable selection of unique wine from around the world. Mark up is very competitive and coupled with a small corky fee, makes for a wonderful experience. The food is also five star. I highly recommend the Mushroom flatbread, part of their new Fall menu. Sorry no pictures forgot cell. All this combined with great service makes for a wonderful evening. read more

This place is pretty new to Kent and I was so excited to get to eat here after visiting the wine market they have. We called for a reservation the day before and got a beautiful seat on the patio overlooking the water (exactly what I was hoping for), the patio is so pretty and has a great view of the river. We started with a glass of Sauvignon blanc and riesling, the riesling is on the sweeter end but both were still good. We also got some beers they have a pretty nice local selection. The cocktail list also looked delicious but we didn't try any. For food we got the fire roasted feta dip with pita bread and the Korean bbq brisket tacos off the small plates menu. Both were incredible, I couldn't pick a favorite. These two small plates alone probably would have been enough food for the 2 of us. The tacos have so much flavor and come with pickled onions and avocado to add on to your liking. We were blown away by the feta dip, it reminded me of the top of a pizza taste and the feta wasn't too much. We also split the apple glazed pork chop with roasted onions, potatoes and Brussels with bacon jam. Again a huge portion but delicious - you can really taste the apple flavor (we didn't get as much of the bacon) and the cut was cooked perfectly for us. We will definitely be back! Service was also great! Our waiter was so helpful and the small plates came out super quick. read more

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The wife and I can hardly believe that Kent has such a peaceful and scenic spot along the Cuyahoga River (expect an occasional train on opposite bank though) Fries and drink selection (wine for her --- beer is more my taste) are absolutely amazing read more