Another worthwhile place to check out in the Akron area is
Mike's Place in Kent. It's a very ecclectic (to put it lightly!) diner style place a few miles north of the I-76 Kent exit (OH State Route 43). It is on the corner where 43 intersects the four lane highway, just outside of the Kent State campus.
The menu itself is diverse, featuring a large array of sandwiches (be sure to visit the 1958 Edsel that has been converted into a burger bar!), various quesadillas and french fry varieties on the appetizer board, bbq, shrimp and generic seafood, as well as many other diner style classics, some with twists added to them. They also cook up some good breakfasts. And for those that are so inclined, there is bar service as well.
As to the decor, sharp sarcasm and wittiness dominates the menu and signage throughout Mike's. You can eat in an old public transit bus that has been converted to dining space, or book a gathering in the Castle. Additionally, there is the aforementioned Edsel that was converted, and numerous other pieces of marvelous tackiness far too numerous to mention. Outside, the prominent features include a full scale model of a Star Wars X-Wing Fighter, the body of the dining bus, an old small train car on a section of tracks, and a random wagon wheel. All this "style" is just the tip of the iceberg. There is no way a sane person put all this together. It is VERY over the top.
It's been at least 5 years since I've been there (maybe even longer), so I honestly can't remember much about the food quality, although I do recall portions being pretty big. The biggest thing that sticks out in my mind to this day is all the over the top tackiness that has always made Mike's Place such a fun place to visit. So prepare yourself if you must, then head on out with a mission of gawking and taking in all of the unique insanity. And who knows? The food just might be half decent as well
