Kent, Ohio

Resisting the urge to spend Day 2 nestled in a darkened hotel room, we shoved off for Detroit about noon. 5 or 6 hours of PA, OH, and MI interstate, with Chanins and Colburns waiting for us in Belleville, MI, a small suburb of Detroit and home to Uncle Bob and Aunt Eva. Not to take anything away from the Pittsburgh area or northeast Ohio, but the first few hours of the drive were relatively uneventful. Perhaps our indifference was owing to a lack of coffee. Or maybe it was because we (read: me) could think only of our first destination food spot: Mike’s Place, in Kent, Ohio. Yes, that Kent. Home to Kent State University and some of history’s worst police decision making.

Of the many recommendations at Roadfood.com, Mike’s was the natural choice for a greasy, kitschy lunch spot. Complete with life-size replica of a 70s-era Star Wars X-Wing Fighter and more beer signs, Elvis crap, and pictures of morbidly obese Cleveland Browns fans than a huge fan of all three (read: Laura) could have hoped for. Mike’s menu, drinks, and food are eccentric, too. Of the 200+ options, ranging from burgers (e.g., the 40 oz. “One Big Momma”) and sandwiches (e.g., “The Julius Super Cheezer”) to Reubens and all day breakfast staples (e.g., “Lost Amigo Rock Gut Omelette”), I chose “The Corny Dagwood.” The corned beef, tomato, onion, and horseradish sauce on rye was actually a relatively tame choice. Not the stuff of food challenges (of which there is one, of course), or postcards. Laura’s pancakes and (oddly chopped) scrambled eggs (aka “Cakes and Eggs”) was surprisingly the more bizarre of the two orders. Either way, we loved the food and certainly dorked out taking pictures. Worth the few miles out of our way.