The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Spoon University.
The River Merchant in Kent, Ohio has been a favorite spot of mine for quite some time now. Recently, myself and the other board members at Spoon University at Kent State shared a meal there for our first official meeting. Here is what I got, plus my review and recommendations!
Starter: Pommes Frites
This is a starter I order for the table each time I dine at The River Merchant! I seriously cannot do a visit there without getting it.
The menu describes this starter as, “House Seasoned French Fries, Served with Ranch Dressing, Pesto Aioli, and Ketchup”
Not only are these fries in the perfect form and cooked to perfection, but the pesto aioli and homemade ranch that accompany this dish truly set it apart from anything like it. This starter will feed your entire table, and leave them wanting more!
Entree: Classic Caesar with Blackened Chicken
If you know me, you know a Caesar Salad hates to see me coming… This is especially true to the Classic Caesar on The River Merchant’s menu.
The menu describes this salad as, “Chopped Romaine, Shaved Parmesan, House Croutons & Caesar Dressing.” I chose to add on blackened chicken as a source of protein.
Based on the amount of Caesar salads I’ve had in my lifetime, I feel I can consider myself an expert on this topic. This Caesar salad is perfect on every level, the dressing is perfectly creamy, (I personally cannot stand a liquid-based caesar dressing…) the flavor of the chicken is perfect, and the portion is just right! I have recommended this Caesar salad to people before, and I am definitely recommending it to you now!
Dessert: Classic Crème Brûlée
I’m going to be so honest with you all, I didn’t discover what Crème Brûlée actually was until two summers ago on a cruise, but let me just say – I have been HOOKED ever since!
While not the best I’ve had, the Crème Brûlée from The River Merchant will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth. For me, personally, the sugar hardened top just wasn’t hard enough. One of my favorite parts of this dessert is breaking through the top, so this was a bit disappointing to me.
As for the rest of the dish, I loved it! The fruit on top was a great added touch, and the vanilla creme was a great pairing to that fruit. I would definitely purchase this dessert again, although I’d hope the sugar hardened on top could possibly be more hard next time!
Overall Review
Overall, I highly recommend going to The River Merchant if you’re ever looking for a finer dining experience in Kent, Ohio. For a college student, the prices may seem a bit out of budget at times, so keep this in mind when going to dine there. I will say that the bang is definitely worth the buck, as this food does not disappoint and will have you thinking about it months later! If you go, let them know we sent you!