Tucked along S Water Street in Kent, Mike’s Place looks playful from the outside but delivers seriously good comfort food inside. The Reuben here has a cult following for a reason, balancing crunch, melt, and tang like a little symphony on rye. You get great value, big portions, and lively energy that makes every visit feel like a local secret. If you are chasing a crispy, melty masterpiece, this quirky diner might be your new favorite stop.
The Reuben at Mike’s Place balances textures in a way that just clicks. Crispy marbled rye crackles under your fingers while Swiss cheese turns silky and clingy around tender corned beef. Sauerkraut adds a sharp pop that wakes everything up, and the thousand island ties it together with creamy sweetness.
You will notice the grill marks first, then the aroma of toasted rye and butter. Each bite lands with crunch then melt, like a satisfying one-two. The corned beef is sliced to keep bite without chewiness, seasoned so you taste beef first, salt second.
This is a Reuben that respects proportions. Bread is not too thick, the kraut is drained enough to avoid sog, and dressing never overpowers. Grab a napkin, because it gets delightfully messy by the last bite…