With a dining hot spot moving locations and a new on-campus restaurant with bold flavors in the works, major changes are coming to Kent State’s culinary offerings. 

Grill ‘72 has moved downstairs into the Rathskeller of the Student Center, replacing Tahini after several months of vacancy in the space. 

Jacob Kuehn, senior director of culinary services, said Grill ‘72 was chosen due to its success and to give the Rathskeller a “bar and grill feel.” Considering meal exchange and declining balance, Kuehn said Grill ‘72 is the “number one performing concept” in the Hub. 

To celebrate the move, a grand reopening took place Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m in the Rathskeller. The celebration included giveaways, menu samples and Golden Flashes Swirl Ice Cream, according to Ben Davis, director of the Student Center and Center for Student Involvement.

Kuehn said the popularity of Grill ‘72 helped make the new move possible.

“People go there, and they like the food and what we have to offer,” Kuehn said. “This gave us an opportunity to really build that brand out and build the student experience in a new space.”

Kuehn also said the move was inspired by Quaker Steak and Lube’s atmosphere in the Rathskeller from 2015-2019. He still receives feedback on the restaurant and questions about why it was removed years after its departure.

“That was a highly memorable addition to the Rathskeller,” he said. “We were looking at what concepts would best define that, and we had a grill concept upstairs.” 

Grill ‘72’s location isn’t the only change, as several new menu items and options are also being added. Customers can expect an all-new appetizer section with mac-n-cheese wedges, fried pickle chips, mozzarella sticks, loaded nachos, an appetizer platter and shareable sizes for onion rings and fries. 

New chicken menu items will also be added, with traditional, cauliflower and boneless wings. A BBQ burger, Southwest burger and Philly cheesesteak will also be added. 

While the menu will change, Kuehn said prices will remain similar and a meal exchange option will still be offered. 

Citing feedback from customers during a soft opening on Thursday, Kuehn has high hopes for Grill ‘72’s potential in the new space. 

“It will definitely do better than the current location,” he said. “People are excited about the food, and they can’t wait until next week.” 

Without a restaurant in the Rathskeller, the space has experienced less students. Davis said traffic “ebbs and flows.” 

“It’s certainly not been super packed,” Davis said. 

However, he added that programming and events have still been very popular, and he believes that Grill ‘72 can add to that experience. 

“It’s going to support programming in a way that we don’t have,” Davis said. “We’ve specifically worked with Grill ‘72 to have items on the menu that will play well with events in that space.” 

Outside of the food, he hopes the Rathskeller’s new atmosphere will also bring in students. He said the new vibe will feel like a restaurant off campus, with dimmer lights and louder music compared to when Tahini was in the space. 

“There’s a lot of reasons to go down there and check out the new stuff and space,” he said. “There’ll be a lot to be excited about.” 

Golden Habanero 

Replacing Grill ‘72 on the first floor of the Student Center is Golden Habanero, a new Latin and South American-themed restaurant concept. 

Kuehn said the decision to add the concept stemmed from wanting to add more diversity to Kent State’s culinary options. 

“If you look across campus, we’re lacking in South American and Spanish cuisine,” he said. “We want to bring that culture and cuisine. We recognized that was missing from our dining portfolio.” 

The culinary option is still in the very early stages of development, so most menu offerings and prices haven’t been determined yet. Kuehn said customers can expect quesadillas, street tacos, empanadas and tamales with different sauce options and desserts like tres leche cake and churros. 

He added the cuisine will be “authentic” and “traditional,” and he hopes to have a tasting in the Student Center before students leave for summer break to receive feedback and input. 

Kuehn also hopes to have Golden Habanero open prior to August 1, 2025. 

John Engoglia is a beat reporter. Contact him at [email protected].