History

Treno Ristorante is an Italian restaurant located in the historic train depot overlooking the Cuyahoga River in Downtown Kent, Ohio. Formerly the Pufferbelly Restaurant, the depot underwent a transformative renovation of its space, and is now open for lunch and dinner.

This historic location is the perfect space to enjoy an intimate evening or a large gathering with friends and family. Built in 1875, the train depot served as a hub of commerce for the city of Kent until service was halted after 95 years. The building was then purchased by the newly formed Kent Historical Society in 1971 and subsequently saved from demolition. 1981 brought renovation to the depot and marked the opening of the Pufferbelly Restaurant which occupied the space until December 2016. After the Pufferbelly closed, a group of local investors began work on a modern Italian eatery. 

Renovation began in January 2017 and the historic building was completely updated including a new kitchen, dining room and bar area. Treno Ristorante opened its doors during the Fall of 2017 where its success demanded further renovation and expansion. During the summer of 2018, Treno Ristorante debuted the Treno Terrazza - a stamped concrete patio on the northern edge of the building featuring a rustic outdoor garden and charming seating area. Although these remodels have brought new life to the building, much of the rich history is on display including the double pane windows complete with over 100 years of weathering, original terrazzo flooring in the main dining room, exposed brick walls, and a train bell from the last steam engine to leave the station (we ask guests to please refrain from ringing the bell as it disturbs Charlie, our resident, friendly, albeit mischievous ghost). 

We invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy Treno Ristorante where past meets present and classic meets contemporary; where fresh, local ingredients take precedent and exquisite service is not a welcome change, but always the standard. Saluti!