The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks - Lodging

My husband and I always enjoy our visit to the Keeter Center and meal there in the Dobyn’s Dinng Room! The food is consistently exceptional and the service stellar. This time my traveling companion and I decided to take a stroll after dinner. From the picturesque waterfalls out front to the family of swans in the pond out back, the cows in the meadow (from which their farm fresh ice cream is made at their very own creamery), the lovely grounds and beautiful sunset, it was the perfect way to wind down and relax at the end of a busy, fun-filled day. ||||Browsing through all the handmade items in the gift shop that the students make is delightful, as well as walking through the in-house museum which tells all about the founders and how the college came to be. What attracted my husband and I to dine here to begin with is the fact that the students actually work on site in lieu of paying tuition, thus the college is coined “Hard Work University” as seen on flags all around campus. The personal element of having the opportunity to interact with the students as we inquire about their dreams and goals while being served is always a highlight for us. ||||These outstanding young men and women couldn’t be more mannerly, pleasant, focused, friendly and engaging. Keep up the good work the Lord has called you to do, College of the Ozarks, in training and equipping each upcoming generation to serve Him in such diverse, professional careers. Your dedication to build on the faith and exemplary character these young people already possess and prepare them for successful futures based on biblical standards is truly admirable, and so needed in today’s world.

We ate dinner. We have eaten here many times. The service is always excellent. The location is fine. On this particular evening, I, for the first time, ordered the Kansas Strip steak. I asked for medium well, and it was cooked properly. However, the quality of the steak was inferior, and should not have been served at this restaurant. Especially given the price, I should have had a much better quality steak. It was full of fat and gristle, and very difficult to cut. I was wasn’t even given a steak knife. I couldn’t even finish it. I have come to expect better things from the Keeter center. I don’t know if they’re getting the steak from their own herds or not, but they need to serve better quality beef. I’m sorry to have needed to post this negative review. Overall, I’m very happy at the Keeter Center, and I love the kids. Nonetheless, given the price, especially, I should have been served a much better quality steak.

My husband and I always enjoy our stay at The Keeter Center. However, we truly missed the Sunday brunch option. We were in town due to our son's destination wedding and had planned 20 people for the Sunday brunch the morning after the wedding. I received a phone call canceling my reservation due to "student training". I later found out this was really due to the new President's decision to no longer have Sunday brunch as an option. Although I respect his decision and the reason behind it, I really did not appreciate the lie, and honesty is ALWAYS best. This might be a deciding factor when we vacation in the Fall as to whether we stay or not.||However, managements bad choices should not reflect on the students. The service, cleanliness, and the food are always exceptional. Your students are truly amazing!

We had Sunday Brunch at the Keeter Center and is was absolutely wonderful. This well kept college gem is beautifully kept. There was a young lady playing the piano during our meal. The students were all very well spoken and accommodating. Service was spectacular and everything was spotless. If you haven't experienced the Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks this a must.

Our stay this time was fabulous as always but exceeded our expectations this time when they brought a topper for our mattress which was unexpected. The new mattresses installed on all of their beds were extremely firm and after asking for options for our room we came back with a perfect topper on our bed which made for a great night’s sleep. Guest services was very attentive and responsive and we recommend The Keeter Center for the perfect restful retreat. |Also their Dobbins Dining Hall has the best scratch kitchen food in the Branson area.

Amazing! We will definitely be staying here again. We had 2 rooms, a skyline view suite and a loft suite. Both rooms were very clean, comfortable and a great spot to relax. The hospitality at the lodge is exceptional, it is obvious there has been a lot of thought put into making it a great place to stay.

Dinner was an absolute dream! If you ever find yourself in Branson, Missouri, I highly recommend a visit to Dobyns Dining at The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks. It's an experience you won't want to miss, where college students prepare and serve some of the most mouthwatering meals you could ever imagine. The farm-to-table concept offers fresh, flavorful dishes that delight the palate with a symphony of tastes, and the student service is both warm and personable, making it a truly unforgettable experience. The atmosphere is lively, and the setting features beautifully crafted woodwork, reminiscent of a grand lodge. It’s the perfect spot for a date night! Be sure to ask for London from Indiana! She was wonderful!

So many family vacation memories at the Restaurant. Every meal is absolutely amazing. Almost everything is “farm to table”. An all time favorite place to ear when we go to Branson. Dessert is a must!! (We have not stayed at the Lodge.)

5 star experience all around! If you're going through this area their restaurant is more than worth a stop. The Keeter Center sits inside the gated College of the Ozarks campus. The campus is gorgeous! Our room in the lodge was amazing and spacious. The service we received from all the staff was top notch. The students are so kind and take pride in providing excellent service. They have a turndown service each night with the most delicious milk and cookies. The food we had each morning for breakfast was delicious! Check this place out if you haven't already.

Have been going here for years and it is still a great meal. Wonderful selection, everything is homemade by the students so the prices are a little higher. The student wait staff is great and the service never disappoints. Shrimp and grits was flavorful, dessert was great. The Rueben was just ok; a little dry for us

The food starting with the Fried green tomatoes were delicious! A little on the milder/spicy side because of the red pepper jelly but it was excellent. The bread and scones with the assortment of butters and apple butter was phenomenal. On to the main courses. We all ordered something different and split. Starting with the caprice pesto sandwich- no complaints absolutely delicious. The meatloaf- was great, we added a little bit of salt. The green beans on the side were pretty tasteless. The chicken fried chicken- the breading on the chicken was fabulous, as well as the mashed potatoes. The short rib Mac and cheese was great but I think it's one of those meals you definitely have to be in the mood for. It was delicious just not a main course meal. The biggest disappointment of all was the French fries they looked delicious but tasted like they came out of the refrigerator, they were really cold. Other than those few minor things it was a great food experience. The service was outstanding. All of the servers were all extremely attentive even if they weren't your direct server. They all pitch in and help each other. The ambiance of the restaurant is fairly quiet but definitely family/child friendly.

Meeting family in Branson for Thanksgiving gave us the opportunity to have dinner at The Keeter Center. The building is beautiful and the gift shop of student-made products was a must see. They had everything from candles to hot pads to fruitcakes to jellies and candies. We enjoyed a lovely Friday night dinner in the restaurant. It was a cool experience seeing the students under observation as they seated, took orders, delivered food and checked in on patrons. The bread basket was to die for, and came with sample jellies. The entrees were delicious and our service was exceptional. So glad I heard about this place at the College of the Ozarks. I remain intrigued. And will return.

Restaurant is located on the campus of The College of the Ozarks. The students cook and serve at the restaurant. Very nice dining area, you wouldn't think you're on a college campus. The food was tasty but some of the items were too sweet for our tastes. The sauce on the meatloaf was super sweet, as well as the jelly on the fried green tomatoes. This is the only reason I'm not giving this a 5 star review. Friendly service and enjoyed the homemade bread!

Delicious food, unbeatable service. The dining experience here is always worth it. We love the bread and spreads they bring. The servers are always so attentive. Will be back!

Please don't sleep on the pork tenderloin sandwich the mix of flavors was amazing. The breads and butters were awesome. The Osso Buco was great comfort food. Everything about the place was awesome!

The best place to eat in Branson. Great service from the students. The food was amazing and not over priced. Great portions. Loved it.

The Keeter Center is excellent. When you come to eat brunch and yes, you absolutely should come and have brunch on Sundays. The service is hands down the best I have ever experienced. The students who are attending school here are earning their college education and have a full ride as long as they work on the property. There is student made jam and jelly, cheese among other things. The campus is beautiful. It could feel stuffy and too fancy, but the students are learning a lot from the environment.

Wow! If you are coming to or through Branson MO this is a must stop. The mission of the college is amazing, the entire restaurant and hotel are run by students who are working their way through college. They are all super personable, professional and engaging which is very refreshing for this generation. On top of that the food, bakery and ice cream are all amazing! My only regret was we couldn't come back for dinner. This will be a must stop every time we are in Branson. No reservations for lunch and it was an hour wait but worth it because we got to tour the gift shop and veteran's museum. They do take reservations for dinner and I would recommend them.

I enjoyed a wonderful dinner here with my friend Sarah S. on Satuday night! I was in Branson in 2019 with Eric R. and another couple, and I wanted to squeeze in a meal here but we couldn't make it work. Almost five years later, I enjoyed a weekend visit to Branson with my friend which included a meal at our hotel Friday night, so I remembered about this wonderful student-run restaurant at College of the Ozarks and was able to secure a reservation! We arrived on time and were introduced to the beautiful dessert display en route to our table, Our server Levi was personable and informative, and made our experience awesome. We each ordered hot tea, but since I was not keen on black tea late at night or herbal, I asked for hot water and used my own tea bag (with permission). We ordered the brussel sprouts nachos and Levi warned us it was a very large portion. He was not kidding! As that came out quickly, we got our tea pots (served atop a tea candle keeping it warm), and a bread service with rolls, biscuits, and three types of butter (plain, strawberry, and apple). Sarah S. ordered a salad, then we got our entrees. For me it was Mediterranean pasta with pappardelle and a ton of veggies (bell peppers, olives, artichokes, zucchini, fennel, and others) in marinara with parmesan. She got chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans. We both got everything left in to go boxes so we could enjoy dessert. Honestly, all fo the desserts sounded ridiculously good, but we heard the ice cream made by the college dairy was epic, so we went for that. Sarah S. originally ordered the seasonal option, peppermint, but then asked to taste raspberry mascarpone (Levi's recommendation). He got her a half scoop to go on our way out with a spoon. I ordered the banana pudding ice cream (the chancellor's choice) on a waffle cone. The protion was generous for the price. Overall, we loved the whole experience: the copper ceilings, the pianist, the fireplace, the many tables getting happy birthday songs by servers, the service, the food, and the ambiance. I highly recommend a visit here! I heard the brunch buffet is awesome, but we were so full we skipped a big breakfast and stopped at Buc-ee's in Springfield on the drive back. The food made it back in my cooler safely so Eric R. and I got to enjoy it yesterday and today also!

The building is so impressive that I couldn't wait to go in and explore. What a great experience for students learning various trades. We were seated quickly and it was done very professionally. The dining room is very nice and the live piano playing was the perfect touch. Our server. Was friendly and helpful. She brought our drinks quickly while we viewed the menu. There is a nice variety of appetizers, salads, entrees and sandwiches. Four of us split the arancini appetizer and it was wonderful, although we ate it so quickly I didn't get a picture. I settled on the chicken dish which was fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. Food arrived quickly and was just warm, not hot. The chicken was very tender, but also had a lot of pepper in the breading. The green beans were super tender and tasty. Service was good throughout and all in all, a good experience.

Atmosphere - Excellent! Regretfully, I accidentally deleted the pictures of the inside and outside of the hotel/restaurant located on the campus of the college. The building is a beautiful log cabin type structure. The restaurant has a classic western/mountain look. Service - Excellent! The restaurant is staffed (from the kitchen to the front of the restaurant) by students. Our server was excellent in every way! Food - Good. This was a clear case of my choosing the wrong entree. I love meatloaf, but I seldom order it out. However, the description looked interesting and my friend recommended it. The flavor was good. However, it was overcooked and quite dry. Having said this, I had a bite of my wife's fried chicken and it was melt in your mouth delicious! Overall Value - Very Good. The prices are reasonable and the restaurant is a great experience.

I really enjoyed this place the rest of my family did not. The food wasn't the best. What I enjoyed most about it was the college students and the reason behind the restaurant. I love to cook, I'm only a home cook but I love everything about cooking and learning to cook so this was super pleasurable for me. We went a year ago and recently went back to Branson and no one wanted to go with me but I'd love to go again.

One might describe the Keeter Center as fine dining for the family! From the furnishings to glassware to flatware to decor, this place does it right. The menu is equally impressive, offering a wide array of options for patrons to select from.... We started with fried green tomatoes and croquettes. Then for dinner I enjoyed the scrimp, pork belly and grits while my wife ordered the pork scaloppine. The kids had the clubhouse sandwich and chicken strips (not the frozen kind usually served). This restaurant is part of the College of the Ozarks, a.k.a. HardWorkU. The concept of farm to fork is truly embraced here, as the college has a working farm and dairy that provides almost all of the ingredients used in the kitchen. Did I mention service? The food servers are students at the school, each of whom are outfitted appropriately and provide excellent service. I highly recommend the Keeter Center. Next time I'm in Branson I plan to pay them another visit.

Our family loves the Keeter Center Elevated Dining Experience. With live piano music and bronze old-fashioned ceiling tiles, the ambience is always relaxed and soothing. We come for the great food, relaxing ambience, and decadent dessert. Every bite is fantastic, whether it's a starter, entree, or dessert! We continue to come back every year we are in Branson for vacation or on a day trip from a couple hours away. We highly recommend it for couples or families.

This was our second stop at the Keeter center. On our way back to Fayetteville we stopped for some coffee, bakery items and ice cream! The gluten free blueberry muffin was good and paired perfectly with my latte. The little ice cream shop was open as well so the rest of the crew ordered a small cup for the drive home. Next time we will get the waffle cone!! The only suggestion I can possibly give is..... PLEASE.... Make a gluten free waffle cone!! Simply getting a separate waffle cone iron and having gluten free batter would make this celiac gals dreams come true! And we would probably drive from Fayetteville monthly for date nights

Such a wonderful Farm to Table experience nestled in the countryside just outside of Branson. I absolutely loved it and will be adding this to my yearly vacation spot as a must do again.

Great services and great food made for a wonderful dinning experience. When in the area it's a must place to be.

My third or fourth time there, consistently excellent and the service as well. I like the concept, nobody graduates with student debt. All education should be this way. Great place!

Make a reservation now! This is a must place to eat! Excellent service, food and ice cream shop. It is run by the college students as a way of paying for their tuition. Christian values are exemplified here! Our server shared her story with us and you could tell she was very driven and passionate about her degree. All of the servers were so professional and worked to help each other out. Food was so good. You start with cranberry muffins and bread that will melt in your mouth! The apple butter was so good and so was the strawberry mousse. It took a while to get it, but worth it. Nice place to go for a special occasion-we went for our anniversary. Husband's steak was really tender and cooked as he asked. Ice cream was wonderful. They have a shop in the lobby, along with a coffee shop, that you can go to without eating in the main restaurant. Would love to go back and tour the college-our server said the students love to talk to anyone!

While visiting Branson I heard the College of the Ozarks offers lunch and dinner at the Ketter Center. The college students work on the campus to pay for their tuition. The food was very good and fresh. Lunch is first come first serve and dinner is reservations only. The wait staff are very professional and they did rube the offering for the day. They wear white jackets and are super attentive. Outside the restaurant they sell other products such as jams, jellies, soaps, blankets, and other items. They offer verity packs of jams for shipping too. All and all a pleasant visit and I would recommend it highly.

We got the Barbecue Mac (w/o bbq sauce on it) for being a cream based sauce it didn't feel heavy Crispy Chicken Salad. Typical salad; only about 5 pieces of chicken on it but the dressings really shine a quality over quantity restaurant. Portion sizes fair, but not huge At 5:00 we had an hour wait & enjoyed some of the best ice cream from the creamery. Make sure to leave room for this We'll be back

We have eaten at the Keeter Center before and it was good . This time when we tried the Center in late October, we were told there would be a waiting time of at least two to two & a half hours before we could be seated. There is no way we were going to wait that long so we went elsewhere . There were a lot of empty tables but apparently not enough staff for service or in the kitchen. We probably won't return.

Awful service! We walked in around lunch and were told it would be a 45min-1hr wait and more than half of the tables were empty. There was only 4 of us. We left our number to get text updates and left to explore the campus. Never got a text. We ended up leaving campus and going to eat somewhere else. We looked up College of the Ozarks and found some interesting info. They boycotted Nike (I was wearing a Nike shirt) and recalled later they (the staffers) looked right at my shirt when we walked up.

Sunday brunch was delicious and oh-so-plentiful! Service was outstanding. If you can't find something you absolutely love, it's your own darn fault. Prices were reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. Great location as well. Easy in/Easy out. Will be back.

I don't know if I should review this here, but the Keeter Center College Creamery is really good. It looks like a fancy lodge when you enter, and the raspberry mascarpone ice cream is delicious. Super generous amount of ice cream if you get the waffle cone. I wish the brunch is served on other days other than just Sundays. I might try to come back again for ice cream before we leave Branson.

I absolutely love this school and everything they offer or sale. We made reservations for my birthday and a few months later for Mother's Day's brunch buffet. I can't believe how delicious the food and desserts are. I'm always excited to try everything especially when it's buffet style. The students and staff are always amazingly friendly and welcoming. My favorite appetizer is the Brussel sprouts nachos, they are unique and tasteful. Their food is delightful, flavorful and filling. The ice creams are delicious as well. It's hard choosing just one flavor especially after trying a few. The ambiance is great, live piano music and a beautiful view. I would advise making reservations about a month in advance. They do accept walk-in's however it's not a guarantee you will be able to dine. You have to remember almost all of the staff are students, meanwhile they are also attending school. It's not your ordinary full staffed restaurant.

We had an amazing experience. The staff members of The Keeter Center were kind and professionals. The food was delicious. The Hotel and Restaurant had a wonderful mountain cabin look that added to a very relaxing ambiance. They made celebrating our grandson's birthday extra special. I do recommend making reservations. We had to wait 45 minutes to an hr as a walk-in. However, the wait was worth it.

Wonderful food and service! Doesn't get enough attraction for how amazing and fresh the food is! Everything is house made and high quality food, came multiple times during our vacation.

This place is wonderful!!! Great food and the desserts were to die for!! Very friendly people and great service. There is also lodging in the same building and it is a beautiful log structure and very rustic but luxurious as well. Will definitely be coming back.

We had heard quite a bit from past visitors about this unique university and it's apprenticeship practices. It has a lot to see but on this rainy day we went straight for dinner. The space is warm and very lodge/log cabin in feel. We were warmly greeted and even without a reservation we're seated promptly. I had tried to make a reservation but didn't get a confirmation online so wasn't sure it had been confirmed. If you are choosing a high dining time especially in the summer season reservations are highly recommended. All of the servers and I believe much of the staff are students earning their way through school. Our server was friendly and helpful and quick to engage. We were seated by the fireplace and looking out the big windows overlooking the campus. The music was softly playing so we could hear easily and found it a comfortable atmosphere. We were served delicious yeast rolls and biscuits with house made apple butter as well as strawberry and regular butter. Yum! We ordered a hummus appetizer which was amazing. It was a bit heftier than a usual hummus and had an unusual and delicious smoky flavor. It was covered in marinated veggies which added a nice twist to the dish. Very filling. Everyone had a different entree which came from campus raised/green food. I was told everything the others ate was delicious - chicken salad sandwich and the pork tenderloin. My house salad was tasty and loved the house pear honey dressing. We ordered chocolate cake to go as it looked amazing! We would highly recommend this spot for a nice family dinner out. It is a bit pricey but you get great service and amazing tasting food. We also wandered through the center and got to enjoy a memorial to alumni veterans and some school history. The overall experience was moving and a definite fun and tasty part of the trip.

This was our second visit to the Keeter Center. The first time we did the weekend brunch buffet and were a bit underwhelmed for the cost. This time we came for lunch during the week and had a truly wonderful experience. Our server was excellent and made sure that everything was spot on. My mom is keto and ordered the chicken alfredo dish without pasta, sub roasted veggies. This is another example of a small disconnect between front of the house and back of the house, because when the kitchen saw the ticket, they spiralized veggies to make keto noodles - WOW!! My chicken fried chicken was delicious. Other members of our party got the brisket mac and cheese, bacon wrapped meatloaf wellington. Everyone loved their meals. The dining room is beautiful, the stories around the museum are fascinating, and the student made products for sale are absolutely first class. Before we left, our server came and thanked us for explaining the keto thing to her because she had a customer ask her about keto options last week and she had no response. I'm glad she does now because her back of the house team will now be able to make her shine!

Beautiful grounds and lots of history here. The food was good. My husband didn't enjoy his dish as well as I liked mine. I got what was described as a Greek Chicken and Lemon Soup. It was more like chicken and wild rice. My Caesar salad was incredible and the bread and butter they give you were amazing. Our server didn't explain to us what the butter was, so that was a bummer. He didn't say much to us at all. We told him it was our first time there and we could hear the other severs explaining the menu in detail to their tables. That's the reason for the 4-star rating. Also, my husband's pasta was bland. Other than that I would recommend and I would most likely try it again.

One word. Amazing. I went there in August of 2023 on the recommendation of the front desk at the place I was staying. I didn't have reservations but because we went early we were able to get in, but I highly recommend making them. This is the Ketter College, and the restaurant is part of the culinary school. Our waiter was extremely pleasant and explained to us how the restaurant worked and that everything is from farm to table. The food was amazing, and if you are in Branson Missouri, this has to be on your places to eat.

This place is ran by the college kids. From service to the kitchen. The kids work there way through college and they had the best food, service and what a great college. Love this place.

We were told we had to go here on our recent Branson trip. We were a party of 11 and made sure and get there early to put our name on the list. They have coffee and pastries to purchase and we can shop while we waited. We were sat and our waiter Eli was fantastic!!!! All his recommendations were spot on and we LOVED EVERYTHING!! We cannot wait to come back!!!

Loved the gluten free options. Staff were fantastic and the building was beautiful. We didn't have a reservation and lucked out to get it. Thank you for a great dinner

Food quality and service is outstanding. We had the salmon cakes as an appetizer, cheddar soup, osso buccco and toasted fennel encrusted salmon. Everything was prepared to perfection.

We had an outstanding meal at the Keeter Center. We both started with flavorful salads, each having half orders and portions were plentiful. We each had the osso buco for our main our course they were outstanding, great flavor and huge portions with ample leftovers. We finished with the chocolate cobbler with ice cream, yummmmmyyy. Our service was one of the best we have ever had, amazing dinner experience start to finish. The ambiance is rustic as it's a massive log building but very classy. This is a must have restaurant

Excellent service, 1st class baby! The dining room was beautiful, very classy, and upscale. The best part was the food. We ordered the porkchop, chicken in Alfredo sauce and pasta, and homemade Mac and cheese from the children's menu. My son cleaned the plate, and no Mac left. I've never seen him do that before. The pork chop was cooked to perfection, and the chicken Alfredo was delicious. The pasta was al dente, and the Alfredo sauce was creamy. Beautiful place, and great service, a must go if you're in the area. Also, shout out to our awesome waiter, Skyler.

Great food, service and atmosphere. Meals and service are done by students in exchange for tuition and other services. While it is a bit pricy, the quality of the meal is wonderful and it goes to a really good cause.

Sooooo good! Best brunch in the Branson area. VERY pricy though. Had dinner there one time and will definitely go back again.

Brunch is AMAZING!!! We will definitely be going back again and again! While you are there, stop at the museum as well. Such a fun experience!

They have the best icecream. It is a unique place. College kids work on campus to be debt free. They have a restaurant, icecream shop, stained glass studio etc.. very beautiful grounds. They also have rooms for rent.

Y'all... this place is a MUST when dining in Branson. Wow; from the hospitality to the food, I couldn't have asked for more. I will be sure to make a reservation here every time I come back to visit. Thank you for the great experience!

We were a party of four. From the moment we walked in until we left, we were made to feel special. The service was amazing and our server, Melissa was so personable. We each had a different entree and they all were amazing. At the end of the meal they surprised me with a dessert to celebrate my retirement.

Food was excellent service was great view was great on a nice fall day dessert is definitely decadent call call very nice place to go for lunch and romantic dinner We had burger and chips great chips pork chop tender and juicy very well cooked we will be back for sure too full for ice cream

What a great experience! Of If I had to choose one restaurant to recommend in this area it would be this one. Run by students at and on the campus of College of the Ozarks, the restaurant is rich and impressive. I made an enthusiastic comment to the hostess about the gluten-free carrot cake, so then when our server came out with bread for the table she had a couple of warm GF biscuits just for me! So I'm already super-happy. I ordered the shrimp and grits which was delicious and then of course the carrot cake. We all tasted it and everyone at the table was jealous because it was the best dessert there! Joy was our server and she was adorable and efficient. The building and grounds weee absolutely lovely. A wonderful experience all around.