Knot, Just a Bar Omena
Yummy Mahi-Mahi Taco's
Knot, Just a Bar Bay Harbor
There is a lot to savor here, time spent on the deck of the Omena, Knot Just a Bar, in Leelanau County, is a tranquil treasure, where life slows down.
Knot, just a bar, is exactly that, they are also casual full-service restaurants locally owned by Dave and Amanda Waskiewicz. Funnily enough, they didnât start out that way. An out of town Hospitality Company dreamt up the concept. Dave was hired as the general manager when the first Knot opened in Bay Harbor in 2000. After living and working downstate for years, he was longing to return home to northern Michigan. The fact that it was the restaurant business that brought him back home is no surprise. "You have to love being in this business," he laughs. "I started as a busboy and over the years have worked every position there is. It paid for college, twice, once, for a degree in journalism and public relations, and again to earn my masters." After getting the Bay Harbor location up and running, a few years later, the Jacobson family, owners of Leelanau Cellars in Omena contacted Dave with the idea of a second location housed in their building. âIt worked out great because I really wanted to be back in Leelanau County,â recalls Dave. When the stars aligned with the opportunity for Dave and his wife to purchase the restaurants, they jumped at the chance. âMy wife and I are both restaurant junkies,â laughs Dave They didnât have to change anything because Dave had already lovingly nurtured the restaurants like they were his own from day one. On the first impression, there is no doubt youâll have a fun experience. The inside looks like a salty old sailorâs ship down below, with rich wood hues, maritime accents and brass hatches that don the walls. Itâs laid back and comfortable with a friendly atmosphere, with a long wooden bar that beckons you to pull
up a stool and stay a while. Looking up you see a myriad of names and personal messages gracing the ceiling. Whatâs this all about? It's The Beer Club; an honor only bestowed upon those that dare to earn it, fair and square. Claim your fame by achieving to sample each one of the Sixty-Nine Beers on the menu! It's not expected all at once; there are carefully kept files to plot the progress and check them off one by one. What makes it a worthwhile challenge are many of the sixty-nine beers hail from all around the world, including Germany, England, and Ireland, so you experience a little culture too. Knot, Just a Bar, has a tasty and delicious food menu to hungrily ponder over too. The house specialty is the Perch Cone, a twist on the traditional English fare of fish and chips. People travel far and wide just to devour its divine scrumptiousness. We also highly recommend the not to miss Mahi Fish Tacoâs, grilled with lettuce, cheese, cilantro, Pico de Gallo, guacamole and citrus aioli. Delicioso! The menu is as delectable as it is diverse, with tempting yummy flavors for every taste bud imaginable. CASTING OFF appetizers include Wings tossed in buffalo, BBQ or sriracha sweet sauce, Chicken or Beef Nachos with house made tortilla chips and a Baked Garlic Shrimp. BIG PLATE options include Parmesan Whitefish and Sirloin Steak dinners. The succulent Burgers can please every picky eater with beef, turkey, veggie and salmon varieties. Sandwiches include Perfect Pastrami, a Monster JULY/AUGUST 2017 BAY LIFE NORTH
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