restaurant updates on the lake

By Pamela A. Keene

Ownership wasn’t the only thing that changed last fall at Twisted Oar. The eatery at Holiday Marina, now owned by Jarrett and Kelli Gorlin, has a pit master.

Steve Harris joined the staff to cook barbecue on weekends at the restaurant last October. “Jarrett and Kelli wanted to add another dimension to the menu, so they brought me in,” said the retired Chamblee policeman. “I’ve been doing barbecue for years, so it just was a good fit.”

Harris spends his weekends –Fridays through Sundays – at an oversized smoker outside the restaurant, and you can smell the smoking meats cooking from the parking lot. He varies his selection between ribs, brisket, pork butts and chicken.

“I’ve really started to develop a following,” he said. “It has surprised me.”

Twisted Oar offers crab legs on Thursday nights and prime rib on Fridays. Weekends include entertainment. The restaurant opens every day at 11:30 a.m. Closing times vary. The website is thetwistedoar.com.

Pelican Pete’s at Port Royale is upping its game. “We’ve brought in the company’s executive chef, Corey Heath, from Waterfront Restaurant in Naples, to expand and enhance our menu,” said Brian Grill, manager of Pelican Pete’s.

The lake’s only floating restaurant is adding lobster rolls, oysters on the half shell and “Nashville Hot” chicken sandwiches to it selections. Additionally, diners can choose from barbeque platters or “drunken mussels” appetizers.

“We’ve added sharable sides, plus two new frozen drinks, including a ‘bushwhacker’ and a ‘frozé,’ frozen rosé wine with vodka,” Grill said. “This year, people can also purchase frozen margaritas on draft.”

Pelican Pete’s opened in late April for Thursday through Sunday dining; it will open daily beginning Memorial Day Weekend. For more information, visit the website at pelicanpeteslanier.com.

Gainesville Marina’s Skogie’s has once again expanded its seating. “We’ve added seating on the hill under a canopy, plus we’ve now got a pizza oven,” said Tony Jonovitch, owner. “While we’re still operating a limited menu because of the pandemic, we’re offering weeknight specials, including 75-cent wings on Mondays; buy-one, get-one taco Tuesdays; BOGO burgers on Wednesdays; Thursdays LowCountry Boil; and $1 oysters on the half shell on Fridays. And we have entertainment on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.”

Sunday’s all-you-can-eat brunch features several different style Benedicts, as well as various breakfast and lunch items.

Skogie’s is open Wednesday

See Restaurants, page 41

l-r: Corporate chef Corey Heath, Pelican Pete’s General Manager Brian Grill; Pelican Pete’s chef Brian Lewis.

By Pamela A. Keene

For the fifth year, Skogie’s is donating its sales to help Gold Star Families through “BelieveWithMe.com” on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend.

“For $20 people can enjoy our all-you-can-eat buffet on Sunday and know that they’re helping support Gold Star Families,” said Tony Jonovitch, owner of Skogie’s. “It’s a wonderful way to support the families of fallen soldiers with finances, housing, living expenses, school uniforms and more, when they need it the most.”

The event will include a silent auction and will be accepting monetary donations.

“We’re also seeking additional sponsors and items for our silent auction,” he said. “Anything from tickets to a professional sports event to a guided fishing trip will be welcomed.”

In 2020, the event was canceled because of the pandemic. But in the time since Skogie’s See Skogies, page 41

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PULL Watersports Pro Shop 3040 Keith Bridge Rd Cumming 30041 PULL Watersports Sales/Service 5185 Browns Bridge Rd Cumming 30041