Waterfront Dining

Waterfront Dining? It Makes Lake Life Complete The Pier & Back Porch

story + photos by Loren Shaum

In the LAKElife area, folks jam as much

activity as possible into the summer months—and eating on the water is one of the most popular things to do. There’s just something so relaxing about the experience, especially after arriving at your favorite spot by boat.

Pizza King

Waterfront Options

The latest waterfront property, interestingly called Lakelife Bar and Grill, is on the channel between the two Barbee lakes. This popular watering hole has been totally renovated by new owners. The nautical theme and open spaces make this a comfortable location for bar fare, mega cold brews and partying. Aside from the 86 beers available, you can snack on their collection of exotic jerky sticks. For $4.95, you get one stick each of kangaroo, alligator, bear, camel, elk, buffalo, ostrich, and venison. On Lake Webster, the Pizza King offers pizzas, grinders, and patio lakeside seating.

The Back Porch at Oakwood Resort on Lake Wawasee offers abundant pier space, making boat parking convenient, and it’s the only place where you can get fresh shucked oysters and maki rolls while watching the waves

Oakwood Resort's floating Tiki Bar is a popular watering hole

Pier & Back Porch breaded chicken sandwich Moscow mules are a popular choice at Oakwood Resort's Tiki Bar

For Entertainment

Inside the Oakwood Resort, The Pier Restaurant offers weekend bands throughout the year.

The Frog Tavern features raucous bands every weekend, and it’s a favorite for the 21 and over crowd. If you want to party on the water, try the Frog’s SS Lillypad II. Woody’s Buffett cruises sell out every summer.

On Lake Webster, the Dixie still offers $7 rides on the oldest sternwheel driven boat in Indiana, and they have concessions.

Kosciusko County offers many waterloving food and entertainment choices, so take advantage while summer is in full-swing.

roll by. Craft brews on draft are aplenty. Man Cave Brewing Company’s Sandbar Blonde is one you’ll quaff in great haste!

The floating pier includes a tiki bar that’s a great hangout and the ultimate place to ‘waste away in Margaritaville.’

Another venue is the Channel Marker’s Tiki Bar on the Main Channel between Syracuse and Wawasee lakes. On weekends, boat parking is sometimes creative, and we’ve often seen the parking lot jammed-full with cars lined along the road across the street. Their menu offers items with nautical names, like the ‘beachcomber’ and the ‘outrigger.’

On the west side of Lake Wawasee is the famous Frog Tavern. Known as an ‘Institution of Sorts,’ it’s focused more on fun, and if you haven’t fallen into the channel at least once, you haven’t been there (try to avoid that)! The frog leg basket is the go-to item for many lakers. With channel access, its great fun watching folks park their boats. Often, they’ll be stacked three-deep!

Further south, the Boathouse Restaurant on Winona Lake is an excellent venue— especially at sunset. Their grilled salmon salad is outstanding. Or, if you want a larger plate, try the pretzel-crusted walleye or the potato-crusted cod.

If you are in the mood for Mexican fare, try El Arriero Mexican Bar and Grill on Center Lake, north of downtown Warsaw. Their burritos are top-shelf, and the sunsets draw a crowd.

Lastly, a quaint waterfront spot is the Oswego Mini-Mart and Cafe adjacent the Tippecanoe River outlet from Lake Tippecanoe. It’s the only waterfront location serving breakfast.

Lakelife Bar and Grill

Loren Shaum is LAKElife’s foodie extraordinaire—who also happens to be an automation consultant, entrepreneur, former pilot, home gardener, sometimes chef, author of three cookbooks (Seasons in Lake Country, Holidays in Lake Country, and Farmers in Lake Country), and author of a history book about his brother in WWII (In Search of a Soldier – The unknown Brother). We’re thrilled to have him onboard to ‘dish’ up the ‘scoop’ on foodie faves in LAKElife Country.