The chef at Ruthie D's has always been willing to accommodate different food needs. Â Went there with a group for happy hour and being a vegan there was not much on the happy hour menu. Â He offered to make me something that I could eat and it was fantastic. Â So much so that the meat eaters at the table were even drooling. Â The only true outside seating does not have a view but they have "outdoor" seating that is out on a porch area that is air conditioned with a view of the lake. Â If you go there when there are fireworks at the Lodge it has one of the best views of the fireworks on the lake. Â I have never had a bad meal here -even when I was not vegan. Â My husband says that the happy hour burger for $5 is the best deal on the lake. Â A 1/2 lb burger with French fries-you can't beat it. Â The bar can get a little loud but most bars are loud so that is to be expected.
Review Source:Dined here last night. If you want Lakeside dining.  This is NOT it.  It does offer a  -distant- through- a- screen- channel view though.
We were here last night around 630pm. Â Just arrived at the lake. Â We both grew up here. So we are used to the "touristy captive audience thing"..
Service: Probably the worst I've had in quite some time. Â Our server was tall brunette lady with tons of makeup. (which I would not have cared about if she'd been nice) Â Â but she wasn't. Â She took forever to come by our table and greet us. If was not that busy even though it was a Friday night Memorial Day weekend.? Â We are on vacation, not in a hurry but our food seemed to take a bit of time. Â Then we get it. Cold. all of it.
Not exactly worth the wait..Plus our server was MIA from start to finish.. when we finally got her to come back to the table (she didn't come by after she dropped off the food to check how things were) Â so we flagged down another server to ask if he would get our server. Â (He then proceeded to ask us if we knew who our server was?) Â I found this really funny because we were sitting outside/deck area that he literally had to schooch by her each time he went back to the main dining area plus it wasn't busy and the deck area is not that large. Trust me, Â he knew who our server was...or could have EASILY figured it out and just been proactive.. Our server never smiled in fact she seemed to be screaming I hate tourists and my job and I guess I'll wait on you if I REALLY have to...Sorry, Â but I've been in your shoes and worked in touristy areas (here at the lake as well) guess what? Â YOU aren't doing me any favors by waiting on me. OK??
Long story short. Â The server was rude, food was JUST OK and COLD.. and WAAAAY over priced (even for a tourist area) decor was that whole plastic motif lol.. hanging plastic ferns (again, Â if you want me to pay these prices, Â spring for some real plants OK?)
I will give BIG kudos to the mgr. Â he REALLY tried his best to make it up to us but by that time it was just too late. Â
There's NO way this place should command the kind of prices they are asking.. EPIC FAIL!! Â The service really ruined it for us as we didn't have stellar expectations of the food just wanted it to be hot and service to be kind.
Also, Â the bar looked fun enough (but smokey) not my cup of tea but they had music there at least.
I think I'll try JB HOOKS as the menu looks about as pricey but have had many recommends from some of my local friends (too late) lol.. PLUS, Â it's more lakeside dining kind of place.
My wife and I both ordered pasta. Â They came with salads, my Cesar was warm, a bit soggy, and the dressing seemed off. Â My wife got the house dressing, and touted how good it was. Â I ordered chicken piccata. Nice portions with the chicken, and the sauce was pretty good. Â The noodles were very overcooked, so it felt more like a soup than a pasta dish. Â My wife ordered a special pepper steak pasta. Â Again, great portions on the steak and sauce. Â Same soggy pasta. Â The steaks on the menu were priced like the finer dining places on the lake, so I avoided them. Â In reality, that was probably what I should ordered. Â Excellent service and nice views. Will give it another try and give steak or chicken their fair share. Â Bill was $44 before tip. Â Just had water for drinks.
Review Source:Had a great group dinner here over the July 4th weekend- good place to see the fireworks as their patio overlooks the lake and you can see many displays in the distance. Â If you want to sit outside, get there early as it fills up. Â Our server, Lauren, was fantastic and made up for the frazzled hostess who may have been named Debbie or Nancy.
We ordered baked brie and Ahi tuna for appetizers- I had never had this type of sushi without the rice attached but with sesame seeds. Everyone in our group loved their food: pork chops with bleu cheese, surf and turf, and chicken piccata were all hits... probably the best chicken I've ever had in my life! Â Salads were good... vegetable sides were canned though. Â Menu is very extensive, restaurant is large and can accomodate big groups, and location/view are great.
We used to just love this place,not so much anymore. No more table side Â
cesear salad or bananas foster. No more Rombaur Chardonnay. New chef from a restaurant that went under and apparently he is running the show. He ran off all the previous staff, changed the wine list and it really doesn't work for us anymore. Fine dining with out even a placemat just a table with no tablecloth. Our server was very nice and really tried but the food is salty and lacking. We so miss the old Ruthie D's.
My wife and I had a great dinner here on August 19th. Â Our server a very nice lady was sure to put us at a window table overlooking the lake and away from a large party just seated before us. Â The service was great and so was the food quality. Â We will absolutely come back when we are in the area again.
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