Z'S ON THE LAKE

We had our choice between Blue Heron and Z's because they are across from one another and I am glad we made this pick.  Some unusual menu items including alligator, kangaroo and smelt.  Definitely a varied menu - everyone will be happy.  Prices were reasonable.  and the service quick.  Ambiance includes a beautiful look over the lake, lots of boaters docking, and a laid back fun crowd inside and on the patio.

The pulled pork, onion rings, steak, salted potatoes all mouthwatering.

If you are taking a ride up that way - make sure to stop here- no regrets!

SCAM ALERT!  Exhausted, we stopped at the Holiday Inn Express in Findley Lake (review to follow) and the very nice desk clerk recommended Z's on the Lake.  It was almost 8.50 and we were tired after driving for nearly twelve hours and it was raining, so we were thrilled to hear they would deliver until 10 pm.  Since the hotel only had a desk copy of the menu, the clerk called Z's and we figured we would get our stuff up to the room and have a few minutes to settle in and the food would arrive.  Except a sharp tongued young woman answered the phone and told the clerk they only deliver until 9.00, so she handed the phone to my husband, who ordered a 8" pizza with chicken and onion.  The Z girl snippily told him the order had to be $15.00 for delivery, so the clerk and I listened while DH increased the pizza size to 12" and added a salad.  The Z girl informed him that he was still .80 short of the $15.00 mark, so I looked at the menu and added in a basket of 3.99 fried pickles.  So fine, the order is placed.  We go up to the room and 20 minutes later the delivery boy arrives.  The order comes to $16.00 and some change.  I run downstairs to get some soup (see hotel review), and I come back to a furious husband.  The pizza was an 8" inch mess of soppy crust, the lettuce was a handful of "seen better days" romaine and a slice of cucumber....the fried pickles were okay, albeit the batter was pretty salty, but retained a certain crispness even though they had cooled off.  No plastic cutlery, no paper plates, no napkins.  DH and I have ordered delivery to hotel rooms plenty of times before and always the business provides the necessities, knowing it's unlikely travelers have the necessary dining accessories.  Plus, DH was mad because the rude young girl had ripped him off $2.00 by sending an 8" instead of 12" pizza.  It wasn't the $2.00, it was the principle of the thing....from the get-go, she copped an attitude and made it obvious that our placing an order so close to the nine p.m. deadline was an inconvenience.  Yes, I know she was probably ready to go home, but she was hired to do a job and accomodate customers---something that wasn't in her plan for the evening.  I guess the way DH and I look at it, it's the way you treat strangers that counts.  The Z girl obviously thought it was okay to be rude and rip us off even that small amount because we were strangers.  If it weren't for the Holiday Inn Express and it's extremely nice staff, you can be sure that any future thoughts of Findley Lake would be tainted by: oh, that's the place where they scam tourists.  So all we can say is Z's on the Lake's pizza is bad and their service is worse and we would suggest any out-of-towner to stay away, because they will see you as prey.

Large portion sizes and cordial service. Nice view of the Findley Lake (in summers). Nothing outstanding about the food though. About a mile from freeway and very accessible even in winters. A little too pricey for the location. The Gazebo is ideal for party of 6-8 people.