Out & About #207 | Lake House and Exploring Niagara - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

Out & About #207 | Lake House and Exploring Niagara

3/12/2016

It's time to be thankful that the worst part of winter has come and gone, generating little damage along the way.
With the exception of the rain, we've been hitting shockingly high temperatures recently. And shockingly glorious warm weather in March means impromptu road trips.

Venturing into the Western region of the province, we fueled up via brunch at a restaurant named Lake House, just off the highway in St. Catherines/Vineland.

The view of Lake Ontario was absolutely breathtaking, rather unthinkably so considering the restaurant's somewhat isolated location.

Seating ourselves at a cozy window table was the first order of matters. Natural lighting was ample, but the exterior had been strategically designed such that the occupants of the tables would be able to enjoy their meals without fear of direct sunlight penetrating their eyes. (Quite frankly though, the waterfront view would have still made it worth it.)

Maple seems to be gradually gaining fame as the next up-and-coming ingredient for the spring season. First was McDonald's Maple Latte, and now it's being incorporated with Chipotle, another well-loved favourite, to form Lake House's very own specialty maple chipotle aioli. This dressing was spotted on their brunch/lunch menu for a total of four times!

Find the full album HERE !

Our server was extremely pleasant and dropped by to take our drink orders not long after arriving. In addition to soft drinks and an extensive selection of red and white wines, we were also informed that off-the-menu espresso-based drinks (cappuccinos, lattes, etc.) and mimosas could be ordered as well.
Initially craving a morning caffeine kick, I received immediate flashbacks of Farmhouse's subpar, lukewarm creation just as I was about to utter, "I'd like a latte please." A very pricey Mimosa, with seemingly equal parts sparkling wine and orange juice, was requested instead.

< Shown above and below: Grilled Prime Rib Sandwich, Clam Chowder, Braised Beef Tacos, and Chicken and Butternut Squash Pizza >

Each of the dishes were thoroughly tasty, yet exhibited no signs of excessive flavour enhancement. The Grilled Prime Rib Sandwich was tender, overflowing with savoury meaty juices. Accompanied by fresh arugula, tomato slices, and a positively pungent Swiss cheese, it made for a satisfying seaside meal for diners with an above-average stomach capacity. The sole factor in need of improvement would be the bun - it had been grilled to mass aesthetic appeal, but remained a tad soggy.

The Braised Beef Tacos were another great choice; like the previous dish, it was also served with Sweet Potato Fries void of additional charges for substitution. Generously packed with fall-off-the-bone shreds of beef and topped with diced peppers and goat cheese, this would be my go-to taco dish away from home if the Wilcox ever fails to meet expectations. To top it off, the sweet potato fries were addicting as could be: crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and devoid of a greasy touch and aftertaste. I found no flaws in this dish whatsoever.

The Chicken and Butternut Squash Pizza was an item I had ordered out of pure curiosity, and truthfully did not expect to be blown away by. Beyond its bold, sophisticated presentation, the foccacia-like base was thin and springy, yet not overly doughy. Pieces of chicken breast were scarce, as were cubes of roasted butternut squash, but the maple chipotle aioli, slightly powdery goat cheese, and wonderfully-textured bacon bits amassed the topping combination to yield satisfying, non-greasy dish.

Embodying a lovely low-sodium menu, comfortable dining environment, friendly service, and the most stunning waterfront view imaginable, there is little about Lake House that I can profess my concerns regarding. The only two woes I can conjure up at the moment would be the hefty $11 price tag on their mimosa, which is approximately twice the price of Union Social Eatery's identical version, as well as the fact that they are located approximately forty-five minutes from home. (Although the drive definitely makes for a peaceful road trip on a sunny day.)

I later suggested making a quick stop at Niagara Falls, just preceding a visit at Niagara-on-the-Lake for mid-afternoon ice cream. The start of March Break had marked a new era of chaos at the Falls, and the number of manner-deprived tourists was disastrously devastating.
Between being elbowed by young families and almost having my tripod knocked over by U-14s flaunting their smartphones, I managed to secure a few shots of the waterfall on a brief lone mission. Majority of the snaps were relatively disappointing, but little could be done as almost every inch of the viewing area being lined with tourists of all ages. I soon surrendered and packed up to head towards a more tranquil region.

Find the full Niagara album HERE !

Any true Canadian knows that a weekend excursion out of the city will definitely comprise of ice cream. Where there is a COWS location, there shall also be an indulgent cone of creaminess awaiting. The lineup wasn't particularly lengthy, though it did take some time to receive samples and place orders as only one person was working the entire ice cream bar. We emerged from the store with a leaning tower of Sea Salt Toffee, Chunky Chocolate Mint, and Chocolate after a solid twenty minutes.