Out & About #337 | Lake House + COWS Niagara-on-The-Lake

​Fifty percent of the conversations I've exchanged with residents of northeast GTA (ie. Markham/Scarbourough) involve food, and ninety percent of the time, I've been informed that a place is "too far" and that they are adamantly against "driving such a distance for food".

Little has changed since my earlier post (and associated eye-rolling distress) about this topic. I'm unsure as to why one would permit distance to be a hindrance in attaining a positive dining experience. The scalar is unchanging, and apparently so are certain people's mindsets.

That being said, a trip spanning over 50 kilometres shouldn't be a regular occurrence, but instead reserved for special occassions.
Wineries, steel factories, and a clear view of Lake Ontario are just a few of the spectacles to be witnessed on the drive to Lake House. If a road trip in balmy weather with mellow DAY6 tunes in the background doesn't make for a pleasurable journey, then I'm at a loss to say what is.

​Over a year since our last visit, the waterfront restaurant remained as it had been. The parking lot was still mostly gravel, the patio still closed due to chilly temperatures, and the interior still as roomy as we last recalled. Skies were a tad greyer than the previous visit, causing waves to be rockier and the hue of the water duller.

The menu had been revamped significantly during our absence, with the most prominent addition being that of the Great Canadian Burger. In place of the Maple Chipotle variation I had seen captured previously, this gourmet specialty had been branded as "Niagara's Best Burger".
Having been torn between this intriguing item and the lighter option of Fish Tacos, I eventually complied with internally ravenous desires and chose the burger.

​View the updated full album HERE !

​Generally an avid lover of vegetables, burgers are a category of comfort food that seldom succeed in curbing my cravings. The Wilcox was the first exception. Lake House is now the second.

"Voted Niagara's Best Burger" was never a truer statement! In fact, the meal took the top spot for being the best burger I had ever laid eyes (and tongue) on. Stacked high and speared within two toasted burger buns were red onion, tomato, white cheddar, grilled peameal bacon, and the most succulent beef patty I had ever tasted. It's a rarity for me to enjoy red meat in any shape or form, however this patty emerged triumphant.

Caramelized bacon and onion stole the spotlight from the peameal, pickles, and fresh arugula, combining decadent, porky crispiness with a phenomenal blend of flavours. Maple Chipotle and soft, melted aged cheddar were other welcome addition inserted in just the right proportions.

For a singular creation to change my mind is unfathomable, yet Lake House did it. They won my heart with their Great Canadian Burger, ever so appropriately and patriotically named.

< Pictured above and below: Shrimp "Mac & Cheese", Great Canadian Burger, and Short Rib Sandwich >

The Shrimp "Mac & Cheese" and Short Rib Sandwich fell short of expectations, especially after tasting my revolutionary specimen of a burger.

Although baked with three types of cheese, the pasta dish swapped depth for shots of sodium. Neither mozzarrella, Parmasan, nor goat cheese was discernible; the trio contributed a heavy, creamy sauce that truly wasn't for the faint of heart. Gnocchi replaced macaroni for a starchy spin, which really only augmented feelings of satiation. Two pieces of garlic bread accompanied the dish, as if the carbohydrate count hadn't already been met.
The bits of tiger shrimp were coiled up and overcooked, though freshness and moisture had been maintained.

​By this time, I had demolished most of the formidable food placed on my dish, and could no longer offer stomach space to taste the Short Rib Sandwich. Complaints of excessive sweetness in the marinade deterred me from requesting a bite anyway.

​We had been seated at the same table as before, but this time with a younger, less experienced server. Despite the lack of wisdom in the field, she was extremely cheerful, patient, and accomodating. Follow-up visit were made consistently in spite the sudden influx of lunchtime diners, and all requests were carried out in a timely manner.

She brought around a series of mini desserts just as we were about to retrieve the check. Creme Caramel and Black Forest Cake shots appeared heavenly, but such lust was suppressed for better, sweeter things.

​Amidst forceful blasts of wind, we managed a few quick shots of the exterior (and the sole cherry blossom tree) before hopping into the car.

The destination in mind was Niagara-on-the-Lake. A detour off the highway landed us in a quiet neighbourhood lined endlessly with vineyards of varying species. No wonder the region had earned the title of Vineland!

​We darted directly for COWS upon snagging a parking spot. Unlike the previous trip, weekday hours meant much fewer tourists and even fewer families in the area.

​Contrary to the winding lineup of young ice cream enthusiasts, the Price Edward Island-native was relatively empty during our stay.
The tranquility of the shop permitted leisurely browsing of COWS' merchandise and ice cream selection.

​Two separate cashiers managed the souvenir section and ice cream-scooping, both exhibiting perpetual patience towards our indecisiveness.
Three branded t-shirts, one PVC keychain, and five flavour samples later, we finally settled on our choice of cone: PEI Stawberry and Wowie Cowie.

​The top scoop was fruity and refreshing, though still laced with an indeterminable amount of sugar syrup. I tend to stray from anything advertised with strawberries, as I find the synthetic pink hue and chemically-composed taste to be rather repulsive. (This is especially the case with Strawberry Pocky.) However, PEI Strawberry was a pleasant surprise with icy bits of real strawberries churned alongside the creamy mixture.

Wowie Cowie was undeniably the sweeter choice of the two: a basic vanilla ice cream elevated with English toffee marble (think caramel swirls), chocolate flakes, and "moo crunch". The combination was every bit fitting of a cow-themed establishment and provided sufficient sugar rush, especially when consumed in a waffle cone lined with peanuts and more chocolate. The last few bites were tacky and, honestly speaking, a bit excessive. Personally, I found it best shared amongst others

​The cones aren't exactly the most economic choice for ice cream, but still fairly reasonable for a tourist-filled area.

​COWS has been my go-to spot since the moment I took baby steps into Whistler Village as an infant. While the trips to north BC have been increasingly infrequent over the years, the feelings of nolstalgia remained the same. I'm glad that COWS closer to home has been able to fill that void.

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