title_image

After a long hot afternoon on a beach, where would you go? For us, it was an easy decision. Somewhere close and in the direction of home. We had visited this place a couple years ago on the same beach trip so we knew what we were in for.

IMG_6647 (1).jpg

The beach is a Provincial park named Long Point and it really is quite special. https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/longpoint I will put together a post with some details and photos from our trip but it is such a cool spot for migratory animals and the local fish make for some great fish and chips! You can see the red American border there half way across Lake Eerie.

IMG_6634 (1).jpg

A google search will come up with quite a few boathouse restaurants and I bet there are many places with a similar menu. The local fish in the fish and chips are kinda neat if you are into that. https://www.facebook.com/theboathouserestaurantportrowan/

The place looks like a big barn down next to the water. Speaking of water, the lake is REALLY high and there are so many properties under water as is part of the parking lot. On the right, you can see the patio which feels like a bit of an animal pen but turned out alright.

What can you expect form the menu? I would call it old favourites and comfort food with a little local fish. Everything you see here would be on almost every menu you have ever seen with the exception of Poutine unless you are Canadian. It is on every menu here. $8.99 for Garlic Bread with Cheese and it better be a whole damn loaf!

The sandwiches are not actually too bad a selection. I keep remembering advice someone gave to me years ago, "If your dinner is in a bun, it ain't fine dining." If you wanted to sport eat the burger, with the cheese, bacon, mushrooms, an extra patty and a side of defibrillator, that would cost you $21.

The smart money would be on the Perch or Pickerel and followers of my reviews might expect me to go for the burger but lets not get ahead of ourselves...

Can I interest you in a Beverage?

You know me too well! The waitress was wearing a Great Lakes Brewery shirt so I figured I was in for something tasty. Unfortunately, the blue section of the DRAFT BEER section wasn't very specific in terms of which brewery from whence they came.

It turns out the Great Lakes was the Lager and I am not much for lagers these days.

I opted for a Dead Elephant from Railway City Brewery not too far from home. I featured that in a recent Zeke's Sweet Hops review and had to follow that up with a taste of it on draft. Despite the name, doesn't that look DAMN REFRESHING? Obnoxious hops and defiant malt make it such a great mouthful and even more so on draft.

In the continued saga of my little ones evaluating the Shirley Temples of the region, we had a strange compromise. One opted for the shirley temple in an agreement that the other would get the bottomless 7-Up so that they could each have yummy and lots. Apparently the Stratford and cruise line shirley temples are superior to this one.

I know the suspense is killing you so I may as well tell you I opted for the scrawny Philly Cheese-steak with onion rings which arrived with fries. Good news is the fries were good. Bad news is there wasn't much to the sandwich though it tasted fine.

More good news is a basket of onion rings arrived shortly after and posed for the EXTREME ZEKE CLOSE-UP shot. Behold the setting sun glinting off the crisp yet juicy morsels.

My meatatarian went for the Honey Garlic Wings. They were a decent size and saucy enough that we had to take a couple home.

As I contemplated what review I might give the restaurant, I looked up to see this gentleman chef. If it is good enough for him, it is good enough for me. A good meal after a day at the beach is really as much as I might have expected.