The recent changes in the Record-Bee, especially “Grape News,” the newest section in Saturday”s paper, are a welcome addition. The wine industry is a huge part of the Lake County landscape and our economy. Judging by the number of wineries and tasting rooms that have sprouted up all around the lake, they”ve been able to hold their own despite the down economy. That”s good news.
But not all Lake County businesses have been so lucky and in this tough economy word of mouth promotion can make a positive difference ? especially for our small mom and pop operations and new businesses trying to make a go of it. Restaurants in particular seem to come and go, such as the Irish Pub in Clearlake where, until recently, we went for the best Reuben sandwich ever. Sadly, they didn”t make it.
Most often, my husband and I dine and recreate in and around Lakeport. That”s because most of the entertainment venues and restaurants we like are on that end of the lake but also because we didn”t realize the little nuggets of gold right here in our own backyard. We”ve discovered a few recently we think are excellent so thought we”d try to help them out by passing along our recommendations. They”re worth a try and the drive if you don”t live in the Clearlake Oaks and Clearlake areas.
? The “Korner Restaurant” on Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks serves up a great hamburger. The day I had my first burger there, another couple had just finished theirs. They left raving, just as I did. These burgers are made fresh from meat ground daily and hand formed into large patties about 1/2 pound in size. They are juicy, flavorful and served on a fresh warm toasted bun with your choice of fixings. Yummy and every bit as good as homemade! If you like a good Reuben sandwich as we do, try theirs; it”s a winner too. An added bonus is the breakfast menu. We”ve tried all the breakfast houses around the lake and the Korner Restaurant is on par with them all.
? Just down the road from the Korner Restaurant is, “Highway 20, Donuts and Burgers,” a funky little place that serves up great donuts. I don”t normally eat doughnuts but on the strong recommendation of a friend, I decided to drop in one morning and check them out. Oh my! One bite and heavenly visions of soft, light and fluffy goodness emerge. These scrumptious confections are served up fresh daily and if you get there early, they”re warm to boot! There”s only one problem, deciding what type to try and stopping at just one. The assortment is beyond impressive. For my taste, the old-fashioned glazed donuts are hard to beat but you”ll want to be the judge on that point.
? Over in Clearlake at “Silk”s Bar and Grill” we”ve found the great barbecued ribs. Whether you like your ribs dry or saucy, you”re in for a real treat. They”re tender, tasty, cooked to perfection and the portions are generous. If you happen to be there on a Thursday around 5:30 p.m. you might also catch a great show. When owner Andre Williams, of MC Hammer fame, starts his line up of show tunes the crowd lights up. If you like the old classics such as “Chicago,” “New York,” “Sweet Lorraine,” “Walking My Baby Back Home,” “Blueberry Hill,” “Only You, and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” to name just a few, you”ll love Andre”s show. Andre can hold a note the likes of which I”ve yet to hear anywhere on the lake. And, if you”re lucky, he might ask you to sing along with him. A foot-tapping walk down memory lane, ribs and a nice glass of wine — it doesn”t get much better than that!
I hope you”ll give these businesses a try and if you like them, word-of-mouth is a great way to support them and our local economy.
Olga Martin Steele
Clearlake Oaks
