WCCO Viewers' Choice For Best Lakeside Dining
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- One of the best spots for summer dining in Minnesota is along a lake. You can feel the open air, enjoy the weather and take in the sunset.
So we went looking for the best place to do just that. And your votes sent Natalie Nyhus to a restaurant with an appropriate name: Lakeside in Glenwood.
Lakeside in Glenwood -- voted Best of Minnesota -- has more than 100 years' worth of history on the banks of Lake Minnewaska.
Marv Hanson from Lakeville met his wife here in the 1960s.
"We were 16 years old. We came here to the Lakeside and heard the Everly Brothers playing," Hanson said.
The small lake town had a way of grabbing big names, even as big as Louis Armstrong. And people would come from all over the state to enjoy the rock stars of their generation. The ballroom, lounge and dining room doo-whopped on for decades, until tragedy struck in 2003.
"In 2003, it burnt down. It was the Glenwood Pavilion," Lakeside owner Jill Solmonson said.
After the fire destroyed the building, the City of Glenwood decided to rebuild. Out of the ashes rose what people from all over the state travel to enjoy today.
"It's the center point of Glenwood. They come here for meetings special events, a quick bite or a fancy dinner," said one diner.
It's a massive facility that sees everything from shorts to suits, weddings to Rotaries. And even a Make-A-Wish that came true.
"She had three wishes," Solmonson said. "The first wish was to have her sweet 16 birthday party here. The second was to go to the Ellen Show. The third was Disney World. So I granted her wish."
Solmonson is the firecracker that runs Lakeside.
"It's a big ship to run. There's many things going on. You have your dining room, outside, the boats that come up to the dock, the ballroom," Solmonson said.
She leans on her family to make it all happen. Her dad Chuck Thompson handles the books and the door.
"I've been retired for 16 years. My daughter asked me to do this several years ago and it's been going very well," said Thompson.
Her mom helps set tables. And the staff, well, they're like family too.
"You're only as good as the crew you have, and I couldn't ask for a better crew here. We enjoy what we're doing and have fun. That's what it's all about," Chef Jeff said.
"We are really a big part of the community," Solmonson said. "We are fortunate to have something like this. I smile. I smile because I love what I do."
And there's always a lake view available, too!
Lakeside is open seven days a week, year round.
Your other favorite places to dine by the lake are Ernie's on Gull in Brainerd and Acqua of Forest Lake. Ali Lucia and Matt Brickman will be heading back to Glenwood at the end of the month on July 28 and 29.
