Lake House Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Bonita Springs

We stayed the weekend at Trianon to attend Pickleball tournaments. The tournament ran late on Saturday (1/30/2021) so we had to cancel our previous dinner plans. We returned to the hotel at 8pm and changed quickly, knowing the restaurant closes at 9pm.

We both have worked in restaurants for decades so we felt bad going so close to closing time but planned to order right away and pay the tab so our server didn’t have to wait to close out.

We walked in and stood at the host stand near the many “please wait to be seated” signs. The bartender looked over at us and then turned around. After several minutes we started to get worried too much time would pass by with us just standing there so my husband went up to the bartender who told us to just seat ourselves, that the host was busy cleaning. I grabbed us a couple of rolls of silverware and paper menus and we sat at the 2 top out at the end of the deck.

Our server, Sheri (sp) came over and took our drink order a s was very nice. She came back a bit later a s apologized for the wait, stating she was trying to find the bartender to make the drinks. We asked to put in an appetizer while we waited.

The drinks came, the appetizer came, we ordered dinner, then the bartender turned off her neon signs above the bar at 8:30, darkening the already dim restaurant, then came over and unplugged the heater that was above us...leaving on the others where nobody was seated. I couldn’t believe her rudeness at a clear attempt to say “get out”. There were still 4-5 tables in the restaurant and 30 minutes prior to closing.

The food came and was undercooked(fish tacos and fish & chips) so we ate what we could, paid, tipped Sheri for her outstanding service, and vowed...

This was an odd place. Not odd in a good way euther. They have discounts on drinks and menu items with stipulations and rules, like your back at Camp. I want food and drinks not hoops to jump through.

We both ordered a Corona with Lime. The "waiter" brought us both a Corona Light. Never ever do I do DIet anything. So I asked about it - I was rudely told that my drink was a Corona and proceeded to argue with me. 10 minutes of twirrpy twirp telling ME the intricacies of the Corona line of products. Ordered a Bud. Took a few sips and never stepped foot inside Lake House again and we were staying at the Trianon in Bonita. Never ate at the other restaurant either - Ye Old Florida Flop House - same ad gimmick at the Lake House - rules and more rules. We drove to all of our meals off the property. You can't tell a Corona from a Corona LIGHT... you will screw up my food. 0% confidence in the quality and overall experience if I would of dove deeper and...

NOT impressed at all. Half off is a joke. To begin with, you must order a beverage, not just water. Beware as they do not warn you that they charge for refills on ice tea; lemonade; pop(soda). At $4.50/drink which are served in SMALL plastic cups which are mostly ice, that adds up really fast!!! ESPECIALLY when you aren't informed you're being charged for each!! The drinks with alcohol are costly too, even with the slight "happy hour" discount (that is a joke). My appetizer of chicken quesadilla was large but the chicken was tough and chewy, I picked it out, couldn't eat it. The other meals were average, nothing exceptional. Service was slow and they weren't that busy. Server took quite a while after our meals were delivered to check back with us. Although sitting by the lake is nice, it doesn't make up for everything else negative. We would not go back nor would I recommend this place. Far too many other much better, more reasonably priced...