Carol's Lakeview Restaurant — Restaurant in Cherokee Village

This is a bit of a drive for us, but now that we've discovered it we keep trying to find excuses to be in the area. Each time we've gone, the specials were completely different. And when we've ordered from the specials board, we've absolutely loved the food! Noteworthy was the mushroom soup - absolutely incredible and now I'm on a quest to find a recipe to recreate it myself - not a cream soup with mushrooms in it but a true mushroom soup. Also, the American goulash. I was raised on my mom's version as comfort food, but unfortunately never got her recipe for it, and my sister and I have tried for 30+ years to figure out how she made it. Every other version I ever had was either too sweet or might as well have just used spaghetti noodles or called itself macaroni-in-spaghetti-sauce, So I ordered a small order to go for later. Big mistake, should have done large. I actually cried when I finished it. Sadly, we haven't seen it on the menu board again, but I've been trying yet again to decipher at home what is different from other recipes. The breakfast choices have been without fail absolutely delicious. The service is friendly and, even when they are busy, prompt and efficient. Since we always order food to go in addition to our dine-in order whenever we eat at restaurants, some places or servers act inconvenienced or downright rude about that, and some places it has actually caused so much confusion as to make all orders incorrect. This isn't true here. The one incorrect part of any order in the 3 times we've been has been a "did I forget to bring those? I'm so sorry" situation with the veggies on the dine-in order that was remedied in less than a minute. This is a true hidden treasure. I wish we...

Walked in and thought, "Hmmm, old fashioned diner". Expected greasy food, wilted salad and canned vegetables. Got an "Honest to Pete" REAL baked potato, not nuked. Chicken filet was better then average and not greasy at all. Wife had "the best Chicken Strips, Ever!" Made from real chicken breast, no compressed "meat" in these. Then came dessert. My DW had the Fudge Marble. Started making pleasure groans immediately. I took a chance on a slice of Blueberry Rhubarb (Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb has been in my top two forever) and my glasses almost fell off my eyes bugged out so far!) I've had dessert in 10 countries on three continents and never had one as rich and tasty as this. You can taste the blueberries and rhubarb in every bite and the homemade pie crust is good enough to eat alone. I'm a diabetic and I should have taken my insulin both before and after this piece of pie. Did I mention this was the richest dessert ever? It's a five and half drive from Kansas City, and the locals tell me breakfast is even better! I'm glad I made the fall vacation choice of Cherokee Village. No, I'm not related to the owners in any way, and, unfortunately, don't have a financial interest, nor was I compensated in any way for this honest review, well, unless you count the taste of the...

Jesus take the wheel.... if you eat at Carol’s Lakeview Restaurant and actually have plans. You will more than likely spend most of the day indisposed from the subpar quality of food that is being served. On a positive note: I LOVED drinking coffee out of my funeral home mug. Yes, I would love eggs with a side of cremation plans. Is it just I or is it widely inappropriate to serve coffee in mugs with funeral home ads in a retirement community? I get it.... anything to help the bottom line. I’m not mad at you Bro.

Carol’s once was the go to place for my family every time we were in Cherokee Village (over 20 years). The new management/manger saddens my existence. The quality of wait-staff is questionable (Kristy, I’m looking at you girl). It does not surprise me that Cherokee Village is on a downward slope to a ghost town. I’m all for “keeping it local”, but do yourself a favor and keep driving to Hardy. If you do not heed my warning and choose Carol’s at least you know to call to prepare for...