The Lighthouse Restaurant & Event Center

Zane Bueno

On Mondays my wife and I try to have a lunch date, and we search out lakeside restaurants, preferably. While we had to travel an hour to get here (we live by Lake Hartwell which lacks a large variety of restaurants), it was well worth it. Today was not as hot as it has been and there was a breeze off the lake so we sat outside on the wraparound porch, looking at the lake and geese. We shared a bowl of the crab bisque to start. I would have preferred it to be hotter, and as with my entree below, some lump crab for the price (no pic). I was craving seafood and saw a Crab Stuffed Flounder ($25 ouch!) and was very satisfied with the portion and side choices (I opted for the steamed broccoli and havarti mac-n-cheese (crazy combo I know, but that's the freedom of choice, baby!). While the sides could have been hotter, the entree was fresh and hot. The flounder was soft and juicy with a crab-cake style stuffing (at that price it should have lump crab, but did have the crab flavor). Satisfied! My wife had the Fried Teriyaki Salmon sandwich, which came with the fixings you'd expect and the bun was grilled. She chose the french fries, which she loved. I had a taste of the salmon which was crispy on the outside but tender and not overcooked. Of course, I got her pickle. I had a brown ale and she had a house cab, both of which were adequate pours. The scenery was of the lake, the ambience perfect, and we got there before the lunch crowd so semi-private as well. Our server was Sophie and she was knowledgeable, interesting, and attentive. She lives in the area and gave us some pointers on where to put our pontoon in where we can spend the day and enjoy swimming where the water is clear. A good find in a server these days! Ask for her if you go. We will be back, and will try the Gazebo on the weekend next time (closer to the water and more of a bar feel).

Kay Bee

Let me start off by saying that this place could be AMAZING. It has an amazingly beautiful setting on the lake and the menu unto itself is actually very good. The wine list is not bad (we had a perfectly fine, reasonably priced white Bordeaux). But the PRESENTATION, china (and plastic serving dishes), table setups etc etc are like a CAFETERIA. It’s quite sad really. It must already be a gold mine for the owner so that they just don’t care but it could be an even bigger goldmine and a joy to visit. But sadly that is not the case. No demerits to our server Bailey however who was extremely cheerful and sweet and professional, she’s an asset to the business; it’s not her fault the restaurant is so poorly “imagined.” My husband’s blackened flounder sandwich (after they took back the improper fried one) was very good. So was the blue cheese coleslaw. Sadly the wedge salads were very insipid although the dressings were good. But the sides are served in little plastic dishes that—I kid you not—our children had in their CAFETERIA at elementary school. Really??!! And the salad dressing sides were served in the little plastic throwaway containers you get with your fast food takeout Chinese order. Really??! Not the Saturday night fine dining our experience it so easily could be.

Natania Pechthalt

We had my graduation dinner party in one of the event rooms on the second floor. It was private, spacious, and had a nice view of the lake. We were able to arrange the table and chairs to our liking. We were also allowed to place some simple decorations. The staff was professional, attentive, and friendly. The experience was great and the food was good quality too. Special thanks to Jenna, our server. She was great. 😊

Jennifer Robinson

Very Very disappointed Fried Pork chops GROSS, Very plain tasting way to much breading not my kind of Southern pork chop and I have live and cooked in the south my whole life! Broccoli was mush way over cooked I Did not eat just ask for sum pasta the dish when it was brought back to table look like it was just sloped in the dish look really, really bad I didn't even try it looked so bad more like soup! Will not be returning!