What‘s cooking at Crooked Lake

June 1, 2008

Crooked Lake Grill, a quaint 40-seat restaurant owned by Jamey and Liz Wittenberg, sits across from the picturesque lake in Conway, just north of Petoskey. Offering hand-prepared, homemade food in a family friendly atmosphere, it’s no surprise the business notched wins for Best Breakfast and Best Restaurant Staff in the Petoskey area in the Northern Express 2008 reader’s choice poll.
Welcoming regulars, who made the restaurant popular in years past, as well as new visitors and year-round residents alike, the Wittenbergs hope to keep people coming back with delicious homemade offerings, well-priced daily specials, and small-town charm.
Although there have been name changes and new owners through the years – the restaurant was previously known as Beach’s Log Cabin and the Americana – Crooked Lake Grill continues the quality and tradition of good service and great food first made famous decades ago.
“The restaurant itself has been here 40-plus years,” says Jamey Wittenberg. “We bought it in October 2006 and renamed it Crooked Lake Grill.”
Buying the restaurant was an entrepreneurial venture for the couple. “Both Liz and I have family members who have been in the restaurant or catering business,” says Wittenberg, “but this is our first restaurant.”

THE PERFECT VENUE
With Jamey’s background in finance and Liz’s experience with private catering and concessions, owning a restaurant seemed the next logical step; it took five years for these long-time Petoskey residents to find the perfect venue. Food-loving Jamey is the cook, while Liz helps manage and run the restaurant, along with help from their 13-year-old daughter, Rachel. Additional help is hired as needed, and the business also does catering.
“We have kind of the same heart and spirit of the Americana (the popular family-owned restaurant which served generations at the same location in the past),” says Wittenberg, “warm and friendly.”
“And we have a huge amount of regulars,” he adds. “There are people who have been coming here 30 years or more.”
“We made a lot of interior decorative changes,” says Wittenberg of their improvements after purchasing the business. “We removed all the curtains and opened the restaurant right up to the lake.”
Updated lighting, as well as interior and landscaping changes, has improved the restaurant’s decor. During the summer, an additional 10-12 patrons can be seated at outdoor tables.
A convenient take-out window is offered in the summer months, from noon – 9 p.m., where lunch and dinner choices will also be available – as well as ice cream treats – to provide patrons with additional options while enjoying Northern Michigan’s beauty.
Late-nighters will be able to grab a bite to eat on Friday and Saturday nights when the Grill’s summer hours – open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday – kick in for warm-weather fun.

BEST BREAKFAST
Breakfast is served all day, and patrons have a variety to choose from: homemade stuffed hash browns, custom omelets, eggs, as well as the restaurant’s famous pancakes.
“We are very well-known for our pancakes,” says Wittenberg. “We make a thin, European-style pancake. It’s very similar to Americana pancakes.”
Menu items are offered a la carte or inclusive, and the restaurant proudly serves $5 morning specials of eggs or pancakes every day.
“We do breakfast specials in the morning for five dollars, that include coffee,” says Wittenberg. “We try and address the fact that people need choices that aren’t pricier.”
Add fresh squeezed orange juice, or choose French toast prepared with homemade banana bread for a unique taste sensation.
Lunchtime offerings vary from burgers and hot dogs to chicken, grilled cheese and homemade soups. “We have specials every day,” he continues. “If they become popular, we add them to our menu.”
As summer returns, Jamey and Liz are looking forward to visiting with returning vacationers, as well as year-round locals, and are happy the business has continued an upswing in today’s economic market.
“We have seen an increase in business,” says Wittenberg, who is proud the restaurant operates with a family spirit in mind. “We always try to make great food and have a large selection of food…and we’re right on the lake.”
Visit Crooked Lake Grill, located on U.S. 31 in Conway, from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m., 7 days a week. This summer, look for extended hours until 9 p.m. at the takeout window and 24-hour service on Friday and Saturday nights. Call 231-347-5530 or check them out on the web at:
www.crookedlakegrill.com