Lakeside Inn Restaurant and Pub

We tried this place on a «lark» — the wife and I wanted to venture out and have a date *gasps*. Finding this Groupon offer, we went to try it.
Service is good, and the view is very nice, and eating on the «porch» was very nice and quiet (even with a full bar). Food is hit-​or-​miss… nachos are a good deal, and lately the wife and I order nachos and beer and call it dinner. The other dishes are decent, some good, some just alright.
Like another reviewer offered… its a dive bar at heart, but a good one. We’ll be back.

Diver bar with a view. Staff was nice & friendly, but food was not so good.

We went there last night for dinner. We had a party of 25 and one waitress. She was very attentive to the group and the food was really good.
I dined a Lakeside years ago and wasn’t impressed but they have a new chef. I will return and tell others about the successful handling of our group. They even did separate checks and let us order ala carte. Give them a try!

Nice view, but awful décor and food. Fake potted plants hanging, ripped/​stained carpet. Ordered a blackened chicken salad and it was greasy with almost entirely the stem part of the lettuce. On top of that it was over priced.
They should get on one of those restaurant rescue shows. With the location, it could be really nice.

I like dive bars with nice views. This one has a restaurant attached to it.
FOOD– Ok. Had ½ price fajitas that were almost like ½ size. Steak over cooked.
ATMOSPHERE– Sticky bathroom, dining room cob webs. Live music is great!
YUCK– You have to walk past ash tray smoke stench at the front door each visit
STAFF– Friendly and nice. We were taken care of at all times.
VIEW– Nice view of a small lake (Thoreau) in the daytime can’t see at night time
PRICE– Food slightly higher $ than average similar to Reston Town Center prices
BEER/​DRINKS– Expensive but people keep coming back.
All in all ok. Go there at least once so you can see the lake.

That is the oldest restaurant in South Lakes shopping plaza. The décor probably never changed since the opening couple decades ago. They did change a menu last week. Menu got shorter, but i think they have better selection now. We had pasta and salmon tonight and were surprised by very good quality of food. Dining area usually very quiet, it is separated from bar. I’ve never seen it even half full so we never bother with reservation.

View: fantastic
Location: excellent
Service: great
Food: decent
Prices: reasonable
Décor: Yikes! I felt like I was going back in time, but in a bad way. Dingy, dusty, old. I pity the fool. This place has so much potential to be a go-​to place for the many well-​off area residents. The back porch area is the most wonderful attribute to this location and it is covered with old carpet, dusty fake plants and strange wood blinds. The (white?) railing outside this area needs to be cleaned and painted. Also, we were there on a spectacular day and the whole porch area was closed up. Why not have that area open? They are really missing an opportunity to shine here. The location begs for a make-​over.

So, I failed to mention in my previous review that my parents were obsessed with going to this place and are probably becoming known as regulars. I was not thrilled at the prospect of coming with them here but it went better than expected.
Though lakeside inn is known for the view, we were there at night, so there was no view to be had as a perk.
For starters, they have new, more limited menu, still some decent options remain.
The place was completely dead at 8 on a Monday night. We were the only customers at all aside from the few at the bar, when we arrived which worked out well for being a bigger group. I would imagine this place is a good choice for large groups.
The bread was fantastic and service was good. From the looks of others who got dinner salads– they looked great, were very big. Unfortunately, I ordered the tenderloin dinner. Though the steak was very good and tender, for the $ 25 price, the portion of mine was really meager, and the plate arrived half empty. I was still hungry when I was done, and eyed those salads the others got enviously.
My dad got a cajun chicken wrap which he hated… overloaded with salt and seasonings but that might have been expected with that type of dish. I ate the pickle though, and it was ridiculously salty, more than any other pickle I’ve ever had!

Absolutely terrible! Violently sick after!
Well, I decided that I wanted something other than all the chain restaurants that we are inundated with in Reston. I haven’t been to Lakeside in decades, yet knew what I was getting into. Wow, though! place is in some sort of time warp and hasn’t changed in décor, cleanliness or odor since the 80’s. Uncomfortably dingy dining room and lighting. Unbelievable that after over decade of non-​smoking the entire place still reeks of cigarette smoke. Went after dark, so view was not there to counter the surroundings. Fireplace is still nice. Was a Tuesday night, and still the «patio room» section of the dining area was kinda full. I chose to sit at a table just inside the fireplace for more privacy and hopefully better attention from staff. Well, that didn’t work.
Ordered the Turkey Soup, Chicken Florentine with Angel Hair, and the Filet Mignon Tenderloin Medalions.
Soup was awful mess of distressing flavors.
Chicken was actually pretty good, but unsatisfying.
Asked for «No Crab Meat» with the Tenderloin due to allergy and was surprised by no offer of substitute, even house salad or comp the $ 3 soda.
Three tiny ping-​pong-​ball-​sized medallions sat next to a mound of mashed potatos.
Cut into the first one and found it to be cooked as ordered.
First bite hit with shakes down to my toes. Some sort of acidic or tinny taste that I blamed on the bernaise sauce or grill marks. Kept going through that first litte medallion and couldn’t take anymore.
When I finally was able to get waitress’ attention, I got a box from the busboy and proceeded to box the two remaining tenderloins and walk them to the trash can next to the bar area nearby to make a point. Somehow, was able to get attention enough to get the overpriced bill paid and head out of there. No management of any kind was apparent throughout the entire visit. Lobby & hostess stand were dark and vacant. Diners had been just wandering in, around and seating themselves all evening. No one seemed to be supervising or caring if any diners were pleased or needing at all.
By the time I made it the 15-​minute car trip home, I was violently ill and spent the entire night and most of the next morning (called in sick) back & forth from the bathroom.
Well, that will teach me.
Maybe a quick hamburger at happy hour outside on the lake is okay, but for actually dining… stay away.

After my last review, I was contacted by the owner and urged to try the Lakeside again. We recently underwent a 5 week kitchen renovation and found ourselves at the Lakeside more than once.
While I stand by my previous review, I will say that the food has improved.
Pros:
— the new menu is really nice (welcome to the 21^st century!)
— love the sweet potato fries
— the chicken paillard is really good
— kid friendly
— the view
— friendly, helpful waitstaff
Cons:
— bizarre fly problem in the dining room
— dining room is still oddly dingy
— service can range from stellar to so-​bad-​you-​have-​to-​get-​up-​and-​find-​your-​server
— smoke stench from the bar
— high chairs aren’t in the best repair (or we keep getting the one with the bad strap).
Generally speaking, it’s a pretty good improvement in just a few months. It’s still not fine dining, but if you’re looking for fine dining in the South Lakes Shopping Center, you’re probably in the wrong place.

As others have mentioned, Lakeside Inn is a «Cheers» kind of place. No, it isn’t the Ritz, but it doesn’t pretend to be. The hamburgers are excellent, the rest of the menu is decent, and the wait staff are friendly. If you’re looking for beer and a burger/​sandwich, this is where you should go.
Reston needs more of these places and less of the souless, chain restaurants you find in the Town Center and local strip malls. I’ll take Lakeside Inn over the pretentious Jackson’s any day.
As for the previous comments on décor, as my father says, «You can’t eat décor.»

OK, I can’t ding the food yet — as most have — because I only had one appetizer — nachos (and I’ve had much better). Billy was cool not to kick our a*s out after we showed up with Starbucks fufu– drinks!
I give it three stars because of the socializing and how everyone does make you feel like a ‘local.’ My girlfriend and I are moving to a lakeside townhome at Lake Thoreau in a few weeks, so if I want a view, I just stay home and sit on our deck or get on our pontoon. I’m sure the view is great from inside the restaurant, but I sat outside in the patio the whole time — be prepared from clouds of second-​hand smoke if you don’t smoke!
Lakeside Inn is mostly about sitting around and talking to people, enjoying a game (decent amount of viewing areas with several TVs) and finding out why the same people come there every day or just about every day. Looking forward to claiming my ‘Norm’ bar stool or corner of the patio as i can just walk home after last call!

We’ve dined at Lakeside Inn three times now and I understand the way many of the reviewers feel about the experience…
The short story: The view from the patio is very nice. You can almost forget that you’re sitting in a suburban restaurant. The wait staff are all very pleasant. The menu is varied and the chef is competent — that means you can probably find something you’ll like on the menu, but you won’t come here for the food. Yes, it’s relatively expensive, but you can buy a $ 25 off coupon for a buck or two and that makes Lakeside Inn reasonably priced. For those who complain that they’d rather eat at Town Center, then you don’t care about the view.
The summary: Go ahead and try it. The view of the lake is nice, the ambiance is relaxed, the food is OK — and sometimes the wine is half-​price.

You can’t beat the price for the taste, the view or the service or the feeling of a local bar /​restaurant.. Come on over and ask for Val at the bar. She’s the best. She worked our wedding many years ago and has from ever since… always made sure our times in Lakeside feel special.
Don’t ignore this statement… because Its important when it comes to restaurants…
It’s not aways the effort of the wait staff; It’s the effort of the patron that makes it your own.
We meet the owner, Ed any time we arrive and he always meets us with a smile and a familiar feeling of belonging. How many times can you visit a local bistro or restaurant that you can say you meet the «owner» on a regular basis.
«We» are all out there to find «Cheers». The place that knows your name. Lakeside is that place. Just give it more than just one visit. They have great ownership and great service.
Many of us move through restaurants like we move through a dive in a pool. «Smooth». «Fast». «No effort». If you want Cheers, then you want Lakeside.

Of 3 meals the fajita salad was good, the prime rib was good, and the fillet was a little over cooked but tasty. Fun musician in the bar on a Friday night.

Wow! I am surprised at all the bad reviews… I didn’t think it was that bad. I would give it a 3 but I like the view so it’s a 4. This local hang-​out is a perfect location for grabbing a quick brunch, drink or dinner and you don’t want to drive more than a mile from your house.
I agree, the menu was not inspired since it was full of typical type dishes and I’d imagine mediocre food but I will say the view of the lake is great and makes up for the lackluster menu. They had a veggie burger like any restaurant would but we had a average brunch after the 5k race but it still hit the spot. The coffee was a bit lukewarm but the server was friendly and brought us new hot cups. We were like the first ones there at 10:15.
So overall, not great food but great local atmosphere and easy to get to if you live in that area.

Funny that I haven’t reviewed this place. I avoid it like the plague, but having grown up a couple blocks away, of course I’ve been here.
The sole appeal to this place is that you might not get a DUI driving back from it because it’s the closest bar to a lot of Reston houses. We would joke about coming to this place, because it was where the single parents of some of our friends would go to hang out. «Haha, want to go hang out with my pops at Lakeside?» we’d say, and laugh, and laugh.
Now, I know I’m way too old because people my age actually go here regularly. This bar is so bad that I actually have not hung out with those people once I found out they came here. This bar is where you go when you’ve committed to living in Reston for the rest of your life, and as a result, you’re ready to die. It’s not my time yet, man. I’m not going to Lakeside.
It’s not like I’m missing anything here. The food is overpriced and terrible, the beer is Town Center priced (and I refuse to go to Town Center, anyway).
This place is a cancer.

The food is awful, and EVERYTHING is over priced. My room mate and I went there 2 nights ago and bought 1 pitcher of Yuenghling and two Guiness (after a LONG wait for attention from the bartender). The tab was 34 dollars… I pay less in Georgetown.
But, they do have a beer pong table at the rear, I can walk there, and they are open during blizzards. Fair enough. I’ll keep stumbling there.

Terribly bad food
— Wings: somewhat soggy on one side and hard and dry on the other
— French onion soup: watery soup and thus watery croutons in soup with crappy cheese) ($ 6 bucks!@#!@ wtf!)
Pretty good bar
— Fun, friendly bartenders
— You can smoke in the bar… and mostly everyone does (blech)

Food is just ok and the décor almost makes you feel like you’re at one of those huge buffets in Vegas.
Bar area is a good place to stop off for a beer and watch a game or listen to a live acoustic set by a local. Bartenders there are all great especially Shannon (think he’s there Friday, Saturday and Monday nights only). Bar feels like «Cheers» where everyone knows everyone and everyone’s a «regular».