“1878 on the Lake” Combines Elevated Menu and Cocktails with Spectacular Lakeside Views
DELAVAN, Wis. – (Nov. 15, 2022) – The completely remodeled dining room at Lake Lawn Resort will be revealed this month after a $1.5 million revitalization of both the space and the menu. Renamed “1878 on the Lake,” the restaurant pays tribute to the resort’s history, which opened as a 50-person boarding house in 1878. Today, the new restaurant brings together the best of the classic and the modern, highlighting the spectacular views of Delavan Lake and providing a new dining option for the area surrounding Lake Geneva.
“We designed a dining experience to bring out the best of our amazing location on the lake as well as shine a spotlight on the creativity and skill of executive chef John Billings,” said Dave Sekeres, general manager, Lake Lawn Resort. “We kept our guests and the Lake Geneva community top-of-mind during the planning process, with a focus on creating a premier local dining spot that would be perfect for a special night out or a destination for family and friends.”
The Menu
Award-winning Chef Billings has created a menu of small plates, sides and timeless main courses with surprising and rich flavor combinations, including house-made cured meats and locally sourced produce. Dishes include:
Shared plates such as braised chuck ravioli with butternut squash, maple puree, and chili lime-radish slaw, and maple-bacon lollipops with house-cured bacon, basswood, sassafras and honey.
Dishes that honor the hotel’s Wisconsin roots include beer-cheese soup, made with Pabst Blue Ribbon craft beer, Kiel Wisconsin cheese and white-cheddar popcorn.
Main courses include an Angus filet served with vichy baby carrots and braised ramps, accompanied by a garlic russet mash with espresso port demi. The ribeye roll with a pinot grigio, Worcestershire and butter sauce paired with a side of Cholula leek frites is sure to be a new favorite, and the Faroe Island salmon, is a maple-seared salmon served with shiitake risotto, chili lemon curd, maple drizzle, and sweet beet frites.
Three house-made burgers include a cheddar maple-cured bacon burger, made of a house grind of beef chuck and brisket with house-cured bacon, Wisconsin cheddar, lemon oil arugula salad, and fried egg on a sweet egg yolk bun, a garlic bagel burger, topped with 1878’s 14-day house-cured Angus brisket, German-style sauerkraut, gruyere, and house made 1,000 island dressing, and finally, a meatloaf burger, crafted with onion, green pepper, garlic, Worcestershire, whisky ketchup, napa cabbage and honey mustard slaw.
Bar and Cocktails
In addition to an extensive wine list, the 1878 bar includes a rotating menu of international and local bottled beers as well as creative cocktails such as:
An update to the classic Wisconsin old fashioned, the filthy brandy old fashioned is a mix of house-made Demerara simple syrup, Driftless Glen Brandy from Baraboo, Wisconsin, filthy cherries, a fresh orange slice and a splash of lemon-lime soda.
The cucumber mule is a combination of Driftless Glen Cucumber Vodka, house-made simple syrup, fresh cucumber, lime, and ginger beer.
The smoked cherry is made from Woodford Reserve Bourbon, honey brandy, Campari, house-made sage simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, filthy cherry and finished with smoked cherrywood
The Design
Created to bring the outdoors in while celebrating the original space, the design team brought back the original wood beams and columns of the restaurant and stripped the original wood floors back to their initial state. To modernize the restaurant, designers chose a palette of blues, grays and creams for a relaxing interior that reflects the lake views, which are now more abundant thanks to a much more open and airier layout. New carpet, furniture, lighting, sound, glass, artwork, and stonework complete the fresh look and feel.
Communal spaces have also been re-thought and refreshed, including the1878 Lounge which features a rebuilt art-deco bar and a mesmerizing kinetic sand art table by Sisyphus. The Fireside Lounge, a historic gathering area for generations of families, has also been updated with a newly built fireplace, carpet, furniture and lighting. The Delavan Room has also been refreshed, which provides diners with an intimate private room for small parties and events, and boasts amazing lake views.
In addition to 1878 on the Lake, other dining options at Lake Lawn Resort include the Lookout Bar & Eatery, available lakeside, and the Isle of Capri Café, a quick-service café serving beverages, sandwiches and wood-fired pizzas. As always, the resort offers custom catering for both onsite and offsite events.
For more information, please visit www.lakelawnresort.com or call (800) 338-LAKE (5253).
