Local ingredients with a Southern flair; Lake House brings new life to old Mohican Inn building

Posted 8/21/12

GLEN SPEY, NY — There’s a new restaurant in Glen Spey on the shore of Mohican Lake, serving new-American food with a concentration on Southern cooking. The Lake House occupies the former Mohican …

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Local ingredients with a Southern flair; Lake House brings new life to old Mohican Inn building

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GLEN SPEY, NY — There’s a new restaurant in Glen Spey on the shore of Mohican Lake, serving new-American food with a concentration on Southern cooking. The Lake House occupies the former Mohican Inn, and is owned by Shane Pearson, former Baker’s Tap Room owner, and Curtis Brown, who’s new to the area but is not new to the restaurant business.

Brown was a musician and was constantly on the road touring with his band, Bad Wizard. During a time when he was in Los Angeles recording an album for two months, he would go to a nearby taco truck every day. When he returned to Brooklyn, he knew that a taco truck would do well in Williamsburg. Armed with some cash from a music career (his song was featured in “Jackass”) and a will to do something—anything—he and his friend opened Endless Summer Tacos on Bedford Avenue to instant success. This was 10 years ago, before taco trucks became a “thing.”

The two-person business quickly grew to a staff of 15, and from there, Brown moved on to other restaurant ventures. He owned and operated the Cardinal Restaurant in the East Village, Territory BBQ in LA and Sid Gold’s Request Room in Chelsea. His operations were successful, garnering media attention in the likes of Eater NY, Paper Mag and the Village Voice.

Now, Brown and Pearson have opened Lake House, with investor comedian/actor David Cross (of “Arrested Development” fame, who owns a house in the area and directed the movie “Hits” based on Liberty, NY). The restaurant serves brunch and dinner and has a full bar with specialty cocktails. The dinner fare has Southern classics like fried chicken, pulled pork, ribs, catfish and sausage (Brown is from North Carolina). They also have salads, sandwiches and pizza. The sides are also Southern influenced, like market greens, corn bread and mac and cheese. Starters include unique choices such as bone marrow and steak tartare, as well as classic bar food like wings and nachos. There are also kids’ and dessert options. Brown mentions the cocktail menu has interesting concoctions like the Moon Walker: Stoli Orange, Stoli Peach and fresh-squeezed orange juice with a sugar Tang rim.

The brunch menu also features Southern cooking, like the quintessential chicken and biscuits, as well as egg dishes, huevos rancheros, and ricotta or sweet-potato pancakes. All the ingredients are sourced locally; the chicken is from Quails R Us and the vegetables are from Lackawaxen Farm Company, Willow Wisp and others. They cure the bacon and smoke the sausage in-house.

The guys also plan on hosting events, and have already showcased many local musicians. There will be outdoor movie nights, and you can guarantee Brown’s favorite movie “Jaws” will be screening. The restaurant has lakeside property, so there will be room for activities.

Brown said the building was already in good condition, so no renovation was necessary, but they made the space their own. There’s a large wrap-around bar in the center, and various tables and chairs throughout. Eclectic artwork covers the walls, for instance, something that looks like a romance novel cover and a poster for their beloved Jaws.

[Lake House is located at 367 Mohican Lake Rd., Glen Spey, NY. It’s open Monday to Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The phone number is 845/672-4323.]

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