If you're ever in the Windham area, I highly recommend this restaurant, the service was great and so was the food. You get your moneys worth. They also have a nice bar, and it has a family owned, cozy atmosphere. I'll definitely be going back. read more

2/27/26 By Windham/westbrook standards, five stars. By Portland standards, four stars. It is NOT noisy. The waitstaff hustle, are friendly, accommodating, solicitous. They did not shake my vermouth (imagine living with that guy?) They did not put gluten in my whatever. (!) The place seats 80, miles including the bar. It is far busier weekends and summers. The pastrami sandwich was very fine, second only to the Second Avenue Deli in Manhattan. The Admiral steak very good- very generous- couldn't finish it, the Caesar salad romaine crunchy fresh. They serve raw oysters. They sauté smelts in season. They have a good array of beers, of desserts. Maggie and I agreed this is a "go to" at the top of our local read more

See all

Tried it last night. Very good fried clams, that's saying something as they are right across from Bobs Seafood. Maple Old Fashion was excellent. Then we dove into our main courses. Stuffed Haddock, great portion and the fish seemed to ba baked in a sherri sauce - The Seafood combo was very good the shrimp were small as well as the scallops but clams and all were very good! Great meal! We will go back ! read more

We have passed by this place on our way home for far too long, & today we stopped in for lunch. I'm really happy we did! After a little kerfuffle as to who our server would be, we quickly had our drinks & meal shortly thereafter. I had an excellent Thanksgiving style turkey sandwich with yummy mashed potatoes & my wife ordered the chicken parmesan plate with linguine. That was superb, as well. A cute little restaurant with great food like this requires you to arrive early, as shortly after we arrived it was packed. Don't pass by too fast or you'll miss this little gem. read more

Lake House Tavern - Thanksgiving turkey sandwich meal & chicken parmesan plate - American Near Me - Windham, Maine

We were looking for a nice dinner spot in the area to take our grandson for his birthday dinner - selected Lake House because of proximity more than anything else & then, wow. Our server Gabs could not have been better. And the food! We were quite blown away with the haddock special. Two fried haddock dinners for $30 - heck yes. They were lightly fried, and very fresh. Even the coleslaw was top notch, an often overlooked dish. The kids chicken nugget dinner was also proclaimed great and then we had cake. Chocolate cake to be exact - with a birthday candle. Truly a great evening & we will be back. read more

See all

Actually I cannot compare to your delicious sandwich. Love. Great Food. Good people!! Thank you!! read more

This place has everything you'd want from a small neighborhood tavern - super friendly staff, rotating specials, and great food. Some of our favorites have been their homemade desserts, fish and chips, and, any of the fried seafood really (they use beef tallow to fry - it makes a huge difference in the flavor!) In reality, we haven't had a bad meal here. Everything comes out fresh... The service is wonderful every time... They have happy hour and lunch specials, which are especially nice now that things are so dang expensive. To top it off, it's a lovely little space and they have a great patio for the warmer months. Go check it out! Don't skip dessert! read more

Ten out of ten Very comfortable atmosphere Perfect day light. Food was hot and on point , Service better than all. Highly recommended spot. Will definitely go back. read more

Lake House Tavern - American Near Me - Windham, Maine

Went for lunch today with 3 friends. Service was excellent. The place was clean. No real ambiance. The food was not good. Beer cheese was broke and oil was separating, scallops were supposedly baked, they were not cooked through. Still translucent and cold Frozen hamburger The place is not handicapped accessible and bathrooms are in the bar area and not accessible read more

Fried clams, French fries .... I'd drive an hour to come here ... best clams and fries I ever had. They use animal fat rather than oil, the taste is .... Undoubtedly better. Great service also; our waitress was very nice and attentive. Very responsible priced lobster roll for only $20. And it was well worth it. Clean, light on the mayo and seasoning, the lobstahhh was the star of the plate but the onion rings were great too. Over all, it was a great experience and I'm looking forward to coming back and trying different things. Absolutely worth stopping in for lunch .... Worth the drive read more

Stopped here for a late dinner while in town on business. The corn chowder was tasty. The service was friendly and attentive. The bar open to the restaurant made it rather noisy for a late Sunday night and the ambiance and decor is sparse. Good food and service, though read more

If I am given one word to describe Lake House Tavern, it's "mediocre". Now to my recent dining experience. My girlfriend and I decided to try LHT on New Year's Day Eve because most places we'd ordinarily frequent were closed. My inner voice was saying, "Be wary". That voice is often right. Our arrival was around 7 pm. There were but a handful of customers there. Business was slow. We sat at the bar. The bartender was somewhat personable but disinterested in whether we had been there before or what brought us through the doors. Not a positive first reaction. Always make the customer feel welcome. A server or bartender is the ambassador of goodwill. I ordered a Negroni, a classic cocktail. All professional bartenders know how to make a Negroni. I asked for mine straight up. You do not shake Negroni's. They contain vermouth, as do martini's and Manhattan's. You do not shake any drink that uses vermouth. The reason drinks with vermouth are generally not shaken--especially when it comes to classic cocktails like a Martini--is due to the delicate nature of the vermouth and the balance of flavors in the drink. Here are a few key reasons: 1. Vermouth's Fragility and Clarity Vermouth is a fortified wine, and shaking it can cause it to become cloudy or introduce unwanted air into the liquid, making it less clear. The cloudiness can be perceived as a degradation of the drink's appearance, which is particularly important in a classic cocktail where visual appeal plays a role. 2. Texture and Flavor Shaking a cocktail with vermouth, especially when mixed with spirits like gin or vodka, can alter the texture. The agitation tends to break up the ingredients more aggressively, and the vermouth may lose its subtle, herbal character. Stirring, however, allows the flavors to integrate gently and maintain their nuanced qualities. 3. Tradition and Balance The tradition of stirring drinks like Martinis or Manhattans with vermouth comes from the idea of preserving balance. Shaking introduces more dilution (from ice) and aeration, which can overpower the delicate flavors of vermouth. Stirring helps to evenly chill and dilute the drink while maintaining the drink's structural harmony. 4. Consistency Stirring typically yields a more consistent texture and blend of flavors in cocktails with vermouth, while shaking can sometimes create unpredictable variations in taste or mouthfeel. 5. The Martini Myth The idea that a Martini (or any vermouth-based cocktail) should not be shaken is deeply rooted in cocktail culture, especially thanks to James Bond's famous "shaken, not stirred" catchphrase. Many bartenders believe shaking creates a less refined version of these classic drinks. In short, when it comes to cocktails with vermouth, like a Martini, stirring is the preferred method because it maintains clarity, balance, and flavor integrity. Shaking is more appropriate for drinks that contain fruit juices or syrups, where the ingredients benefit from the aeration and mixing action. THE MEAL: We ordered a bowl of fish chowder and a side of mussels. The bowl of chowder was served in a small bowl. For $ 12.00, the bowl did not provide a generous offering. An excellent fish chowder requires a knife and fork because the amount of fish is abundant. That was not the case with LHT's chowder. The amount of fish was scanty. The chowder had a few pieces of potato and a small amount of fish; the rest was mostly broth. I was not impressed. The order of mussels was served with a few pieces of stale French bread. The mussels were tiny. They were tasty; however, in the grand scheme of things, there could have been more of them for the price of the dish. This entree paled compared to other mussel dishes I have enjoyed over the years. LHT has a decent array of offerings. Some are fairly priced, while others seemed pricey, especially considering that LHT is located in Windham and not Portland's Old Port. Do I recommend LHT? TBH, the venue does not get two thumbs up. Instead, I would give them half a thumb. Yet, everything is in the eye of the beholder, so give them a try and decide for yourself. read more

Located in the former Franco's Bistro at Anglers Road Commons, Lake House Tavern opened recently which is a casual restaurant and bar serving up American cuisine with a cozy bar area with seating at the bar, front room with high top table seating and a dining room with table seating. The food menu offers a selection of appetizers, salads, soups, chowder, burger/sandwich plates, fried & baked seafood, lobster rolls, steaks, pasta, children's menu and desserts. Specials are offered here too. The prices are moderate here. The bar offers 10 draft beers, bottle/can beers, wine, and cocktails. They also have drink happy hours 3-5pm weekdays, $5 drafts & well drinks. I stopped by Lake House Tavern on a Saturday evening and the place was busy, busy. I decided to take a seat at the end of the busy bar. The bartender gave me menus to look at and I got an ice water. I almost ordered the Linguini with Meatballs since the customer near me ordered it and it looked great and the portion was generous. For an appetizer, the Mussels ($16 plus tax) which had 22 mussels in a white wine sauce with plenty of crushed garlic, tomatoes, & 4 slices of rustic bread. I really enjoyed this. For an entree, I ordered a special, Fried Clam Strips with Fries ($12 plus tax) which was the right size portion with fried breaded clam strips (dry breading) and golden steak fries, tartar sauce on the side. The fried clam strips were pretty decent and a bit greasy and the steak fries were very hot, firm texture. They should've also provided a cup of ketchup on the plate in addition to the tartar sauce or have ketchup bottles accessible. After I was done, I got the check which was $30.24 (cash)/$31.37 (charge) with tax and before tip. Overall, I enjoyed my impromptu dinner at the Lake House Tavern despite the place becoming extremely busy. The bartender was very busy, but always kept an eye out and took away dishes after I finished eating. read more

It was a great experience, our server was great and he had a great personality. The food was wonderful, we had the sloppy joes, burger, steak and cheese and haddock tacos. Everybody was thrilled with their food choices and the sloppy Joe special was so good we got more to go. Drinks were good as well! 7.5/10 for food. 9.5/10 for service! It was relaxed space and a good vibe as well. read more

I had the mussels and they were absolutely delicious--perfectly cooked and the broth was rich and flavorful. For my main, I ordered the seafood pasta ($36). While the portion of pasta was generous, I was a bit disappointed with the seafood. There were only a couple chunks of lobster, a handful of scallops, and a bunch of small shrimp--definitely not the fantail shrimp I was expecting at that price point. I wish the lobster portion had been more generous to match the cost. On the upside, the service was good and the staff was friendly. Overall, a mixed experience--great flavors but not quite worth the price. read more

See all

First time at Lakhouse Tavern and really liked it. The staff was very friendly and attentive and the burger was phenomenal. I needed a hearty meal and this did the trick. I'll definitely come back read more

Lake House Tavern - Pineland burger - American Near Me - Windham, Maine

Gave it a 3-star because the food was good. However, it's nearly impossible to have a dinner conversation since the bar area is exceptionally loud and it billows out into the adjacent dining area. I wanted to enjoy my dinner but it was impossible with the noise read more

3 friends and I met here to catch up on Wednesday night in October. I was coming up 302, from the Westbrook end. It's worth mentioning that you have to turn onto the street before the restaurant to enter correctly. I didn't turn right until after I saw where it was and at that point, it was too late. I accidentally used the exit, to enter. The place seemed to be hopping, with the parking lot full. We were still able to grab a 4-top without any trouble (approx 6:30pm). We ordered cocktails and they were all great. Our waitress was friendly and checked back in frequently, as we hadn't seen each other for a while and didn't immediate jump to focusing on the menu. When she returned, we ordered our appetizer and meals all at once. The nachos came out overcooked. If you tried to pull one chip away, they all came, because the cheese was hardened and not melty at all. I ordered the baked haddock as my meal. It came with a side salad, choice of baked or seasoned potatoes, and asparagus. The salad and haddock were yummy, but the sides were not. Both my baked potato and aspargus were very undercooked. I could hardly mash up the potato to add butter and the asparagus crown was semi-soft, but halfway down the stalk was tough. My friend, who got a chicken sandwich, said her chicken was dry and her bacon (which I saw for myself) was also overcooked. Seems like they've got some kinks to work out in the kitchen. Perhaps I'll give it a shot down the road, but right now, I wouldn't go out of my way to visit again. If half stars were a thing, I'd go 2.5 here. Nothing was inedible, just not what you hope to pay for, especially with rising costs these days. read more

See all

First Class Management! Quick seating, awesome server, and outstanding food quality!! Plan to visit frequently. read more

Tried Lake House for the first time last night and was amazed by the place! The restaurant is small, but it is not cramped, aside from the restrooms, which are squeezed into the small bar area. We walked in and sat down, and our server was quick to come right over and greet us with menus, and brought our drinks quickly. The menu is surprisingly thorough for a small place like this, and contains pasta meals, burgers, and seafood, three of my favorite types of meals. I ordered the seafood combo ($38) and while pricey, it's not nearly as expensive as other seafood combos I've had from other restaurants. It came with fried clams, scallops, shrimp, coleslaw, and fries. It was really good! Unlike other places, the seafood tasted fresh and not overcooked or fried too heavily. Some of the best fried clams I've had. My dad tried the haddock with sweet potato fries and enjoyed it. The dessert menu looked good, but unfortunately we did not leave enough room for any! Did not try the bar, and probably wouldn't. It appears very cramped. Overall, food was delicious and quickly made, service was very friendly, and the environment was cozy and inviting! We will definitely be back! read more

It was our first visit, and it will not be our last. The service was excellent, the drinks were great and fairly priced. We went during happy hour-daily 2-5! The menu has lots to offer. We enjoyed everything we ordered. By the time we left (a winter Saturday at 6pm) there was a waiting line out the door! We arrived around 4:45 and there was still plenty of room. read more

A very dear friend of mine got sick eating here because something that was supposed to be gluten free was cross contaminated by deep frying it in oil used for everything else. She has Celiac. She was beyond explicit about that and asked about cross contamination. The waitress did make a note of it on the ticket but clearly no one back in the kitchen was properly trained to deal with this. After eating a few bites she started realizing this was probably not gluten free. And it wasn't. The manager came to apologize but it was obviously too late at that point. I get that restaurants are more and more writing "gluten-free" on their menus to attract people that "want" to be gluten free as a dietary preference but they need to be way more careful with those claims because of the people that actually NEED to be gluten free. My friend did everything right to try and protect herself. Just warning people that as of now, they really don't have a safe protocol to follow when it comes to this. And even knowing people have gotten sick in the past from cross contamination, (I have since heard this has happened before and the owners were made aware), they apparently haven't changed anything. In my opinion this is negligence. So please be careful. read more

Excellent friendly service and homemade food. We've eaten here several times and it's been all good. Try the seafood chowder or French onion soup ! Both are homemade and excellent. read more