In the second part of our Lake Life series, we have food on our minds. There are some great restaurants that sit on the shores of Lake Hartwell and there is nothing better than having amazing food with our sun and water. This month we went to The Local Pub & Eatery to find out what they have on the menu.
Located at 1500 Providence Church Road on the banks of Lake Hartwell, the Local Pub & Eatery is a Gastro style restaurant that fuses the bar food we all love with fresh, local dishes. Accessible by boat with a large boat dock, The Local Pub & Eatery offers free delivery to the dock. Open for the last 5 years and owned and operated by Shane Dowler, the Local Pub & Eatery is the product of the years Dowler spent working in the restaurant industry, performing every job from dishwasher, to bartender, to front of the house. Dowler got his start in the restaurant and pub business in the most authentic way—he worked at a pub in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland. Upon coming to the states, he worked at Corbett McGee’s, then Andrews Private Club and back to Corbett McGee’s, until he had the opportunity to own the Uptown Lounge.
“Having owned the Uptown Lounge for 10 years with Sarah Dowler, we decided we wanted to venture into another restaurant, with a larger menu and more variety of food options,” says Dowler.
There were challenges along the way, such as the computers crashing on the second day the restaurant was open, to no show employees, and of course, Covid. However, Dowler says it has all been worth it.
“We have a large number of “Locals” who are our regulars all year long, even though the summer months are our busiest months,” notes Dowler.
The menu is something Dowler is very proud of. From chicken wings and homemade spinach dip, to shrimp dishes and high quality steaks, there is something for everyone. Specialties include hand pattied burgers with local beef, hand-tossed pizza, nachos and many more bar appetizers.
“We do make every dish to order, which is something we pride ourselves on. Chef Jordan will always stand by this,” Dowler says.
The summers at The Local Pub & Eatery feature live music on the weekends.
“We love to see people on the lawn enjoying the food, drinks, and entertainment. But most of all, we love to see them enjoying the company of other like-minded people,” says Dowler.
In the bar you can find a casual atmosphere that features a jukebox and darts. 4 beers are on tap and over 30 by the bottle. The wine list consists of over 40 wines, all offered by the glass or bottle.
The hours of operation are Wednesday and Thursday 5 pm-9 pm, Friday and Saturday 3 pm-10 pm and Sunday brunch is 11 am-3 pm.
As for the future of The Local Pub & Eatery, Dowler sees it getting better and better.
“There is no limit to what we can achieve going forward,” Dowler states.
You can find The Local Pub & Eatery on Instagram at thelocalpubandeatery, on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/thelocalpubandeatery, and online at their website at www.thelocalpubandeatery.com.