DELICIOUS Something for everyone

By ELISSA CHUDWIN

Photos by KATHY TRAN

DID YOU KNOW: Owner John Schmitz jokingly calls the restaurant a “Poor Man’s Lake House” because you can’t even see White Rock Lake from the parking lot.

stopped evolving. Situated a half-mile from White Rock Lake, the eatery is the local hot spot for cyclists and runners, Schmitz says. It’s a regular firstdate spot, and meet-up groups often plan events at the bar.

Lake House Bar & Grill couldn’t have come to fruition without owner John Schmitz’s family, friends and the book “Running a Bar for Dummies.”

Schmitz wasn’t new to the restaurant business, thanks to a 12-year stint at The Barley House. Even with years of bartending experience under his belt, he admits he had no idea what opening the White Rock establishment would entail.

Schmitz knew he needed help with the day-to-day operations, so he invited his family and friends to his house to pitch his idea. When he said he was quitting his career in logistics sales to open a bar and grill, his dad questioned why he would jump into a business Schmitz didn’t fully understand.

He wasn’t wrong either, Schmitz says.

“When you go into it, you figure out you don’t know anything,” he says. “Some-

LAKE HOUSE BAR & GRILL

Ambiance: casual

Price Range: $10-$20

Hours: 4-11 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 4-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday 7510 Northwest Highway 214.484.8624 lakehousewhiterock.com thing breaks. Something happens. You’re always somebody’s counselor.”

The first thing Schmitz did was head to Barnes & Noble to purchase a copy of “Running a Bar for Dummies.” But he never needed to read it, because the masterminds behind bars like Oak Cliff’s Nova and Knox Henderson’s Capitol Pub gave him advice about launching Lake House Bar & Grill.

“The cool thing about people in the restaurant industry is they don’t want you to fail,” Schmitz says. “They want you to succeed.”

Everything else was a matter of trial-and-error.

Four years later, Lake House hasn’t

“I’m happy about the location and seeing everything around it growing,” he says. “I’m passionate about this area. It’s changing, and it’s changing for the better.”

The neighborhood is one of the reasons Schmitz was adamant about quitting his sales job to open the bar and grill. It reminds him of Austin, his favorite city in Texas, because of its open spaces and walkability, but there weren’t many hangout spots north of the lake until recent years.

“The Lake Highlands/White Rock area needed something like this,” he says.

Now Schmitz and Chef Los Akins are tag-teaming to expand Lake House’s motley offerings that range from pub fare to seafood. Popular specials — such as scallops, salmon and meatloaf — will earn a permanent slot on the regular menu. Pizza and grill items are about to become a part of their repertoire, too.

Many of the items are something you’d see at an upscale restaurant, but they’re offered in a laid-back environment. No one has to dress up to order fresh seafood, he says, and that makes it a comfortable place to be.

“I just love making everybody happy,” he says. “I love seeing something you develop on your own blossom.”

Another Broken Egg Cafe

It’s our passion to create exceptional dishes for breakfast, brunch and lunch that are “craveably” delicious with an artisanal flair. Mon-Sun 7:00 -2:00 pm

Haute Sweets Patisserie

Treat yourself and the ones you love with the finest desserts, French Macarons, cookies, cakes & more. Award winning chefs bring premium restaurant quality treats right to our neighborhood. You’ll be amazed! Paleo & Gluten-free available.

Taste of Europe

The St

The Store In Lake Highlands

SIMPLY SOUTHERN is here! Adorable T-shirts, caps, koozies and more. Great for gifts...or a treat for yourself!

Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30 10233 E. NW Hwy@Ferndale

(next to Rooster’s) 214.553.8850

Yoga Mart

Come see the new location and shop for spring. Many gift items, handbags, jewelry, clothing and more for Mother’s Day, Graduations and other events. Across from Arboretum Village Shopping Center. 2201 Tucker St. Suite 101 214-534-4469

2shea Baby Boutique

Summer has arrived at 2Shea Baby! Stop to shop our newest arrivals from Snapper Rock, UPF 50+ swimwear, in sizes Newborn to 4T!

6224 La Vista Drive · 469.914.6769 · 2sheababy.com

(Between Bank of America & Lakewood Post Office)

Dutch Art Gallery

51 Years of Custom Framing & Fine Art Come out to the “Call of the Wild” Juried Art Show. Meet the artists at the Wine & Cheese Reception on Saturday, May 20th- 11am to 6pm. Show will be on exhibit through July 29th. Artist painting above is by Debbie Stevens. 10233 E. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, TX 75238 214.348.7350 dutchartgallery.net

Tucked away in an unassuming corner on Blackwell Street, you’ll find a neighborhood institution that defies the traditional restaurant curse. Since 1991, Henk’s European Deli and Black Forest Bakery has been serving up all the flavors you’d find abroad, from herring to schnitzel to leberkase.

It was the culinary brainchild of Henk Winnubst, who grew up in Holland working in delis. After 30 years with the famed Kuby’s Sausage House, he set out on his own. Winnubst decided to resurrect the old Black Forest Bakery, a European sweet shop that was run by the Dreyfuss family for years on Northwest Highway until it closed in the mid-1980s.

He took their original concept and expanded it to include full meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He kept the flavors mostly traditional with a few American spins, like the German burger. Henk’s traditional Hungarian chicken dish has been served for decades, and remains on the menu today. It’s a classic that, like the deli, stands the test of time.

First published in the Advocate in 2000, the recipe can be served as a sandwich and makes a nice chicken salad when cut into small strips on a bed of salad greens.

HENK’S HUNGARIAN CHICKEN serves 4

4-6 ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Marinade:

1 cup water

1 cup butter, melted and clarified

1 cup white wine

1 teaspoon of each of the following (adjust to taste):

Salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, garlic salt, white pepper, sugar

Mix all ingredients for marinade. Place chicken in shallow dish and pour marinade over.

Let chicken marinate for at least 24 hours.