Review: Lake Varsity Diner offers tasty meal with serving of community spirit

LAKE TWP. – Before diving into the creative menu at Lake Varsity Diner, take a moment to soak in its nostalgic atmosphere.

Located at 13367 Cleveland Ave. NW in Lake Township, the diner offers a unique blend of '50s rock ‘n' roll and sports bar vibes, deeply rooted in community spirit.

Locals might find a familiar face on the Lake Wall of Fame. Choose a seat at the counter, a cozy booth, or one of the sports-themed round tables after exploring the juke box area.

I met my friend Nicole on a recent Friday for a late lunch (or was it an early dinner?). Just stepping inside and browsing the menu brought smiles to our faces.

The varied menu, with creative names like "couch potatoes" for french fries, caught our attention. Our waitress, Brittany, recommended several popular items, including gourmet burgers, the Reuben Varsity ($17.99), Varsity Gyros ($12.99), and the Blue-Ribbon Fair Sausage ($11.99) – all served with couch potatoes.

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Nicole decided on the Friday fish special, School of Fish ($19.99), featuring four breaded cod fillets, hush doggies (grown-up hush puppies), cole slaw, and couch potato fries. Daily specials, like Sal-Mon-Day ($13.99) and Buffalo Chops ($13.99), and monthly specials, including seasonal Lakeshake Flavors (Peaches-N-Cream for August), add to the diner’s allure.

Served hot, Nicole quickly began to enjoy her basket of crisp fish and large hush doggies. My Halfback Mushroom ‘N Swiss Gourmet Burger ($17.99) arrived with a generous side of couch potatoes. This half-pound Black Angus beef burger, topped with grilled mushrooms, Swiss cheese, tomato, onion and mayo-1-sauce, was a well-portioned delight. I customized mine without the mixed greens, onion, and sauce, and it was delicious on a fresh bun.

For kids 12 and younger, the Rookies Menu offers choices like the First Quarter Junior Burger ($9.99), Junior Varsity Dog ($5.99), and Chicken Digits ($6.99), all served with couch potatoes and a drink.

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While clearing our table, Brittany mentioned the popularity of their lunch and dinner salads, with new varieties added often. The diner’s menu also includes Italian and Mexican dishes, as well as soup and chili options.

To wrap up our meal, Nicole and I shared a Cutie Pie ($4.59), a dessert featuring fruit-filled pie crust rolled in cinnamon sugar and served hot with ice cream. We chose peach, and it was a delicious, melty mess reminiscent of a county fair treat.

Reach Bev at [email protected] or 330-580-8318.

If you go

WHAT – Lake Varsity Diner

WHERE – 13367 Cleveland Ave. NW, Lake Township

WHEN – 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; 12 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday.

PHONE – 330-699-3463

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Lake Varsity Diner serves up good food, community spirit with a '50s vibe