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CLUB SCENE:
FISHER BAY RESTAURANT
303 Barrett Lane
Bridgeport, NY
(315) 633-2244
See Map
by Maryann McKinley
I’m a city girl, and usually stay close to my favorite busy streets. But everyone needs to get out of their element and get a little change of scenery sometimes, so last week, I took a drive up to Fisher Bay Restaurant, the best kept secret on Oneida Lake.
Stretching twenty-one miles from east to west, Oneida Lake is a giant playground with Fisher Bay as its focal point. Situated right in the middle of the South Shore, Fisher Bay is an easy ride from just about anywhere. Folks come by boat, car, or snowmobile in the winter months, always ready to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, friendly company, and excellent menu at Fisher Bay. By water, Brewerton is just nine miles away, Sylvan Beach only twelve, so it’s a perfect stop when you’re out on the lake. By car, it’s right off Route 31 in Bridgeport, or if you prefer a zippier ride, all trails lead to Fisher Bay when it’s time to rev up the sled. Summer or winter, Fisher Bay is a great spot to enjoy a drink with friends, a bite to eat, or to catch your favorite team on the bar’s big screens.
Fisher Bay has something for everyone. A menu full of made-from-scratch goodies, a friendly pub, a comfortable patio by the protected channel that provides safe harbor for lots of boats and also serves as the inlet to Fisher Bay Marina, and a deck that overlooks a huge lawn and gorgeous panoramic water views. Hosts Mary and Lorne Rudy welcome guests with open arms into their warm, friendly tavern, spacious dining room, and handy meeting rooms. The tavern is well known by neighbors, boaters and snowmobilers, with many local associations calling Fisher Bay home.
The Anchorage Boaters Club meets in the back room, as do the Lions Club, the Bridgeport-Lakeport Civic Organization, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the South Shore Trailblazers snowmobile club. Fisher Bay is happy to offer their meeting space to community groups who need a place to hang their hat, so stop in to make arrangements! There are plenty of opportunities to get together with old and new friends in the tavern, with mixed pool leagues, Tuesday night Pitch leagues, and Fisher Bay’s famous annual Halloween, St Pat’s, Super Bowl, Christmas and New Year’s parties. You can plan your own special celebration in their party room, for any size group from 10 to 100. One special note - Steve’s coming for the Christmas party this year, and he’s bringing his guitar!
The lawn at Fisher Bay is especially interesting, with a giant willow tree that’s now only half its original size. Cut down the middle by a storm several years ago, this magnificent specimen managed to survive that breach, and still stands sentinel on the shoreline. The great lawn is also home to Fisher Bay’s annual visitation by a flock of 32 white swans. Sometime in the middle of every October, they glide in, land on the lawn, and hang out by the marina. Local legend has it that they appeared the year former owner Esther Barrett left us, and they’ve come ever since. Starting out with just a single nesting pair, the flock has grown to a little colony that swoops in for a visit, leaving only when the first frost urges them on to warmer climes. It’s nice to know that Esther and Red are keeping watch over their old home!
I’d like to make up a fancy sentence describing the fare at Fisher Bay, but sometimes simple is best. This food is just plain good. First, the appetizers. Great for a starter or for a snack at the bar, you can get a giant pound of hot or cold steamed shrimp, hand-battered onion rings, yummy loaded potato skins, crispy french or sweet potato fries, and a bevy of deep-fried veggies or mozzarella sticks. Homemade soups warm up the customers on the chilliest of days, or if you’re in the mood for more, try the down-home goodness of Fisher Bay’s sandwich menu, from lightly breaded haddock to giant reubens, mouth-watering marinated chicken, or their special recipe pulled pork. The chicken wings are legendary, and the white pizza is a winner with hand chopped garlic resting atop melting mozzarella. Yum.
If dinner is more your fancy, Fisher Bay’s kitchen makes magic in the dining room with thick, juicy steaks, pasta with homemade sauce, mountains of chicken parmesan, amazing shrimp scampi, and a delectable spicy chicken or shrimp diavlo. Super fresh seafood entrees entice with spicy beer and garlic steamed shrimp, broiled or breaded sea scallops, and fresh haddock straight from the ocean. Don’t miss the Saturday night prime rib special, with authentic Yorkshire Pudding worthy of the finest old English pub.A favorite special at Fisher Bay is their $8.99 bottle of wine with dinner, decanted especially for you and labeled with a handy dessert menu so you don’t have to look far to make your choice. Order the scrumptious carrot cake, a delectable brownie sundae smothered in hot fudge, or try the cheesecake – one bite will convince you that taking home a whole cake is the most brilliant idea you’ve ever had. And if you’re up early on the weekend, the griddle starts sizzling at 7 am on Sundays. At first light or mid-morning brunch, breakfast never tasted so good, with delicious french toast that’s better than Mom’s, eggs any way you like ‘em, fluffy light pancakes, giant frettas, three egg omelettes, tasty home fries……this is the perfect way to welcome a new day, and somebody else cleans up!
Fisher Bay Restaurant is located on the south shore of Oneida Lake, just outside Bridgeport. The official address is 303 Barrett Lane, but to get there, take Route 31 in Bridgeport, turn on North Road, go to the end, and turn left at Barrett Lane. It’s really easy. You can also get there by boat in the warmer months, or snowmobile when it’s time to bundle up. To get there from the water, look for Buoy 127; Fisher Bay is just south. Or surf on over to www.fisherbayrestaurant.com for the latest news or a look at the menu. They’re open from noon to 2 am daily, with kitchen hours til 10 pm. Just between us, if you’re really nice to the staff, sometimes it’s possible to have a snack even later than that. Sunday morning breakfast starts at 7 am and goes to noon. Call 633-2244 for information, directions, or to plan your party. Your day can only get better when Fisher Bay is your destination!
Questions? Comments? Send email to mcmar01@yahoo.com - and have a great month!