Yes, Please or No, Thanks: Restonians Have Mixed Emotions About Lakeside Inn

For better or worse, Reston's Lakeside Inn at South Lakes Village Center is a local institution. For 22 years - and about 10 previous ones as the Blue Channel Inn - Lakeside has as been a variety of things to a variety of people.

Sources confirmed Thursday that Lakeside Inn will shut its doors by the end of the month.

That brought on lots of reaction from patrons - and in some cases, non-patrons. The spectrum runs from frozen in time with fading wallpaper and soggy meals to the best neighborhood pub this side of Cheers.

Fans of the place see the shortcomings as part of its charm - stick to the bar basics and draft beer and a good time will be had by all.

Here are some of the best sentiments readers wrote on Reston Patch:

Calvin Harriott: The beauty of Lakeside Inn is that it welcomed all comers, always offering good food, good drink and genuine service. But there was a virtual regulatory mechanism that encouraged kind souls to return, and eschewed the bourgeois snobs. It was an invisible bouncer. To newcomers, the bar possessed the magic to instantly seem familiar. The dining room offered approachable and satisfying fare that did not require a degree in molecular gastronomy to appreciate.

It was a quaint balance of relaxed atmosphere and comfort food. I find it humorously ironic that people lament the absence of non-corporate eateries with actual personality and character, or desire a family-friendly sports bar and restaurant. That's exactly what Lakeside Inn was. It filled that void admirably since its inception, and will until the doors finally close.


Anne Drissel:  I have two comments. The first is a happy memory in 2004 of a friend inviting me to meet her for dinner there. We sat on the waterside with the sliders open and she convinced me I should move from DC to Reston. I went home and searched online and found the perfect house that night in the South Lakes area. I've lived there ever since.


My second point is my growing disappointment over the years in the deteriorating quality of the place. I was glad when smoking was eliminated but that made the decor of isolated rooms awkward. The place needed a total redecoration. The food was ok but the decor was abysmal. And yes the hamburgers were great. The patio was a smoker haven. So those of us who didn't smoke had to stay inside in the eerily under used dining room. I tried eating in the bar but it's not my thing. It's a place with terrific potential but please please rebuild so there is open air dining at least part of the year! And replan the space so it's not so chopped up. Change some of the menu to freshen it up. I'm sorry many will lose their favorite hangout. I look forward to someone with a fresh enthusiasm to carry on his tradition of a beloved mixed use neighborhood hangout.

Jonathan: I've lived next to the place for 2 years, and never had the inclination to visit. The prices seemed high for how dated and dirty the place looked, and people were always smoking out front. It's sad to see a business come to a close, but I'll be glad to see something else there.

Steve Binder: The great thing about the Lakeside Inn was that it wasn't the Town Center, it wasn't Lake Anne plaza.....it was the Lakeside Inn! Sad to see a piece of Reston history leaving here, and I definitely had some great memories & made some great friends over the years...........Cheers to the regulars, staff, and owner.

Barbara Moody: Sorry but this place had awful food and the atmosphere wasn't much better. I really hope we can get something better in there. It badly needs an update.

Will you pay your final respects to Lakeside this weekend?