For years, the biggest complaint about dining in Crescent City was simple: there wasn’t enough of it. That changed this summer. The Lochside Restaurant — a Scottish-inspired waterfront restaurant five years in the making — is now officially open at 1124 N Summit St, right on the shore of Crescent Lake. It’s the most exciting thing to happen to restaurants in Crescent City, FL in a long time, and it sits just over a mile up the shoreline from our cabin.
We’ve been watching this project take shape for months, and now that the doors are open (and the early reviews are in), here’s everything you need to know before you go — including the full menu with prices and photos of the food, the dining room, and that lake view.
From the Old Tangerine Cove to “the Bonnie Banks of Loch Crescent”
The Lochside occupies the former Tangerine Cove Motel property, a waterfront building that sat vacant for more than a decade after a fire. Bringing it back took years of renovation work, and the result is worth the wait: a glass-front dining room that looks straight out over Crescent Lake, roughly 130 seats inside, plus an outdoor beer garden and additional seating right along the water’s edge.
The concept is a “neighborhood restaurant with a Scottish twist” — the team jokes that it sits on the bonnie banks of “Loch Crescent.” (That’s also your spelling cheat sheet: it’s Lochside, from loch, the Scottish word for lake — though plenty of locals type “Lockside” into Google and find it just the same.) General manager Chris Brown has described the goal as a high-end dining experience without the high-end price point, and the menu backs that up: most diners report spending $20–30 per person for a full waterfront dinner.
The Lochside Menu: Scottish Comfort Food Meets Florida Lake Views (With Prices)
The kitchen blends British pub classics, American favorites, and genuinely Scottish dishes you won’t find anywhere else in Putnam County. Here’s what’s on the menu as of summer 2026 — we photographed it at the table, so prices are real, though they can change (check their Facebook for the latest):
Wee Bites (Starters)
- Homemade Scotch Egg ($10.50) — boiled egg wrapped in spiced sausage, breadcrumbed, with a deviled-egg filling and sweet chilli sauce
- Haggis Bon Bons ($9.50) — breaded haggis bites with rich peppercorn sauce; the gateway haggis
- Tartan Toast ($8.75) — bruschetta with tomato, basil, and balsamic glaze
- Clan Gathering Platter ($22, serves 4) — wings, haggis bon bons, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks with a trio of dips
- Plus mozzarella sticks ($8.95), Buffalo or BBQ wings ($9.95), and a grilled halloumi salad ($8.95)
Classics (The Heart of the Menu)
- Classic Beer-Battered Fish & Chips ($21.95) — battered haddock with mushy peas, tartare sauce, and thick-cut chips; gluten-free option available. The runaway crowd favorite, mentioned in more reviews than any other dish
- Steak & Ale Pie ($21.50) — beef in ale gravy under puff pastry, with roasted vegetables and house potatoes
- Haggis, Neeps & Tatties ($18.95) — the full Scottish: haggis, mashed potatoes, and mashed rutabaga with peppercorn sauce
- Balmoral Chicken ($17.95) — chicken fillet topped with haggis on creamy mash, drizzled with peppercorn sauce
- Shepherd’s Pie ($15.95) — beef and vegetables in gravy, topped with mash and a cheese crisp
- Deluxe Scampi ($17.95) — shrimp pan-fried in whiskey butter over mashed potatoes
- Plus baked macaroni cheese with chorizo ($12.99), pasta arrabbiata ($13.95), and a sizzling fajita skillet ($22.50)
The Grill
- The Highlander’s Cut ($32) — 10 oz New York strip with house fries and onion rings
- The Laird’s Fillet ($25.95) — 8 oz fillet steak
- The Scotsman Burger ($15.95) — beef patty topped with haggis, crispy onions, and peppercorn sauce
- Plus the Lochside Classic burger ($13.95), BBQ beef burger ($15.95), “Real MacDonald” burger ($14.95), breaded-chicken Bonnie Clucker ($15.50), and a halloumi burger ($13.95) — all burgers come with house fries and side salad
Pizza & Sides
A short pizza list runs from a classic Margarita ($14.95) through the veggie Green Glen, a Hawaiian, the spicy Highland Heatwave, and the pepperoni Pipers Feast. Sides (“a wee something extra”) include Scotch champ potatoes ($3.95), thick-cut chips ($3.50), sweet potato fries ($4.50), and baked cauliflower cheese ($5.50). There’s a full bar with a cocktail menu, a kids menu for families, and the beer garden for anyone who’d rather graze outside with the lake breeze. It’s family-friendly by design.
What the First Reviews Are Saying
The early word is remarkably strong for a brand-new kitchen. As of July 2026, The Lochside holds a 4.5-star rating on Google across its first 32 reviews, and a 100% recommend rating on Facebook from its first 13 reviewers.
A few themes come up again and again:
- Service. Reviewers consistently single out the staff — a welcoming hostess, attentive servers, and individual team members thanked by name. One guest at the soft opening put it simply: “Great views of the lake. Service was exceptional.”
- The atmosphere. Diners describe a bright, delightful, well-decorated space filled with natural light, with lake views from nearly everywhere in the room.
- The food. The fish and chips, Scotch eggs, and shepherd’s pie earn the most repeat mentions, and even guests who visited on day two of operation reported only minor opening-week hiccups.
For a restaurant that’s been open a matter of weeks, that’s about as good as first impressions get.
Hours, Reservations, and Prices
- Hours: Open every day, 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Reservations: Recommended — the opening has drawn crowds. Book online through their reservation page or check The Lochside on Facebook for the latest updates
- Website: You can browse the current menu, happy-hour specials, and the family’s story on The Lochside Restaurant’s official website.
- Price range: Most diners report $20–30 per person; starters run $8.75–$10.50, mains $12.99–$22.50, and steaks top out at $32
- Seating: Indoor dining room, outdoor beer garden, and waterside tables; dine-in with outdoor seating
- Address: 1124 N Summit St, Crescent City, FL 32112
Getting There from Crescent Lake Cabin
This might be the best part for our guests: The Lochside is essentially our new neighborhood restaurant. From Crescent Lake Cabin at 520 N. Lake Street, it’s a 1.1-mile, two-minute drive — head north and continue up N Summit Street, and the restaurant is on your right, on the lake side of the road (turn-by-turn directions here).
Prefer to stretch your legs? It’s about a 23-minute walk along the same route — an easy stroll before dinner and a pleasant one after, with Crescent Lake keeping you company most of the way.
Or skip the road entirely: you can arrive by boat. The Lochside doubles as a marina, and locals report you can dock right at the restaurant — which makes the cabin’s private dock the start of the best dinner commute in Putnam County. Cruise north along the shoreline, tie up, and order the fish and chips.
Where The Lochside Fits in Crescent City’s Restaurant Scene
If you’re mapping out meals for a weekend stay, here’s how the local lineup looks now:
- The Lochside Restaurant — the new waterfront headliner: Scottish-inspired dinners, cocktails, and lake views (open daily 3–9 PM)
- 3 Bananas — the longtime lakefront staple on Lake Stella’s side of downtown, with 4.3 stars across more than 1,700 reviews; casual seafood, burgers, and sunset views
- The Oaks Golf Club Cafe — a well-liked local spot for a relaxed bite
- Renegades on the River — a short drive away in Georgetown, a 4.7-star tiki bar and grill on the St. Johns River that’s worth the trip by itself
Between the new arrival and the standbys, you can eat well on the water every night of a long weekend. For more ideas — including markets, fishing spots, and day trips — see our full guide to things to do in Crescent City, FL, or go wider with 15 amazing places within 50 minutes of Crescent Lake.
Make a Weekend of It
A great restaurant opening is a perfectly good excuse for a lake weekend. Crescent Lake Cabin sleeps up to 10, with a private pool, tennis court, a private covered dock, kayaks, and a pet-friendly policy — and now a destination dinner spot two minutes up the road. Kayak the lake in the morning (here’s our kayaking guide), fish off the dock in the afternoon, and let The Lochside handle dinner.
New to the area? Start with our complete guide to Crescent Lake, or browse Florida staycation ideas if you’re planning a getaway from Orlando, Jacksonville, or St. Augustine. Coming from Jacksonville? We’ve mapped the 10 best day trips from Jacksonville, FL — Crescent Lake is the one worth a whole weekend.
The Lochside Restaurant: Quick FAQ
Is The Lochside Restaurant in Crescent City open?
Yes. After a soft opening in June 2026, The Lochside is now open every day from 3 PM to 9 PM at 1124 N Summit St, Crescent City, FL 32112.
What kind of food does The Lochside serve?
Scottish-inspired comfort food alongside British pub classics and American favorites — fish and chips, Scotch eggs, shepherd’s pie, steak & ale pie, haggis neeps & tatties, burgers, steaks, pizza, and shrimp scampi, plus a full bar and a kids menu.
How much does The Lochside Restaurant cost?
Most diners spend $20–30 per person. Starters run $8.75–$10.50, mains like fish and chips ($21.95) and shepherd’s pie ($15.95) sit in the teens and low twenties, burgers with fries are $13.95–$15.95, and the 10 oz Highlander’s Cut steak tops the menu at $32.
Is it “Lochside” or “Lockside”?
It’s The Lochside — from “loch,” the Scottish word for lake, a nod to its spot on Crescent Lake. “Lockside” is a common misspelling, but either way you’ll find the same waterfront restaurant, bar, and marina at 1124 N Summit St.
Do I need a reservation at The Lochside?
Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends — the opening has been busy. You can book online via their Toast reservation page or message the restaurant on Facebook.
How far is The Lochside from Crescent Lake Cabin?
1.1 miles — about a 2-minute drive or a 23-minute walk north along N Summit Street from the cabin at 520 N. Lake Street.
Can you get to The Lochside by boat?
Yes — The Lochside operates as a restaurant, bar, and marina, and boaters can dock at the restaurant. From Crescent Lake Cabin’s private dock it’s a short cruise north along the western shoreline.
What are the best restaurants in Crescent City, FL?
Local favorites include the newly opened Lochside Restaurant on Crescent Lake, 3 Bananas on Lake Stella, The Oaks Golf Club Cafe, and Renegades on the River in nearby Georgetown.
