COLDWATER LAKE, MI – On the east shore, where generations gathered at the Wharf, the Boathouse, and later the Bent Prop, a new name continues the tradition: The Tipsy Turtle Bar and Grill, 632 Lake Drive.
Owner Scott Pienta officially opened Friday, May 1, serving food while awaiting the transfer of the liquor license.
Pienta, whose Vintage Foods company also operates Jackson Coney Island and The Parlor in Jackson, says his mission on Coldwater Lake is about more than food.
“We’re here to create lasting memories for our guests,” Pienta said.
Customers have already shared stories and recipes from the past, including the original Wharf burger recipe.
“We’ll recreate it here as best we can and bring back cherished favorites,” Pienta said.
Current hours are:
The Tipsy Turtle is built for boaters, bikers, ORVs, and weekend lake visitors.
The menu offers burgers, coney dogs, wraps, pizza, and ice cream, all served quickly.
“Our hot dogs, burgers, wraps, and pizzas are all quick. We want guests to enjoy their meal and get back out to the sun,” Pienta said.
Families will find affordable options, with kids’ meals starting around $6 and an original Jackson coney dog at about $4.
Signature items include the one-third-pound Sheldon burger and the larger Main Sheldon three-quarter-pound burger, served on custom onion buns from Jonesville Bakery.
The restaurant’s historic coney sauce, made from beef heart and seven spices, traces its origins to what Pienta says was the first Coney Island in Michigan and the United States.
Shawnee Shoals resident Chuck Frohmapfel tried a burger on Thursday afternoon. He expressed his satisfaction with the reasonable prices and the quality of the food, which he found tasty.
Frohmapfel fondly recalls visiting the Wharf in the 1970s and 80s for large, inexpensive burgers. He finds the Tipsy Turtle nicer and more convenient, thanks to its remodeling and bar.
Pienta is expanding docks and planning live music, from local acts to an ’80s band from Lansing, blending nostalgia and lake life for a new generation of memories.
“We want to bring entertainment out to the dock for guests on the water,” he said.
Pienta promises to maintain the charm of a mom-and-pop establishment by offering quality food, fair pricing, and excellent customer care, even as the restaurant adapts to modern times.
Contact Don Reid, dReid@USATodayCo.Com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Looking for a new lunch spot along the water near Coldwater?
Reporting by Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter / Coldwater Daily Reporter
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