ALGONAC, MI — As boaters travel the St. Clair River this summer they’ll find a new restaurant at the Algonac Harbor Club where they can get a bite to eat.
Zef’s on the Lake opened for business on May 27 providing burgers, lobster and salad for guests.
The restaurant sits near the water tower at Algonac Harbor Clubs docks, making it a great place to visit by boat or car.
Donny Palushaj, who co-owns and manages Zef’s on the Lake with his brother Christopher Palushaj, set up the new restaurant in the building that once housed Port O Call. He said the two saw an opportunity when the property became available for use and decided to jump on it.
The name Zef comes from the brothers’ late uncle who spent his life running restaurants alongside their father, including Zef’s Coney Island in Detroit.
Other restaurants the Palushaj brothers own include Zef’s Dockside & Bar in St. Clair Shores, Don Cristo’s Tequila and Tacos in Macomb Township and Hennesy’s Pub & Kitchen in Clinton Township.
At Zef’s on the Lake, however, the brothers seek to provide an experience different from their other restaurants. The windows open wide to allow fresh air into the restaurant, blending indoor and outdoor seating. Donny Palushaj said he redecorated the restaurant to embrace its seaside nature, as about half his customers have come via boat.
Among the menu items are a New England lobster roll topped with lobster remoulade and housemade chips; Zef;s Reuben, a housemade corn beef with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on rye bread; and the “Eastern Market Special,” a coney dog with fries as a throwback to the Palushaj brothers’ uncle.
Donny Palushaj said if he had to recommend one item on the menu it would be the smash burgers, noting the restaurant makes its own sauce as a topping for them.
The restaurant is located at the Algonac Harbor Club at 1999 Pointe Tremble Road. The restaurant is open from11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Zef’s on the Lake will be a seasonal restaurant, with Donny Palushaj saying he intends to close it in November and reopen in April or May.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: New restaurant Zef’s on the Lake opens in Algonac
Reporting by Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
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By Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald | USA TODAY Network
