LAKEVILLE ? A new owner, a new menu and a new atmosphere is how the restaurant at the corner of Rochester and Lakeville roads, a fixture since 1937, is celebrating the start of a new year.
Featuring a mixture of Irish and Scottish dishes along with a variety of American favorites, The Celtic Knot officially opened for business on Jan. 2.
‘Everybody’s loving the place,? said co-owner John Abbey, 29, of Oxford. ‘We had a good 45-minute wait going on (opening day) because the place was just packed.?
The Celtic Knot replaces the Lakeville Inn, which closed last year. Abbey, a 2003 Lake Orion High School graduate, purchased the building, which sits directly across from Lakeville Lake, in mid-September and immediately began remodeling it.
‘When we first got in here, the place was pretty rundown. It needed a lot of work, a lot of love and a lot of cleaning,? he said. ‘That’s been the biggest surprise, I think, to people when they walk in the place is the cleanliness of it.?
‘It’s a great building. It’s got a lot of character,? Abbey noted. ‘When we replaced part of the bar, we found a piece of a dollar bill from 1935.?
Running the restaurant is a true family affair as Abbey’s partners are his wife Emily Munro and his parents Brian and Brenda, who live in Lake Orion.
After three months of hard work, the family transformed the restaurant into a place that has a very upscale and neat appearance, yet the personality is casual, cozy and inviting thanks to the gorgeous brick fireplace, the log cabin-style walls and the Amish-made tables and chairs.
‘It’s got a warm atmosphere. You almost feel at home,? Abbey said. ‘It’s a great place to be. The lake, the view, the deck, all those things were contributing factors in why we wanted to be here.?
The restaurant can seat about 140 patrons, plus another 60 on the rooftop deck overlooking the lake.
Abbey’s been in the restaurant industry for 15 years. He started as a dishwasher and worked his way up to sous chef, then chef.
He spent 13 years working as the chef/floor manager at the former Hamlin Pub in Orion, then moved over to The Clansman Gaelic Pub at Canterbury Village for one year where he was the general manager.
‘After working at a place open to close, seven days a week, I decided if I was going to do that, I might as well do it for myself,? he explained. ‘I’ve been in this business for a long time. I really enjoy it. I like dealing with people. It’s a lot of fun.?
All of the recipes used to create The Celtic Knot’s extensive and diverse menu are personal creations and meant to reflect the mixed Scottish-Irish heritage of Abbey and his wife.
‘She’s more on the Scot side and I’m more on the Irish side,? he noted.
The menu includes many Scottish and Irish-themed dishes such as shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and Guinness barbecue glazed salmon.
‘Most everything here is made from scratch,? Abbey said. ‘You can’t do everything that way, but (we do) as much as we possibly can.?
Two menu items that immediately stand out are the Skellig macaroni and the Scotch eggs, which, according to Abbey, ‘you can’t find anywhere around here.?
The Scotch eggs include two hard-boiled eggs wrapped in seasoned sausage and fried. They’re served with colcannon and Irish cheese and lager sauce.
The Skellig macaroni features homemade macaroni tossed in a creamy sauce made from imported Skellig cheese and sharp cheddar cheese. It’s topped with seasoned bread crumbs, then baked.
‘Skellig is a sweet cheddar cheese from Ireland,? Abbey said. ‘It’s really good.?
In addition to Celtic-inspired food, the restaurant also serves appetizers, soups, salads, pizza, a variety of fish and shrimp dishes, nine types of sandwiches and seven kinds of burgers.
‘We have bit of everything for everyone as far as food goes,? Abbey said. ‘It’s the best of both worlds, really.?
One of the burgers combines the best of breakfast and lunch. It’s called the Top O? the Morning Burger and it consists of a half-pound seasoned beef patty topped with cherry wood smoked bacon, fried egg, cheddar cheese, tomato, onion and pickle, all served on a brioche bun.
Located at 1318 Rochester Rd., The Celtic Knot is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. For more information, visit The Celtic Knot on Facebook or call (248) 460-7997.