Out with a bang: Lumberjack's named 'Best Summer Dining Spot'

North Tonawanda restaurant chosen best by readers; to close following this weekend

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

There were plenty of reasons for Lumberjack’s Patio Grill patrons to vote for the North Tonawanda restaurant in the annual “Savory Summer” food contest.

The food.

The staff and service.

The view.

The sentiment: Lumberjack’s is closing.

Whatever the reason, people voted and named Lumberjack’s “The Best Summer Dining Spot.”

“I think that's wonderful,” owner/operator Carol Tallichet said Tuesday, though she called the news “bittersweet.”

Tallichet explained, “The city owns the property; and I had a 30-year lease. This was my 14th year; and I'm no spring chicken. I'm just tired. So, I'm selling it back to the city, which includes the marina, because it's a package – the restaurant and the marina. We lease the marina.

“From what I understand, the city wants to keep the marina for themselves, and they'll be issuing an RFP for the restaurant. I'm sure there will be a lot of interested parties.”

Lumberjack’s last day under Tallichet’s tenure is Monday.

She said she’s at peace with the decision – and “It’s time.”

That said, Tallichet said she will miss “our Tuesday afternoon golf girls, our Thursday evening regulars, our Friday evening regulars, and all the many wonderful customers.”

Those customers, in turn, have been “Extremely sad,” and offered “a lot of ‘Thank yous,’ ” Tallichet said. But, “I thank them. They shouldn't be thanking me.”

“I have to thank all of the customers that have come through this door throughout many years – 14 years; and after the customers, I have to thank my employees, past and present – phenomenal; and thirdly, I have to thank my purveyors,” she said. “The three individuals have made it what it is, and it could not be done without any one of them. I'm very thankful for that.”

Tallichet also said she’s thankful for the success she’s had at the popular waterfront restaurant – and not just in dollars and cents. When she reflects on this experience, “I will look back at it as a way to nurture a lot of these young students coming out of school, and while still in school.

“I've had many of them tell me that their knowledge and their takeaway from working here has helped them through life, which is very gratifying.”

Tonawanda’s River Grill finished second in “The Best Summer Dining Spot” category. Lewiston’s The Silo Restaurant came in third.

Tallichet said Lumberjack’s is worthy of the title because of “the employees – they're sensational. They're very dedicated, devoted to this place. They return year after year, even though they have full-time jobs, just to work part-time to have that exposure.”

And, of course, the food is phenomenal.

“Our quality is top notch,” Tallichet said. “We patty our own burgers. We cut our own potatoes for the curly-Q french fries. We use local when we can. We do Costanzo rolls, Wardinsky's hot dogs, Anderson's ice cream. We just draw locally, and advertise it as local.”

Following this final stretch, Tallichet said, “Whatever food I have left, I donate it to Cardinal O'Hara (for student lunches)

“And, in fact, our empty beer cans are given to Cardinal O'Hara. It all goes to their music department. This season, we have donated over $200 from the return of the empty cans for their music department.”

Lumberjack’s Waterfront Patio Grill is located at 1000 River Road, North Tonawanda.