Lake Nina Restaurant

OMG! I had the best brown gravy ever here! Everything was delicious! Now I see why the place that is not very big is packed on a Friday night! We had to wait about 15 min then we just sat at the bar. That had great $ 2.50 specials on hard apple cider. I ordered the Smothered Grilled Chicken that had grilled mushrooms onions, cheese, bacon and comes with honey mustard but I got barbeque sauce. It was to die for! So juicy, tender, and flavorful and a great compliment was the mashed potatoes with gravy instead of the waffle cut fries. The only downside was that the butter was cold and hard for the bread. But other than that it was a delightful experience that everyone should try.

Today was a different atmosphere. Came in for lunch there’s ‘all of 15 people in the whole place. We had a waitress walk pass and ignore us. We were told to seat ourselves. The table was dirty then we had a waitress walk pass and us and I mean close enough to shake hands but she didn’t speak didnt give us a menu to look at, didn’t say someone will be with us shortly or nothing. She did service the couple at the table in front of us. I walked over got our menus. Then we had to wait for the table to be cleaned. Finally someone came took our order. WOW. Waited too long for our food. I’ll think twice about returning here at lunch time.

My wife’s family owned a small town diner in Indiana years ago. This place is like that, if they had a liquor license too. Lots of good fried food choices (chicken, fish, chicken livers, etc) as well as burgers and sandwiches. I had the double cheeseburger lunch special, which gets a burger (which was big and tasty), fries, and the veggie of the day (green beans) for $ 6.50, Heck of deal! I left full. It’s a little out of the way but worth the drive.

The fish log is excellent. Flaky tender white fish, fried but no grease at all. Have the hot slaw and home fries. A great neighborhood find! And service is homey and welcoming!

Always consistent and always good. The chicken livers are awesome and service is outstanding. What more do you need in a night out for dinner. Highly recommended. Thanks !

It has been 10 years since we have been to Lake Nina. We are in town from San Diego and had to go to Lake Nina for a Fish Log. It was amazing!!! The fish log and hot slaw were to die for! We loooved the fried pickles! Great service and kids menu. Great atmosphere out on the back patio where you can watch the ducks and turtles on the lake. We will be back everytime we come to town!!!

Fish log.
Doesn’t sound very appealing. I’ve bought several foods that were described as «log“s. I never thought fish would be one of those things.
The fish log here is fantastic! It’s a BIG loin of cod battered and deep fried to a golden brown. No grease on my plate at all. Bone dry. Crisp. Great flavor. So, so, so good!
Clean! This place is under appreciated. It’s one of those places that is a local secret but the secret is now out! Great food and service!

Well this place sure was an experience. It was clear that I was an outsider experiencing something very special when I visited. Even the waitress could tell it was my first time! Maybe it was the look of shear confusion as I considered the words «fish log».
But hey guys guess what… there’s an actual lake called Lake Nina! It’s small and quaint and the restaurant sits right on the banks of the lake!
We picked our table so we could look out over the lake during our time here. The day we went the lake was frozen over, but still pretty!
Of course we got the fish log. And also the grilled fish. The hot slaw side is wonderful! I’d skip the grilled fish of the day next time and go directly to the fish log. Do not pass go. Do not get grossed out by the word «fish» and «log» in the same sentence. It’s fantastic! Crunchy. Flaky. Perfection. Go for it!

Go for the fish logs… stay for a drink! Great food for what most would call a dive bar… so worth it… cheap too!

Lake Nina is almost a dive. It’s nostalgic and unpretentious. (Think of it as Cincinnati’s version of Merlotte’s from True Blood.) I always get half a fish log and at least one bottle of Yuengling beer. It’s the best combination.
Anyway, do not expect haute dining or décor. They don’t do that. However, if you want a cold drink and a delicious meal, Lake Nina is the place for you.

Lake Nina was introduced to me by my west side co-​workers. The place is way off the beaten path. I would have never found it had I not been shown by them. In typical west side fashion the roads are confusing and twist and turn several times.
Lake Nina is what you would expect of a roadside Establishment along highway 66 in some tiny, time forgotten, town. Very bland interior, simple bar and a few tables and booths. The food was what could be expected. Nothing spectacular but a refreshing change from the blandness of Chain Establishments.
All the wait staff seem to have been born during the Generation. This Greatest Generation does the best they can covering all the tables. At that age though you just don’t move as fast.
Its a great little dive place and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cheap lunch. I’ve heard they have a great Lent special. I’ll have to check that out.

If you’re looking for decent décor and a relaxed ambiance, this place is NOT for you. In dire need of some updating, Lake Nina’s interior is drab and could even be compared to haunts straight out of a horror film. Okay, perhaps that’s a bit severe, but this place is a quintessential hole in the wall.
Known for its outstanding fish sandwiches, you will wait for a table, especially on Fridays during the Lenten season. The menu isn’t particularly sizable (everything I’ve had is very good), but with reasonable prices and even better fish, you’ll really want to check it out.
To say this isn’t a first date kind of place is a bit of an understatement. But if you’re looking for a good, cheap fish sandwich, you definitely need to try this place out.