Jake's Perch and Wings are Top of The Line

Most folks remember the old Herbs on the Lake restaurant. Sometimes the wait to get in was long, but the experience was well worth it.

Herbs is gone, but something fairly new has replaced it, which is owned in part by Avon Lake resident Jim Haas, who also owns the in Westlake.

Having eaten at both Savannah's and the old Herbs, I was curious:Would Jake's be up to par with the two?

A look at the menu indicated the prices were extremely reasonable, especially for a restaurant just across the street from Lake Erie. The crab cakes were just $10.95, while a New York Strip steak meal, that includes salad, potato and veggies was under $20 bucks.

After being seated, we decided to order an appetizer. Since there were four in our group, we settled on two items, the wings and nachos.

You can't miss on the wings. For under $7, you get a dozen served with celery and blue cheese. Not only were they crispy, but the sauces weren't bad either. We went with six hot and six BBQ.

I was disappointed with the nachos as were the rest of our group. While the portion was not bad, it was as if they came straight from the microwave. The refried beans were not homemade, and there were not enough toppings.

The perch was outstanding and perhaps some of the best in the area that I have had. We were told prior to sitting down that Lake Erie Perch was the restaurant specialty, and I can see why.

Not in the mood for a meal, I ordered the perch sandwich and it didn't disappoint. Not only was it fresh, the portion was large and the batter was good.

My companion went with the Beer Battered Fish fry, which was huge. Spending a lot of time on the Delaware seashore, I was curious how it tasted, so I had a piece, and while good, I was spoiled with my perch. One thing about the platter though, it was much better than most of the fish fries you get  in the area.

Our friend with us seemed to enjoy his chicken sandwich. For some reason, chicken is all he eats, and he said it was cooked and marinated perfectly.

The Reuben was chock full of meat, and we all got a taste as the 9-year-old in our group had bigger eyes than a stomach.

Our waitress knew the menu, was extremely friendly and seemed to give extra attention to the "regulars" some of whom had reserved window seats. 

The restaurant has a full bar and serves happy hour. 

Jake's leans toward the adult clientele, although a few items on the menu are child-suitable. The restaurant's menu is solid enough to make Jake's a regular stop on your restaurant rounds. 

• Hours: Mon, 4pm - midnight; Tues - Thu, 11am - midnight; Fri, Sat, 11am - 1am; Sun, 8am - 10pm
• Handicap Accessible: Ramped curb behind restaurant at outdoor patio, handicapped parking near back entrance
• Payments accepted: American Express, Cash, Debit Card, Discover, MasterCard
• General services: Catering, Eat-in, Phone orders, Take-out
• Menu link: www.​jakes-onthelake.​com/?page=food
• Specialties: Lake Erie perch
• ATM: No
• Parking: Free lot
• Private events: No
• Cuisine: American, Burgers, Sandwiches, Seafood
• Price level: $$
• Features: Brunch, Catering, Dinner, Group-friendly, Happy Hour, Kids' Menu, Lunch, Outdoor seating, View
• Atmosphere: Fun, Quiet, Romantic
• Dress code: Casual