Otter Tail Lake, MN · A restaurant renovation that keeps its character—and its connection to Otter Tail Lake.
The project
Refresh the building. Keep the spirit.
The Otter Tail Lake renovation began with an existing restaurant in need of substantial attention. The goal was to renew the building and its amenities while preserving the personality and close relationship to the shoreline that made it memorable.
A generous outdoor dining and bar area makes the lake part of the experience. Inside, skylights bring daylight into the restaurant, while familiar colors, signage and informal gathering spaces maintain the lively Zorbaz character. The result supports hospitality at both the table and the water’s edge.
Picnic tables overlooking Otter Tail LakeDock approach to the blue-roofed restaurantCovered outdoor bar and adjoining deck tablesWindow-side tables with lake viewsLong restaurant bar beside rows of high-top tablesSkylit entrance passage leading to glazed doorsView from the lake toward the restaurant and docksCovered lakeside bar with timber ceiling and stoolsRestaurant and parking area with the lake beyondAerial view of the restaurant between parking and docksLakeside restaurant viewed above the docksShoreline restaurant and dock system from the waterBlue roof and lake-facing dining deck from aboveOverhead view of roof equipment and shoreline deckAerial view of the blue roof and lakeside terraceOverhead detail of deck tables beside the rocky shorelineAerial view of the wraparound lake-facing deckRestaurant approach with Otter Tail Lake in the backgroundStreet-facing entrance across the parking lotLong bar and window-side dining under red ceiling beamsLakeside dining tables beneath colorful ceiling signageBar counter and stools below red framingBrick-front bar and service equipmentBar opening toward the outdoor dining areaCovered outdoor bar beneath a timber roofTall entrance passage with skylights overheadColorful street-facing restaurant elevationTimber-roofed bar opening toward the lakeside deckRestaurant approach seen above the parking areaRestaurant and docks extending into Otter Tail LakeMain entrance and colorful exterior signageRestaurant dining tables among familiar Zorbaz memorabiliaBrick-front bar beneath a colorful ceilingPicnic tables along the lake-facing deckDining room with booths and wood tablesRestroom mirror and sink beneath a pendant lightHigh-top tables beside the lake-facing windowsLong bar connecting indoor and outdoor spacesDeck tables along the red restaurant exteriorBrick bar corner and service counterOutdoor high-top table beside painted sidingDining room and service counter in useDecorative memorabilia beside the restaurant windowsDirectional signs beneath the covered deck roofRow of picnic tables along the outdoor deckRestaurant seen from the lakeside dockLake-facing windows and deck beside the rocky shorelineCovered bar at the edge of the lake
Begin with a conversation
Tell us what you have in mind.
A property, a rough sketch, a home you want to rethink. Wherever you are starting, we would like to hear about it.
