Business Spotlight: Lake House Tavern

After creating a sensation with many successful restaurants and taverns over the years, Bob and Paula Coppersmith have opened Lake House Tavern in Windham and it’s rapidly becoming a go-to place for great food, fun and a cozy atmosphere in town.

Lake House Tavern is owned and operated
by Bob and Paula Coppersmith and 
strives to provide delicious fresh
meals at affordable prices and 
friendly and courteous service.
COURTESY PHOTO   

Located at 907 Roosevelt Trail, Lake House Tavern is a full-service restaurant, with meals to eat in or take out, and it also features a 14-seat full bar with ice cold beer, draft, cans, bottles, along with wine and cocktails.

“We offer a nice cozy friendly restaurant/tavern,” Coppersmith said. “It’s a place to come to and be able to chat with friends and neighbors and all others, kind of like Cheers. Prices are very competitive, and we have lowered prices on a lot of menu items especially the seafood. We strive to have the best quality food and the best service around.”

The menu focuses on the true essence of American cuisine. Whether you're in the mood for hearty sandwiches, fresh salads, or their signature Maine dishes, the Lake House Tavern menu is crafted to delight every palate. There are fried seafood favorites such as Haddock, Scallops, Clams, Shrimp and Crab Cakes, an array of popular sandwiches like Meatball Subs, Burgers, Chicken Club, Pastrami and their delicious Lobster Rolls. For dinner they offer Seafood Linguini, Chicken Parmesan, Steak, Pasta and Meatballs, and Blackened or Baked Haddock, among others.

“We offer the freshest of the fresh. We keep our overhead low so we can pass the savings on to our customers,” Coppersmith said. “We have a nice friendly staff, and the owners are always involved to make sure everything is going good, and customers are happy.”

The tavern has a nice variety of wine and mixed drinks and offers a range of weekday $5.00 specials including Margarita Monday, Ice Pik Tuesday, Wine Down Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday. Happy Hour is daily from 2 to 5 p.m.

Bob Coppersmith started lobstering with his brother, Bill Coppersmith, in the late 1970s. He went on to work at his brother Bill’s Fishermen’s Net Seafood Market on Forest Avenue in Portland and they later added a Fishermen’s Catch location in Raymond which Bill’s son Billy operates now.

Bob left to launch Bob’s Seafood around 2001 in Windham and that’s when his wife Paula got involved in the business. They had that business for about 10 years before selling when an opportunity arose to open Docks Seafood in South Portland. They operated that business for about eight years with a Docks Boathouse in Biddeford selling and cooking the freshest of the fresh seafood available.

They sold Docks Seafood in South Portland to one of their employees and it is still open today. When they sold Docks, Bob and Paula opened Coppersmith Tavern and Table on Route One in South Portland. That’s where they created a nice family friendly Cheers-like tavern and restaurant, selling it in November 2023. The opportunity arose to buy Franco’s Bistro and open Lake House Tavern in Windham, and the rest is history.

“Windham is what we call home. We have lived in Windham for 20-plus years with lots of family and friends that live here and have businesses here. We have family and friends that work here at the tavern and help out,” Coppersmith said. “We plan on staying here for a long time and making and creating a nice place for all to come and enjoy the best that Maine can give.”

Lunch specials are available at 11 a.m. daily and when summer comes around, owners are planning on adding an outside deck.

Online reviews are incredible.

“Finally got a chance to go in and see what everyone has been raving about. The tavern did not disappoint! Appetizers, the meal, drinks and service were all great. Definitely a welcome addition to the local area. Definitely going to be one of our new go-to spots.” ~ Brian Lawrence

“Great atmosphere and great food. It was quick to come out and was delicious. We had fried clams and crabmeat rolls and fries. Will definitely be back soon!!!”~ Donna Clark Kenison

“Great food and atmosphere.” ~ Ralph Gallagher

“I've been in a few times now, and the food has been excellent. I keep going back to the haddock sandwich, a generous portion of fish cooked perfectly with a light breading on a nice fresh bun with fries, it's hard to be. The Brussels sprouts and meatball apps that they have on the menu are so good!”~ Joe Mains

To learn more about Lake House Tavern, call 207-894-3020 or visit them online at www.lakehousetavernwindham.com. Follow them on Facebook under Lake House Tavern. <