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. <

Business Spotlight: Guff's Grub and Pub

There’s an old saying in the restaurant business that great food draws attention and brings people together and that’s exactly the premise behind the new Guff’s Grub and Pub in Standish. 

Located at 450 Northeast Road, Guff’s Grub and Pub is owned by Kristen Guffey and opened for business on Dec. 1. Featuring a mouth-watering menu of sandwiches, pub favorites and beverages, Guff’s is quickly becoming a go-to destination for those who love tasty meals served in a fun atmosphere or a casual lunch or dinner with friends. 

Serving high-quality meals and focusing on attentive and personalized customer service are the basic foundations of Guff’s Grub and Pub, according to Guffey.

She’s also aware that the primary reason anyone visits a restaurant is for the food and the delicious meals that Guff’s Grub and Pub serves are reasonably priced and prepared on the spot.

“It’s all homemade and fresh,” Guffey said. “I smoke most of my meats that we serve such as wings, pork belly, corned beef, and pulled pork. I make really good food and that’s the best thing about what I do here.”

Guffey said she’s strived to ensure costs are affordable so everyone can enjoy Guff’s Grub and Pub.

“The food and alcohol prices are great I believe,” Guffey said. “They’re not too expensive and not bottom dollar.”

The menu is precisely what you would expect from a popular pub restaurant with a few surprises too.

For appetizers, Guff’s Grub and Pub offers Mozzarella Sticks; Chicken Wings; Fried Thai Chili Brussels Sprouts; Poutine Fries; Chili Cheese Fries; Fried Pickles; Spicy Onion Strings; Sweet Potato Fries; and French Fries. The menu includes a selection of soups, Caesar and Garden Salads; and Coleslaw.  

Diners at Guff’s can choose from a Fried Chicken Sandwich; a Fried Buffalo Chicken Sandwich; Grilled Cheese; Steak & Cheese; BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich; Reuben Sandwich; BLT Sandwich; Pork Belly BLT Sandwich; Fried Haddock Sandwich; Fish and Chips; Mac and Cheese; Chicken Tenders and Steak Tips. And all sandwiches are served with hand-cut fries.

Guff’s Grub and Pub also has four different types of burgers, some of the best pizza to be found in the Lakes Region of Maine and a generous assortment of beer sure to please.

“Many of our items on the menu are very popular but I would have to say we sell a lot of chicken tenders,” Guffey said. “People just love them.”

A favorite for both take-out and dining-in, Guff’s is family friendly and has an assortment of arcade games and a billiard table for kids of all ages.

Reviews are enthusiastic and positive.

“The food was phenomenal! The fried chicken sandwich was homemade and perfectly breaded and the produce on it was crisp and fresh. The buffalo chicken mac & cheese was made to order and was in the most delicious cheese sauce. Definitely check this place out and have some great grub.” Dana Peterson

“Everything was cooked to perfection, tasted delicious, staff is quick and friendly! Would highly recommend.” Marissa Perron

“Just had the best buffalo wings! I appreciate you guys at Guffs!” Chris Wilson

“Went today for the first time looking for a home cook feel meal and got that and more, incredible food, fun and service.” Tim Boe

“Our food was so delicious, the haddock sandwich is light and fluffy, not greasy; and the hand cut fries… mmm good. They have a good beer selection too.” Tammy Fitzgerald

“Such a fun place great food especially their Fries!!! The kids played arcade games waiting for their food which even my picky eaters loved!!! Great service!” Kate Estes

Guff’s Grub and Pub is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays and closed on Mondays. 

To place a take-out order, call 207-648-4461. Visit them on Facebook at Gruff’s Grub and Pub.

“This is a labor of love for us and I'm looking forward to serving all types of customers, new or repeat,” Guffey said. “We want to be consistent with our food and service so that our patrons can always have a good experience here and to have it the exact same way the next time and each time that they visit Guff’s Grub and Pub.” <

Business Spotlight: Barnhouse Deli

In business, there’s something genuine about making people happy and giving them their money’s worth and that’s exactly the mission of the Barnhouse Deli in Windham.

Opening shortly before Christmas next to Gilbert’s Chowder House at 61 Tandberg Trail, word of mouth has spread through the community quickly about their incredible handcrafted specialty sandwiches featuring generous portions that Barnhouse Deli offers to anyone with a serious appetite and a hankering for Boston- and New York-types of deli food.

According to Sarah Curtis, Barnhouse Deli Manager, business continues to grow as more people find out they are there and open for business.

“I hear it all the time from everyone that this is a place and something that Windham has needed for some time,” Curtis said. “It offers an alternative to fast food restaurants and what we do here is very simple. We offer homemade delicious sandwiches made the old-fashioned way with quality Boars Head meats and cheeses and we pay attention to detail.”

Barnhouse Deli sells eight different customized sandwiches or patrons can branch out and have one built for them according to their own specifications and wishes. They use thick cut sourdough, wheat, rye, crusty baguette, gluten-free and croissant breads and they also make fantastic wraps too. And every sandwich comes with a pickle hailing from Waldoboro in Maine.

Each sandwich that Barnhouse Deli sells is immense in size and is a creative work of art all on its own.    

“One of the best things about what I do is that I not only make sandwiches that are great to eat, but they’re beautiful to look at too. The creative aspect of making these sandwiches is very satisfying to me.”

The most popular sandwich since Barnhouse opened is the “Jumpin’ Jim,” which consists of layers of roast beef, ham, turkey, lettuce and mayo on sourdough bread.

Curtis says that Barnhouse Deli employs a staff of three and its sandwiches are priced competitively and are high-quality meals with an emphasis on nothing but the freshest of ingredients. Each sandwich is enhanced with condiments from around the state. Customers can purchase and take home many of these condiments, along with an assortment of homemade baked goods, whoopie pies, potato salad, fine wines, essential herbs, healing salves, creams and salts.

Customers will find Barnhouse Deli to be an awesome local source for quality meats, cheeses, and fresh salads, including chicken salad, egg salad and tuna salad, to take home and create your own sandwiches. Veggie sandwiches are popular menu items and gluten-free selections are also available.   

The Barnhouse Deli is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday with plans to expand day and hours and create an outdoor seating area during the summer.

Affiliated with Gilbert’s Chowder House, Barnhouse Deli is constantly adding to its menu and inventory, Curtis said.

“As the manager of the Barnhouse Deli, I’ve been part of the Windham restaurant community for a number of years as the proud former owner of the StoneDog Café,” Curtis said. “Jim Gilbert has owned and operated Gilbert’s Chowder House in Windham and in Portland for many years along with several other restaurant endeavors.”

She said that to be successful and draw customers back again and again to the Barnhouse Deli, the business needs to deliver three things.

“First, we have to be consistent and always sell a great sandwich,” Curtis said. “Second, we must always maintain the highest quality products and lastly, we have to enjoy meeting people in this line of work.”

By serving up tasty food with large portions, friendly and welcoming staff and a warm and cordial atmosphere, Barnhouse Deli intends to appeal to almost everyone and earn customer business.

“Everyone that comes is here is treated like members of our own family,” Curtis said. “The response we’ve received so far from the community has been simply fantastic and we hope to continue to earn the public’s trust as a great place to visit and enjoy a sandwich from.”       

To learn more about Barnhouse Deli, visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Barnhouse-Deli-at-Gilberts-Chowderhouse

To order ahead for pick-up, call 207-893-3451. <