Where Land Meets Lake

My eating schedule was a bit off when I arrived at Bear Lake Tavern. By this, I mean I was not as hungry as usual. This restaurant reminded me why I can't afford to make such a rookie mistake.
For the appetizer, I had the Coconut Shrimp — fried coconut shrimp with bang bang sauce. When I ordered this appetizer, I wasn't expecting them to be the size they were. These beautifully plated shrimp were arranged in the shape of a unity ring — interestingly enough, just like what my logo is meant to represent. The shrimp were coated in shaved coconut flakes fried right into the batter, giving a sense of sweetness in every bite. Nothing that screams coconut, but it's clearly a main ingredient. The sauce was interesting in its own right — I couldn't tell if there was more coconut in it, or if it just really brought out the coconut flavor in the shrimp itself. Either way, it added a velvety texture that balanced the shrimp's crispness, and I couldn't stop myself from finishing every bite. My fullness meter by this point: 7/10.
For the entrée, I noticed upon walking in that the restaurant is known for its yellow perch. I asked my server, and she recommended the Land and Lake — a 4 oz top sirloin steak with yellow belly perch, mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies. When it came out, I mentioned to my server that I might not be hungry enough for this. I was instantly intimidated by the portion size, but that left my mind the second I took my first bite. I cut into my steak — it had been months since I'd had one, so I was really looking forward to it. The cook was absolutely perfect. I ordered medium rare, closer to the rare side, and was very impressed with how consistent the cook was throughout the entire steak. Next up, the mashed potatoes — soft and creamy, with a gravy like a thick, comforting broth I could have had as a drink on its own. The yellow belly perch was by far the best fish I've ever had up to this point in my life. The perch was cooked perfectly — so tender I ended up eating it with my hands. It pulled apart effortlessly, flaking into soft, delicate pieces with barely any resistance. That's how you know it's done right. I only needed a single lemon slice to get enough juice for the whole dish — the lemons themselves were fresh and large, which told me this restaurant clearly cares about top-quality ingredients. The entrée also came with a tartar sauce that added another dimension to the dish. The steamed veggies were just as enjoyable as the rest of the plate. I finished everything, mixing each component together as I pleased until it was all gone. Fullness meter: 11/10.
By this point, I had clearly overeaten. Not only was I no longer hungry, I could physically feel it. However, this is my job, this is what I signed up for, and it's a lesson I only need to learn once. Despite my fullness meter, I needed to try their dessert. I believe I ordered the blueberry cobbler, but I'm not entirely sure — it wasn't on the menu and was recommended directly by my server. It was soft, light, and had a nice tart sweetness, with a raspberry drizzle that added a nice contrast. If I'd ordered milk with this, I might have fallen asleep in my chair after the last bite. Once again, I finished the entire slice. Fullness meter: 13/10.
Once again, I picked a restaurant at random and had an experience I'll remember for the rest of my life. I don't expect perfection from every restaurant, but if I walk into one that claims to be among the best, I'll always remember Bear Lake Tavern as my first true taste of it.
A special thanks to Liz, my server — you helped make this experience so great.