Tired of shopping? Come on in!

Hungry, tired, and not feeling like my best after walking the outlets, I stepped into 5 Lakes Brew Pub ready to eat. Upon being seated, I really enjoyed the open floor plan of the restaurant. The last thing I’d want is to feel cramped after walking around for a while. My server Gretel introduced herself with a bright smile that instantly cooled my mood. Up to this point I had just ordered whatever I thought sounded interesting, but for some reason I decided to ask her what she recommended.
Gretel introduced me to the 5 Lakes Fried Pickle Wraps - dill pickle spears, capicola, and a cream cheese blend wrapped in a wonton and fried, served with the house ranch. Before this year I absolutely despised pickles. I did not understand what their purpose was in dishes until I told myself I needed to be willing to eat absolutely anything. Then something clicked. I learned that the reason they are often in dishes that are also fried is because they balance out that greasiness. When the pickle wraps came to the table, I was very surprised by the concept. They reminded me of a jalapeño popper. As I took my first bite after dipping a wrap into the house ranch, I was shocked that this was not an appetizer in every sports bar. I instantly thought, this is what I want to eat while watching sports. I am not sure how, but they connect perfectly. The appetizer comes with more than enough to share with a table of six. I ate most of them by myself and took the rest home. These are like little fried sandwiches. All of the elements come together so well. Bravo.
Sticking to the finger food, I had the French Dip - shaved ribeye, melted Swiss cheese, sautéed mushrooms and onions on a grilled hoagie bun, served with au jus. When I sit down at a sports bar, all I want to do is fill my mouth with food. This French dip delivers just that, as it is filled to the brim with meat. Definitely worth its price. Each bite is packed with flavor, and that’s without the au jus. Dipping into the au jus enhances the flavors two times over. The fries are a classic: simple, salty, and perfectly balancing the juiciness of the French dip.
Last but not least, I had the Salted Caramel Cookie Skillet, served with Moo-ville vanilla ice cream. The nice simplicity of cookies and ice cream really makes for a nice ending to a meal of more greasy-esque lunch. Not that the meals were overly greasy - just some darn good bar food.
I interviewed my server Gretel at the end and asked her a few questions. She was a phenomenal server. Part of my mission is to spotlight the people who make dining out special, because the experience is not just the food—it’s the people running food, the servers, and anyone else in the back of the house working hard to make the restaurant function properly. I am honored to have Gretel be the first server featured on my new Featured Server list, which will have its own spot on my blog. I hope to fill this out with many amazing individuals, and I will always appreciate anyone willing to be a part of my journey.
Walking out of 5 Lakes Brew Pub, I felt a lot better than when I walked in. The open room, the solid plates of bar food, and a server who actually cared about the experience all added up. If you’re shopping the Tanger Outlets and need a break, this is an easy yes. Start with those Fried Pickle Wraps. You might end up doing what I did: eating most of them yourself, taking the rest home, and already planning the next visit.