Lakeside Revival
Community. Family. History. These are the cornerstones of careful planning behind the 2025 opening of Beachside Tavern in Bass Lake. The new iteration of the waterside restaurant opened in summer 2025, when owners Tiffany and Carl Balaszek found a way to reintroduce a destination for people to gather and enjoy time with family and friends.
The owners recognized that the Beachside Tavern location, as previous businesses, holds a lot of history for people and acknowledged that this is something that meant a lot to them when they decided to open. They celebrated the memories that the property represents to many as a gathering place for decades.
Some of that history includes stories about a first job as a teenager or working for a previous owner back in the 1980s and throwing some of the best parties on the lake. The phrase “if these walls could talk” comes to mind.
The new owners hope to honor the history of the property while creating a new place where friends, families and visitors can gather to enjoy the lake, good food and good company.
The owners have their own history in the area. Tiffany was born and raised in Starke County, graduating from Knox High School, and Carl graduated from North Judson High School. Tiffany worked as a nurse for a dozen years before stepping in to support Carl when he opened The Pit Stop Auto Care in Knox in November 2020.
As parents to two young children themselves, the owners understand the demands of a busy family life. So when a homemade dinner around the table doesn’t fit into the daily schedule of their customers, they invite families to come to Beachside Tavern and enjoy a family-friendly dinner with them.
The list of what makes Beachside Tavern unique starts with the fact that it is the only restaurant in Bass Lake located directly on the lake. Customers can take advantage of pier slips that allow boaters to pull up, dock, dine and unwind at Beachside Tavern.
If the weather and lake are too good to leave, customers can place a carryout order for food and beer. Customers can also look forward to online ordering, including Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Beachside Tavern offers lake and sunset views from the vast outdoor deck overlooking the water’s edge. In warmer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, guests can expect entertainment on the outdoor stage Friday and Saturday nights.
If plans include a private party, there is a banquet space that can accommodate 75 people.
Menu specials are extensive. There is a build-your-own buffet option, plated options, appetizers and customized menu provisions to help accommodate customers’ financial needs. Gift cards are also available.
Current promotions include a weekly special, a Friday fish special, half-priced martinis on Wednesdays, $1 wings on Thursdays and Sundays, $2 domestic bottles on Thursdays and half-priced drafts on Sundays.
Beachside Tavern has participated in the Bass Lake Festival and hosted benefits including bike runs and poker runs. Other community events have included a Halloween party, holiday Cookies with Santa and a festive New Year’s Eve party.
As members of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce, Beachside Tavern has hosted a Chamber Breakfast welcoming fellow businesses in the community.
“We enjoy giving back and supporting other local small businesses,” Tiffany says. “We know the importance of community involvement, and we are at the center of it. We shop local and believe there is enough business for all of us in this small-town community.”
The owners sum up their motivation, drive and perspective, saying, “It was never about opening a restaurant. It was always about community.”
Beachside Tavern is located at 3698 S County Rd 210, Knox, IN 46534.
Open: Wednesday 2-9 p.m.; Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. Hours may vary by season.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for specials, events and updated hours.
