Michael's brings building up to date

MOSES LAKE — Passers-by on Broadway Avenue will no doubt have noticed the semi trucks and construction outside Michael's on the Lake.

The restaurant closed Feb. 24 for a massive overhaul of its interior, a change that owner Mike Hamilton and son Jordan say has long been in the works.

"We're just going to bring it up to date," Mike said of the building. "It hasn't been totally remodeled. We've done a lot of smaller remodel jobs on it, but it's been 20 years since it's totally been gone through. So we're going to redo it and bring it all up to date."

But it doesn't sound like customers should expect a completely different Michael's when the restaurant re-opens for business mid-March.

"Who we are and our brand and type of place that we are is going to stay pretty much the same," Mike said. "The core part of the menu is going to stay the same, but we're going to add quite a few new items to it."

In addition, the lunch and dinner menus will combine, Jordan and Mike said, hopefully appealing to a casual clientele that wants to eat in the evening.

"More people more times of the day," Jordan explained.

The restaurant's catering business will also continue, but is on hiatus during the remodel.

The restaurant was originally the Fogcutter and then Michael McHaney's before becoming Michael's on the Lake in 1991.

"We've been kind of planning it for the last year or two," Mike said of the renovation. He and Jordan said that the place will offer casual elegance, with additional seating and more lakeview seating.

Jordan said the renovation has drawn a positive reception from those passing by.

"All positive," he said. "They're stopping in, excited, can't wait. They want us to call them and they want to make sure they're here when we open."

"We're excited, our customers are excited about it," Mike said.