Enjoy a meal with a view at Annbriar Golf Course

The Smokehouse Restaurant at Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo offers food with a view. Out the tall windows, diners can see golfers in action while they peruse the menu.

Restaurant manager Rocky Hoffmann said her staff focuses on blending fresh ingredients, recipes with a new twist and homemade food, including egg noodles made from scratch for the chicken soup ($3.95/$5.95), chicken strips hand-breaded (five for $7.95 with a choice of dipping sauces) and 8-ounce burgers patted by hand ($8.95).

“The waffles and pancakes are from our owner William’s (Nobbe) family recipe,” she said. Breakfast is served until noon daily, and the Sunday breakfast buffet is very popular. And, if you want to get out on the course quickly, grab an egg and cheese croissant/wrap for $3. Or, add bacon, ham or sausage ($5).

As for putting a new spin on a classic appetizer, Rocky pointed to the Philly Cheesesteak Nachos ($8.95). It’s hot roast beef with sautéed green peppers and caramelized onions served over homemade potato chips and topped with a melted three-cheese blend.

Take a gander, too, at the Smoked Salmon BLT ($8.95). It’s salmon and savory bacon topped with lettuce, tomato and a spicy aioli sauce on your choice of toasted bread or as a wrap. All sandwiches and wraps come with a choice of french fries, homemade chips, potato salad, sweet tangy slaw, a cup of soup or a small dinner salad.

Friday nights, diners can choose from cod, frog legs and jack salmon for $9.95 with two sides.

Whether you’re coming off the course hungry or meeting the girls for a leisurely lunch, salads offer a variety of options as well. The Smokehouse Salad ($6.95/$9.95) is the house salad topped with smoked pork or turkey. Add chicken ($2) or smoked salmon ($3) to the Caesar Salad ($7.95) or try chef, taco or seafood salads.

Tuesday Bridge Club members, all from Waterloo, played cards recently in a corner of the restaurant. They gave high marks to the food served, singling out the Philly cheese steak sandwich, taco salad, fried chicken and “fabulous soups.”

The Smokehouse has a high, beamed ceiling with wood paneling and a big stone fireplace. A meeting room can be partitioned off and an outdoor room addition was just completed. It is screened in with ceiling fans — a perfect setting for dining when the weather cools off a bit, said Hoffmann.

Annbriar Golf Course opened in 1993. It’s named for Ann Nobbe who envisioned turning her family’s farm into a golf course. After her death in an automobile accident in January 1990, her parents pursued her dream.

The restaurant got its name from a small 100 plus-year-old stone smokehouse original to the farm. The building still sits next to the clubhouse and is used as a freezer.

This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 3:16 AM with the headline "Enjoy a meal with a view at Annbriar Golf Course."