The Holiday Season Is Here at Eddie’s On Lake Norman

With the Holiday Season coming full steam ahead this year, we expect everyone to be even more excited to celebrate with us, here at Eddie’s on Lake Norman. November’s cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and falling leaves arrived a bit later than usual, but better late than never. We’re ready to celebrate with a cornucopia of offerings – from savory food specials to festive cocktails and Craft beer.

We don’t know about you, but we’re ready to drink a toast to the end of 2020…and to all of us for adjusting to unexpected circumstances while we helped our families, friends, jobs, and communities prevail throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

For this Thanksgiving toast, let’s raise our glasses and acknowledge the blessings in our lives – from family and friends to good health and hearty laughter, to forgiveness and grace to simple pleasures and compassionate understanding. We raise our glass with you to happiness, wellbeing, and peace in the days and months ahead, knowing our glasses will always be half full.

November not only ushers in good cheer, it reminds us of what is most important and valuable in our lives. It brings families together for Thanksgiving. Regardless of whether you plan to gather around the table with family or play it safe this year, love is ever-present. Decide the best way to celebrate the holiday with love, care, and respect, prioritizing the safety of your loved ones. Then, move forward with gratitude. Just because we’re dealing with a pandemic does not mean we must deprive ourselves of love, because it always triumphs.

At Eddie’s on Lake Norman, we hope all of our cherished customers find contentment, comfort, and joy throughout the Holiday Season. Living with passion is the only way to go.

With our seasonal flavors like pumpkin, cinnamon, and cranberry your pallet will think it’s on holiday also. Our bar staff is ready to create extraordinary drinks that will delight and intrigue your taste buds. As we work closely with local and well-known national breweries, we plan to give you the experience to keep you coming back for “one more beer.”

The Eddie’s on Lake Norman family keeps the doors open, the stove hot, and the drinks cold for all of our community. During this time of Thanksgiving, we are especially grateful for your continued support. We love being able to provide our Lake Norman community with excellent food, fresh seafood, an inviting family atmosphere, and, most of all, a staff that wants to offer you stellar service. We hope to see you soon.

No Holiday dinner is complete without an exceptional wine to pair with your meal. May we suggest Skyfall Cabernet Sauvignon? It’s a delightful Washington wine with a note of Black Currant, Dark BlackBerry, Vanilla, and Cocoa – a wonderful, versatile wine for your Thanksgiving dinner.  Grab a bottle and share it with your loved ones…or pour yourself a glass while you cook. We promise we won’t tell anyone.

Bar Manager Shalando Rankin is November’s Employee of the Month. He joined the Eddie’s on Lake Norman crew in the Fall of 2016 as a server on the floor and worked his way up to being our current Bar Manager.

Shalando has extensive experience in the bar world – ranging from Cocktail Lounges and Nightclubs to Resorts and Casinos.  He began his journey studying pre-prohibition drinks and working in a Martini lounge. With about 13 years under his belt, he uses his knowledge to help design a bar program that showcases both Tiki drinks and Craft cocktails.

Before joining us, Shalando had the pleasure of working with phenomenal mentors, whom he credits for shaping his view on drinks and pursuing his passion as a Mixologist. Without them, he would have never gotten the opportunity to write menus, travel to breweries, pen articles, teach mini-classes, and attend wine tastings.

Bar Manager Shalando Rankin is November’s Employee of the Month

“It’s my pleasure to provide the people of Lake Norman with classic drinks, new cocktails and amazing spirits,” Shalando enthuses.  “It’s not easy to find a good balance to meet all of our guests’ preferences, but I think I’ve found a pretty happy medium.

“When we add new cocktails to the menu, I take into account not just what our regulars ask for, but also people passing through. Because they are family and friends of those who frequent this restaurant…and when they move to the area, they become our new regulars.

“I’m grateful to know that I’m afforded the freedom to create and practice my art. Not just for discerning palates, but also for everyday people. Let me tell you, the Rum Runner Fish Bowl has seen many different variations!

“My goal is to create a culture where people are not afraid to come out of their shell and experience new flavors, spirits, and textures. We live in a social media world, where we find the latest drinks via a post. But I’d love to see us go back to a world of social experience, where you walk in, sit down, and know you’re going to go on a journey. I feel that here at Eddie’s on Lake Norman, we’re on the right track.”

We are proud to have someone with such passion on our team. If you would like to drop in and grab a cocktail, or just chit chat about Scotch, you’ll always find an open chair, a warm smile, and engaging conversation from Shalando.

Throughout November we will be on our regular restaurant hours, as permitted by the state of North Carolina’s  COVID-19 mandates. However, we will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and reopen for lunch on Black Friday with our regular menu.

We look forward to seeing you soon at Eddie’s on Lake Norman. Please keep in mind, we cannot take reservations at this time, because we are still in Phase 2.5 and required to operate at 50% occupancy. If you have any questions about the ways in which we keep our customers and employees safe, along with our premises, or if you would like to learn more about our menu of offerings, give us a call at (704) 799-2090.

Ann-Margaret Wagner brings her hospitality and restaurant expertise from New York to the shores of Lake Norman with Eddie’s On Lake Norman. Ann-Margaret is the former owner of a successful restaurant in Westchester County, New York, called The Muscoot Tavern, an iconic “Cheers-like” bar and grille. After visiting Lake Norman, she fell in love with the area, saw potential in the restaurant, and decided to make North Carolina her new home with her daughter Lacy.

After purchasing the business, which was previously Vinnie’s Sardine Grille and Raw Bar, she completely renovated the entire space, sold the other restaurant, and moved south. The kitchen is filled with all new appliances, while the bar, dining room, and back patio were all touched up to create a clean, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Whether North Carolina, New York, or anywhere else, Ann-Margaret’s mission is always to provide the freshest seafood, prime meats, produce, pasta, and bread, every meal.

“I hope you enjoy eating our delicious cooking as much as we love making it for you!” Ann-Margaret