Sometimes, a short
excursion is better than no excursion at all. And so, at the end of a
very long week, Heidi and I decided to head a short distance north to one
of our favorite dinner venues: a small restaurant on the shores of Lake
Como (just north of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin) called the Mars Bar. Although
the history of the Mars Resort dates all the way back to the early 1920’s,
I first stumbled upon the Mars Bar back in the summer of 1972. A friend
and I had journeyed north to Lake Geneva and, after a rather long “night
on the town,” decided that we should look for a place to camp for the
night. We had no idea where we were going, and after several turns led us
out of town and onto what seemed to be a very deserted road, we quite
literally stumbled onto – and into – the Mars Bar. The name over the door
almost made us think that we had entered the Twilight Zone. Once inside,
we discovered that what we had found was a small but very cool local bar
on a lake that I had never known to exist. Everyone inside was extremely
friendly to two obvious “outsiders” and… well, the rest is history.
I had forgotten all
about the friendly little bar and resort until the early 1990’s, when
Heidi and I first got together. (It was easy to have forgotten; I didn’t
know how I got there in the first place and it was doubtful that I would
ever be able to find it again.) We had decided to spend a night or two at
Interlaken Resort for a weekend getaway. Driving up the hill on our way
out of Lake Geneva, I happened to
spot a small rectangular sign that read: Mars Resort. An arrow pointed
the way. My heart started to race as I drove down a long hill and
followed the road to a dead end at a lake. The only way to turn was to my
left, so I followed a vaguely familiar road. All of a sudden, there it
was. The same small sign above the door read: Mars. I had found it once
again. Heidi and I checked in to our room at Interlaken and later I
suggested that I wanted to return to Mars and make certain it was the same
place that I had been some 20 years earlier. It was! We stayed for a
marvelous fish fry and several cocktails, and spent some time reminiscing
with the new owner about the various changes that had taken place, the
most notable of which: the draught beers were no longer 20¢ – I had not
expected to find the same prices as 1972 – and that the ownership had
changed several times. But almost everything else seemed to be exactly
the same. The atmosphere was warm and we were welcomed as if we were one
of the locals. The food, by the way, was excellent! As Heidi and I left
to return to our room, a smile took residence on my tired face. It is a
smile that returns every time that Heidi and I return to the Mars Bar on
Lake Como.
And return we do, about two or
three times per year, and as we did just this past weekend – on another
short escape from “the office”. Many of those to whom I tell my plans to
drive fifty-plus miles just to have dinner, look at me with those eyes
that say I’m out of my mind. I don’t care. The drive still brings back
fond memories from – gulp – six decades of trips to Lake Geneva. And even
though the traffic on a Friday night can be a bit difficult, I still
enjoy the solitude of the car and conversation with Heidi. We usually
check in at the Best Western Harbor Shores, and after unpacking, we head over to
the Mars Bar. This past Friday was no exception. We arrived in Lake
Geneva at about 6:30pm and headed to our special place. It was as if we
had been there only last week. The place was crowded – as usual – and we
waited about 40 minutes for a table. The wait was pleasant, time passed
quickly and we were soon guided to our table, where we enjoyed another
great and relaxing dinner. The menu is fairly basic, offering steaks,
chops, chicken and a catch of the day, along with tasty sandwiches,
homemade soups, salads and appetizers. Friday’s special is always
Icelandic Cod and it’s always good. The signature dish seems to be
Monday’s and Wednesday’s Barbequed Ribs and they are truly outstanding.
Times change. Faces change. Prices change.
Even the shores around the lake change to some extent…
Geneva National Golf Club certainly wasn’t there in 1972! But more
importantly, there are two things that have not changed through the years
or the changes in ownership. First, although I am certain that no one
recognizes us, we are still treated with the same attentiveness as the
“regulars” and we always have a great time there. It is a very special
place to both of us and we enjoy the few occasions when we can get away
for dinner there. Second, the food is still as good as it ever was. We
have tried many items on the menu and they are all great. The fish fry is
excellent and always my first choice on Friday Nights. I hope that you
too, take the opportunity and time to head north to one my all-time
favorites – the Mars Bar!
Sometimes, a short
excursion is better than no excursion at all. And so, at the end of a
very long week, Heidi and I decided to head a short distance north to one
of our favorite dinner venues: a small restaurant on the shores of Lake
Como (just north of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin) called the Mars Bar. Although
the history of the Mars Resort dates all the way back to the early 1920’s,
I first stumbled upon the Mars Bar back in the summer of 1972. A friend
and I had journeyed north to Lake Geneva and, after a rather long “night
on the town,” decided that we should look for a place to camp for the
night. We had no idea where we were going, and after several turns led us
out of town and onto what seemed to be a very deserted road, we quite
literally stumbled onto – and into – the Mars Bar. The name over the door
almost made us think that we had entered the Twilight Zone. Once inside,
we discovered that what we had found was a small but very cool local bar
on a lake that I had never known to exist. Everyone inside was extremely
friendly to two obvious “outsiders” and… well, the rest is history.