Lily’s restaurant at River Forest reopens, with outdoor dining at golf course
A popular al fresco dining destination is reopening in Allegheny Township.
Lily’s, the restaurant at River Forest Country Club overlooking the golf course, is back in business for dinner at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The scenic dining spot closed last summer, at the season’s peak, citing staffing shortages. While located at the private club, Lily’s is open to the public for dining.
Lily’s opened in summer 2019, after Jamy and Robert Rankin became partners at River Forest with co-owners Andi and Steve Irwin. The Rankins named the eatery after their 6-year-old pug, Lily.
Jamy Rankin and Andi Irwin serve as the public face of River Forest. Robert Rankin is the chief financial officer; Steve Irwin, a lawyer, is busy running for Congress, seeking the Democratic nomination for the 12th District.
Jamy Rankin said the reopening feels “awesome.”
“It’s been a long time, and we struggled with finding manpower and I’ve been asked a hundred times, ‘When are you reopening?’ ” Rankin said.
Lunch will be served Saturdays and Sundays and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
The restaurant is open seasonally, typically closing in November and reopening in March.
New to the American-influenced menu are Mojo Potatoes, an appetizer with breaded and fried fresh-cut russet potatoes served with a campfire sauce.
The popular Lily Burger remains, with cheese, pickle, red onion and romaine.
“We have to keep that burger on the menu — everyone loves it,” Rankin said.
Executive chef Nash Michalski, 22, of Freeport graduated with a culinary arts degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
As chef, Michalski said he’s keeping it simple with weekly specials and hopes to add more exotic flavors to the menu lineup, such as Indian cuisine.
“The atmosphere, view and surroundings make for a calm dining experience,” Michalski said.
Laci Horvath of Bell Township is a bartender at Lily’s. After working in the golf course’s pro shop during Lily’s extended closure, she is excited to get back behind the bar.
“The golfers will be so excited to have the bar back open. We get a lot of families for dinner, and they love to sit on the veranda,” Horvath said.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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