Every destination has a handful of restaurants that become part of the experience.
In Lake Lure, La Strada is one of those places.
Visitors often discover La Strada because of the view. Many return because of the food. Our family has been eating at La Strada since the Lake Lure location opened in 2005, and over the years we have stopped in for practical dinners, celebrations, and evenings when we simply wanted to sit down, enjoy the view, and unwind.
Few restaurants remain part of a family’s routine for twenty years. La Strada has earned that distinction.
Many visitors are surprised to learn that La Strada’s story began long before the Lake Lure location opened.
The original La Strada opened in Charlotte in 1974, serving New York-style brick oven pizza and traditional Italian favorites. More than thirty years later, the family expanded to Lake Lure, bringing the same family-owned approach to one of North Carolina’s most beautiful mountain communities.
Today, La Strada has been serving North Carolina families for more than fifty years. In an industry where restaurants often come and go, that kind of longevity speaks for itself.
Some restaurants become memorable because of one meal. Others become memorable because families keep choosing them year after year.
One look at the lake explains why so many guests request a table on the porch.
The view is beautiful. Lake Lure stretches out below the restaurant, and the surrounding mountains provide the backdrop. Most visitors naturally think of the porch when they think of La Strada.
The indoor dining rooms deserve more credit than they often receive. Large windows throughout the restaurant allow many guests to enjoy the same scenery from inside. Some of our most memorable meals have been enjoyed indoors, particularly during cooler weather or busier weekends.
Whether seated inside or outside, diners are still able to appreciate one of the best restaurant views in the Lake Lure area.
A beautiful view may convince someone to visit once. Consistently good food is what brings people back year after year.
The grilled shrimp and scallops remain one of my favorite entrées on the menu. The pizza is another dependable choice, especially when topped with fried eggplant. That combination is surprisingly difficult to find elsewhere and has become one of our family’s favorite orders.
The eggplant Parmesan is consistently excellent. The manicotti has been a longtime favorite. The rack of ribs is remarkably good for an Italian restaurant, and the Parmesan fried shrimp is another dish we find ourselves ordering repeatedly.
The salads deserve recognition as well. Many restaurants treat the salad as an afterthought. At La Strada, it feels like part of the meal rather than an obligation before the entrée arrives.
Dessert is rarely a mistake at La Strada.
Whenever the restaurant offers one of its fruit desserts served in a small cast-iron dish, there is a strong chance it will end up on our table. The apple versions have been excellent. The peach desserts have been equally memorable.
Warm fruit, a cast-iron dish, and a scoop of ice cream remain a combination that is difficult to improve upon.
One detail first-time visitors sometimes miss is the collection of signed photographs and memorabilia displayed throughout the restaurant.
Over the years, La Strada has welcomed actors, musicians, athletes, and other notable visitors. The signatures and photographs add personality without feeling staged. They serve as a reminder that Lake Lure has long attracted people from all walks of life.
The collection also gives guests something interesting to browse while waiting for a table or lingering over dessert.
Twenty years is a long time to keep returning to the same restaurant.
New restaurants open every year. Dining trends change. Menus evolve. La Strada succeeds at something far more difficult: consistency.
We know the food will be good. We know the atmosphere will be comfortable. We know the service will be welcoming. Most importantly, we know we will enjoy ourselves.
That is why La Strada has remained part of our Lake Lure routine since 2005.
Visitors often arrive for the view. Many come back for the food. The combination of both has made La Strada one of Lake Lure’s lasting restaurants.
La Strada is easy to pair with a day spent around Lake Lure, Chimney Rock Village, or nearby family-friendly stops. For another sweet stop in the area, read our Village Scoop Chimney Rock review. You can also browse more Lake Lure family travel ideas and family restaurant reviews on Family Critic.
La Strada is located in Lake Lure, North Carolina, with lake and mountain views that make it a popular stop for visitors to the area.
Yes. La Strada works well for families because the menu offers a wide variety of options, including pizza, pasta, seafood, ribs, salads, and desserts.
Yes. La Strada is known for its porch seating overlooking Lake Lure. Indoor seating is also a good option, and many tables still offer beautiful views.
Some of our family favorites include the grilled shrimp and scallops, pizza with fried eggplant, eggplant Parmesan, manicotti, rack of ribs, Parmesan fried shrimp, salads, and the fruit desserts served in small cast-iron dishes when available.
The Lake Lure location opened in 2005. The La Strada family restaurant history began in Charlotte in 1974.
Reviewed by Family Critic, where we share honest family travel, restaurant, and experience reviews from places we actually visit and enjoy.
