Those who haven't seen Sue's Lakeside Tavern recently are in for a surprise. The building on the shore of Canonsburg Lake has been transformed into an entirely new restaurant that goes by the splashy name of Bruschetta's al Lago. That's "bruschetta by the lake" for those who don't speak Italian.

"Our guess is that Sue's had been here for at least 30 years," said co-owner John Lewis, who, with brother Ed and executive chef Tom Rebstock, opened the now popular mother restaurant, Bruschetta's, on Pittsburgh's South Side in November 1996.

	Tony Tye, Post-Gazette Bruschetta's Restaurant, long a South Side fixture, has opened a new restaurant called Bruschetta's al Lago, next to Canonsburg Lake in North Strabane. Pictured are John Lewis, one of four co-owners, and Lou Chamberlin, general manager. Click photo for larger image.

"I understand that Sue's served food at one time, but when we saw the kitchen for the first time, it looked as if it hadn't been used in years," Mr. Lewis said.

In October 2005, a group of five Washington County investors interested in purchasing the site approached the Lewis brothers and Mr. Rebstock about installing a new restaurant in the building they planned to renovate.

"When we first took a look at the site, we liked it in a minute," said Mr. Lewis. "Over the past five years, we had been looking around the area for a second restaurant location, including Cranberry and Downtown Pittsburgh, but waited to find just the right spot."

Although both Lewis brothers grew up in the Brookline neighborhood of Pittsburgh, John now lives in Upper St. Clair and Ed in South Fayette, an easy drive to both their South Side and Canonsburg Lake locations. When the investors closed the property sale on Sue's Lakeside in December 2005, they already had preliminary designs for the new restaurant.

Renovations involved gutting the building, expanding it on three sides and installing a glassed-in terrace overlooking the lake. With a goal of utilizing the terrace 12 months a year, the team decided to install a wall of garage doors with huge glass panels that rolled into the ceiling in good weather, giving patrons an almost al fresco dining experience spring through fall.

The color scheme is all earth tones, with a caffe mocha wooden ceiling and tan tile panels on the floor. Near the entrance, 16 bar stools front a serpentine bar with a granite counter top, while the airy and spacious dining area has seating for 133. From most of the room, diners can see the workers in the open kitchen preparing salads, pizza in the wood-burning oven and desserts.

"In designing the restaurant, we tried for a rustic Tuscan ambiance with a contemporary feel," Mr. Lewis said.

Bruschetta's al Lago opened on Nov. 16 and, according to Mr. Lewis, has been doing well, despite only word-of-mouth advertising.

"Everything here is made to order," said general manager Lou Chamberlin, of Peters, who was asked to join the enterprise in August after working 5 1/2 years as assistant manager at the Rolling Hills Country Club. "Our cheeses are grated in-house, our seafood is fresh, even our herbs are fresh. And everything is made from scratch."

The restaurant offers the same basic regional Italian menu as its South Side counterpart, except for the addition of the pizza options (Guinness is one of the crust's special ingredients) and two appetizers, a crab bake casserole and buffalo chicken breasts.

Entrees range from $11 for a pasta dish to $28 for a twin filet mignon.

	Tony Tye, Post-Gazette Bruschetta's al Lago is a new landmark along the Canonsburg Lake shoreline. Co-owner John Lewis was aiming for a rustic Tuscan ambiance in the design. Click photo for larger image.

Although executive chef Tom Rebstock oversees both restaurants, sous chef Dave Kruel, a six-year veteran of the South Side Bruschetta's, supervises the new restaurant's kitchen staff of eight.

"Even though our kitchen is more compact than the South Side Bruchetta's, we've had a higher volume of food preparation," he said.

"Initially, it was a challenge to organize the smaller kitchen, but we had everything down pat by opening day."

The restaurant takes its name from the Italian appetizer, bruschetta, which is offered on a complimentary basis to every patron ordering an entree.

The appetizer consists of slices of Mancini's Italian bread, covered with a garlic spread, toasted, then topped with chopped tomatoes and fontinella cheese.

"We've had several of our regular patrons from our South Side restaurant dine here and have had nothing but favorable reactions," said Mr. Lewis.

Bruschetta's al Lago, a smoke-free establishment, is at 200 N. Lakeside Drive at Canonsburg Lake in North Strabane. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Happy hour, from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, features half-price appetizers and a dollar off alcoholic beverages. Phone 724-746-5050.