You’d think there would be in a city defined by its lakes.
Along roughly 54 miles of shoreline between lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra and Waubesa, there are around 15 establishments open to the public where you can eat and drink while taking in lakeside views from ground level. Two of the 16 — Sardine on Lake Monona and Green Lantern Restaurant on Lake Waubesa — have a parking lot between their buildings and the water. And one of the 16, Mariner’s Inn, closes at the end of this summer.
Mariner’s Inn owner Jack von Rutenberg will end his family’s 59-year run at the waterfront Madison restaurant situated on the Yahara River on the north end of Lake Mendota so he and his brother can retire. He says the concerns he’s heard most from people are about losing one of the very few lakeside restaurants in town. That was important to him in the sale of the property…