Text and Photos
By Shari Benyousky
Guest Columnist

EDITOR’S NOTE: There will be no Diners and Dives columns for the next several weeks. The column will return on July 23.

Column Note: In the 63rd column in the Diners and Dives series, a small group of Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club members explore Rochester.

Forty short minutes south of Warsaw, in Fulton County, you’ll find a tempting lake-side restaurant with patio umbrellas and a colorful name. Inkfreenews Reader Bryce Hardesty reached out to tell us about this indoor/outdoor brewpub. He even offered to take us by Bennington pontoon to The Dam Landing located at 1305 Ewing Road in Rochester on the shoreline of Lake Manitou.

Lake Manitou was man-made in 1827 by the Federal government for the Potawatomi Indian tribe. Manitou translates as “Devil’s Lake” as the Potawatomi believed a monster fish or serpent lived in it.

Buoy, Oh Buoy!

Sadly, none of us saw the monster, but the pontoon’s back end had sunk and needed some engineering discussions and a lift before we jumped in. Who knows what could have caused such a thing?

“So, do we start Diners and Dives conversations on the boat, or at the restaurant?” a slightly nervous Captain Bryce asked as we chugged down the shoreline with the 95-degree sun beating on our heads. Bryce owns Split Road Media with locations in Rochester, Warsaw, and Logansport. He introduced his videographer Trevor Kempton and revved the engine. “I don’t have much to say,” Bryce told us. “I mostly work.”

“Serious question here,” I held my notepad from blowing away. “Have either of you ever seen the other without a hat?” I’ve never seen Bryce without his trademark baseball hat.

Videographer Trevor whipped his hat off. “I don’t always wear my hat,” he grinned, revealing deep dimples. “But I have hair!” He chuckled at the expression on Bryce’s face. “I have seen Bryce without his hat,” he paused. “The hat is better.”

Dock-Nab It!

We spotted the welcoming outside bar and umbrellas of The Dam Landing. After docking, we met our waitress Payton who patiently told us about the specials. Even though we weren’t ordering them this time around, the place boasts 16 beers on tap including some from Bell’s, 3 Floyds, Blue Moon, popular regular brews, and five rotating options.

Orthopedic Consultant Kris Williams explained Diners and Dives protocol to the guests to put them at ease. “Don’t worry. Shari will take horrible pictures and misquote us all the time.”

“Would you like me to just put asterisks, dollar signs, and exclamation points for your @$*$! quotes this time?” I raised my eyebrows.

We paused to order. I ordered the mix-and-match tacos for $3.99 each, choosing the Dope Chick with grilled chicken, Verde salsa, and chicharron, and the Guaco Taco with fried guacamole, poppy seed cabbage, and dam-sauce.

1st Source Banker Paul leaned over to the waitress Payton who poised her ordering pad and pen. “I have a special order for a reader.” He took a slip of paper from his pocket. “I’d like a Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a small side of political influence, please.” He winked.

Shout out to a reader for their Facebook Inkfreenews Diners and Dives column comment about our last column. The regulars chuckled. In case you wondered, yes, we do read your comments.

Primo Realtor Jeff Owens ordered the Payton-recommended Chicken and Waffles with pearl sugar Belgian waffles topped with cinnamon bacon jam butter and maple syrup. Then he ordered the Totchos appetizer for the table — a huge plate of DAMtots topped with cheese, ale sauce, bacon, jalapenos, red onion, and tomatoes. Those disappeared in minutes because they were amazing.

Sun Of A Beach

We admired our table view over the lake, the skiers, and the boats. When the food arrived, I took pictures of Trevor and Bryce with their choices. When I showed Bryce, he frowned. “I look fat,” he said whereupon we learned that Trevor had once paid his way at film school in Los Angeles partially by an accidental and providential introduction to modeling by his Philly Cheesesteak boss.

“I did a Dairy Queen commercial,” Trevor showed his dimples again. “In it, I got a spoon for a cute girl, and we shared an Oreo Blizzard. I modeled for Ray Ban too.” He turned to Bryce and discussed the best ways to look good for the camera. Bryce tried posing again with the plate of Tater Tots.

“How am I supposed to look?” Bryce squeezed a tot. “Should I open my mouth?”

“Just eat it!” Trevor advised as he showed how to look amazed next to his own plate of hot wings.

A Little Sizzle

Excellent food and company made the conversation take a serious turn. “So, what do you guys do?” Finley asked as he worked on his Bacon-3-Way Tenderloin which included bacon jam, bacon aioli, slices of bacon, and cheddar. The tenderloin stuck several inches out of the bun.

“I make great commercials,” Trevor answered. Split Road works with all kinds of media including drone-work, websites, videography and T-shirts. I first saw their amazing Moving Pictures Tattoo video ad while waiting for a movie at the North Pointe Cinema in Warsaw. I next saw their dedication when Split Road donated their time to cover the 31st Warsaw Breakfast Triathlon this last Saturday. Bryce and Trevor covered all three parts of the race with camera, drone, and even running alongside the bikers and runners outfitted in a camera cage.

“Our ideal client,” Trevor waved a hot wing. “is a business that needs marketing, but doesn’t have the resources to do it themselves. We do a lot of filming on-site because it’s what our customers need. We don’t farm it out. If we make something, we make it ourselves. We don’t have good and bad customers; everyone gets the best quality.”

Goes A Long Way

“Yeah!” Bryce brightened. “We even have a Gold Telly Award!” According to the prestigious Telly Website, annually the awards receive 12,000 worldwide submissions and award only 300 gold winners. In 2023 Split Road won for “Light , After Decades of Darkness” which showcases the snowy re-opening of a restored movie theatre in Rochester. They have several silver and bronze awards from 2024 as well.

Our third guest, busy Rochester City Common Councilwoman and Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe finished her other meetings and arrived in time to give her fellow Optimist members hugs.

“A true leader lets others shine,” Realtor Jeff Owens said about Bryce Hardesty with a nod.

Amy nodded emphatically. “Yes! That’s what Bryce Hardesty is always doing.” Amy wears many hats including helping part-time at Split Road. “My official title is Problem Solver,” she told us.

“Or Herder of Cats?” laughed Realtor Jeff.

“My title is Wizard of Creativity,” Bryce grinned. He posed for another picture using Trevor’s tips.

“I’m just called the Head of Video Production,” Trevor laughed.

Whatever they’re called, the team at Split Road is generous, fun, and dam-good, just like our hosts at The Dam Landing. We said our goodbyes, thanked Payton and the rest of the restaurant gang and hopped back in the pontoon. We will be back!

TIP – The Dam Landing has Trivia Nights at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

TIP – The Dam Landing is closed on Mondays.

Do you know of an interesting place, restaurant, nonprofit, or person that you’d like to see featured in Diners and Dives? Send Shari Benyousky an email at [email protected].