Late on Saturday night, October 11, firefighters were still working the blaze at The Landing clubhouse when a Reynolds member family showed up with their son's wedding reception. They had hosted the wedding at their home that evening. They loaded trays of reception food and a cooler of drinks and brought them to the first responders, and the whole family helped carry it in, including the new bride, still in her wedding dress. Lake Oconee News reported the story, and Reynolds shared it with members afterward.
The building was a total loss. With it went ESSE, the restaurant that Reynolds marketing director Brian Gaydica told the paper had become "a new hub" for The Landing community once it was renovated. A month later, Landing households have two meals to replace, Sunday brunch and Monday dinner. The one restaurant that covers both isn't inside the gates. It's Table at the Lake, off Linger Longer Road.
What Burned on October 11
According to Greene County Fire and Rescue, as reported by Lake Oconee News, the call came in around 6:30 p.m. Engine 9 arrived five minutes later and found the 20,000-square-foot building almost fully engulfed, with high winds from the remnants of Hurricane Isaias feeding the fire. Crews from Greene and Putnam counties and Greensboro responded, and Oconee County Fire Rescue covered stations and sent firefighters to relieve the ones on scene, 11Alive reported. No one was injured.
The loss included:
- ESSE restaurant, which placed second for remodeled private food and beverage facilities in Golf Inc. Magazine's 2025 Golden Fork Competition
- The Landing golf shop
- A fitness area
- Five overnight guest rooms
Reynolds told members it was rescheduling the affected tee times, ESSE reservations, fitness classes, events, meeting-room bookings and overnight stays. ESSE no longer appears on the Reynolds dining page, which now carries fall 2026 menus for the other venues.
Sunday Brunch Now Starts at 10 on Cowles Clinic Way
Table at the Lake sits at 1010 Cowles Clinic Way, off Linger Longer Road, underneath Bend the Trend. It serves Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and posts a dedicated Sunday brunch menu. Reservations go through SevenRooms. You can park in the restaurant's lot or in the spots across from it.
Location is the reason it works. A Landing household doesn't have to cross Reynolds to another clubhouse. The drive is a short trip along the same road that leads to the gate, and the 10 a.m. start leaves room for a round or an early run on the lake before anyone sits down.
Inside the Gates, Brunch Has Fewer Doors
Reynolds still has a Sunday brunch of its own. Its dining page describes Eighty8 Kitchen + Cocktails as the "historical epicenter of the Reynolds social scene," serving Southern breakfast, Sunday brunch, dinner and cocktails. The page doesn't post hours, so call ahead before you plan a Sunday around it.
On the other venues, Reynolds' own descriptions narrow the choices:
| Venue | What Reynolds lists | Sunday brunch? |
|---|---|---|
| Eighty8 Kitchen + Cocktails | Breakfast, Sunday brunch, dinner | Yes; confirm times |
| The Overlook at Great Waters | Dinner Thursday, Friday, Saturday | No |
| Richland Pointe | Platinum Member-only | Not listed |
| The Creek Club | Platinum Member-only, lunch and dinner | Not listed |
| Kathy's Café at The Lake Club | Member-only light lunch | Not listed |
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds adds another midday option. Amore del Lago, its Italian restaurant, lists a 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. seating on Saturdays and Sundays between breakfast and dinner, and takes bookings through SevenRooms. The dress code is smart casual. This past June, the hotel held Brunchissimo there on a Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., a brunch buffet at Amore del Lago built around house-smoked salmon, oysters, a carving station and risotto served out of a wheel of Pecorino.
Lake Oconee Bistro posts a Sunday brunch menu and takes reservations on OpenTable.
For a Landing household, Sunday now means choosing between staying inside Reynolds at Eighty8, going to the Ritz for a later midday seating, or heading out to Linger Longer Road for the 10 a.m. start.
Monday Night Is Where the Choices Get Thin
Brunch has substitutes. Monday dinner is harder, and Reynolds saw the problem early. Within days of the fire, it told members it would open The National Tavern on Monday nights as an added dinner option. The Tavern overlooks the 18th hole of the Richland course and serves lunch and dinner from its bar, lounge, dining room and verandas. Check with the club for its Monday hours.
The Overlook at Great Waters serves dinner only Thursday through Saturday, so it's no help on a Monday. These kitchens do post Monday dinner hours:
- Table at the Lake, Monday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., SevenRooms reservations
- Amore del Lago, Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., SevenRooms reservations
- Linger Longer Steakhouse at the Ritz-Carlton, dinner every day from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., reservations recommended
- Gaby's by the Lake at the Ritz-Carlton, daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., walk-in only
Table at the Lake is the only kitchen here that posts both a Sunday brunch menu and Monday dinner hours. It's the closest replacement for the routine ESSE gave The Landing: brunch on Sunday and dinner on Monday at the same place, near home.
Thanksgiving Week Brings Three Dates to Book
The holidays will fill these same dining rooms fast. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds holds its annual Lighting at the Lake on Wednesday, November 25, at 6 p.m. John Driskell Hopkins and his band will perform, Santa arrives, and the evening includes the lighting, a 5,000-square-foot rink and a Mistletoe Market open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Winter Forest rink opens at 4 p.m. that afternoon and then runs daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The next day, Thursday, November 26, the hotel serves Thanksgiving Brunch in The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are required, and the booking page shows $220 including taxes and fees. Two days after that, on Saturday, November 28, the Ritz holds a Fall Festival from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with live music, axe throwing, a petting zoo and pumpkin painting. It costs $65 per guest, tax and gratuity included, and children 3 and under attend free.
What Comes Next at The Landing Clubhouse
Gaydica told Lake Oconee News that the plan is to replace the clubhouse and restaurant, and that it's too early to discuss the rebuild. In its letter to members, Reynolds wrote, "Over the coming days, weeks, and months, we will work hard to determine the next generation of The Landing clubhouse." According to 11Alive, the Georgia State Fire Marshal's Office is expected to review the fire and determine its cause.
The building that comes next will carry a long history. The Landing course was the first golf course built at Lake Oconee, opening in 1986 as Port Armor Golf Club, and Reynolds bought it in 2005. Until the new clubhouse opens, Sunday brunch for The Landing is at 10 a.m. on Cowles Clinic Way.
At Boatright Realty Group, we live and work alongside The Landing community, and we'll keep sharing updates as Reynolds announces plans for the new clubhouse. If you'd like to talk about life at The Landing while it rebuilds, contact us. Let's find your Lake Oconee home.
