Last summer my husband and I discovered one of the lake's best-kept secrets: Vieira's.

At least that's what I thought until I walked into an almost-full dining room in August. There, sitting at tables donned with crisp, white tablecloths were at least 50 people sipping wine and enjoying surf and turf. And they all knew about Vieira's before me. I can't say I'm surprised. I really don't get out much.

It was the first Saturday night in August, and my husband proposed a night away from the kids, the laundry and the dishes. I jumped out of my black capri sweats and immediately into something a little nicer.

Thirty minutes later, my husband and I entered a very busy restaurant. Intimate tables for two were scattered around the edge of the room, and a few six- and eight-tops spread throughout the middle. There were even a few patrons savoring the sunset from the deck, overlooking the water.

Dinner was delicious. But we were also there to see a friend of my husband's perform in the bar.

After a bottle of wine and a candlelit dinner, we entered the almost-empty bar. We felt a little funny at first, enjoying Steve Guidus' music practically alone. It was like a personal concert just for us. Where did all the people go?

As the dinner hours passed by, a few leftover diners trickled in and quietly sipped their wine while enjoying Guidus' rendition of "Come Monday." And when the small group stayed just as quiet during "Margaritaville," my husband and I sang along. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the Corona, but we were having a great time, almost all by ourselves.

Since that Saturday night, we've been back to Vieira's to hear Guidus and his girlfriend, Ginny Tedder, sing their hearts out. The crowd has increased in the last few weeks from just one or two, to at least a dozen patrons.

But on the last weekend in September, my husband and I drove into a full parking lot at Vieira's.

Squeezing our truck into one of the last spots available, I wondered aloud, "Why is it so busy tonight?"

My husband remembered, "Oh yeah, the wine festival was today."

Walking into the bar, we were amazed and couldn't believe our eyes. It was full. At least 20 people were clapping and singing along with Guidus as he sang "Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian." Antonio Vieira ran around the bar, helping the bartender keep up. There were even a few "groupies" running up to the microphone to make requests.

That night, my husband and I sang extra loud with the entire bar as Guidus and Tedder belted out "Sweet Caroline." It was glorious.

At the end of this month, there will be a chili festival at the lake. I'm already wondering where the after-party will be.