Would recommend incorporating a stop here into your plans to visit the area. The food was excellent, atmosphere was great with a beautiful view of the water, and the service was also exceptional. Our waiter, Mark F. was courteous and professional and did a fantastic job!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mike Mancini
Always have had great food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mario Alex Gonzalez
Came with a group, the appetizer game here is strong. All the ones we had were tasty choices. The ribeye plate was spectacular, cooked to perfection with great slides. The potatoes were crispy but soft, the vegetables were seasoned perfectly, and you get a whole head of roasted garlic too. The location is a huge appeal to this restaurant, making it an even nicer dining experience. Worth a try if you want a dinner on the water.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Heather Smith
Darn. Hoping for some great food. Not great, especially for the price. All included with appetizer and tip - about $55 per person. I’ve had much more delicious food - it could be a lot better.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Madeline Kiep
We’re regulars at Boatyard Grill and love it for casual meals, but they also went above and beyond hosting both our wedding after-party and farewell brunch in August 2025. The food was fantastic (I’ll never stop recommending the buffalo chicken spring rolls), the waterfront setting was perfect, and the staff was incredibly warm, welcoming, and attentive. For the after-party, they created the perfect vibe with space for a DJ and dancing while guests could also mingle, eat, and drink. The next morning, they seamlessly flipped it into a beautiful brunch setup with a mimosa bar and great outdoor dining on the water, the perfect send-off for our guests. Communication was smooth, the whole process was easy, and we couldn’t have asked for better hospitality. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tyler
The food and drinks were delicious! I opted to eat outside on the dock since it was nice out and it was definitely a good choice. The inside does seem a bit dark.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Roger Cole
On Thursday September 11, we returned to The Boatyard Grill with another large group of 15. We again were able to be seated and served our dinners quickly. Another excellent meal with fantastic service!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Surf \u0026 Turf, Seafood Fra Diavolo, Filet, Fried Fresh Calamari, French Onion Soup
Cassie M
They need a new chef as well as a better manager. Twice coming here the lobster was off, and I mean mushy like mashed potatoes. And sorry, but no, fried onions that disintegrate in 3 minutes, do not count as the bread in French onion soup folks. The steak would've been great had it not been for the three inches of fat that was still on it. The vegetables? I think they were previously frozen. IMO, whatever you do, do not get fish here. It's a good date-night venue if you don't mind getting Old American food that could come from Denny's or Applebee's. The service is fantastic, and the atmosphere would've been 5 stars had it not been for the fake Boston ferns hanging from everywhere like they're the prized showpieces. It's got antiquated supper-club vibes, basically a place where no one really cares how bad the food is, they just come for the company, the selfies, and the view.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Susan Kahabka
Great spot to dine. The crew teams were out practicing and crew parents had a nice grassy spot with Adirondack chairs to watch from. Our food was excellent, service was great too. The outdoor patio is pet friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrzej
This was my first visit to this restaurant. We have to wait almost 1 hour to get in , but was worth it. Food was delicious, serve was really quickly and friendly. I will come back here for more good food.
It was our first time to Ithaca-Finger Lakes Region so we googled, checked reviews, asked locals for the best recommendations for great restaurants if we wanted to go to dinner and celebrate a momentous occasion. None mentioned “The Boatyard Grill”… However, on heading on one of our excursions- the ButterMilk Falls we drove passed it, saw the white chairs outside and thought this place looks cool and they probably had seafood-a favourite of ours. So we got to googling and read the reviews which was a blend. I mean you can’t please everyone ☺️ and especially if you cook like we do! So we decided this is where we wanted to go. We called ahead as some of the reviews suggested and the voice that answered was very warm and gave us the headsup that calling doesn’t guarantee a “skip “ in the line but might get you a seat quicker . They don’t take reservations, so it’s basically first come, first serve. After our excursion we went home got dressed … we were sure if it was a dress up or down, casual or what kinda place so we played it safe… Though we seemed to have stood out as most people were in Denim and more on the casual side. But to each is own, but dont feel pressured to dress up unless like us you are celebrating a special occasion. Anyway we arrived and the parking lots were filled so we parked a little distance from the entrance, but it was okay as we love to walk. Though I had on heels. I choose to walk as opposed to being dropped at the Entrance. So flats are fine at The Boatyard Grill.
On arrival we were greated with warmth by two hosts. I gave my name and advised that I had called. We were told there would be a little wait and given the option of the outside bar while we waited as there was live entertainment taking place. We walked through the busy restaurant fulled with patrons and workers alike and I am sure everyone knew we visiting lol but we confidently walked to the bar a kind local gestured to us to come to a spot so we could get service. A lovely bartender Brittany came over with a warm smile and made recommendations. They had a Cherry/Bomb Margarita that I opted for and a Burbon on the Rocks! A lovely bartender Brittany came over with a warm smile and made recommendations. No sooner that we arrived we got a text advising that as soon as a seat is ready , we would be alerted so we kept the phone close.
The wait didnt seem too long for us between enjoying our cocktails and listening to the music. The alert came in “ We are ready for you…!” . That was about 10mins later so we were happy as we were famished and were eager to try their All American Cuisine.
Our server Luke was extremely professional, very polite, warm in his demeanor and displayed superb customer service. Definitely an asset to the establishment. We perused the menu and found many dishes we would have loved to try. We selected a cup of clam chowder, lobster and corn fritters as appetizers, then for the entree we chose the Surf & Turf and Orange Glazed Halibut…and desert the Chocolate Cookie with Vanilla ice cream and caramel.
I’m not sure if it was because we were extremely famished or the food was just pleasing to our palettes. But we truly enjoyed every morsel of the dishes we selected. We both shared with each other . The only thing for me is the halibut was a little bland, but there was salt and pepper on the table. I didn’t add any, as the orange glaze sufficed.
It definitely is a place I would recommend if looking for a good place to dine with a lovely lake side ambience… Sure in the heart of summer it’s the place to go. The night was a little chilly, but that didn’t detract from our experience and the outdoor patio is heated.
Two Thumbs up again to our server Luke! Check it out for yourself!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ali Jumabhoy
Had a really nice dinner here. The food is pretty good and the portions are generous. Service staff are extremely helpful and upbeat. Would recommend to anyone in the area. In particular we enjoyed the cookie dessert.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Victoria Anufrienko
The food is extremely delicious, service and the atmosphere are excellent!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gregg Dedrick
Food is average. Service was unattentive and not friendly. Atmosphere was OK but has potential to be great since it’s on the water. However, on the “patio“ you can’t see through the awning sides that they have put up. Inside of restaurant looked a bit better. A bit disappointing experience overall.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Glenn Patton
I had the world’s best maple manhattan at this restaurant . I have been trying to duplicate it since and I can’t. I would love to know how they make them.
Would recommend incorporating a stop here into your plans to visit the area. The food was excellent, atmosphere was great with a beautiful view of the water, and the service was also exceptional. Our waiter, Mark F. was courteous and professional and did a fantastic job!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always have had great food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came with a group, the appetizer game here is strong. All the ones we had were tasty choices. The ribeye plate was spectacular, cooked to perfection with great slides. The potatoes were crispy but soft, the vegetables were seasoned perfectly, and you get a whole head of roasted garlic too. The location is a huge appeal to this restaurant, making it an even nicer dining experience. Worth a try if you want a dinner on the water.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Darn. Hoping for some great food. Not great, especially for the price. All included with appetizer and tip - about $55 per person. I’ve had much more delicious food - it could be a lot better.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
We’re regulars at Boatyard Grill and love it for casual meals, but they also went above and beyond hosting both our wedding after-party and farewell brunch in August 2025. The food was fantastic (I’ll never stop recommending the buffalo chicken spring rolls), the waterfront setting was perfect, and the staff was incredibly warm, welcoming, and attentive. For the after-party, they created the perfect vibe with space for a DJ and dancing while guests could also mingle, eat, and drink. The next morning, they seamlessly flipped it into a beautiful brunch setup with a mimosa bar and great outdoor dining on the water, the perfect send-off for our guests. Communication was smooth, the whole process was easy, and we couldn’t have asked for better hospitality. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and drinks were delicious! I opted to eat outside on the dock since it was nice out and it was definitely a good choice. The inside does seem a bit dark.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
On Thursday September 11, we returned to The Boatyard Grill with another large group of 15. We again were able to be seated and served our dinners quickly. Another excellent meal with fantastic service!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Surf \u0026 Turf, Seafood Fra Diavolo, Filet, Fried Fresh Calamari, French Onion Soup
They need a new chef as well as a better manager. Twice coming here the lobster was off, and I mean mushy like mashed potatoes. And sorry, but no, fried onions that disintegrate in 3 minutes, do not count as the bread in French onion soup folks. The steak would've been great had it not been for the three inches of fat that was still on it. The vegetables? I think they were previously frozen. IMO, whatever you do, do not get fish here. It's a good date-night venue if you don't mind getting Old American food that could come from Denny's or Applebee's. The service is fantastic, and the atmosphere would've been 5 stars had it not been for the fake Boston ferns hanging from everywhere like they're the prized showpieces. It's got antiquated supper-club vibes, basically a place where no one really cares how bad the food is, they just come for the company, the selfies, and the view.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Great spot to dine. The crew teams were out practicing and crew parents had a nice grassy spot with Adirondack chairs to watch from. Our food was excellent, service was great too. The outdoor patio is pet friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was my first visit to this restaurant.
We have to wait almost 1 hour to get in , but was worth it. Food was delicious, serve was really quickly and friendly. I will come back here for more good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
It was our first time to Ithaca-Finger Lakes Region so we googled, checked reviews, asked locals for the best recommendations for great restaurants if we wanted to go to dinner and celebrate a momentous occasion. None mentioned “The Boatyard Grill”…
However, on heading on one of our excursions- the ButterMilk Falls we drove passed it, saw the white chairs outside and thought this place looks cool and they probably had seafood-a favourite of ours. So we got to googling and read the reviews which was a blend. I mean you can’t please everyone ☺️ and especially if you cook like we do!
So we decided this is where we wanted to go. We called ahead as some of the reviews suggested and the voice that answered was very warm and gave us the headsup that calling doesn’t guarantee a “skip “ in the line but might get you a seat quicker . They don’t take reservations, so it’s basically first come, first serve.
After our excursion we went home got dressed … we were sure if it was a dress up or down, casual or what kinda place so we played it safe… Though we seemed to have stood out as most people were in Denim and more on the casual side. But to each is own, but dont feel pressured to dress up unless like us you are celebrating a special occasion.
Anyway we arrived and the parking lots were filled so we parked a little distance from the entrance, but it was okay as we love to walk. Though I had on heels. I choose to walk as opposed to being dropped at the Entrance. So flats are fine at The Boatyard Grill.
On arrival we were greated with warmth by two hosts. I gave my name and advised that I had called. We were told there would be a little wait and given the option of the outside bar while we waited as there was live entertainment taking place. We walked through the busy restaurant fulled with patrons and workers alike and I am sure everyone knew we visiting lol but we confidently walked to the bar a kind local gestured to us to come to a spot so we could get service.
A lovely bartender Brittany came over with a warm smile and made recommendations. They had a Cherry/Bomb Margarita that I opted for and a Burbon on the Rocks! A lovely bartender Brittany came over with a warm smile and made recommendations. No sooner that we arrived we got a text advising that as soon as a seat is ready , we would be alerted so we kept the phone close.
The wait didnt seem too long for us between enjoying our cocktails and listening to the music.
The alert came in “ We are ready for you…!” . That was about 10mins later so we were happy as we were famished and were eager to try their All American Cuisine.
Our server Luke was extremely professional, very polite, warm in his demeanor and displayed superb customer service. Definitely an asset to the establishment. We perused the menu and found many dishes we would have loved to try. We selected a cup of clam chowder, lobster and corn fritters as appetizers, then for the entree we chose the Surf & Turf and Orange Glazed Halibut…and desert the Chocolate Cookie with Vanilla ice cream and caramel.
I’m not sure if it was because we were extremely famished or the food was just pleasing to our palettes. But we truly enjoyed every morsel of the dishes we selected. We both shared with each other . The only thing for me is the halibut was a little bland, but there was salt and pepper on the table. I didn’t add any, as the orange glaze sufficed.
It definitely is a place I would recommend if looking for a good place to dine with a lovely lake side ambience… Sure in the heart of summer it’s the place to go. The night was a little chilly, but that didn’t detract from our experience and the outdoor patio is heated.
Two Thumbs up again to our server Luke! Check it out for yourself!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a really nice dinner here. The food is pretty good and the portions are generous. Service staff are extremely helpful and upbeat. Would recommend to anyone in the area. In particular we enjoyed the cookie dessert.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
The food is extremely delicious, service and the atmosphere are excellent!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is average. Service was unattentive and not friendly. Atmosphere was OK but has potential to be great since it’s on the water. However, on the “patio“ you can’t see through the awning sides that they have put up. Inside of restaurant looked a bit better.
A bit disappointing experience overall.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
I had the world’s best maple manhattan at this restaurant . I have been trying to duplicate it since and I can’t. I would love to know how they make them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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