The Retreat: Lake Wateree Dining

This little restaurant has a style all its own. It feels quaint and rustic all at the same time. when you walk up the walkway beside the building, the first thing you notice is the beautiful lake and there is a porch with rocking chairs and bar chairs where you can enjoy the view. The lake is also visible from about every seat from what I could tell.

The waitresses were friendly; the food was delicious and the presentation was lovely.

I didn’t have a reservation but they weren’t too busy and was seated right away (on Thursday at 7:00).

My pork chop was thick and juicy; placed on black eyed peas and collards which had a rich, delicious flavor. I definitely recommend it! This was a gluten free, dairy free dinner. It looked the safest.

Also, there isn’t a big selection but I think enough to satisfy any palate. 😊

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Dining during a 3 course meal week for $29 is a stellar deal! We decided to make last minute reservations and we couldn’t be happier! The service was incredible our table and seating were comfortable and had a beautiful view of the lake. But the food ~ Amazing! I can’t say enough good things about the quality of the food that we were served. The last time I ate scallops cooked that perfectly was at the CIA in Hyde Park, NY and the Short Rib just fell apart with my fork. Beautiful presentation and so tasty. My husband said the Venison meatballs were the best meatballs he’s ever had. Don’t miss out on this gem.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Had a private luncheon for our family reunion, great top notch food and service, my only complaint was that there were no changing tables in either of the bathrooms. It was extremely inconvenient to changing my 14-month old son, even with my girlfriend who would normally change him if there was only one in the ladies room.

Again the food and service was absolutely great

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

One beautiful place to stop by for a drink and a bite to eat .. you can park your car in the parking lot or park your boat on the doc

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Didn't actually go in. Friends have only good things to say about it though.

This was my family's first time visiting The Retreat. The food was exceptional as well as the service which is expected because you are paying for that. The server was extremely attentive. The views of the lake were phenomenal, lots of windows, with plenty of natural light pouring in. Beautiful. We really enjoyed ourselves and will definitely be back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great waitress...Very attentive and pleasant. Beautiful location on the water. Thank you for seating us at a window table.

So I was a bit disappointed by the food and the service. To me the food was kind of meh. My sister got the feta and cucumber salad as did another in our party. They both came out without feta. I got the Retreat burger with fries. The burger was okay but the amount of fries given was ridiculous. I was not offered condiments for the burger, but they were brought upon request. My brother in law did say that the fried chicken was good. The atmosphere and beautiful surroundings were a nice bonus. While we did not have to wait for a table due to reservations, our food did take a long time to come out.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 3

It was our first time here and we had a great time. Service was great and the food was awesome. We were with six people and all of us had a different dish from the menu and everything was delicious. The view is nice on a sidearm of the lake and the restaurant can be transferred by boat or by road. They had a band playing outside and that gave us some nice entertainment while we waited for our table. Highly recommended!

The staff at The Retreat are excellent! They helped me plan a surprise birthday party. Excellent food and excellent service with a beautiful view and atmosphere.

The food is very mediocre. The drinks were bad. Their strawberry margarita tasted like Pepto bismol. I will not recommend and will not come back.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

Mathew was fantastic!! Great customer service!!! Happy jovial and professional!!! Beer wasn’t that cold and he made sure the next round was chilled perfectly! Make sure you ask for him!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Have been there many times in the past dinner menu was good ,but this time very limited menu.

We were enjoying a Winthrop College reunion and celebrated at the Retreat. We enjoyed every bite and the surprise dessert! Thanks for a lovely evening! One of our favorite spots!

The retreat is always a good go to in the northeast columbia area. The food service and prices are always good. It's a hidden gem!