The Boat House Restaurant

Our server was David and he was incredibly helpful! Super attentive and able to answer all our questions!! Romero was not even our server, but happened by as we were in need of a cameraman and jumped to our aide! What an incredible team!!! The shrimp and grits was the best I’ve had this side of the Mason-Dixon line and the horseradish sauce with the prime rib was so good I could have eaten it off a flip flop! 10/10 would definitely come here again!! Honestly, would come back for the view alone😉

I had an AMAZING dining experience with my mom and friend!! David was a delight ! Knowledgeable, kind, attentive and had great recommendations for food and drinks! I tried Popcorn Chicken for an app. I loved it because the presentation was super creative!! Shrimp & Gritz was delicious and seasoned to perfection! The 14oz Ribeye was cooked to my preferred temp of a perfect medium paired with a loaded baked potato !! The bacon on the potato was thick cut and the cream sauce was super flavorful!! The drinks were all great but my personal favorite was the watermelon and mint margarita!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Boathouse, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience! From the moment I walked in, the beautiful bar set the perfect tone for the evening. The ambiance is both inviting and elegant, making it an ideal spot for any occasion. Now, let’s talk about the drinks – they were absolutely spectacular! Each sip was a delightful adventure, showcasing the creativity and skill of the bartenders. I’m already looking forward to trying more of their cocktail offerings on my next visit. The culinary highlight of my evening was undoubtedly the shrimp and grits. It was jaw-droppingly good! The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the presentation was stunning. I could have eaten it all over again! To top off this amazing experience, I was fortunate enough to watch deer, Canadian geese, and even a bald eagle from my table. The natural scenery around the Boathouse adds a unique charm that enhances the dining experience. I can only imagine how spectacular this place will be for watching fireworks on July 4th. It’s a shame I won’t be in town, but I’ll definitely be back soon to explore more of the menu. If you haven’t been to The Boathouse yet, do yourself a favor and make a reservation – you won’t regret it!

Our server, Myia, was amazing and attentive. She knew everything about the menu and made several recommendations. The food was fabulous!

We went a few months ago, we sat outside and I can’t believe there are no fans or umbrellas on the patio. Management needs to rethink the outdoor amenities. Update: THE FOOD IS AMAZING and they got the umbrellas!! Thank you so much. Our server Tay did a great job.

Long review! We attended the Friends & Family opening and sampled three apps, one entrée and side each, plus two drinks each. The place was packed, but the staff handled it well. We were told the kitchen’s gas lines went down, which explained the longer food wait, but the director personally came by to explain and apologize. It was very professional and appreciated! First impressions: definitely do not judge a book by its cover but the parking lot and outdoor landscaping (including the waterfall/patio area) could use some major updates to match the updated interior. I imagine this is likely in their plans. That said, the city views from inside are stunning! The bathrooms were very clean as well as the restaurant. The staff were super friendly — we were seated quickly, and our server Emma was amazing. She was bubbly, attentive, and gave great recommendations. Food highlights: • Calamari: crispy and not chewy, with a delicious spicy sauce — and I normally don’t even like calamari! As a texture person, it was much better than most calamari I’ve had. • Crab cake: good flavor from the corn and peppers, but could use more crab. • Spicy tuna: great flavor on the tuna, though the rice was a bit overcooked. It was a hard crunchy and hot stuck in your teeth. Hoping this was a one time thing as this is what I was most excited to try from the apps. Not sure if the kitchen issues attributed to this as well. • Sea bass entrée: tender with a sweet-spicy chili drizzle. broccoli and rice were okay. • 50/50 mashed potatoes: SO good — creamy cheesy mashed potatoes with crispy potato bits on top. • Shrimp & grits: rich, savory, and slightly spicy with a cornbread-like texture. • Brussels sprouts: perfectly balanced. not overly sweet like some places. 10/10! Drinks were a hit and had really fun names: • One in a Melon: watermelon margarita, light and refreshing with tons of mint leaves. • The Ghost: mango margarita with chamoy. our friend loved it but I didn’t sample. It came in a super cute cup though! (Pictured) • The Toasted: creamy coconut margarita, like a lighter piña colada. • The Wilson: their spin on an old fashioned. My partner ordered 2 he liked it so much. I don’t usually like bourbon, but I loved this. Smooth, slightly sweet, and well-balanced. It didn’t have the sharp aftertaste. Probably the only place I’ve been so far where I would order an old fashioned for myself. The whole night showed how much potential this place has. Once the outdoor area is updated, it’ll be even better. Can’t wait to come back and also look into potential events here!

The meals were as delicious as they were beautiful. Gorgeous atmosphere, champagne and Brie as we entered. Wonderful experience all around.

The food and drinks are amazing! I highly recommend the White Truffle Wild Mushroom Flatbread, Seafood Tower, Lobster and Shrimp Linguini, and the Ghosted Cocktail!! Make sure to ask for the absolute best servers Seadera and David!! I promise you will not be disappointed!!!🙌🏼❤️

I frequently do food reviews around Columbus and I was quit impressed with this hidden gem, food was great ! A beautiful view outside where you can see the city view even the drink I got tasted amazing it was in a skeleton type of cup, my waiter Dom was phenomenal even as I was waiting to be seated I was greeted with a glass of wine no complaints with this place will definitely be back with friends

Genuinely had an amazing experience. I am not the type to leave reviews but this place had amazing views and atmosphere, the people were great, our food tasted amazing, and it was an affordable night out all things considered. 100% will be returning, well done

My first time visiting the restaurant. BEAUTIFUL atmosphere. Had Myia as a server and she gave amazing recommendations. Tried the One in a Melon drink per her suggestion and it was AWESOME! Will be back for happy hour

The food was incredible and the patio is definitely worth the view!!

Ambience, service, presentation and taste were all excellent! Looking forward to my next visit. Probably the best service and presentation I have experienced in Columbus

My job has an appreciation for teachers here. The place was spectacular and food , service, entertainment, atmosphere was nice too. I am considering holding an event here myself.

Had an event here and it was fantastic. Great vibe. The spaces were clean. The view of downtown is great. Parking was easy. The food was fantastic, and the service was even better! Definitely recommend having your event here if you are looking around.

My fiancé and I decided to have dinner here after seeing they did some revamping on TikTok. For appetizers we got the caviar frites and oysters which were both fantastic. For the main course I had a steak which was cooked perfectly and really liked the nice crust it had. My fiancé got the shrimp and grits while the flavor was great, the amazing flavor almost got a little too over powered by the cheese. We also got some cocktails I got Ghosted which had literally the PERFECT level of spice to it and my fiance got the Tropical Thunder which tasted amazing as well. The atmosphere was great and I think they can definitely continue to grow under this new management.

I attended a graduation ceremony at The Boathouse, and everything about the experience was incredible. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the scenery made the evening feel truly special. A huge shout-out to Dave, the bartender — his drinks were outstanding. Every cocktail was custom mixed with so much care, and he brought such a fun, vibrant energy to the night. You could feel his personality in every drink he served, and everyone was talking about how amazing his creations were. And Ms. Debbie, our server, absolutely deserves her flowers. She was warm, hospitable, and incredibly attentive from start to finish. Her vibrant personality added so much joy to the experience, and she made us feel taken care of in the best way possible. Both Dave and Ms. Debbie added to the energy of the ceremony and truly elevated the entire celebration. Highly recommend The Boathouse for any special event!

Hands down one of the best restaurants in Columbus! Service was above and beyond! My husband and I celebrated one year on Saturday so we came here for dinner. We mentioned it to the staff and they made it so special for us, even going as far as giving us champagne on the house! We asked our waitress (I believe her name was Mia) to take a picture of us at the table for memories and she actually lead us away from the table to a wonderful spot and got us some amazing photos. We had been once before and the food was exceptional both times! My husband and I rave about this place to anyone who will listen!

My husband and i had a lovely date night at the boat house last night! I have been several times but it was my husbands first time dining. The spinach and artichoke dip is always a great appetizer and we also tried the beef skewers, I would 10/10 recommend those as well! They come out on a 500 degree rock and it cooks at your table. Once brought to the table the chef also pours some truffle butter on it while its sizzling on the rock which is a nice tableside touch. Entrees were delicious, i got the braised short ribs and my husband got the steak. Besides the food being great, the atmosphere is cozy, perfect for a date night. We got a table right by the window which offers great views of the downtown skyline while staying warm by the fireplace. Our server was amazing as well. He was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. If you are looking for an overall great dinner experience i would definitely recommend checking out the Boat House!

Food was absolutely phenomenal. Had the shrimp and grits and it was seasoned perfectly, a little spice yet not to much. Wine selection was wonderful and nothing insanely over the top in price too. 13$ for a friendly pour of Chardonnay. Don't even get me started on the brussel sprouts. Vibe was elegant yet not too flashy. Open kitchen and awesome view of the Scioto.

The Boathouse provided a truly phenomenal experience. The staff was highly engaging with visitors, contributing to a warm and friendly environment. Whether on or off the clock, everyone fostered a welcoming atmosphere focused on ensuring guests had a wonderful time. A special highlight of our visit was the exceptional service from our bartender, David K (or possibly F). He was consistent in preparing high-quality drinks and demonstrated outstanding customer engagement. His charisma, professionalism, and willingness to share his prior work experiences added greatly to the overall interaction. It was clear that he genuinely enjoys his job, and his passion shows through the quality of his service. During this season of giving thanks, we’re especially grateful that David K was our bartender. His service truly enhanced our experience at The Boathouse.

My husband and I visited The Boathouse on a Sunday evening, and from start to finish it was an exceptional dining experience. The service was attentive and friendly without being intrusive, which made the evening feel relaxed and special. To start, I enjoyed a perfectly balanced lemon drop martini, while my husband ordered a whiskey cocktail he loved so much he ordered a second one with dinner. We began with the calamari appetizer, and were pleasantly surprised when complimentary house-made chips were brought to the table light, crisp, and incredibly flavorful. For dinner, I ordered the Prime Rib Queen Cut with mashed potatoes, and I can’t recommend it enough, cooked to perfection, tender, and full of flavor. My husband had the filet with a béarnaise scallion sauce on the side and was equally impressed. The highlight of the evening, however, was the blueberry lemon cheesecake. It was the absolute star of the meal! Bright, creamy, and the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Pair that with the beautiful waterfront views, and it truly made for a memorable night. If you haven’t been to The Boathouse since they reopened, I highly recommend going back. Between the atmosphere, excellent service, and standout dishes, it’s a must-visit in Columbus.

Very nice facility. Was there for an end of life celebration. The catered food was good - but the full service menu looked even better. Overlooks the river, true to its name. Very scenic given the location right off of 33.

An Exceptional Experience with Kelsey at The Boat House I recently toured The Boat House on November 5th and had the pleasure of meeting Kelsey, as well as Scott, the Executive Chef. From start to finish, the experience was warm, professional, and incredibly thoughtful. Of all the venues we visited, Kelsey stood out as the most knowledgeable and personable consultant. Her passion for what she does is evident, and I truly believe this career is her calling. She created a welcoming and personalized experience that made us feel valued and understood. The pricing was very reasonable, and the discount offered through our connection with Scott was greatly appreciated. Including Scott in the tour was a unique and meaningful touch—it gave us insight into how preferences can be accommodated and added a personal layer to the experience. Although we ultimately chose a different venue that better fit our vision, I want to emphasize how impressed we were with Kelsey and The Boat House. I’ve already referred Kelsey to two friends who are planning weddings soon and encouraged them to explore this venue. I want to reflect how appreciative I am of the time, care, and professionalism Kelsey showed us. She’s doing all the right things. Thank you again for making this part of our wedding planning journey so special 💛

Had reservations here for Christmas Eve. The low lighting and fireplaces were super nice and warm. Best calamari! They serve complementary, homemade, Parmesan and rosemary potato chips. Hot and fresh!

For starters, the food and the view here was amazing! Plus the portions were more than enough, I was stuffed by the time we left. The atmosphere, the staff, and the manager were wonderful and very friendly as well. The only downside is that it seems like they may be understaffed, so it took longer to get our drinks, appetizers, food, etc, but overall I was satisfied! Def the place to go for your next date night

AMAZING! We came for our anniversary dinner and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend the patio for seating (be sure to make a reservation). The food and drinks were incredible but the ambiance and the service made it a top notch dinner. Firstly we were greeted by a kind hostess who offered a glass of champagne while walking us to our table. Our Server Danial made our night special but writing a kind “happy anniversary” message to the bottom of the check, delivering our dessert with a celebratory candle. A perfect way to spend a special occasion.

6 of us visited the Boathouse for Happy Hour tonight and had the best time. Every drink and dish was fantastic, best spicy tuna crispy rice in Columbus. David and Homero’s service went above and beyond & the view sent it over the top!

Attended the Asian American Commerce Groups Economic Summit 2025. Waiters were very friendly and helpful. Good attitudes. Lunch was great. Comfortable chairs, clean tables. Exhibit room had a lovely view of the river. Main dining room also had a great view of the river (with great shades to keep the sun out on a bright day). Cocktail area was elegant. Only comment for improvement: Some areas of the facility are looking worn, especially the board walk between the building and parking lot.

To start the views and the service were wonderful. Great view of the city and the river. And our server Sebastion did a fantastic job he had great knowledge of the menue and saved us from a few bugs. The bugs are definitely a big issue if you're sitting on the patio. They are invasive and everywhere.

Enjoyed the location. Server was fun. Asked for steak to be well done (yes I know, but my wife will only eat it that way) and it came out medium to medium well. Ordered a wedge salad as an appetizer but it did not come out. Had to ask for it after main course was already delivered. Roasted chicken meal was delicious. Mixed drinks very good as well. Food took a long time to come out however kitchen staffing challenges are understandable.

Our servers Ocean and Maya were AMAZING and so thoughtful! They made our experience worth it 😊 Overall: The atmosphere was gorgeous, the menus were clean, and bathrooms were clean. We did wait a long time to be sat despite being on time for our reservation, but there is comfortable seating in the waiting area. We were also not offered a welcome cracker on entry. I do have to share some feedback from my group which is that the food very much so fell short. For a “nice” restaurant, Columbus being a food city, there are so many other upscale restaurants you can go to that have better quality food. We ordered various cuts of meat, the chicken & mash dish, and a burger. I have sensitivity to tomato, so I ordered my burger with no secret sauce or tomato. Server marked it as an intolerance. When it arrived, it was clear they put a tomato on and took it off bc it had tomato seeds on it, and the chefs hands clearly had sauce on them bc they had smudged sauce on the patty. The server was apologetic and had a new one made - but it was very disappointing that they knew customer had an allergy and thought it would be okay to leave tomato remnants and be so sloppy. Aside from that, we were surprised at the lack of quality in the food. I’ve received higher quality burger buns from fast food restaurants - it looked like a cafeteria sloppy joe bun. Very randomly small amount of lettuce too? 3 of us had broccolini and everyone was very thrown by the seasoning - it tasted like it was cooked in meat grease and something fishy - I tried some and they really were cooked in something strange. Their meat was overcooked and dry as well. The Mac n cheese was not seasoned and didn’t get finished (sad day when Mac n cheese isn’t worth finishing!). We wished there was salt/pepper & maybe parm/red pepper flakes table side we could have at our leisure instead of requesting our food be salted multiple times throughout the meal. I’d say this is a good spot if you mostly want to celebrate something for the atmosphere, but if it’s date night and you want a regular spot with good food - this probably isn’t the spot right now. Hoping to see the intentionality in the dishes improve with time!

My husband and I dined on 11/22 as a celebration. The complimentary glass of champagne upon arriving was a nice touch. We had oysters on the half shell for an appetizer. Flavor was good but there was more seaweed than ice on the tray, so they were on the warmer side. I ordered the prime rib (came with mashed potatoes and broccolini). I requested medium rare when asked. It came out well done (gray center). We sent it back and was notified that well done was all they had. Not sure why I was asked what temperature I wanted it if they didn’t have it available. Our waiter offered another entree. I chose the ribeye and also asked for a side of broccolini. By the time it came out, my husband was already done with his entree. The ribeye did have great flavor. Dessert and drinks were delicious. I did not have to pay for the prime rib but was charged for the ribeye and extra for the broccolini despite originally coming with my prime rib. No adjustments were made to our final bill, which is fine but surprising. I did call the Boathouse on 11/24 and requested to speak with a manager versus leaving a public review, but was never contacted.

I really want to give this place a higher rating because the food was genuinely excellent. The kitchen is doing a fantastic job, and from a culinary standpoint, it was a great meal that I would otherwise highly recommend. However, it is hard to overlook the state of the property's exterior, which puts a real damper on the evening before you even walk in. The most pressing issue was the drive into the restaurant; there was a visible homeless encampment right along the entrance that made the arrival feel very uneasy. It definitely detracted from the sense of safety and atmosphere you expect when going out for a nice dinner or attending an event. On top of that, the grounds themselves felt neglected. There was quite a bit of trash in the parking lot and near the walkway into the building. It’s a shame because the inside operation is great, but the outside condition—especially the encampment and the litter—really needs to be addressed to make guests feel welcome and comfortable.

Honestly, this was a place I have been looking forward to checking out after seeing all the hype on instagram. However tonight at our reservation nothing was really great other than the view. Service wasn’t really attentive, they were bouncing around from the bar to us to other tables. My filet was extremely underwhelming and much pinker than what I’d asked for. The Mac and cheese was awful! Literally not cheesy at all. They should consider switching to as white cheddar option to better compliment the menu. The salmon dish was good. But for as hard as this place has been marketing themselves online, I was pretty disappointed with everything but the view. Would return for just cocktails and to enjoy the patio, probably wouldn’t come back for dinner. I’ve had better $25 steaks from Longhorn.

First time coming, wasn’t overly impressed with the food. Seafood tower was decent, burger really lacked flavor and the “garlic fries” were plain and unseasoned. Our waiter was not good at all, never came to our table, we had empty cups the whole time while the table behind us (with a different server) seemed to have the best service.

Seated in a timely manner. Party of 4 for my husbands bday. Sat on the patio. Beautiful scenery. Sever was friendly and honest. Spinach artichoke dip was good! Spicy tuna app was not as expected, Disappointed. Got 4 steaks all cooked same temp. And a couple sides cause it’s al a cart options. After about 40 minutes after ordering, the manager comes to tell me that my steak is 86s. So I got a filet instead. At this point I’m confused cause it’s not busy and our food should be ready by now. Our reso was at 7:15. Ordered dinner at 7:25ish. Didn’t get dinner till 8:50. Steak had no flavor. Mac was cold... very hungry and frustrated. Didn’t even finish my meal. Probably not coming back. One and done for us.

I never write reviews but I was so unhappy that I feel like I have to. Some positives: drinks and ambiance were great! Server was also super friendly, but told us he was only there temporarily. However, the rest of our experience was mediocre at best. We had a reservation at 7:45 and did not get sat until after 9 which is when there kitchen was supposed to be closing I believe. I got a Caesar salad and fries...and it was so bad I could not even believe it. Plus it took forever to come out and we had plans at 10. My friends food was also not very good. Everyone left extremely unhappy and still hungry. They sent out free dessert but I was very unpleased that we did not receive any other compensation for all the inconveniences. I know it just reopened so I am hoping to go back once they have stuff more figured out! Very disappointed with my first experience.

Unfortunately, the food was very disappointing. Several items were undercooked and my date’s steak was ordered medium well but arrived noticeably under. The salmon was extremely mushy and lacked seasoning, as did most of the dishes. Even the service felt a bit pushy, which made the experience less enjoyable. Not what we expected from a place with such high ratings. :(

Our experience was disappointing overall. Even though the staff were very kind and welcoming, the service couldn’t make up for the food quality and wait time. Our table wasn’t ready until 20 minutes after our reservation, which started things off on the wrong foot. When the food finally arrived, it tasted like it had been sitting under a warming lamp for far too long. The prime rib was cold, and the calamari was overly salty and soggy. The mac and cheese looked nothing like the photos online or the menu description, very misleading. The crispy tuna rice was just okay, but again, it didn’t feel fresh or crispy at all. Overall, it’s a shame because the staff were great, but the food and presentation really missed the mark.