Best food I’ve had in Ithaca so far. We got spinach artichoke dip, Buffalo egg rolls and the calamari. Our waitress was very nice. The wait was long but it was totally worth it! Would highly recommend if ever in the area!

Hostess were kind, well dressed and kind. Wait time with call ahead was under 15 minutes. Service was incredible, our waitress was Nicole and she did fantastic! Food was delicious. Easy parking. Beautiful view! Highly recommend!

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.

Beautiful place with outside area with chair by the lake. No reservations but you can be put on a wait list. Walk in welcome. Food was very good.

+4

My friends and I went on Valentines and had a great time. Our waitress was very nice and accommodating to our large group. The wait was long, but definitely worth it. I order the lobster lollipops, which was filling and tasted good. I'd definitely come back.

We were here our first night in Ithaca and I would have gone here every night of our stay! Our server, Jaimie, was great. She was patient, friendly and helpful. There were so many things on the menu that looked great and she tried to help us narrow things down without pressuring us. We ended up having clam chowder, lobster and shrimp mac & cheese, and sesame seared salmon. The salmon was phenomenal! We ended up having key lime pie and the warm cookie for desert since we couldn't decide between the two. Suffice it to say that we were not hungry when we left!!!

Delicious special of the day. Dined In early on Friday evening. Delicious drink options and the chef has added delicious meal options.

+4

Our visit to the Finger Lakes area was enhanced with our dinner at the Boatyard. Dined on the patio which was closed due to the rain. But it was as outside as we could get. Had a wonderful bourbon smash, crispy calamari with fantastic sauces, grilled salmon, and a Maker’s Mark sirloin. All choices were outstanding and delicious. Bethany was our very helpful server. Perfect setting if we only had nice weather. We’ll be back.

Been coming to Ithaca to visit for many years. Every time we come I wanted to try The Boatyard Grill. Either it was closed the day we were in town or something came up where we couldn’t. Tonight I finally was able to try it with the family. What a great experience. The waitress right off the bat was amazing. I had a Bloody Mary to start off with and my wife got their signature cocktail, a “Orange Crush” which I wish I got in the first place. Clam chowder for an appetizer was spot on. Both me and my kids ordered the “Seafood Fra Diavolo” which I have to say had one of the best Arrabiata sauce I’ve tasted. Only complaint on the dish was there could of been more pasta on the plate. The picture you can see the ratio is alittle off, but that’s just me being a chubby pasta lover. Overall I highly recommend you trying this restaurant.

Relaxing lakeview. Sat outside. Absolutely beautiful! No wait. All food was great and drinks delicious 😋. This is a must do!!

+4

We recently celebrated our small wedding here (party of 6) after having a civil ceremony though the local courthouse. We could not rate the experience more highly - all staff were excellent and went above and beyond for our party. We were checked on multiple times and the customer service was exceptional. Our waitress was phenomenal. All of the food was delicious- half of our party ordered stuffed lobster - so yummy! 2 of our guests had arranged with restaurant staff to decorate a private area for us outside by the water including a nicer table/chairs, balloons, a banner, and setting flower centerpieces. The atmosphere was so lovely! 100% recommend for small special occasions, you won't be disappointed! Thank you Boatyard Grill for a night we'll remember!!

We accidentally and very conveniently found this restaurant and found it to be very nice. The restaurant is located on the water, with outdoor seating on the deck and in a tent. All social distancing guidelines are followed. The food was delicious, service efficient and the staff friendly. We ordered Fresh fish of the day fried served with seasoned fries and coleslaw, pan asian salmon, sweet potato fries, artichoke and spinach stuffed baked potato and mac and cheese. Everything was delicious and prices affordable. The sweet potato fries were the best I had.

+4

I came here for my birthday dinner, and I have to say, this place is FANTASTIC. I came with a group, and we ordered steak, pan-Asian salmon, fried calamari, and lobster and shrimp sliders. We each loved our individual dishes. The meat was flavored very well, and the cooked perfectly! I would definitely come here again.

+2

Ordered the Ribeye medium. Best steak I've had in the area. To be honest beat steak I've had in the finger lakes so far. The setting is a bonus. The music is a unexpected treat as well!

Atmosphere, staff, flavor, portions, pricing are all FANTASTIC. Not one single complaint about TBG!!! The clam chowder is one of the best I've had, and I've had a lot from all over the country including Boston, NY, San Fran. The calamari was AMAZING. The shrimp stuffed with clam was excellent, and they even replaced the asparagus with mashed potatoes at no charge... And they were amazing potatoes! Wood fired chicken pasta was creamy and delicious. We even spilled our drink and the waitress replaced it at no charge... Now that's EXCELLENT service! I love love LOVE The Boatyard Grill!

+6

I loved the location right by the shore with excellent views from the outdoors patio!!! The food was excellent and great service!!! Bathrooms were clean, great atmosphere and ambiance!!! The cheese cake was delicious and to die for!!!

+4

A magical place with great atmosphere. The 5onion soup is Devine by far the most tasty I've ever eaten. The steak with sizzling garlic was exelent an so was the fish with rice. Exelent service. I recomande from the button of my heart

+2

Handled our large table with ease. Food was quite good and service was fluent and efficient. Went with the surf and turf option and quite a large selection on the menu. See photos of some of the dishes. Everyone at the table was very happy with everything!

+1

This may be long but it’ll be worth it! It’s Mother’s Day. My family is hundreds of miles away because I suddenly had to work out of state. I’m here ALONE, on Mothers Day missing my family. They close for the night soon. My dinner is ABSOLUTE PERFECTION! I had the Parmesan Crusted Salmon (from their wood fired grill) which was lightly kissed by a delicious Vodka Sauce, accompanied by perfectly prepared Jasmine Rice, and a Mixed Greens salad with a White Wine Cream Dressing. Extra points for all foods on my plate being the appropriate temperature! Cool salad, hot fish and rice and sauce! Right temp, right textures, great flavors!!!?! This place made my sort of sad Mother’s Day end very well indeed! Oh and my server Ashley was fantastic as well! Hmmm do they serve breakfast?! Lol!

+1

Manager stopped by… warm fire…. Great food Thanks 🥰

Perfect place for Valentine’s dinner!

+1

Amazing. Would definitely recommend making a reservation at peak times, since I went for dinner on a Saturday night without a reservation knowing it was probably a bad idea and stuck through a 2 hour waitlist by going to a nearby bar. Once in though, everything is incredibly efficient, and the staff is very friendly. Large drink list, and a variety of great dishes. Everything I had tasted amazing, and the food was prepared surprisingly quickly. The wait is definitely worth it.

Always a very pleasant experience. The staff was very helpful, accommodating and attentive. The lobster special was reasonably priced and we were told the shipment had been freshly brought back from Maine by the owner. The coconut shrimp and Buffalo chicken egg rolls where definitely made in house, not from a frozen package. The French onion soup was made with great care and seemed to have been made from simmering the stock down quite some time to give the depth of flavor it had. However, I felt there was a bit too much fried onion on top. They were somewhat greasy and took away from the soup, so a little for garnish would have been better. Also, the melted cheese on top seemed to be more of a mozzarella and not a smoked gruyere cheese, which would have been nice. The lobster was well cooked and not over done. There was a crab stuffing inside the lobster tail that was ok, somewhat flavorless but we were happy it wasn't stuffed with peppers. Many restaurants will over do their pepper use when it comes to their stuffing and seafood dishes which tends to over power them. You could tell everyone was happy to be out and about. A lovely evening indeed, even with all of the rain. #norainnoflowers ;)

+1

Incredible experience! Was seated quickly on a Saturday evening. The wait staff was amazing (especially Catherine) and the food was delicious!! Highly recommend… 👍

My boyfriend and I decided to come here on our last day in Ithaca for dinner. We tend to stick to a budget and we were so delighted with our meals for what they consisted of/the price points. The food was delicious and we had an attentive wait staff member! Service was great and we sat outside and enjoyed the weather. I only take a star off for atmosphere because there were quite a number of flies about (which I understand is difficult to control) however, they kept landing on my food (lol). Otherwise, the experience was memorable and wrapped up our trip well!

We arrived between 5-5:30 and had an hour an a half wait. We had a couple of beers and the fabulous artichoke dip at the bar while the bartenders took great care of us!!! Very friendly and attentive even when they were so busy. Then we were able to take our Old Fashioneds outside to the Adirondack chairs right by the water. This was a very peaceful waiting spot. You can get seated quicker if you eat inside, but it was worth the wait to eat out! Our server was attentive and great! We each had the great clam chowder, and the two of us split the Makers Mark sirloin steak! Oh my goodness it was a perfect choice!! Delicious everything!!!!! Highly recommend at the end of your day after visiting wineries!!! Our friends LOVeD the molten lava cake for two! Complimentary bread and flavored butter!!!

+6

We had our friend reunion here and didn’t realise how popular this place is, especially on the weekend. They don’t take reservations so at best, you can call early and be asked to put on the waiting list. We waited an hour and finally got a table. The food was delicious, although some of the steaks we a bit overcooked. They menu has a variety of options so you’ll definitely find something you’ll like.

+4

I never have a bad meal here. I live out in Aurora, so we will take the boat down the lake to have dinner here. Definitely suggest to call ahead and make a reservation on the weekends, this place is always packed full and busy. The food is amazing and not one bad item can be listed. Some items are pricey the taste of meal beats any price listed next to it. Dessert is also amazing and flavorful! Make sure to save room for a lava cake or sizzling cookie!

+1

Food was AMAZING! Andrew was awesome! The atmosphere was very welcoming. Our party had a blast there together! We got the Surf and Turf and the Wood Fired Chicken Pasta. BOTH EXCELLENT! Def excited to go back and try more dishes!

+1

We’ve visited many times and consistently had excellent experiences. The food is always delicious, and the service is attentive and friendly. On a nice day, the outdoor garden adds a wonderful touch to the atmosphere. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but well worth it for the quality and overall experience.

Husband and I decided to hve dinner here for our anniversary on Sunday, as soon as we entered we were greeted with smiles and seated rite away. We started off with drinks which were great then we ordered fried calamari it was so fresh and perfectly cooked, I ordered Seafood Fra Diavolo and it was cooked to perfection , my husband ordered Sizzlin Garlic he stated it was perfect well seasoned and steak was extremely tender, i failed to mention that my husband is also a chef so he’s particular about the food he eats and upon leaving he stopped to give the chefs appreciation for a job well done, we will definitely be returning.

The decor pleasantly matches what you'd expect with a restaurant named the Boatyard Grill while overlooking Cayuga Lake. The menu is Asian infused American cuisine. We loved our selections. First, a clam chowder full of potatoes, sizable clam pieces and added carrots. My wife was very happy that small plate options were on the menu. More restaurants should. She chose Georgian Peach Grilled Chicken which includes sweet potato mash, peach chutney with fresh vegetables. It was delicious. I had the Mystic Tuna Salad. The plate contained a generous fan of sesame seed encrusted Ahi laid before a bed of fresh greens, tomatoes, purple cabbage topped w poppy seed dressing. It was as tasty as it sounds. Too bad the service wasn't up to par; slow and inattentive.

+4

If you’re looking to dine with a stunning view, The Boatyard Grill is worth visiting. If you don’t have reservations, your number will be taken down as you spend time resting on the lawn chairs overlooking the water, behind the restaurant. and you don’t need to be seated outside to continue to enjoy the water views, just ask for a window seat by the water. The food was exquisite, including spinach, artichoke dip, the risotto and the surf and turf. Enjoy 💕

Cannot say enough amazing things about this restaurant. Amazing views, the atmosphere is great, the waitstaff was wonderful, and the food was absolutely delicious. The bread comes out warm with an herb butter and it so amazing. Our meals were amazing: wood fired chicken pasta--AMAZING--and Nashville chicken sandwich--also AMAZING. Dessert was delicious; I got the sizzling cookie with ice cream and my husband got cheesecake--he's an enthusiast of sorts and says this made his list of top three cheesecakes. Everything was reasonably priced. Would definitely come here again if I'm ever in the area.

+1

Food was amazing, the servers were so pleasant. The atmosphere was very welcoming. We enjoyed out dining experience. The French Onion Soup exceeded expectations. We got the Wood Fired Chicken Pasta and Rotisserie Prime Rib. Everything was wonderful.

Amazing experience. I did get here right at 4pm so I'm not sure just how busy they get. Had the chefs special and didn't regret it. Finished with some wonderful keylime pie (not green...a peev of mine). Would strongly recommend. The better the weather the better the experience as outside seating is amazing.

+1

Came in Friday night for dinner via boat around five thirty. I had the Georgia peach chicken and my guest had Jumbo sea scallops. Salad and bread was fresh and the dressings very good! Both good dishes where outstanding, chicken was hot and very moist with perfect seasonal veggies! Even made happy hour. Our waitress Courtney was prompt, polite and knew the menu, all with a smile & checked on us! Would be nice if the outside speakers could be turned off when the band is playing outside on the deck.

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!

Highly highly recommend this place. It's totally worth the wait time and the hype. Best for seafood , but veg dishes are also equally good. We ordered baked potato with artichoke and spinach.. was totally amazing. I ordered vegetarian tacos and my husband ordered shrimp stuffed scallops. Both dishes were totally worth the price and taste. Our waitress- Amber was very very sweet and helpful. She suggested us these dishes and we loved every bit of everything!!!! For dessert- Ordered sizzling hot cookie with ice cream. It was Delicious!! Would definitely visit this place if I am again in Ithaca.

+3

Wow !!! What a seafood experience it was at boatyard grill. One of the best seafood I've had. Ordered coconut shrimps, fish tacos, fry fish, orange glazed halibut and lobster shrimp mac n cheese. Each n everything was perfect and delicious. Ambiance of this place was amazing as it is by the lake with a very beautiful view. Customer service too is spot on, waiters were friendly and helpful. Visiting again to try different things. Highly recommended. 👍

(12/20/23) Got there a bit early, just starting to get busy. Seated right away, after the manager realised the hostess was taking forever with several people($#@&!) getting last minute gift cards. Had a very friendly waitress, attentive. Our drinks came out fast and were delicious. The jalepino bussiness was almist as good as there jalepino margheritas. Food also came out fast. Very tasty, as usual. Prices are getting a bit high. Nice treat evertime we come though. (6/23/19) Stopped by on a Sunday at 6, very busy but got right in. Our server was quick and super friendly. Did a good job. We got a seafood tower, clams and calamari- good as usual, but the seafood sauce for the shrimp was just weird! I got the black co entree- pretty good , as well as the tuna roll sushi- very good! Nice change up fo tBY. Wife got the tuna steak and it was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. Still need GF bread, not very fair to set a loaf of bread In front of somebody when they cant eat it, especially when you've already told them you are GF. Let's find an alternative please. There is 10 million gluten/wheat sensitive people estimated! All in all, cant wait to go back!!!(6/2/18) went to Boatyard for a nice summer evening dinner. After the chaos of finding a parking spot, I was pleased to get a nice table right away. Our waitress was prompt and helpful, but not friendly at all. The other folks that brought our food were super friendly. Our drinks, mojitos and jalapeno margarita, were the best drinks we ever got there. Excellent. I didn't get his name, sorry, but I did recognize the bartender from past visits. Pay him, keep him! Our food which was a prime rib and shrimp and grits were delicious. I wanted another to take home! We look forward to returning another evening. Ps, please get GF bread and pasta. [7/7/17] Let me start by saying that The Boatyard used to be our go-to place, for years. Our last few visits,1 to 2 years ago, we're so bad for several reasons we had to stop going. That being said, it seemed like time to give another chance. Service was friendly, but a little slow. Food was excellent! The seafood tower is overpriced, but tasty. And you can't beat the view for sure. The drinks, which used to be great, were very weak and flavorless. And, we did not enjoy watching a filthy, barefoot person change his childs poop diaper right outside the window. And then he came in and picked up a to-go order, touching doors and who knows what without washing his hands. Disgusting. While what people do can't be controlled, it was a busy night and several people saw this, as well as at least two servers. They should have mentioned the lack of shoes to the person and definitely wiped behind him. Please, get some gluten free pasta!!!! Looks like things are headed in the right direction, we will be back. Update [1/19/18] : Stopped after some Cornell wrestling for supper. Our server was very friendly. Our food was very good! The new menu items were a nice change. Loved the shrimp rissoto! Our drinks were very good. Still would love to see gluten free pasta option. And maybe some gluten free bread, it can be found right in town fresh. Please, GF options. Overall, a very pleasant winter evening dinner!! We will be back.

+6

One of my favorite spots to enjoy the water and a fabulous meal. They never disappoint me and always make room for us even when we're last minute popping in town. Definitely an asset to Cayuga Lake. Highly suggest anything Seafood and the Grilled Chicken Caesar salad. 🤌👌

Can’t share enough positive vibes about this restaurant! The food, the service, the atmosphere…. All of it is amazing! We have been a few places in Ithaca and this place is a must! The menu is diverse and delicious! Their plates come out with plenty of food and beautiful presentation! They had a cozy fireplace inside and an amazing space for outdoor seating in the summer! We will definitely be back!

Diana Argueta

We had a great experience at The Boatyard Grill!!! We did not make a reservation and we were quickly seated. The server was kind and attentive. She came just enough times to make sure we were okay. We ordered the Spicy Tuna Roll, and made a combination of the Maker's Mark Sirloin and the Campfire Ribeye dish. The Ribeye was cooked to perfection. The portion sizes were more than enought to feed my husband and I. The prices were affordable for the meal that was served. We enjoyed our trip and would definitely come back, if we are ever in town again.

Juan HiraYam

What a wonderful place! Amazing food, cozy and romantic atmosphere, great view outside and excellent service. Loved the place!

+14

Micah Dunham

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!

+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.

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.

+5

Talented Marshay

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!

+1

Chris Rivera

Brought my mom here for her birthday. Food is delicious, and the staff are warm. Definitely recommend!

Melissa S.

I have always wanted to try this establishment, and I finally pulled the trigger. Our server, Matt, was very accommodating and attentive. We sat on the outdoor patio which was lovely. The drinks were very good. The bread and flavored whipped butter were delicious. The mystic tuna salad was delicious and filling. The lobster and shrimp risotto was scrumptious. The Makers Mark steak small plate which ended up being a full sized meal with sides. The sautéed Brussels sprouts were also flavorful. The Caesar salad was very fresh and tasty. There is such a beautiful view.

+11

Zack T

What a beautiful restaurant to have a beautiful dinner at right on the water with beautiful views. The food was absolutely delicious. We sat outside and had a gorgeous amazing dinner. The tuna roll was absolutely fresh and delicious the steak I got for my main entrée. The waitress advised that it was her favorite on the menu and I ordered it and I am so glad I did it was a really really good steak dinner. If you are in the Ithaca area you have to come here for lunch or dinner. !!

+6

Kavindi Pathirage

It was just amazingly amazing! We absolutely loved our experience here. We ordered the Dad’s Royal BBQ Platter, and it was incredible—hands down the most flavorful chicken I’ve ever had. The pork ribs were mouthwatering, and even the salad was delicious. That platter was an easy 10/10! We also tried the Lobster & Shrimp Risotto, recommended by the wonderful lady who served us. Her suggestions were spot on—the dish was packed with lobster and shrimp and cooked to perfection. I was unsure about which beer to choose, and she kindly brought me two types in small tasting cups to help me decide. Her service was exceptional and genuinely made our experience even better. The ambiance was vibrant and lively—the place was full, and everyone looked like they were having a great time. Highly recommend this spot to anyone visiting Ithaca, New York. Great food, great vibes, and even better service!

+9

Sulaiminah Burns

Boatyard Grill ... If you haven't been, definitely GO! The food, the service, the vibe is IMMACULATE. Our server Daniel was so skilled and intuitive I asked how long he'd been working there and he said 18 years. I can tell, he literally anticipated our needs before we knew them. One of the signs of a fantastic restaurant are how skilled the workers are and how long they retain them. Boatyard Grill is a FANTASTIC restaurant and experience. Upon reception the staff is warm, friendly and communicative. They gently explained that our wait time would be about 20 minutes which was fine. Absolutely worth the wait! Everything was beyond delicious, like beyond and y'all know I COOK so I'm very mindful of flavors and how they should go together. The crab cakes: buttery, flavorful and scrumptious with hints of lemon and tarragon. I had to pause and say "did I make these? Lol 🤣 The Ceaser Salad: Crispy lettuce with croutons and shredded parmesan cheese. You can tell the parmesan is aged well and not store bought. It tastes artisanal. The Ceaser dressing is top tier!!! I love Ceaser Salad but not everyone gets the dressing right. Boatyards dressing is amazing and I suspect made from scratch. The Lobster fra diavolo : Someone's Italian Nonna is in the kitchen making this food OMG!!! It's that good!!! It tastes homemade. The pasta is the exact texture I like, the scallops were perfection as was the lobster. The tomato sauce is definitely made from scratch, there's even a few tomato seeds in the sauce. Everything was sooooo good omg! My daughter ordered seafood Mac and cheese. I'm actually not a fan of seafood Mac but I tasted hers and OMG it was insane!!!! They use cellentani pasta which absorbs flavor and sauce beautifully. It had a delicious smoky flavor. Just amazing. The Bahama Mama: The best Bahama Mama I've had at a restaurant period. Definitely TREAT yourself and check them out. This was definitely a TREAT. 10 of 10!!!

+2

Elisabeth Bostwick

We had a fabulous dinner at The Boatyard Grill! My husband ordered the ribeye and I ordered the strip steak. The steaks were cooked perfectly, great cuts. One thing that makes these steaks so good is the wood fired grill taste. The mashed potatoes were flavorful and delicious! Green beans were also fantastic, so glad they weren’t soft, but had a slight crisp as they were cooked perfectly. My husband’s ribeye was presented beautifully with mushrooms and roasted garlic! We split 6 coconut shrimp, these were excellent. I hope to return and next time try the scallop or lobster, shrimp, and scallop risotto! There were so many great options, we will be back! Also, our waitress, Amy was fantastic! She provided excellent service and she as so friendly. We also enjoyed the atmosphere— so cozy with a fireplace and nice seating options! Update: We visited a second time and it was just as wonderful! This time we ordered the Georgia peach grilled chicken and smash burger!

+7

Nikoli's Kitchen

Incredible dining experience at The BoatYard Grill. Both drinks (the Maker's Old Fashioned and the Jalapeño Business) were wonderful. Great appetizer of fried calamari with some blistered tomato confit and a nice aioli. First time I've ever had any kind of calamari and it was really nice. But look at that DYNAMITE prime rib. A restaurant that isn't afraid of a nice, peppercorn-heavy bark (which I love). Amazing temperature and flavor, on top of leek mashed potatoes and asparagus that were both great. Every bite was perfect. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ experience overall. Kitchen was a little backed up for our entrees when we were there but the food was more than worth the wait. Our server was excellent. And it's right on beautiful Cayuga Lake. I will definitely be back time, and time, and time again.

+2

Friendly and efficient service. Reasonably priced. Very heavy food with lots of butter and cream. Nice view of the lake.

+5

We had a decent experience here. The staff was welcoming and attended to our needs. The food came out piping hot. Only issue we had were the drinks came out very weak and it didn't seem as if the bartender knew how to make cocktails appropriately.

Nutshell - has a good time here. Kids played outside by the shore. The food was good and so was the service. Prices - it seemed very affordable. I had the prime rib for under $22. The kids plates were about $5. Service - the waitress was friendly and gave good recommendations. Food - I had the prime rib. It was really good. My wife had the scalloped stuffed shrimp ... say no more. Space - we were sat immediately. It was outside and we had a 5 top. So there is enough room for families Had a good time here. We recommend.

+1

Food was excellent except for the Mahi Mahi mango salsa. The fish was probably not fresh and left our mouths itching slightly after eating it. That’s the reason for the 4 stars. Otherwise everything else was delish. The Buffalo wings eggrolls and Surf n Turf was delicious. And kids meal was the fish fry which was also good. We had to wait 30-40 mins for our table but it was worth it. Oh and the roast beetroot salad was also one of the best I ever tasted. Just beware of the mahi mahi.

+6

great place near the water with a nice view of the water. great space outside. relaxing atmosphere. great to bring a date or even a group of people. we came with a group. one person in the group was disappointed in the size of the meat served since he ordered a large (someone else ordered the same exact dish and it was way bigger). personally I ordered the seafood but it didn't have as much seafood as I thought it should. it was mainly noodles. there was a tiny bit of lobster but it didn't taste that fresh so that was disappointing to me. but overall the food was good and tasty. the appetizers we got were good (the dip and the buffalo eggrolls were both tasty).

+4

When we arrived it was very busy and had an hour wait. Nice we could utilize "self serve" (no wait staff assistance) bar and appetizer area. Got a strawberry mojito that wasn't like ones I've had before. Bartender did adjust it added some sweetness and a hint of strawberry flavoring which made it good then. We were suggested toenjoy thr voew outsoxe while we waited which was our biggest disappointment cuz it would have been wonderful to have but it was too chilly out not their fault obviously but they did have a "fire pit which would been wonderful while we waited for our table but it was not lit sadly so we went back in to wait. I also noticed tables were available but couldn't be used cuz they weren't cleaned minor issue (could be why so many of us were waiting so long but I'm thankful they showed up and maybe this was intentional to help not overwhelm servers and staff if they were under staffed either way just an observation reasoning unknown and they did give am accurateseating time ) . I got the ribeye with the butter drizze. Steak was cooked perfectly and was great yum,sides were ok not what I'd want serverd with a $30 steak ... small boiled potatoes and some roasted tomatoes, I'd suggest some mashed garlic mascarpone yukons to complimentthe steak. My boyfriend whom is a vegetarian got the Impossible burger which he said was really good. Dinner bread was a bit hard to cut but did taste good. The artichoke dip was nice and hot when served and tasted very good. Would go back.

Superior staff. Service was top notch, quick and friendly. Lowell was our bartender and he was amazing. The other gentleman was great as well. The onion soup and clam chowder were delicious. Drinks were delicious too. Dinner was presented well, but a bit bland for our liking.

Probably one of the best restaurants in ithaca to have a relaxed dining experience. The view of Cayuga lake from the restaurant is really beautiful. Food was average, I had a their Filet Mignon and fried calamari. The steak wasn't seasoned well and didn't come with any sauce. The calamri wasn't anything special either. Over all I felt the place suitable to have a drink and relax by the lakeside.

I am going to start off by saying this review is for a visit during the Covid-19 Pandemic with limited seating available on a Saturday night in July..... Food is phenomenal. One of the best Filet Mignon I have ever had. My wife had the Scallop stuffed shrimp. She said was very good but the portion was very small. Also had buffalo chicken egg rolls for a start which was great and mango sorbet and key lime pie for desert, also great! The prices are about average for the area. Upscale casual dining. The missing star is for the wait. I expected somewhat of a wait due to the pandemic BUT.. I called to get on the waiting list at 5:02 pm.. We arrived at 5:45 and was told we had about a 35 minute wait still. Which was fine. At 6:45 we still hadn't been seated. Tons of large groups came in and got seated before us. At 6:50 I went up and asked how much longer and was told we still had 5 parties in front of us. Long story short we got seated at 7:15 and it was all smooth sailing from there. Great dining expierience, very poor and unorganized waiting expierience. We will be back though!

Date of Visit: JUne 1, 2024 Prime Ribb Dinner special, Lobster Diablo, Fish & Chips. This restaurant is a very large restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating (weather permitting). The outdoor seating is covered, allowing for more dining. This restaurant is very popular, and had a long line the day we were there, but paging system via text helps. We ordered the Prime rib special dinner, lobster Diabolo pasta, and fish and chips. The Fish was huge – she contemplated ordering a two piece but was glad she did not as it was so big. The Pasta Diablo was loaded with lobster and other seafood, spice & lots of flavour. The prime rib dinner was massive –probably the most significant piece of beef I have ever seen. It was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth. I found out after I ordered just how big the prime rib was…neighbouring tables actually ordered one meal to split and an appetiser or salad. Service was terrific – very attentive, pleasant, and friendly. Prices – this is not a cheap restaurant, but also not overly pricey. $25 – 30 was an average entrée. Location: this restaurant is located on a marina with water on both sides, making it a great finger lakes dining location.

+1

Parking was easy. I imagine on a busy night, finding a space might be difficult. The boatyard grill has a neautiful, calm atmosphere with live plants hanging and tied curtains separating booths to help soften the noise. There is an outside deck area for those who want to eat in the fresh air with a view of the lake. The booths were extremely uncomfortable. Water, warm bread, and herbed butter are served without the need to ask. The bread is very good and made in-house. Don't expect a straw for your water though. Cocktails, wines and beers arrive quickly. There are an assortment of wonderful flavors available. You can taste test almost anything before you order so that you don't feel like you're guessing. I tried the in-season Strawberry Mule and my friend had the strawberry IPA - So good! Food arrives quickly and hot! Kitchen staff and servers do a beautiful job of getting piping hot food out to the tables quickly.

Our fave were the seafood nachos!!! The cham chowder was ok and wouldn't get it again. The stuffed lobster was food. We also had the makers mark steak. Will have to return especially on a summer Fri. To listen to the music.

+3

Stopped here after reading so many good reviews. Everything was spotless, excellent upkeep with social distancing and requiring masks for guests as well as staff. The food was delicious and the staff was super-friendly and professional, they were very helpful in letting us know some info about the area since we were from out of town. Would highly recommend, we ordered everything to go, but we will definitely be back again to eat-in (we had our pup in the car, but she loved the seasoned potatoes!) We ordered more than the photos showed, but ate it before I could photograph it, my favorite was the coconut shrimp and the double old fashioned!

+1

After a long 1h and 10 minutes wait to be seated on a Wednesday afternoon, we enjoy the magnificent Boatyard Grill. Our server was Mark, really nice waiter, attentive and professional. Food was excellent, atmosphere very enjoyable ! I will not give 5 starts do to the long wait, beside that it was an excellent evening !

+6

Alexander Taft

This place gets very busy on weekends, so expect a bit of a wait. Our server was friendly and attentive, which made the experience pleasant. The food was good — not quite spectacular, but satisfying overall. The portions are enormous, and the prices are very reasonable, which makes it a great value for the money. If you’re looking for generous servings and a solid meal without breaking the bank, this is definitely the spot. But if you’re after fine dining or gourmet flavors, it might not be the best choice.

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.

Woo Young Kim

What a great spot! We were visiting from out of town and this was the first spot we hit up even before going to the hotel. The food selection is good, a lot of seafood and italian themed. They were all pretty good dishes. They dont take reservations and even with phone ahead we were given 40 min wait time for 2. We just sat and ate at the outside bar which was right by the live band performance. Loved their set with old school songs! Our bartenders were friendly, food was good, and this waterside establishment was beautiful. Definitely seems like a place to visit in Ithaca! Just mind the wait and parking. Gets busy here.

+6

Michael Scott

Really nice.🥰 Very busy on Tuesday evening ! I like that the menu doesn't have too much to choose from 🫢. Sometimes the menu can be overwhelming. 😱 I think the kitchen moves faster when there aren't so many different dishes. It appears that everything they make is fantastic! Great location right on the water. Outstanding outdoor patio! 🤩 And the prices are reasonable! 🤑 Parking can be challenging though. They have a small parking lot, and another overflow lot but the overflow lot can have boat trailers in it. I went early and parking was already a challenge. When I left there were people parked anywhere they could find.

+15

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.

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.

Our dinner was tasty, but served lukewarm. We started eating and realized it was just warm, clearly having sat. We were hungry, so we ate, continually looking for our server to discuss. Server was no where to be found. Server finally appeared, we told her the food was tasty, but served lukewarm. Her response, " OK, I'll let them know." No follow up to our issue, just " here is the dessert menu." No dessert, ok here is the check. We are typically minimum 20-25% tippers, she got 15. She was friendly, but either brand new or just not sure what she was doing. Won't go back.

Great atmosphere; fantastic service; food was very mid: fish was fine but nothing special. The egg rolls were not good. Beet salad was overdressed and under beeted. Pasta was not al dente.

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.

Great cocktails. Do try the cilantro cooler if you’re visiting in summer. I love the porch that overlooks the lovely cayuga lake. The food is definitely farm fresh, but the options are limited and I’m taking off a couple of stars because the food didn’t meet our expectations for the price and ambience.

You pay for the view, not the food. And to be fair, it's not that it was bad, but for the price you pay, you would expect more quality and flavor. The 28$ lobster tail with mystery seasoning had absolutely no flavor. I do not recommend it. Get yourself two Shareables (Apps), instead, they would probably be more worth your hard earned money. That said, fried calamari was quite good. Lots of flavor! And the special, Seafood Risoto was tasty. Service was attentive and did a good job. Thank you. Would I come back? Probably not. But the atmosphere and view are beautiful.

I am re-reviewing this place I had previously given five stars. We have been here many times and in my opinion the place is starting to slip. First the wait staff, previously it has been top notch, but on our last few visits not so much. They were less than knowledgeable in menu selection and much less attentive. Little things like making sure our drinks are topped off, or offering complimentary bread, which used to be standard. Or just asking if we would like straws for our drink. They did not even inquire if we wanted dessert post meal. Next was the food, it used to be excellent, now just okay. We used to travel about an hour for their Prime Rib on the WE. Now only when available. This time I had the very pricey Filet Super Cut ( no prime rib on menu). I asked for medium and came out very well and char broiled. Very disappointed after traveling all that way. We were comped half the price. But expected more from a restaurant that used to be five stars. Finally the prices, they have significantly increased but the food quality has not. You used to get a salad with your entree now it is an extra charge. Same with the bread I mentioned above. This is still a very good restaurant but we have been going there over 20 years. It just isn't top notch. Will we go back in the future? Undecided.

+5

Great atmosphere and good service, but the food was awful. I had a filet mignon - cooked with far too much garlic. The mushrooms were cold and stale; for all I know they were cooked the day before. Just awful. On the plus side, the desert (lava cake) was delicious.

Aakash Kapoor

The food is great, the portion sizes are fair, the atmosphere and vibe is great, and the view is great… but the parking is not the best, and the service could be a tad more polite and welcoming. Would probably go again, but maybe not very frequently.

Charissa Bruan

We went on a Saturday for dinner after a long day of hiking and going around the city. We did not call ahead or make any reservations. We were first told that it would be about a 20 minute wait but ended up waiting for 53 mins. Those who walked in after us got seated first. Not sure why. And the lady at the front, not very welcoming. When I asked again if she had an idea of how much longer the wait was going to be she said she’s not sure. Also I was wondering why she didn’t even offer us if we wanted to go to the bar and order some drinks while waiting. She did this to everyone who came in while they wait to be seated. Anyway, our server was amazing. He was calm and pleasant. I would give him 5 stars. Food came in quick and servings were a pretty good size. The fish fry was good and cooked well. The calamari was tender, tasty but not-salty. Fish tacos were good but not great. I suggest you call ahead and make reservations and be prepared to wait.

Juriy

Food was just alright here. Ironically, out of all the dishes in this seafood restaurant I enjoyed the iceberg wedge the most — properly cold and super crispy, plenty of sauce and with little bits of smoky bacon, yum! Both chowder and risotto came lukewarm, got cold in a matter of minutes and it ruined the entire experience. Fritters were nice but you could barely taste lobster and the chunks of corn were hard to chew. Good sauce though, with some spice and acidity. Service was good but not very attentive, probably due to it being a busy night.

+1

$200 later and I'm tossing some Steak and cheese crunch rolls in my toaster oven because the food i got was inedible. Didn't want to cause a scene because I was on a "nice night out" with my gf. Will never come back here but hey the cake was good. Just look at my medium rare steak and zoom in on that blubber. The lobster was overcooked and dry. Service was fine.

My scallop dinner had only 3 scallops served on rice and bean sprouts for $36. The flavor was very good, but in what world does a restaurant think it’s appropriate to serve a pricey scallop dinner with barely any scallops? The rice was not very good (taste like dish water to me) and the flavors were not Michelin star quality, but the price sure was! It was disappointing that they gave such a small portion of actual scallops. Also not thrilled they charged $2 extra for a gluten free bun on an already overpriced meal. The view and ambience was nice but I wouldn’t go back here after being served an insulting shrinkflation scallop dish.

This place should ashamed. First make my husband and daughter move to another table after 15-20 min. Then you move them to another table where they received no service as the manager who moved them the first time, just kept walking by them. After a long while, I’m so glad they got up and left. POOR MANAGEMENT!!!!

We went to the boatyard this past weekend while on a getaway overnight in Ithaca. The boatyard is where my husband and I went on one of our first dates so we have always made it a point to go there for anniversaries or whenever we get to go to ithaca however the last two times have finally turned us away. The last time we went was for our anniversary last August. We always tell them it’s our anniversary and it’s a special dinner and that we want outdoor seating if possible. We waited an hour and a half to almost two hours just to be seated right in the booth where the bar area was. We looked past it even though we were a little irritated. Skip to dinner. We both order pricier items on the menu. Both our meals were undercooked and my husbands, who was more expensive was very very low portioned. So we mentioned it to the waiter as well as about the seating arrangement and he brought the manager over after explaining it to him. He completely brushed it off, not caring about anything we were saying, just took the food off our bill. Which was the last thing we cared about. Just wanted to make it known how our important night kinda went to crap. Fast forward to this past weekend. We were going to go somewhere else but we figured we’d try one more time. We got in fairly quick and actually got a perfect table right outside on the dock. Upon getting the menu we were confused on what happened to half of it since the last time we came. Ordered our food and the appetizer was delicious! However getting our meal, my dinner again was undercooked and my husbands food had a long piece of hair right on top. Instantly threw his appetite. However we both waited patiently to have our food sent back to the kitchen. To take precautionary measures I told my husband to cut just one of the tomatoes in half to see if they just pull the hair out or toss the whole thing. To our surprise, the tomato was still in the dish so we knew it wasn’t changed out. And my food now tasted rubbery. So we mention to the kitchen staff who came to check on us that it was never dumped and we apologized for being “those people” but that we knew what they did. We ended up getting my husband something simple and I barely touched my food and we let the server know and again, the food was taken off. I do not mind at all paying for expensive food. But when I do so and go to a nice restaurant, I dont expect it to taste rubbery or have hair in it. Especially since this had been our second bad experience in a row here. VERY disappointed with how much this place has gone downhill since it’s such a beautiful restaurant and scenery for dining. The staff is mediocre and the management is terrible and I wouldn’t recommend anyone to come here unless it’s for casual drinking. Do better Boatyard! It’s not about the free meals, it’s about bettering the experience you’re giving your customers and paying closer to attention to why people are coming here!