We really enjoyed our experience here. I made a reservation a few weeks in advance for lunch. Our table was perfect, overlooking the lake and the restaurant was so light and open! Our server was super awesome and attentive, constantly checking in and making sure we were good to go! The food is alright and definitely on the pricier end. However, it is what I expected but we came here for the ambience. This is a place I'd come specifically for the vibes - especially if you want a nice break from all the walking you do in New York. read more

Dining at the Central Park Boathouse is truly about the full experience--and it's one that feels straight out of a movie. We started with a Caesar salad, which came with full leaves and wasn't our favorite, and oysters on the half shell that were fresh and enjoyable. The tableside bread was a standout right away--warm, fresh, and a great start to the meal. For entrées, we ordered the shrimp linguini and are scallop dish. The shrimp linguini was flavorful and satisfying, while the scallops felt a bit more elevated and nicely prepared on their own. Paired with a crisp Hugo spritz, everything came together really well. The atmosphere is where this place truly shines--the interior is stunning, and being right in Central Park makes it feel like such a unique escape from the city. The highlight of the night was heading out on the boats after dinner, which made the whole evening feel like an experience rather than just a meal. Overall, while a couple of dishes didn't fully wow us, the setting, drinks, and overall vibe make the Central Park Boathouse absolutely worth a visit. read more

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3.0 / 5.0 A restaurant in Central Park The atmosphere was very stylish, but I visited. They told me to go to an outside restaurant with a stroller, and when I went, they refused to let me in.I asked again and they let me in, but they didn't offer any help despite the steps. I was really looking forward to it, so it was disappointing. The food was generous, so it might be worth sharing. I understand that it's a busy tourist spot, but I wish they'd be more considerate and considerate to customers, especially since they only visit once. read more

Central Park Boathouse - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Yup this place is delicious, the food was curated very well but thing stuck out to me that blew my mind, and that's the key lime pie. THE KEY LIME PIE: Alright, holy crap, this was so good. There is a perfect balance of sour and sweet in this pie. The texture isnt too thick and its not too light, perfectly balanced, as all things should be. I don't think I've had a better key lime pie that quenched my palate after a meal. This achieves the certified baller status read more

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We have wanted to come to this place for a while and finally got our chance. It was hyped up a little too much in my head for the experience. Although the food was very tasty and the service was good, the whole experience was tarnished by the weather. It was freezing outside and apparently the boathouse does not have any heat. The entire dining room room kept their coats on. Our fingers were freezing the whole time. However, the bathrooms do have heat, so we spent a few minutes in there warming up. Very awkward experience for a high class establishment. I would not recommend coming here if it is cold out, but I also have zero idea if they have air conditioning in the summer, so we do not plan on returning to find out. read more

Central Park Boathouse - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Awful lunch special selection: Reuben Sandwich, greasy gooey mess, premade, and reheated to rush their service. What I had is made to fool tourists not long-time city dwellers. I suggest the manager run over to the 2nd Ave. deli and learn how a real Reuben sandwich looks and tastes like.. read more

The Central Park Boathouse is a guaranteed tourist trap, but it's still a quintessential NY experience. I came by with my parents to have lunch on a Wednesday, and there were plenty of tables for outdoor seating. We opted for the lunch menu, and ordered 2 french dip sandwiches, a burger, the boathouse salad, and boathouse mussels. Entrees were about $20-$30, which isn't outrageous for the area. Overall, the food was mediocre but I did enjoy the boathouse mussels & salad. There were a few things that bugged me. We were never provided a free water option - a bottle of still water was $10! Also, they automatically include 20% gratuity without mention, but there's still a line for tip when signing. Ambiance though is excellent, especially on a cooler summer day. Service was okay; not the most attentive, especially considering the auto 20% tip. read more

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I love the boathouse. There's nothing else like it. The atmosphere, service, and location are one of a kind. But it rests on those laurels entirely with its food. The food has all the charm of overpriced hotel room service in Toledo. The burger alone plays it so safe that I can't imagine it pleasing anyone. This would be fine if you ate here once and really just wanted the view but if you live here how can you ever bring a visiting friend in good conscience, let alone come on your own. I want to crave boathouse but the food is holding me back. Fix the food and I'm there for life. read more

Central Park Boathouse - A kids butter pasta. - New American Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant is a tourist trap. It is located in Central Park within manhattan. I ordered the cauliflower steak and received a large piece of cauliflower. There wasn't a steak included in the plate. It cost about $35. I would expect more than vegetables for that price. read more

Central Park Boathouse - Cauliflower Steak - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Came here again in December and had another amazing array of food! I love ordering a ton of appetizers and nothing disappoints here! read more

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Magical location inside Central Park. Service was wonderful and food excellent. The walk through the park is part of the experience. read more

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Absolutely the worst service I have ever gotten in NYC .... Bartender was furiously rude and borderline aggressive, obviously a tourist trap, which is fine we play along, taking some out of towners there after a museum visit. But boy o boy that guy with long hair at the bar should be sent for a hospitality rehab ASAP / avoid like the plague read more

Took my daughter to the Central Park Boathouse for lunch on a perfect spring afternoon, and it was a lovely experience. We walked in without a reservation on a weekday in April and were seated without issue. The food was delicious--standouts included the warm parker rolls, rich Ricotta Ravioli, and perfectly balanced Rigatoni Pomodoro. We sipped on a refreshing lemonade, a floral Cucumber Rose Spritz mocktail, and ended with a smooth cappuccino. Service was good and attentive, and the real showstopper is the setting--stunning views of the lake and park all around. It's classic New York charm. Just note that the breathtaking view is reflected in the prices, but for the experience, it's well worth it. read more

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You're paying for the Iconic view and not so much for the service and food. This cafe has so much potential but I suppose my expectations were too high. read more

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My first visit to Central Park and this was a wonderful place to get lunch and start our day before walking around the park. We ate on the outside patio very pretty relaxing view on the water with koi and turtles hoping for a kid to drop a French fry in the water. The restaurant had a regal atmosphere to it, so upscale but diners were dressed from casual to dressy. We ordered a salad, calamari and fries with a glass of bubbles. I enjoyed what we ordered, everything was prepared well and was fresh. The Cheesecake was absolutely delicious.Our server Clayton was knowledgeable about the menu and very friendly so that added to our great experience. A nice spot to visit while at Central Park. read more

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The waiter did not allow us to dine in after hearing our order. It was an extremely rude experience and ruined my wife's day. This was the worst treatment I have ever received in a restaurant. Our family of four came in at midday on a Monday. We wanted drinks and snacks after walking in Central Park. However, once the waiter heard our order, he snapped up our menus and asked us to go to the cafe outside instead. He acted as though our order of only drinks and snacks was beneath him. This was midday. More than half the tables were empty and there was no line waiting so it wasn't like we were taking a table from another group. There was no spending minimum listed on the menu. And even if there was some unspoken rule, the waiter did not give us an opportunity to meet that minimum. He literally snapped up the menus and directed us outside. My kids were already coloring on the complimentary activity sheet and so they had to collect their crayons and stand up. My wife tried to protest quietly but the waiter kept saying "you can ask over there" (meaning, at the cafe). It was incredibly rude. The waiter treated us like we didn't deserve to be there. It felt so classist. I do not recommend this restaurant to anyone. No lake view is worth this humiliating treatment. read more

Walking through Central Park my bf and I saw this cute boathouse restaurant and decided to grab a drink before our long walk back to soho. It wasn't busy for a Wednesday afternoon and sat at the bar. We ordered a dirty martini and a spicy margarita, both were perfect and nicely balanced couldn't even taste how strong they really were! The bartenders were nice and attentive, overall had a great experience and will be back! read more

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Such a beautiful place to have a summer lunch. The pasta is made in house so it was delicious. I love looking out to the pond to see the Koi and turtles swimming. Such an enjoyable experience. Clayton our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the food. read more

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This was our first time back since they reopened. The space was as lovely as I remembered. We reserved a table by the pond. You could see the fish, turtles and rowboats. Unfortunately, the view is now marred by the Extell tower on W66 St. Our server was very good. I had the roast chicken. It came with a salad that was good. The chicken was deboned (which i liked) and a little dry. The Boathouse Salad was a decent size and had plenty of citrus fruit. The Manhattan clam chowder wasn't big, but was loaded with vegetables and clams. read more

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I finally made it to Central Park, and decided to do lunch alone spontaneously at the Boathouse. OMG, so worth it! It was definitely a splurge, but it was delicious, relaxing, and simply delightful. The staff were all so friendly, and my server went above and beyond. Besides being an all around excellent server, he took a few extra minutes chatting with me about the NY subways, buses, etc., since they can be a little confusing at first. His kindness, relaxed demeanor, and attention to detail on my food and beverages made dining at The Boathouse an even better experience. For lunch, I ordered the salmon on a bed of risotto and asparagus. It was perfectly cooked, hot, super flavorful, and to die for! The perfect portion, and super filling. I ate around 4pm. There was no need for a "midnight snack" after that meal. I was stuffed for the rest of the day. Overall, I do give Central Park Boathouse my 5 star approval. Although pricy, it's a fun and unique experience, and one that should not be missed when visiting Central Park. read more

It feels partially odd writing the review here but as the website includes the outside not fancy menu on their website ( https://centralparkboathouse.com/cafe-menu/ ) and since the food here clearly is leagues better than most other kiosk type spots, I guess I can do it here. Anyway, I was in Central Park a good while ago as part of one of my walks and we stopped here for lunch. We were dressed pretty casually so we went to the cafe of course. They have a few more options then your usual cafe such as a $25 lobster roll and I remember someone else having the chowder and liking it and someone had a salad and seemed to like it also while most others brought their lunch. I went with the Roast Beef Sandwich under the Toasted Sandwiches section for $13 with slow roasted prime rib, horseradish cream, and cheddar on ciabatta. The meat was pretty tasty with thinly sliced roast beef which had a bit of a chew but a good amount of flavor. The white cheddar was different having a pretty strong flavor which I prefer and wasn't expecting reminding me more of a cheddar you'd find from Murray's or some other cheese shop. The horseradish cream was light which was good as it would have overpowered the rest of the ingredients. In short, it was a pretty tasty well balanced sandwich and worth it for $13 plus tax. I mean it's Central Park so expect high prices but it's not like the price gouging carts nearby and the products clearly has quality. Would stop by again if in the park. read more

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The location is beautiful and the food was fine, but I was very disappointed to see a 20% gratuity automatically added to our bill, without informing us even once before or during the meal. There was no sign on the menu or anywhere visible before we ordered. To make it worse, after automatically adding the 20%, they also presented us with the option to add an additional tip on top of that. This felt very misleading and borderline dishonest. I understand tipping is part of the dining culture here, but gratuity should be at the guest's discretion unless clearly stated up front (especially in New York). Adding it automatically without warning, then asking for more, really leaves a bad impression. It's a shame because the setting is lovely, but practices like this make me hesitant to come back or recommend this place. Transparency with guests goes a long way. read more

Central Park Boathouse - New American Near Me - New York, New York

We had lunch at the Central Park boathouse on a beautiful Saturday. We had a reservation and were thrilled to be seated by the window. But be warned: it gets a little toasty there! We ordered light, some chowder, meatballs, and mussels. We also enjoyed a cocktail each. I got the lavender French 75 and thought the lavender was a bit subtle. Perhaps a sprig would help. Our food was yummy but for us the highlight was the chocolate mousse! We also ordered the crème brûlée. Our server was nice enough. read more

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Had lunch here while visiting NYC. I've been to the city several times and have never eaten here. The butternut squash soup was very good! We also got the turkey sandwich that was on special and it was equally tasty. Our server, Amanda, was excellent! The view was great, the inside was cute and overall we had a nice experience. read more

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This is an iconic place and "very New York." However, it is more about the view than the food. What we ordered was very much a mixed bag--some things were good, others not so much. Even so, the service was prompt, and we had a beautiful view of the water. They get a star bump for ambience. Be sure to make a reservation! They get busy. read more

Central Park Boathouse - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Remember this restaurant before closing due to COVID and under different management. Went for a late lunch- food was satisfactory, service was a bit pretentious and slow, and a few big groups dining together. Not the same as I remember back in the day. The service and food was OK, but not close to what it once was. Make a few changes for the common NYer who would make the extra effort to go there and you would be fine. The biggest asset still is the location and view of the lake and Upper West Side! read more

The only show in town. Location location location. Perfect for Shakespeare in the Park.

We were out walking in the park on a perfect afternoon and decided to stop by for a drink on the patio. Service was friendly however you have to order at the bar itself and serve yourself. We did not have any food on this adventure however, the aperol spritz was delicious. read more

Central Park Boathouse - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent food as always! Our service was also amazing! The ambiance at the boathouse keeps us coming back on every trip to NYC! read more

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Honestly pretty disappointed in the food and drink here. I came to get wine here many many years ago and then I remember they were going to close but someone managed to keep it open. While the setting and ambiance is iconic...that might be all that's going for it. The food was so meh. We split a watermelon salad and the rigatoni and both were only ok. Only OK and not worth the RIDIC price. Our server also vanished halfway through and we didn't see anyone come by pretty much the whole time we were there. It also took a ridiculous amount of time for us to get our food when other tables seated after us got their food and bill before we got ours. read more

First off, food and service for lunch (11/24/25) were outstanding. I had the boat house salad (just wanted light), shrimp cocktail and others had rigatoni, ravioli-type dish and clam chowder. It's red clam chowder. Salad was very nice and the added grapefruit/blood orange pieces was a nice contrast in texture and flavor. The bread was delicious but it is a menu item, not free. Only downside. An automatic 20% tip. Given the food and service, I would have tipped that anyways. But for it to automatically be included. 3 stars. Not cool. Would have been 5 stars with a tip of my own choice had it not been for that read more

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We had an amazing family brunch. We ordered a feast and everything was delicious. The service and the ambiance added to the experience and the view of the central lake lake and boats is unparalleled. Really great bar, it was pricey but totally worth it. All the food was really amazing. Burgers, French fries, shrimp cocktail, eggs, salads, all done to perfection. read more

The food matches the view, with a nice selection of cocktails and mocktails to start, the iconic Parker House rolls, and salads featuring farm fresh produce for our light early dinner before Shakespeare In the Park. Nice to visit a years old Central Park tradition that works hard to engage new diners with updated menus and excellent service too. read more

Great food. Great view. Great cocktails. - best Long Island iced tea in NYC 5 stars read more

Central Park Boathouse - Salmon - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Great views next to the pond. It's a fun pit stop after walking Central Park. Service was excellent and polite. Food was very good. No complaints from us. Fresh Bread is a must. Price point is higher but it comes with the location read more

Central Park Boathouse - Seasonal Oysters - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Any five star reviews of this place are surely from tourists and not New Yorkers. They cater to RACISTS before anyone else, let me be clear. The two of us ordered food from the cafe outside and then went inside and around to the outdoor bar. We sat down on one of the metal benches and were sitting there quietly (not even talking to one another!) enjoying the view when a waiter came up to us and snidely asked if he could help us and we said no we're okay- he then proceeded to say the area was "private" for "patrons only" and then gave a smug smile and said cheers and walked away. The person I was with is Black, for context that I am certain contributed to how he was treated. Then- he goes up to the bar to order drinks (even though neither of us really drink alcohol) to satisfy the waiter. While he's up there- the bartender was pleasant (only reason for one star), however an old white man sitting near him was not. He was actively looking at a drink menu in front of him when the guy sitting next to him snatched it away without even asking. We are certain he was the one who complained about our presence as well. When my companion politely asked for the menu back, the man blatantly ignored him. This behavior is disgusting and this place caters to rich tourists over native New Yorkers. read more

3.5 / 5.0 - After enjoying the rowboats on this beautiful day over the weekend, we came to the Boathouse for drinks. I've dined at the restaurant before the renovations and reopening, but this was my first time outside for drinks. If you are looking for views, you need to order food. For drinks only, there is a section outside with no views. The food menu items weren't super appealing, but we wanted to sit by the water, so we decided to order appetizers. The dockside atmosphere was great, with a view of the water with rowboats and the boathouse. The service, however, was sub par--it was very slow, the drinks were not mixed and we had no napkins (even after we asked, they forgot). So you are really here for the views and atmosphere, but it was nice to be able to sit outside. read more

Central Park Boathouse - Drinks: Izzy's Blood Orange Margarita ($18+) and Aperol Spritz ($16+) - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Perfect for a summertime or fall day! Only had drinks here but the vibes in this place on the water and in the park are unmatched. The bar area is first come first serve so get there, grab a seat, and enjoy a cocktail while taking in the views read more

Central Park Boathouse - Boathouse Sprtiz - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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The setting is so beautiful, right on the lake where you can watch the fish and turtles beg for scraps. Service was a bit slow. For dinner we ordered the swiss chard, chicken milanese and one of the seafood cocktails. The chicken was definitely the highlight. The portion was generous, well breaded and very tasty. The chard was awful, no flavor whatsoever. This is a lovely place for a special occasion, read more

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The reservation system here is broken. We popped in to put our name on the waitlist and the lady stated it would take about an hour. She told us we should receive a text message when it was our turn. We took this as an opportunity to roam around Central Park. After about an hour, we had not heard back, so we stopped at the restaurant. The hostess stated that someone already checked in under our name and was enjoying their lunch. LOL, what???? She tried to correct this but we ended up waiting an additional 30 minutes until a table was ready, and we had to be seated by the bar area, which was kind of not the vibe. We still had a pretty view into the lake, but there were so many people surrounding our table to jump onto it when we left. Several hosts had to come and tell those people are space was reserved. The food was okay. Pricey for fish and chips, but they were good. They had an interesting wine selection, which I appreciated. read more

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