This place was fantastic! Natalie was an awesome server. Can't beat the location- watching all the boats traverse the river, draw bridge going up, kids having umbrella drinks- all while my wife and I document for the therapist later in life that they had a "rough childhood". Wife loved the peel and eats, BBQ ones had a litttle spice(delicious). I had the perch platter, it was also delicious. Can't beat that view...and the pirate ship taking a bunch of tourist out to the lake to walk the plank (maybe... I had the kids convinced) read more

The Idler riverboat is a South Haven staple! I've been going there on vacation since I was a kid and now I take my kids there when visiting South Haven on vacation. I get their chum bucket, basically a Bloody Mary with shrimp salsa on top. It's made with pepper vodka so it's the perfect amount of spice. Nothing beats sitting on the Idler deck in the sun on the water with a chum bucket, yum! My husband gets a S.H.I.T. South Haven Iced Tea. I think just because of the name, ha! We also like their Smoked Whitefish Dip. We don't have white fish where we live so we always order it when we're in Michigan. My husband likes their wings too! A trip to South Haven isn't complete without a trip to the Idler. read more

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Great drinks wonderful ambience on the water, fun experience watching the boats zooming by. Had some good wings and the painkiller drink tasted good washing them down. My wife's Rum Runner was fantastic. Truth be told the wings were only good super salty. Our service was excellent fast and friendly. Morale of the story, we're going back! read more

Idler Riverboat - (SHIT) Long Island iced tea, and buffalo wings - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

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What a unique wonderful experience! We stumbled across the Idler Dockside yesterday and loved it! From the moment we came in we felt welcomed. The food, atmosphere and low prices made it all the better. See you soon! read more

This restaurant is so fun! The food was fantastic. We ate upstairs but the lower level of the boat was super nice and private. Service was friendly but on the slower side but we can't wait to go back! read more

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Great location! Food was just OK. Crab soup was more like pimento cheese with crab. I had ordered a bowl but was glad they brought me a cup instead. Waitstaff all seemed stoned. But some of them were friendly! So I guess go for the location! read more

Idler Riverboat - They thought this lemon was acceptable to serve with our oysters. - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

This place deserves far better than 3 stars. Sink your teeth into the PRIME ANGUS BURGER that consist of of 1/2 lb angus beef pattie with your choice of cheese (american. swiss, cheddar, or blue cheese); served on a kaiser bun. I went with the cheddar. Tomato and lettuce. The lettuce was a little sparse but this burger deserves a 5 out of 5. Also served with descent kettle chips. Wife had the COCO SHRIMP that was hand battered and rolled in coconut; served with a tangy ( nice hot bite to it) of orange marmalade. We had to try more ! Great service by Austin, the Owner ? BOB made everyone fill very welcome! The water view was phenomenal and they are "service dog " friendly! Wash this all down with their SAUGATUCK OVAL BEACH BLONDE and you may have died and went to heaven. AFTER YOU PAY YOUR BILL!! Enjoy !! read more

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Very fun, casual spot for a sunset drink. The staff is always friendly and helpful. It is so nice to go and sit on the docked riverboat and watch the sunset with a drink. The spinach artichoke dip was huge! And the pomegranate pineapple mojito was very tasty. Be careful--the hurricanes and rum punches are huge and strong! read more

Idler Riverboat - Spinach artichoke dip - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

Went to the Idler Riverboat for a quick dinner while staying nearby. It was their first weekend open, and it was pretty hectic. Good was pretty decent, though I'd take Captain Lou's or other choices over Idler if you're early in the season, as the menu was pretty paired down. One major downside was that I was charged full price drinks while drinking NA/mocktail versions. Quite honestly, when back in South Haven, Idler won't be my first choice but the views are great. read more

Idler Riverboat - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

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We all had a good time on the Idler! The pita and dip were tasty and so was the brisket sandwich. Someone in my group ordered at a margarita and they thought it tasted too sweet, but I thought it tasted fine. Great Jimmy Buffet type music on the speakers too, which was nice! I first came here when I was 7 or 8 years old and it looks like they spent barely any money on upgrading the restaurant as everything looked well used. The red skin potatoes were literally plain. No salt or seasoning lol luckily I had dip for them read more

Idler Riverboat - Brisket sandwich. - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

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We were seated in the bar area because the boat was full. The boat looks like a very different experience. The bar is a fantastic place to get drinks and apps. It can get a little rowdy but it's a nice mix of people. We all agreed we would skip the food next time. The sandwiches were just not good (super chewy grilled chicken and over done burgers). It didn't help that the sandwiches were priced at 14-16$. My partner ordered the shrimp Mac and cheese and it was was terrible. Don't order that. If it was 10 bucks for the not good bar food I wouldn't have minded as much. Our food also took a long time. I loved the coconut shrimp app and the calamari. Those I would order again! If I was only rating the food this would be a 2 star review... However...The service was fantastic! We had the best waitress at the bar- she made it work with a party of 12! This is great stop for apps and drinks- highly recommend for that. read more

The great part about the Idler is this is a large place with great views of the water. The team really hustles to move customers along. On busy days this works nicely as it can be hard to find a place to eat in South Haven at peak times. On this occasion...the owner was really digging in and helping his team. Our waitress was very nice and helpful. Getting a spot in queue was a little confusing as there wasn't a hostess at the time. The drinks were very good. The margarita was very tasty on a warm evening! Bar service was rather quick. In general the food was pretty good. But not overly spectacular or distinguishing. My wife really enjoyed the chicken salad wrap. It had a nice combination of Mayo base with tender chicken chunks and fresh fruit tastes. My shrimp tacos were light and fresh. Not overly loaded with small shrimp but enough to give you a good filling and value. read more

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Nice place to enjoy the food with lake view. The service was ok except for the waiting time and the attitude. I ordered lemonade, i was disappointing becausethey don't have any flavors to add. Only plain lemonade. We ordered BBQ wings. It came hot and crispy. Very good. Prices were a little higher compared to the experience quality. read more

Idler Riverboat - a person holding a cup of coffee - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

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Food was good and our server Natalie did a great job! The overall boat vibe was great aswell

They've got a drink that tastes like S.H.I.T.! Read on and I'll explain. ;-) Hit up the Idler this afternoon for my first time. We were a party of seven, which included three kids. Yes, it was a Thursday afternoon, but we were seated right away. Staffers all wore masks, and the riverboat seating qualified as being outdoors, so I never really felt at increased risk. Our server was even great about helping us seat the three year old. Ordered the South Haven Iced Tea, which condenses into a colorful acronym that staffers bare on their t-shirts, er, work uniforms. It's Idler's take on a Long Island, and I liked it. Tasted good on a sunny summer day in Southwest Michigan with a nice breeze coming off Lake Michigan and Yacht Rock oozing from the speakers. The sweet and sour flavors cut through a steamy hot day to quench the thirst. It's summer touristy, yes, but that's why you're there. Relax and enjoy. Ate the lobster and shrimp roll as well as their app nachos. The nachos were fairly forgettable--they'll stave off hunger but nothing fancy. I boxed them up to bring home. I enjoyed the lobster roll more, but I think the filling needs more zing or spice or tang or something. It's got a nice ratio of lobster/shrimp to mayo, but it could stand more flavor. Sandwiches default to kettle chips as a side, and these were pretty tasty. Still, fries would convey more value. That said, I planned to have a nice afternoon, enjoy my meal, and enjoy my company, and I'm happy that all three happened. I'm from Holland, so I'm all about the summer tourism establishments. It's hard for me not to have a good time in them. If you're picky or higher maintenance the Idler may not be your scene (remember, their signature drink is the S.H.I.T.). But I'd go back from time to time. Support local! --Jayson read more

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Ambiance was amazing. Sunset over water sitting with my girls. Food was good. Ordered the calamari, fried green tomato BLT, blackened mahi mahi, and Maui waui. All were good! Service was also friendly and fast! read more

Growing up in Kalamazoo, summers you were in South Haven a lot and this place really didn't come into play for me until I was of legal drinking age, sorry, but true. You just do not go to South Haven for some fun in the sun without going to the Idler and definitely do not go without ordering a S.H.I.T!! South Haven Ice Tea. When taking Ben to visit my home state for the first time I wanted to surprise him to take him over to Lake Michigan as that would be his first Great Lake experience. At that point, I had been gone from Michigan for 11 years and damnit, if I didn't even think about taking him to some of my old stomping grounds in South Haven, luckily my girlfriend quickly reminded me we had to stop and get a S.H.I.T. The name immediately intrigued him, of course. Though we were there in September, it was freezing out so he didn't get the full on experience but just being there brought me joy and a lot of laughs with my girlfriend remembering when we were younger. That is the kind of place the Idler is... it's been there for years, its a floating restaurant/bar so it just brings back so many great memories to those who have been there with friends or family. read more

Idler Riverboat - a sign for idler riverboat - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

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OMG, the chocolate covered elephant ears! They alone are reason to go to Idler. Located near the drawbridge on the Black river, this is a fun place to boat and people watch. In our group of six, the entrees ranged from OK to yum; there was nothing terrible, and the gumbo in particular was a hit. read more

Great food, great atmosphere, and the servers are so nice. Also, I'm pretty sure this is the only place around SoHa with oysters and they're SO good! read more

What a fun place to come eat. Right on the Black river for great viewing of the boats coming in and out from Lake Michigan. Great menu. I had a delicious salad there and a couple cocktails while enjoying the sunshine and great views. read more

Raw platter: oysters small, salmon was good. Seafood boiled: terrible. The shrimp were medium/cold, super cold corn Overall the food was bland and not cooked right. Service was great tho. read more

This is a wonderful, on the water location. Tons to see passing by you as you dine on this wonderful old boat. We ordered the smoked fish appetizer and the fresh catch sandwich and a Bloody Mary. The service was quick and friendly. The other meals was saw being delivered all looked great. Our meal was very good and so was the drink. Very good food and nice atmosphere for all. read more

Idler Riverboat - the interior of a restaurant - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

Great place for appetizers and drinks. View of the river is fun. Crab soup and the Peel n eat shrimp were good. Didn't care for their oysters which were warm. But unique and fun place for drinks. read more

The good: the atmosphere was above and beyond! We sat on the boat in the covered deck. The weather was gorgeous and we had a great dining experience. They serve your ordinary American food with a few add-ons and tweaks (bar food). Food quality was decent but we didnt care for their gator wings so much (thought it was real gator meat). The service was good and she took care of us well. Overall 4.5 Atmosphere 5 Food 4 Service 5 read more

Idler Riverboat - Gator wings Spin dip - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

Bartender/waitress was extremely rude to my group. We ordered a few margaritas that were larger than expected, so we requested extra straws. We were a group of 11, so as others were ordering we made sure to ask for a few extra straws, to which our waitress responded "yeah I heard you the first 4 times." We were actually so taken aback by her blatant rudeness that our table went silent and immediately closed out to leave. We were a large bachelorette party which I know can sometimes be obnoxious, but it was early in the night and we truly were not loud or unruly. I actually felt like some of the waitresses were really nice and enjoying talking to our group. Not sure if she was just having a bad day, but other reviews mention rude service as well. I won't make this a regular stop during trips to South Haven. read more

Crowded. Expensive. Nothing great. In our new COVID-19 world I wasn't expecting much and it's a good thing because that's exactly what I got - not much. Service was slow and rude. I understand slow (it was a busy Saturday night in the summer at prime dinner time) but WTH is with rude workers? You know when the server never comes by and then is annoyed when you ask for another drink. Then comes back with drinks and drops them off and runs away before allowing to order an appetizer We started out with the nachos and they were dry and flavorless and why so stingy with salsa? At least I could have covered up the flavor with that - lol. The fried green BLT was very good though and the chips were tasty. If I go back that's the only thing I'm ordering. Well, drinks too. read more

Idler Riverboat - The fried green tomato BLT. I'd order it again. - American Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

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Always a great experience on the idler never miss going there when I am in town for the fact that the food is good. The people are pleasant and it's always been a great experience. read more

Came here around 9pm on a Saturday and there was a line to be seated but nobody attending the line for several minutes. Came back at 6pm on Sunday and got seated right away on the boat. The views are nice but the service was pretty slow. The pepper crab soup was kind of like queso and I was surprised to see imitation crab. The Moscow mule was pretty good and not too sweet. read more

This is an amazing place to eat-drink-and be merry! Right on the water, you can watch the boats coming and going. Good and service was excellent! That alone is hard to find these days! read more

Another stop we made during our trip to South Haven was to the Idler Riverboat Bar & Grill for lunch. There was a decent crow there upon our arrival shortly after noon, but we were immediately shown to a table on the open air top deck. The view from the top deck is pretty awesome. My kids loved watched the boats pass by on their way to and from Lake Michigan. My wife and I also enjoyed the view while sampling the S.H.I.T. or South Haven Iced Tea (similar to a Long Island, $8) and a Bell's Two Hearted Ale. If there are fried green tomatoes on the menu, chances are I am going to give them a try. The Idler offers a fried green tomato BLT that adds hickory smoked bacon, romaine, and a roasted garlic Parmesan mayonnaise ($9.25 with chips). The tomatoes themselves were really good, thick cut and golden fried. I would have liked to see a thicker cut bacon as well, but the flavor there was good. Overall it was a good sandwich. My daughter had the kids peanut butter and jelly ($3.95) which was actually the same size as my own sandwich. No complaints from the little one though, and she did her best to eat it all. My wife went with their award wining Jamaican Me Crazy sandwich that combines a jerk chicken salad with cranberries, something called holy trinity (Cajun spice), mixed greens, mango chutney, and Parmesan on a roll ($10.95). There was a lot going on with the sweet flavors of this sandwich but we both thought it was very good! My son had the grilled cheese again served with chips ($4.95). This was another large serving for our elementary aged kids, but he did his best to polish it off. The chips were not to his picky palate as they were a salt and pepper mix. Keep that in mind for the little ones. Overall we had a solid dining experience while aboard the Idler Riverboat and would happily return for another lunch on the deck. And if inside dining is more of your thing, they also offer seats inside, though during our visit the dockside room was completely empty. The weather was just too nice to be inside! read more

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Riley- Day manager was AWESOME. bartender-Madison, was so sweet of it were for them, I'd rate 5 stars the ONLY reason I am giving a 1 is because Bob, the General Manager, is a total jerk! He was rude to us, and was rude to my handicapped friend!...after we'd been there ALL day, and had zero problems. We were there all day because my purse fell into the water and we had to pay a certified diver to retrieve it because they don't have purse hooks OR a net underneath the NASTY barge! so that was a 500$ experience at our cost! How that area isn't a Health hazard is beyond me! (JK, it IS a health hazard) If Bon didn't totally ruin the experience for us, it would have been an OK day, because Riley went ABOVE and beyond to help us, she was an absolute doll! Bob, arrogant and RUDE to someone who could he totally billed his liability insurance to cover the cost of retrieval since they aren't properly prepared to prevent that kind of travest! you'd think he would have been a LOT nicer to us all things considered! Our friends and family came and patronized the establishment ALL DAY! there was certain for him to be rude, I wasn't even "drinking" hardly either , so this wasn't due to intoxication or any behavior of that nature, he is just simply an A-hole. :( ruined the whole experience for us read more

Come here to DRINK, highly recommend the SouthHaven-Ice-Tea & their beers are safe in the bottle /or can, and after a half dozen of those.. then order food. The issues; Last year our kids got ill from 'uncooked shrimp boil' We were told 20minutes it took 48 minutes to get a table. Another GREAT TIP "Come here to drink to forget that you were in their way." read more

We went to this restaurant on a Thursday night in August, and the experience kinda cool, but food wasn't anything special. We got a seat very quickly at 7 pm. I got the Lobster Roll and it was decent. The bread became mushy, and was kind of bland. My wife got the shrimp mac, which was also decent. Our server was great, always checked on us. And we were in and out quickly. read more

Host was very rude while checking in, it was understandably busy and we were helped reasonably quick yet the host was very condescending and muttering rude comments under his breath. We were not given an option to put our name in and there were multiple issues with which parties were next up as the host said the order was "in his head". Do not recommend. read more

We came here for a bachelorette party and waited over 2 hours for food. When it finally came it was undercooked and cold. When mentioned to the server we were told "sorry we are just very busy". Nobody followed up with us, nobody offered to make it right, no manager even came. Very fun location very bad experience. read more

This place is a solid 3. You go here for the atmosphere and to sit on the water. The food is ok depending what you get, but nothing special. I would definitely recommend the fried green tomato sandwich. Wasn't a huge fan of the shrimp tacos. The service is super slow, and it isn't just this year. We asked for small plates to share our app and they came when our meal came after our app was long gone. We just figured they weren't coming. Same with the BBQ sauce we needed for chicken tenders. Oh well! If you want to sit on the water there are only a few places! Worth a try but just have the right expectations going in! read more

If you want atmosphere - on a nice day in South Haven, this is the S.H.I.T. (Their South Haven Iced Tea will knock your socks off - great Long Island). Try to avoid peak dining hours so you can sit in one your choice of unique spots - you can sit outside on the top deck, along the side deck, back by the indoor bar or in one of the cool private rooms! We loved watching the various yacht, cigar boats, kayaks and even a pirate ship go by - great people/boat watching! Food was pretty good. I had a lobster/shrimp roll. Kettle chips were a bit spicy (too much of something on them). Kids had a beautifully made strawberry salad and one had Mac & cheese. Husband and friend had sourdough green tomatoes BLT, a my friends husband had a brisket sandwich which he had wished was smoked. Avoid the men's bathroom - go on the dock in the restaurant. My husband said the smell in there was so bad he felt sick and he heard another man vomiting because it stunk so bad. He said it was filthy and smelled like death. The women's bathroom was fine. Service was good. Would love to come here at sunset next time and sit up on the roof deck or side deck . read more

I'd like to say the food and atmosphere were amazing but I don't know. Why? Because I waited at the host station for almost a half hour and was never even acknowledged. I did confirm that I was in the right spot to be seated but no one ever acknowledged me there. Employees walked past me many times and looked at me but not a "one moment please," "kiss my a$$," "f off," or anything. I won't be coming back. read more

Had calamari for an appetizer that came out with our lunch..."the computer froze" was the excuse. Way too salty. Could not eat it. Food was just ok. Red pepper crab soup tasted like Campbell's Fiesta Cheese soup with a bit of crab. The gumbo was uninspired and pedestrian. The fried green tomato blt was good. My wife got the fish sandwich which had a sliver of tomato, not even a full slice of tomato. The shrimp tacos were full of corn and beans and it was watery, with very small shrimp. We sat in a room off the boat near a bar. The waitresses had an annoying habit of throwing the metal plates in the bus tub making a very loud clanging noise...not pleasant. We will not be back. read more

One of the best locations in town, right by the river. Other than that, not much to write home about. The peel and eat shrimp isn't that good, with soggy and soft shells. The kind u find frozen at Meijer, and certainly not the quality to charge 15$ for. Bloody mary is OK, and the sausage sandwich is a good choice (says my wife) but I'd never come back here. read more