The Bistro feels like a genuine neighborhood gathering place rather than a restaurant designed only for visitors. Each time I stopped in, the atmosphere was energetic, casual, and welcoming. I felt completely comfortable dining alone. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without constantly interrupting my meal. I was especially impressed by how involved the management was. The general manager actively worked the room, assisted the staff, and took time to speak with guests instead of remaining behind the scenes. The chicken Parmesan was excellent. The breaded chicken was crisp outside but still tender and juicy, with a savory marinara and just enough melted cheese. The pasta was cooked properly, and the accompanying garlic bread was crunchy around the edges while remaining soft inside. The generous serving provided plenty of leftovers. The strawberry basil margarita was refreshing and well balanced, with enough fruit flavor to be interesting without becoming overly sweet. For dessert, the peanut butter pie had a wonderfully smooth, creamy texture and a rich flavor that never felt excessive. The onion ring tower is also worth ordering, especially for a group. The rings are thick, crispy, well seasoned, and clearly prepared fresh. It would be far too much for most solo diners, so plan to share. Although the restaurant is not directly on the waterfront, the patio and some tables offer views of Lake Oconee. There is ample free parking, and the regular live music and special events add to the lively local atmosphere. Lake Oconee Bistro has earned a place on my list whenever I return to the area. read more

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Beautiful Setting, Disappointing Service We frequent this restaurant because the venue itself is a great place to spend time. Unfortunately, the food has consistently been mediocre, and today's brunch was no exception. What really prompted this review, though, was the service. At her meal-arrival check-in, I told our server that we were missing a side item, and she acknowledged it. At the end of the meal, after the entrée had been eaten, I again confirmed that the side had never arrived. Since it was too late to receive the item, I asked whether they would consider taking a percentage off the bill. Rather than addressing my request or apologizing for the oversight, the server asked my dining companion whether he would prefer the missing item packaged to go. That was an odd assumption; not only that he should be the one to decide, but that he was necessarily the person paying for the inadequate meal. The bigger issue is that when a customer expresses dissatisfaction, the server should listen, apologize, and, involve management to determine how to make the situation right. At minimum, an apology would have gone a long way; unfortunately, none was offered. With the prices being charged and the food being only so-so, this restaurant really needs to capitalize on what it does have going for it, the beautiful setting. By making the service experience exceptional, a lot of faults could be overlooked. We enjoy coming here and would love to see the restaurant do better. read more

As always, Lake Oconee Bistro did not disappoint! Marlus is a great and attentive waiter who made excellent gluten free option suggestions not marked on the menu. The Lavender Blueberrty Moscow Mule is phenomenal! And so was the Spinach Goat Cheese pizza on cauliflower crust. We also wholeheartedly enjoyed the awesome Steakhouse burger and Truffle Fries. The atmosphere here is very chill and relaxed with people from all walks of life - after pickleball, signing contracts, or enjoying sports and the bar. read more

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Smash burger 5 out of 5. Truffle Fries 5 out of 5. Great selection of cold draft beers. Great casual atmosphere and fast friendly service at the bar. Thanks Angela. I'll be back soon. read more

Lake Oconee Bistro - View from the bar. Prompt friendly service! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Eatonton, Georgia

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Second time here and I'm a big fan. The service is always really great. I previously had the jambalaya (to die for) and recently had the shrimp and grits. While delicious, I feel like it wasn't hot enough. I was with a group of five, and it felt like my meal was made first then waiting on a hot plate. I didn't get photos of the full menu, but they had maybe a dozen new items!! The additions looked great. I went for the grits because I wanted to keep to real southern food while I am here. read more

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We drove into town to visit car dealerships and decided to find a place to eat. This place was about 8 miles out but we thought we'd give it a chance. I'm so happy we did!! The service was ok. The food was absolutely delicious! I had the shrimp appetizer and the fried catfish sandwich with fries. The place was across from the lake and a nice quiet spot. If I'm in the area I'd love to go back! read more

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Our second trip here. It's still delicious! Our server Sherry was great! Had the chicken picatta and the lobster pizza! Both were excellent, large portions my husband couldn't finish the picatta. The sauce was delicious I stole a bit or two. Need had lobster pizza before thought I would give it a try, yummy I added some lemon (I like with seafood). Would order again and have lunch for tomorrow if it makes it through the evening. Thanks for another wonderful dining experience. read more

Lake Oconee Bistro - Chicken picatta, Cesar salad and lobster pizza..... had a bite before I took the picture. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Eatonton, Georgia

Went here yesterday morning for an after wedding brunch and could not have been more impressed. The selection of food was amazing, the service top level, the atmosphere relaxing, and the management very accommodating. Absolutely would recommend for any occasion. read more

We love our time in Lake Oconee and this was our first trying the bistro. We initially went to the lake house across the street but they were closed. The bistro was super busy and had a 30 minute wait due to only have two servers. We waited patiently and then were seated out on the patio. We started with the peel and eat shrimp seasoned with Old Bay, absolutely delicious. Everyone at the table ordered a version of the smash burger, except my son who had the crispy chicken tenders and I had the grouper entree. The grouper was pan seared and crispy very very good. Everyone enjoyed the burgers, chicken tenders were a hit and the drinks strong. A lunch turned into a two and half hour lunch/dinner. Highly recommend the bistro for lunch or dinner. Enjoy. read more

Took a ridiculous time to get our order. The food was either cold, overcooked, or tasteless. We will not be back.

We enjoyed the location. Stuffed tots were good, I had the shrimp tacos with Cajun rice and black beans. I wasn't exactly blown away. The Cajun rice tasted like uncle Ben's, there wasn't anything Cajun about it. The dish was served with a huge scoop of plain black beans that I was able to just scrape off. Unfortunately the tacos lacked in the flavor department as well they could have used some seasonings. my wife had the brunch chicken and waffles which I tried. The waffle was delicious paired with the strawberry butter. The chicken fingers that came with it were huge and homemade. The breading was pretty good but my only complaint was that other than the breading the chicken wasn't seasoned. The service was good and we enjoyed the atmosphere but for the prices we paid I expected the food to be a little better. We probably won't go back read more

Fantastic service, excellent food and a great experience all around. There was no wait and the atmosphere was very inviting.

Amazing Service and The Ambiance. It's a feel-Good place to be at. The Food is amazing. It has entertainment. It's just right across from Lake Oconee. Possibly the food could come as fried/grilled or freshly caught from the lake. read more

Good food, nice people Like the screened area, with tvs Freshly made menu items Great brunch read more

I guess I'll write a review here since the manager had nothing to say to us. I'll start with the great - the server Robert and the atmosphere were fantastic. The food was not good. We had the shrimp which was way over breaded, the hungry man breakfast which had biscuits that were actually cold on the inside and lobster grits that were ok. The worst part was the grilled chicken tenders. It seemed like they might have been made in a microwave. Had a hard time cutting them with a knife. The manager was made aware owe had a bad experience. He brought out the refired chicken tender meal and dropped it off and left. Not any other comment or question. We have had a good meal there before, but it will be a while before we come back. Again, the server, Robert, was the best part of the meal. read more

We host our son's rehearsal dinner here for 50 people in the Sandbar Room. Just beautiful and the perfect size for our event. From the way we were greeted to how Angela and Jonathan took care of us, we felt like we were family instead of a customer. Food was amazing!!! Highly recommend Lake Oconee Bistro for your special event or a casual lunch and dinner out. read more

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Upon pulling into the parking lot, I knew 3 things, 1 laid back vibes. Corn hole boards as you're waiting to be seated. Live music on a Friday night. Food was great. Oyster on the 1/2 shells. I got that special...the big smasher. Brisket (over stuffed) and great bbq sauce. Nice place for great food. 10-10 read more

Lake Oconee Bistro - Inside vibe was nice - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Eatonton, Georgia

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Pretty good food but very inconsistent... service is always excellent. I don't like to have to send fries back because they served us cold and old fries. They were very gracious and replaced them but my feeling is the bad ones should have never left the kitchen...has happened numerous times with various dishes.. read more

Great customer service, great drinks and great food From the time you walk in, you feel welcomed Just wish it was on the water read more

We held our 50th wedding anniversary in their combined Magnolia Room and Sand Bar space for 80 people. They were so great to work with in setting it up and so accommodating. On the day of the event, the place was set up perfectly. The food was delicious and the staff was excellent. The bar servers were especially great as they were kept very busy. Highly recommended for this type of event. read more

The food was excellent! There were 6 of us, and everyone of us was impressed. I had the scallops over a lemon basmati rice. The scallops were perfectly cooked, with tender sweet flavor coming through with every bite. The rice was yummy with an occasional grain of corn mixed in. I can't say enough about our waiter. His mouth-watering description of the entrees getting everyone excited to eat! I had the key lime pie for dessert, and it too, was excellent. I don't want to forget the appetizers . Ahi Tina chunks in a soy sauce that was so good, it could have been an entree. We also had fried clams for appetizers and they were great! The restaurant was located across one of Oconee's lakes. Nick was our waiter, kudos Nick! Lulu Rice from Tucson, Arizona. read more

We have been coming to Lake Oconee every year and been searching for an affordable, tasty, solid lunch spot and I think we found it! Food: highly recommend the CATFISH SANDWICH w/ side: cheddar lobster grits. The sandwich could use some more sauce and the lobster was very subtle but everything was great! Service: There is plenty of seating and our party of 5 was seated within 15 minutes. Servers were attentive and helpful. Ambiance: plenty of seating, lots of natural lighting. read more

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So for the final time, my wife and I went in the bistro for lunch today and specifically asked for no green peppers on her sandwich and it came out loaded, usually I would not complain, but this is the third time in a row and the fourth time that we have Been disappointed with the food we've given this place chance after chance, but we will find somewhere else to eat from now on, unfortunately. read more

Another great experience at the Lake Oconee Bistro! Our server Anna was great, and the food was delicious! Had the catfish sandwich lunch special, and my husband had the chicken salad melt with a cup of clam chowder. Both meals were delicious! read more

First time dining here since being in Eatonton. Went for a late lunch (3:00) which could have been the mistake. Ordered a side of hushpuppies and the peel n eat shrimp. The hushpuppies came out raw and when they were re-done, out of the 4, two were still raw. Just chalked it up to a bad day for the kitchen. But when the shrimp came out IN THE WATER they were steamed in, probably 2 inches deep in the bowl, WITH the soggy shrimp, I knew either it was a chef that normally isn't familiar with the meals or either he was trying to get off his shift quickly and took some that had been sitting in water since lunch hour. But WHY serve them in the water????? I felt like maybe this was a health hazard. My wife would not eat them, but we had already had the problem with the other and we just figured maybe this wasn't our type of place. Great server in Olivia but not so good on the meal. Gary, Restaurant is at 1130 Lake Oconee Parkway and is not a Chinese Restaurant. Transaction # 16 @ 3:04 PM Order 33012 check amount $45.50 read more

Great service. Terrible food. Poke tuna was inedible. Rice was cold and hard as rocks. "Smashburger" far from smashed. Steak salad was average. Pizza was ok but also better at the local BP store. Will not go back read more

Stopped here today if or brunch. Robert was an efficient server with good tips. My breakfast sandwich was great! Crispy bacon and a yummy bun. Cheddar grits were not great. Loved being able to see the lake! read more

Me and my wife are regulars here. We go almost every Sunday after church. Last week when we went we received horrible treatment from the 2 hostess. Their names are Alyson and Kori. Kori told us it was a 15 minute wait which is fine so we wait outside for at least 20 minutes and got no text or call so we go in to check on the wait and Alyson never types our name in on the computer then tells us it's another 30 minutes, when we politely asked why it changed she got an attitude and stuck her finger in my wife's face. Kori then comes out and lied to our faces saying she told us 30 minutes. Then Alyson laughed and said "looks like you're gonna keep waiting" then looked at Kori and they both laughed at us. We will NEVER return as long as those 2 are still employed there read more

food and service were great, but the monitors displaying random phrases were far from family friendly. Adult humor including cuss words (all of the above with the exception of the f word) and praising alcoholism aren't what my 10 year needs to see when we're out to dinner. As an adult, I found it somewhat entertaining, but I won't be bringing my family back. read more

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We had a great dinner at Bistro! Bang bang Shrimp, fried cod, and burgers were all a hit. The friend grouper and soft pretzels were yummy starters for the table. Two thumbs up on the Mai Tai and blackberry martini! Plenty of food to choose from but we did not hear any live music on the night we were there. read more

Absolutely stellar restaurant in a place you wouldn't expect! Rarely will you ever find a restaurant in a Summer community with a view of water that pumps out good food, but here they are. I have pretty much tried a good portion of the menu, including salads, burgers, appetizers, and the sandwiches. They all pretty much rock and deliver on quantity and flavor. The burger is the absolute highlight of the menu. If Seth is cooking, the burger will come out flawless, juicy, and cooked perfectly to your desired temperature. My one complaint is the price of the shrimp appetizer. 6 fried shrimp was $16.00. Not worth the price, but that's for the management to set. Overall delicious and I ate here three times in our last week. Highly recommend! read more

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Very impressed as of late... When this place first opened a few years back wasn't a big fan, but they have done a huge turnaround. Great menu, they have a new raw bar in the back with fresh fresh oysters and great place to watch sports. Grouper bites are my favorite thing on the menu. Burgers are great wings, etc. Great place to bring the kids as well. Lots of room. read more

was one of my faves. few choices in the area but this was ah good spot. Food is the decent. servers are always polite and knowledgeable. our fam has been there over 50 times but can't accept disrespectful attire worn by the owner. he should have kept the politics out. area growing ... new spots popping up read more

Portions are huge but the prices are high as well. They also charge a significant fee to share a plate which is sad because the portions are too large for 1 person. Being able to go and have a couple famous Bloody Mary's and share a sandwich would be nice. They do have a u inquest concept with their Bloody Mary's. The wide range of add one and mix ins can be overwhelming to a novice like me! Food came out as ordered and no one had any issues. We just can't rave about anything either. I'd keep this on the okay list not the "must visit" list read more

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Service: good Food: fair at best Ambiance: fine Had hoped for a better dinner based on the reviews. read more

Great smash burgers, great fish and chips, excellent service, great ambiance. It is becoming our favorite go to restaurant when we go out.

We LOVE the Bistro!! The SERVICE is always fantastic & the food is consistently delicious

Wonderful lunch and service! Everyone was happy with the variety of orders drinks and desserts too! JC was our extremely knowledgeable server! I recommend! read more

best burger i ever had there bourbon glaze is amazing there truffle fries are great too. staff were super kind. would recommend coming here

LO Bistro opened in 2020. We have always eaten there somewhat regularly when we are at our lake house. LOB was pretty good from the beginning, but occasionally were a little "off" on food and service. They started out with a huge menu that was great, but I wondered how they could focus when offering so much. Over the last year or maybe two, I have noticed that the they have been dialing in on their menu, speciality cocktails, and deserts. It seems that the food quality and service has improved even more, though it was never bad. I've always liked the place, but am now putting it on my shortlist of gotta-go-to places. read more