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I had lunch here today with three colleagues. The food and service could not have been better. Everything was absolutely perfect. This was a perfect day to dine outside. And Rick's has the best outdoor dining in the Indianapolis area, hands down. No other restaurant patio or deck even comes close. From our table we had a nice view of Eagle Creek. There were a few sailboats out, the sky was blue, and there was a gentle breeze. Our server Cameron was excellent. He answered our questions about menu items and provided suggestions. He was very efficient and kept our glasses full. We ordered several appetizers to share: shrimp cocktail, stuffed mushrooms, crab cakes, and Korean hush puppies. Highly recommend the Korean hush puppies and the crab cakes! I ordered salmon roulades for my entrée, and I would definitely order it again. Everyone else enjoyed their entrées as well: a grouper Reuben, vegetable stir fry, and chicken Parmesan. A perfect experience.
We've been a couple times recently. Sat on the patio tonight. Personable service. Great food. Salmon with purple sweet potatoes and Brussels. Nice experience.
We celebrated our anniversary 30 years ago at Rick's Boatyard and we are in town so we thought we would try it again. It has definitely changed in 30 years. It's still beautiful there. We sat next to the window so we could see the view which is beautiful still. The hostess and wait staff are very friendly and helpful. However they have changed the menu, but what can you expect. LOL Hubby got the grilled fisherman's catch which was salmon, lobster tail, scallop, and shrimp with rice. The best for him was the scallops, shrimp, and rice. The lobster had no flavor and was hard to get out of the shell. I got the grilled pork chops with mashed potatoes and green beans. The best thing on my plate was the mashed potatoes. The pork chops were grilled but didn't have any seasoning. The green beans didn't have any flavor either. I took my leftovers home to doctor them for another meal. Overall, we agreed that the restaurant has taken a turn for the worse. We kissed the seasoned mixed vegetables and seasoned seafood.
What is not to love about a restaurant on the water? Don't be afraid to do the outdoor seating. There is a lot of fans and it is very relaxing. The food is phenomenal. There's nothing I've ever had. That is not good. The staff is always friendly and there's not a long way to get your food. Try their wedge salad! You will not be disappointed. Oh, and don't forget to take home one of their pieces of Keylime pie!
Over the weekend a small group of girlfriends and I went to Rick's Boatyard to enjoy the nice weather. I was fortunate enough to make a last minute reservation on open table (yay!) and we had an excellent table on the patio overlooking the water! It had been a couple of years since my last visit, and was sad to see some of my usual favorites no longer on the menu (I'm looking at you chicken cordon bleu fingers!!!). The vibes were incredible! Unfortunately our cocktails and food were average and honestly lacked a lot of flavor, but I will keep returning for the patio! I will say, parking can also be a nightmare depending on the time of day. They do have a rather big lot, so you may just be driving around for a while. If you happen to park further out, I appreciate they have a golf cart shuttle to the main entrance!
Rick's used to be one of my favorite spots for a date night or dinner with friends, but after today's visit, that changed. The service was great, and our server did everything he could to make our experience enjoyable. Unfortunately, I was heartbroken to learn that a new chef has taken over, completely revamped the menu, and STOPPED SERVING THE BEST APPETIZER IN ALL OF INDIANA: the Chicken Cordon Bleu Fingers. I genuinely have no idea why they would make this decision. These have been on the menu for well over a decade, have a cult following, and are one of the main reasons many people visit Rick's in the first place. Thankfully, our server went above and beyond and found a way to make it happen since they still prepare them for banquets and special events. That alone should tell you how beloved they are. Unfortunately, the rest of the meal didn't fare as well. The risotto was a major disappointment. It was bland, overcooked, and lacked the rich flavor it used to have. The gumbo was also underwhelming, tasting overly tomato-heavy and missing the depth and seasoning you'd expect. Overall, the food quality has noticeably declined. Between the menu changes and the disappointing execution, it's no longer worth the drive or the price point for me. It's disappointing to see a restaurant I once loved move in this direction.
I've been to this place multiple times and it has never disappointed me! The food every time is delicious despite others saying quality has gone down. This hasn't been my experience thus far. I usually get the steak salad cooked medium rare and it is cooked perfectly every time. The service is usually just okay but my last few times in my bartender and server were both fantastic! You get a great view of eagle creek which gives great vibes year around. In the summer it makes for a perfect outdoor patio spot. Highly recommend!
This was my second visit to Rick's, and probably my first time in ten years. I made reservations online for a group of 8 and it was super easy. Day of, the staff called to confirm numbers and where we'd like to sit. Check in was easy, but our seating request hadn't been transferred over, no big deal thankfully. Our waitress was super friendly, and kept well organized. She automatically provided separate checks without even asking. I ordered the roll basket and bacon jam burger. The rolls were fine, but nothing special. The bacon jam burger was super delicious. Overflowing with bacon. My only complaint is I ordered it medium and it came out more medium well to well done. We all agreed we enjoyed our experience and would have to come back again.
Most of my salad was welted today. My brownie sundae was good. There were multiple flies flying around inside the restaurant where I couldnt enjoy my food. Decent service. The bathroom needed to be cleaned also.
Celebrated a coworker's retirement here with Sunday brunch, and I didn't even realize they offered brunch until this visit. It ended up being such a nice experience! We sat on the patio, and although the shades were closed earlier in the day, they opened them later once the weather warmed up, which made the vibe even better. Our server was very nice and attentive, especially with our large group. We ordered a half mimosa tower, and I really enjoyed it. I also tried Rico's Coffee from the brunch menu, which was so good and paired perfectly with the brunch vibe. I ordered the French toast platter, which came with four pieces of French toast, scrambled eggs, brunch potatoes, and bacon. It was delicious and so filling that I had to get a to-go box. The yogurt parfait was also really good, and everyone at the table seemed to enjoy their food and drinks, including the Bloody Mary options and tea. We ordered liquid marijuana shots as a group and these were great. One thing to note: we brought a cake for our friend and didn't know there was a $25 outside cake fee, so be aware of that if you plan to bring your own dessert. After brunch, we walked around the beautiful grounds, and a few of us stayed longer on the patio. The high-top seating wasn't the most comfortable, but the drinks and appetizers made up for it. The whiskey sour was good, and we enjoyed the crab cakes, calamari, shrimp, and Rico's dip. This turned into an all-day affair with good food, drinks, beautiful weather, and great company. A really nice spot for brunch, celebrations, and patio time.
Love to be by the water but it was Friday night and it was crowded and so loud it was hard to have a conversation. Food was delicious though! Grilled Fisherman's Catch for me, salmon and a skewer of shrimp, scallops and a lobster tail. Salmon and a lobster tail for the hubby and Caribbean Swordfish for the son.
Being a lifelong resident of Indiana this is one place I was wanting to try but never was a place I got around to going somehow. Well the time finally came around for Father's Day as a special request and I'll tell you I should of listened to the bad reviews. Unfortunately they're deserving We made a reservation and we're seated right away around 5. The restaurant is huge and tight seating. Pretty cool vibe. Unfortunately we waited 15 minutes to see a server. We needed our booth wiped down so the whole thing started questionable. As you can see from my pictures it wasn't packed. Our waiter finally came, got someone to wipe our booth off and said he'd be right back. Again .... Waiting. He finally comes back and takes our drink order then swiftly walks away instead of taking (or even asking) for our appetizer orders. We sat sooo long we actually had our entire meal ready to give him. The food was mediocre at best. I told him I couldn't have raw onion, including scallions, yet my dip had them. The chicken dip is a watery mess topped with scallions under cheese that's melted. He was gonna send it back, which I was willing to do, but once I looked under the cheese to see a watery grave of chicken dip? made 'fresh'? I declined. It's obvious it's frozen, thawed, slapped with scallions and cheese and melted . I know the 'made fresh' is a cover for sorry it took forever to remember to bring it out. I'm not really sorry being so snippy it's deserved Clam chowder? (yes another question mark) was another complete MISS . Shrimp cocktail and our filets were fresh and huge shrimp were given though . I was honestly praying our steaks would be cooked right and they definitely were! The fisherman's catch could of used some kind of seasoning. My guest kinda tasted some salt at least Overall we had a good time because of our company we had. It was a trial and complete error. I'm almost 100 % sure the menu is the problem. It's so expansive there's just too many items causing the problems. Nothing's gonna be fresh like this. I can't imagine if they were a little packed how the wait time and food time would be. It just really failed all of us
Food was really good, service was a bit slow but could have been due to Father's Day. The view of the lake was nice and relaxing. The Parmesan Branzino was great! Flakey, and Parmesan crusted seasoning with green beans and rice.
My friend and I met here for dinner on a Tuesday evening. It was an absolute beautiful evening. Rick's has a ton of seating inside and outside. We chose outside. Ordered two mocktails, the No Tai. Delicious. Love that they have a no alcohol list. I ordered the grouper Reuben with fries and the portion was perfect-great price too of $18. Id get it again. My friend got the tostada pizza and enjoyed it. Our server was attentive and very nice. We will be back! read more
2 days ago
Rick's Boatyard is a name Indy reckons with for a long time now. And rightfully so they have the best ambience. A treat for the eyes in such a fancy location where sunsets are a prized commodity. The guests, vibe and overall atmosphere is fun, jovial and loud. Service was great, Fernando did his best to keep us all well served. Kudos to Fernando for managing a group of 9. My lemon pepper halibut was very good, flavorful with a base of rice and black beans. Knocked 2 stars off for Google saying dogs allowed, when the location only accepts service dogs. A-okay to accept service dogs only but UPDATE social media! My pups were with me and I couldn't get them in causing a LOT of inconvenience. Everyone looks at social media these days so don't expect first time customers to know the stickers on your entrance, door and patio. Absolutely not cool for such a famous place. read more
I had lunch here today with three colleagues. The food and service could not have been better. Everything was absolutely perfect. This was a perfect day to dine outside. And Rick's has the best outdoor dining in the Indianapolis area, hands down. No other restaurant patio or deck even comes close. From our table we had a nice view of Eagle Creek. There were a few sailboats out, the sky was blue, and there was a gentle breeze. Our server Cameron was excellent. He answered our questions about menu items and provided suggestions. He was very efficient and kept our glasses full. We ordered several appetizers to share: shrimp cocktail, stuffed mushrooms, crab cakes, and Korean hush puppies. Highly recommend the Korean hush puppies and the crab cakes! I ordered salmon roulades for my entrée, and I would definitely order it again. Everyone else enjoyed their entrées as well: a grouper Reuben, vegetable stir fry, and chicken Parmesan. A perfect experience. read more
11 days ago
We've been a couple times recently. Sat on the patio tonight. Personable service. Great food. Salmon with purple sweet potatoes and Brussels. Nice experience. read more
We celebrated our anniversary 30 years ago at Rick's Boatyard and we are in town so we thought we would try it again. It has definitely changed in 30 years. It's still beautiful there. We sat next to the window so we could see the view which is beautiful still. The hostess and wait staff are very friendly and helpful. However they have changed the menu, but what can you expect. LOL Hubby got the grilled fisherman's catch which was salmon, lobster tail, scallop, and shrimp with rice. The best for him was the scallops, shrimp, and rice. The lobster had no flavor and was hard to get out of the shell. I got the grilled pork chops with mashed potatoes and green beans. The best thing on my plate was the mashed potatoes. The pork chops were grilled but didn't have any seasoning. The green beans didn't have any flavor either. I took my leftovers home to doctor them for another meal. Overall, we agreed that the restaurant has taken a turn for the worse. We kissed the seasoned mixed vegetables and seasoned seafood. read more
What is not to love about a restaurant on the water? Don't be afraid to do the outdoor seating. There is a lot of fans and it is very relaxing. The food is phenomenal. There's nothing I've ever had. That is not good. The staff is always friendly and there's not a long way to get your food. Try their wedge salad! You will not be disappointed. Oh, and don't forget to take home one of their pieces of Keylime pie! read more
3 months ago
4 months ago
Over the weekend a small group of girlfriends and I went to Rick's Boatyard to enjoy the nice weather. I was fortunate enough to make a last minute reservation on open table (yay!) and we had an excellent table on the patio overlooking the water! It had been a couple of years since my last visit, and was sad to see some of my usual favorites no longer on the menu (I'm looking at you chicken cordon bleu fingers!!!). The vibes were incredible! Unfortunately our cocktails and food were average and honestly lacked a lot of flavor, but I will keep returning for the patio! I will say, parking can also be a nightmare depending on the time of day. They do have a rather big lot, so you may just be driving around for a while. If you happen to park further out, I appreciate they have a golf cart shuttle to the main entrance! read more
Rick's used to be one of my favorite spots for a date night or dinner with friends, but after today's visit, that changed. The service was great, and our server did everything he could to make our experience enjoyable. Unfortunately, I was heartbroken to learn that a new chef has taken over, completely revamped the menu, and STOPPED SERVING THE BEST APPETIZER IN ALL OF INDIANA: the Chicken Cordon Bleu Fingers. I genuinely have no idea why they would make this decision. These have been on the menu for well over a decade, have a cult following, and are one of the main reasons many people visit Rick's in the first place. Thankfully, our server went above and beyond and found a way to make it happen since they still prepare them for banquets and special events. That alone should tell you how beloved they are. Unfortunately, the rest of the meal didn't fare as well. The risotto was a major disappointment. It was bland, overcooked, and lacked the rich flavor it used to have. The gumbo was also underwhelming, tasting overly tomato-heavy and missing the depth and seasoning you'd expect. Overall, the food quality has noticeably declined. Between the menu changes and the disappointing execution, it's no longer worth the drive or the price point for me. It's disappointing to see a restaurant I once loved move in this direction. read more
1 month ago
I've been to this place multiple times and it has never disappointed me! The food every time is delicious despite others saying quality has gone down. This hasn't been my experience thus far. I usually get the steak salad cooked medium rare and it is cooked perfectly every time. The service is usually just okay but my last few times in my bartender and server were both fantastic! You get a great view of eagle creek which gives great vibes year around. In the summer it makes for a perfect outdoor patio spot. Highly recommend! read more
This was my second visit to Rick's, and probably my first time in ten years. I made reservations online for a group of 8 and it was super easy. Day of, the staff called to confirm numbers and where we'd like to sit. Check in was easy, but our seating request hadn't been transferred over, no big deal thankfully. Our waitress was super friendly, and kept well organized. She automatically provided separate checks without even asking. I ordered the roll basket and bacon jam burger. The rolls were fine, but nothing special. The bacon jam burger was super delicious. Overflowing with bacon. My only complaint is I ordered it medium and it came out more medium well to well done. We all agreed we enjoyed our experience and would have to come back again. read more
Celebrated a coworker's retirement here with Sunday brunch, and I didn't even realize they offered brunch until this visit. It ended up being such a nice experience! We sat on the patio, and although the shades were closed earlier in the day, they opened them later once the weather warmed up, which made the vibe even better. Our server was very nice and attentive, especially with our large group. We ordered a half mimosa tower, and I really enjoyed it. I also tried Rico's Coffee from the brunch menu, which was so good and paired perfectly with the brunch vibe. I ordered the French toast platter, which came with four pieces of French toast, scrambled eggs, brunch potatoes, and bacon. It was delicious and so filling that I had to get a to-go box. The yogurt parfait was also really good, and everyone at the table seemed to enjoy their food and drinks, including the Bloody Mary options and tea. We ordered liquid marijuana shots as a group and these were great. One thing to note: we brought a cake for our friend and didn't know there was a $25 outside cake fee, so be aware of that if you plan to bring your own dessert. After brunch, we walked around the beautiful grounds, and a few of us stayed longer on the patio. The high-top seating wasn't the most comfortable, but the drinks and appetizers made up for it. The whiskey sour was good, and we enjoyed the crab cakes, calamari, shrimp, and Rico's dip. This turned into an all-day affair with good food, drinks, beautiful weather, and great company. A really nice spot for brunch, celebrations, and patio time. read more
18 days ago
Love to be by the water but it was Friday night and it was crowded and so loud it was hard to have a conversation. Food was delicious though! Grilled Fisherman's Catch for me, salmon and a skewer of shrimp, scallops and a lobster tail. Salmon and a lobster tail for the hubby and Caribbean Swordfish for the son. read more
Being a lifelong resident of Indiana this is one place I was wanting to try but never was a place I got around to going somehow. Well the time finally came around for Father's Day as a special request and I'll tell you I should of listened to the bad reviews. Unfortunately they're deserving We made a reservation and we're seated right away around 5. The restaurant is huge and tight seating. Pretty cool vibe. Unfortunately we waited 15 minutes to see a server. We needed our booth wiped down so the whole thing started questionable. As you can see from my pictures it wasn't packed. Our waiter finally came, got someone to wipe our booth off and said he'd be right back. Again .... Waiting. He finally comes back and takes our drink order then swiftly walks away instead of taking (or even asking) for our appetizer orders. We sat sooo long we actually had our entire meal ready to give him. The food was mediocre at best. I told him I couldn't have raw onion, including scallions, yet my dip had them. The chicken dip is a watery mess topped with scallions under cheese that's melted. He was gonna send it back, which I was willing to do, but once I looked under the cheese to see a watery grave of chicken dip? made 'fresh'? I declined. It's obvious it's frozen, thawed, slapped with scallions and cheese and melted . I know the 'made fresh' is a cover for sorry it took forever to remember to bring it out. I'm not really sorry being so snippy it's deserved Clam chowder? (yes another question mark) was another complete MISS . Shrimp cocktail and our filets were fresh and huge shrimp were given though . I was honestly praying our steaks would be cooked right and they definitely were! The fisherman's catch could of used some kind of seasoning. My guest kinda tasted some salt at least Overall we had a good time because of our company we had. It was a trial and complete error. I'm almost 100 % sure the menu is the problem. It's so expansive there's just too many items causing the problems. Nothing's gonna be fresh like this. I can't imagine if they were a little packed how the wait time and food time would be. It just really failed all of us read more
Food was really good, service was a bit slow but could have been due to Father's Day. The view of the lake was nice and relaxing. The Parmesan Branzino was great! Flakey, and Parmesan crusted seasoning with green beans and rice. read more
8 days ago
This is the first time I've been to Rick's in a while and it didn't disappoint. We met our two friends and their young daughter for dinner. They were so nice and brought out a 'fancy' drink for her to enjoy. (Sprite, grenadine and a cherry) The waitress was so nice and the food came out quickly. So good! read more
2 months ago
I honestly love this place, me and my husband got engaged here 6 years ago so it holds a special spot in our hearts but the food is delicious, the staff's is always great and the view and vibes are amazing. I got the five pepper pasta, clam chowder and the shrimp cocktail. All delicious. read more
Rick's is a very popular restaurant because of the water views and abundance of seafood. I went with a group of my husband's colleagues since they were here from out of town. Everyone enjoyed the libations as well as their dinner. It was a pricey meal but well worth it. read more
2 months ago
It my favorite and love it I went on a trip to my grandbaby 10th birthday party she had a big party it was really really nice 10th birthday party she had cried for a little bit and I like it I was drunk so what can I say my younger one she is 7 one just turn 10 this year I love me some little kids my daughter are moms now yes it was just fun she 10th birthday big booty we say that to her shy a lot but she is a sassy girl read more
19 days ago
Met a group of friends for dinner, a party of 20. Our server was great getting our drinks and food orders going, she was quick and attentive for us all. We ordered the Calamari appetizer which is a 5 star always, so tender, and good. The rest of the food was not great for me. I ordered the crab stuffed Orange Roughy. It was very strong and I had a hard time eating it. The mashed potatoes and asparagus were ok, so I focused on that. I really have a hard time with Ricks as the food can be a hit or miss. Hubs liked his grilled tenderloin sandwich. read more
1 month ago
7 months ago
always a great view while enjoying great food with great company - our server this past weekend was wonderful and attentive. our seven-year-old craves their Caesar salad and we crave the cocktails as her parents :) great family dining spot anytime time of the year read more
10 months ago
The food, drinks have been consistently good. However, we made a reservation and they had some issues with OpenTable that night. We waited at least 45 minutes to get our table. The host told us that we can get a free appetizer, which they do follow through with. We were just disappointed for the wait since we had made a reservation. read more
This place never disappoints and it's such a great location to meet up with friends and family. Our server Katie was attentive and friendly. I tried something new tonight and ordered the short rib grilled cheese and a side of collard greens. Both were delicious and I brought home enough for lunch the next day. My espresso martini was prepared just right and good to the last drop. We always order a Rico's dip for the table and it was good as usual and plenty enough for six people to share. We also had an appetizer special that was yummy. It was crab balls with some other seasonings and remoulade sauce. We're hoping they'll add it to the regular menu. Be sure to save enough room for one of their fantastic desserts. read more
I went to Rick's for lunch. We were seated rather quickly. Our server was pleasant and took our orders promptly. Everything came out as ordered but the Lobster was cooked so poorly that I could no longer eat it after 2 bites. I let the server know and he literally had no response, awkwardly stood there, and then walked away. It's disappointing to only be able to enjoy the sides from the meal and not the entire entree. It felt very wasteful from a cost & time perspective. Please listen to your consumers concerns when they share them as it's impactful to the dining experience. read more
1 year ago
Great place to go for the night. good cocktail menu and bourbon options. The food is definitely hit or miss. Sometimes it is really good and other times it's just ok. Either way it is a pretty place to go and have a drink. read more
9 days ago
1 month ago
5 months ago
Went on Mother's Day and got seated immediately. Server was attentive and provided good recommendations from the menu. The salmon on the risotto was flavorful and well cooked but the risotto lacked flavor. The lobster portions were large and was so buttery and tender. read more
2 months ago
13 days ago
Great food and great water views on the patio. We ordered grilled fisherman's catch - which had grilled salmon, scallops, shrimp and half lobster tail with coconut rice, and also ordered Mahi Mahi on soba noodles - both dishes were unique, well-presented and delicious! In dessert we had the Mudd pie which was unexpectedly a huge piece, can easily serve more than 2 people! The food was delicious and the serving sizes are huge! I recommend this place if you want to eat with a waterfront view and a little away from the hustle of Indy! read more
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More info about Rick's Café Boatyard
4050 Dandy Trl
Indianapolis, IN 46254
Directions
(317) 290-9300
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http://ricksboatyard.com
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Ask the Community - Rick's Café Boatyard
We want to check this place out, but we have two young kids and can't easily find sitters. Is it somewhere that is ok to bring kids?
As long as you don't let them run wild and keep them under control, there's no reason that you can't bring them!
Do the brunch and main menu overlap or is it just brunch menu on Sundays until brunch hours are over?
I know for Thanksgiving they had the traditional turkey dinner with the trimmings and dessert but some of our group were able to order off their menu; the brunch I am not sure. Give them a call and ask them. Food is great and plentiful. There…
Do they have Oysters Rockefeller on the menu here ? On Open Table it does not list them, but I've seen them reviewed on here and mentioned
I was there a couple months ago and posted photos of the menu and I do not see them listed. They may have a special occasionally where they make them.
Are dogs allowed on the patio?
I really don't think so the way the business is set up.
Do they take reservations?
Yes - they take them over the phone or on the Open Table app.
Are there daily drink specials?
Yes, varies day to day. Give them a call when you plan on going and they can tell you what's on special.
What are the dress requirements for Rick's? Is it casual?
We were there for lunch and shorts and jeans wrere perfect. It is not fancy outside on the deck...I would say evenings indoors could be dressier OR not. Very informal vibe.
What hours are they open?
According to their website they have summer hours (5/1) & winter hours (10/1). Summer: Mon-Thurs 11am to 11pm…
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69 reviews that are not currently recommended
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