1. Rick's Café Boatyard

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Indianapolis, IN

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Rick's Café Boatyard

3.7 (1.3k reviews)
ModerateAmerican, Bars, Seafood
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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Rick's Café Boatyard Photos

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RICK'S CAFÉ BOATYARD ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Romantic
Moderate noise
Live music
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Rick's Café Boatyard

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Reviews With Photos

Fatima G.

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.

Beyond burger
Missi R.

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.

Grilled Fisherman's Catch
Toni S.

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.

Billie K.

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!

Booze
Christopher F.

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.

Halibut bowl
Carolyn H.

Husband and I had a late lunch here yesterday. I had crab cakes dinner (with redskin mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus). Crabcakes were very tasty, but more shredded than lump crabmeat. Still fine. Tiny cup of accompanying sauce was good, but separated toward end of meal. Potatoes looked like they'd been on a steam table awhile, but they too were very tasty. My husband had the halibut over rice and a black bean/corn mixture. He liked it. For dessert we split a key lime pie. Generous portion, but needed more lime. Service was great - very prompt and friendly waitress. But the best was the ambiance. Located across the street from the Eagle Creek Airport, it was very convenient for our afternoon flight. A real plus is the restaurant's location on a marina. Gorgeous afternoon watching sailboats from our elevated table. The restaurant is very big, with both indoor and protected outdoor seating. We will be back. (Wish I could give it 4 1/2 stars.)

Caesar salad and crab cake hush puppies
Whitney M.

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!

Megan G.

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.

Seasonal Creme Brûlée
Chassity B.

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!

Baked Goat Cheese Crab cakes
Justin D.

Stopped by after a hike at Eagle Creek for some great appetizers. Such a cool place to visit. We sat at the bar and had great service. Food was excellent. The sauce that comes with the crab cakes rocked.

Callie K.

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.

Side salad
Ro W.

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.

Rick's boat yard outside deck
Yvette A.

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.

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Reviews are mixed. Many highlight the lakeside atmosphere and patio, friendly and attentive service, and seafood and steaks. The drink menu is also well-liked.

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25 days ago

The last time I was eating at Rick's I enjoyed the catfish. The chocolate cake was excellent.

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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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Rick's Café Boatyard - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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