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    The Boat House

    3.2 (18 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Boat House Photos

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    THE BOAT HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

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    Photo of Kelly K.
    103
    19
    4

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
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    Love this 2
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    3 years ago

    Horrible place to spend your money. There are much better places that are cleaner and the food is better!

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    Photo of Kurt K.
    41
    35
    22

    4 years ago

    Nice bar! Great service! It's a dive bar but a nice dive bar. Right next to the lake. I'll be back!

    Helpful 1
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    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
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    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
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    4 years ago

    Came in for a drink, got nothing but glares. No clue why. Employee & patrons. We weren't loud or crazy. Just an unfriendly place, I guess.

    Helpful 2
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    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    Photo of Dj J.
    0
    15
    4

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    Love this 4
    Oh no 3

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Great place. Cold drinks and touch tunes! Glad to see an establishment not afraid to show some patriotism!

    Helpful 1
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    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    They had terrible service felt uncomfortable in this atmosphere the drinks were weak will NEVER return.

    Helpful 0
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    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
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    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    Love this 1
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    12 years ago

    Our little neighborhood Boat House establishment is always a fun place and a fun time.

    Helpful 1
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    Love this 1
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    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
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    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
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    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
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    Mary Go Round Lounge

    Mary Go Round Lounge

    4.0(4 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $

    Bar food! I love a good dive and we found one. Right on the…read morecorner of a heavy intersection is a bar /diner. Stopped in for a late lunch on a Sat and a few tables were open. Sunday our Waitress was kind and right there when we sat down. Drinks came out right away and I ordered fried pickle SPEARs! The pickles came out super hot and fresh with a side of ranch. I can never help myself and of course burned the roof of my mouth on the hot pickles goodness. The tables around us looked like they were snacking on the wings, and another review said they were good. However my hubby got the special which was the Ruben and fries. I got the breaded tenderloin and fries. The Ruben.. Holy moly! Yum! I got to try it and it was great. It was smaller but so good. Sunday said she made it and I have to say she did great! My breaded tenderloin was good as well. It was nothing super special but fulfilling. Probably frozen patty. The fries where skinny crinkle fries which all came out crispy and hot hot hot! I think we'll be back due to location from home and we liked the feel and the crowd.

    This local dive location has got to be the best find I've found, on Saturday at 2pm it's a little…read moreslow. We stopped in coming in from the back door where the outdoor patio is along with the smokers. Sat ourselves in the only booth in the place, the bartender/server help us, she was very friendly and helpful. I had the special Ruben with fries and a ipa. I have to be honest the sandwich was a little on the small side but was the best tasting Ruben I've ever had. I do not know what they do differently but it was fantastic. The crowd seems to be regulars and that in my eyes is good. The fried pickles were our favorite being spears and not chips. Great dive to make a regular visits to.

    Photos
    Mary Go Round Lounge
    Mary Go Round Lounge - Are you kidding me! My dream come true!

    Are you kidding me! My dream come true!

    Mary Go Round Lounge - Mary go round lounge.

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    Mary go round lounge.

    Carney Tap

    Carney Tap

    4.6(8 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    I went in one time and the bartender remembered my name. Kevin's always quick to greet you with a…read moresmile. The female bartender who comes in after him (don't remember her name, unfortunately) is also great and makes sure you're taken care of. The place looks like it would only have Budweiser and Busch Light on tap, but they have all kinds of craft options for very reasonable prices. This month, they have a very tasty beer from Boulevard called Easy Orange for only $4/pint. You're probably looking at $2-$3 more/pint at other places around Ankeny. I'd get there by 4PM, otherwise, you're going to be sitting at a table, not the bartop.

    I am pleased that this bar is here. It is a local stop and…read moreeveryone who goes here loves it. I am not a regular but we were stopping in to try something different. Small parking lot around what appears to be a house, but it's so much more. It's a dive bar. Multiple TVs had a golf tournament on but that didn't keep the conversations from being lively. Even we were greeted with smiles from the bartender. We bellied right up and made friends. She was so fun to talk to even while being worked hard with the busy crowd. We did discover that the name was changed to Careny Tap about 5 years ago, but there are still hits of the old name, and Google also had an old name on the map. We started a tab and they took a card or cash. We had a couple drinks and I loved watching the bartender work. My husband was very pleased with the beer options available. They had some beers that not a lot of places carry and I think he was so excited to find some unique ones she had to offer. We did not eat anything, but really like this place and its been here forever. I recommend.

    Photos
    Carney Tap - Boulevard Easy Orange

    Boulevard Easy Orange

    Carney Tap
    Carney Tap - My next drink is on its way! Love this place!

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    My next drink is on its way! Love this place!

    Yankee Clipper

    Yankee Clipper

    4.0(40 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $

    Even suburbs need dive bars -- and I was so happy to find this one in Ankeny! When we first moved…read moreto Ankeny I was so sad because it didn't seem that there were many dive bars in town -- but then I found The Clipper! Great prices for beer - always has the games on - and a friendly crowd. I'm quite confident that this is where you will find the genuinely cool people of Ankeny. No one in this bar has their nose held too high and everyone is here to have fun. The bartenders are great -- easy going and laid back and will get your beer with no fuss. Everyone needs a bar that is their last stop for the night close to home - a place you can just pop in your favorite sweatshirt and leggings and watch the game. This is that place! Love Yankee Clipper!

    Taco Tuesday is ok, not good. Service sub par at best,…read more STOP assuming everyone that walks in the door is a lifer and knows that just because the locals know it's Taco Tuesday that it means no point in the menu, except it doesn't. I had no idea if there was meat choices (there isn't) or toppings or sides (there are sides like fries) I'm glad I asked for the menu, as I almost thought about the nachos. Which I would have not known about if I hadn't seen a menu. We did not appreciate the rudeness when she asked if we were ready to order and I replied how would we know we haven't seen a menu. Just for her to roll her eyes and come back and toss them on the table. That attitude made me not want to spend my money there and my tip absolutely reflected her poor behavior. She could have earned 20 from me alone out of our group, instead of what was left over from the change. I work in the service industry and I appreciate both good food and service and it also would have been nice if our checks were correct but I have learned to pick and chose my battles but that also helped contribute to her not super tip. To the taco loved the shell it's like fry bread and one taco is the entire basket you have been warned. Sadly it wasn't really warm my fries were not even close to warm and definitely floppy. Really the stinker of the show was the server, so don't expect much.

    Photos
    Yankee Clipper
    Yankee Clipper
    Yankee Clipper

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    Stevie C's - The entire thing

    Stevie C's

    3.8(25 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    What exactly is this place? You decide…read more We were across the street for dinner and decided we should check this out while we were in town. Holy Smokes! We are glad we did - this was like a carnival ride meets dive bar, meets disco... This place is a lot of adjectives and too many for one review. What I will say is it is crazy and cool! We again sat at the bar where all our senses were being accosted by all the inputs! But it was fun. No place to look that I was not sure what I was seeing! Too much? Nah! It's great. The bartenders (Brian or Ryan and Taz?) Were great and funny - the personalities matched the vibe. No BS just fun and factual! Fast service with well made cocktails. We saw other folks order food and a pretty delicious looking pizza was delivered - not a frozen reheated, but looked fresh and delicious. (Gonna have to try that later) Honestly just check out the pictures - it's too much fun! We will be back for drinks and pizza! Pro tip - Remember where the doors are when you are sober - the decoration make them hard to find! (Front/ Patio and bathrooms) Also - not joking!

    I have been to this place a few times and it is very entertaining. There are lots of stickers to…read moreread but not only that but the people (customers) are always friendly and willing to talk and have a conversation with everyone. This place gives off a happy vibe. There is a young and old crowd. There is usually several people here when I visit, I have only been here after 5:00. There is plenty of craft beer to choose from and a full bar. The food menu is limited and we had the pizza. It was really good, loaded! The table service is limited so expect to go the to bar for refills. This is a must visit if you are in the area. P.S. Good luck finding the bathroom with all the decorations.

    Photos
    Stevie C's - Back room

    Back room

    Stevie C's - The bar area

    The bar area

    Stevie C's - Tappers on the ceiling

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    Tappers on the ceiling

    The Boat House - divebars - Updated May 2026

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