Great service. Good food. I ordered the ahi tuna salad and my husband the prime rib. Waitress was amazing. No reservations taken and long waits on a Saturday night but we lucked out and got seated quickly. read more

Wow! What a disappointment. Waited nearly two hours when we were told it'd only be 40 minutes. We ended leaving, tired of waiting. After trying their overcooked, overpriced, greasy appetizers while at the bar, we decided waiting any longer wouldn't be worth it. If the staff was honest about the wait and maybe slightly apologetic we'd be more forgiving. It was a patronizing, disrespectful experience. Never again will we be back. read more

Good but not great. Really nice staff. Super Friendly and accommodating. Lovely interior. Nautically themed. Hilarious because, while they are near the lake, they are not near an ocean. Lobster etc on the menu but seafood is not what I'd be ordering in a landlocked restaurant. That being said, the swordfish tacos were dry. The seafood fra diavlo was average. The Caesar salad was delicious. The small plates are a great idea. Smaller, but adequate versions of the dinner entrees. The sirloin with mashed potatoes, veggies and crispy onions was perfect. The burger with a Big old hunk of fried mac and cheese looked enticing, hubby ate that! Cocktails were good. Dirty martini could have been dirtier but that's my preference. I could see coming here more for the bar and snacks than for dinner. Nice location. read more

Food was amazing and the service outstanding! Ambiance was friendly and warm. Wish I lived up there. I'd be making this restaurant a regular for my birthday. read more

This was our second time at The Boatyard and we loved it the first time and loved it even more this time. We called ahead then had to wait a few minutes when we got there (we were early). They told us about 25 minutes so we went to the bar and got a couple drinks and our buzzer went off after 15 minutes, exactly the time we had called ahead for. To start, prices were very reasonable for food. Drinks were a little steep. At the bar we got a makers MANHATTAN and a raspberry COSMO and it was over $20. Atmosphere was casual enough, but still fancy at the same time. We had a great server, Chad. He was very nice, funny and relatable. He made the experience very enjoyable. We ordered a MUST HAVE, the Splash Down Tower as soon as we sat down. We were so torn between this and the coconut shrimp because we loved this the last time we went. They let us get the best of both worlds and get 2 huge coconut shrimp instead of the shrimp cocktail on top. We did notice something this time that we didn't notice last time, the portions of the splash down tower could have been a little larger. I ordered the onion soup and best salad, both delicious, and a good size. In an attempt not to get TOO much food, I got the shrimp and lobster mac n cheese small plate. It was PERFECT! I would have been able to eat all of it if I didn't eat so much delicious bread. My boyfriend for the NY STRIP and a lobster tail. He got the horseradish sauce and the makers mark bourbon sauce. The bourbon sauce came with onion straws on top. It didn't have a strong flavor. He preferred the horseradish over that. Mashed potato side was yummy.... we shared! Overall it was a great experience!!! Definitely recommend! read more

We had a fantastic and memorable dinner here. Very dog-friendly, great views, good food and wine, exactly what we were looking for. Our server Zach made all the difference, above and beyond professional and good service. read more

Great spot and the only spot actually on the water. Calamari was one of the best I have ever had and the restaurant was clean (like REALLY clean) which is great to see especially right now. server was pleasant and unobtrusive. Will be back soon I am sure. read more

Reminds of the seafood place I used to go with my family when I was s kid and would get the broiled fishermen's platter! The broiled swordfish , the steak and the broiled lemon garlic shrimp were all good . The atmosphere was lively . The staff was friendly and efficient, but the bartenders were overwhelmed, my only complaint. read more

Management does not care about your service, they care they got your tourist trap money. Obligatory "I never leave reviews but..." We waited at our table for 30 minutes with no designated waitress before we got frustrated and went to the hostess station to ask for server. (It was just two of us on date night, easiest table to wait) We did have a random server we waived down take our order. 5 minutes after talking to hostess and no actual server so went back​. Owner was there and gave an excuse that we had got to put a food order in and that was good enough. Apparently, we were not allowed to get an appetizer or drinks (except tap water) or get checked on during the entirety of the meal. The manager did come by after we had paid and gave a fumbling excuse that there was nothing he could do. I've been to "lesser" restaurants with more more capable owners. There's always something you can do, they don't care. Food was ok. Their haddock special was good, rice over cooked. The filet was subpar, no flavor, tough for a filet but cooked well, correct temp. Our extra consolation French fries were good as well. Veggies were sad. Not worth the hassle. read more

My girlfriend and I came to visit Watkins Glen, and were very nervous that good cuisine would be limited in this area. We accidentally stumbled upon The Boatyard Grill, and we are super grateful we did. We used the call ahead seating feature which allowed us to get seated immediately upon arrival. The atmosphere gives off a cozy summer beach house feel. Devon greeted us with the most jolly customer service we had ever experienced. She was knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent suggestions for drinks and food. The spiked lemonade she suggested for me suited my taste perfectly. For dinner, we had the pan Asian salmon and the scallop stuffed shrimp. Both were absolutely amazing. The salmon was noticeably fresh and cooked exactly to my partner's preference, especially because the waitress asked how she would like it to be cooked. The shrimp and scallops were so tender and seasoned perfectly, so much so that my girlfriend and I started a discussion about how we could try to replicate the flavors at home. All in all, it was an unforgettable dining choice that we would certainly visit again. read more

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Boatyard has been a popular place for many years in Ithaca. The overall atmosphere and outdoor setup is great- beautiful views. Our wait time though was near 1.5 hrs which was kind of rough. The food overall is ok. We ordered the Buffalo egg rolls, calamari and beet salad to start. The egg rolls were tasty and flavorful. The calamari was very breaded without much taste of the calamari. For dinner, would not recommend the fish tacos- very bland and plain. Small portions as well. We also got the burger, garlic steak and halibut. The halibut was actually very tasty and fresh. Would def recommend. The burger and garlic steak tho were ok. Not really flavorful at all. Just ok. For the price and wait time, don't think I'd recommend coming again. Prob best to grab a drink and hang by the bar or outside. read more

We were all ready for a hearty meal after several hours of hiking in Buttermilk Falls State Park. The most important criterion for us was the ability to eat outside, and based on the information the restaurant provides, they have outdoor seating. We asked how long the wait was for outdoor seating, and we were told it would be about 20 minutes. We agreed to wait, and they texted that our table was ready about 20 minutes later. The hostess started by trying to seat us at an indoor table. When I protested and said we had specifically requested outdoor seating, she brought us to what looked like a closed-in porch. Like, fully covered in plastic that could maybe theoretically open but was fully shut, with no airflow whatsoever. I cannot emphasize enough that this is NOT OUTDOOR SEATING. Something not being a permanent structure does not make it "outdoor." And if the restaurant's understanding of covid risk mitigation strategies is this poor, I shudder to think what else is happening behind the scenes. As soon as we saw the situation, we got up and left. And I would suggest that anyone else who takes covid precautions seriously steer clear of this restaurant. read more

Morning shows the day - the adage goes a long way. They don't take reservations. Period. Came at 5.45pm put our name for table of 6. Given 90 minutes wait time. It is busy. Understand. But.... Anyway, started with Old Fashioned drink. Nowhere close to what I have had anywhere. Not impressed. Still waiting to get to our table after 75 minutes and still counting.. Will update the post after dinner. If anything changes my mind. Way past 90 minutes now. Going to be 120 minutes since putting down our name. Also, noticed there are several booth seats around Bar area are kept empty to Jack up the bar sales. No regular diners are allowed to sit and order food around the bar area. Really! read more

Service very good, quick for a busy place. Our server was just very responsive. Calamari had a slight bologna flavor, which was a bit weird...Salad dressing on the beet salad is very mild. I like it. New England clam chowder has bacon in it which doesn't do it for me but my husband said it was delicious. As far as decor goes I would lose all the fake plants rather than have them at all, otherwise, very nice. Our table had a perfect view of the sunset going over the mountain And overlooked the water. I ordered the scallops special with beet reduction with cous cous oh and the scallops were not hot and cous cous was cold and lumpy. Not a hint of steam coming off the plate. They were nicely sized though. My husband ordered the garlic steak-rare, It was mostly rare, which we know hardly ever happens. It is drenched in butter, so if you don't want it that way tell your server before they pour the butter on it. They had a nice selection of cocktails and wine. read more

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Everything was amazing! the service, The food and The outdoor seating, the wine... I loved it!! It was great ! Fish fry ! Chocolate cake ! Scallops with risotto... Come on in.. and check it out.. I would make a reservation! FYI read more

The BoatYard Grill - Fish & chips!!!!! - Seafood Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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The BoatYard hits the trifecta of friendly service, consistently great food and warm, cozy environment with the fireplace going in the colder months and the Ithaca waterfront in the spring, summer and fall. The owner, Mark is around making sure everything is running smoothly and as a picky chef that's been all over the country, I love coming here and knowing it's going to be a great meal and that the staff will be awesome. For me, nothing ruins a good meal more than rude or dismissive service and everyone at the Boatyard is friendly and efficient and makes us feel so welcome. This is the first time I've given a 5-star rating to a restaurant. Is it "fine dining"? No, but it's GREAT dining and I'd rather have than a snooty restaurant that acts like it's doing you a favor by seating you and allowing you to spend money at their establishment. The rule, "never order sushi when you're not on the coast" doesn't apply here. We always have the spicy tuna roll and it's better than sushi in some west coast sushi restaurants. Calamari is fantastic. My cousin had the chowder and said it was amazing so I'm dying to try it next time. Burgers are always cooked to perfection- when you ask for medium rare, it's a true MR. Overall, a comfortable and delicious dining experience and highly recommend it if you're visiting Ithaca or a local looking to make it your regular spot. read more

Loved the setting, so nice looking onto the water watching all of rowers. We were a group of five on a Wed. around 5, so we were sat immediately. Tina was our waitress, service was good and everyone liked their food. We all thought that the portions were quite large. read more

Been here a number of times. Each was more disappointing than the next. The first, our food came out cold and the wine we ordered was equivalent of what one could make in a prison toilet. The second, not only did it take 15 minutes to get our drink orders and water, it took about 50 to get both our appetizers and entrées to arrive at the same time, cold. The third, they refuse to serve alcohol to our party of about 15 College students. Granted, we are college students but if you are actually following New York State law and checking ID like an actual server should know how to do it should not be a problem. Either way, the food is below Red Lobster standard, and the servers have clearly never worked in the industry before. Will never be returning. read more

Welcome to an amazing view of Cayuga inlet & a charming restaurant. You are greeted by friendly & helpful hostesses. Every seat has a beautiful view of the inlet. The menu gives a wide range of entrees and each is 5 stars. The service was impeccable, friendly & helpful. You will find it well priced and a wonderful dining experience. End the evening with the skillet cookie - best dessert ever. read more

The food here is delicious, especially the Coconut Shrimp, which had a lot of flavor. They don't take reservations in advance but the wait is definitely worth it! You can order a drink and sit by the lake as you wait with the rowers, sun and even some ducks. The restaurant can probably use more servers. For example, my table waited about 25 minutes for our check, even after asking two other servers for our original one. In addition, the service concerned us. Our table's server was a sweetheart, but we were surprised that we had to ask for the complimentary bread that was offered to every other table around us. The lack of service, equality and communication made us quite disappointed with the service. This reaction was illustrated in our tip and review. We hope that others can request their service and be vocal for the amazing food! read more

First the positives - service was excellent and the food was prepared perfectly. I highly recommend the scallop stuffed shrimp entree. My wife had a very good quality strip sirlion that was cooked perfectly. The view is spectacular. As for the negatives - call ahead seating is useless. My wife and I still waited 65 minutes to be seated after being told initially the wait would be 45 minutes which was disappointing considering they offer call ahead seating. When expressing frustration to the staff (I was polite and civil), I was met with an apathetic response with the blame on their staff still getting used to the new COVID-19 procedures that went into effect 2 weeks prior. They were out of the bottle of wine I selected but that happens and I was understanding. Overall, very good. I would return but certainly would avoid peak dining hours. read more

I was here about a month ago and it was just ok. Food, service, and atmosphere. I had the seafood tower the clams we're sad and tasteless, the cocktail shrimp wasn't bad and the calamari sauce made up for the overcooked squid. The clam chowder was good in a chain restaurant kind of way. My scallop stuffed shrimp was nothing to write home about. I'm taking off two stars in light of the recent refusal to close after a staff member tested positive for COVID. While I was at the restaurant we were seated outside by the window it was later in the evening and while there were no customers left inside most of the staff cleaning up didn't have their masks on. We didn't enter the building again after this observation and decided not to go back again. It is just very hard for me to believe that there is only going to be one case linked to the boatyard. read more

Called ahead (on a Saturday morning in July) for a table for 2, outside on the back patio. We waited about 25-30 minutes after checking in, the place was bustling to say the least. We grabbed some (reasonably priced) local beers from the bar while we waited. Ambiance is dressy casual. The service wasn't inspiring or remarkably quick, but I wouldn't call it slow (like I said, the place was packed). We had a very nice waterfront view on the patio (which is covered and has see-through rain windows, if necessary). Bread was fresh and soft! That's always a big plus for me.. The mahi-mahi with avocado salsa was very good, a 4/5. It came with a nice portion of rice (which could've used some more seasoning) and mixed vegetables. We also got a summer salad with berries, toasted nuts, and chicken that was fresh, well-balanced, and absolutely massive. Overall, we were happy with the experience! read more

We had a great dinner at the windstill harbour, Ithaca. The 'Steak & Cake' was so delicious! My wife had the halibut, also great quality! Our hostess was kind and cheerful. The desert (original New York cheesecake) was top! read more

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FOOD WAS SO GOOD! I got clam chowder and and the size was perfect. The chowder was creamy, hot and perfectly made. I also ordered calamari which was cooked and seasoned perfectly. For dinner I got the lobster rolls which were good but they had a ton of celery in them. I am not a fan of celery and it's not listed on the menu as being on there otherwise I would have requested for them to remove it. Also the French fries were overcooked and extremely crispy and flaky. All in all I loved the experience I had and would definitely come back read more

This has become our go to place the night before the Fingerlakes Dragonboat race. They do not take reservations, but will take call aheads. The call ahead basically allows you to be put on the wait list until your entire party gets there and then they attempt to seat you-- on busy days be prepared to wait. We've never had a bad experience in the 3 years we have come here. The wait varies depending on the day and the number of people you have in your party. The waiting area/bar area gets very crowded during high volume times. The wait staff is pretty knowledgeable of their food and offered great service this last time we were here. Sadly, was not able to get the snapper since they had sold out, got the tuna instead and it was wonderful. Wasabi mashed potatos had just a hint of heat, the fish cooked rare. yum! read more

The BoatYard Grill - Blakened ahi tuna - Seafood Near Me - Ithaca, New York

I've dined here twice. My family and I have come Ithaca the first week in July for the past two years and have come here each year. I can't say enough great things about this place. There are a few things that makes a dinner an enjoyable experience. The atmosphere, the food, the service, the price and of course the location. This restaurant in my opinion scored high in almost all of these areas. The atmosphere at The Boatyard Grill is great. It suits my tastes for the most part. The restaurant is decorated well and quite clean. No issues there. This location also has a nice patio that is covered as well, right by the river. A perfect setting if the weather is just right. The food is incredible. My wife has had the fish tacos, my father the scallops, and myself a shrimp dish. All were cooked perfectly, with great seasoning too. Without any difficulties the folks here cooked my mothers meal according to her food allergies, and did so without error which was very much appreciated. The service was excellent. The staff wear their uniforms professionally, and act the same. It's quite nice to feel like an actual customer. No issues there, if anything they excel at customer service. The prices are definitely fair and I think on par with other restaurants of its class. It is pricey though, but you definitely get your money's worth in service and quality of food. Location wise this place is slightly tricky to get to. Being from Canada, I couldn't begin to tell you exactly how to get here, but I do know it's tucked away, down a little street, and definitely a good find when you make your way here to this spot. Not to mention being on the water and having what appears to be a little parkette attached to it. This place rocks. read more

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Went today, Father's day. They have very reasonable prices on their specials. As low as $8.99. I had the peach chutney chicken with sweet potatoes and asparagus. Yum! Even on a rainy day it's a great location right on the lake inlet. read more

Beautiful location and dining room with large windows. There's so much potential here. Despite not having a reservations policy, you can call ahead and more than likely they will be able to save a table for you. I did this on a Friday before graduation and had a 0 wait time, which was great. The calamari we ordered was great - crisp, and not overly chewy. Good sauces to go with as well. The presentation though could be a lot better, instead of just pouring the sauce onto the plate. My swordfish tacos sounded like a good idea - avocado sauce, pico de gallo....only the flour tortilla was cold (not even grilled/reheated) and the fish, while nicely grilled, was way too fishy. My friend's wood grilled salmon looked very good though - maybe the fish there would be fresher? This was only my first time so Boat Yard Grill still has another chance. But little bits and pieces of the restaurant just make me feel like a lot of things are overlooked and the management of the restaurant is not yet catered toward high quality and customer satisfaction. read more

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Not sure why there are such poor reviews. I've only lived in Ithaca for a few months. Of the 8-10 times I've eaten at restaurants, this has been the destination for 3 of those. No particular reason. That being said, I really like the place. The bartenders range from friendly to a complete crack-up; the food is varied and good -- not gourmet or ultra-healthy, just good; the waiters aim to please; and the outdoor options are wonderful. I think you should give it a try. read more

The BoatYard Grill - Seafood Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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This used to be a great and popular restaurant. It remains popular, but is not even good, much less great. We have gone many times but will never go back. We called at 6:30pm to "get on the list" and they said to come at 7:15. Great! We arrived at 7:15 to a huge crowded line inside in the middle of a pandemic. It's like nobody had heard of social distancing (at least most were wearing masks). They then told us it was a 30 minute longer wait and our 45 minute call ahead was to merely get a slightly shorter waiting time when we arrived, which they didn't tell us over the phone and is objectively absurd. Then, we didn't get the text telling us our table was ready until 8:30pm - 2.25 hours after we called and 1.25 hours after we were told it would be 30 minutes. What a joke, we will never return. read more

Don't order the steak, it will be well done no mater how you request it. Also they don't honor reservations.

I came here on the last day of classes with some friends for a nice dinner, and had a really stellar meal. Now there seem to be oddly polarizing opinions of this place, so maybe consistency is an issue, maybe service and experience dip when the restaurant is particularly busy, maybe they just aren't that great at making steak (but it's a seafood place so meh) but my last experience here on a weekday night was pretty great. The ambiance is really nice, at night eating lakeside is just a really nice feeling even if you're indoors, it feels like a bit of an adventure nonetheless. Being actually located next to a boatyard, hence the appropriate name, means the restaurant is located a bit of a trek away from the commons and Collegetown, but worth the trip imo Anyways, we were seated promptly, and served this really nice warm bread with dill butter, which was rather unique I think. Especially since dill pairs so well with seafood it was a good primer. I ordered a small plate of crab cakes. I like this menu offering style of having smaller portions, because lately my appetites been shrinking and I'm having trouble eating as much as I want to eat (but you know what, it's okay, I'm fine, it's fine...) they really surprisingly tasty, it was paired with this succotash like salad, that had these really tasty sweety drop peppers, and nice aioli, just very memorable and nicely sized. My friends ordered a lobster mornay and a seafood fra diavolo. My fish and the mornay were both specials, but suuuper tasty. The mornay was like this casserole of cheese and lobster, that was kinda heavy, but really guilty and yummy. I don't think I can eat a whole serving of it though. I would recommend my friends pasta dish, it was a really tasty and well-balanced dish. Really tasty tomato and seafood sauce. For dinner, omg, we had such a tasty chocolate cake with ice cream. It was definitely really thoughtfully made, and not too sweet and warm and chilly at the same time, just so luxurious, we shared it but I could have pretty easily downed it all on my own. It's also shaped like a snowman!! Wow! But yeah, I'd really recommend. :) read more

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Got here at 5:30 on a Friday evening. They won't take reservations but they told us we would have a 45 minute wait. We decided to wait because we haven't been in a while and it's where my son wanted to come for his family birthday dinner. Fast forward almost TWO HOURS. We still haven't been seated although many other groups who came in after us have been seated. Some have finished dinner and are leaving. So very awful!!! I'm ready to leave but my son and daughter are willing to wait a little while longer. I am STARVING and they are still unwilling to seat us. I live in Ithaca, but I won't be back. read more

Buffalo chicken egg rolls were great. Filet mignon was great. Don't order any seafood, the sea bass made my wife sick. I think the clam chowder made me sick as well. Won't be back. read more

A nice venue with decent food and great view. Food: Pretty good. My swordfish steak was cooked well and my wife enjoyed her shrimp and grits, which had chunks of meat in addition to the shrimp. Portions are really small and prices are high though. The two items and a soda cost us about $40. Not unreasonable, but we both left hungry. Decor: Really nice inside. Nautical themed, lots of wood. Restaurant is next to the water, but you can't really see it from some of the tables because they keep a huge party tent up on the patio. Service: Prompt, polite and professional. Table next to us was demanding a comp on his $50+ meal because their entrees came out before they finished the last bite of his appetizer. Both the waitress and manager were calm and cheerful as he complained about his entire day being ruined because he felt rushed to eat his last egg roll. This is while simultaneously dealing with huge a bridal shower on the patio. They get an extra star for this. read more

The BoatYard Grill - Seafood Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Food was fresh, tasty, and creative. Server was super friendly and attentive. Only a couple vegan options on the menu, but they were happy to substitute/change up meals to make them more vegetarian and vegan friendly (like evoo for baked potato instead of butter) which was really appreciated. COVID-wise they have an outdoor-ish covered porch area which is likely fully open to the air in nice weather. We sat out there safely; well socially-distanced. I'd return! read more

Been here several more times since our initial visit and the hubs and I have loved it every single time! Food is great, service is great. Get the shellfish Cobb salad, super filling, great tasting and a very fair price! Will definitely be recommending! read more

Best service I have received in a long time! Gabby was an amazingly attentive waitress, and the food came out prompt with great quality, cooked to perfection! Will be back! read more

The BoatYard Grill - Scallop Stuffed Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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The BoatYard Grill is a cute little seafood place in Ithaca, which has always desperately needed a joint like this. I've eaten here multiple times, and I've always enjoyed the experience. The ambiance is a bit too casual for my tastes (a bit more of a higher-end feel would have been preferable), but it suffices for what it tries to do. The food is also pretty good, at least for the area. The crab cakes are tasty, but rely a bit too much on filler. Their chicken dishes aren't exactly mind-blowing by any stretch of the imagination - this being a seafood place, you begin to wonder why they have so many of them. All the same, I can't complain too much - good seafood is a bit rare in Ithaca. read more