I have really hard time eating out, because I have a garlic allergy. Yesterday when I ordered my food our waiter Gina was really helpful checking with a kitchen , which food will work for me. Thanks to Gina I had very good birthday dinner. I would recommend The BoatYard Grill for everyone. Thank you Gina! read more

Excellent dood and service. Chris did an excellent job as our waiter. The food was also excellent. We had a seafood splashdown tower, filet mignon and seafood fra diavolo and all was excellent. We also got the mushrooms which were soooo good. read more

In town for the weekend, so glad we chose this one. We arrived just as they opened and we're seated right away, but it filled up quickly. Ambiance was perfect, as was the service and food. Steaks cooked perfectly and sides were delicious! read more

Food was good and definitely one of the better restaurants in Ithaca it seems. Spinach artichoke dip was bomb!!

Very good dinner tonight. Food was excellent. There were a couple hiccups but management made it all right! Thank you so much. I truly do appreciate it. read more

I really liked this restaurant in 2016-18 or so, but my recent experience was disappointing. I called ahead to reserve a spot in line, like their website recommends, and was told you have to appear in person to reserve a spot. The time was 45 minutes. We drive over to put our name down and the host asks if we called ahead to reserve a spot...and the wait was now 65 minutes. We initially put our names down but changed our minds when we saw the "outdoor seating" wasn't really outdoor, it was under tarps that obstruct the view. I don't know why they wouldn't take advantage of all their naturally beautiful outdoor space. Their food is fine, but half the experience is the ambience. Ah well. read more

This restaurant is located at the foot of Cayuga lake. Getting dinner. At sunset is recommended. The service is very friendly and does an impeccable job. I was very pleased with every service person I encountered from the moment I walked into the door to the ordering service. Even the bussers looked happy as they buzzed all over the place. The food is always impeccable every time I come here. This is real gourmet stuff. Definitely definitely worth checking out! read more

Great view of the water, which I can see would be a draw, and most likely why it was a bit pricier than other bars in Ithaca. The clam chowder was chunky and quite good. The Buffalo Chicken egg rolls lived up to the hype and I would get again. read more

The BoatYard Grill - Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls - Seafood Near Me - Ithaca, New York

We were staying in Ithaca and looking for a place off of the Commons and with a waterfront view. Enter: The Boatyard Grill. This was exactly what we were looking for. I called earlier in the day to try to make a reservation but was told that they instead accept "Same day call ahead", where we would only have to wait half of the time. This actually ended up working out because it was a beautiful Saturday and we were able to enjoy a glass of wine on the waiting area along the lake which had an amazing view. For those who have never been, you should know that this place gets PACKED. We went on a Saturday night around 6:30 and there was over an hour wait. You could barely get through to the bar to get a drink, too. I would recommend coming early or later to beat the crowd, or calling ahead. The food was good, but slightly pricey. I had the salmon prepared with the pesto sauce. The piece of salmon was really generous and the sauce was delish. They also had a lot of specials for the night. The waitress was great, but the service was a little slow because of how crowded it was. Overall, I would definitely come back for that amazing lake view and yummy food, but may try to avoid the crowded hours. read more

We just had dinner at the boat yard. Was one of the best meals we have had in quite a while. Calamari was perfect. I had a fillet and it was mouthwatering delicious and perfectly seasoned. I recommend the beat salad as well as the strip steak. Excellent service read more

Let me start by saying I certainly understand that wait staff shortages are an issue, and I'm guessing that's the case here. If you are going to go, patience is needed. Even with the call ahead feature to be put on a list with a desired arrival, you may be eating 30-45 minutes. It's very popular so the lines and wait can be long as well as the time it takes to place your order, drinks to arrive, food to arrive, and finally the check. So if you are in a rush or have limited time you might want to consider other options. Drinks were good, coconut shrimp appetizer of four good sized shrimp was fine. The tacos were a bit bland and I was disappointed with the chicken with grilled Georgia Peaches. It arrived with peaches that were more like canned pie filling and not grilled peaches as described on the menu. Key lime pie for dessert was good. Would we go again when we are in the area? Most likely. And we would try something else, and know it could be a long night. read more

This place has it all! Great atmosphere, service and food. We're picky and loved it. Would recommend to anyone in the area. read more

The BoatYard Grill - Sitting on the dock basically! - Seafood Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Let me start by stating my family is in the hospitality industry so I think long and hard before placing a negative review. Our experience at BoatYard Grill was underwhelming at best. While the restaurant doesn't take reservations, the website clearly states that you can call ahead after 3pm the same day to place your name on the waitlist. This process is a farce. I called at 3:20 and was asked when we wanted to dine. I was able to give a specific time. I had thought that meant we would be seated at approximately that time. The person I spoke with said we might even be able to sit earlier. That said, we arrived a half an hour earlier than the agreed upon time and were told it would be a 50 or so min wait. It was then that I received a text confirmation that I was placed on a waitlist. I don't believe calling ahead had done a thing. If indeed the list was already that long when I called, I would have appreciated honesty. An experienced hostess should have been able to give me an accurate wait/seating time. Seventy minutes later, we were among the last of the waiting crowd to be seated outside as requested; however, there was a large unused tent blocking the beautiful view. Had the food been worth the wait, I might have been ok with the situation, but my mahi mahi (served with mushy rice and plain steamed bok choy) was an over-sauced mess and pretty exemplary of the other meals at the table. read more

Wonderful dinner. 1 1/2 pound stuff led lobster excellent, as was the garlic steak. Great outdoor seating and the lava cake for desert is amazing. Waterfront view and perfect weather made the night special. Pet friendly, too. read more

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

This place was a gorgeous spot to eat at. I had a gigantic Mac N Cheese Bacon Cheeseburger which was OUTSTANDING! I did get massive stomach aches from all the oil, but it was definitely worth it. Just to add, the view was amazing and even though the wait was an hour and a half the seating outside while waiting was peaceful and beautiful! Good job Boatyard Grill! read more

I had really high expectations for this place. The fried calamari was really good, but downhill from there. The tuna pan Asian was very disappointing and the scallops stuffed shrimp was mediocre at best. It was horribly overpriced and my drink was disgusting. The scallop entree was so salty and the tuna tasted fishy. Maybe it was our mistake ordering seafood at a city away from the coast. The service and atmosphere was great, but don't go there for the food. read more

Just returned from dining at The Boatyard Grill. First time at this restaurant. They do not take reservations, but they do " call ahead" seating. When I called at 6pm on Thursday the @call ahead" was full. They told me that the walk up wait is an hour, but after 8pm that wait time drops dramatically. Arrived around 8:15, told them we are walk ups and asked for an outside table. We were seated immediately. We were greeted by our server, Marisa, who was amazing. The meal was superb. Had soup, split a starter, and stuffed shrimp. My wife had the Georgia peach grilled chicken...WOW! I wish everyone to give this establishment a try. So worth it. read more

This restaurant provides a great atmosphere with phenomenal views as it sits right on the lake with the perfect view of the sun set and rising moon. Inside dinning, bar seating, outside dining and even outside lounging is available. Drinks for starters include decent tap and drink options. We started with the spicy tuna and salmon teriyaki sushi rolls, as well as the buffalo chicken egg rolls for appetizers. Our entrees included the Mac and cheese burger, from boxed kraft Mac and cheese, the Salmon and a prime rib with an added lobster tail. Over all food was great. Room for improvement on table bussing but our service was wonderful otherwise. read more

The boatyard might be my favorite restaurant in Ithaca. Our server Nick was awesome and forced me in to taking the last fry... I was not opposed to this. Anyway to start had the tuna appetizer which was ok I didn't care for the wasabi. I loved the Cayuga crunch salad which had so many great ingredients. My favorite appetizer was the sweet potato fries which were so good because they were warm. The boatyard used to have potato chips just like this dish but they weren't warm... I miss them a little but the sweet potato fries were a nice upgrade. For the main course, I had the Georgia peach chicken which was so good with a sweet potato hash. Then for dessert we had the chocolate chip cookie skillet. I was surprised I hoped it would be a giant cookie in a skillet , but it was only a large slice in each with banana ice cream. Granted, we only finished 1 and a half for 6 people because it was so dense and filling. Always a great meal at the boatyard! Don't forget to check out my profile! read more

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Well ...First off, let me say that we were about an hour south of this Restaurant and some locals there recommended this place. When we got near by and ask some more locals, they too recommended this place. So we figured wow this is a winner. We called in advance to get seating outside or near a window and we spoke to Susan. Susan was very professional not only on the phone but when we arrived. We were greeted the way you should be. After we were seated I thought let me see what Yelp has to say about this place. I normally check first but with everyone raving about the place I didn't bother. To my surprise, the ratings were pretty bad, the comments were worse, almost to the point I was thinking maybe we should leave. However, we decided to stay. We had the Lobster Flat bread Pizza, very good. We had the Tuna Tataki and it was very good. We had the Clam Chowder and it was also good. Lastly we had a Crab cake, we both had split opinion on it. It was good but not that lump crab cake that we normally get. All in all, the place did not live up to its bad reputation. I would definitely return if back in the area. Thank you Ariel for the Great service! Btw. It was the lunch menu and the prices were very reasonable. This just in ... While leaving I told Ariel that I had noticed the place had some pretty bad write ups. She acknowledged there had been problems in the past and they have gone through a transition period. I think they're on the rise. read more

Had to wait a really long time but it was worth it. we had the very, very best server Billie Jo, she was amazing. The calamari was the best i ever had. everything good. Even in covid times. read more

Love this restaurant! Service is fast and friendly, views and atmosphere were great, and food was incredible. My server, Billie Jo, was so sweet and beyond attentive/accommodating. The owner, Mark, was very personable, making all feel so welcome. 10/10 would recommend the sea bass and the Cabernet Sauvignon freakshow is fantastic. read more

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

It has been almost 8 years since I was last at the boatyard. I told my boyfriend that it is like a really good chain restaurant. I mean that as a compliment. Everything was well seasoned, consistent and very good. It started off a little questionably. The hostess seemed like she was having a bad day. She seemed a bit irritated that I didn't want to sit in the sun. But people have bad days. We had a really great waitress- Kelsey. She was very nice and helpful. One of those waitresses that are pretty authentic, where you don't feel like they are being nice for a god tip- just genuinely nice. The clam chowder was excellent. Smokey from the bacon, not too heavy, but very creamy. I would come back for just the chowder! The bread seemed freshly baked, with an herbed butter. I had the fried calamari. Came just how I like it- well seasoned and very crispy. With banana peppers, aioli and marinara sauce. Just right. I also had a Caesar salad. It was okay- a little over dressed. Dressing was god, however and the croutons seemed homemade. My partner had the mac and cheese burger. He seemed satisfied, although you better come hungry! Seasoned fries were delicious. And with the view, you can't go wrong! Glad to see this restaurant is still doing well and serving good food. read more

The service was great and the food was too, but I'm pretty sure I got an allergic reaction from this place. I had a taste of lobster lollipop, coconut shrimp and some clam chowder. Each dish was pretty tasty but the portion sizes were pretty small for the price! The service was admirable too, our waitress was were attentive and a pleasure to interact with. We sat outside to catch a breath of fresh air, but despite the fact that it's pretty dim inside, the decor indoors was so homey and welcoming. However, I had a pretty bad allergic reaction from this seafood despite the fact that I've eaten lobster and shrimp before. I've been told it might be because the food wasn't cooked well or seafood wasn't fresh. Can't blame this on the restaurant since it is not definite but it's something to keep in mind! read more

I've been here a few times and I always enjoy the food. The shrimp and grits is SOOO delicious and filling. The black been burger is meh, but this isn't exactly a vegan/vegetarian focused menu so that is expected. Warning: they got rid of the horseshoe string fries, they were some of my favorites. What's always been crappy is the service. The first time my server completely ignored our table and we were more than 10! The second time I went with two friends and when I showed my ID the waitress said it wasn't accepted, despite the fact that it expires in FOUR years. And when I asked my my ID needed to be presented to the manager I got no answers. Plus, when we asked to eat on the outdoor patio they requested that we pay for our food and carry it out ourselves.... I felt so disrespected. WHY have an outdoor patio if you refuse to serve people there? It's a shame they can't deliver better customer service because I do love the food. read more

The attitude from the server is just nauseating. We drove 6hrs to get to Ithaca and love the food in this place. However, the extra attitude is not necessary. If you're having a bad day, keep it to yourself. We all have those days but you're a freaking server. I don't know if you know that, but you're not suppose to share your bad day to everyone that you serve. read more

I had mahi mahi taco at this place and it took them more than 40 mins to bring our meals with one of them missing. Then it took another 10 mins for them to find the last dish before me and my friends could start eating. And after we asked for our bills, the waitress didn't separate the check; it took 20 mins for some one to collect our cards and pay the bill. This is one of the worst service I've ever had. Besides service, the food is far below average of all the sea food places I've been to. The finish is over cooked and the taco tasted not even close to Taco Bell. They didn't ask how well the steak should be done and simply burnt it to 100% well. I'll never visit this place ever again. read more

Great food. The service could have been better, and I hate their set up for reservations/call ahead policy. It doesn't make sense. I called ahead and was told that the earliest they had was 7:30, yet when i got there i was told it would still be a 30 min wait..... Wouldn't it just be easier to have people set up for reservations? read more

Great location excellent food and wide range of food options.. nice port side view . Great casual restaurant to experience in the town Of Ithaca New York read more

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Great meal! Will absolutely be back here in the future. Restaurant does a great job at maintaining a menu during this time. Food was delicious. An absolute must go! read more

Not bad, not the greatest. Not really a "Fish" restaurant. People that run this place are extremely nice, there a lot to say about that. Nice atmosphere read more

Our new favorite restaurant - not sure how we didn't know about it. (Long time foodie from Corning/Painted Post). Food was excellent from appetizers to dessert. Best prime rib and salmon entrees ever. Service was excellent. Fun to be near the lake. read more

Great food! Good atmosphere, drinks were good, decent prices, good lighting. Buffalo cauliflower was amazing. Overall. 10/10 read more

The BoatYard Grill - Garlic sirloin and chicken pasta - Seafood Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Well Mark, Unfortunately we did return our last day May 16' BECAUSE I Love Seafood and there aren't many seafood places that are around there or had Great reviews....but once again the food Had Absolutely No seasoning I ordered the double lobster tails and yet again Bland my yellow rice was delicious,Sorry you were Dissatisfied with my review but a little Old Bay or salt won't hurt.We are from Maryland home of Old Bay....Maryland blue crabs!!... Loved the service and the view!! And once again our filets the first time we were there was cooked Impeccably!!! JUST needs seasoning that's all I appreciate you responding to my review and wish you and your Establishment Many Blessings... read more

Very happy with the service!!the food was excellent!!came for the 1st time w/ the Family, everyone enjoy the food!! Very nice place by the water!!love it!!! read more

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Been here 2xs and have been impressed with the food or the service. Having drinks outside is by far the best part. Definitely gets busy and expect to wait. Don't have high expectations and you will be fine. read more

The boatyard grill is great for family dinner - when my uncle from Korea and my mom came for the Parents' weekend for my college, I took them here (obviously in the presumption they would pay) and all of us absolutely enjoyed our dinner. We had lobsters and steak dishes. Lobsters were well seasoned not overcooked, easy to chew. We had our New York strip steak medium to well done and it was great. I definitely had better steak in my life but this was one of the better ones I had in Ithaca. I recommend this place for special occasions such as family gatherings, but not for broke college students - the price is pretty expansive. read more

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The food was good, atmosphere was great. I was really disappointed with our waiter. We were a large group there for business and each time we would order a round of drinks, he would roll his eyes. Despite his annoyance at having to serve us, the food and drinks were worth returning for. read more

Good solid choice in the Ithaca area. Nice selection of spirits & wines. Servers were friendly & courteous.

The place seems to be understaffed all the time. For example Saturday night, we with an hour outside on the benches by the water which which makes waiting tolerable. The wait person was courteous and helpful and promptly took our order at our request since we waited an hour. But here's the next part of the problem. We got our drinks relatively quickly we got our appetizer and ate that which took a long time and then the wait person makes a point to bring out bread which was consumed quickly and basically the entrée took one hour to reach us after he had made our order not a very graceful dining experience. Plus we had to push the wait person to get the bill to us because so many times places like this will make you sit around 20 minutes to get the check and pay it. On a positive point the food menu has improved, not spectacular but it's become more decent compared to the past. read more