Boat House On Swartswood Lake

If you're in the area and looking for a pleasant meal outdoors, this is definitely the place to visit. There are two seating options: a porch and a patio by the lake. Both are lovely and a great alternative to dining indoors. The food is consistently delicious and packed with flavor. The drinks are well-made—neither too strong nor too weak. It's the perfect spot to relax with a group of friends while enjoying a nice meal and drinks!

Today, one of the servers, who has become a good friend of ours due to our frequent visits, texted us to ask if we could move our reservation to 4 PM because they had booked a repast for 85 people just two days ago. We explained that this was not possible, as people had already committed to the original time stated in the invitation. Kathy, the owner, then called and refused to accommodate our request to keep the original time. How can you do this to someone who has already made a reservation? It felt like we were pushed aside for a larger party. This is an awful way to conduct business. It seems she has no idea how to run a successful establishment. How can she treat loyal customers this way, especially those who support her business during the slow season? It's truly disheartening, as we had always loved this place. It was our go-to for weekends, birthdays, anniversaries, Father's/Mother's Day, holiday dinners, and more. We hope that the 85-person party makes up for the years of patronage and thousands of dollars we would have spent at your restaurant. Stillwater is a small town, and word spreads quickly. Once a business develops a negative reputation in a community like this, it rarely ends well. We may return one day... but only if it's under new ownership.

I made reservations a few days in advance and had a long discussion with the hostess about what time would ensure a spot on the patio. The patio is lovely, with well-spaced tables suitable for COVID protocols. We agreed on a 7 PM reservation because the later one (8 PM) would put us on the deck. I expressed my discomfort with the deck’s seating arrangement (about three feet between chairs at different tables) due to being part of a vulnerable population. We seemed to be on the same page, and I looked forward to taking my family out for a nice dinner. However, upon arriving on Sunday for our reservation, we were informed that we had been assigned to the deck. As I began to politely explain that we had reserved the patio, the owner stormed out aggressively. She got right up in our faces—without a mask—and yelled, "I PUT YOU ON THE DECK! YOU'RE GOING TO FREEZE TO DEATH WHEN IT GETS DARK, AND YOU'LL BE EATING IN PITCH BLACK! THE DECK IS BETTER FOR YOU; YOU'RE GOING TO FREEZE TO DEATH!" (Mind you, we had at least an hour until sunset.) I was shocked and embarrassed. We decided to check out the deck to see if the tables were more spaced out than I remembered, but unfortunately, they weren’t. Everyone in my party agreed it was too cramped, so we insisted on the patio. I’ve never been treated so rudely by an owner who didn't even offer an apology. She could have handled the situation much better by explaining her concerns about the patio. I should note that we did not, in fact, freeze to death. We could see our food perfectly well, considering we arrived an hour before sunset. As for the food? I wasn’t there for the cuisine; I was there for the beautiful patio and outdoor dining experience with my family. The food was overpriced for what it offered—just a protein with a meager vegetable, potato, and a salad or soup. It was your typical mediocre restaurant fare (just not Italian). Fortunately, the waitstaff were nothing like their boss; they were polite and friendly, which is the only reason I’m giving this review an extra star. So if you're into rude owners and mediocre food, treat yourself to a meal at the Boathouse. Just beware—you might FREEZE TO DEATH! Good luck!

My wife and I traveled over an hour to visit this restaurant, drawn in by its beautiful patio overlooking a picturesque lake filled with flowers. Unfortunately, our dining experience did not live up to the setting. We arrived for lunch at 1:30, only to learn that they were out of burgers and steamers. The onion soup was disappointing as well, containing very few onions and mostly just broth. I opted for the fish of the day, which was a stuffed flounder served with rice and vegetables. The portion of fish was quite small and had a frozen taste, reminiscent of something from the supermarket freezer section. The rice serving was minimal, no more than a teaspoon, and the most substantial item on the plate was the spinach. Overall, I would not consider returning.

This restaurant claims to be pet-friendly, but it's not. They also require reservations, which seems unnecessary given the ample seating available.