Boathouse at Forest Park

American restaurant · DeBaliviere Place

Boathouse at Forest Park

American restaurant · DeBaliviere Place
6101 Government Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110

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Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null
Boathouse at Forest Park by null

Highlights

Nestled in Forest Park, this charming spot offers serene lakeside dining, craft beers, and paddleboat rentals for the perfect escape.  

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6101 Government Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110 Get directions

boathousestl.com
@boathousestl

$10–20

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6101 Government Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110 Get directions

+1 314 722 0818
boathousestl.com
@boathousestl
𝕏
@boathousestl

$10–20

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Last updated

Mar 8, 2025

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Dan Blakeslee

Google
I checked this place out after visiting the zoo today. The place is beautiful inside and out, complete with a fireplace and modern design for the interior. It's situated on a sparkling body of water with ducks and paddleboats. I had the cod basket. It cost $15, but the quality did not reflect the price. If I ever come back, I won't be getting it again. I suggest you don't either.

Adrienne Robinson

Google
Review of The Boathouse: A Charming Retreat in St. Louis During our anniversary trip to St. Louis, my husband and I discovered The Boathouse, and it quickly became a highlight of our visit! This quaint little spot is nestled in the heart of Forest Park, offering a delightful mix of charm and serenity that truly feels like a hidden resort. As we approached, the barrier of lush privacy trees enveloped the area, instantly creating a sense of escape from the outside world. The ambiance was warm and inviting, making it the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Our waitress was incredibly helpful and friendly, sharing details about the weekend events happening in the city. Her recommendations were exactly what we needed to enhance our anniversary celebration and explore more of what St. Louis has to offer. One of the highlights of our visit was the opportunity to rent paddle boats, which sounded like so much fun! Unfortunately, we weren’t dressed for it, but the idea of gliding across the water while taking in the stunning views was tempting. The early morning atmosphere was absolutely magical, with soft light reflecting off the water and a gentle breeze that made it all feel so idyllic. If you’re looking for a charming spot to relax and soak in the beauty of Forest Park, The Boathouse is a must-visit. We can’t wait to return—next time, we’ll be ready for those paddle boats!

Alissa Dunlap

Google
This was in 2022 at The Boathouse. The food was delish, paddle boats are a must, and the view is gorgeous 🥰 Not to mention the staff were awesome! Can't wait to go back this spring 😍

Michael Roth

Google
This place is a quiet, welcoming environment for breakfast, but the operational tempo is much higher at lunch. You get views of the park and the lake whenever you come. The brisket is always good, including with eggs at breakfast. You can also order from the lunch menu at breakfast, and the sides are pretty good.

Miriam Simonsen

Google
Decent place to eat, nice looking interior but very noisy inside. Service was great. Prices about average. My tuna salad on croissant and side salad was nothing I'd order again. Other food that was ordered at our table looked tasty...wish I would have tried something different. There is outside table service but only if you sit under the covered part, otherwise you can order and pick up at the outside bar. Outside there is free duck, fish, turtle feed to keep you entertained.... and they do entertain.

Robbie Hayden

Google
I’ve hosted two larger groups recently at the boathouse in the regular dining room and can’t say enough about how wonderful of a job may have done. Service has been incredible and the food comes out quick and delicious. The management team has gone above and beyond to be accommodating and helpful. I hosted a parents night with about 25 people And a ladies dinner with 20 people. Both were so wonderful. The location is beautiful. We had the fire on because our events have been in the winter and it was so cosy in there.

KP G

Google
Great spot with efficient service. We sat in the “non table service” area and found the counter guy to be both friendly and fast. I was happy to get free refills on the peace ice tea. The turkey sandwich as delicious. I found the toasted ravioli to be not that great (seemed over cooked- could have been a one-off bad batch)

Julie Neidholdt

Google
Great place to eat after a visit to the art museum or walk in the park just minutes away. Food & drinks were good. First time having brisket toasted ravioli. There is a nice fireplace in the middle. We watched some of the ducks & other birds on the water. Indoor & outdoor seating. You can rent paddle boards & wake boards here.

Nicole S.

Yelp
The patty melt is divine. It's two smashed beef patties with caramelized onions and provolone, layered between two slices of marble rye. Thick and juicy and wonderful. We had a good time at Boathouse, but you should probably know a few things. First, this restaurant gets extremely busy. It's located in Forest Park, a popular St. Louis park, so it's always hopping. They have patio seating, which overlooks the lake, and which, if you choose this seating over the regular indoor restaurant seating, might get you seated quicker. I don't know why, but that's the way they function here. However, patio seating means you don't have a designated server, and you will need to order at the outdoor bar. The outdoor bar is located outside (of course) and around the corner from where all of the tables are located. After you order, they will bring you your food, calling out your name as they look upon the tables, hoping they spot you. This food-ordering system was fine for me and my family, but for people looking for a typical restaurant experience, you might want to opt to sit inside. The parking lot is small. Depending on the day and time you visit, expect to circle a few times before either finding a precious parking space or giving up and parking on the street. There's lots of street parking around Forest Park. If you sit on the patio, which overlooks the lake, you'll see lots of water fowl. Boathouse has a little bird food dispenser near the bar, so it would be in your best interest to send someone to get a cupful of pellets to throw into the water for the ducks (and fish) that visit. It's like dinner and a show. Also, if you sit on the patio and they're busy, expect to wait a bit. We waited at least 30 minutes from the time we ordered until we got our food. The music they were playing on the patio was very good: a few deep cuts and also well-known favorites. I don't know who picks the music here, but I see you and appreciate your effort. They have a kids' menu here, and fresh fruit is an option, just FYI. Basically, if you're visiting during the warmer weather months, bring some patience.

Jennifer M.

Yelp
This place was hopping for a Thursday afternoon. Probably due to the beautiful weather!! We stopped in before an event at the History Museum. The Blueberry Margarita was good. Salad was nothing special and the Buffalo Cauliflower bites were good. Now, I will go back to try other options and take advantage of the paddle boats etc. I bet this place gets busy on the weekends!!!

Jill H.

Yelp
Back in St. Louis and made time in my beloved Forest Park for another sunset drink at The Boathouse. Wine. Good company. Gorgeous sunsets. Seriously, what's not to love?! I still haven't ordered food so I can't vouch for that. :)

Kayla K.

Yelp
With summer approaching, I'm thrilled to add Boathouse back into my regular lineup of patio bars and restaurants. Its casual atmosphere and central location in Forest Park makes it the perfect place to hang out after a bike ride, tennis match or visit to the zoo. Boathouse features a full menu and a variety of alcoholic (domestic and local) and non-alcoholic beverages. Food and drinks can be enjoyed in the indoor dining area or on the outdoor patio overlooking the paddle boat dock. Ordering is made easy and convenient with counter service. Additional perks include dedicated parking and live music on weekends. Overall, I am looking forward to many summer afternoons and evenings at Boathouse!

Braeden R.

Yelp
The restaurant's website said it closed at 8 pm, but they were closed by 6 pm on a warm Friday evening. No update on the website letting us know. Staff were rude and unhelpful. Better service at the DMV.

Madison N.

Yelp
I love the boathouse! Mainly for the views and live music, not so much for the food or drinks, but they still get 4 stars from me for having a memorable atmosphere that keeps me coming back. The food is fine if you know what you're getting, pretty standard American grub and saucy items. You can't customize much here (can't get sauce on the side for BBQ stuff, sorry if you're GF!) but their burgers are really really good, so that helps them out. I was excited about the ahi tuna salad but it ended up being pretty bland and basic, not what I was hoping it would be. The drinks are very basic mixed drinks and they didn't have Aperol, which made my little basic B heart flutter in sadness. My hope is they do more proteins that are freshly grilled (chicken breast, veggie burgers, veggie kabobs) and lean into that fresh grilled vibe to match their location. That would take their food to next level and be wonderful. OH and for the love, please offer some type of charcuterie board to-go! It would be so nice to be able to grab this to take in the park or on a boat.

Paul C.

Yelp
I love that this table-service restaurant is located in the heart of Forest Park. It is convenient if you are enjoying the park. There is dedicated parking, and the view of the dock and paddle-boat sized lake is lovely. There is inside and outdoor seating. Outdoor seating is preferred, and a premium if the weather is right. On our visit it was a little chilly so we sat indoors. Still not bad because there is a center fireplace for ambiance. We enjoyed a nice lunch before checking out the nearby museum of art. The menu is pretty standard American fare; burgers, sandwiches, flatbreads, and salads. I wasn't wowed by the menu, but it's a safe option that everyone should be able to work with. I had the bratwurst and sauerkraut, but don't see it on the pictures that are available on Yelp. It was pretty good, and it felt like the perfect choice for an afternoon lunch in the park. My four star rating is more about location and convenience than the food, but I would go back. I appreciate that this is much more than you might find in most public parks.

Shalaunte W.

Yelp
Located in Forest Park , right next to the Paddle boats. Patio seating, not heated! Casual dining, relaxed atmosphere. We did have a wait, but time went quickly as we walked around the premises waiting for our call. Paddle boats , ducks, and a lake makes a beautiful scenery. Sonja was friendly and attentive. I ordered boneless chicken and fries and a hurricane frozen drink. Drink was a 10 strong and refreshing, food a 5/10. Overall a nice reasonably price meal in forest park to dine.

Marianne N.

Yelp
Came here on a Tuesday with some friends and chose to sit inside. I believe they had patio seating outside as well. Didn't get a picture of the appetizers but we got the fried mushrooms which were delish! We also got the hot honey pretzels which didn't seem anything like pretzels (seemed more like a fried pimento cheese bite dipped in some kind of "pretzel" batter but wasn't doughy like a pretzel... that came with a side of hot honey). Still pretty good and our waitress gave us a heads up that it's not really what it seems on the menu. Got the ahi tuna salad which was yummy, I was just surprised by the amount of wonton chips it came with haha but it was good. I'm not sure if there was only one waitress working though bc she seemed to be busy hopping from table to table. So we didn't get rounded on as much as we would've liked for water refills and such but we know she tried her best, I think it was just the circumstance.

Paul P.

Yelp
Went to Boathouse after the zoo. Ordered pulled pork sandwich with fries. It was delicious. And I like sweet bbq sauce. Warm fireplace by table was perfect. Thank you

Lisa B.

Yelp
I love the ambiance of the boathouse. The food was good, cocktails enjoyable, wait times are terrible. Please open a bar where you can order drinks only and a separate line for people that want food with more than one person working the counter. Beautiful day but it's not slammed. They just needs better workflow and more people. I don't want to spend half an hour waiting in line to order 2 drinks.

Amanda M.

Yelp
I hadn't been here in years, but had lunch recently with a large group after a volunteer day in Forest Park. We sat on the self-serve side and though it took a while to get through the line to order, I was impressed with how speedily our food came out. Everyone had large portions - I took half of my burger home for another entire meal! I thought the fries were great. The only thing that could use some improvement was the state of the patio. Unsure how old the patio is and I'm sure it would be pricey to replace, but it had rained the day before and there were large/deep puddles of standing water in large divets along the area we sat. Clearly people were avoiding that space but to seat around 12 people together, that's where we had to go. We all know standing water leads to mosquitos and we were pretty bit up by the end of lunch. It's such an amazing space otherwise but would love to see that patio get a little TLC.

Misty S.

Yelp
The outdoor seating area provide option for table service and no table service where you would just order at the bar and bring it back to your table yourself. Tons of wildlife (ducks, turtle, hummingbird, etc.) to see while you relax to live music that starts at 530p and watch the paddle boats go around in the lake. Fried mushroom $8.50 - Nicely breaded, paired well with the horseradish sauce. Parking in the lot may be a challenge, but you can find street parking within walking distance. .|\---/| | o_o | .\_^_/..2023

Gracie L.

Yelp
I hadn't eaten at the Boathouse in years, and I'm so glad to see that their menu has had a very much needed revamp! I ate here for lunch on a weekday with seven of my coworkers, and I thought everything was wonderful. Our server was very friendly and attentive. Pretty generous portion sizes. The sandwiches that my coworkers ordered were huge! I ordered a pesto and asiago gnocchi, and it was way better than I had anticipated. I would definitely have it again. I also ordered a side of sweet potato fries, which were delicious. The interior of the restaurant was clean and welcoming. Although we sat inside, the outdoor patio looked beautiful. Excellent views and a perfect spot for lunch or dinner if you're spending the day in Forest Park! My experience during the week was so great that I decided to come back for a date night the next weekend! My boyfriend and I arrived around 7 PM on a Friday night. It was pretty busy, but there were two large events happening in Forest Park around the same time. When we approached the host stand, they gave us the option to either wait for about 20 minutes for a table or sit on the patio on the far end and order our food at the side counter. We decided to find a table and order at the counter, and I'm so glad we did! You could still order anything off the regular menu, and the line wasn't bad at all. Pretty much the only difference is that we didn't have a server waiting on us, which I totally didn't mind. I ordered a black bean burger with fries, and my partner ordered a smash burger with fries. Both were delicious. We also ordered a margarita and a rum punch. Very strong and refreshing drinks. We sat right by the water and enjoyed the summer night!

Fahim R.

Yelp
Had breakfast here. The setting by the water is nice, the prices are reasonable, and the service was friendly. The food was just okay though, would only recommend eating here if it's a perfect day and you want the view.

Joan G.

Yelp
We took Daisy ( the dog) for lunch at the boathouse. There was a twenty minute wait if we wanted to sit under the covering. No wait if you just wanted to sit under an umbrella. We choose the latter. If you do that you have to place your own order and bring it to your table when they call out your name. He choose a salad and I got the tuna fish on a crossient. The food was delicious as Daisy kept a keen eye out for ducks. Would I come back here? Yes, if you see me there, stop by and say hello.

Julie A.

Yelp
I went here for a baby shower for a dear friend. Full disclosure, she has the coolest mom/sisters team. Even without that...a very solid event space with a very pleasantly minimal blank slate. The water is right behind and not in Feb you can Jair walk out totally a paddle boat...my literal dreams. Showers often have rubber food...NOT SO. Simple but perfectly executed brunch staples. Fancy Bloody Mary (bacon, olive, salted rim..the whole garnish), mimosas and wine. The coffee was actually drinkable. Cloth table cloths and napkins that felt starched which I am a sucker for. Plenty of parking both in the lot and on the street. I will be back to eat at the normal restaurant sometime.

Tee P.

Yelp
So sad that this gem of a place has become so run down and dirty. The manager ought to be fired. All the staff are wearing "Sugarfire" clothing and the Sugarfire truck is parked there. Bathrooms are filthy, windows are filthy, tables are sticky, dried food is stuck to the menus. It is as if nobody cares. I feel so sad that this beautiful place has been so disrespected. Food was awful, tasted like it came straight out of Sysco. I am sure the food is prepared in unsanitary conditions.

Haley A.

Yelp
I was kinda at 3.5, but I went ahead and gave it a 4. The convenience of the Boathouse, if you're in forest park, is great. Some of the food was actually above expectations, like the smash burger- it's pretty great. The boathouse salad was just okay. I was impressed with the variety of sides, and it's really pretty if you sit outside! Our server was working as hard as she could, but you could really tell they were understaffed on servers. I would visit again and try some other things!

Charles M.

Yelp
The roast beef sandwich was terrible! The presentation was great. The side French fires great. The mimosas were great. The service was great. It was the taste of the beef that was not acceptable. An online photo of a beef sandwich had been posted on Instagram the day before and was beautiful and mouthwatering to see. Sadly, delivery was disappointing.

David H.

Yelp
Me: table for 2 Hostess: we don't have any open tables right now. You can go to the bar area. It's self serve. Couple in line behind me: table for 2 Hostess: right this way

Devin B.

Yelp
The big perk of this place is the view. You can enjoy the sight of Forest Park wildlife and families of paddle-boaters while having a bite and a drink. We came for lunch and we're served under the covered patio. If I had known ahead of time that the uncovered tables in the sun were available for ordering at the counter, we may have sat there (where it was warmer)! Anyway, the service was fine even though it was busy and I was impressed with how big and pescatarian friendly the menu was for a place that can lean on the view and location. Since the food was good, the prices are reasonable and the location is gorgeous, I will be back!

Mary P.

Yelp
A great place to get a local brewed craft beer, toasted brisket ravioli, and sweet potato waffle fries! With our dogs! The staff is amazing. The bartender gave us a heads up that there might be a long wait for our food, to let him know if we didn't get our order after 20 minutes. We got our beers immediately and food delivered to our table in 10 minutes. Deanna also brought us a bowl of water and milkbones for the pups! This is our dogs' favorite neighborhood spot in the summer. Oh and the beer is cold and food is tasty.

Leo S.

Yelp
We've eaten here a few times and the food is ok but nothing too special. I got the smoked salmon croissant sandwich and it was good. 2 large chunks of fish and a cream cheese dressing that all wanted desperately to escape the bounds of the sandwich. The gumbo was ok too, but should have been a bit spicier and more seasoned. My wife got the brisket and it was so greasy it was unappetizing to look at. Won't get that again. She liked the Mac and cheese a lot. Very creamy

Felita M.

Yelp
In all the years, hadn't been to the Boathouse! Not even to rent a paddeboat (and still didn't do that!). Visited on a Tuesday for late lunch. Wasn't crowded at all with plenty of available seating for social distancing. My daughter ordered the chicken salad with fries. I opted for the turkey club with chips. We both ordered a drink too and asked for ice waters. After paying, I told the cashier I would come back to get the ice waters. No sooner had I got a table did the cashier bring waters to me. How nice! Chicken sandwich lacked "something" according to my daughter (seasoning?). My sandwich was good. Chips weren't too salty. Drinks were okay. My rum and Diet Coke was heavy on the Diet Coke. Parking is right out front. I did get a little turned around trying to find my way through Forest Park to find the Boathouse. I bet I've driven past thousands of times and never realized it. Overall, I'm really glad we had the chance to go and was a great stay-cay-vacation option for me.

Jaci S.

Yelp
Busy, busy day at the Boathouse! Yet we still got great service and honestly, quicker than I would have expected it to be. The food was SO good! Highly suggest the brisket toasted ravs!!! Fries were really good too! We sat outside. It was a little cold (50 degrees with a stupid amount of wind) but worth it to be on a patio finally. Inside seemed cramped anyway really! Nice to see the pond there. So pretty and relaxing to look at!

Alison C.

Yelp
My friend hosted a welcome dinner for her wedding weekend in a private room at The Boathouse at Forest Park. The rustic, nautically-themed space offered about 6 large round tables inside, as well as a deck overlooking a lake. There was a bar serving excellent wine and beer, as well as a buffet with a tasty barbecue feast. The meal included salad, cornbread, sliced turkey and brisket, chicken wings, mashed potatoes, and more - all of which were delicious. The staff working the function was also extremely nice. The Boathouse did a very nice job hosting the event.

Erika L.

Yelp
Was just here a couple of nights ago before a MUNY and it's a great place to be before a show if you can get a spot! We ended up eating in the bar area which was just fine! Service is quick and food is delicious and we made it to our show on time!

Nita S.

Yelp
Food was mediocre and just not delicious. Chicken sandwich was tough and over cooked. Bbq chicken was very unexciting and ditto the bland fried shrimp. It was hard to get the waitress's attention. Just not a joyful experience.

Corey K.

Yelp
The boathouse is a gem in forest park. This place has what you need to refresh yourself while enjoying the lakeside views. Very pet friendly!

Big D.

Yelp
Great service! I had the salmon sandwich with a side of cottage cheese. One of the best sandwiches I've ever had! A little pricey, but it's a really good sandwich. They also have vegetarian options too. I would recommend.

Noreen S.

Yelp
Spring (although a bit chilly today) calls for a celebration visit to The Boathouse in Forest Park Even though the patio was packed and live music was playing we opted for a seat inside near the fireplace (so cozy!) with a view of the lake. Food delish as always- tried the fried artichokes and chicken and cucumber salad sandwich off the special menu. The artichokes were quite a nice surprise dipped in the pub sauce--chicken salad with cucumber was so good & flavored with a little dill ... would be perfection outside on a summer day hope they add it to the menu! The best roast turkey club in town although the bacon this time seemed to be a little old. Amazing servers! All 3 or 4 made sure our drinks kept coming , our table was clean and even though it was a busy Saturday afternoon they all dealt with the craziness with a smile! Can't wait for some patio time once the weather warms!

Shawn V.

Yelp
Came here after The Art Museum and had a great meal. We had to wait for 20 mins on a Sat but they had fire-pits to stay warm and fish food to feed the fish. So the time flew by. Once we got a table service was great and food was good as well. The fries were a little salty for my taste. However, we also got a Toasted Raviolis with BBQ Pork in the middle and we thought these were great! I ordered a special with their Smokehouse Burger topped with BBQ Pork and Cheddar Cheese (tasted great)!!

Judy M.

Yelp
The setting on a beautiful afternoon in Forest Park was awesome. Food was very good. My big complaint is paying $9+ for a glass of wine in a plastic cup...We are way past the pandemic era restrictions! When paying top dollar for a glass of wine, please serve in a proper wine glass.

Steven B.

Yelp
The Boathouse is a delightful venue for a reception after a beautiful wedding at, The Jewel Box. It is only a short drive through one of the most stunningly beautiful parks not only in STL, but the entire USA. The reception I attended was held in the Annex which is a separate area from hustle and bustle of the public area. Within the annex we had our own restrooms and most importantly our own bar. (A quick shout-out to the bartenders for doing a great job.) The annex was air conditioned giving us comfort from the 90° weather. The space is also large enough for a DJ, dancing and for 100+ guest to mingle before and after dinner. We also had our own patio area to sit, mingle and celebrate. For dinner, we were seated outside under large white tents. All the tables were set with white linens, china and wooden white chairs. It all looked so pristine. It had a true country club vibe. Our food was served buffet line, but each dish had a server for safety during this pandemic. The kitchen at The Boathouse is run by the infamous SugarFire BBQ and our host took advantage of it. Having a late summer wedding, the served up Brisket, Fresh Green Beans, Scalloped Potatoes and more. The food was delicious and the serving staff was charming and professional. If you are looking for a private event space for a special intimate celebration, be sure to check this place out. It has my recommendation. When: September 12, 2021 Why: BFF Wedding Reception

Susan D.

Yelp
The Boathouse is such a nice place to dine and relax. Unfortunately, it was a wee bit cool and windy to enjoy our lunch on the patio, even with the fires going. Love the new menu from Sugarfire, lots of choices. We both opted for the poached pear salad with a side of cornbread. So, so yummy. It tasted as good as it looked. Pears, feta, and walnuts served over generous portion of crisp greens, dressed in with delicious vinaigrette. Nice size piece of moist cornbread. There was no table service the afternoon that we visited. You placed your order at the outdoor bar, and food was delivered to your table. Not crowded on a gloomy day, so we were able to order right away, and food came out promptly.

Rich B.

Yelp
Update to my review from a few months ago. My wife and I went to The Boathouse last evening. I proposed to her there 11 years ago and we wanted to commemorate the event. We had the t-ravs and split an Italian Salad and the Reuben special. All the food was delicious but the salad was the real star of our show. The restaurant is back to table service, Hooray, and the waitress who served us was a delight. The new gas fireplace, was lovely and warm and looked pretty close to a real wood fire. I certainly recommend trying The Boathouse.

Brady L.

Yelp
Would not recommend. Went in on a Saturday in December at 6pm. Only 2 tables had diners... relatively dead. Decor/ambiance was nice (Christmas lights and trees etc) but that's where the positive ends. We stood at the hostess stand for 10+ minutes (waitress said she'd be right with us) until we finally seated ourselves. Sat another 10minutes.. no waters yet or menu.. finally, tried to order a beer "just ran out", ok option #2, also unavailable. Eventually got my 4th choice. The brisket toasted ravs were 90% dough, over fried, and extremely chewy, almost inedible. Huge bummer. The buffalo fried cauliflower, mostly dough. Just very obvious everything is from frozen and flash fried. The worst offender was I ordered the vegetable salad... sweet potato, parsnip, a vegetable medley.. it was completely frozen. Literally ice cubes.. I kindly notified the server and she said she would fix it and bring it back.. it came back out 13 min later... when the person you are dining with has already finished their meal it's not exactly a great experience. Hugely disappointing. I guess I could see why it would be nice in the summer with a view.. but the food is basically frozen bar food.

Marilyn B.

Yelp
The Boathouse is located in the center of Forest Park. On beautiful days, you will definitely be waiting in a long line but it's worth the wait. They have tons of outdoor seating. Once you place your order at the bar, find a seat and either listen for your name or wait for a text letting you know your food is ready. And it doesn't take very long. Our food was ready on less than 10 minutes! I ordered the smoked salmon on croissant with a side of fries. My friend ordered the portobella sandwich with potato salad. We both enjoyed our meals. The portobella sandwich was super juicy which made it a bit messy to eat. The salmon was good but could have used some salt or other seasoning. The dill cream cheese was too light and only added a little flavor. I would have slathered it on both sides of the croissant. Overall, this is the perfect spot for a bite to eat if you are spending the day at the park or the zoo.

Rochelle D.

Yelp
Super crowded with first day of Art in Bloom at the museum so they were really packed and hopping. We were seated right away with a prime spot next to the fireplace. Service was very attentive and always smiling despite the large crowd with drinks, orders, food, and dealing with separate checks. I had the beef stew, and it was some of the best stew I've ever had - better than my own homemade. We split the amazing bread pudding .. it was a huge portion and the 3 of us barely made a dent. We hosted a wedding rehearsal dinner here in 2023 and it was a great venue .. we highly recommend.

Dennis D.

Yelp
Sure, the setting is the attraction. Sitting by the gas fireplace on a cold day sets the mood. But the breakfast food is excellent and the waiter, Charlie's enthusiastic service put a cherry on top during our visit.

Patricia K.

Yelp
I went to the Boathouse at Forest Park for lunch with my mom and great-aunt in the summer of 2008. We were looking for somewhere different to hang out. The food we ate was delicious, and the waiter was very friendly while serving our food and drink. I enjoyed looking at the lake where some people were riding boats around. This place has a beautiful atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor dining. I would highly recommend this spot for wonderful sightseeing in the Forest Park area when the weather is nice.

Tom S.

Yelp
We walked out after waiting an hour for our food and other peoples food was served that ordered after us. We paid for our drinks and canceled our order.

Laurie T.

Yelp
But just for today. Mother's Day brunch is overpriced and awful. They don't have enough tables but they keep selling tickets at the door. People are getting upset that they don't have enough tables. Fyi, brunch for 3 is over $110 and the food is not very good. We will not do this again next year. Unorganized, understaffed and overpriced.

Renee S.

Yelp
Great environment but don't going during peak times as there will not be anywhere to park and it can take A LONG TIME to be served.

Nancy L.

Yelp
Staff friendly, nice setting and the food was great. But was a little expensive for lunch

Elise M.

Yelp
We ordered a bunch of apps and shared amongst a group of five. The one thing I didn't love was the toasted ravioli because it was BBQ flavored. I would recommend the fried mushrooms and boneless chicken wings!

Meg B.

Yelp
Pleasant setting in Forest park with lots of activity and nature to enjoy. The hostess didn't show so service was a little rough. Partners breakfast was a huge dish with brisket chilli, eggs, potatoes. and a burger Pattie. Enough to share. Would not recommend d the avacado toast. While the over med eggs were spot on the toast was cold with globs of smashed avocado no seasoning or XVO as described. No real half and half or cream for coffee. For the food they served playing with the little plastic servings seemed off.

Bob B.

Yelp
I'm ashamed to say, after 13 years of living in the STL it was my first trip to the Boathouse. My lady and I rolled in on an extra busy Saturday for a late lunch. We stood in line outside for a long time before realizing we could have been sitting inside-the signage and process were not super clear. The lunch menu included salads, hand helds as a few appetizers, we ordered up chicken salad, salmon croissant and added brisket chili as a starter. Service was a challenge as they were slammed and short staffed, they were pleasant so it made it easier to be patient. The food was decent, I think I would order the burger or pulled pork sand next trip as they looked amazing. The food is decent-won't blow your socks off, and on a good weather day, this is the spot to be in Forrest Park.