Athens Boathouse Bar and Grill

We were a walk in and seated right away. We arrived at 5:50 pm, no wait. For a Friday night that’s amazing. was Our waitress Hallie was informative on their food options and drinks they offered. Our appetizers were calamari and raw oysters. The calamari is good had a little spice. For people who do not like a lot of spice might not be for you but for us it was amazing. The raw oysters were amazing and were from Virginia, tender and no complaints. I had the fried catfish plate and my wife had the muscle fettuccine. The only thing we found different for us was the fettuccine had thin sauce and not thick besides that excellent dinner I would highly recommend this place if you’re out on town.

This place is a hidden gem in Athens. The Boathouse food, service, atmosphere and owner are all top shelf. If you go there, you need to go to the nearby Texas Fresh Water Fisheries Center.

Atmosphere is fantastic, we sat out on the deck facing the water. Food comes out quick and hot. Delicious!!

The food was sooooo good! I had the empanadas and the hubs had the wagon steak tacos and we were both very happy with our meals! We shared a piece of key lim pie and the meringue was not only sky high but it was delicious!!! Ya gotta try this place!!

I had a great experience at Boathouse Bar & Grill! The food was delicious, and the presentation made it even better. The Highlights: The fish tacos were fresh and flavorful, with crispy fish, vibrant toppings, and a tasty drizzle of sauce. The side of beans was a nice complement. The chicken fried ribeye steak was absolutely delicious—crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and paired perfectly with rich gravy. Izzy’s Cream Cake was the perfect way to end the meal. The caramel drizzle, fresh berries, and whipped cream made it a decadent and unforgettable dessert. The atmosphere was relaxed, the service was friendly, and the food did not disappoint. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Steak Ranchero was great, a little spicy but thats the way I like it! Food was well seasoned and tasted fresh, restaurant looked and smelled very clean and the staff was friendly and helpful. Not much more you can really ask for. I'll definitely add it to my list of places to visit again when im out this way!

The food and drinks were top notch. The service was excellent and prompt. The food came out hot and it was the best pour in town during my visit.

The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service were OUTSTANDING! We were there at night, so we missed the lovely lake view, but still enjoyed dinner outside. Adimara was such a sweet and attentive server and I am so glad I took her up on her recommendation...the chicken fingers. I don't usually go somewhere new with chicken fingers in mind...but y'all...Check out the pic...they look like a whole chicken breast! So the size, crispy flavorful coating...the BEST...EVER! My husband had the catfish plate which was also really good! We were visiting from out of town but can't wait to go back here someday!

Catfish was excellent. Service was great and the mixed cocktails were fantastic. We will return.

This place has no business being this GOOD. Starters - bacon wrapped jalapeños. These babies were sooo spicy and delicious. The jalapeño was cooked perfectly and so was the bacon. I had the chicken fried steak and jalapeño gravy. I gained 10 pounds of happiness when I finished my plate My husband had the fish and chips and didn't even share because he devoured it so quickly. The service was amazing. Our waitress was so kind and sweet. The view of the lake was perfect with the breeze rolling off the water. It's literally the best spot around

Been multiple times but first time trying the brunch me u. Very good selection for brunch. Service was attentive.

The Boathouse wedge was nice. Chicken tenders looked good and were popular with kids. Grilled chicken sandwich and the burger were nice. Love the location and view. There is a bar as well where you can eat. Only advice would be to plan your drinks accordingly. All drinks are handled by the bar so you might see a delay in service while in the dining area. All good otherwise.

This place was recommended to us by one of the locals. Service was fantastic and the food was tasty. None of us cared for the coleslaw, but we liked everything else we ate. What we enjoyed most of all was the view of the lake. That was the highlight! If you can sit outside - definitely do it.

I really don't know what is going on with this place but we just had the worst service ever! We were told it would be a 30 minute wait and it was almost an hour. Then as she was seating us she asked if we minded sitting on patio? I asked is that our only choice and she said yes. Not what I wanted in almost 100 degree weather but we were starving! Then the appetizer took 30 minutes to get to our table and the meal took almost an hour and my husbands meal was cold! The waitress was so sweet and apologized and said she didn't know what was taking so long back in the kitchen but everyone's orders were taking forever. This place is not cheap! And I think it will be awhile before I return. Horrible service and to top it off it was our anniversary! It hasn't always been this way but the owner needs to really figure it out!

HOSTESS on 08/16/25 around 3PM don't understand....why SHE was looking at me and Josephine like I was an inconvenience!!! She's the first IMPRESSION we have of "BOAT HOUSE" And it was Not a Friendly one!!! We walked in the two of us for a "highly recommended" bite and said hello how are you she just stared like she ain't never saw a human before in her life. My grand son tells me it's the "GEN Z" Stare. What's the deal? I've met cat fish with better manners

Food was decent and great views of Lake Athens. Food is just way overpriced. I probably won't be back.

Decent food at decent price. I've only eaten there once, so I can't say anything about consistency.

This was my second visit here ( review not posted visit 1 (4 stars, great service, flavorful shrimp and outside view) Yesterday, I was not as fortunate. we were unable to sit outside, which was not a problem (Although the inside does get loud as it fills up). it took a while for someone to offer us drinks. drinks came quickly, but were not refilled often enough ( I needed water coming from CAnton). we played our appetizer order and since we were ready food order as well. Fried green tomatoes came and were hot lacked flavor and seasoning. B ordered fish tacos, huge, and liked the option of one grilled and one fried, but lack of flavor, overcooked fish made this not something we will try again. my chicken fingers were tough and lacked seasoning/ flavor.

My husband and I were driving through Athens and decided to look up somewhere to stop and eat. We didn't want the standard food chain places so we decided to give this Athens boathouse grill a try. I have to tell you that the pictures don't do it justice. The atmosphere and smell of fresh air is so relaxing. The moment we walked in the door, we were greeted by the most friendliest man and decided to sit at a high top in the bar area. it was wonderful to see the large group of locals interact and seem like such a friendly community. I am a sucker for jalapeño poppers. So I ordered the bacon wrapped jalapeños with cheese inside. They were so amazing! My husband got the beer, battered fish tacos and then we both ordered dessert. Leah was our waitress and bartender. She was so friendly and kind. It was like stepping back in time. She was an attentive and our drinks never went empty. I would highly recommend stopping by this place and giving them a try. We will definitely stop again on our way through.

Back after 4 years to celebrate Mother's Day! Our entire trip was based on eating here. We came Sat night prior to Mother's Day. But we learned .....Don't go at holidays. Yikes ! 45 min wait but we sat out back and played corn hole. Great view! Bathroom was filthy and when I told the hostess with blond hair, she did not care and rolled her eyes. :( Shat on toilet and on toilet paper dispenser. Toilet paper on floor, no soap in dispenser. They were so busy. Esmey was our server. She brought me a dirty spoon for our dessert. I took it back to get a clean one and the young guy working sarcastically said he'd fire our server. Very strange response. Older male manager was kind and professional. He sat us. I love this place but I guess it was so busy it just took too long to get our food and all the staff seemed so tired that they didn't care. Bartender made us a great drink. Flan fantástico was awesome. Hush puppies are still delicious. I know staffing is challenging nowadays but really disappointed in the interactions I had with server, young hostess and other young guy. Oh well... we will try again another time. Thank you

There is a reason so many people come here and leave great ratings, it IS that GREAT! Easy to find, GORGEOUS location on a beautiful small lake, excellent food, superior service and easy on the wallet prices! (leaves more room for tips!) One can eat on the patio or inside with both having great views of the lake! The bar area was packed and is another obvious attraction! Danielle was our server and was one who was highly attentive, managed the delivery times of items and made our experience special (ask for her and you'll be glad)! The food, wow! The house salads were delightfully good (my doctors would be happy). The Catfish plate (farm raised) was a super choice by me as the fish was perfected fried, tender, flakey, moist and catfish flavorful! The hush puppies were small, but I really didn't NEED them large. The Cole Slaw was a Southern style vinegar based that was very tasty! The fries were thin and crisp and seasoned well! My GF had the Scottish Salmon which my doctors would be very pleased with (does my looking at it count?). It was flakey, moist, and delicious! It was bedded upon sautéed spinach with sautéed onions and red bell pepper. Price was seriously as delightful as the meal.

Always love this place! The food is always perfectly cooked, well seasoned and just perfection!

Great food, great service plus a pet/friendly patio. Staff was very good at separating pet families to help prevent rumbles. (Our Chihuahua tends to bark at anything larger than he is .. as in, most other dogs.) Staff was very helpful at packing us up to go when we couldn't calm the Chihuahua. We will go back dogless to enjoy a peaceful meal.

Was looking for a local place to enjoy dinner while on business. Googled and found this fabulous treasure on the water. The service was great and the food was delicious! Had the sausage and wedge salad .... Both were fantastic! I sat overlooking the lake and relaxed and enjoyed a lovely glass of wine. I will most definitely be back.

Service was friendly and polite/pleasant Atmosphere was very nice Food wasn't too bad, wasn't hot, tasted More like franchise food, more like precooked. Food wasn't what we expected

It was the best catfish I ever had. Went back the next day and had their shrimp and gumbo. Oh my gosh. I can't say enough about good things prepared. I also got their house Bloody Mary. It's a must to try. Awesome

Just met sisters and a cousin here . Very good service , nice atmosphere , and we all enjoyed our food . 2 catfish platters, 1 fish & chips, and a daily special of stir fry vegetables with Tri-tip steak . Fish dishes were served with a vinegar coleslaw , hush puppies and the French fries and the skinny kind but crisp not soft . They have outside seating right on lake Athens. I would definitely come back when I am in Athens . I might have to try the smash burger. It looked and smelled so good . The only criticism would be tartar sauce and remoulade sauce. It's just ok. Pies are from a local bakery . They are worth the trip . We had coconut creme pie and 4 spoons. Delicious . Next time will try key lime and bourbon pecan pie . Nicely run restaurant

IF I COULD GIVE THIS PLACE A ZERO I WOULD! The worst service took way too long for our food. The waitress was not attentive at all. We had to ask for kids menus multiple times. Didn't ask about refills. We constantly had to serve ourselves and she got paid 20 percent for crap service. When speaking to the manager who eventually we had to get because the waitress didn't come back told us she has been sick while serving us. I asked she's sick serving our table? Then the manager said well not sick sick just a little bit..... what a joke. As we're waiting 20 minutes to even pay they still got our check incorrect and overall just crappy food... never again!!!!!!

A great meal every time and the atmosphere is amazing with the lake view or outside patio.

Ordered take out and was not impressed at all. They told us the food would be ready in 15-45 minutes... that's big window! So of course by the time I got the food and then got back home everything was cold. I didn't even enjoy desserts. Maybe I'd dine in next time but honestly I'm not sure I'll ever go back.

What a lovely place! We had fish tacos and fish/chips, both very tasty. Will definitely return to enjoy the Cobb salad I hear so much about. Friendly staff, prompt service, reasonable prices.

The ambiance here is amazing love the lake views! The food is wonderful, a little pricy here but definitely worth it for a special occasion! Servers are great here for large groups!

Lunch visit. Awesome everything . Beautiful view. Great food and service!! Great time!

HORRIBLE. Two catfish filets and they were gooey and pink, instead of crisp and white. Two tiny, tiny hush puppies. Too much vinegar in the cole slaw. Fried okra was tough. Was sick all night. Never again,

I had the opportunity for a nice lunch at the Boathouse. The location sits right on Lake Athens and was pretty scenic and amazing. The southwest wrap had chicken, bacon, and avocado! Super good. It came with sweet potato fries and those were good too. Service was excellent.

Wonderful spot on the lake. The food was top notch. The double pork chop was outstanding. Worth the drive for sure.

It's a lovely spot, with an expansive dining room and large bar but the food was just okay and the portion sizes didn't match the cost. The fried shrimp tasted like it was frozen, the french fries were cold, the fish and chips were WAY overcooked, etc. Maybe we got them on a bad night? I don't know, but was definitely expecting better after reading all the rave reviews. The staff was very accommodating and helpful though.

Great food and service! A reservation is definitely recommended. They usually have specials as well as the regular menu.

I ordered the Catfish platter. And it had no flavor. I've had better catfish at Scott's Crossing, which is a gas station / restaurant. The only thing good about this over priced restaurant, was the waitresses service and the Margarita I drank. And the diversity was All White. Typical for Athens, Texas.

Love the food, staff & chill, lakefront atmosphere. Grateful Dallasites brought Dallas quality food to Athens. Now, we need an equivalent option on Lake Palestine or in Tyler.

Let me say first, its pretty great to be able to dock your boat and grab a bite to eat on the lake. That alone is worth quite a bit. The problem is right when you walk in you are treated like you are inconveniencing the hostess stand employees. No, 'hello'...No...'welcome'...No, 'we are so glad you are here.' She looks at you without any emotion and only asks 'how many?' When you answer with your group party number, she winces and looks around the room saying 'do you have a reservation?' When you say no, she smirks again and acts like you did something terrible by showing up to the restaurant at that time. I believe this should be obvious you can't treat paying customers like this, but here we are... Luckily the waitress turned it around. She was very kind and attentive. Our drinks always stayed full, and our food came out in a very timely manner. The food was ok. Nothing fantastic, but nothing bad.

I had a great meal last night. I had the sausage platter, empanadas and a fried pork chop. The food was fresh and tasty, perfectly seasoned. One of the other guests had a large grilled pork chop. It was cooked to perfection and very juicy. I had a bite. It was great. My pork chop was tasty, the breading perfect and the gravy was awesome. I also tried the jalapeño gravy which was spectacular. I am from Chicago and used to good food. This place was great. The food treatment, I just can't get up by me. I am not sure when I'll be back up here, but when I am, this will be my go to place. The wait staff was very nice (shame on me for forgetting the young girls name) I met the sous chef George who was awesome to talk to. Great place here, I'd highly recommend it.

We love the boat house and fish tacos are amazing!! But please to the owner - bring live music out on the weekends to help bring the community together, sitting out on the lawn listening to tunes, sipping on drinks from the bar watching the sunset!

Food and service was excellent. Love the location try one of their famous Bloody Mary's. Pimento cheese was wonder.

Such an amazing view and the staff was warm and inviting. The food was as good as you could expect when you eat on the water. and my drink was excellent. I have no complaints and will be back as soon as I can.

I really wanted to like this place based on other friends reviews but I just can't. Service was ok but all the food was fresh out of a freezer. Nothing fresh or prepared in any special was. Mostly deep fried frozen food. Kind of like a high priced Long John Silvers.

We were traveling to Dallas and picked this spot from yelp. It was a great decision. We split the seafood platter. It was plenty of food and it was very good. They coleslaw was a vinegar base coleslaw and it was very good. We would stop here again on our next trip to Dallas. The view of the lake is spectacular. Our server was very friendly and efficient.

The food and service have always been good here. Very casual and a good variety of items to choose from.

The food is ok. But serve not good . Not really dog friendly. Had nice back yard. But Feel like not friendly to chilling out. BTW don't keep your stuff on the table and go join the back yard because they will throw you stuff away with out agreements.

Enjoyed it very much. Many items to choose from. We were there on a holiday and service was still smooth and easy.

Food is consistently good and the menu has a nice variety! A great option for the area as there are few options for those looking for something above fast food. Fran, the owner, is a great person and is very involved in the operation and staff. We have never had a bad experience and go quite often! Being on the water is nice for atmosphere and when the weather is nice, the outdoor patio is nice as well!

Well, in Athens, you may get hungry Athens Boathouse is a very clean establishment that has a variety of food and it has a awesome view of lake Athens. It's definitely worth a visit

First time there! Great service, great food great atmosphere! We will be back! We had tacos Al carbon and CFS.

When my wife and I want to celebrate, we go to the Boathouse. The food is excellent, and while it's not cheap, it is well worth the money.

We visited here while visiting ETX and it was great! We sat on the patio for dinner and the atmosphere was so relaxing. The lake in the background with the sun going down made for the perfect ETX evening. The food was very good, the cajun queso was to die for! The catfish and fish tacos were delicious, as was the key lime pie. We went and sat in the lawn chairs after our meal and took in the evening. They even had cornhole and washers to play. We will definitely be back on our next visit to ETX!

Started off by walking in being Greeted in a friendly Manner with great service, great atmosphere & Delicious food. All around Good Visit.!!

We ate here & I had lost my wallet. They've sent me my wallet back & I appreciate it greatly but I'm missing $300. But we've tipped our waitress 50% lol There goes to show no matter how generous you can be, it's just never enough for some people. Don't get me wrong, the food was great, tip your waiters & waitresses but this place personally, is not for me. 1 star for integrity.