Crawdads on the Lake

We came to Crawdads on the Lake with a group of girlfriends to celebrate our friend’s birthday 🎉 and it was such a wonderful experience! We had made a reservation in advance and arrived on a Sunday at 12 PM — I was honestly surprised at how busy and lively the place was at that time! It felt more like a fun lakeside bar 🍹 than just a restaurant. Live music was playing 🎶, the crowd was cheerful, and the atmosphere was buzzing with good vibes. Our food came out pretty quickly, and the cocktails were served fast too — which we appreciated! 🍽️🍸 A big thank you to our waitress 🙏 who showed genuine kindness and attention to our birthday girl. I mentioned it was her special day, and the staff brought a complimentary dessert 🎂 — such a sweet touch that made her feel celebrated! We sat outside with a gorgeous view of the lake and two bridges 🌉. The scenery was relaxing and added to the whole experience. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy food, drinks, laughter, and nature all in one. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking to spend time with friends or celebrate something special 💛✨ RECOMMENDED 💯

This is one of those places you go to for a fun time and don’t have high expectations. First off, parking and wait wasn’t too bad, considering it was a weekend and dinner time. The staff are very welcoming and nice. Our server was prompt and on top of their duty. The place itself is very well renovated and great atmosphere. Both inside and outside seating was plentiful. There’s a great view outside and the sunset is amazing. Plenty of umbrellas to cover from the sun. Food was almost perfect. The calamari came quick and actually tasted great. The Crawdads Burger was just a regular burger with not much kick to it. Fries were decent. The Seafood Simmer that I ordered was actually very good. Amazing flavor with proper seasoning and the seafood was cooked great. The Jambalaya was a little disappointing. It tasted overcooked and there wasn’t much flavor to it. But it wasn’t horrible. Overall for the price it’s okay, the views and atmosphere make up for it. Definitely a great spot to go with a group!

Great views, food and service. The food was a bit pricey but very tasty. We used to eat here when it was Cliff House, so we wanted to try Crawdads but the reviews weren’t good. We went anyway cause they have a patio with a great view of the river down below. It was warm out but the whole patio has misters and umbrellas at the tables, so we stayed cool. Staff was super friendly and on point! We will definitely be going again soon.

Food was good, definitely overpriced for what we ordered. We got the calamari, which was a bit disappointing. It didn’t have any flavor. We added a ton of lemon and salt to it. Because I used to go to this location after being out on the lake all day, I assumed it was still “The Cliff-house Restaurant”, when I asked the waitress about their chicken lettuce wraps, she looked at me like I was crazy. Not until later, was when I realized the restaurants were not the same after reading the menu. Our waitress had a very snooty attitude the entire time, and didn’t check on us once. My boyfriend had to get up and ask for a refill on his drink from someone else. We did order margaritas, which was delicious! Note, this restaurant does not take reservations. My favorite part about this restaurant is the location, you can’t beat the sunset views from the patio, with the bridges and the lake directly below.

The view and deck is great! Service was good, food is overpriced for what it is, but mostly good. The fact that they can't split a bill and charge each person is really disappointing, this is 2025!!

Food is great, views are 10 out of 10. Service is good when it's before 9pm. Once a event goes on like a band playing though getting drinks can take upwards of 15 minutes. Been here about 8 times now overall great restaurant and the events they throw are fun besides wait time for drinks.

So the view when you’re in the restaurant is amazing at sunset. Unfortunately that’s about the only enjoyable part of the evening we had here. We waited 20+ minutes for drinks and apps to make it to our table. Then another 20+ minutes till we got our entrees. The food was mediocre at best. The seafood simmer dish was bland and not very appealing. And the creole burrito was doused in salt and two thirds of it was dry rice. Staffing was nice but neglectful of our table. Asked another waitress for assistance for to go boxes she said ok then walked back by like we never asked for anything. We will give it one more try. But we’re not very optimistic. Couple pics of the food below. FYI my wife moved her food around to make it look better for the pic. But it was messy when it came out. lol.

This place is very unique if you compare it to your everyday typical restaurant. The atmosphere and vibes can’t be matched in my opinion. I visited this establishment a couple of times before I decided to give it a review. I didn’t visit it on a weekend so I never dealt with the parking situation which a lot of people give it bad reviews for but it’s understandable as it is become extremely popular. The staff is amazing, super friendly and catered to all our needs. Food is amazing however a bit pricey in the 30-40$ per person but understandably so as it is a popular spot. My understanding is that a lot of people that gave this place bad reviews were based on the restaurants initial opening being sub par. Or the fact these people are used to being treated like royalty and were looking at any negative aspects to dislike the place without giving it a few runs months later. Overall, great experience, staff, food, atmosphere, and music. I highly recommend this place for a dinner date as the sun falling on the river is mesmerizing.

Great view, vibes and food! It's hard to get all three in one restaurant but crawdads checked all three! I've been wanting to check this restaurant out since it opened, however it always seemed so busy! I'm glad we decided to give it a try anyways and was seated and served promptly with a smile Staff were amazing, friendly and excellent with food recommendations. I opted for the Cajun pasta - linguini, prawns, chicken andouille sausage, spinach & Parmesan with Cajun cream sauce... DELICIOUS! My husband and son enjoyed the crab grilled cheese... incredible sandwich bursting with flavor and toasted to perfection! My youngest son opted for the largest burger, which I might add is the largest I've ever seen!

Stipped into Crawdads on the Lake with co-workers, for the first time on a Thursday afternoon. It was pretty quiet in the parking lot and inside, maybe because it was during the work week, and or because it was raining. Once we arrived we were quickly seated at the large bar style table near the alligator statue in Christmas garb. Once all 6 of us had arrived we had our orders arrived and socialized as we patiently waited. Ordered: Strawberry lemonade Arnold Palmer Bloody Mary (Virgin) Louisiana Gumbo Jumbalaya Cajun Grilled Chicken Club Crab Grilled Cheese (x2) I mentioned earlier the time of day and the weather, because maybe they were short on staff. But our meals took like 40 minutes to arrive; definitely enough time that all of us started to notice, and were about to say something. And our waitress noticed bybthis that time as well, and came by to tell me our food would be outside shortly. Thankfully the food was good and no one had complaints with that. Overall: The food was good, amd the staff was friendly, and the food definitely took longer than expected.

The ambience is super lovely at Crawdads on the lake. The service could be a little bit better with the hostess stand. For instance, I had called asking if they had plenty of seats outside, or if I need to reserve a table and the lady on the phone assured me I didn't need to. Five minutes later, because we're just down the street, we came in and she said it was a 20 minute wait. However, that turned out not to be the case and they had plenty of openings on the patio, but at that point, we are already seated Inside. My mom didn't want to move. Inside, there's a fan that's blowing really hard, so hard that the napkins fell off the table lol. And it's quite cold. Aside from all that again, it is a lovely venue. You could see the lake peek out from some of the inside tables. I was pleasantly surprised with the food as well. I had the Cobb salad. There was only maybe four pieces of chicken, so they skimped on the protein. However, it was a very good salad and I would get that again. I would just suggest that they add a little bit more chicken because the ratio is off there and it's lacking. My mom got the Carnitas tacos. And it didn't make sense because they were in a weird container and they were super sloppy and awkward to eat. They would be better served on a plate, so she does not recommend the Carnitas tacos.

I had citrus beet salad added chicken,my sister got the Cobb salad and mom got the carnitas tacos.Also shared chips and salsa (salsas garlicky FYI) Loved our dishes but my mom thought kinda awkward eating tacos,soggy

It's honestly hard to talk about the food when the view is this amazing. I mean you are overlooking the entire river and you just can't get that great of a view from the old Folsom side. The new patio has a lot of tables so you aren't fighting over which table you get, they are all great! The food was really nice too. Personal favorites are the ahi nachos and the bucket of crawdads. The ahi nachos were a huge portion and I know some people complained about the portion of the crawdads but ours was great. I wish we had been given wet wipes, but we just washed up in the bathroom. I love that the whole family can get messy eating things like crawdads while watching that view. Service was also good and I appreciated that there was ample shade over the tables.

The ahi nachos and citrus beet salad were excellent. However, the jambalaya was quite oily--I was only able to eat a small portion due to the excessive grease.

My friends and I made a reservation to eat here for the 4th of July since we were going to the Dylan Schneider concert and we were very impressed! For cocktails, we each ordered the Mardi Gras which was passionfruit, guava, Bacardi Malibu rum, and Whaler's dark rum, and boy was this strong, but in a good way! This ended up being the only drinks me and my friends got, but I'd love to go back to try their others as they have such a good fruity cocktail menu. For food, I ordered the small Louisiana Gumbo and I was amazed at how big the portion was when it came out! It was piled high with sausage and chicken, and I loved how flavorful the gumbo was. Overall, service was great considering it was a major holiday. I'd definitely return!

Went at 7 pm on a Wednesday night and the place was packed - inside and outside. We were warmly greeted by the hostess who apologized there would be a 15 minute wait. We found seats in the bar and were quickly greeted by the very personable and busy bartender. Drinks came quickly and my sweetie loved her White Linen. I was texted in about 10 minutes that our table was ready. We had requested outdoor seating and were seated at a table overlooking beautiful Lake Natoma. Our extremely friendly server quickly arrived and at our request shared his favorites from the menu. We lingered a bit savoring our drinks and were checked on appropriately by our server until we were ready to order. Sweetie had the Surf and Turf Kabobs which were nicely presented and the beef was cooked exactly as she ordered. She rated it a 4. I had the recommended Gumbo which was very good. Dark brown roux with lots of andouille and blackened chicken. Served with nicely toasted and buttery bread. A solid 4. Desserts included Lemon Chiffon Cake and warm Apple Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream. Both were solid 5. The place is great industrial decor with comfortable seating an a very clean restroom. The outside views are nothing short of spectacular. We will definitely be returning.

I've been wanting to come here since it was Cliff House but never had a chance until now. I made a reservation online to ensure we have a table but the place was almost empty on a rainy Sunday lunch. We requested a table next to the window and we got it. The views of Lake Natoma was spectacular. Our food came in a timely manner. The buttered bread that came with the gumbo was bitter and oily/soggy. The gumbo was under seasoned and lukewarm, the salt shaker on the table was a "food saver"! Not pictured is a bowl of clam chowder. It tasted very creamy as in milky, not "clammy". Overall, the food was average at best. I would be back for the views!

The food and drinks are both week. Service was good ambiance is amazing. Views over the lake with the sunset. Crazy how they don't update the kitchen. Serve good food. Also have the drinks either tasty and weak or not so tasty yet strong can't miss on both ends

Incredible view. The crab grilled cheese was delicious. The creole burrito was bland and dry, I would not recommend it. I'm looking forward to trying out more of the menu and getting a table on the patio.

Beautiful seating outside, view of the river and beyond. Had Bloody Mary's that were perfect and the food was amazing. Service was great, very friendly and personable.

You're paying for the ambiance, the view, and the company (perhaps), otherwise, the food is average and middling. Food offerings - The Gumbo is mild to medium spice, flavorful but a little spicy and temperature hot for a summer day. - The Seafood Simmer had plenty of seafood but very basic flavors. - The Creole Burrito was very unique and good. Good flavors and a solid entree. - The Fish Sandwich was okay. Needed salt or more tartar sauce. I also felt like the textures were very one note. While the fish was fried well, I think a crispier fish here would have really elevated the dish overall. - The Cheeseburger was solid. Accompanying fries were also good. But this dish didn't feel special at a place called Crawdads on the Lake. - Fried Calamari was excellent and had great accompanying sauces. - The Fried Green Beans were not great. The batter was not sticking to the green beans and they were very much raw on the interior. I might recommend blanching or a quick boil before frying? The batter was well seasoned though! The service was excellent. Our waitress was sweet, attentive, and friendly. A 21% tip was automatically added for groups of 6 or more.

Came by for the second time after a long walk on the Johnny cash trail This time around it seems like they finally have their ducks in a row.... the one host out front was sooo nice adore her. The waiter we had was attentive she turned heaters on outside for us and even had a little throw blanket if we wanted which was nice the outside vibe is very peaceful. Maybe this time around I could have tried something different but one thing I was craving was calamari And honestly I wasn't in the mood for a chicken sandwhich or pasta or anything else especially because based on the reviews it just didn't seem that appealing to me. Calamari was still okay except the add a bunch of friend lemons I ate one mistakenly because they add so many, I think the first time we came they added like fried pepper or something. I don't like that they try to add these extra fillers. The crabs cakes seemed thicker I still think they were good. The creole burrito however was better the first time around. This time it seemed like it had more rice than anything it was so disappointing. I may try something else. I really only come back for the ambiance it's a very nice vibe, would still be back for the views and maybe a beer.

The view is everything. It's a great place to grab a bite to eat and drink on the deck. The food is good but not 5 stars good. Servers are very nice and overall would recommend. They need to figure out shade for the tables outside for lunch. The shade sails only work for dinner time.

Unexpectedly awesome stop at Crawdad's on a Sunday afternoon! We didn't realize there was going to be live music, but the band was great and added to the whole vibe. The view of the lake is gorgeous--perfect for a summer evening. We shared the ahi tuna nachos and they were honestly amazing. Super fresh and flavorful. Service was spot-on too--everyone was friendly and on it. Such a fun atmosphere all around. You have to be happy in this place! I love everything about it! Can't wait to come back! Plan to make it a must go this summer!

The 4 Stars is for the atmosphere and views , unfortunately the service is sub par , the 2 things that will bring me back - views and the nachos !

Wow, really great views of the river on the back deck, the heaters helped us stay warm in a crisp cool fall day. Family enjoyed all items. Cajun pasta is delicious and HUGE PORTION, steak and veggies was satisfying for the hubs, kids enjoyed massively large kids menu items if hamburger and fries. Even the chowder bowl was massive and tasty. We will be back. No trouble making a reservation for four via OpenTable and was seated promptly. Staff were attentive and friendly.

I enjoyed my self . The ambience was fun live music & beautiful scenery. I would definitely say the food was mediocre . I'm willing to try it again. My waitstaff were amazing and super helpful. Great attitude and vibes.

Went here for a birthday dinner. Ordered the crab cakes for appetizer. They were cooked perfectly, with a hefty amount of crab and a crunchy crust. I had the surf and turf plate - a screwer of tender tasty beef and a screwer of shrimp on a bed of lettuce with vinaigrette dressing. Mango Margaritas were had without complaint. Lemon cake and an apple dessert was devoured. Services by Shelby was sweet & friendly. Ambience was nice.

Lunch with a view anyone? What a great date spot! Hubby, baby and I have been to this restaurant a couple times now and service is always amazing! Support small and local! Pictured are my Bucket O' Crawdads, Ceviche we shared and Crab Grilled Cheese with House Salad! I would love to return on a day they're doing live music! Not to mention there are still several dishes we need to try!! Valet parking starts at noon. SYOY! :-) *Song Credit: Street Food by FASSounds Site: https://pixabay.com/music/-street-food-112193/

First time going here. Waited about 5 minutes for the hostess to return to the station and seat us. The room was very cold and the solution is to provide blankets. How about some heat? The food was pretty (I had the gumbo). Others enjoyed theirs as well. I may try it again.

We were in Folsom for a camping weekend. We were referred to Crawdads by a woman dressed as a witch on a stand up paddle board. She told us they're would be a few hundred witches joining her on the water. We saw many of the rolling in. That said, Crawdads is a great bar restaurant. We got cocktails and sat on the outside patio overlooking the lake. They had a fur band playing live and we watched many tasty plates of food go by. The service was very friendly and they were nice to let us sit in the best seats without ordering food. My wife and a friend of ours got martinis and LOVED them. One dirty and one regular and they both said both drinks were perfect. Overall, if you're in the area go to this place. It's much nicer and more fun than I expected.

We came to Crawdads on the Lake with a group of girlfriends to celebrate our friend's birthday and it was such a wonderful experience! We had made a reservation in advance and arrived on a Sunday at 12 PM -- I was honestly surprised at how busy and lively the place was at that time! It felt more like a fun lakeside bar than just a restaurant. Live music was playing , the crowd was cheerful, and the atmosphere was buzzing with good vibes. Our food came out pretty quickly, and the cocktails were served fast too -- which we appreciated! A big thank you to our waitress who showed genuine kindness and attention to our birthday girl. I mentioned it was her special day, and the staff brought a complimentary dessert -- such a sweet touch that made her feel celebrated! We sat outside with a gorgeous view of the lake and two bridges . The scenery was relaxing and added to the whole experience. It's the perfect spot to enjoy food, drinks, laughter, and nature all in one. Highly recommend this place if you're looking to spend time with friends or celebrate something special RECOMMENDED

well I want to give 5 ***** so I will give that to the live band playing and the beautiful views- wine and some hard working staff members a higher score. I give much less stars to the actual experience, food, service and most important the facility/upkeep/lack of branding/and lack of management -sorry We ordered 2 meals, 2 drinks and after 40 minutes a food runner delivered our meals. fish and chips with no catsup, lemon,malt vinegars or tarter sauce - chicken sandwich with no napkins or any silverware napkins or cutlery. I will say my fish was 5**** but by the time I asked the 3rd person (bar back) for tarter and malt and cutlery) it was only room temperature. Served on a piece of parchment paper with nothing else. pretty ugly The location is cute, seemingly clean but the staff (in my opinion) has NO direction. No Branding of pretty spaces. No rules on personal items or purses water bottles breaks at bar - 3 people at host stand all looking at cell phones. sorry won't be back. Also, so much trash and bee keepers over the edge were distracting. send someone to pick up napkins etc. seemed like 1 runner and wait service with attitude not welcoming. (I will say our server seemed better than most) -

This is a really cool spot overlooking the lake. They have different outdoor seating options, at a table or at the bar but either way, you have a nice view of the water. (I suggest an outdoor table during sunset hours for an even more amazing view). Of the various times I've been here, it's never been extremely crowded so that's not an issue. The food is amazing and can't go wrong with any of the appetizers.

Had a good experience. Food was okay and the ambiance was nice. It was a hot day and hot inside the place. The service was not friendly or welcoming but adequate in getting seated and getting food. We ordered the chowder and it the type that is very thick and garlicky- it seemed more dip-like in consistency than soup. I got the pork sandwich and it was okay. I liked the buffalo & blue cheese kettle chips we got as an appetizer - crispy, fresh, and a fun idea. I would try it again and see how it goes.

Everything was great! The service as fantastic. The drinks were amazing ! the security staff was cute. We were there to see my friends band play.

Really good atmosphere inside and outside, not to mention it's right next to the lake. Staff were really nice and the food was fresh and tasty. The grilled cheese had a little too much sauce for my liking and got messy but you can just scrape it off and it's better that way. The dessert was awesome too. Salad was fresh and tasty.

After reading mixed reviews, I was happily surprised with everything. Nothing was wrong with my Surf & Turf Skewers (served on top of a salad), but I was more impressed with my friend's crispy, cheesy, mildly spicy, flavorful Crab Grilled Cheese and my husband's well-balanced, tasty Nashville Chicken Sandwich. Both bites were a mouth-watering 10/10. My skewered steak was perfectly cooked and tender. The shrimp was good, but now that a few weeks have passed, it doesn't stand out in my food memories. 8.5/10 My son also shared a bite of his Cajun Pasta, and I heard chef Emirel Lagassi shout BAM! in my head. (I associated BAM with intense flavors, but it was just to keep everyone awake). Anyway, that was a 12/10. My Mojito was refreshing on such a hot day and not too strong, which I prefer. We sat on the outdoor deck, where they have much-needed misters. We'll be back to try some apps and desserts and enjoy the gorgeous views, friendly service, and live music!

This place is my Favorite Restaurant in Folsom. The view of the lake is so cool. I love watching the Kayakers below. The breeze on the patio is so nice. Great staff ...Drake was our server and so accommodating...cool guy....Great place and great food...and surprisingly the prices are so affordable for the experience! Cheers!

The river views were impressive, but the food was merely average and lacked any standout qualities. My initial visit left much to be desired, particularly when I specifically requested no sausage due to dietary restrictions, only to find it on my plate, necessitating a wait for a replacement. Additionally, the drinks were overpriced relative to their quality, further diminishing the overall experience. Given these factors, I would hesitate to return. Music is loud and some staff make others look bad with their lack oh work ethic.

Ambiance is wonderful. What a great job they did at remodeling from Cliff House days. Service was great. I had the Cajun chicken sandwich and husband had Fish Sando (fried fish sandwich) . My Cajun sandwich was just ok. There was very little Cajun flavor. They really need to spice that up! The fish sandwich was great.

I spent 15 minutes, waiting at the bar for the bartender to even pay me any of attention. She was too busy talking, and some other Customer, seeing their sipping on her Red Bull. When the Customer walked away, she walked away. She didn't even come and asked me if I wanted anything. I'm never coming back to even try eating at this place. This is my attempt to see what service was like zero out of 10.

I had lunch today with six of my gal pals and the service was so slow. We asked for separate checks but we were told they don't split checks for parties of six or more. Plus the tip was added in which made it more difficult to figure out what each of us owed. We waited nearly an hour for our entrees. The food was good, hot and definitely fresh from the kitchen. Not sure why we waited so long for our orders when we sat down there were only four other tables seated. The bartender makes an awesome mai tai. But, overall I would say you are paying for the view but the wait staff need to be more pleasant and more accommodating when individuals ask for a split check.

Overall, the view and the ambiance is really nice, but the cost and the food made the experience less valuable. Located in Folsom overlooking the American River. A really beautiful location, with tasteful decorations, ambiance, music - really feels like you're on the waterfront in the south (in the best way), with plenty of cold drinks available (beer, cocktails, and slushies). Everything is clean and well laid out, with both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is mostly uncovered, so make sure you're wearing a hat or have sunglasses. The staff is friendly and polite, helping make sure our lunch and logistics were smooth and effortless. The food was where we were pretty disappointed. Everything is *very* expensive, even for a seafood restaurant. The calamari and mussel appetizers were solid, as were the clam chowder fries. The mains however, were super small and had a dearth of seafood. Both the gumbo and the seafood medley/soup were mostly soup and carbs/rice, with a handful of mussels or shrimp sprinkled in. While the mussels from the apps were over seasoned and too salty, the jambalaya and gumbo were very bland and felt as though they were missing something. With the cost of the meal, I would have hoped the food would have been more hearty or satisfying.

This spot is cute inside and has a beautiful view. Our server was friendly, and the food was good. I'd return just for the view; it's that beautiful. I got the nachos without meat and they were too plain. Should've added the meat. The carnitas tacos were delicious.

Ticket times and food quality. Sunday, nice day, after church lunch crowd. 40 min wait to get a sandwich, fries, and a salad. Then when the food came, my grilled salmon was raw. Waiter said wait time for food was because they were "Slammed". C'mon guys, nice day, Sunday, 1230--- you have got to plan your staffing better to accommodate the lunch crowd. There wasn't more than a 5min wait to get an outside table so they weren't that "Slammed". Been here 4 times. 3 of those have been poor. Will not be back. And Marque out front hadn't been updated in 8 days..... there is their "Attention to detail".

The Cajun pasta had sooooo much sauce, it could have passed for soup. The flavor was good and the shrimp (3) were cooked perfectly. But, really, that bowl of soup pasta was weird. Server was great!

We have been wanting to go to this place since we found out that it was going to open. We heard a lot about the opening from my understanding. There are no reservations at least at this time. It is very busy. I'm sure part of it is because of the known name,location, the demand is just high. I have read some negative comments about the wait time however I don't see how they could fix that at this time. I think it's just a really popular place to go to. we ended up going a little bit after 11 on a Sunday because of this. We did have to valet park for $7. They have self parking, but it seems to be limited. You can pay for the valet on your bill and then give the valet your receipt, if you don't have cash. We walked in, we were greeted by several hostesses all with friendly smiles we let them know that we did have a dog. They offered our dog water, made sure we were in a shaded area outside, definitely recommend as a dog friendly place. Because we sat outside and we had a dog we walked through the restaurant relatively quickly, but I was impressed. It is a gorgeous set up. The bars are beautiful. They have a stage for live music. The lighting was plentiful. It was light and airy, big, but still had a cozy feel. The deck along the back of the restaurant is large. with a picture perfect water view. They do have shade and misters. Loved the variety on the menu! We liked the variety of appetizers so we decided to go with a few different appetizers and salad for the table and just eat it like family style and it definitely worked out. The salad was fresh. Fresh cauliflower buffalo wings were excellent. I would say the ceviche probably was the least impressive because of portion and I did have to ask for lime. I don't think I would order the ceviche again, but I would order everything else, including the drinks. Price reflected, quality and inflation. The reason for the four stars is because I do think that they are still working out some kinks as it is a new restaurant and they are extremely busy. Our appetizers came out at two different times with the salad being last and it did take a while for our server to get to us to check on us but again I knew that they were busy so I was patient overall it was a great experience and I am excited for this new addition in Folsom!

First time trying food at this restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. Reservations are highly recommended. Parking was starting to get crowded by noon, but our timing found us a decent spot. Waitress was attentive and accommodating after walking us to outdoor dining, seating us, and taking our orders. First impression: The views of Folsom Lake and its bridges are short of spectacular! There were even cool steamers waiting for us on sweltering days, so that was refreshing and a great touch! Moving on, here are the four food choices my hubby and I ordered. The wait time was 10-15 minutes for food to arrive, so that was a plus when you're hungry! Now, I'll give my rating for each dish: Appetizer: *Fried calamari. 6/10 (crispy on the outside, but bottom of calamari was soggy due to it being greasy. Could use a little salt too.) Main dishes: *Crab Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Comes with chips, but we upgraded to french fries. 9/10 (Delicious and made just right! Fries could use a little more salt though.) *Bucket of Crawdads: 6/10 (The size and qty. of this dish was plentiful! However, they were overcooked and broth was way too salty. To be honest, the crawdads were subpar too because they had that dirty taste to it, outer shell was soft instead of hard, showing the overdoneness, and many times, I had to remove that sand vein inside the meat of this tiny morsel, so that's what I meant by it tasting dirty/gritty. Sadly, I probably wouldn't order this dish again.) *Seafood Simmer: 6/10 (had a little kick to it, but clams were very small and cod was overcooked, as they were hard in texture and bite, as opposed to a softer, melt-in your-mouth feel. Broth was salty and underwhelming too, like it needs more garlic and fresh herbs.) *Drink: Non-alcoholic Mojito. 6/10 (A bit tangy for my tastebuds.) Overall, the vibe is pleasant and restaurant decor is attractive inside and out! Another attraction that caught our eyes when we were leaving around 1:45ish was a live band was playing and some eager patrons were up there line dancing! (I heard music is a regular thing here which makes it inviting!) We also picked a good time to eat, because just as we were leaving, it got very chaotic and crowded at the hostess desk! (i.e. after 2ish and later, I'm sure!) Note: There were other dishes we'd like to try like Ceviche and Cajun Seafood pasta, and of course, the famous Crab Grilled Cheese sandwich again, so will definitely give Crawdads on the Lake a second chance! Overall, this place deserves a 3.5 stars for food and 4.5 stars for ambiance, vibes and view.

I came to Crawdads with my husband, friends and family for my birthday. They had a concert that night which made the place pretty lively. The location is beautiful and over all just amazing vibes! I few of us ordered the Cajun pasta and there didn't seem to be anything Cajun about it. Sorry. My pasta had 3 shrimps and 2 pieces of chicken that were dried out and the sausage was chopped into the smallest pieces (cut into 4's) Anyway, I would like to give it another try maybe try something else.

Celebrated our 32nd year wedding anniversary here. Great scenery, service and good food. Cocktails were ok but could be better. All in all it was a wonderful evening.

The lake natoma Views as stated.... Amazing. I'd recommend fish and chips... NOT the ceviche. Fish tasted like it been frozen. I picked out the shrimp. Avocado had bad spots on it. Cucumber frozen drink was really bitter.... Keep it very simple here and you'll be happy .

The appetizers really stole the show! The fried green beans were incredible and although it was an interesting take on queso, we enjoyed the chunky texture. The crab grilled cheese was more of a crab cake sandwich. Would have preferred less crab cake and more cheese. Overall a nice experience with kind servers.

Happy to see this place revitalized (used to be the Cliff House) - it's a beautiful location so come for the view and the casual fun atmosphere. My friend and I put our name in and it took approximately 30 minutes before we got a fantastic table in the shade overlooking Lake Natoma. The service: was definitely subpar. Our waiter, Kyler, was friendly but so very slow - not sure if that was his fault or the restaurant's growing pains. We ordered Ahi nachos that never came out, a paloma which came out as a red/pink color (should be white) - had to send that back and they put it on our bill even though it was the wrong drink. The fish tacos and the carnitas tacos were delicious! Tip: do not drive here, especially if you have a large vehicle - take Uber, they give you $5 off you bill.

Came in with reservation on a Saturday, this place gets packed so go early if you can. I needed outside seating with my two small pups, so make notes on reservation with open table or phone (?) since it won't allow that booking type online. Ordered two slushies and two appetizers. The rotating black cherry margarita was yummo, When the appetizers came out the reg nachos were a meal on their own especially if you get a protein, and the fried green beans were crispy and juicy. After our friend arrived we ordered the Cubano, the salmon, and the surf and turf skewers which were all delightful. Jordan was excellent despite being super busy. Will have to come back for the view alone!

Crawdads on the Lake in Folsom is a must-visit if you're looking for great food with a killer waterfront vibe. We started with the Ahi Nachos, which were beautifully plated and packed with flavor--fresh ahi, crisp wontons, creamy avocado, and just the right kick. The real showstopper though? The Bucket O' Crawdads. Huge portion, seasoned perfectly, and super fun to share. The service was friendly, the drinks were cold, and the lake view was unbeatable. Pro tip: get there early or make a reservation--this place fills up fast, and for good reason!

3.5 stars (only because I need to try more stuff on the next visit!) Come for the vibe, views, and drinks! Crawdads on The Lake is rustic, casual and cool. Popped in yesterday around 515p. Lots of people waiting at the entrance. Wait time was an hour. Grabbed one of the rotating beers and ciders on tap at the bar, then headed to the outdoor patio. Signs of summer abound! Cold drinks in hand, water misters to keep everyone cool, views of paddle boarders on the American River, and listening to the sounds of chatter, laughter, and music. Hosts, bartenders, and servers were all pretty friendly, albeit very busy! Thankfully, we were able to grab a couple drinks and happily wait for our table. Fried Calamari - unfortunately came out cold. Thin slices of calamari with crunchy Cajun seasoned batter. Comes with 2 sauces. Wished it was served to us while it was hot and fresh. Seafood Simmer - nice tomato base but wasn't spicy as it was described. Still good. Good amount of mussels, clams, and shrimp. This dish came out nice and hot. Shared it with hubby. This is probably best for one person (especially if you're hungry). Overall, we had a fun time checking out what they did with the old Cliff House. Still the best spot in Folsom with the best views! Will definitely come back and try different dishes and hope they continue to expand their menu with seasonal offerings. This will likely be one of the popular restaurants in the Folsom area. Looking forward to returning and trying the crab cakes, Crawdads bucket, and grilled crab cheese sandwich. Will come to check out nights with the live band. No reservations yet - come early!