PIER 290

Went here after our boat cruise tour of Geneva Lake. We heard about this place and my mom remembered coming here when she was in college. It was an absolutely fantastic experience; the view of the lake was peaceful, the food was delicious, and the drinks selection was very good. If you order fries or chicken, get the 290 sauce!!! It's so freaking good!!

Took a nice convertible ride out there. Majority of seating was outside (covered). You had to have a reservation in order to sit at one of the tables. The bar and hightops (around the bar 8-10 tables?) Were a first come first serve basis. We sat at the bar. Matt our bartender was attentive andhelpful with the menu. We got the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer. I got the blackened tuna sandwich; and he got the steak stack (double smash burger really). Was nothing special. Great atompshere by the lake. Little too pricey for us for what you really get.

Huge bar and restaurant right on the water, a ton of great seafood options and can accommodate large groups. It was packed when we ate here on a Friday, but we had a great spot right out over the water. Tyler was our server and even though we had a ton of big groups he was amazing and super attentive. For apps we ordered the medium Cesar salad which was great (5/5), but I'd skip the French onion soup, was not worth $15 and there was barely any onions or cheese, it was basically broth. For dinner we split the tuna and crab cakes,(5/5) both were amazing and I'd order them again. We were too stuffed for dessert but we want to come back and explore other options. The walnut old fashioned was good but having sugar on the rim was weird, didn't state on the menu it would have a sugar rim.

Stopped here for drinks and dessert and loved it. The environment is the selling point with great ambiance and views of the lake. The inside bar and decor is a cool nautical theme. The live music was great. Service was good and drinks were top notch, a definite place I'll return to in the area.

Everything about this experience was top notch. Our server had excellent input on what to order. The Fall ravioli was the perfect portion and flavor. The carrot cake was a nice way to finish the meal.

We really enjoyed this place. Very nice restaurant with a cool vibe. Right at the Marina with a great view of the lake. We sat out side on the water, but plenty of seating in side and a covered outside area. Our waiter Zach was great. We had the Scottich salmon and the Summer pasta with Shrimp. Both dishes were delicious and then finished it off with the Pistachio creme brulee.

Ate lunch here while on a weekend trip to Lake Geneva. Great atmosphere. Fresh food. Ordered their seafood ceviche, ahi tuna tartare and then salmon for my entrée with green beans and they were all very good with fresh ingredients and good flavor.

The artichoke dip was so flavorful! I ordered the filet with roasted potatoes and everything was scrumptious. Where we sat inside had a nice view of the lake. Our waitress was fantastic and recommended a few items. We came for my uncle’s birthday and they treated him like a king. They have free valet parking, just tip them. Be ready to spend a lot here but you get quality product.

Incredible service, ambiance is top notch. Food is understandably pricy, but wish portions were larger. That's the difference between 4 stars and 5. That being said, I'll definitely go back.

Listen to these reviews and don't waste your money please. I want to cry with our waste tonight. The only pros: the igloo (half of the light on the bottom was out). Decent drinks. Nice service. Cons: the food!!! So damn overpriced, and beyond subpar. $400 for 2 adults, 1 infant, 1 child. We even shared an entree, which was chicken sliders (waiters recommendation, which should be a red flag). Never again, truly. My son got a hamburger. We got a steak for the table and it was full blown butane flavor. Like no one ate it. Fries and Caesar salad were good. The ambiance was wonderful. Not close to what it costs to be there.

We had sandwiches. Just wanted to check it out . The view was everything . Very loud. Lots of drunk women sadly. 4 pm We sat by the sand away from everyone trying to just enjoy the lake and have a bite. Service needs a serious attitude adjustment. The manager of the bar / restaurant outside has a very rough attitude. My husband and I don't go to places for just eat. . We go for the whole experience. Unfortunately this restaurant disappointed. Maybe if they offer little bites in between all the drinks that they allowed their customers to have. The environment wouldn't be so unfriendly. Honestly the view is such a privilege!!!

This was one of those restaurants that we were recommended by a family member whose name I will not reveal. Service was not a problem. We were seated right away, and our server was wonderful. This is definitely about the food and the price. I ordered their beef patty you can get as a double or a single and from many other beef patties that I've had I didn't think I could eat a double so I got the single. Boy was I wrong. I got the hamburger and it was thinner than a McDonald's patty. And the french fries were no better. Thankfully it came with lettuce tomatoes and pickles otherwise I would have felt like I was just eating a plain bun. I was shocked at the size of this patty and I think it was $19. My date had a Caesar salad and they must have ran out of Caesars and salad thank God we added chicken for an extra $5. I'm not sure what the big deal is about this place besides maybe the view during peak season when it's wide open and looking over lake Geneva but overpriced McDonald's is all I can think of. I had a chocolate martini that was $22. My date had the watermelon margarita very tasty but $15 yikes. In a small glass with a lot of ice. I couldn't say I can recommend this place, unless of course you like overpriced McDonald's. I did provide a picture of my date after seeing the bill.

Visited for my significant other's birthday. We had an absolutely beautiful time at Pier 290 The service was decent. Meals were spaced out or seemingly timed as one would expect in an upscale establishment. Perhaps our server was newer. We received water sparingly and were not asked about drink refills often. The ceviche we ordered came with freshly baked chips that were not fresh. The first ones cup of chips we received happed to be stale. The replacements had likely been out of the oven for at least an hour. The steak stack was pretty good. The lobster roll was pretty good. The crabcakes were. And the Martini was strong.

I came in for lunch on a Saturday with my son's family, including 2 small kids. I've eaten dinner here before and it has always been great. This was during the local ice festival and it was busy, though we had a reservation. We're were seated right away and our server was very pleasant and provided us with drinks and took our orders for starters of cheese curds and spicy cauliflower. The starters were small, but the cauliflower and rice was delicious and the kids loved the cheese curds. It was a good thing we ordered starters as the main courses took about 50 minutes to arrive and the kids got restless. Everyone enjoyed their meals and the kids ate free from the kids menu; nice large Chicken Nuggets and house chips for one and a personal pizza and fries for the other. I thought my blackened tuna sandwich was delicious but it was a on a small roll and a very small piece of tuna. For the prices, I would expect more. With the negatives I gave 3 stars. I understand that they were busy but it was a long wait for pretty simple meals, they might have known it would be busy with the festival going on. And the portions on the starters and my sandwich were small, for the prices. However, the fact that the kids ate free was a big plus. Would definitely go back based on prior experiences. Nice restaurant with great view of the lake.

Pricey dinner options but very delicious. We sat outside and enjoyed the night views. Can recommend for a nice meal.

Stopped in during the holiday time. Had a large party but service was decent! The lobster BLT was my favorite dish

Pier 290 is just eh and very expensive for what you get. It wasn't terrible but not worth the price you pay. $14.00 for deviled eggs......they should be magical not the same thing I make at home. The service was good and quick getting our food and the live music was nice. Would not return due to cost.

The food is a bit pricy, but you're paying for quality fish and the lakeside atmosphere. There's also often live music which you can hear throughout the entire restaurant - the music is subtle in most of the dining area and doesn't distract from conversation like live music often can do. Our waitress was phenomenal, extremely friendly and eager to make suggestions and we decided between items on the menu. I ordered the salmon and swapped the wilted greens (still unsure what these are) for green beans which would fabulous. The salmon was cooked well and very tasty - it was not very seasoned which I personally enjoyed, but I could easily see others being disappointed in the lack of flavor there. We got a mousse dessert that was wildly underwhelming. I'd say stick to the seafood when ordering here and grab dessert on your way home!

Always the cream of the crop when in the Lake Geneva area. Food and drinks are always outstanding. Service can get a bit slow depending on the time of day and where you are seated. Food and drinks are a bit pricey but for a higher upscale restaurant it is to be expected! Be sure to wonder out onto the patio's and soak up the views of the lake and even find a chair in the sand to sit and relax by a fire pits! A must stop if you have never been when you are in the area!

Service and ambiance are worth coming for, but the food is a whole other discussion. I genuinely love this place, but $22 for a tiny salad with day old grilled Chicken? Do better Pier 290.

Given the high price tag, the food was just okay. Beef Carpaccio -- just a heads up that the thinly sliced meat is raw (was not mentioned in the menu at all). I was surprised by it being raw and was also surprised by how little crackers came with it (see the couple pieces of brown). The waiter was extremely kind and did allow me to return it for something else, which is why I also got the ahi tuna. Ahi Tuna -- This tasted a lot better, was fresh, and more in line with its price. I would order this again but I don't think I'll be coming back. Cheese Curds -- very overpriced but the best cheese curd I had in Lake Geneva! The main reason I gave this place 3 stars instead of 2! I think this restaurant wasn't for people on a budget like me. The typical person coming here probably knows they are going to spend big tonight! Most entrees are $40+

Great place to eat! My boyfriend planned a date night for us here and I really enjoyed everything about this place! The location is nice, right by/on the water so the views, especially during the day are great! We went at night and got seared right by a fire place. The decoration is nice and it's so lively inside with people singing songs and cute decor. The service was fast and the food was amazing. We ordered from the dinner menu and got cheese curds for appetizers. For my main I got the Paccheri And Vodka, it was a great portion and the taste was great. For dessert, we got to choose anything from the dessert menu due to a special occasion so we chose any apple crumble which was incredible. I will be going there again!

You can never go wrong with Pier 290! Their drinks and food are always great if you want to get out of the downtown Lake Geneva area.

We had dinner with our grandchildren before the 6 pm Santa Cruise. We sat in the enclosed, warmed 'outdoor area.' Our waitress was wonderful with the grandkids and the food was delicious.

This place is HUGE, and right on the water. The inside looks really nice, but we opted to sit out on the patio along the lake since it was a nice evening. The service was friendly, and we all enjoyed our entrees. Three of us had the same thing, the pan-fried walleye, and one person had the short ribs dinner, and everyone cleaned their plate. The portions were generous, too, but we had all skipped lunch so we were famished by the time we had dinner here, otherwise I'm sure we would have taken leftovers home. Our only complaint is our patio table was very wobbly. The staff had put some little stacked wedge-style risers under one of the legs, but they were flimsy and get knocked around easily, so we were constantly having to put them back or be extra careful to not bump the table.

The food is simply overpriced. Inflation number are down, but their menu is so far out of pricing it's as close to price gouging as it comes. Plus, the food is not great.

What a treat for my friends and I. We discovered this place while on a boat tour. We had appetizers and drinks ( half priced). We spent the evening there. Our waitress was wonderful. This place was the highlight of our trip. Thank you!!!

At first, it did not start so great, Made reversations, as the lady was seating us she says "omg they took your seats" i understand accidents happen confusions happen. Coming from out of town visiting a spot well recommend. Going forward 10 minutes later got seated. Now here comes the best part. The view was outstanding! The view along the lake side having a nice dinner! The food has great flavors! Crab cakes were amazing fresh! The crust and mango salsa! Suggestion to incorporate chunks of crab with the shredded crab. Till the next visit to enjoy.

Haven't been here since I posted my 5-star review 8 years ago... and this once is still a fabulous hidden gem!! Amazing views and cocktails. Service was top notch!

I was really expecting this place to be amazing! But the reviews stand true. Very over priced for the lack of food you get. The drinks are nothing special- just as overpriced ! Went there for a special event, the waitresses had no idea what was going on, had to keep asking around to get answers. The parking is horrible so you will need to valet ! Basically the whole parking lot is reserved for valet. Just a nothing special kinda place.

We hiked the Lake Shore Path (a 26 mile path around the lake) and around the 15 mile mark we hit Williams Bay. We thought we wanted something quick for lunch, but we are glad we opted for Pier 290. It gave us extra time to relax our feet, the food and service were excellent, and we had a great view of the water. We started with cheese curds. I was extra hungry so they tasted extra good but they deserve the hype regardless. They were so crispy and the cheese pull was unmatched. I also got the white bean chicken chili and split a chicken pot pie with my boyfriend. Both were so warm and flavorful. It is on the pricier end and not sure I would eat here regularly, but after hiking 15 miles, it was the perfect reward!

The perfect place to celebrate a birthday lunch. All of our meals were delicious. The service was excellent.

Cute little bistro on the shores of Lake Geneva. Our waitress Hailey was prompt, professional, and had a good understanding of the menu. She explained the Friday fish fry special, which was one of the items we ended up ordering. In addition to the fish fry, we also got the fish tacos and the double stack burger. All of the food was really good. The pricing here was a little on the high end, but the food was good, our server Hailey was awesome, and the views are really great. The people making the price gouging comments probably don't have experience running a seasonal business on a lake front property. The comments about Michelin star restaurants having better prices??? Simply untrue.

Finally got to 290 after many years visiting LG. Location and building is cool. Right on water. Outdoor seating. Very cool. Snobbish cliental at times with that "my parents own a house on the lake and i get to use it when theyre not there" vibe. Basically rich posers at times. But thats the cliental of the area. Also had regular not putting on heirs folks there as well. Service- our server gave us a poop face bc we didnt start off with drinks or apps. Gave the immediate this aint worth my time feels by her face and actions. Very ignored as a result. Other servers looked on top of their tables. Ours never even saw us to check on drink refills. Saw her at the beginning and when she dropped the check. Some other server dropped our food off. Also charged us for the kids meal when the promo was for kids eat free. Called them on it. Rescinded the charge claiming didnt know management was running that promo even though its been in place since OCT 1. Tried running up the tab for increased tip bc again. No apps or liquor. Very obvious. Prices: very high. Limited menu. Not worth it imo. But i get it. You gotta pay to keep that space on the waterfront. 23 bucks for a dbl cheeseburger and fries? Get outta here. 28 for shrimp tacos? Laughable. Save your cash and go somewhere better for those same prices. Im telling you now. You have been warned. Food: ok. Nothing to blow my skirt up at all. Basic food at best. Very average. Burger was not flavored for cost. Fries were basic too. Charging Au Cheval prices for WI. Ha. Way better options in the area imo. But do you boo.

4.5* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 3* Service: 5* 07/31/2022 Our friends set us up for dinner here one day during our visit and what a great place! For starters, we ordered the Ceviche with chips (see picture) - and it was oh, so delicious! For our meal, I ordered Atlantic Salmon (see picture) and my wife ordered the Chilean Sea Bass (see picture). As per the usual, we both shared with each other and both of us absolutely loved both dishes. The fish was cooked to perfection, the couscous quinoa was light and clean and the flavors were fantastic! If you follow my posts, you also know that I love ending the meal with dessert, so we couldn't pass up sharing the Cobler of the Week (see picture) with the group at our table. Warm, crumbly cobbler and cold creamy ice cream - what a way to finish a fantastic meal! While it is admittedly pricey, the view of the lake, atmosphere and service are fantastic! Not something most of us can afford on a regular basis, but highly recommended to try on your next special occasion. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

I proposed to my gf in one of their igloos. The staff was amazing and sooo accommodating to my proposal plan. Food was amazing too. I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone for any occasion or just because. Thank you pier 290 for being a part of the happiest day of my life (so far).

Sitting on their "beach" you get more of a view of someone's boat than a view of the lake. My visit on last Saturday was less than stellar. Sat on the beach for 20 minutes before a waiter came up and asked if he could get something. Had to laugh, my better half went to the bar to get us drinks a couple drinks a couple minutes ago, we got tired of waiting. The family next to us left after having lunch and drinks. The table sat there for over a half hour with dirty plates that the bees were enjoying. Needless to say we left. Between horrible service and the ridiculous prices it's safe to say I won't be back anytime soon.

Pier 290 has a great waterfront atmosphere, almost like being in FL. The food is decent, but a bit overpriced. Service is good with plenty of staff. BUT.... after finishing my $100 lunch I take one last sip of my old fashioned. To my surprise I have about a 5" hair muddled into my cherries. Not mine, I'm completely bald. I pointed it out and was asked if I wanted another drink? No..... the bill came and they didn't even comp the drink. Likely my last visit. Unfortunate too, being we live in Lake Geneva and used to frequent the restaurant by land and water.

Woof, these prices. Truly unbelievable price gouging as seen in the menu photos that I posted. Two fish tacos? $21. Caesar Salad with chicken? $24. Cheese Curds with three sliced of red bell pepper? $15. I live downtown Chicago and frequently dine at Michelin starred restaurants that have far better prices than Pier 290. There's simply no reason to dine here. Come here for a beer or two, enjoy the view, and then leave.

The setup at pier 290 is great. You truly cannot beat it in the area maybe region! Mars provides a similar vibe but different area. The service was great everyone's super pleasant friendly and enjoyable. Our waiter did a fine job and was timely. I came a year ago to the months and the food was great. But expensive. Today the food was kind of not good at all. The prices are that of the top restaurants in the region and even the city of Chicago! They don't come close to the same taste. While I sat at a table of 9 I think only I left somewhat happy with the meal. The steak was good. But not the price of Gibson's steakhouse good. The potato that came with the steak was over cooked and hard making it hard to choke down. The chicken was drier than the Sahara and the mashed potatoes kind of stuck to your mouth from being so dry you had to chase it with water. I really want to love this place because it's amazing. But if they're going to charge the prices they do you kind of want to enjoy the dinner. The short rib didn't melt in your mouth as you'd like a nice meat too. And sadly I don't have photos of the walleye but that as well came out, dry. I know it's Sunday night but it May just be a drink spot going forward, the views make that okay with me!

We came in on 10/22/23 for lunch ....its a very cute place with cool historic photos from old visitors...cute gift shop too. We just sat at the bar and had some deviled eggs - very good. Really beautiful view of the lake and nice outdoor too. The bartenders were not very attentive even though they were not very busy which is why we only had the DE and one drink. We will try this place again in the spring.

Food and drinks were excellent! We celebrated our anniversary and everyone was kind and made us feel special. Delicious dessert (berry cobbler) finished the meal perfectly.

Pier 290 was a great spot for lunch! We booked one of their igloos the day after Christmas for a little extra price and it did not disappoint! The views were fabulous so I recommend going during the day for the lake views. The food was very good and so were the drinks. Drinks were a little bit pricey but everything else was on point. Our waitress was also amazing and provided great recommendations and service. I'll definitely be back.

$40 per person to be swatting flies all dinner in the inside dining room. Even without that the food was just ok.

A wonderful atmosphere on the lake with friendly and efficient service. The hummus was awesome and the burgers were decent. We had a wonderful server and she was very attentive. Someone even came over to our table to check on us to ask how things were going. We had positive things to say. The only obscure observation was that all the servers were white women and the people who cleaned the tables and poured the water were young black women. It felt very awkward as the only two black people dinning in the restaurants. Perhaps it's time to change that around a bit, surely they can do more than wipe tables and pour water. Just an observation. In response to Adam's reply- Thank you and yes, I was well aware that at least one or two were there for three months on a J1Visa and then will return to their homeland. However, I also had a couple of conversations with other wait staff (who took orders and did more than wipe tables) who were Only there for the summer because they too were college students, but I won't state the obvious.

Overpriced faire, paying for the views which are beautiful ... tourist trap vibes ...did have live music which is a plus. We wont return unless someone has a burning desire to go there and is picking up the tab!

When it's Friday night in Wisconsin, it means 3 things. Fish Fry, Old Fashions and cheese curds! So our group headed over to Pier 290 on Williamson Bay on the famous Lake Geneva. We got in relatively early so the crowds weren't to bad. To give you and idea how popular Old Fashions are, most places have just one with different bourbons. Pier 290 has 3 different Old Fashions. Lol So many delicious looking entrees but we all came for the fish fry, so I'll have to wait till next time to try some of their other dishes. I had the Blue Gill (or Brim if you're from the South) lol, all you can eat fry. It was amazing. With small fish you have to be very careful not to over cook or they will come out like potato chips. Not the case here. A very tasty breading with an excellent crunch followed by a tender moist piece of fish. And the potato pancakes were amazing. Golden brown on the out side and soft and tender on the inside. The servers were amazing. Telling us all bout the history of the restaurant and Lake Geneva. Always filling the water glasses and clearing empty plates quickly. A+ plus job. A delicious meal and delightful time had by all.

Everything was great at our dinner, the steak, the lobster, the view, everything!! The servers were kind and attentive, and the music was an added treat!

We stopped in for a late lunch here today. On sundays kids eat free! We were sat out on their heated patio and it was really comfortable. There are some igloos along the water as well. The staff was friendly and pretty efficient. We ordered the artichoke dip, fish tacos with coleslaw, and the kids Mac and cheese with fries. I love that the artichoke dip came with fries and bread! The bread was super delicious. The fish tacos were really great too! Our daughter seems to enjoy the Mac and cheese as well, more so the fries actually! The ambiance inside is nice, upscale but not fancy. I wanted to walk through the store in the lobby/entrance. But didn't get a chance to. The bathrooms are actually really nice, but I didn't see a baby changing station, which is a ding for me.

One of our favorite restaurants! Excellent service, delicious food with a beautiful view! Highly recommend!!

This is a beautiful place on the lake to meet up with friends for a nice evening. The food is okay, depending on what you get. Friendly service. Cute gift shop.

A location like no other. The best available view of Lake Geneva , combined with a best in class restaurant, bar, and boat dock.

Food was awful. Do NOT eat here. Food came out quick like it was waiting for a while. The soup was not edible and the burger was charred to where that's all I could taste. Burger was over $22 and soup was $14. Never going back again :)

Ambiance is a 10! Food is a 5. Prices are ridiculous. Pier 290 - you can do so much better!

Have lived in Lake Geneva for 10 years and took a friend to Pier 290 for brunch... absolutely impressed. We ordered the Eggs Benedict w Mimosas... and the twist is that the base was a crispy potato pancake. Wait staff was excellent and view was incredible.

We came here for a quick weekend getaway. The food was good! The Ambiance was very pleasant. I love how the restaurant is on the water and no matter where you sit you get a good view of the water. Service is great here. We would definitely come back!

Came here on a Sunday with 6 friends around 3 PM. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside on the patio. The restaurant is beautifully done and has a lot of old history. It was clean and all the staff were super friendly and attentive. However the food was just okay. The ceviche was nothing to write home about and it was filled with mostly tomatoes and not much seafood. The crabcake was extremely small for $16. The spinach artichoke dip was the best thing we tried, I would recommend this over anything. I was very underwhelmed by my shrimp salad. The shrimp or just steamed and kind of rubbery. I was expecting them to be grilled or at least seasoned. My friends enjoyed their burgers and chicken sandwiches but nothing was very memorable. I would return here again possibly for drinks and light appetizers since it's a beautiful spot, but the quality isn't worth the price in my opinion.