Jack M
Google
Pier 290 has a genuinely strong atmosphere and interior character. The restaurant leans into Lake Geneva history in a way that's really well done--photos, cruise captains, and memorabilia throughout. I especially enjoyed the Lake Geneva Playboy Club items.
That said, the overall experience didn't match the price point. We went today around 2:00 PM as a party of two, and service was slow despite only about five other occupied tables. The biggest issue: we were initially brought the wrong bill (another table's), and after about 15 minutes, we ended up having to find someone to correct it.
Food was average for the cost. The fish tacos were fine but nothing special. The meatloaf was a single slice with less than a cup of potatoes--felt sparse on the plate and could have used another side or component to make it feel like a complete entrée. With one glass of wine, we were around $60, which would be easier to justify if the service and food execution were sharper.
One note: while it's "on the lake," the views are fairly limited at lake level--you mostly see piers and the cruise boats--so for us the main draw was the ambiance inside. Unfortunately, the ambiance couldn't make up for average, overpriced food and a service miss.
If you go, go for the atmosphere--just set expectations accordingly on value and service.