Orion Boat House — Restaurant in Lake Orion

The views of the lake are gorgeous, and the relaxed ambiance of the restaurant is warm and inviting. This makes it a good place to unwind with family and friends. With that being said...

The food was a hit or miss. The fried calamari was flavourful and a must try. The steak tips, despite being mixed in sauce, lacked flavor. The fish tacos were average. My main entree was the shrimp fettuccine alfredo. I never knew fettuccine alfredo could be so tasteless. The sauce was minimal, but I didn't think much of it because I figured it would be full of flavor. Sadly, it was not. Next is a combination of service and food. I wasn't offered any parmesan, which could have definitely helped give it some flavor. And, when I asked for the bread it came with, I was told it didn't come with any. Odd. I double-checked the menu, and sure enough, it did, in fact, come with bread. I did try some of the salmon fresca, and that was amazing! Probably one of their best dishes there.

Service was horrible and truly ruined any chance of improving on the experience. After we ordered, we never saw our server. I had ordered an Arnold Palmer but received tea instead. We had to approach the bar to get service. I did flag down another waitress, whom I knew was not ours, hoping she could at least let our waitress know we needed service. She said, "I'll be with you in a minute," and walked off. Understandable she has her own tables, but she went off to do other things such as cleaning and setting a new table. I'm not sure if that's indicative of the teamwork/work environment there. Was it busy, yes, but considering they work by reservations, you'd think they would be better prepared. I also found it odd that the waitress didn't know the dish was served with bread- as they should know the menu. She did say she was new and apologized multiple times, which is very understandable. However, the cooks should also know what's on the dish, so even if she didn't know, you would think the dish would have still come out with it. The bread I was given ended up being the appetizer baguette chips. Again, I'm not sure how the ball was dropped here, and I understand it's just bread, but because of all the other issues, this was just another issue to add on. Even if our waitress was new, the gaps between receiving service were too large, and it was avoidable if the other servers or staff (bussers) would have stepped in to help. We had originally planned on dessert there but skipped it due to the service/wait times.

I must say, the food prices were very reasonable. So, the lackluster food and service made me feel as if the prices were the trade-off.

Would I dine here again? 🤔 The views and the ambiance will most likely bring me back. With that being said, I would probably stick to appetizers and drinks as opposed to a...

Our visit to the Lake Orion Boat House over Labor Day weekend was truly memorable, thanks in large part to our incredible server, Braedon. After arriving from Miami and settling into our lakeside retreat, we were eager to enjoy a lunch with a view. We found the Boat House and Braedon made our experience exceptional! His attentive and friendly service was a highlight, and he went above and beyond by recommending local attractions in the area, which was incredibly helpful for us as out-of-towners.

We were so impressed with Braedon's service on Saturday that we decided to return the next day for brunch—specifically to have him as our server again. Even though his section was full, the staff graciously accommodated our request to have him as our server, and we had another wonderful experience. Braedon's dedication and care were evident in every interaction, and his positive attitude made our dining experience stand out.

Dishes ordered: Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Strawberry Caprese Salad, Boat House Breakfast - all dishes were good. We did want the club sandwich but they were out of turkey and ham, which was interesting.

However, it's important to mention that our overall experience was somewhat overshadowed by a few unprofessional behaviors exhibited by the manager on duty during both of our visits. These moments were noticeable and somewhat uncomfortable, and we believe this manager could benefit from further attention and training. Given that both my friend and I are in the hospitality industry and own several businesses ourselves, we understand the importance of having a skilled and professional team. While Braedon's performance was exemplary and demonstrated exactly what outstanding service looks like, the manager's conduct did not align with the same high standards. We encourage the owners to review this to ensure that all aspects of their establishment reflect the high level of service and professionalism exemplified by Braedon. Despite these awkward displays by the manager, Braedon’s outstanding service has left a lasting impression, and we look forward to returning in the future. We also welcome the owner(s) to reach out to us if they’re interested in hearing exactly what happened during our visit so they can take necessary steps to improve the overall experience. Thank you, Braedon, for being such an outstanding representative of the Lake Orion Boat House and exceptional person. Keep up the...

As my previous employer . I worked at Orion Boat House for the better part of a year. Starting at the lowest of the low, I worked my way through the back of house.  I saw each and every high and low of the place with the owner, managers to every employee, past and present. Each of which I took the time to get to know personally. What a rollercoaster! I found love there and lost it; I made some great friends and some enemies, unfortunately; it sounds cliche, but I met family. Most importantly, I found myself. I'd say the place made me man, but I don't like labels . I had a crash course to the real world and life in 12 months. I'd say I wish I had been warned, but I was.

Family meal comes and goes; it's great food occasionally, but don't become dependent on it. It took some time to weed through the people that wanted to stick through the hard things, but I'm confident to say the people left over—management and staff—are some good people and helped teach me some really hard lessons. Justin, the head chef, and Hunter/Cody, the Souse's, I respect fully.They know how to run a kitchen well. The food and menu are great, and they're willing to make changes to the menu when needed.

Nick and amanda of front of house, well they're front of house. But they're fun, and they know how to get things done. Don't show up expecting easy work; come as an adult with a solid work ethic and a yearning to learn. If you show respect, the place will give it back. If you work there thinking it's something to blow off and disrespect, not being able to set proper boundaries or looking for a catharsis , you'll probably be writing reviews with 1 star, that's on you. If you know how to properly communicate your struggles and when and how you need time off, they will work with you without question or ever hold it against you.

To my knowledge, they have their staff set in stone at this point; that could have changed since my departure. This restaurant will always have a special place in my heart. I hope it's here to stay in the town of Lake Orion. If you're looking for a good summer gig on the lake, this place is the one for you. The money and experiences will follow. To the staff past and present: Thank you,...