The Boathouse — Restaurant in Madison

So some friends and I and our children went to check out tacos and tequila night at The Boathouse and when we got there they told us it would be about a 25-30 minute wait. Not a problem we grabbed a couple drinks from the bar and headed outside to enjoy the nice weather as we waited for a table to be ready. Now we had a big group there was six of us so we took the big table and out of the six of us we had three separate orders. Our waitress came and right from the beginning I knew it was going to be a hassle. She asked us what our drink orders were and if we want an appetizers we gave that waited about 15 minutes for our drinks to come and then another 20 minutes or so went by before we stopped our waitress to place our order. How about 30 minutes later our food comes out to the table however one person who was paying individually didn't even get their meal. The rest of us sat around and waited to eat to see if our waitress is going to come back and check on us and then we could ask for the meal that was not served however she never came to check on us. I believe it was a manager who was running around who we stopped and asked where the other meal was at and she looked surprised as if the order was not even put it so we waited another 20 minutes for his meal to come and in the meantime everyone else's meal got cold. We had to stop the waitress once and I believe the manager to get refills on drinks and then at the end to ask for to go boxes and a bill. Our waitress never came to check on us never asked us how our meal was and when she realized that she messed up and didn't put in one of the orders all she could say over and over again was how sorry she was. When we were ready to head out and we asked for the bills I was surprised that the meal for the gentleman that had to wait an extra 30 minutes for his food didn't even get half off of his order. However I still tipped because I know how hard it is out here and I know that people who work for tips earn it. Now the whole table probably spent about $300 and I don't even think she got $20 in tips. I was so excited for this experience however I don't think I will be returning when it's so busy. Maybe I'll try a different day I'll let you know how the service is. In the end I got sunburned I ate cold tacos and the people I was with were not happy so my evening did not turn out the way I thought it...

What a view!

We had lunch there on a Wednesday afternoon.

We parked a little over a block away. Free street parking. I could see if it was busy parking could be a problem. As far as I know I don't' think the restaurant offers parking?

The restaurant is located in a hotel, on the bottom two floors. The first floor was closed. The lower floor has a small bar area with an outdoor terrace right on Lake Mendota.

There were one or two open tables but the receptionist said either they were holding them for reservations or something about the waitress was slammed earlier and taking a break? She said we could wait 15 min or take a table in the bar area. It was such a nice weather day that we decided to wait. In less than 10 minutes she ended up giving us one of the tables that was originally open.

My wife had a Blue Moon beer which she said was super cold and very good.

We ordered some chips and salsa and enjoyed the excellent view.

There were about 2 or 3 birds which took an interest in our chips and were annoying, but what do you expect being outside.

The chips and salsa were ok. They advertised the chips were made in-house. I thought they needed more salt and could be a bit crisper. I enjoyed that the salsa was pureed, but we both agreed it was a bit bland.

My wife had the shrimp roll with chips. I had the cheeseburger with up- charged $2 fries.

She said her sandwich was good but could use less cucumbers and more shrimp but would get it again.

I ordered my cheeseburger plain with just cheese. It was done medium which I prefer. The patty was thicker than normal but a bit smaller than the bun. It appeared they attempted to toast the bun but it was not crisp. It was ok but would try something different next time. The fries were a bit underdone and semi warm. Would not get them again.

I would go back again to enjoy the...

The Boat House offered a delightful experience, despite a few initial challenges. Finding parking was a bit of a chore, and after a 10-minute walk, we arrived to discover a long flight of stairs – not the most accessible entrance. The hostess stand wasn't particularly well-situated either.

However, these drawbacks quickly faded away thanks to the fantastic staff. They even righted a minor social injustice by seating us before the person who cut in line (major points!). The atmosphere was lively, but with a more dressed-up crowd, reminiscent of a boat club.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show: the food! We started with coconut shrimp served with a tangy orange chili sauce – absolutely delicious, though the presentation could have been a bit more polished. Our waiter, Evan, enthusiastically recommended the BLT with fresh kettle chips, proclaiming it as his favorite. He did it a disservice – it was phenomenal, easily the best dish of the night.

We also indulged in the quintessential Wisconsin Friday tradition: fish and chips. The cod was encased in a perfect light and crispy batter, just as it should be. The fries weren't quite as impressive as the kettle chips, but the house-made tarter sauce was a revelation – an explosion of flavor that elevated the entire dish.

The drinks were strong enough to satisfy even the most discerning palate, without being overpowering. If you prefer something lighter, a tall option would be a perfect choice.

Overall, The Boat House is a charming spot with a beautiful location, balanced by outstanding staff, a relaxed vibe (despite the initial dressier impression), and truly fantastic food. Just be prepared for the parking situation...