Paddlers Pub — Restaurant in Salisbury

We have been eating here for 6+ years, back when it was operated directly by Waterhouses. For the last several years, it has been run by a group that also operates the Cattails restaurant in Brandon, which unfortunately closed earlier this summer.

Paddlers has a lot to offer. There biggest detractor has always been the service, most particularly long wait times for food. The summer they seem to be a little more on their game, which is why I'm leaving a 4 star rating. Overall it is probably a 3.5 star restaurant. Here are my rankings for the various elements:

Atmosphere: 5 stars. The only place to dine on Lake Dunmore. Views are spectacular and Waterhouse's offers a beach (additional fee) if you want to allow kids to swim/play.

Service: 3 stars. They are more on their game this year than in summer's past, but there can still be long wait times, for both tables, service and food delivery. The waitresses and bartenders have always been friendly. When they are busy is when it seems like they really struggle, especially the kitchen.

Bar area: 4 stars. Good drink specials and the usually have a couple good craft beers. Paddler's Punch is my go to beverage.

Food: 3-4 stars. Depends on the day of the visit. Overall it is 4 stars. Sometime they can be off. The pizza is not very good, stick to the regular menu.

Overall, I'd recommend eating here, especially if you've never been. If they are busy, expect longer than normal wait times for about all aspects...

Tried out on a Friday evening in high season while staying nearby. Was expectedly busy, waited about 25 minutes for a table. Seating inside and out located directly on the water. Local place for very casual dining established for quite some time. Seated inside high top. Very friendly service even though they were exceptionally busy. Kitchen was keeping up reasonably well, waiting about 20 minutes for a shared fisherman platter. Ok sized piece of cod, probably packaged frozen , with 6 battered shrimp, also packaged with sweet potato fries. Fish was fine, shrimp overcooked in the fryer, and the fries were very good. Beer was ice chilled. Overpriced at $20 for what was on the plate so you are paying the summer tourist, on the water pricing. Beer prices were very reasonable. Loud and boisterous with kids running around and a few bar patrons imbibing at a weekend pace. Not meant to be a bad review. Actually our kind of place, just at a time we usually try to avoid. Love to try them again off weekend, and/or not in high season to experience a less frenetic, more subdued local business and try a less packaged meal to truly see what the place is capable of. Indications are it could be a much better experience as they have all the potential.

Exit to the parking area really needs some better lighting as you walk out onto a stone walkway in almost total darkness.

Looking forward to another try. They earned that much with the service, location...

First impressions from the outside: fun, perfect location, a locals spot for a drink, an ideal tourist destination

Final impressions after dinner: service staff is tired, unhappy, and overall not customer focused. The hostess was not friendly or welcoming but seating was prompt. Sadly, we did not get any greeting until 10 minutes after we sat followed by an apology that they were so busy, observation: there were 3 open tables inside. Then, the waitstaff takes our drink order and does not return for another 8 minutes - while we watched the staff running around like they were clueless. Food was okay but nothing too special.

Suggestions: hire capable staff who are experienced in this setting; treat staff better so that they can treat customers better; develop a better hostess system for seating where communication is ongoing and no customer waits 10 minutes to order drinks after being sat. My gut says that this spot is too busy for their own capacity. Fill the gaps and try adopting a resort...