The Boathouse

One of the best outdoor patio eateries in Madison! The view is amazing. The menu may not be extensive, but the food is prepared very well.Our server was very friendly and helpful with the menu. The cheese curds and chicken salad sandwich were my favorites, and of course the always-tasty truffle fries! The curds had a nice crunchy texture. The fries were crunchy with just the right amount of parmigiana and truffle seasoning.... Mmmm. The chicken salad had chunks of fresh tasting chicken with the right amount of crunch added by the celery and apple. The nutty texture of the walnuts helps to round out the sandwich's taste.Overall, I liked the food, and I LOVED the view. I wonder if you could just take you food down to the adjacent dock and relax in the Adirondack chairs there? I guess I'll find out, on my next visit.

We were looking for a casual, relaxing dinner spot after driving back from Wisconsin Dells. We felt like we hit the jackpot with this place. The ambiance is outstanding because they have about ten or so outdoor tables overlooking the lake. Service was good from both the hostess and our waitress. They have appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and entrees. I opted for the chilled shrimp sandwich. It also had cucumbers and tomatoes in a creamy tarragon sauce. It tasted great. For sides, you can have chips, truffle fries, or a side salad. I had the chips, and they tasted great. My husband had the chicken salad on a croissant with the truffle fries. They were delicious.

Right on the lake, so definitely a beautiful view. The food was casual, and pretty good, but the service could have been better. A fork was dropped and then not picked up for the entire time my group sat there. We also had to ask for share plates, and refills instead of them being offered when food arrived.

Nice to find a quiet place for lunch on the lake. I had the fish tacos that were excellent. Great view of the lake.

Terrible service. Food was good and atmosphere was very relaxed. Half the restaurant was empty but server refused to sit us saying they were waiting for reservations. 1 bartender for 30 people while other servers are just sitting g around talking g. Terrible.

I almost passed up the opportunity to visit the Boathouse due to some negative Yelp reviews...I'm so glad I stuck with it on our recent visit to Madison. For those not local to the area, it's a bit tough to find - Fortunately we were directed to just keep heading towards the water line of Lake Mendota until we couldn't go any further. With great views, wonderful service (thanks Lily) and excellent food and drinks, this is a great place to get a quality meal at a reasonable price. Whether visiting from out of town, or just for a local meet-up, this is an ideal spot.

I ordered the Mahi Fish Tacos. Each order includes three tacos featuring citrus-marinated Mahi Mahi, chipotle aioli, salsa verde, and crisp nappa cabbage, all nestled in soft corn tortillas and served with a side of fries. The tacos were simply divine, bursting with freshness and flavor. The Mahi Mahi was exceptionally fresh and delicious. While The Boathouse was charming on the day of my visit, it undoubtedly shines even brighter in the summer, with its picturesque views of the lake.

This restaurant was a little difficult to find. Once I realized it was IN the hotel and there was a parking deck-I was delighted! To say parking around the school was difficult would be an understatement. Service was excellent and view from our table EXCEPTIONAL. I was in town with a friend who wasn't familiar with cheese curds and these didn't disappoint. The batter was light & crispy and sauce a little different than your usual ranch. Fish & chips were great and the chicken strawberry salad was phenomenal. Cheese and dill dressing NICE! I'll definitely be back to bring my husband.

Beautiful view and high quality, diverse food options. Took a while to be seated but the staff was very friendly and attentive once we were seated. Glad we stopped here while traveling through Wisconsin for the summer.

I was nervous when I saw the low Yelp rating, but I have nothing bad to say about this spot. It's position on the lake and the view can't be beat! Even if the food was bad, it's worth it for the ambiance alone, but the food was great! I had the salmon power bowl and it was delicious. We sat on the second floor by the window and it was great. Definitely recommend!