The Boathouse

I give this one star for the cocktail that was $12 but pretty good size for the money. I've had quite a few people give great reviews and "love it". I am thinking they don't get out much. I had the lobster, it did not have any flavor, the side mashed potatoes were described to be creamy, buttery yummy. They were gross and covered in cheese. We did order the crab and artichoke dip with pita bread which was fairly good. But $60 for my meal alone....definitely not worth the price! Pros: null Cons: null more

The Boathouse was highly reccomended by co workers and our Realtor, so off we went. We arrived a bit early for our reservation and were promptly seated. Cocktails were ordered, the Mohito was attractive and tasty,, my wife's Martini was not so much, it seemed to lack alcohol. On to the starter- the Calamari was lightly battered and properly cooked, quite nice. Two dipping suaces were provided, one a very generic cocktail type mostly ketchup blah, the other a spicy cream quite delightful. we both had salads one Ceasar the other boathouse salad(the iceberg type), skip these , not worth the price for stomach space. The menu lacked depth and a bit overpriced considering the portion size. We both had the crab stuffed shrimp which was good . Pros: null Cons: null more

Well, I think the time we want to spend Pros: Nice outdoor deck and view Cons: Bugs and quality of food is not equal to the cost more

I thought this was going to be a very nice experience. The restaurant is very pretty with a nice view of the water. When the food arrived, so did all the flys. We felt like we had to fight for our food the whole time, which was not that good. For what they're charging, they need to raise the quality of the food. $16.00 for a piece of shrimp, 1 scallop, and 1 bite of tuna with a mound of rice and noodles. I will not return. My husband left hungry because he didn't want to battle flys and stopped to get a burger somewhere else. Pros: Beautiful view Cons: Food is below standards for the price more

I have been going to the Boathouse since it was sunday's but recently i have become disappointed in the place. Very overpriced the service is average at best, The management team is really is not all together. Pros: Location Cons: Food and Service more

I went there last week with my kids to have a special night out and great view, over priced. I had the salmon that had no flavor it actually tasted like water. One of my daughters order the homemade chicken fingers which came out cold and the chicken finger's where very over done. I explained this to the manager on duty and she look confused about what I was saying to her and I felt she had no idea how to handle this minor situation that had occured. ended up just leaving and going somewhere else. Very saddened and will never return, have shared my experience with family and friends. Very sad!!!!!!!!! Pros: Location Cons: poor food, bad management more

We decided to celebrate our 3 Year Anniversary/Valentine's Day at the Boathouse while visiting Richmond. Although our reservation was rather late (9:45pm), we had a very nice time. They had live jazz when we arrived which really helped set a romantic mood. However, we only got to enjoy for about 15 minutes. We were given the option of ordering from the regular menu or a prix fixe menu which allowed each person to pick 4 courses for approximately $40 a person. We chose the regular menu as my boyfriend was set on trying their oysters and I did not find anything on the special menu to be enticing. To start our dinner we had half a dozen oysters (3 Bluepoint and 3 Chesapeake) and the lobster bisque. Our waiter, Daniel, suggested that the Chesapeake were saltier. They indeed were and were more delicious than the forgettable Bluepoint. The only drawback to the dish was that they only served one lemon. The lobster bisque was very delicious and had a slight kick to it. It would have been much better if it had few more chunks of lobster meat, as it only had one big chunk. As our entrees, we had the Wood Grilled Mahi Mahi with mango pineapple salsa and the Mojito Glazed Duck Breast with couscous. I was a little disappointed with the Mahi Mahi as it wasn't very flavorful aside from the mango pineapple salsa, which was also a little bland. The mashed potatoes, on the other hand, were topped with melted cheese and were delicious! The duck came with a side of couscous, which my boyfriend had never had before. He absolutely loved the couscous! The texture was amazing, as it was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were mild but sufficient. The duck had a great taste. Although the portion was not as big as he would have liked, it was very well-cooked duck. It was a little on the overcooked side for his taste, but delicious nonetheless. Total cost for dinner for 2 was about $70 (greatfor a Valentine's Day Dinner at a restaurant with a great ambiance). Pros: Intimate ambiance, great couscous and mashed potatotes, good service Cons: Very hard to find, small portions more

After readng previous reviews, I hesitated, but my experience was almost perfect. The arugula, gorgonzola, pear, and pistachio salad was very good. The crispy shrimp and avocado roll appetizer, was great, and my rare filet mignon was excellent. I almost didn't need a knife to cut the filet. The dessert, berries and ice cream, was delicious. Service was good. It seemed that there was a server per table.The only drawback was the number of flies all around. An aquaintance told me that 2 days later, there were no flies. That would make the Boathouse perfect. Pros: Scenery, food, service Cons: Flies more

This place is one of my favorite restaurants in the entire Richmond metro area. With a view that is spectacular, you can enjoy it's unique atmosphere and cuisine while relaxing to some live music. The food has always been outstanding, including the Sunday Brunch buffet. The outdoor bar including dining is like no other in the area. I have been there at least a dozen times with no complaints only raves. Whether you chose the Crab and Asparagus Eggs Benidict or the Farmer's Market Strata, you can't go wrong on Sunday's unless you don't order a mimosa or bloddy mary to go with it:) Pros: Definitely the view, unique and tastey food Cons: none for me more

We went to the Boathouse on a Tuesday night in torrential rain, so they were not very busy and our service was excellent. The bread, we all thought was very good. I had lobster. It was good and I loved the garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Our big disappointment was the crabcakes. They were advertised as "lump", but were clearly NOT made from lump crabmeat and were not very good. Too much "filler". My husband's cobbler was a disappointment, but I loved the chocolate cake, which was actually more of a mousse. Our bill for 4 was only $150 and we all had a cocktail or two and dessert. Would like to go back to try the pizza and sit outside. Pros: great bread, good service (but on a very slow night) Cons: crab cakes were not lump crab meat more

One of the best local establishments found in Richmond. Great atmosphere, food, and service. Great prices. We searched online for a local restaurant & found the Boathouse. Reviews were not great, but we decided to try anyway. We will be back! You cannot rely on past reviews. more

Food: Mine was great. I ordered crab stuffed shrimp with mashed potatoes and green beans. No complaints from me. My husband ordered steak cooked medium well. They brought a nice size steak that was cooked correctly - looked and tasted good. Later on, he wasn't feeling so good. Pretty sure it was the steak. Pros: location & view Cons: service more

Let me start by saying that the atmosphere is great, and the view of the lake is unbeatable. But I have dined at The Boathouse three times now, and my last visit will definitely stay that way. Pros: Beautiful view and decor Cons: Food quality is inconsistent at best, more often than not inedible. more

Great broiled fish, vegetables, baked potato, and bread. Service was also great. Price was not that much, about the same as the major chains. Best water view restaurant in central Virginia. Will definitly return on a regular basis. Pros: Quality of food, atmosphere, and service. Cons: Parking is a little awkward, but not a real problem. more