If you can find it, outstanding stop in a vacuum of land river and small towns. What a nice drive midpoint between Quincy IL and Springfield IL and the to be greeted by a nice facility, on the scenic Illinois River. Hang out on the riverbank and watch the barges go by, or enjoy a nice dinner inside, upstairs along the windowed wall. It's an hour ride for me- great wind therapy on my motorcycle weekend ride. Have had the clam chowder. Much better than one would expect. The scored buffalo fish plate was perfect, as good as you will get. read more

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Our dinner and appetizer was great. We had the seasoned ribeye steak and for an appetizer we had the cream cheese and sausage, stuffed jalapeños wrapped in bacon. Our server was the bartender as we chose to sit at the bar and she was awesome. read more

KG says best catfish sandwich ever. It wasn't battered. Great hot cheese curds. Quick service. Pleasant view. Saw an eagle from our window table. read more

First time at Boatel. Our waitress Connie was great. She was very sweet and attentive. The food was very tasty and reasonably priced. Would recommend everything we had. Jalapeño hush puppy fondue, stuffed mushrooms, cheese curds, clam chowder (made daily), salmon, crab cakes, grilled shrimp, filet and the prime rib special. We will definitely make a return trip. One downside was gps took us down some gravel roads between fields. Recommend using a map to avoid the single lane gravel roads. read more

Always a great place to go. Friendly people and excellent food. Live bands on the weekends are a plus.

Food was good and tasty. The steaks, catfish fritters, and fried chicken are recommended. Has Poppyseed dressing that is excellent. Servers are very friendly and the view of the river is mesmerizing. read more

Middle of nowhere by the Illinois river! Super nice building, river views, very friendly service already planning on going back! Walk the sand bar after and enjoy the views! Food was great had Cajun shrimp pasta was great! read more

Great food, reasonably priced. Great view of the river and good service. The hushpupies are awesome. Highly recommend. ​ read more

Recently met a small group of old high school classmates for lunch and a visit. The meals were great and the service was excellent - had a great visit. Upon leaving the restaurant we discovered my truck had a flat tire. Upon learning that we were experiencing difficulty, three of the staff quickly gathered tools and removed the flat tire and put on the spare. We tried to pay for the outstanding help but they refused to accept anything. The meal, waitresses, and staff definitely impressed me. I've recommended the restaurant to numerous friends, and I will continue to do so. J. Shank read more

Not sure how the previous reviewer gave four stars then such a mixed review? Beautiful scenery & restaurant. My family & I have eaten here several times & each time have enjoyed our experience. Newer restaurant took them a bit to work out the kinks as any place has issues when first opening but owners are genuine in their effort to get it right. Food suggestions, the Mac N Cheese is delicious if you like a white sauce, if your expecting yellow boxed Mac n cheese do not order this for you or your children. Appetizers- Garlic Parmesan Wings-yum! Home made chips with blossom sauce Fried pickles Fried mushrooms Stuffed mushrooms Pasta- lobster Mac n cheese Chicken Alfredo Fish- it's all good! Catfish fritters & blackened catfish. Chicken- try the bourbon glazed chicken breast, it's amazing even better when fried & dipped in bourbon sauce. Pork Chops are large & have plenty for leftovers Highly recommend the house salad dressing. If you do have any issues the manager or owners will address it immediately. Had one issue & it was quickly remedied. read more

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I love the place for a nice sit down dinner when there is the time or a special occasion to go up there and eat. The food is wonderful and the staff is attentive and friendly. My only complaint is that they refuse to do carry out meal service. There are just times when one person wants to bring home a great dinner for both. It's a shame that we were both deprived of catfish fritters and that the Boatel missed the sale of two dinners. No win. S. H. read more

Best catfish fritters I've ever tasted! Worth the trip. Next time I'll order the catfish fritters and their blooming onion and call it a meal! read more

Was not impressed with the food here. We were a party of 4 on Saturday night. The restaurant was less than half full. We waited approx 30 min for our food. 3 of ordered fried catfish. The sweet potato fries were stone cold and half burnt and the fish was lukewarm at best. I didn't send the dishes back because we didn't want to wait another 30 minutes. The staff was nice and relatively attentive and the place itself is very nice and clean, with great view of the river. I won't be returning for the food though. Just too expensive for what we got. read more

Food was excellent- ribeye and catfish fritters Awesome waitress. Will return again! read more

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Beautiful building,great views of river,waitress was very nice great service restrooms clean good parking but food over price! Two in are party Had catfish fillet dinner which was ok but be and wife had pork tenderloin sandwiches over breaded and over cooked tough fries good had onion blossom it ok but fried mushrooms are slices and over cooked this is second time there not sure about third read more

So very disappointed! This place has always been a staple for my family. We always make the 90 minute trip from Springfield (One way) for lobster Mac and cheese and cat fish. Today sadly will be our last trip. The waitress was great but the lobster Mac and cheese was AWFUL! Did not taste the same at all and the noodles which are usually al dente spiral noodles and these were soft over cooked horns that were mushy blah with watery sauce that tasted leftover from the fridge. If your going to change the noodle shape or are out of the normal noodle notify the customer that the dish will be different when they order Definitely didn't taste like a $20 dish. So disappointed!!! The waitress was great so I didn't complain and still tipped her well but the food was beyond disgusting and I didn't even take it with me! Don't bother making the trip to Naples it's not the same as when it opened read more

It's about the location. Following the Illinois River south by road we wended our way into Naples, Illinois to the riverside Evandys Boatel. What the heck is this huge and beautiful restaurant doing here in this very small town? While the inside is huge, clearly the action is outside where tables line the river with your choice of being on the veranda or tucked back under the restaurant protected from sun or rain. The food? Good enough. I had a shrimp basket accompanied by some fresh crispy cole slaw and a wonderful Amberbock (16oz/$3). My traveling companion had a steak sandwich most of which went into our cooler for snacks later in the day. No complaints. Arriving about 2PM on a 95 degree day, the place was empty except for one other table so service was attentive. read more

If this was summer time I imagine it would earn 5 stars given the patio/outdoor area looked amazing, but we couldn't wait to try it. Tucked away in a small town along the river, Evandys did not disappoint. Tried the Jalepeno Hush Puppies and Stuffed Mushrooms to start, 5/5 for both. The Cajun Shrimp Pasta was ok, pretty heavy and not memorable, but service was great and we plan on returning since we were told they do seafood boils on the weekend during the summer (!). read more

Beautiful place on the Illinois river, outstanding building and atmosphere, wonderful waitresses, the we got two pork chop meals and frog leg meal, and they were all very well done... not real appetizing. My chicken was good, but the rice was very dry. It's a long drive for us... sure will go back.. but will request they not burn our food. read more

The restaurant was busy tonight but it seemed as though they had enough help. But our waitress was terrible!! We were only a party of two but we had to wait 20 minutes just for a drink reorder. We had to wait 2 hours for our food and then the rice was cold. We ordered grilled shrimp how hard is that to cook?? Then when we went out to our car it looked like two of the staff were smoking a joint. Might explain what is wrong with the help. read more

Made a reservation for a window table-plenty of tables were vacant for the duration of our meal-we were seated behind a post and with the large circular structure blocking our view of the river. The food was adequate but not very good. Disappointing. read more

Love this place. Good views and atmosphere! And the food has always been delicious every time.

First time here and we loved it! View of the river is beautiful and the setting is very comfortable. Wait staff was attentive. I requested special prep on my catfish and it was done perfectly. Husband had fried catfish that was good and large portions. Prices are very reasonable. Highly recommend you stop here! read more

Evandys Boatel - View from the patio - American Near Me - Naples, Illinois

What a horrible place and experience. We went there with a group just this last Sunday May 30 2021 and the staff was uneducated and rude and it was sad. I would not recommend this place in the least and our group will certainly never go back. They are clueless about service and customer service. The waitress was rude and very unhelpful and should have stayed home. Can not imagine a more unpleasant woman serving food. The manage was also rude and clueless and the child hostess had no idea what was going on. The only nice person was the young woman bussing the tables. Do yourself and your friends a favor and avoid this sketchy place at all costs. read more

Great service I love The food was fantastic the hush puppies were great the catfish was fried to perfection and most of all the view of the river how beautiful read more

Great atmosphere, good place to drink a few beers with friends. Waiting time for our food is always an hour or more. We went there tonight at 4:30 to beat the rush, there were a handful of tables there and our food was still over an hour. Everyone's food was barely warm. The soup was the easiest meal & the last one out. The steaks were described as being thick and with a special marinade. The steak was barely a half inch thick and the only flavor it had was the char on the outside. It's one thing to wait an hour for your food if it is hot & good when it arrives, but waiting an hour for food that seems like it has been sitting for awhile & is barely warm is another. Over the years we have dealt with this almost every time we go there. I would hope they would get it right at some point. read more

Went there for Kim's bday Sunday. Good food, great atmosphere and location. Daughter thought he fries were great. Catfish fritters were too. Live entertainment outside on the riverfront was fun. Will return. read more

Building is great, scenic, and atmosphere is good. Downfall is the time in which it takes to get your order. Even if it's not busy it's taken at least an hour to get food after you order not including appetizers. Food itself is 50/50 just depends on the day but all the appetizers have been good. Put a good chef on salary there and it would do really well. read more

Buffalo fish dinner was cooked to long and hush puppies was hard as a rock. Not worth the money it cost.

Love this place great food just depends on what server you get to know if your night there is good or lunch but overall great just wish prices weren't so high on the food read more

My wife and I just went there on May 26 for our 40th. anniversary. Everything about the place was perfect. Beautiful place. Had reservations and was immediately seated. Our waitress Cynthia was the best. We ordered mushrooms for the appetizer and got a heaping plate full. Our prime rib dinners were cooked just the way we ordered them. My only regret was that I wanted to finish with a piece of their pie but had no room left. I also impressed with how inexpensive their mixed drinks are. Looking forward to our next visit. Wayne & Mary Ann Nelson read more

We just ate here for our anniversary dinner and had a wonderful experience. The original Boatel was a childhood memory of mine as a traditional family favorite. We had the stuffed mushrooms (great) and jalapeño sliders (stuffed with cream cheese and sausage, then wrapped in bacon and broiled, yum!) for apps. I had crab legs and picked a side salad (good sweet Italian house dressing) and mac & cheese (Alfredo like sauce, try it!) for dinner and my husband had crab cakes and the same sides. All was cooked perfectly, good sized portions, and delicious! We were also impressed with prices when all of that came to under $50. Service was also fabulous. We'll be back for sure! read more

Very good menu featuring seafood, steaks, prime rib, pasta, salads and sandwiches. I had the Catfish Fritters with hushpuppies and mac & cheez and it was all very good. Service could use a bit of improvement but it is not bad. The restaurant is definitely a "destination spot" as it is located on the scenic Illinois River but it is in the middle of nowhere. The building is brand new and state-of-the-art and one of the nicest places I have seen. It has a huge bar and a huge dining room, Satellite tv's, fireplace, etc. The lower level features outdoor patio next to the river with plenty of seating and a huge firepit. Patio is a great place to relax (anytime)or catch a band (weekends). They also have a small convenience store for the boaters or anyone needing a quick supply. The owners have done a great job developing this property and hopefully it will be a success for them! Although it is hard to find I would definitely recommend this restaurant!! I will be back!!! read more

18 of us rode for lunch arriving 11 am. Food delivery was pretty good this time. Much improved from our previous visits. Hopefully this is an indication management/owners have finally fixed their slow food problem. Our waitress was really good waiting on our group. She is a 5 star. Food was good as usual. read more

Well worth the drive from Quincy. Please order the hush puppy fondue appetizer! Great meal and wonderful service!

Amazing! I personally love the reasonable priced food they have on their menu. I really appreciate the cleanliness. This is probably the cleanest establishment I have been in. The servers are always attentive, even when the place is packed. I enjoy the view of the river as well. read more

View great on the river atmosphere clean and welcoming. Service was just okay not excellent. Waiter offered refills on drinks but didn't come back for a long while. Food was wonderful we had the prime rib sandwich and the fried chicken special. Fries are extra crispy loved them. Over all we'll be back and Ethan's the waiter will have a quicker step in him. read more

This restaurant is in the middle of nowhere right on the Illinois river. We drove about 45 min on a Sunday afternoon to go have lunch after church. It is impressive when you arrive and when you enter. We were greeted right away and seated at the bar per our request. Our drink order was taken promptly. My advice is- stop at the drinks. Our food was completely horrible. We ordered clam chowder to start. It came after our entrees. My husband ordered a lobster roll and hush puppies. His lobster roll had NO lobster just chopped up shrimp and we asked about that. Chef said the lobster roll is a 50 50 mix of lobster and shrimp. Well we are from New England and know a little bit about lobster. There wasn't any in that sandwich. And- the menu didn't mention any shrimp in the lobster roll. Maybe I have a shrimp allergy????? Lawsuit. The hush puppies were not edible. I got the fried chicken. I'd rather have eaten a Swanson frozen dinner. The mashed potatoes were from a box and the Asian veg mix was mush mush mush. Ok and remember our soup?? Well as the bartender washed dirty glasses,the dirty water was plopping into my soup. Don't bother coming here hungry. And the people that own this place don't care their food is horrible. read more

Evandys Boatel - What a great view of the restaurant when you pull up - American Near Me - Naples, Illinois

Had reservations for Mother's Day buffet. Got reservations 1 week in advance. Arrived 15 minutes prior to my reserved time to find a large group of people all with reservations blocking entrance. When the reservation was made it was specified that one or more members of the group had mobility issues and a reqeuest for a accessible table during a "down" time was requested to accommodate. My group waited 1 and one half hours for seating.....WITH RESERVATION! This restaurant also has inadequate handicap parking and gravel lots that are difficult for persons with wheelchair, walker or canes to manuever. While waiting in line groups without reservation were being seated ahead of those who had made reservations. Additional reservations were being taken by the hostess when obvious problems were being ignored with previous promised reservations. My party, in addition to at least Two other parties with reservations were seated to booths or individual groups of tables adjacent to one another, but in no way as a family for the Mother's Day celebration! There was initially no green bean casserole and then when supplied the temperture could have never reached the required temps for food safety by the Public Health Department.....the rolls were hard from being microwaved and my butter would not begin to melt in the baked potato! There was basically NO HOSTESS as the person that was supposed to be checking in guest was busy cleaning tables, setting tables and answering the telephone making yet more reservations. If you can't follow through with the promises and reservations you have already committed to why would you continue to smile and bold face lie to people about being able to honor there request? I talked to several other people while standing for over 1 hour in line and we all agreed that the Boatel overbooked and took for granted that there is no competition in the immediate area for people to resort to instead of being held hostage! If I had wanted to spend Mother's Day standing in line for some chicken I would have drove to Golden Corral or something similar! I made plans and reservations, something the Boatel failed to accommodate for numerous people today. read more

Drove almost 2 hrs to see a band on a Sunday. Waited almost 45 mins before we were able to get our first beer. Bar was understaffed and not equipped to deal with the crowd. We ended up staying most of the day and then went inside to get food before we left. We were told that the kitchen closed in 15 mins and that they would have to see if they had waitresses. We told them we would find someplace else to eat. Staff was very rude. 3 stars because it is a great atmosphere, but very disappointed in the service. read more