Nautical Okoboji

The bartenders and table waitresses are terrible. They act like they are doing you a favor to wait…read moreon you, very rude all of them. Also the ventilation is bad so you walk out smelling like a grease factory. We stopped going there and just went on last Friday night, and had the same experience with the servers and the smell

Great place to hang out or watch a game! Charlie Boys are delicious and love the frozen schooners…read morefor beer! The staff who work there are awesome!!

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Wings with hot sauce

Okoboji Store

4.0(211 reviews)

0.7 mi

Stopped by the Okoboji Store while we were in the area and had such a great experience. Polly was…read moreworking the storefront and could not have been more helpful -- friendly, upbeat, and clearly knew the merchandise inside and out. She helped me pick out a hat and made the whole visit feel personal instead of just another tourist shop stop. Great selection, great vibe, and Polly made it memorable. Will definitely be back next time we're in Okoboji!

Bella was literally the best. She had a great personality and was easy to talk to. She was very…read moreprofessional and product knowledgeable.

Inside

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Softtail Saloon

4.2(6 reviews)

12.6 mi

Since my last review of Softtail, I think I've been here with my Son and for my 40th High School…read morereunion. Last Sunday I was here to meet up with some classmates, which would have made this a mini-51st Reunion. As the picture shows, I think we've all aged fairly well, but noting with sadness the classmates who have passed on. The menu here had good choices, the restaurant/bar space was clean and comfortable, and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. The food was good enough, but somewhat besides the point considering all these home town friends coming together. My only complaint is that the very nice and accommodating waitress didn't know how to make change for this cash-only business.

Every time we come here we have consistently good food with many items being homemade!read more

The inside bar area!

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McKeen's Pub & Grill

4.2(24 reviews)

3.6 mi

Everything. Great food & service! It's a little dark & somewhat noisy, but manageable!read more

The service was excellent the staff was friendly the food was good the portions were generousread more

Menu

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Burger

Bucksnorts

4.1(12 reviews)

19.0 mi

We were on I-90, mid-afternoon and started to think about lunch. I saw that one of the next towns…read morecoming up was Jackson. So my wife googled Burgers in Jackson, MN. First result was Bridget's Bucksnorts. We checked the menu to see if it was just junk burgers or something worth the stop. First thing we saw on the menu was the Big Daddy.... Long story short: I got the Big Daddy, my wife got the Shroom Burger; and, the next day, we're both still talking about how great they were! I want to know how I can make my burgers at home that unctuous!!!! We'll definitely stop again!

Expected "bar food " , however, we were delighted the burger's turned out to be absolutely…read moreFANTASTIC!! I highly recommend the Solar Burger and Tater Tots , next time we are in town we will definitely stop in again for Dinner

Scoreboard

1.0(1 review)

3.2 mi

The "regulars" aka the bar flies ruined our experience. They continue serving overly drunk people…read moreone of whom bumped into me and spilled my drink. Bartender isn't very attentive. Won't be going back.

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Whiskey River

5.0(1 review)

32.8 mi

Family run, small-town bar. Friendly people, great mixed drinks and varied beer selection. They…read morehost bands occasionally and it's a busy place during Tall Corn Days in late July. The most fun you can have in the Valley!

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Malarky's Pub

3.8(4 reviews)

50.6 mi

In my younger days, I always went to Malarky's for a night out but never eaten there. I was back in…read morenorthwest Iowa for a weekend, and so my mom and I decided to go, since we'd both heard how good the food was. We got there about 7 pm on Friday night and it was reasonably busy, though most people were already eating. There were several open tables, but only a few were clean, so we found one and sat. Things started off well enough--the server was friendly, told us about the specials, and brought us each a water right away. We ordered our food, and I had ordered mine without onion, as well as a salad. The order took a while--which again, Friday night, somewhat busy, so that's ok. When the food arrived, it was not good. My entree had tons of onion, and even though I removed them, it still tasted very onion-y, as something covered in grilled onions tends to be. It was also not hot, at all, and my fries were not hot as well. My mom had fish with hash browns, and her fish was somewhat warm, but hash browns were not. Not sure how long our food sat after being done, but obviously quite a while. My salad, which arrived at the same time as our meal, had no dressing, and we needed to flag down our server to get it, as she never stopped back at our table to check on us. I ended up not eating most of my entree and just eating the salad. We were very disappointed as we had been really looking forward to the meal, and I feel like if the food would have been prepared correctly--and served hot--it could have been great. Unfortunately, I don't think we will take the chance again.

Food is incredible. Definitely recommend their huge pork tenderloin. It was the size of my head.read more

Top 5 Tenderloins in the country and reasonably priced

Full bar with pool tables

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Phat Pheasant Pub

3.8(4 reviews)

35.4 mi

The amazing person I was with was the best part. I loved going to the bathroom and picking some…read moreJourney for the jukebox and seeing that look in her eyes as I got back to our seats. The pool table in the back room is my favorite spot. I'll never forget it. And it doesn't hurt that the food is good and they pour a strong drink.

Almost always good food and what we Minnesota people enjoy. Shrimp Scampi the last time I ordered…read morewas not up to par so won't order that again but overall good food.

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Cold beer and friendly staff.

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Abbey S.

Elite 25

98

66

164

2 years ago

I recently visited Nautical and had a fantastic experience! I tried the chicken wrap with buffalo sauce, and it was delicious--the chicken was tender, and the buffalo sauce had just the right amount of heat. Their shoe string fries are a standout--crispy, perfectly seasoned, and the ranch dip is a perfect complement. We also ordered wings, which were flavorful and cooked to perfection. My daughter had the grilled cheese, and it was a generous portion with plenty of gooey cheese between two perfectly toasted slices of bread. The service was friendly and efficient, and our food arrived quickly. They also had high chairs available, which was a nice touch for families with little ones. To top it off, their Bloody Marys are some of the best I've had--well-balanced, spicy, and refreshing. Overall, Nautical is a great spot for delicious food, friendly service, and a great atmosphere. Highly recommend it! read more

K M.

0

4

0

9 years ago

Great food, drinks, & staff!! Had a great time & with the large door being opened at nite made for cool atmosphere. Burger was tasty & the lightly breaded cheese balls were great. Wings were awesome to with many sauce choices. read more

ChrisDanielle T.

0

13

3

8 years ago

It was our first time here and it was great! Great sandwich, cold beer, quick service, great people. Will definitely come back and highly suggest it for everyone. read more

Kelli E.

135

20

18

4 years ago

This is truly the best food and drinks we've had since arriving in town a few days ago. This is a must for drink and dining.

Evie K.

0

2

0

2 years ago

Great menu - very good sandwiches - always hot when served - super servers - love the sports bar atmosphere

Rachel K.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Great atmosphere and options from bar food to fish and salads, something for everyone!

Rodeway I.

0

1

0

4 years ago

very good food with amazing customer service.

Nautical Okoboji - pubs - Updated July 2026

People who viewed Nautical Okoboji also viewed

McKeen's Pub & Grill

4.2

(24 reviews)

Everything. Great food & service! It's a little dark & somewhat noisy, but manageable!read more

The service was excellent the staff was friendly the food was good the portions were generousread more

Okoboji Store

4.0

(211 reviews)

Stopped by the Okoboji Store while we were in the area and had such a great experience. Polly was…read moreworking the storefront and could not have been more helpful -- friendly, upbeat, and clearly knew the merchandise inside and out. She helped me pick out a hat and made the whole visit feel personal instead of just another tourist shop stop. Great selection, great vibe, and Polly made it memorable. Will definitely be back next time we're in Okoboji!

Bella was literally the best. She had a great personality and was easy to talk to. She was very…read moreprofessional and product knowledgeable.

Boji Boardwalk Bar & Grill

3.9

(11 reviews)

The standards in the Iowa Great Lakes area is different than Omaha, Des Moines, or Minneapolis. In…read morethe larger cities you can find true 5 star restaurants. In the Lakes Area you have mostly bar food and a few other options. Scores are adjusted relative to this area. The service, location, and food at Boji Boardwalk was great again this year. We've visited twice this year, having the giant Pork T last time and today, the Italian Beef Sandwich. This sandwich was crazy good. We've been watching The Bear on HULU, so we wanted to try this sandwich. It did not disappoint: tender, juicy, well blended with the peppers and provolone. The jalapenos added some nice heat, if you like heat. Between Bordwalk and Okoboji Store, these are the best restaurants this close to the water. The main difference is the Bordwalk is a better value for food price. Two sandwiches and two Diet Cokes, $36+ without tip. Okoboji Store was almost double for two salads and two diet cokes. If you're at Arnold's Park, or boating in, this is a great place to eat, drink and watch the lake. Great people watching. Inside has AC if you're looking to beat the heat or wath sports.

This place in the evening for dinner has such great atmosphere. The lake and the sun set are…read moremagnificent. The food was very good as well. I had the pork tenderloin sandwich and it was as bis as expected!!! I add the $2.00 for the Giardiniera, cheese, and bacon, well worth it! My wife and daughter had the burgers one regular and one vegetarian . Both of them had sweet potato fries and love it. The service was excellent. If you are looking for some great food by the lake, this is a good place.

The Outrigger

4.2

(59 reviews)

Our group of five all enjoyed our food! The walleye was exceptional! Service was great and they…read moreprovided a wonderful dessert for a birthday! We will definitely return when in the area!

We heard they had the best boasted chicken and it was very mediocre. The service was hurried as the…read morewere busy with not enough people working. We might give it another try.

Smiles With Miles

3.0

(16 reviews)

The bartenders and table waitresses are terrible. They act like they are doing you a favor to wait…read moreon you, very rude all of them. Also the ventilation is bad so you walk out smelling like a grease factory. We stopped going there and just went on last Friday night, and had the same experience with the servers and the smell

Great place to hang out or watch a game! Charlie Boys are delicious and love the frozen schooners…read morefor beer! The staff who work there are awesome!!

Mill Creek Restaurant and Lounge

3.4

(18 reviews)

The food here is very good. My chicken sandwich was great due to the awesome bourbon sauce. The…read moreprovolone cheese and sautéed onions were a great compliment to the sauce. My wife's cheese burger was ok. The whole build you burger in good to get exactly what you want on a burger however, it can get very expensive. We had a long wait for our food when it really was not that busy. Service otherwise was ok.

Milford, Iowa 8 PM…read moreon a Tuesday night and this place is packed. I would not consider it a sports bar but more of a lively lounge. Only two people working. They are doing the bar, tables, wait staff, all of the above: two very busy girls. We sat ourselves and waited for them to bring a menu. The menu has much to choose from. Some really great appetizers, sandwiches and burgers. They fry everything in beef tallow. I ordered the Kentucky chicken bourbon sandwich. I chose the side salad with blue cheese dressing. My husband ordered a burger with fries. I ordered a draft beer. Can't go wrong for a large 16 ounce cold draft for $3.38. Restaurant is very clean. However, when they clean the table, they spray the table with chlorine or bleach, and it has a very strong smell. I really think they should spray it onto the rag and then wipe the table. I do not want to smell that or take the chance that it is going on my food while I am eating. Jumping back to the food, I asked for soup. It is September 2 and the waitress said "there is no soup" although soup is on the menu. It is not available until winter. A bit odd. My husband liked the burger. It came on Texas toast. He had fries with it as well. The burger comes plain. If you want anything on it from lettuce to tomato you have to pay $.25 extra. He asked for some mayonnaise. They gave him two packets of mayo and charged him $.52. Really? They also have a sign on the wall that says that they are charging a dollar more for every beef product on the menu as beef prices have gone up. Crazy! My Kentucky bourbon chicken sandwich was not the best. The chicken was dry and it had sautéed onions with too much sauce poured on the top. It was a sticky mess. My side salad was nothing but lettuce and shredded cheese with a few croutons. The waitress was kind and accommodating to my allergies. I appreciate her for that. Overall, I was not impressed and would not go back. Nor would I recommend this place. I give this place three stars only because of location.

Okoboji Barn Bar & Grill

3.7

(11 reviews)

I FINALLY made it here to check out the renovation and the amazing food. I wanted to try…read moreeverything. We had chicken crackling, which is like boneless chicken wings except better. The breading was incredible and it's made with chicken thighs so it's still tender. My prime rib chislic with this chipotle aïoli was very tasty, my mom's Smashburger was huge and you could tell it was made from scratch. Finally, this Montecristo sandwich is so unique that you almost have to order it. It comes with Cherrywood ham, turkey and cheese between two slices of brioche bread perfectly browned served with warm raspberry jam as a dipping sauce. And not only do they have good beers, check out this house old-fashioned. They have an event venue upstairs, line dancing on Tuesday nights, live music, and an awesome sand volleyball complex outside. The staff was great and the vibe was unique.

Sunday afternoon. 2 parties in the restaurant during my visit, one was me the other, a party of…read morethree. One server working, seemed right given the time of day, but she seemed more interested in talking at the bar than getting me my drink and a plate for the salad bar. Finally got a plate (very small plate) and one that is at the salad bar...she could've said help yourself....and I wouldn't have had to wait. A few bites into my salad and the smashed burger arrives. Literally a smashed burger (burnt) on a semi soggy bun, some cheese and a house sauce. Sauce was alright but the burger was super dry and no lettuce, pickles, or tomatoes offered. Had to pepper the burger for some kind of flavor. Server then doesn't come back to refill my drink or see if the meal was good after I'd started eating, you know how it's usually done in a restaurant. Probably because after a resumed conversation at the bar, 3 times playing with a TV in an unoccupied part of the restaurant and a long conversation on her phone in plain sight of patrons, she was too busy for her job. She finally came back and asked how it all was, and I simply shrugged to which she said wasn't the burger good, I shrugged again and she says and I quote "well, you ate it all" in a sparky voice while turning and walking away. When I first sat down she asked if I'd been here before to which I said I had but before the new ownership. She says, yeah well it's a 360 degree change, better food, service etc.... I think she needs an explanation on degress. 180 is a turnaround, 360 is right back where we started. She's wrong, it was better food before from my memory. The menu is small and still can't get a simple burger right. I likely won't come back, at least until another 360 degree, I mean 180 degree change is made. Disappointing

Bob's In Arnolds Park

3.2

(20 reviews)

Best taverns and dogs in the U.S. friendly and speedy service. Can't beat the lakefront views.read more

We always stop at Bobs and onion rings and went there today and the taverns were tasteless and…read moredisappointing and no onion rings. Not sure what happened. Hope it goes back to their original recipe.

Prime Rib

3.6

(62 reviews)

Came in for a work dinner while in town. There was 8 of us. Very busy place & they sat us quickly…read more Service was super friendly and great. The drinks were very good. Appetizers & food was top notch. Everyone was super happy with their meals. Family friendly place with nice people.

Good enough for Spencer Iowa! Food seems consistent. Very dated which adds to the charm. Who even…read morehas a salad bar anymore?? Service is friendly.

Gingham Inn To Go

4.4

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