food 1/5 service 1/5 ambiance 5/5 really really nice in short the place is really nice to hang out but the food is expensive for the quality. they gave me cold fries and that i think is unacceptable. i really wish they had better food. i usually don't care about service but they're kind of standoffish and just ignore everyone read more

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We were really looking forward to a relaxing lakeside meal, but our experience took a turn when one of the employees, Casey, became visibly irritated toward our group. He referred to members of our group by name-calling and refused to assist us because of a simple misunderstanding: he assumed we brought outside drinks when in fact we purchased them from Ski Shores. His behavior made the visit uncomfortable. Thankfully, Mel stepped in with kindness and professionalism. She was pleasant, understanding, and did her best to save our experience. She was amazing! What stood out: Casey's unhelpful and disrespectful attitude. Mel's exceptional service and empathy. Ski Shores has the charm and setting for a great visit, but they need consistent staff behavior to match the atmosphere. read more

This place has reopened under new management from what it sounds like. It is my first time here so I can't tell you what it was like before. They utilize QR codes to order and pay with your phone which I don't mind as long as I'm not pressured to pay 20% tip. It matters because you will definitely pay a premium for the lake side views as the food is overpriced by atleast 40%, I kid you not. With that said, the quality of the fish and shrimp were really good, the drinks were strong and all the wait staff bringing the food were really nice. Only thing that was iffy was the water actually, we joked if they just dip the glass straight into the lake and serve it. Menu wise, I wish there were classier seafood options along with oysters. There's also a small area for kids to play which is a really nice touch. It would be better if there were more shade though. Overall I enjoyed my time with my family and I'll probably be back when I'm wanting water views but there were certain things I must call out which is why I rounded down to 3 stars, and it's not the pricing. These are: 1. When we walked in, we immediately felt unwelcomed by the hostess who would not even make eye contact. 2. The guy that was with her said the wait time was going to be 50 mins to an hr. We got on the list and wait time turned out to be 10 mins. Odd but okay fine. 3. Seating us outside, they took us to the furthest table that is out of sight, back towards the parking lot. It was 1 of 2 tables in the entire place that did not have water mist or fans blowing on it. Even the other table without the fans/mist had an umbrella top atleast, this had nothing so you can imagine how hot it was. Now any of those 3 on its own is not too big of a deal, but for all 3 to happen to a brown family in an establishment serving predominantly white / right-wingy boating subculture does invite some super obvious questions. I don't like to play the racism card but let me tell you, my gut feelings are usually right. Whether real or coincidence, it was a negative part of our experience. Nevertheless, I wouldn't hold everyone at the restaurant responsible and besides the hostess, all the waiters were incredibly nice so I'll leave it at that. read more

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I enjoyed my time here. We were able to take a boat ride over to the restaurant and a boat ride back. And that made the experience so magical for me. It was a great way to annoy a Friday evening traveling by boat. And getting there to the pretty lights that surrounded the tree. The weather was nice and the food was really good. You order through your phone and pay on your phone too. The food came out super fast and the table got cleaned fast as well. Great experience. I would come here again. read more

3.5 stars It's always a popular spot after boating. The food is just ok but the ambiance is nice and there aren't many places on the water to eat. read more

The boys who helped us park our boat were so nice and made the whole experience 10x better. Ordering through a QR code was interesting, the hard part was when something was forgotten in our order it was hard to get a waiter to pay attention to our table. The tacos are the best thing on the menu, everything else was pretty basic, but I'd come back for those tacos Sitting by the lake watching swans swim by while you eat made the whole experience so lush. They also have a pickle ball court, and are very dog friendly! read more

Ski Shores is great...it has become consistently nicer and cleaner over the years while still maintaining the vibe of a place on the lake. It is a little on the expensive side for a chill place on a lake, but the food is great, the service is great and the location can't be beat. We would definitely recommend Ski Shores. read more

Great waterfront space we were excited about but the food and service are pretty rough. You order from a qr code, cant make any real requests or changes to dishes - and Basically my ribeye steak was cooked to overdone chewy ruin, and the various sides were just average at best. Honestly i cant see us ever returning after that meal with so much good food in austin and the wildly inflated pricing for diner quality food. read more

We stopped in for a drink and sit on the patio. Was really nice to enjoy the water view. We did not have any food.

Finally got to try this place out after eyeing it for years & it did not disappoint. We took our dogs with us to celebrate one of their 4th birthdays and they had a hamburger patty for pups on the menu which was perfect. We both got fish tacos & the portions were very genius. The queso was probably some of the best queso I've had in a long time. Every person we interacted with was so friendly & doting on our pups. The view was beautiful, we loved watching the sun set on the water. 100% recommend!! read more

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Overall Score 4.5 out of 5 This place in Austin is great! Great location and vibe sitting on the water. The staff is really nice Service is great I had the breakfast burger, Breakfast tacos, and the Lobster roll which surprised me how good it was. The food overall was great! Definitely going back. read more

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came here growing up it was good, now , 17$ for a burger with no fries, burger overcooked as hell, 23 for some tenders, pins colada with 98.8 percent ice 1.2 percent pina colada, and it's self serve, come on. Was gunna go to jack allens, way nicer for way less. Shoulda done that. Sad. I'll give 2 stars for the swans, they were more enjoyable than the food. read more

The prices are pretty high- $20 for chicken tenders w/fries. I'm sure you're paying for the ambiance; a lakeside lunch. The food came out quicker than McDonald's. Literally minutes after placing the order. The nina colada (virgin pina coloda on the rocks) it was a pretty good drink but I wish it was blended like a more authentic pina colada. Ski Burger w/ fries was delicious. It was a very standard burger but you literally cannot go wrong. The fries were crinkle cut and cooked just right Grilled Flounder Tacos were delicious!! The tortillas fell apart pretty quick but they were so tasty. They had some spice and the bite from lime is perfect. I wish there were three tacos but that's cause I'm a little piggie. Chicken Tenders w/ Fries were standard. No complaints but also no raves. It definitely needs some dipping sauce. Green Chili Queso & Salsa Fresco was lacking flavor. The tortilla chips were huge and delicious- they tasted very homemade but the queso just didn't hit the way it should. Bloody Mary was pretty good but not spicy, I like SPICE! Casamigos Blanco was lacking the bubbles from the ranch water but still yummy- kind of just tasted like tequila and flat water. But no complaints! Lunazul Blanco was really tasty! I love a good Paloma. The restrooms were cute but had wooden toilet seats and that gives me the heebie-jeebies! I think I'd come back for the atmosphere and definitely if I was out on the lake for the day. read more

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One of my FAVORITE places in Austin. Extra star if you own a boat and can pull up to park on the water. I have been to ski shores many times while out having a lake day. Food is great for it being a lake restaurant and don't get me started on the frozen margs. Compared to any other restaurant on Lake Austin this is by far the best. Good drinks and food, great patio on the water and small sand box for kids to play in. Definitely a staple for the summer time. read more

Ski Shores Cafe - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Wonderful Austin staple tucked away by Emma Long Metropolitan Park. This is the perfect stopping point if you're boating out on Lake Austin and down the river, the servers here are very nice. The food is nothing amazing but it's good for what it is, which is typical American fair, the ambience is what you would expect in this area. It's gorgeous with a beautiful view of the lake or river and amazing scenery around if you are boating, you can park your boat at the dock in front of the restaurant which is convenient- but watch out for the wake! read more

This is a must if your on Lake Austin! Driving up and docking your boat is a fun experience and the staff was super helpful. We pulled up after a day on the water and this food hit the spot! I ordered the Scooter and it was the prefect mix of dinner food with out being too greasy. The staff also offered up new sauces for the fries and onion rings we ordered. We all left the table happily satisfied. The rive is a great backdrop while you eat. It is prefect for a picture to capture a wonderful day on the water. read more

S.S is an excellent place to visit. Love the outdoor seating on the water and the food was really good. We really appreciate that the MML Hospitality Group decided to breathe new life to preserve a piece of Austin history! Even though it was 100 degrees outside, we felt completely comfortable sitting by the water with a drink in our hands, relaxing & enjoying the view. Service was friendly and we look forward to coming back! read more

Ski Shores Cafe - Cocktails: Boat Slip (left) and Wake to Wake (right) - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Awful experience. Used to be a great place. QR ordering is lifeless. Hot dog barely hot. It's more accurate to call it a Cold Dog. Bun not well toasted. Got a can of Coke and no glass of ice. No one came to our table to see if we had everything we needed. I would have asked for a glass with ice for Coke. Fries are tasteless. What kind of fake oil are you using? Forced to leave a tip when I got no service at all. App won't let you proceed with order unless you leave a tip. Fans don't oscillate, so we got no breeze. Music was electronic disco. Nobody wants to eat with electronic disco blaring. MML ought to be embarrassed. read more

Here on 4th of July. Wasn't crowded at all due to rain so decided to try it. Empty tables on water, asked if we could sit there- host: NO. The tables are wet. Me: can you wipe them off? Host: No. me: why not? Host: We don't have any towels. Me: You don't have any towels?? Host: No. Me: what about paper towels or napkins? Host: No. we don't have any paper towels Me: we have a towel in our truck- can we wipe it off? Host: no, they don't want us doing that. Me: why? Host: it's just going to rain again. Me: what about that table right there it's not wet. Host: no you can't sit there. Me: why not? Host: there's some people who have been waiting a very long time for that table. (They NEVER sat anyone there) The hosts were a couple of young men - I was really flummoxed as to why they wouldn't let us have a table and lying to our faces! NO TOWELS or paper towels or napkins at a bar/restaurant? So- we sat at the bar & I have video of EVERY table around going empty & then other people seating themselves at those same tables we were denied. The food sucked the "servers" were terrible. App ordering only PRE-tip for NO service. The prices high- I get that you're just paying for the water view -that's fine but being discriminated against for whatever reason is NOT OK! read more

Such a nice on the water spot but be prepared to PAY! watch the boaters and turtles $$$$ pricey small drinks and pricey small portioned food! Order thru an app. two mini tostados 22$ small burger $15 drinks are 15$!!!! and small eat before hand and just get a drink! you'll leave hungry otherwise! lol read more

Had an amazing time with my wife and friends. Timeless and classic experience with great vibes, food, drinks and views. read more

Ski Shores Cafe - Boat slips and dock at Ski Shores Cafe. - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

Surprised by the low ratings! We came here after taking a nice hike at Turkey Creek. I really liked this place overall. It's right by the water and there's plenty of seating and it's also dog friendly. We got the ski shores burger and thought it was solid for it was. Parking did seem to get a bit busy on a Sunday afternoon but we found a spot after not too long. read more

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What an utter disappointment! I used to go to the old Ski Shores for years & despite it getting a slight physical upgrade, everything else about it went way down hill. The music was too loud, the service was terrible (minus the 2 nice bartenders), the food was bad, & the drinks were expensive & weak. I love music but we don't need it so loud we can hardly talk to our friend. The chairs we sat on were broken. When I asked only one time for something from the server (napkins because the container of them was empty), she said "Ok" and then never brought them. I ordered the City Park salad & the "boiled" egg wasn't even properly boiled (was still soft & gooey on the inside), I paid extra for some chicken which there was minimal of, & my friend got the burger (that doesn't even come with fries (at $14!) And the margaritas were pricey & weak. And of course, as always, parking is a shit show. We left still hungry (cuz I could barely eat my salad) after paying over $120. The only saving grace of our entire experience was the lake view & the 2 nice bartenders. Definitely won't be interested in coming back here. Bummer that it's go read more

I'm torn on this place. The service is very inconsistent, with a super helpful, experienced waitress in one visit, and an angsty teen without a clue the next (he literally told me they don't have coffee available on a Sunday morning.) The food, while vastly improved from before is at least consistent, but still not anything to write home about (or worth elaborating here). But then there's the view and ambiance: Tables nestled right next to the water's edge, as the occasional boat goes buzzing by -- sometimes with skiers in tow. Then there's the sound of kids (including mine) running around joyfully in the playground, giving parents a must needed respite. It feels like an escape. On food and service alone, a 3 would be generous, but I'll give it a 4 because that's just honestly how much I enjoy the place when I go. read more

Drinks used to be generous, which helped make up for the overpriced food, but now they're watered down. Most places in Austin charge $15 for a margarita, but not for one that has so little tequila. Go for a beer when you don't need to eat, and enjoy the scene. read more

Best piña coladas in town! Awesome ambiance and decent service! I highly recommend taking an Uber if you are driving

What a fun spot on the lake in austin!! We had a blast grabbing drinks here after work with friends. They have an easy order from your phone method and they bring the food and drinks out to you. Get there early if you want a water side table. Will definitely come back! read more

This was our first time here so while I can imagine why a lot of people miss the dive-y, hole-in-the-wall local vibe, I gotta say I really enjoyed our time! It's such a fun spot -- so much entertainment for kids and families (turfed area, outdoors games, shade), beautiful view, great music (5 stars for whoever put that reggae playlist together), and I love how they styled it. Unlike a lot of the poor reviews, we had great service. While we didn't have a dedicated server (which I didn't like either), everyone who brought food out was friendly, asked if we needed anything, and it all came out quick. The bussers (assuming that's who they were -- wore Ski Shores tee shirts) were bouncing around and working their asses off. Yes, prices aren't the cheapest (if you compare it to what it prob was before) but the quality is great and no more expensive than almost anywhere in Austin. We got the veggie burger, reg burger, kids grilled cheese, some margaritas (those were just okay), a niña colada (liked that more than my cocktail lol), and the peach cobbler. For a Friday evening (4:30-6 pm) it was easy to get parking and a table. Loved watching all the boats come in for dinner. They have a pickleball court so I definitely want to see if they host events! Can't wait to be back! read more

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The food, service and ambiance was good. We will return many more times even though my margarita was $15. It was a very chilled place. We got burgers, fried pickles and tacos. The music that was playing was nice plus. We felt that we went on a little vacation for the evening. The food came out quick and so did the appetizer and drinks. read more

Used to love ski shores - unfortunately, our latest visit left much to be desired. It was very unclear how to get water. We weren't given enough water when they seated us. When you order on your phone you check a box that you understand things will come out as ready, we didn't realize that meant one ski burger would be out 15 minutes before the other entrees. Then once the other entrees were brought out, they were missing one of the entrees. Then about 10 minutes later they came by with our entire order, a second time? We said it wasn't ours bc we had everything. Then 10 minutes later, they came by with another dish that wasn't ours. It was all very disorganized and unenjoyable. The food: don't get the stand up rice bowl - hardly any chicken or toppings for $23. Other food at the table was fine, but honestly the full experience was expensive to be less than mediocre. The view makes up for some of it, but this place has gone downhill for sure. read more

Great spot on the lake and sure to have a good time. If you come here you are really coming for the ambiance. The food is pretty typical bar food -- edible, but nothing fancy. Burgers, fries, etc. My favored thing on the menu is the Laid Back Lemonade- it's basically an Arnold Palmer with vodka! You can barley taste the vodka so we guzzle it down. Great for hot summer days on the lake! read more

Ski Shores Cafe - Arnold Palmer drink - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

We loved it here! It's great when the weather is sunny! The water and boats add a nice unique ambiance! This is a great place to bring visitors that are coming from out of town. Next time we have someone from out of town we will bring them here. The food is a little overpriced, but tastes great. They also do have vegetarian options which is helpful for me. I had the veggie burger - The patty was good! I recommend trying the fried pickles also because we both loved them! Service was also fast. You order through the QR code on your table which I thought was convenient! We will come here again! read more

First time going here after living in Austin for 4 years because I heard they redid Ski Shores Cafe and have it decorated super cute during the holidays and they definitely did. We sat on a picnic table next to the water and saw a swan come up. It was chilly but they had plenty of heaters around us and even fire pits. You order from a QR code and they deliver the food to your table. We went during happy hour and it was so cheap! If I remember correctly my burger was only $5. And it was very yummy! Fries were great, nice and crispy. They also have great homemade ranch...I love homemade ranch. The drinks were okay but such a cute place to come and grab a bite to eat. read more

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Yall, stop dumping on this place. The food and drinks are a bit expensive but it is very good. This place is old austin at its finest. We will all be sad if this ends up closing some day. Appreciate it. read more

Wtf happened here? Since they reopened, the prices are exorbitant. I paid $120 for chicken strips with fries, 2 rice bowls, and a chicken sandwich (sans fries), with 4 soft drinks while being forced to sit at a table with no utensils or napkins because they don't do to go orders on the weekend. So my boat got assbanged for the entire meal while we scarfed down our food. I'll remember to pack snacks next time. Good thing they have a monopoly on lake access to food in the area. Or they would go the way of the dodo like the Barton Springs spin-off. **Update** I'm bumping a star for the service. The boat valet, bartenders, kitchen, and service were top notch. I hope they fix the "to-go" thing. I'm willing to pay those prices for the convenience. read more

This Austin staple is exactly that, consistent and perfectly Austin! I've been meaning to come here for years and what made my experience so perfect was that I got to cruise in from off of my friend's boat! The staff was super welcoming and immediately got our large party seated on Fourth of July. My order: - House margarita (on the rocks, no salt) - Very refreshing, can't complain! - Spicy Bean Burger - Actually really yummy! Too bad I had no idea the condiments were in the bin right next to me otherwise I would not have eaten half of the burger dry but that was my own fault for not searching the table. The fries are also 10/10! The only reason for 4/5 stars and not 5/5 is that the food wasn't amazing, just very reliable and satisfying. This place should continue to serve the Austin lakeside community for many years to come! read more

Ski Shores Cafe - Veggie burger! - Burgers Near Me - Austin, Texas

love this place makes it super convenient to dock a boat , eat , and park your vehicle. thank you guys for your understanding and hospitality :) read more

Cute spot to stop over when you're on the lake but the service is awful. I recommend going over to Hula Hut instead. We placed our order and waited for almost TWO HOURS!!!!!! Other groups (bigger groups) got their food before us so we asked if they think our order will be out soon and t they gave us attitude & were extremely rude to us--why?? We are only inquiring where our food was-I think it is ok to ask after two hours of wait! AND they said to not be impatient! When we waited by the counter. LMAOOO I have NEVER been spoke to like a child at any establishment for asking if our food will be ready soon as we had a boat rental and we lost two hours waiting. I try not to give bad reviews as people do have bad days but once they said the rude things they said I will not give them a pass- it was uncalled for on their end. Not even an "I am sorry for the long wait" lol! Finally when we did get our food we had food missing!!!! read more

We came here yesterday, last minute plans. It was packed due to the nice weather. It was a beautiful day to spend outdoors. There was a 40 minute wait so we ventured to the outside bar . We had wings and a couple of drinks during happy hour and it was nice. We will definitely be back with some friends. The view of the water is amazing. read more

tried to go have lunch today. Beautiful day on the lake, so it was packed. We placed our order by phone as required and waited. and waited. and waited. My wife and daughter were sharing a chicken tender basket, which came out eventually. My son and I had ordered burgers, onion rings and fries. No sign. my wife and daughter fished the chicken and I went to cancel the orders. The orders had not been put it. I was told it had only been 30 minutes. The menu is limited and focused on being fast, lake food, so it should not have been a struggle. To boot, the food is expensive for what it is. Want to have a drink and sit on the lake, go for it, but have a meal at Top Notch before you go. read more