We had a scheduled post graduation dinner after my daughter's graduation from SHU (Sacred Heart University), and we really had a great experience. My ex-wife, friend, and daughter's mother had pre-arranged the event, but they held up their end of the deal. The location really has the a wonderful ambiance (at least for our purposes). The chef, kitchen, wait and bar staff were great-highly accommodating., If we had anything negative to say, it would be that they ran out of many of the most popular desserts by the time we were read, but what they were able to offer was excellent. Highly recommend-especially for a large party event. read more

I ordered a whole roasted chicken, which is not on the menu. Instead, I ordered some other food, including eggs, bacon, sausage, and the fish of the day. Oh, and a glass of soda pop. The service was excellent. They explained that the menu I was ordering from was from another restaurant. Admittedly, it was. We all had a good laugh and the wait staff apologized profusely, saying they had no idea how that other restaurant's menu was handed to me. We had an even heartier laugh when I told them I brought it. Let me say this about the ambiance. It's just a fun place to be. The sights and the sounds are marvelous. The wonderfully potent and ever present odor of fish reminds me of the Fulton fish market on a humid, blazing hot summer day in New York City. To the people of the Boathouse, god bless. Your establishment is truly a place to Live, Laugh, Love!!!' read more

Wow! Such a stunning view. We loved sitting out on the upper deck. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly. We loved the fresh vegetables and the variety on the menu without being overwhelming. read more

The Boathouse at Saugatuck - The dock outside - Seafood Near Me - Westport, Connecticut

The food and service are very good. The food is fresh and the dining room is not too loud!

If 4.5 stars existed I'd give that. We came here for drinks and appetizers. Plenty of parking. We sat outside with a nice view overlooking the Saugatuck River. The NE clam chowder, speck and burrata, as charcuterie were very good! Add in nice drinks, nice wine, and an attentive wait staff and you've got a fine restaurant! read more

Always great food and atmosphere, looking forward to going again soon. The lobster are great and I will get 2 next time read more

We stopped in for lunch and enjoyed a great view of water. They have two dining areas and we chose to sit outside and dine. For starters we had the cheese plate along with the charcuterie. Both plates were great. The cheese was really good along with the charcuterie. For my lunch I had the burger which was cooked perfectly. The fries were delicious as well. read more

See all

We took overseas friends there for a midweek lunch and it was perfect. It's lovely looking out at the river and the gorgeous wooden boat hanging from the ceiling is beautiful. Our waitress was very attentive and everyone loved their food. Lobster rolls and burgers were big hits and we also loved the black bean soup which was a special. We lingered for more than two hours and were never rushed...wish I'd taken more photos as presentation was artful. read more

The Boathouse at Saugatuck - Black bean soup - Seafood Near Me - Westport, Connecticut

We came for my sons college graduation and sat outside. A beautiful and serene place to relax, enjoy fresh air with a water view. We all had cocktails which were wonderful. Three of us enjoyed the salmon and two of us enjoyed the lobster roll. They were not a fan of the roll itself....used to old school hotdog bun however the lobster was very good. Service was very attentive. read more

Bad waiter. Bad food. Had to send back dishes. Waiter was rude. Charged us for food we didn't get. Pretty setting

Beautiful venue for brunch. Mediocre food. Three of us had eggs Benedict....all eggs over cooked. Two of us made do with extra sauce but one order sent back. We were done by the time returned order reappeared. A poached eggs takes a few minutes...not 15 or 20. Waitress seemed put out. Mussels, fries and clam chowder were OK. Won't rush back. read more

Impeccable staff! So attentive! Food was perfect for my daughter's shower... they created a perfect summer menu ! Melon gazpacho and Hugo spritz were spot on...on the water ... read more

We journeyed here - just over an hour each way - for lunch on a beautiful summer Saturday for two important reasons. First, they serve outdoors, on the water. Second, we needed a good lobster roll. There is plenty of parking at this "club", which served as a nexus for sculling, kayaking and training. Saugatuck is a world-class rowing and fitness club, sporting a state of the art gym, immaculate rowing facilities. Attached to the facility and its locker rooms is a tony outdoor restaurant on a large tent covered patio with several other tables on the fringes. (Apparently, the restaurant is upstairs during the winter and this likely changes the experience.) Reservation via Open Table was a snap. There is ample parking, with lots on both sides of the facility. We were greeted by a temperature taking hostess and seated promptly, on a table closest to the water. Perfect (see pics). Views are excellent. Our servers, a trainee (Raoul) and his overwatch (Santos, a veteran of Saltaire in Portchester) were engaging, efficient and fun - made the experience even more enjoyable. The menu is scan and read on your phone, with specialty cocktails, drinks and a very serviceable wine list (ten rose choices for summer loving). We started with super fresh PEI Mussels in a delicious broth (with bread for required dunking), and fresh oysters. Paired with a William Fevre Chablis, and a fresh breeze, we had landed exactly where we hoped to be! Heaven! After a brief rest, we moved on to the target of our adventure, Le lobster roll. We selected a Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Cotes de Provence Rose that killed with the lobster roll - lots of chunks of lobster (a bit less than ideal, and our only nitpic) on a warm toasted bun, served with crispy truffle fries (truffling optional). Picture perfect and one of those road trips where the rainbow had a pot of dining gold at the end. Highly recommended. read more

See all

The view is beautiful and the service was good. Unfortunately, my lobster roll was not great. There was a lot of lettuce and hardly any lobster, and the rolls are to large for the filling. It was so much bread. For the price, it wasn't worth it. Also, the atmosphere is a little odd. Having to walk by a gym to get to the restaurant seemed off-putting . I understand that's it's a club, but there's no real separation. read more

The Boathouse at Saugatuck - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Westport, Connecticut

We took overseas friends there for a midweek lunch and it was perfect. It's lovely looking out at the river and the gorgeous wooden boat hanging from the ceiling is beautiful. Our waitress was very attentive and everyone loved their food. Lobster rolls and burgers were big hits and we also loved the black bean soup which was a special. We lingered for more than two hours and were never rushed...wish I'd taken more photos as presentation was artful. read more

The Boathouse at Saugatuck - Black bean soup - Seafood Near Me - Westport, Connecticut

If you are looking for a waterfront dining experience in the western part of Connecticut this is a great spot. 4 stars for the food with a few 5 star items (cauliflower apetizer, apple strudel, berry pound cake). But the service (Fabio!) and views get 5 stars. The outdoor dining is well covered and even the lightest skin person won't need sunscreen though I recommend sunglasses for the glare. read more

The Boathouse at Saugatuck - Berry pound cake - Seafood Near Me - Westport, Connecticut

See all

To be able to see one's high school buddies is pretty great, but my reunion at this fine restaurant was super great. We all loved the ambience--the location on the river, and the food was very good. I would like to go there again, as soon as possible! read more

I enjoyed my dinner at Boathouse. The setting was great and service was attentive. I thought the menu was limited. There was a good variety of wine and cocktails. read more

Little over priced but very good food. Beautiful setting to have a nice dinner. Wait staff was Pleasant as well. read more

First time we came here for dinner. Outstanding and five stars for food and service- our server Antonio was terrific- professional and really friendly. Made us feel very comfortable. The burrata salad was amazing and the mixed green salad was really ugh delicious. The chicken entre and salmon were also fabulous and perfectly prepared. Great wine list and Eric the manager is on the ball. Really pretty spot to have a special meal with a great view of the river. read more

We came here for a family lunch and it was excellent. Our server Maren was personable and very informative about specials and menu recommendations. We had the lobster rolls, salmon, crab cakes, and the limoncello spritz. All were excellent. We are long time residents of Westport and this was our first time here. A great find for waterfront dining in our neighborhood. read more

The Boathouse at Saugatuck hosted an engagement party for our daughter and her fiancé last Saturday and they could not have pulled it off better. It was a smashing success. We were very concerned about holding this event during a pandemic, and the Restaurant Manager, Scott, could not have been more reassuring or professional. The Boathouse reserved the entire ground level for our guests. The Boathouse rigorously enforced Connecticut capacity, screening, and face covering regulations. All guests were temperature checked before entering. Although under a tent, we had free access to the river and surrounding areas outdoors. All staff wore face coverings, as did the guests unless they were drinking or eating. And eat they did! The food was delicious. Shrimp, oysters, clams, cheese, Pulled Pork on crispy corn cake, Crab Cakes with Remoulade,Veggie spring rolls ,Pear & Roguefort Stars with Pomegranate molasses, Chicken Saté with Hoisin Drizzle and more. The service was incredible. It seemed like we had 10 servers helping with food and drink. Scott and his team helped make the blessed couple feel so special, especially under during these difficult times. We highly recommend The Boathouse for special events, or simply for lunch, brunch or dinner in a beautiful setting read more

The Boathouse at Saugatuck - Patio view from boat dock - Seafood Near Me - Westport, Connecticut

Beautiful setting. Relaxing atmosphere. Good service and good food. All in all, a very nice brunch experience.

Having heard about the Boathouse's extraordinarily generous support of first-line providers during the pandemic last year (they hand delivered 30 - 60 meals to area hospitals NIGHTLY), I couldn't wait to come in and see what Scott Green & his team were up to when I was in town recently. I am smitten! We sat upstairs at the bar with my new favorite barman, Roberto (actually Robert but I made him Italian since he was so debonair), who immediately turned the little bar TV to the Red Sox game to make my squad happy. I had SEVERAL of whatever their version of a Paloma cocktail is called, and only common sense made me stop after #3 (note: I wasn't driving). I had the truffle fries as my app, which were literally the BEST ones I've EVER had on three continents -- mouthwateringly flavorful, not too salty, and could they have been made in an air fryer because they were crisp and virtually oil-free? We shared a Kit Kat concoction for dessert -- DEE. LISH. I LOVED the ambiance and the view. The staff was ADORABLE. I LOVED how well Scott took care of us, too. As mentioned, we were seated at the upstairs bar (no tables), and he thoughtfully brought over the cute little table lights they use throughout so we could SEE our menus (and glow, which you know is a girl's best friend after a Certain Age, dahling). I appreciated that enormously. I had to duck out to the stair landing to take an important call, and loved that there was thoughtfully located seating to accommodate me there. (AND ran into a college buddy who was also taking a work call on the adjacent banquette! #supercool) The Boathouse is my new Westport fave! Two thumbs up and a coxswain! read more

Quintessential Connecticut view at this restaurant. I love sitting in the Adirondack chairs in the back overlooking the Saugatuck River! Food is great too! read more

I highly recommend The Boathouse for a private party! We had a baby shower there - the space is beautiful and Josette and the staff were a pleasure to work with from beginning to end! The guests commented on the delicious food & drinks. read more

See all

We love the boathouse....the view and the service. Best kept secret in Wesport! On several occasions we have gone either for lunch after working out or for dinner (amazing choices) and it gets better and better every time! The view of the Saugatuck is wonderful, the Chef, Owner and staff are kind and courteous! read more

This is a special spot with beautiful views and fabulous food! The Management and wait staff make you feel so welcome and comfortable. I love that they don't try to rush you out of your table. The natural setting is spectacular and the decor is chic. The vibe is warm and fun! read more

Beautiful view. But don't know about the food. We left. We had reservations from open table but once we were seated outside right by the water view we were told that we needed to be seated elsewhere as there were previous reservations and they tried sitting us all the way back in a corner away from the water. All Tables were empty. We decided to leave. You decide. BTW we drove over 20 miles to get here. Don't bother unless you fit their profile. read more

Stunned, just beside myself I am sitting at my computer late at night totally stunned after going to the Boathouse at Saugatuck. I made the reservation over two weeks ahead. It was the day before Mother's Day, my family is out of state, I am 67 years old, and I had a perfect day up until I sat down at this restaurant, it was sort of my gift to myself. I drove 40 miles to try out this cute place on the water. I was told when I made the reservation that a large party was going to be there. I told the person on the phone that we could come earlier, or even another week and was told, no come today, and bring as many friends as you'd like. So we walked in and all was fine. The host greeted us and helped us with accessing the menu from our phones. The waitress came by and asked what we wanted. I asked for a coffee and my friend asked for a glass of water. She took our order. I ordered the lunch omelette, and not sure what my friend ordered. Everything went downhill from there. One half hour goes by, 45 minutes, and I tried to get the waitress's attention. She either ignored me or looked peeved. She said they had a party of 65 they were "plating" for. She really made me feel like I was annoying her. We waited another 15 minutes, now we are there for an hour. The waitress never came back to ask if I wanted another coffee or acknowledged us in any way. She was spending all her time at two tables - a large party and another party of four who were ordering many, many drinks. There was one other party of 3 or 4 who had ordered a couple of wines, and they were waiting longer than we were. So I said to my friend, I think we need to go somewhere else. Bad enough we aren't being served, but the waitress is acting like we aren't even here and keeps making nonsense excuses for why we aren't getting our meal! So, after one hour and 20 minutes waiting to get our meal, we walked out. I've been having this sickening feeling since then that I'm missing something here. It all went downhill AFTER WE PLACE OUR ORDER. The entire tone of servers changed. This place caters to BIG SPENDERS. Don't think you are coming here on a weekend and getting served if you order a coffee and omelette. Why is an omelette even on the menu if you can't order it and expect service? I have been to many upscale restaurants. If the item is on the menu and I order it, I get served and respected. They are not gauging their service and treatment based on what I ordered. I am trying to lose weight and can't drink alcohol and other high calorie beverages, and my friend is on medication and cannot drink alcohol. I am not buying that the waitress was rude and made us wait an hour and 20 minutes and refused to acknowledge us because a party of 65 was there. I'm not that stupid. NEVER, EVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I BEEN TREATED so inhumanely, like I didn't even exist. Demoralizing, sickening. I don't think there is a word in the English language for how I am feeling now. I WILL NEVER, EVER GO BACK HERE. read more

This was a hidden gem - great spot with a view of the Saugatuck, indoors and out. Service was spot on too. And the food selection was surprisingly tasty. Solid in all ways. read more

I was a fan of this restaurant until my visit last weekend. We ordered the filet mignon which proved to be inedible. The meat tasted like liver and when I brought it to the attention of my waiter he showed zero interest in our concern. The chef and his staff actually treated us with total disrespect and acted as though we were rude guests for daring to question their cooking. This $52 hunk of meat was taken home and to a local butcher shop who told us it was "spoiled" and a good thing we didn't eat it. Restaurants are struggling in this economy and we appreciate the need to make accommodations. But sourcing meat (to secure their margins) from inferior distributors isn't the answer. read more

Attentive hostess. Seated immediately as we requested outdoors on a beautiful evening Service and food met the high standards we expected Will certainly be back again read more

I mean, if the view doesn't speak for itself, I will! Every time I have gone to the Boathouse it is FABULOUS. It is so well managed, super clean and safe, the food is killer and the menu is always changing. The staff is great and work soooo hard to service all customers when with a labor shortage! read more

The Boathouse at Saugatuck - Right on the Saugatuck river! - Seafood Near Me - Westport, Connecticut

Thank you Frank! This place has been unfairly reviewed, though I understand why, but our server Frank was brilliant and attentive, more like a star of the venue, which wouldn't work if he wasn't there. The entry was confusing but we made it on the second floor side doors. The outside was closed due to the weather but given the over 60 degrees it brought out a crowd on Saturday evening. My local friends wanted to try the food so we trekked up from Scarsdale. Pretty simple eats really but good on the fish side. My wife is veg and I'm newly trying to be vegan. They were very happy to accommodate with the limitations. She had the pasta with a bunch of veggies and spicy, quite good. I had the salmon with the sauce on the side, not very vegan! Very filling btw. The branzino think is a big hit for healthy food choices. If you're getting filet mignon then ask for the sauce on the side, it will mess with the flavor. We got pistachio ice cream and creme brûlée for dessert which were both amazing! I got the feeling that the wait staff were more vested in the place than management. Ask for them and tip well!! read more

See all

Mediocre, overpriced food. The chicken panini was bland. Staff is rude and condescending. I expected better.

This restaurant pays a lot of attention to making the client feel safe and gently taken care of. The location is amazing, right on the water, with a well organized venue. We went for the Branzino, an interesting interpretation by the chef with pancake and a tasteful salad and great dressing. The oysters platter was excellent and the wine list is wide and reasonable. Very nice experience overall read more

If you're looking for a place to host a bridal party, have it at The Boathouse. My daughter was so happy at the beautiful setting, excellent food, and pretty mimosa bar. I've never hosted anything where guests were more complimentary. It was nice to have a warm and sunny day this spring after so many gray, drizzly afternoons, but still. Antonio and Jeff saw to all our needs. Eric was exceptionally kind in designing the menu with just the right color to match the wedding colors...and Eric, the cake you selected was delicious. Lynn answered every question leading up to the event and was funny & patient with us. She didn't just meet our needs, she anticipated them. I'd suggest you just stop looking and book this place. I promise. read more

I've lost count of the number of times I've been here. Started going when the new management took over for FUN happy hours. Family meals during shutdown were a staple. It was our first outing once restaurants were able to open up, and we felt so totally safe and both the food and service were OUTSTANDING. Our most recent visit was on 10/16, on which occasion our dinner and drinks were terrific - Robert the bartender is not only great but lots of fun! We also watched the manager dealing as gracefully as humanly possibly with a large, unruly, and frankly rude group of people who broke every rule of "How to be a good restaurant guest" they could. I've seen a lot... they were A LOT. Well done Scott and staff for handling the mess far better than I might have. We'll be back again and again (and again)! read more

A wonderful experience. Consistent service & the food is incredible. The view is the icing on the cake in such a peaceful, idyllic setting. Go at happy hour to watch the boats gliding through the water! Scott & his team have done such an incredible job reviving this restaurant ! read more