We ate here during a breezy summer night On a friday. It was packed with locals so the vibe was fun and buzzing. Food was incredible, the staff was running has hard as they could to keep up. We came from out of state for a family reunion. We will go back next time we are in town. read more

Great place to eat, very tasty food, great service, great atmosphere. There is something on the menu for everybody. I have never had a bad meal here. read more

The Channel Marker is a local favorite in the Syracuse area. Located on the channels of Lake Syracuse, it provides great views and good times. The most notable trait of the Channel Marker is its views and experience. With indoor and outdoor seating, one can have their meal while looking out at the beautiful water. The restaurant has a very beachy-feel and carries itself in a similar way. A drawback to its location is its size. Speaking on the outdoor seating, there is a limited number of tables which fill quickly. This can lead to long wait times. The food was good, not great. My burger was well-prepared but seemed a bit bland to me. Just another burger. The fries were excellent. The service was acceptable, nothing to write joke about. Another drawback was the presence of bees around the outdoor tables. For college students, the prices are relatively high for what you get. The clear selling point for them is location and experience, so take that as you will. Probably wouldn't return unless another friend asked me to. read more

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Always fun to meet with friends at the Channel Marker. Love the outdoor dining on the channel between the lakes. Great menu and remember to get a swamp water! read more

I have been twice in the last few months and it was amazing! The best seafood in the area, friendly staff, beautiful to look over the water while you dine. I will go every time I'm in the area read more

This place is disgusting waitresses suck. A guy threw up all over the place and they laughed about it pathietic. Tables and floors have old debri in the cracks of tables lost appetite just sitting here. Burger was raw disgusting very over priced for such a shitty place! read more

I give 5+ stars here, the staff was awesome, we arrived 20 mins before closing as we thought we had an hour and a half before closing. We were celebrating 2 people who had 50th birthdays happening, we had 27 people in our party and they very graciously agreed to accommodate us the food was excellent and as said before, the staff were all amazing. Thank you so much to all the staff at the Channel Marker read more

I haven't been here in years. I decided to sit at and eat at the outdoor patio bar. Servers were really friendly. After a few minutes of checking things out I decided I didn't want to eat here. The bar was filthy! It could really use a super deep cleaning. The machine that delivers the frozen fruit drinks was disgusting. Gunk collected around the drip tray and lots of flies. read more

One of sour favorite places. The atmosphere, food, and service are wonderful. The iconic "swamp waters" are a delightful restaurant favorite. read more

Ordered takeout from this restaurant based on a friend's recommendation. Arrived at the assigned time but food wasn't ready for another 20 min. Food was mediocre - Baja fish tacos, salmon salad, and perch baskets. Perch was the best thing we ordered and fries weren't bad, but the rest of the food was a strange mix of flavors and not very tasty. Looks like a fun spot - great outdoor bar atmosphere with music and abundant sunshine, so I might go back for a drink out on the pier but I wouldn't go back for the food. read more

The wait staff was extremely rude to me as I entered and looked for a table for my family. But what made things worse was the sexist manager who spoke down to me as I informed him of his terrible wait staff. He defended them and spoke down to me without listening or caring for my side of the story. The waitress we were finally assigned was very nice and saw the whole instance occurs between me and the bad wait staff. She agreed with my side of the story but was too afraid of her male sexist boss to say anything to him. We left and will NEVER BE BACK. Save your money and go to The Frog or Oakwood. read more

This was a great hidden Waterway gem. We ordered: Tuna, Nachos, Lobster Cakes, Jamaican Wings, Chicken Nachos, and Seafood Fondue with starters. The lobster cakes and the seaweed sales with the tuna were amazing! Our drinks were a combo of the 2 specials and were great. For our meals we had the perch- amazing- outrigger burger- amazing and Key Largo Salad. For dessert we had the carrot cake, key lime pie and mason jar cheesecake- all good. Great view and great service. Definitely a must stop! read more

The Channel Marker - New American Near Me - Syracuse, Indiana

We have been here for dinner twice in the last few months. Tonight we were there with reservations for a party. The waitress greeted us with, "What would like to like to drink? We close in 45 minutes." Our food was mediocre and barely warm. We will not be returning anytime soon! read more

Nice casual outdoor dining. Food was just ok but the service and outdoor area was nice.

If you want to pay for water, get a sandwich with some plastic wrap left in the basket from something else (with meat inside of it), get your food made wrong, eat ribs that mine as well be tough ham, and get slow service you will be happy here. The only good thing is you get free entertainment watching drunk middle aged lake lubbers flirt with each other's wives and bring their tiny dogs to eat at the table. read more

It's a fun place- but today- not so . I somehow got off on the wrong foot with our waitress. I got a Bloody Mary, my husband a beer,,2 root beers for our boys . We ordered wings and "land lubbers ". Sid said the land lubbers were only 3 chicken strips, so I was looking at the menu options - I wanted an entree for myself. Why was she taking my menu while I'm still deciding ? The chicken wing was bloody -whatever. The manager is nice and he explained that the wings are totally precooked so no worries, etc. about poisoning - that was not the issue. - I wasn't mad or being rude. I felt our waitress's demeanor was a bit hostile. .So, we ordered pizza and she said in a huff "that's AT LEAST 20 minutes" - not a problem, let's relax and have a glass of wine. (Right?) It was then I saw the bloody chicken wing. decided not to stay because it was awkward. At first, my dog and I sat at a 4 top on the patio. 2 lovely waitresses said hello, pet my dog etc, while my husband and teenage boys were tying the boat to the dock. They reminded me in Indiana that 21 and under had to move to a table (7 feet away from tiki bar) I forgot indy laws/ we are avid boaters from MN/WI FREQUENTLY we dine at lakeside establishments. I only wish we could've just stayed at that first table. PS. I went to use the bathroom and overheard the manager/owner talking about us. read more

I am not sure who 'greeted' us but they need to take lessons on customer service. (Just noticed picture of the owner on a condescending response to a less than stellar review below. Stay in your office and let the friendly people wait on your customers before you do not have anymore customers) Our waitress was friendly and did a good job of keeping drinks filled. The food was mediocre at best. The nachos were stale chips and half a jar of cheese whiz. The prime rib was fatty and clumped with their seasoning. The stir fry with their own teriyaki sauce was edible at most, but did not have a great flavor. I have had better teriyaki sauce at a wing place. The whole place is WAY WAY WAY overpriced. If you want a good meal, there is a McDonald's right around the corner. Go there for better flavor at a more reasonable price. read more

We visited last night, Sunday Oct 10th, and were told by the waitress/host that it would be a 25 minute wait. She indicated that everything else around was closed and fast food was the only other option. She wasn't real nice. We were a party of 4 and there was a 6 top open and two four tops that just needed cleaned, so I asked about them and she said she would clean them. She then went and stood behind the bar and did nothing. We left after two minutes. I know times are tough but that's no way to run a business but you can if you want to. This feedback is for the owner. Oh - The Sleepy Owl is open on Sunday evenings. They got us right in and everything was great! read more

Went here with dinner with my family. Food was very good, but if you ask for something specific on your food (like: no mushrooms or add onion)....it won't come out right. And our waitress didn't know anything about the menu. Fun to be right on the channel though. read more

Fantastic experience. The wait staff was exceptional. Started with appetizer of lobster bites. Went with the special of Michigan grown whitefish, baked with a cherry sauce. Red mashed potatoes and lobster bisque (soup of the day) as sides. Finished with homemade carrot cake. All aspects of the meal were phenomenal to say the least. I had a great experience and will return for sure. The next time your considering going back to the Frog for the second, or fifth or tenth time, I would definitely considering giving the channel marker a try! read more

I am giving a 2 for food flavor only. Service was horrible. There were at least 3 servers and maybe 4 tables with customers. It was painful. read more

Great morning at the channel marker, Courtney helped us out fast service and good food read more

The Channel Marker - Breakfast at the Channel Marker, you can't beat it - New American Near Me - Syracuse, Indiana

The food and the staff are extremely wonderful. We love this place...... it's a great time!!! read more

The Channel Marker - Sicilian Melt with Slaw - New American Near Me - Syracuse, Indiana

The wife and I came here to grab something to eat, I'm literally sitting here writing this review without a drink after 10 minutes you'd think someone could have came up to us.....well now that the horrible experience is over I'll give my review, food was terrible the service was terrible I spent way to much on a burger and fries that tasted like a work boot! I am a blue collar worker not a wealthy laker so we got treated like dirt and ignored, the staff flocked to the well dressed and suits, not the work pants and work boots! The owner was there talking down to the staff like it's his second language. I'll never go there again I suggest finding some were else to go the whole place sucks. read more

Cozy restaurant with a beautiful setting. I had jumbo coconut shrimp. I now know what "jumbo" shrimp means! They were meaty and well prepared. My wife had pan fried perch, which she found tasty. read more

These negative reviews are misguiding. This is easily the best scratch kitchen in a 30 mile radius. And, if people vote with their feet, the constant flow of traffic each summer tells how consistently wonderful it is for those with discerning tastes. Start wIth some of the best chowder you will ever have had and then enjoy the rest. read more

Great food and atmosphere. Great service. A Fun location on Lake Wawase! Dining outdoors or inside. The staff is very helpful! Daily specials. read more

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Server was wonderful, but owner was the most ignorant, disrespectful owner I've EVER seen in the industry. Disgusting! Prices are also outrageous for the quality of food you are served and the very dirty, hot indoor atmosphere. There are WAY better restaurants in that area so don't waste your money or time here! read more

I actually like a lot of the menu items at Channel Marker. The perch and Chicago beef are a couple of favorites. Their Fries are consistently good, BUT why do they insist upon serving the horrible "78" brand ketchup? I simply won't be back until they are able to offer Heinz. Petty? Maybe, but I just don't eat at restaurants that get cute with the condiments. read more

Pros: Amazing steak, Cool atmosphere Cons: Very hit-or-miss, A bit pricey The Channel Marker is a good restaurant, but is very inconsistent. The Ribeye steak is amazing, if you are willing to pay for it. The atmosphere is nice, and the inside is nicely decorated. The other meals I've had at the Channel Marker are good, but nothing special. The menu is has some variety, but is a bit lacking. The service is average. read more

It would get a 4 from me except they literally stacked our plates of food on top of each other. I had a plate stacked on top of my dinner. I have never seen service like that, if had not been with my grandson I would have refused my meal. read more

I met my girlfriends here tonight, it was moderately busy. It's a fun lake restaurant with great drinks. I ordered the tuna poke and it was amazing! I think I've found my new go to place! Great service and experience! read more

Went with friends. Small place with lake view. The owner/ manager Steve was very personable. We were seated right away. The place has a quasi nautical, seashore theme. The waitress was attentive and got all of our orders correct, which could be a challenge since this group can be pretty high maintenance. We ordered the lobster and shrimp fondue as an appetizer. Very creamy with plenty of shrimp and real lobster. Yummy!! Needed a few more spoonfuls. We also ordered the lobster bisque, and french onion soup. Both were very tasty. No one complained. They have an award winning burger that has shrimp on it. Huge, both of the people to that ordered could only eat half. Maybe the fondue and soup slowed down the consumption process. I ordered the seafood pasta dish. Can't remember the name It included shrimp, lobster and scallops. A little spicier than I prefer, but still pretty good. Super large portion. Someone also ordered dessert, all home made from scratch. The key lime pie. She said it was one of the best she had in awhile. It was so good that before we headed home we stopped back Bay and ordered it and the carrot . Delicious Will go back. read more

This is a good summer eatery right on the water with outdoor seating (plus some inside near the fireplace for winter dining). They have good fish and chicken and steak selections and everything I have tried is good. One negative is that they won't bring you a glass of water, but they will SELL you a bottle of water. Sounds like a minor point, but still irks me! read more

For the past several years, my friend and I try the Channel Marker once in the beginning of the summer - usually out of some misguided, hopelessly optimistic notion that THIS year is the year that the Channel Marker will finally find its groove - and our hopes are always crushed like a hungry child whose delicious ice cream scoop falls on a pile of rancid dog shit. We wouldn't mind the whole "We went to Walmart and tried to find some vaguely Jimmy-Buffett-looking schlock" and "Look! It's a tiki bar!" ambiance quite so much if it weren't for three things: the service, the food, and the prices. Look, we're reasonable people. We don't mind paying for an expensive meal if, you know, it tastes like it was worth it. But the food at the Channel Marker basically tastes like anything that an even marginally-talented toddler could prepare. The food is bland and is usually lukewarm by the time you get it. You do get decent sized portions, but a decent sized portion of deep-fried, lukewarm broken dreams are still broken dreams. Dreams of a summer restaurant on Lake Wawasee that serves decent food. The servers always act like it's their first day. You'd think that when you show up to be seated, the servers wouldn't always appear to be dumbfounded that you'd like to sit down somewhere, and astonished that you might want blue cheese instead of ranch dressing. Pro-tip: You usually have to ask for everything twice before you'll get it, so just anticipate that facet of the experience. The hostesses, looking like hungover refugees from some Key West nightmare, always seem about five seconds away from taking an emergency smoke break and thus are uninterested in your petty issues such as finding the bathroom or getting your order taken. TL;DR: Underwhelming food, spotty service...and seriously, you can overdose on Jimmy Buffett, guys. Tone it down. Jesus. You're in northern Indiana, not Daytona Beach, for heaven's sake. read more

Not bad. But not good either. In this small town in IN, this was considered one of the nicer places. Seafood was actually really good, but the filet was absolutely disgusting. Doesn't even hold a candle to Outback, let alone an actual steakhouse. read more

Not that consistent. Sometimes okay, sometimes bad. Food is average. Service is average or below. Lots of room for improvement. Glad we have other choices going by boat on the lake Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees. read more

Probably the worst restaurant you could possibly eat in. The people are rude and boisterous. They don't care if your food is cold, your drink is empty or if you hear them cursing out in public. They obviously only care about your money for overpriced food you could easily make yourself. Nothing is authentic and even if they try to tell you it is, just inquire about it and you will quickly discover the truth. And to make matters worse, catch a glimpse of the kitchen or any spot of the restaurant that stays hidden and swept under the rug. You will find bactetia, mold, plastic in your food and raccoons digging in their dumpster, which sits only yards from where you and your family get out to eat. All in all, there is no sense of professionalism. This town beckons for a decent restaurant. read more

Long-time Laker customer. Good service, tasty food, reasonably-priced menu for lake-accessible restaurant and bar. Much easier to boat in and park than The Frog. read more

This place should be shut down by the county health department! The tables are dirty, the food "baskets" are dirty, and it took three try's to get a clean fork. To top it all off a drunk older woman actually was vomiting at the Tiki bar outside! Needless to say we won't be back. read more