The Boardwalk
341 Bayview Ave, Put In Bay, OH, 43456
The Boardwalk Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Put In Bay for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Put In Bay for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Put In Bay for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
341 Bayview Ave
Put In Bay, OH, 43456 - Phone (419) 285-3695
- Website https://www.the-boardwalk.com/pdscms/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Jacquelyn I.
Lobster bisque is incredible. I've had $15 lobster bisque, and it didn't even come close to having the amount of lobster this bisque has for $8. Great atmosphere and service as well. All around great experience. So far on this trip we've made the bisque a daily must have.
(5)Emma L.
Bf & I were craving some Peel & Eat shrimp and were determined to find some as soon as we got to PIB. Our friends had mentioned The Boardwalk (Upper Deck) had some great Lobster Bisque so we headed over. It was PACKED but luckily with just the 2 of us we got seated immediately inside. We went for the Peel & Eat Shrimp (1/2 lb. for $14), a cup of the Lobster Bisque ($8) and a Lake Erie Perch Sandwich with Onion Rings to split ($15 + an up charge for the onion rings) The shrimp was REALLY good -- I mean, we had been craving these for like a week. We got 12 in our 1/2 lb order. They were large and tasty, but the presentation was pretty lame. Just thrown on a plate with some packaged saltines. Meh. The Lobster Bisque was AWESOME. I wished we had opted for a larger bowl or each gotten our own. Chunks of lobster meat, not too rich... mmm I want more right now! Our sandwich was pretty lame for the price, I expected it to be a bit larger. It tasted okay. I was kind of disappointed. The onion rings, however, were amazing. I ordered the sangria, which was good but I realized I wasn't in the mood for it once it had arrived (didn't sit well on top of what else I had been drinking). Bf ordered a Strawberry Daiquiri and was in fruity drink heaven. I wished I had gotten one of those! Our server was pretty friendly and treated us well. She seemed patient and calm, which says a lot when you're serving a bunch of drunk people. Overall, I enjoyed parts of our meal a lot and wished I had looked over the menu a bit more. If we go back, I know I'll definitely be sticking to the Shrimp & Bisque!
(3)Andy S.
Very nice facility with a great view. Clean, the food was tasty. Service was average. The price? Crazy. It wouldn't be so expensive if you got average-sized portions. You look at the menu and think "That's a little high, but how often do you eat here? Let's splurge." Then you get the food and wonder where the rest is. Then you have to order more food to make up the difference. THEN it gets pricy. But make no mistake- the food is good. Get the lobster bisque.
(3)Corey W.
Definitely a high priority pace to stop for dinner if you are looking for a place to eat at Put-in-Bay. We at in the top level dining room though there are a number of small walk up style food vendors on the first level. The service was pretty good but what was really impressive was a classic american by the water menu with their own character making the selections unique to their establishment. They tout the "best lobster bisque in Ohio". It's pretty good and as far as Ohio goes they may be safe making that claim though if they went to Maine it would probably just be good, not "...the best."
(4)Beth E.
First time visitor and felt obligated to try the lobster bisque since everyone raves about it. The bisque was super thick with loads of lobster. Yes, a bit salty but had other flavors too. Not the best, but not bad. I had a cheeseburger, asked to have cooked medium well, but came out with pink throughout. This is a real turnoff for me. My husband had the chicken bruschetta sandwich and really liked it. Service was decent, prices are what they are expected to be in a resort town. The views are great, the restaurant felt clean, so all in all an OK experience. I think menu selection is key here.
(3)Lauren H.
I had my birthday dinner on the Upper Deck, a beautiful and huge restaurant right on the pier. My lobster bisque was salty -- as it's supposed to be! -- and covered in cream and big lobster bits. Our cheesey seafood bread was garlic-licious. One downside: My partner's rare sesame tuna was watery and sad. But the king crab made my night. Still sweet, odorless and succulent after its long trip from parts unknown. Impressive! The view was exquisite and our server was a sweetheart. With multiple storefronts from dockside to upscale, the Boardwalk should be your seafood joint of choice for PIB.
(4)Charmony P.
Two words: LOBSTER BISQUE. There are a bunch of restaurant options to take to the seating area, both indoor and outdoor (,and even an upper deck). The bar is a little pricey compared to the already pricey bars on the island (obviously, they have to import everything). Completely worth it for the view of the bay. Watch the water taxis come in, the jet depart to pick up more visitors on the mainland, the monument in the background. Really excellent use of this space.
(4)Takako C.
Fresh seafood! It was all very delicious. Lobster bisque , you gotta try that!! It was soooo good.
(5)Mark E.
Great views of marina and stiff drinks at the bar. Who could ask for more. Food was equally good, perhaps a bit pricey, but on a warm summer day who cares...
(4)Paul B.
One of my favorites on the island. You really can't get better perch than here and the lobster bisque is the real deal. I am always shocked at how much lobster is in it. I had a great meal last night. Yes it's pricey but perch always is and you have to remember that lobster isn't cheap. I also like the vibe here. Great cocktails.
(4)Herb N.
Get the lobster bisque. Bread bowl made that day. 10 minute wait to sit but server ( Taylor ) on the ball and food came quick and right temperature chicken bacon wrap very good as was hummus vegetable wrap. Best view as well.
(4)Nichole S.
Had the Alaskan King Crab dinner. Very good, and the lobster bisque was amazing. View was beautiful and the server was wonderful. Only 4/5 stars because the meal was very pricey.
(4)Timothy B.
I went to the boardwalk for lunch. All I wanted was a simple perch sandwich. It wasn't available downstairs so they sent me upstairs to the fancier Upper Deck. I sat down , saw the menu and ordered a 15$ perch sandwich. I thought it would be great as the price was extremely high. The sandwich was not. Neither tasty nor sizeable. Housemade chips were not housemade. Service was good. You can do better on PIB for a simple perch sandwich. All your doing here is getting out of the heat to utilize their AC. Tim B.
(2)Edward L.
How is it you advertise a lobster mania special for $20 from 5-8 on a Wednesday for a 1.25 pound lobster and bisque, coleslaw, etc. and then tell me at 7:30 on Wednesday you have sold out. But then offer me a 1.25 lobster dinner for $29.99. If you have the 1.25 pound lobsters and the time for the special is still going on. You sell it for the special price. It's bad business not to. It doesn't matter if you have felt you have sold enough of them.
(1)Lisa G.
A little pricy. I'm not into seafood so the menu is limited for me. I got s salad, not the best quality ingredients, for what I paid, it should have been perfect. Husband liked his fish sandwich tho. Loved the scenery.
(4)Julie G.
Lobster BLT & the Lobster Mac & Cheese were great! Be sure to request to sit outside! Our daughter LOVED watching the boats come in while we ate.
(5)Andy B.
This review is based on my experience at Little Galley. Messed up order on many fronts. Did not understand what a hamburger with lettuce and tomato only was. A small soft drink was not marked with price but was $2.95. In the future, I will eat elsewhere.
(2)Michael S.
Service was awesome, drinks were good, everything we ordered came out quickly and was played nicely. Lobster bisque here is a MUST -- best bisque in Ohio by far. Some of our food left a little to be desired; or in the case of our fries, WAY less seasoning. Overall, we love this place and the Upper Deck's outdoor patio is awesome.
(4)I D.
Awesome lobster bisque! Lots of lobster pieces (had a bit more shell than it should)! Had the strip steak with fries for dinner, very flavorful! Seasoned fries & well seasoned steak topped with a wine cream sauce and caramelized onions..mmmm! Very nice atmosphere with dim lighting..perfect for date night! And a view of the harbor.
(4)Caz O.
The boardwalk (which is literally a boardwalk on a pier) is a collection of restaurants and bars in the heart of downtown Put In Bay. It is located right at the Sonny-S dock. We stopped and had some fried perch and a few drinks at the Margarita place. Both were pretty tasty, although a bit over-priced. Which is unfortunately the case throughout the islands. The nicest part about the boardwalk is the variety and the fact that you can enjoy your food/drinks right there on the pier over the water. It was a fantastic place to sit and enjoy a break and the cool breeze coming off the lake. The boardwalk is also supposedly renowned for their lobster bisque. We didn't get to try it (didn't think bisque would go well on top of the mojitos we already had from Mojito bay) but next visit, I look forward to giving it a shot!
(4)Mark H.
Stopped at the boardwalk for dinner with a group of 8, we ate in the 'upper deck' portion of the restaurant. Ordered a mojito - not too shabby. Shared their lobster bisque bread bowl as an app with my girlfriend, the left-over bread was soaked with bisque and delicious. As an entrée I ordered the Cajun mahi-mahi, it was a small portion but not bad at all. heads up - when ordering market priced steaks the price can be over $50 - my buddy found this out the hard way haha.
(3)Kate B.
I had the best king crab here! Lots of drawn butter and lemon, it was divine! And the lobster is fresh and kicking until you get it twenty minutes later at the table! What a difference it makes to eat it fresh! $29.99 gets you a 1 1/4 lb lobster, coleslaw, a roll, and a cup of their delicious lobster bisque!
(5)Kevin D.
Huge facility with several restaurants. Downstairs there are three restaurants and tables - you get your food from any of them and sit anywhere. Upstairs is an actual restaurant with servers (and air conditioning). This is made for tourists... they have exactly what tourists want, which is fish sandwiches, lobster bisque and a view of the water. Even at the upstairs restaurant you can sit outside on the deck and look out over the marinas. The food is mediocre and way overpriced, but if you eat here, it's for the view, not the food.
(2)Ferris B.
Came here to sit and have a drink with friends on the upper deck. I had the jalapeno margarita which was great. Friend had the lobster bisque she HAD TO HAVE. She says she always comes there to get it anytime she is on the island. I tried it and thought it was great. Thes best part was sitting outside and watching the boaters maneuver in and out of their parking spots. But that's the most I can remember because at that point I had already been to 3 other drinking establishments. So I was pretty buzzed.
(4)Chris N.
Had lunch here on Saturday. The views are phenomenal, best on the island. Nice atmosphere inside with high ceilings, cool fixtures, and flat screen TV's everywhere, but which do not affect the view. We ordered a sweet chili chicken wrap ($13.) and a bruschetta chicken sandwich ($15.). Both were okay, but overpriced. A bottle of Clos Du Bois chardonnay was $29.
(3)Robert H.
The restaurant upstairs at the Boardwalk is probably the best food option in Put-in-Bay. The outside tables right over the water, and inside is glassed in with great views of the bay. I grabbed a seat outside. The server was friendly and helpful, walking through the menu and helping with drink selections. I tried their sangarita, which was fantastic. I also ordered their steamed mussels, which were very tasty with a nice garlic butter sauce and enough bread to soak it up. Like most restaurants in the area, this place is not cheap. However, it is probably one of the more upscale places, if not the most, on the island.
(4)Mr M.
Peel and eat shrimp had an odd smell almost chemical, the alaskan king crab legs were not well received either. Spent a ton on a nice dinner only to be extremely disappointed . Would not return
(1)Lili L.
Review for Upper Deck at the Boardwalk. Even though it's for the Upper Deck, the food is the same whether it's take out, express, upper deck, main deck, whatever. The service is fine. The location is great. The view is superb. Some might be used to the gimundo Mayflies that swarm the area during the early summer season, but they are literally everywhere and quite disgusting. They will fly onto your hair, shirt, and food. So if you're not okay with that, sit indoors. That said, the food here is appalling. If not for the fortunate location and the view, this place may be an utter failure. The lobster bisque is a pot of salt with a side of cream and small lobster leg meat (not claw, but the little legs). Not tasty, just salty. Fine, some people might like drinking salt. But, the real disappointment was the cocktail shrimp. At ~$14.50/half pound, I am basically paying for $30/lb shrimp. That better be some darn good, giant shrimp. Especially since it's peel yourself cocktail shrimp. Meaning they buy the shrimp, throw it in boiling water, shock it in ice bath, and serve. Not much opportunity to ruin cocktail shrimp. Except that I expect the shrimp to be de-veined!! There is absolutely no excuse for not de-veining cocktail shrimp unless you WANT your customers to eat shrimp feces (for those who don't know, the "vein" is the black line that runs along the back of the shrimp and is actually the intestines). Sure, you're not going to die from it, nor will you get sick from eating it. After all people don't get sick eating rocky mountain oysters or cow intestines either. But again, at $30/lb shrimp, there's no excuse to serve me crap (literally). Side note: for the bargain hunters, you can find a 10% off coupon in the visitors guide that you can pick up at the jet express ticket windows/visitors centers.
(1)Julie P.
We ate at the Upper Deck. We sat outside on a gorgeous day. All the food was excellent. The lobster bisque IS THE BEST!!! Especially in a bread bowl. The crab cake arugula salad was great. As were the steamed mussels. Our server was very professional. I had some special requests and she was very accommodating. Of course I would like to pay less, but the food was top quality and I also realize I'm paying as well for the great view of the lake we had.
(5)Patricia L.
Enter THE BOARDWALK. Keep walking. Look for Book's BBQ on your left. AKA: that one line that's probably the longest. Order the lobster bisque. If you're feeling extra awesome get it in their fabulous bread bowl. Then take a couple sidesteps to the right (because you're in line at this point) and order the crabcake sandwich. Smile. Pay. Take the flag with you and sit at a bench near the water. Smile again. Wait patiently for your glorious meal. Breathe in that nice breeze. When your food arrives, give your server your flag and follow up with an enthusiastic high five. Take a bunch of photos of your food. MAKE IT COUNT because you're obviouisly going to post them on Yelp. Put on hand sanitizer (because let's face it, who KNOWS where THOSE Hands have been). ENJOY YOUR MEAL. Go back on Yelp. Send me a compliment. You're welcome.
(4)Kevin G.
Great place as always. Huge chunks of real lobster in the creamy bisque! Cold beer, a fantastic 3 man band playing sing along faves and brilliant view of the Bay! A MUST stop on the island! There are multiple levels to the place and different kiosks/stands for different tastes, including a gift shop. The Upper Deck is for upper class dinners, there's a hot dog & hamburger stand, and then the main seafood counter on the main deck. It's a little pricey, but it's totally worth it.
(5)Chad D.
Love the bisque, shrimp, cocktails and atmosphere!
(4)Amy B.
I really would skip everything else on the menu and just get the lobster bisque in the bread bowl. Everything else our group tried was "fine" but the lobster bisque was OUTSTANDING. The views from the upper deck are fantastic!
(4)Anuj S.
First of all, what's confusing is that Boardwalk is not a restaurant. It's a collection of a number of different restaurants. I don't understand why people refer to it as one place. I guess they're all owned/managed by the same company. It would be nice of they shared a bigger menu, etc. We first went to the Mexican place upstairs. It seemed nice enough with a good amount of outdoor seating. Things started out great; their menu, which is like 5 pages long had plenty of drink options. After looking through the first couple of pages, we started there. Then we got to the food part of the menu and it was like... 1 page in the back. You can see where the focus is. For us, there was nothing to eat. As vegetarians at a Mexican restaurant we almost never have issues, because you can usually just substitute beans for meat on most items. Not at this place - they don't even have beans! What? I know. So we closed out there and went to another place called Upper Deck. So this was another one of the restaurants at the Boardwalk. Better in that they had some vegetarian options. I got a veggie burger which was just very average. I tasted someone else's portabella sandwich, which was much better. I also tasted the pizza, which was not that good. The service was pretty good. Everyone was really nice and so I definitely can't complain on that front. I think given the very limited food choices on the island, this probably still is the best choice - which was sad. Go to Put In Bay if you're on a liquid diet. :-)
(2)Alicia N.
After a late lunch on the island, my fiancee and I did not find ourselves hungry until around 10pm, at which time the kitchen was closed at the Boardwalk...but upon being greeted by GM Michael, we were offered seats at the bar and food, if we ordered quickly. The menu is a good size, but bartender/server Liz was more than willing to help us decide with by providing some recommendations. Our food came out quickly and the drinks were delicious. We had a great dining experience and were extremely pleased with our service. Michael came over to see how our dining experience was and harassed me (hardly!) into writing a review. :) Liz and I joked about movies (Dirty Dancing!) before we left. My fiancee and I will return on our next trip to Put in Bay and are convinced that our service and food will be better than exceptional, just like it was, this time...thanks to Michael and Liz for a great experience!
(5)Lynn D.
Had read about their lobster bisque so decided to give it a try. The bisque was great, but had it served in a bread bowl which was not. Very poorly executed semi-sourdough, which did not impart the sourdough taste and did not have the crispy crust. Wish i could give the bisque and the bread two different scores. This review ranks a bit higher than it should because of the great views.
(3)Chad B.
My favorite place to get perch and walleye, sitting in the Upper Deck with the nice views of the Bay
(5)Chris N.
On vacation with the family to Cedar Point we took a day excursion to Put in Bay. All of us starving we went to the upper deck for dinner. The service was great, Heidi was prompt and friendly. Too bad the food sacked! We all ordered a cup of the lobster bisque and proceeded to slurp it down quickly (like I said we were all STARVING) I however was slowed down not one but twice by little bits of tendon or whatever the little plastic like pieces of lobster are called, unacceptable. My daughter had the same issue but only once. Plus I fond the bisque to be salty. Moving on to the entre' my son and daughter both ordered the special 10 oz steak with great beans the beans were cold and the steak more rare the medium. My other daughter ordered the lobster Mac and cheese and guess what more little plastic pieces from the lobster. The wife got the breaded walleye and perch dinner and the piece of walleye she share with me still had scales, unacceptable! I ordered the backend walleye and was given the option of light or heavy on the blackening I chose light and got a fish with no seasoning at all plus cold veggies and orzo. Oh shoot, I forgot the salad pulled from the fridge made this morning and put little cups of salad dressing on the side just like a fast food restaurant. All in all it was a bad $230 experience. I'm sure during the off season my $27 walleye dinner sells for $12 and they still make a profit. All in all don't get fooled thinking this is some nice restaurant Applebee's on the mainland would be a better choice.
(1)Evonne K.
I love to visit here when I am in the area because they have a view of the marina while you dine. Some of the restaurants are really crappy, unfortunately. This time, I really wanted some Lake Erie ( yellow) perch, so the Fish Shack seemed to be the only choice. Yuck. My pricey lunch was overlooked and crummy. I LOVE perch, but not this mess. I should have taken the advice of others and gone for the lobster bisque. It is scrumptious! I really don't order lobster or crab legs, because I just can't handle the thought of those loiter black eyeballs steaming away in a pot. Aaaaeeeeeeyyyyykkkkk!!! Anyway, the lobster bisque is really tasty. We always end up at The Boardwalk because we love the experience we have here. It's the perfect ending to a day on the island. Boats to watch, beers to drink, fun and merriment abound. What's not to love? Ah, the food. Just don't get the overpriced, overcooked perch here. Get it some place that knows how to cook it tight, like The Jolly Roger in Port Clinton. Mmmmmmmmm... I actually haven't tried any of the restaurants upstairs. I wasn't aware that the had better restaurants up there until I saw some reviews here. They seem to always have live music when we are there, and we enjoy that a bunch. Regardless of the food, we still love this place!
(4)Meghann T.
OH MY GODDDDDDDDDD. THE LOBSTER BISQUEEEEEEE! $9 to $11 for it, but seriously - get your panties out of a bunch and buy it! The best you will ever have in your LIFE! I love coming here in the afternoons for a drink and for the lobster bisque; the shrimp is out of this world, also! It is pricey, but it is definitely worth what you pay for. I've never had any complaints when it comes to service, or the wait staff's knowledge of their full bar and menu. Drinking and smoking is allowed in designated areas; there is an upper and lower deck to this place, which sits on the water. Lovely place to be at nighttime.
(5)Doug D.
Lobster bisque was perfect. I had the walleye sandwich and it was great also. Good drink specials, friendly and quick service. This place has great food for good prices in a perfect atmosphere. Felt like I was sitting on the ocean in New England. Definitely my best restaurant experience on the island.
(5)Olga A.
My co-worker and I came here for lunch during the week in the fall season. I had the black bean burger with guacamole. It was so delicious. Ross had antipasta salad that was the special of the day. He licked the plate clean! Service was excellent. Jen was very attentive. The restaurant had a beautiful view and was very clean.
(4)Pete S.
It was ok. We had the famous lobster bisque they boast about, we were not impressed. The lobster was not fresh but frozen. This place is just another tourist trap.
(2)Kevin L.
Terrific lobster bisque. Great Lobster sandwich. The rest of my family had crab-cake sandwiches and thoroughly enjoyed their selection. Portions were plentiful and taste did not disappoint. The view from the desk was particularly good at sunset. All around very satisfying.
(3)Ryan L.
The signs all the way on the mainland advertised the best lobster bisque. I will agree that it was very good but was not very hot. I find soup that isn't hot to be questionable. The food options here are pretty typical but definitely over priced. I guess that's what you expect from Put-In-Bay. The food was good and you get a decent portion. There are a number of specialty drinks which are also expensive but poured strong. The best part is the view of the lake and the islands.
(4)Rachel S.
I see the Boardwalk as one of the better casual eateries on Put-in-Bay Island. I've eaten once or twice in the classier upper deck portion of the restaurant, but honestly, when I can get the same scrumptious bisque on the lower deck in a much more casual drop-in setting, I rarely take that flight of stairs. The Boardwalk is several food places and bars in one. There is the lower deck which offers plates of fried fish and steamed perch and walleye, lobster, the infamous lobster bisque, and even soft-serve ice cream. Rita's Cantina upstairs serves Mexican food. Then there's the upper deck which like I said, seems to offer several of the same items found on the lower deck. Throughout the summer, The Boardwalk will offer specials on their lower deck, such as a $20 lobster special as well as sushi! I have had the $20 lobster special on the lower deck. The lobster, as well as the coleslaw and corn that accompanied it, were all just fine. The sushi is good, a change from everything else offered on the island. It is imported from Nagoya, a nearby Japanese restaurant on the mainland. I would give The Boardwalk 3 stars as a whole. However, this review warrants a fourth star because of The Boardwalk's claim to fame - the lobster bisque. I LOVE the lobster bisque. It is impossibly creamy and pink, and filled with jumbo chunks of lobster meat. This is not your everyday seafood soup. If you're into bisque, chowder, and fish, you'll want to dive into a pink ocean of the stuff. What's so wrong with that??
(4)Stefanie F.
This is a review of the Upper Deck of the Boardwalk, not to be confused with THEE Upper Decker. The Upper Deck is supposedly one of the nicer restaurants on Put-in-Bay. It seemed pretty mediocre to me. Didn't appear to be "swanky". They offer more than just regular old bar food. Most of their offerings involve seafood. They claim to have "the Best Lobster Bisque in Ohio". I have to say, it was pretty good. Pricey for what you got but pretty darned decent lobster bisque with plenty of lobster in it. I can't really say I've had lobster bisque anywhere else in Ohio (besides homemade) so I'm not sure if it was really "the best". I also ordered a shrimp po'boy. It was pretty good as well but I didn't eat much of it because the lobster bisque was very filling. Drinks were alright too. I had a Bloody Mary that was surprisingly good. The service was not the best. Our server was a bit on the bitchy side and she acted as if cracking a smile might break her face. Very unfriendly and impatient. I think she might have heard my aunt say she was a bitch and after that she was sweet as pie. Too late, honey bunch. She also messed up a few of the orders -- chips instead of fries for my sis and a regular salad instead of caesar for my dad. Never apologized or acted as if anything was a big deal. She didn't offer to bring out the correct items either. Not the way I'd expect a server to respond. The best thing about the Upper Deck is the beautiful view of the bay. It would have been much better had it not been a cloudy, rainy day I'm sure.
(3)Colleen M.
Best place to eat on Put in Bay! It has a variety of restaurants so if you go with a large group it's easier to eat together and less stress on finding one place that has everything because this place already has everything. I normally do not eat seafood but like everyone else said their lobster bisque is delicious. I typically get the brugers and fries. Sometimes it can be super busy but they have a ton of outdoor seating that you will finally find a place to sit down.
(5)Michael B.
Great steak and fries for $22; greasy and finished with caramelized onions! Neat place to sit and get some great views of boats and watch a very bright sunset (but they do have window shades!)
(4)Brian B.
The Boardwalk consists of multiple establishments, I can only comment on Ritas Cantina. The drinks were ok, and the food was edible. The only saving grace of my trip was the service, which was fast and helpful. Aside from that, avoid this place, Put-in-Bay has better to offer elsewhere.
(1)A D.
Great views and the interior is cool. We went to the upper deck part. All wood inside. The food is top notch. We ordered to go for 4 people and each of us tried what we all ordered and it was ALL AMAZING. Coconut shrimp- the flavor was wonderful. Western Burger- nice and juicy , great fries. Lobster Bisque- wow absolutely the best ( ask for a little bit of cherry on the side and pour it over the top). The other burger was delicious as well with guacamole. mmmmmmmmmmmm 5 out of 5!
(5)Bryan W.
Expensive but a Put-In-Bay classic. With a great location I would suggest going here for appetizers.
(4)Gillian T.
It was my first time to Put-in-Bay and I saw a lot of ads during my visit, saying the Boardwalk has the best lobster bisque. So I was literally on a mission to find this famous bisque. When I got to the Boardwalk, I was a little confused at first because the Boardwalk has a few of restaurants present, and I didn't know which one held the famous bisque! But I think both downstairs and upstairs in the Boardwalk can serve you the bisque. You just have to decide in what setting you want it. You can pay a little more and have a more formal sit-down upstairs. OR you can go casual and order downstairs and bring your food out onto the deck to eat. I liked this better because I was closer to the water and got to enjoy the sun out on the deck for a long long time. I ordered my lobster bisque in a bread bowl and a lobster roll. They were both AMAZING! It lived up to my expectations, so my mission was complete.
(4)Jen M.
Go to Rita's Cantina to drink, not eat. They have a great selection of tequila, but disappointingly, they didn't have Pacifico on the beer list. Huh? They had every other Mexican beer except that one. The food list is about 5 items--all finger food. Nachos, tacos, chips and salsa. Served on paper plates, no utensils. Go to the Goat Tavern if you want real Mex.
(3)Dave C.
Lobster bisque was library paste... horrible. Everything else was mediocre at best. If you want bar food, it is fine i guess
(2)Tyler B.
The Boardwalk is the PIBs food court. Several places to get several different types of grub before heading out for the evening. This is a Saturday night staple for us. After a day of baking poolside, we all shower up and put on our fancy duds to go out for the evening. But not before grabbing some delicious seafood at the Boardwalk. You're right on the water and there's several levels of bars and restaurants to please even the most discerning tastes. OK, its not haute cuisine, but your looking for something to soak up the alcohol before continuing your bender - not get hand rubbed kobe beef and reflect on your stock portfolio. This place is perfect for groups with diverse tastes, and more importantly, drunks who are ready to go once more into the breach.
(3)Ferrett S.
NOTE: This is a review of the Upper Deck, the swanky restaurant by the bay. The best part about this place is the menu, which made us laugh not once, but twice. Because for TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS, you can get the gourmet, once-in-a-lifetime meal of... ...get this... One and a half pounds of fried walleye. Oh, and you get peel-and-eat shrimp. And a heaping pile of chips. And cole slaw. And a bottle of 2002 Cristal Brute Rose champagne! Yes, when I want to blow $250 on a meal, I want FILET-O-FISH AND CHAMPAGNE! What an awesome deal! (You can also, for $300, have two hamburgers with lobster meat... AND CHAMPAGNE!) Wow, I can only imagine what sort of nouveau-rich people are salivating at THIS deal. But we also laughed when we stopped by here to taste "Ohio's Best Lobster Bisque!" We liked the claim very much, because they were savvy enough not to claim that it was the WORLD'S best lobster bisque - somehow, the fact that they were humble enough to just restrict themselves to Ohio made it charming. Unfortunately, though we ordered the lobster bisque, the waiter forgot to bring it to us. We got our main meal, and said, "Excuse us - you forgot the bisque." "Oh," said the waiter, shrugging. "Would you take it off our bill?" we prompted. "Okay," he said, forgetting that the words "Sorry," "Whoops," or even "My bad" existed in the English language. The main courses were decent, if unexceptional - if they were cheaper, I'd cheerfully give this place three stars and not two. My wife had a tuna with crab that was delightful, or so she claimed; I had a filet mignon that was passably done, but not a patch on a real steakhouse. (Man, I feel like a snob saying that. But really, there's a way that good steakhouses either serve or get pieces of filet mignon that makes it rich and juicy. This was moderately juicy, moderately steaky, not nearly worth the $20-plus for it.) Interestingly enough, for a fish place, the second-best part was the fingerling potatoes. They were rich, full of flavor, and we ate them up with salt. Those were awesome. Also worth noting is the view. If you like views, this has a gorgeous panorama of the bay; we watched the sun set and held hands, and it was very romantic. Perhaps if the bisque was good, I'd have given this place a better review... But as it is, it's overpriced for okay food. The two stars doesn't indicate that the food is terrible - it's just spendy for what you get.
(2)Mike S.
I visit the Boardwalk every time I go to PIB for Lobster Bisque and Crab Legs! Love it!
(4)Patrick B.
Note: This is primarily a review of the Upper Deck of the Boardwalk. The Upper Deck is a great place to grab a bite to eat on the water in Put in Bay. Whether you're in the spacious, clean indoor dining room or on the patio outside, you will have a great view of the water. It has great food at a reasonable price. We got a table right next to the window that looked out a the lake and Perry's Monument. According to the ad, it has the best lobster bisque in Ohio, which I'm sure isn't hard to do, being a landlocked state technically (I know we have the lake, but there's still no ocean). The lobster bisque, however, is excellent. It is creamy and full of flavor. There are a lot of chunks of lobster in it. For my entree, I had a lobster roll, which came with chips. The lobster roll was also excellent. It melted in my mouth. (Disclaimer: I'm a sucker for anything lobster). The chips, however, were a different story. They were plain and there were way too many of them. I tried putting salt on them and it didn't work. Overall, if you're looking for a quiet place to have a great meal with a view, head over to the Upper Deck at the Boardwalk and enjoy the seafood goodness.
(4)Nicole L.
We had the blackened swordfish sandwich and THE BEST lobster bisque ever. You could eat this soup with a fork since they were so generous with the lobster, and the creamy bisque was wonderful! We couldn't believe we found this after dining in many seaside cafes on the East Coast, Put-In-Bay Boardwalk makes us want to come back just for the bisque. This was years ago, so I hope nothing changed with the addition - stick to the basics and you will succeed. This place is Spring Break for adults, if you are too snooty to enjoy - go vacation somewhere else!
(5)Julie C.
Yummy yummy yummy! We came here with a big party and they accommodated us with no problem! About 20 people! Ashton was our server and he did an INCREDIBLE job!!! I have to make sure to give him a lot of credit!! I had the crab cake salad. It wasn't the best ever, but it was good. My cousin had the potato chips with balsamic and blue cheese crumbles appetizer. This is enough for 4 people!! It's a huge appetizer!! My husband had the bread bowl lobster bisque. All of it was good!! For a drink I had the peach Bellini! OMG!! SO GOOD!!! We all had a great time, and would go back if we ever went to Put-In Bay! I love how it overlooks the water and all the boats etc! Very cool bars inside and outside as well!
(4)Beth W.
Great atmosphere and fast friendly service. Food was good. not great. a little pricey. got the walleye sandwich which was huge. also got the lobster roll which was small for a 17 dollar sandwhich but still pretty tasty.
(3)Matthew B.
Lobster Bisque was worth the price tag. We had to wait in a decent line to get the Bisque and a Mahi Mahi sandwich to go. The view at the restaurant was awesome. The Mahi Mahi was just OK. View was awesome. We were downstairs in quick service area that wasn't the full service. Great idea if you want a quick lunch.
(4)Cara L.
Great for large parties! I came here for a bachelorette party that 8 people and while being understaffed (on a Saturday night) we still had an excellent waiter! We didn't wait long for our food and our waiter stopped by our table often despite being crazed. The views are gorgeous and the food is delicious! I ordered the lobster ravioli and ate every single bite. You get about 6 ravioli which is a perfect amount for the price and for your stomach.
(4)Tim L.
LOBSTER LOBSTER LOBSTER!! If you think about it, the concept of having the best lobster bisque on a freshwater lake doesn't make logical sense... but somehow it is what it is! We visited some family that have a house on the island and they insisted that we have the bisque - which we took home and enjoyed as an appetizer to other items that we made... I had never had lobster bisque before, but HOLY WOWZA this stuff was GOOD!!! HUGE pieces of lobster and lots of them in a creamy, just-the-right-amount-of-salt bisque. We didn't wait long at all for the bisque, and we ended up getting a lot of it, too. The staff were very helpful and swift at taking our order and getting us the food. The atmosphere appeared comfortably casual, as is most of Put-In-Bay in general, and it is situated right on the water for a great view. When we come back again and eat in I'll update the review on that experience. However, 5 stars for the to-go bisque experience!
(5)Taylor E.
Great food and very good staff...the only downside was the crab legs were a little on the expensive side but the lobster bisque was unbelievability good
(4)Amy R.
Stick to this restaurant if you would like decent seasoned food on this island. Saturdays was the best meal for us. The del monte steak was on point. Mixed cocktails were good. This place is known for their lobster bisque.. It was average to a foodie person. Probably good to someone that haven't traveled and dived into delicious seafood. Customer Service was nice; everyone was friendly and was anxious for your experience to be good. I gave the top score to this place; even though Put-In-Bay isn't known for a foodie place but to have decent seasoned food; this would be your best place to have a good meal.
(3)Hank's Dad R.
We ate at the Upper Deck, the sit down portion of this large restaurant. The food was adequate, certainly nothing special. The service was surprisingly good, Timothy I think. It is a large space, many of the tables having a good view from the raised vantage point. Getting inside the air conditioning was a nice break as outside is so filled with gas fumes from all the golf carts and scooters. The decor is nice for a touristy restaurant/bar. The prices are of course outrageous. We spent $50 before the tip for mediocre food and two sodas. But Put In Bay has become a tourist trap.
(3)Crystal P.
Visited Put-in-Bay for the first time EVER and this was our first stop. I was very impressed with the lake views and quality food. I enjoyed a turkey burger with a black pepper aioli that was outta this world. The real MVP, though? The Rum Runner frozen cocktail with a floater of Captain Morgan. What a great way to start off our beautiful day on the island!
(4)Matt S.
Very good lobster bisque, up there with the ones that I have had at east coast restaurants. That's all I had, so I can't say much more about, but I would definitely try this place again.
(4)Takako C.
Fresh seafood! It was all very delicious. Lobster bisque , you gotta try that!! It was soooo good.
(5)Kevin G.
Great place as always. Huge chunks of real lobster in the creamy bisque! Cold beer, a fantastic 3 man band playing sing along faves and brilliant view of the Bay! A MUST stop on the island! There are multiple levels to the place and different kiosks/stands for different tastes, including a gift shop. The Upper Deck is for upper class dinners, there's a hot dog & hamburger stand, and then the main seafood counter on the main deck. It's a little pricey, but it's totally worth it.
(5)Chad D.
Love the bisque, shrimp, cocktails and atmosphere!
(4)Amy B.
I really would skip everything else on the menu and just get the lobster bisque in the bread bowl. Everything else our group tried was "fine" but the lobster bisque was OUTSTANDING. The views from the upper deck are fantastic!
(4)Anuj S.
First of all, what's confusing is that Boardwalk is not a restaurant. It's a collection of a number of different restaurants. I don't understand why people refer to it as one place. I guess they're all owned/managed by the same company. It would be nice of they shared a bigger menu, etc. We first went to the Mexican place upstairs. It seemed nice enough with a good amount of outdoor seating. Things started out great; their menu, which is like 5 pages long had plenty of drink options. After looking through the first couple of pages, we started there. Then we got to the food part of the menu and it was like... 1 page in the back. You can see where the focus is. For us, there was nothing to eat. As vegetarians at a Mexican restaurant we almost never have issues, because you can usually just substitute beans for meat on most items. Not at this place - they don't even have beans! What? I know. So we closed out there and went to another place called Upper Deck. So this was another one of the restaurants at the Boardwalk. Better in that they had some vegetarian options. I got a veggie burger which was just very average. I tasted someone else's portabella sandwich, which was much better. I also tasted the pizza, which was not that good. The service was pretty good. Everyone was really nice and so I definitely can't complain on that front. I think given the very limited food choices on the island, this probably still is the best choice - which was sad. Go to Put In Bay if you're on a liquid diet. :-)
(2)Alicia N.
After a late lunch on the island, my fiancee and I did not find ourselves hungry until around 10pm, at which time the kitchen was closed at the Boardwalk...but upon being greeted by GM Michael, we were offered seats at the bar and food, if we ordered quickly. The menu is a good size, but bartender/server Liz was more than willing to help us decide with by providing some recommendations. Our food came out quickly and the drinks were delicious. We had a great dining experience and were extremely pleased with our service. Michael came over to see how our dining experience was and harassed me (hardly!) into writing a review. :) Liz and I joked about movies (Dirty Dancing!) before we left. My fiancee and I will return on our next trip to Put in Bay and are convinced that our service and food will be better than exceptional, just like it was, this time...thanks to Michael and Liz for a great experience!
(5)Kevin D.
Huge facility with several restaurants. Downstairs there are three restaurants and tables - you get your food from any of them and sit anywhere. Upstairs is an actual restaurant with servers (and air conditioning). This is made for tourists... they have exactly what tourists want, which is fish sandwiches, lobster bisque and a view of the water. Even at the upstairs restaurant you can sit outside on the deck and look out over the marinas. The food is mediocre and way overpriced, but if you eat here, it's for the view, not the food.
(2)Lili L.
Review for Upper Deck at the Boardwalk. Even though it's for the Upper Deck, the food is the same whether it's take out, express, upper deck, main deck, whatever. The service is fine. The location is great. The view is superb. Some might be used to the gimundo Mayflies that swarm the area during the early summer season, but they are literally everywhere and quite disgusting. They will fly onto your hair, shirt, and food. So if you're not okay with that, sit indoors. That said, the food here is appalling. If not for the fortunate location and the view, this place may be an utter failure. The lobster bisque is a pot of salt with a side of cream and small lobster leg meat (not claw, but the little legs). Not tasty, just salty. Fine, some people might like drinking salt. But, the real disappointment was the cocktail shrimp. At ~$14.50/half pound, I am basically paying for $30/lb shrimp. That better be some darn good, giant shrimp. Especially since it's peel yourself cocktail shrimp. Meaning they buy the shrimp, throw it in boiling water, shock it in ice bath, and serve. Not much opportunity to ruin cocktail shrimp. Except that I expect the shrimp to be de-veined!! There is absolutely no excuse for not de-veining cocktail shrimp unless you WANT your customers to eat shrimp feces (for those who don't know, the "vein" is the black line that runs along the back of the shrimp and is actually the intestines). Sure, you're not going to die from it, nor will you get sick from eating it. After all people don't get sick eating rocky mountain oysters or cow intestines either. But again, at $30/lb shrimp, there's no excuse to serve me crap (literally). Side note: for the bargain hunters, you can find a 10% off coupon in the visitors guide that you can pick up at the jet express ticket windows/visitors centers.
(1)Jack A.
What can I say, we dined at the upper deck earlier today and it was a bit mediocre for being "One of the nicer places on the island". Let's start with the lobster bisque; the first bread bowl that was served came out lukewarm. We sent it back and 10 minutes later they brought us out a new one that was better but still very watery. We also had a Caesar salad that was probably the best thing they had and some blackened walleye that was way too salty and overspiced. We also ordered the coconut shrimp that was fairly decent. All in all it was a sucky experience for supposedly being one of the better places on the island. I would have to say 2 1/2 stars for sure. The view was nice!
(3)Amy R.
Stick to this restaurant if you would like decent seasoned food on this island. Saturdays was the best meal for us. The del monte steak was on point. Mixed cocktails were good. This place is known for their lobster bisque.. It was average to a foodie person. Probably good to someone that haven't traveled and dived into delicious seafood. Customer Service was nice; everyone was friendly and was anxious for your experience to be good. I gave the top score to this place; even though Put-In-Bay isn't known for a foodie place but to have decent seasoned food; this would be your best place to have a good meal.
(3)Hank's Dad R.
We ate at the Upper Deck, the sit down portion of this large restaurant. The food was adequate, certainly nothing special. The service was surprisingly good, Timothy I think. It is a large space, many of the tables having a good view from the raised vantage point. Getting inside the air conditioning was a nice break as outside is so filled with gas fumes from all the golf carts and scooters. The decor is nice for a touristy restaurant/bar. The prices are of course outrageous. We spent $50 before the tip for mediocre food and two sodas. But Put In Bay has become a tourist trap.
(3)Crystal P.
Visited Put-in-Bay for the first time EVER and this was our first stop. I was very impressed with the lake views and quality food. I enjoyed a turkey burger with a black pepper aioli that was outta this world. The real MVP, though? The Rum Runner frozen cocktail with a floater of Captain Morgan. What a great way to start off our beautiful day on the island!
(4)Matt S.
Very good lobster bisque, up there with the ones that I have had at east coast restaurants. That's all I had, so I can't say much more about, but I would definitely try this place again.
(4)Julie C.
Yummy yummy yummy! We came here with a big party and they accommodated us with no problem! About 20 people! Ashton was our server and he did an INCREDIBLE job!!! I have to make sure to give him a lot of credit!! I had the crab cake salad. It wasn't the best ever, but it was good. My cousin had the potato chips with balsamic and blue cheese crumbles appetizer. This is enough for 4 people!! It's a huge appetizer!! My husband had the bread bowl lobster bisque. All of it was good!! For a drink I had the peach Bellini! OMG!! SO GOOD!!! We all had a great time, and would go back if we ever went to Put-In Bay! I love how it overlooks the water and all the boats etc! Very cool bars inside and outside as well!
(4)Beth W.
Great atmosphere and fast friendly service. Food was good. not great. a little pricey. got the walleye sandwich which was huge. also got the lobster roll which was small for a 17 dollar sandwhich but still pretty tasty.
(3)Cara L.
Great for large parties! I came here for a bachelorette party that 8 people and while being understaffed (on a Saturday night) we still had an excellent waiter! We didn't wait long for our food and our waiter stopped by our table often despite being crazed. The views are gorgeous and the food is delicious! I ordered the lobster ravioli and ate every single bite. You get about 6 ravioli which is a perfect amount for the price and for your stomach.
(4)Matthew B.
Lobster Bisque was worth the price tag. We had to wait in a decent line to get the Bisque and a Mahi Mahi sandwich to go. The view at the restaurant was awesome. The Mahi Mahi was just OK. View was awesome. We were downstairs in quick service area that wasn't the full service. Great idea if you want a quick lunch.
(4)Tim L.
LOBSTER LOBSTER LOBSTER!! If you think about it, the concept of having the best lobster bisque on a freshwater lake doesn't make logical sense... but somehow it is what it is! We visited some family that have a house on the island and they insisted that we have the bisque - which we took home and enjoyed as an appetizer to other items that we made... I had never had lobster bisque before, but HOLY WOWZA this stuff was GOOD!!! HUGE pieces of lobster and lots of them in a creamy, just-the-right-amount-of-salt bisque. We didn't wait long at all for the bisque, and we ended up getting a lot of it, too. The staff were very helpful and swift at taking our order and getting us the food. The atmosphere appeared comfortably casual, as is most of Put-In-Bay in general, and it is situated right on the water for a great view. When we come back again and eat in I'll update the review on that experience. However, 5 stars for the to-go bisque experience!
(5)Taylor E.
Great food and very good staff...the only downside was the crab legs were a little on the expensive side but the lobster bisque was unbelievability good
(4)Jacquelyn I.
Lobster bisque is incredible. I've had $15 lobster bisque, and it didn't even come close to having the amount of lobster this bisque has for $8. Great atmosphere and service as well. All around great experience. So far on this trip we've made the bisque a daily must have.
(5)Edward L.
How is it you advertise a lobster mania special for $20 from 5-8 on a Wednesday for a 1.25 pound lobster and bisque, coleslaw, etc. and then tell me at 7:30 on Wednesday you have sold out. But then offer me a 1.25 lobster dinner for $29.99. If you have the 1.25 pound lobsters and the time for the special is still going on. You sell it for the special price. It's bad business not to. It doesn't matter if you have felt you have sold enough of them.
(1)Timothy B.
I went to the boardwalk for lunch. All I wanted was a simple perch sandwich. It wasn't available downstairs so they sent me upstairs to the fancier Upper Deck. I sat down , saw the menu and ordered a 15$ perch sandwich. I thought it would be great as the price was extremely high. The sandwich was not. Neither tasty nor sizeable. Housemade chips were not housemade. Service was good. You can do better on PIB for a simple perch sandwich. All your doing here is getting out of the heat to utilize their AC. Tim B.
(2)Lisa G.
A little pricy. I'm not into seafood so the menu is limited for me. I got s salad, not the best quality ingredients, for what I paid, it should have been perfect. Husband liked his fish sandwich tho. Loved the scenery.
(4)Julie G.
Lobster BLT & the Lobster Mac & Cheese were great! Be sure to request to sit outside! Our daughter LOVED watching the boats come in while we ate.
(5)Emma L.
Bf & I were craving some Peel & Eat shrimp and were determined to find some as soon as we got to PIB. Our friends had mentioned The Boardwalk (Upper Deck) had some great Lobster Bisque so we headed over. It was PACKED but luckily with just the 2 of us we got seated immediately inside. We went for the Peel & Eat Shrimp (1/2 lb. for $14), a cup of the Lobster Bisque ($8) and a Lake Erie Perch Sandwich with Onion Rings to split ($15 + an up charge for the onion rings) The shrimp was REALLY good -- I mean, we had been craving these for like a week. We got 12 in our 1/2 lb order. They were large and tasty, but the presentation was pretty lame. Just thrown on a plate with some packaged saltines. Meh. The Lobster Bisque was AWESOME. I wished we had opted for a larger bowl or each gotten our own. Chunks of lobster meat, not too rich... mmm I want more right now! Our sandwich was pretty lame for the price, I expected it to be a bit larger. It tasted okay. I was kind of disappointed. The onion rings, however, were amazing. I ordered the sangria, which was good but I realized I wasn't in the mood for it once it had arrived (didn't sit well on top of what else I had been drinking). Bf ordered a Strawberry Daiquiri and was in fruity drink heaven. I wished I had gotten one of those! Our server was pretty friendly and treated us well. She seemed patient and calm, which says a lot when you're serving a bunch of drunk people. Overall, I enjoyed parts of our meal a lot and wished I had looked over the menu a bit more. If we go back, I know I'll definitely be sticking to the Shrimp & Bisque!
(3)Andy S.
Very nice facility with a great view. Clean, the food was tasty. Service was average. The price? Crazy. It wouldn't be so expensive if you got average-sized portions. You look at the menu and think "That's a little high, but how often do you eat here? Let's splurge." Then you get the food and wonder where the rest is. Then you have to order more food to make up the difference. THEN it gets pricy. But make no mistake- the food is good. Get the lobster bisque.
(3)Mark E.
Great views of marina and stiff drinks at the bar. Who could ask for more. Food was equally good, perhaps a bit pricey, but on a warm summer day who cares...
(4)Paul B.
One of my favorites on the island. You really can't get better perch than here and the lobster bisque is the real deal. I am always shocked at how much lobster is in it. I had a great meal last night. Yes it's pricey but perch always is and you have to remember that lobster isn't cheap. I also like the vibe here. Great cocktails.
(4)Herb N.
Get the lobster bisque. Bread bowl made that day. 10 minute wait to sit but server ( Taylor ) on the ball and food came quick and right temperature chicken bacon wrap very good as was hummus vegetable wrap. Best view as well.
(4)Nichole S.
Had the Alaskan King Crab dinner. Very good, and the lobster bisque was amazing. View was beautiful and the server was wonderful. Only 4/5 stars because the meal was very pricey.
(4)Andy B.
This review is based on my experience at Little Galley. Messed up order on many fronts. Did not understand what a hamburger with lettuce and tomato only was. A small soft drink was not marked with price but was $2.95. In the future, I will eat elsewhere.
(2)Michael S.
Service was awesome, drinks were good, everything we ordered came out quickly and was played nicely. Lobster bisque here is a MUST -- best bisque in Ohio by far. Some of our food left a little to be desired; or in the case of our fries, WAY less seasoning. Overall, we love this place and the Upper Deck's outdoor patio is awesome.
(4)Corey W.
Definitely a high priority pace to stop for dinner if you are looking for a place to eat at Put-in-Bay. We at in the top level dining room though there are a number of small walk up style food vendors on the first level. The service was pretty good but what was really impressive was a classic american by the water menu with their own character making the selections unique to their establishment. They tout the "best lobster bisque in Ohio". It's pretty good and as far as Ohio goes they may be safe making that claim though if they went to Maine it would probably just be good, not "...the best."
(4)Beth E.
First time visitor and felt obligated to try the lobster bisque since everyone raves about it. The bisque was super thick with loads of lobster. Yes, a bit salty but had other flavors too. Not the best, but not bad. I had a cheeseburger, asked to have cooked medium well, but came out with pink throughout. This is a real turnoff for me. My husband had the chicken bruschetta sandwich and really liked it. Service was decent, prices are what they are expected to be in a resort town. The views are great, the restaurant felt clean, so all in all an OK experience. I think menu selection is key here.
(3)Lauren H.
I had my birthday dinner on the Upper Deck, a beautiful and huge restaurant right on the pier. My lobster bisque was salty -- as it's supposed to be! -- and covered in cream and big lobster bits. Our cheesey seafood bread was garlic-licious. One downside: My partner's rare sesame tuna was watery and sad. But the king crab made my night. Still sweet, odorless and succulent after its long trip from parts unknown. Impressive! The view was exquisite and our server was a sweetheart. With multiple storefronts from dockside to upscale, the Boardwalk should be your seafood joint of choice for PIB.
(4)Charmony P.
Two words: LOBSTER BISQUE. There are a bunch of restaurant options to take to the seating area, both indoor and outdoor (,and even an upper deck). The bar is a little pricey compared to the already pricey bars on the island (obviously, they have to import everything). Completely worth it for the view of the bay. Watch the water taxis come in, the jet depart to pick up more visitors on the mainland, the monument in the background. Really excellent use of this space.
(4)I D.
Awesome lobster bisque! Lots of lobster pieces (had a bit more shell than it should)! Had the strip steak with fries for dinner, very flavorful! Seasoned fries & well seasoned steak topped with a wine cream sauce and caramelized onions..mmmm! Very nice atmosphere with dim lighting..perfect for date night! And a view of the harbor.
(4)Caz O.
The boardwalk (which is literally a boardwalk on a pier) is a collection of restaurants and bars in the heart of downtown Put In Bay. It is located right at the Sonny-S dock. We stopped and had some fried perch and a few drinks at the Margarita place. Both were pretty tasty, although a bit over-priced. Which is unfortunately the case throughout the islands. The nicest part about the boardwalk is the variety and the fact that you can enjoy your food/drinks right there on the pier over the water. It was a fantastic place to sit and enjoy a break and the cool breeze coming off the lake. The boardwalk is also supposedly renowned for their lobster bisque. We didn't get to try it (didn't think bisque would go well on top of the mojitos we already had from Mojito bay) but next visit, I look forward to giving it a shot!
(4)Mark H.
Stopped at the boardwalk for dinner with a group of 8, we ate in the 'upper deck' portion of the restaurant. Ordered a mojito - not too shabby. Shared their lobster bisque bread bowl as an app with my girlfriend, the left-over bread was soaked with bisque and delicious. As an entrée I ordered the Cajun mahi-mahi, it was a small portion but not bad at all. heads up - when ordering market priced steaks the price can be over $50 - my buddy found this out the hard way haha.
(3)Kate B.
I had the best king crab here! Lots of drawn butter and lemon, it was divine! And the lobster is fresh and kicking until you get it twenty minutes later at the table! What a difference it makes to eat it fresh! $29.99 gets you a 1 1/4 lb lobster, coleslaw, a roll, and a cup of their delicious lobster bisque!
(5)Julie P.
We ate at the Upper Deck. We sat outside on a gorgeous day. All the food was excellent. The lobster bisque IS THE BEST!!! Especially in a bread bowl. The crab cake arugula salad was great. As were the steamed mussels. Our server was very professional. I had some special requests and she was very accommodating. Of course I would like to pay less, but the food was top quality and I also realize I'm paying as well for the great view of the lake we had.
(5)Patricia L.
Enter THE BOARDWALK. Keep walking. Look for Book's BBQ on your left. AKA: that one line that's probably the longest. Order the lobster bisque. If you're feeling extra awesome get it in their fabulous bread bowl. Then take a couple sidesteps to the right (because you're in line at this point) and order the crabcake sandwich. Smile. Pay. Take the flag with you and sit at a bench near the water. Smile again. Wait patiently for your glorious meal. Breathe in that nice breeze. When your food arrives, give your server your flag and follow up with an enthusiastic high five. Take a bunch of photos of your food. MAKE IT COUNT because you're obviouisly going to post them on Yelp. Put on hand sanitizer (because let's face it, who KNOWS where THOSE Hands have been). ENJOY YOUR MEAL. Go back on Yelp. Send me a compliment. You're welcome.
(4)Tyler B.
The Boardwalk is the PIBs food court. Several places to get several different types of grub before heading out for the evening. This is a Saturday night staple for us. After a day of baking poolside, we all shower up and put on our fancy duds to go out for the evening. But not before grabbing some delicious seafood at the Boardwalk. You're right on the water and there's several levels of bars and restaurants to please even the most discerning tastes. OK, its not haute cuisine, but your looking for something to soak up the alcohol before continuing your bender - not get hand rubbed kobe beef and reflect on your stock portfolio. This place is perfect for groups with diverse tastes, and more importantly, drunks who are ready to go once more into the breach.
(3)Patrick B.
Note: This is primarily a review of the Upper Deck of the Boardwalk. The Upper Deck is a great place to grab a bite to eat on the water in Put in Bay. Whether you're in the spacious, clean indoor dining room or on the patio outside, you will have a great view of the water. It has great food at a reasonable price. We got a table right next to the window that looked out a the lake and Perry's Monument. According to the ad, it has the best lobster bisque in Ohio, which I'm sure isn't hard to do, being a landlocked state technically (I know we have the lake, but there's still no ocean). The lobster bisque, however, is excellent. It is creamy and full of flavor. There are a lot of chunks of lobster in it. For my entree, I had a lobster roll, which came with chips. The lobster roll was also excellent. It melted in my mouth. (Disclaimer: I'm a sucker for anything lobster). The chips, however, were a different story. They were plain and there were way too many of them. I tried putting salt on them and it didn't work. Overall, if you're looking for a quiet place to have a great meal with a view, head over to the Upper Deck at the Boardwalk and enjoy the seafood goodness.
(4)Robert H.
The restaurant upstairs at the Boardwalk is probably the best food option in Put-in-Bay. The outside tables right over the water, and inside is glassed in with great views of the bay. I grabbed a seat outside. The server was friendly and helpful, walking through the menu and helping with drink selections. I tried their sangarita, which was fantastic. I also ordered their steamed mussels, which were very tasty with a nice garlic butter sauce and enough bread to soak it up. Like most restaurants in the area, this place is not cheap. However, it is probably one of the more upscale places, if not the most, on the island.
(4)Mr M.
Peel and eat shrimp had an odd smell almost chemical, the alaskan king crab legs were not well received either. Spent a ton on a nice dinner only to be extremely disappointed . Would not return
(1)Chris N.
Had lunch here on Saturday. The views are phenomenal, best on the island. Nice atmosphere inside with high ceilings, cool fixtures, and flat screen TV's everywhere, but which do not affect the view. We ordered a sweet chili chicken wrap ($13.) and a bruschetta chicken sandwich ($15.). Both were okay, but overpriced. A bottle of Clos Du Bois chardonnay was $29.
(3)Ferris B.
Came here to sit and have a drink with friends on the upper deck. I had the jalapeno margarita which was great. Friend had the lobster bisque she HAD TO HAVE. She says she always comes there to get it anytime she is on the island. I tried it and thought it was great. Thes best part was sitting outside and watching the boaters maneuver in and out of their parking spots. But that's the most I can remember because at that point I had already been to 3 other drinking establishments. So I was pretty buzzed.
(4)Kevin L.
Terrific lobster bisque. Great Lobster sandwich. The rest of my family had crab-cake sandwiches and thoroughly enjoyed their selection. Portions were plentiful and taste did not disappoint. The view from the desk was particularly good at sunset. All around very satisfying.
(3)Ryan L.
The signs all the way on the mainland advertised the best lobster bisque. I will agree that it was very good but was not very hot. I find soup that isn't hot to be questionable. The food options here are pretty typical but definitely over priced. I guess that's what you expect from Put-In-Bay. The food was good and you get a decent portion. There are a number of specialty drinks which are also expensive but poured strong. The best part is the view of the lake and the islands.
(4)Chad B.
My favorite place to get perch and walleye, sitting in the Upper Deck with the nice views of the Bay
(5)Chris N.
On vacation with the family to Cedar Point we took a day excursion to Put in Bay. All of us starving we went to the upper deck for dinner. The service was great, Heidi was prompt and friendly. Too bad the food sacked! We all ordered a cup of the lobster bisque and proceeded to slurp it down quickly (like I said we were all STARVING) I however was slowed down not one but twice by little bits of tendon or whatever the little plastic like pieces of lobster are called, unacceptable. My daughter had the same issue but only once. Plus I fond the bisque to be salty. Moving on to the entre' my son and daughter both ordered the special 10 oz steak with great beans the beans were cold and the steak more rare the medium. My other daughter ordered the lobster Mac and cheese and guess what more little plastic pieces from the lobster. The wife got the breaded walleye and perch dinner and the piece of walleye she share with me still had scales, unacceptable! I ordered the backend walleye and was given the option of light or heavy on the blackening I chose light and got a fish with no seasoning at all plus cold veggies and orzo. Oh shoot, I forgot the salad pulled from the fridge made this morning and put little cups of salad dressing on the side just like a fast food restaurant. All in all it was a bad $230 experience. I'm sure during the off season my $27 walleye dinner sells for $12 and they still make a profit. All in all don't get fooled thinking this is some nice restaurant Applebee's on the mainland would be a better choice.
(1)Meghann T.
OH MY GODDDDDDDDDD. THE LOBSTER BISQUEEEEEEE! $9 to $11 for it, but seriously - get your panties out of a bunch and buy it! The best you will ever have in your LIFE! I love coming here in the afternoons for a drink and for the lobster bisque; the shrimp is out of this world, also! It is pricey, but it is definitely worth what you pay for. I've never had any complaints when it comes to service, or the wait staff's knowledge of their full bar and menu. Drinking and smoking is allowed in designated areas; there is an upper and lower deck to this place, which sits on the water. Lovely place to be at nighttime.
(5)Doug D.
Lobster bisque was perfect. I had the walleye sandwich and it was great also. Good drink specials, friendly and quick service. This place has great food for good prices in a perfect atmosphere. Felt like I was sitting on the ocean in New England. Definitely my best restaurant experience on the island.
(5)Lynn D.
Had read about their lobster bisque so decided to give it a try. The bisque was great, but had it served in a bread bowl which was not. Very poorly executed semi-sourdough, which did not impart the sourdough taste and did not have the crispy crust. Wish i could give the bisque and the bread two different scores. This review ranks a bit higher than it should because of the great views.
(3)Evonne K.
I love to visit here when I am in the area because they have a view of the marina while you dine. Some of the restaurants are really crappy, unfortunately. This time, I really wanted some Lake Erie ( yellow) perch, so the Fish Shack seemed to be the only choice. Yuck. My pricey lunch was overlooked and crummy. I LOVE perch, but not this mess. I should have taken the advice of others and gone for the lobster bisque. It is scrumptious! I really don't order lobster or crab legs, because I just can't handle the thought of those loiter black eyeballs steaming away in a pot. Aaaaeeeeeeyyyyykkkkk!!! Anyway, the lobster bisque is really tasty. We always end up at The Boardwalk because we love the experience we have here. It's the perfect ending to a day on the island. Boats to watch, beers to drink, fun and merriment abound. What's not to love? Ah, the food. Just don't get the overpriced, overcooked perch here. Get it some place that knows how to cook it tight, like The Jolly Roger in Port Clinton. Mmmmmmmmm... I actually haven't tried any of the restaurants upstairs. I wasn't aware that the had better restaurants up there until I saw some reviews here. They seem to always have live music when we are there, and we enjoy that a bunch. Regardless of the food, we still love this place!
(4)Olga A.
My co-worker and I came here for lunch during the week in the fall season. I had the black bean burger with guacamole. It was so delicious. Ross had antipasta salad that was the special of the day. He licked the plate clean! Service was excellent. Jen was very attentive. The restaurant had a beautiful view and was very clean.
(4)Pete S.
It was ok. We had the famous lobster bisque they boast about, we were not impressed. The lobster was not fresh but frozen. This place is just another tourist trap.
(2)Rachel S.
I see the Boardwalk as one of the better casual eateries on Put-in-Bay Island. I've eaten once or twice in the classier upper deck portion of the restaurant, but honestly, when I can get the same scrumptious bisque on the lower deck in a much more casual drop-in setting, I rarely take that flight of stairs. The Boardwalk is several food places and bars in one. There is the lower deck which offers plates of fried fish and steamed perch and walleye, lobster, the infamous lobster bisque, and even soft-serve ice cream. Rita's Cantina upstairs serves Mexican food. Then there's the upper deck which like I said, seems to offer several of the same items found on the lower deck. Throughout the summer, The Boardwalk will offer specials on their lower deck, such as a $20 lobster special as well as sushi! I have had the $20 lobster special on the lower deck. The lobster, as well as the coleslaw and corn that accompanied it, were all just fine. The sushi is good, a change from everything else offered on the island. It is imported from Nagoya, a nearby Japanese restaurant on the mainland. I would give The Boardwalk 3 stars as a whole. However, this review warrants a fourth star because of The Boardwalk's claim to fame - the lobster bisque. I LOVE the lobster bisque. It is impossibly creamy and pink, and filled with jumbo chunks of lobster meat. This is not your everyday seafood soup. If you're into bisque, chowder, and fish, you'll want to dive into a pink ocean of the stuff. What's so wrong with that??
(4)Stefanie F.
This is a review of the Upper Deck of the Boardwalk, not to be confused with THEE Upper Decker. The Upper Deck is supposedly one of the nicer restaurants on Put-in-Bay. It seemed pretty mediocre to me. Didn't appear to be "swanky". They offer more than just regular old bar food. Most of their offerings involve seafood. They claim to have "the Best Lobster Bisque in Ohio". I have to say, it was pretty good. Pricey for what you got but pretty darned decent lobster bisque with plenty of lobster in it. I can't really say I've had lobster bisque anywhere else in Ohio (besides homemade) so I'm not sure if it was really "the best". I also ordered a shrimp po'boy. It was pretty good as well but I didn't eat much of it because the lobster bisque was very filling. Drinks were alright too. I had a Bloody Mary that was surprisingly good. The service was not the best. Our server was a bit on the bitchy side and she acted as if cracking a smile might break her face. Very unfriendly and impatient. I think she might have heard my aunt say she was a bitch and after that she was sweet as pie. Too late, honey bunch. She also messed up a few of the orders -- chips instead of fries for my sis and a regular salad instead of caesar for my dad. Never apologized or acted as if anything was a big deal. She didn't offer to bring out the correct items either. Not the way I'd expect a server to respond. The best thing about the Upper Deck is the beautiful view of the bay. It would have been much better had it not been a cloudy, rainy day I'm sure.
(3)Colleen M.
Best place to eat on Put in Bay! It has a variety of restaurants so if you go with a large group it's easier to eat together and less stress on finding one place that has everything because this place already has everything. I normally do not eat seafood but like everyone else said their lobster bisque is delicious. I typically get the brugers and fries. Sometimes it can be super busy but they have a ton of outdoor seating that you will finally find a place to sit down.
(5)Michael B.
Great steak and fries for $22; greasy and finished with caramelized onions! Neat place to sit and get some great views of boats and watch a very bright sunset (but they do have window shades!)
(4)Brian B.
The Boardwalk consists of multiple establishments, I can only comment on Ritas Cantina. The drinks were ok, and the food was edible. The only saving grace of my trip was the service, which was fast and helpful. Aside from that, avoid this place, Put-in-Bay has better to offer elsewhere.
(1)A D.
Great views and the interior is cool. We went to the upper deck part. All wood inside. The food is top notch. We ordered to go for 4 people and each of us tried what we all ordered and it was ALL AMAZING. Coconut shrimp- the flavor was wonderful. Western Burger- nice and juicy , great fries. Lobster Bisque- wow absolutely the best ( ask for a little bit of cherry on the side and pour it over the top). The other burger was delicious as well with guacamole. mmmmmmmmmmmm 5 out of 5!
(5)Bryan W.
Expensive but a Put-In-Bay classic. With a great location I would suggest going here for appetizers.
(4)Gillian T.
It was my first time to Put-in-Bay and I saw a lot of ads during my visit, saying the Boardwalk has the best lobster bisque. So I was literally on a mission to find this famous bisque. When I got to the Boardwalk, I was a little confused at first because the Boardwalk has a few of restaurants present, and I didn't know which one held the famous bisque! But I think both downstairs and upstairs in the Boardwalk can serve you the bisque. You just have to decide in what setting you want it. You can pay a little more and have a more formal sit-down upstairs. OR you can go casual and order downstairs and bring your food out onto the deck to eat. I liked this better because I was closer to the water and got to enjoy the sun out on the deck for a long long time. I ordered my lobster bisque in a bread bowl and a lobster roll. They were both AMAZING! It lived up to my expectations, so my mission was complete.
(4)Nicole L.
We had the blackened swordfish sandwich and THE BEST lobster bisque ever. You could eat this soup with a fork since they were so generous with the lobster, and the creamy bisque was wonderful! We couldn't believe we found this after dining in many seaside cafes on the East Coast, Put-In-Bay Boardwalk makes us want to come back just for the bisque. This was years ago, so I hope nothing changed with the addition - stick to the basics and you will succeed. This place is Spring Break for adults, if you are too snooty to enjoy - go vacation somewhere else!
(5)Ferrett S.
NOTE: This is a review of the Upper Deck, the swanky restaurant by the bay. The best part about this place is the menu, which made us laugh not once, but twice. Because for TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS, you can get the gourmet, once-in-a-lifetime meal of... ...get this... One and a half pounds of fried walleye. Oh, and you get peel-and-eat shrimp. And a heaping pile of chips. And cole slaw. And a bottle of 2002 Cristal Brute Rose champagne! Yes, when I want to blow $250 on a meal, I want FILET-O-FISH AND CHAMPAGNE! What an awesome deal! (You can also, for $300, have two hamburgers with lobster meat... AND CHAMPAGNE!) Wow, I can only imagine what sort of nouveau-rich people are salivating at THIS deal. But we also laughed when we stopped by here to taste "Ohio's Best Lobster Bisque!" We liked the claim very much, because they were savvy enough not to claim that it was the WORLD'S best lobster bisque - somehow, the fact that they were humble enough to just restrict themselves to Ohio made it charming. Unfortunately, though we ordered the lobster bisque, the waiter forgot to bring it to us. We got our main meal, and said, "Excuse us - you forgot the bisque." "Oh," said the waiter, shrugging. "Would you take it off our bill?" we prompted. "Okay," he said, forgetting that the words "Sorry," "Whoops," or even "My bad" existed in the English language. The main courses were decent, if unexceptional - if they were cheaper, I'd cheerfully give this place three stars and not two. My wife had a tuna with crab that was delightful, or so she claimed; I had a filet mignon that was passably done, but not a patch on a real steakhouse. (Man, I feel like a snob saying that. But really, there's a way that good steakhouses either serve or get pieces of filet mignon that makes it rich and juicy. This was moderately juicy, moderately steaky, not nearly worth the $20-plus for it.) Interestingly enough, for a fish place, the second-best part was the fingerling potatoes. They were rich, full of flavor, and we ate them up with salt. Those were awesome. Also worth noting is the view. If you like views, this has a gorgeous panorama of the bay; we watched the sun set and held hands, and it was very romantic. Perhaps if the bisque was good, I'd have given this place a better review... But as it is, it's overpriced for okay food. The two stars doesn't indicate that the food is terrible - it's just spendy for what you get.
(2)Mike S.
I visit the Boardwalk every time I go to PIB for Lobster Bisque and Crab Legs! Love it!
(4)Jen M.
Go to Rita's Cantina to drink, not eat. They have a great selection of tequila, but disappointingly, they didn't have Pacifico on the beer list. Huh? They had every other Mexican beer except that one. The food list is about 5 items--all finger food. Nachos, tacos, chips and salsa. Served on paper plates, no utensils. Go to the Goat Tavern if you want real Mex.
(3)Dave C.
Lobster bisque was library paste... horrible. Everything else was mediocre at best. If you want bar food, it is fine i guess
(2)