Boat House By The Lake, The

6.5 Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  3     

We went to the Boathouse for a birthday, and, like the previous poster, are more than happy to pay for quality food that gives us something a little more fancy which takes a little more effort than what I might cook at home. But we also left thinking how overrated it is.

Service was excellent, staff were friendly, knew the menu, took your coats and, along with the atmosphere and little added extras (like the bread rolls, palette resfreshers, mini soups), made the night quite pleasant and what you'd expect from such a restaurant.

However, the food was somewhat of a let down. My partner ordered the venison for a main which was not a tasty dish and I the lamb which had nothing special to it that couldn't be whipped up in any kitchen. Desserts were also a little underwhelming.

All in all, the ambience and service were up to scratch but the food was nothing special (though definitely not inedible) and far far overpriced for what you got.

Feb 15, 2012 

5.5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  2     

Let me start by saying I really don't mind paying for quality, well thought-out food, and good service. However, after attending the Boathouse for a birthday dinner I left thinking this was probably the most overrated restaurant I've ever been to.

I'm not saying the food was bad, I'm saying that if I pay $40 for a main meal, I expect it to be main meal-sized and expect something fairly fancy. My venison was neither of those things.

This was basically repeated for the entree and dessert. There was always one or two dishes that left us as a group decidedly underwhelmed. Despite trying to charge us for too many drinks (had to take points off for that), the service was good and attentive.

I don't think I'll be back any time soon. There are much better dining options around Canberra for that special occasion.

Jan 28, 2012 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

Had a perfect anniversary degustation in the side room, the menu was wonderful and very filling, the service was very attentive and the only minus for us was that we missed out on the room with the open fire.

Jun 27, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

If you are after a bargain place for dinner, this should not be your first option. If however you are looking for an excellent display of culinary expertise and impeccable service, you have come to the right place.

I took my partner to Boathouse by the Lake for Valentines day, and although the menu was a set degustation, it certainly did not disappoint. With a five course line up matched perfectly with Australian and New Zealand wines, we were treated to a magnificently prepared and presented series of dishes. The main course, being Beef Rossini, was more of an art piece than an meal and was everything that the menu description gave it credit for.

Food aside, the service was as impeccable as should be expected of a restaurant such as this. Service was warm, friendly and attentive, even though it was a busy night with a full house. Food and wine was delivered punctually, and when we pointed out that a matching wine had not been delivered with the course it should have accompanied, the error was courteously rectified without fuss. At no time did we feel rushed as to how long we wished to take over dinner and the staff were more than helpful in calling us a taxi at the end of the evening.

As mentioned previously, a place like Boathouse by the Lake is obviously a place to visit for special occasions. However, one must take into consideration all aspects of the dining experience when scrutinising the price - you are not just paying for food, but also the service, expertise, ambience, presentation and the memory of the entire occasion. For an occasion which calls for such an experience, I can recommend this place.

Feb 19, 2011 

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  4      Service  8      Value  7     

A nice fine dining experience with a view of the lake. The service is very good, the food as well but I felt uncomfortable in the quiet, open space. The customer base is an older crowd and there's not much ambience in the room. The staff have a 'can do' attitude which is refreshing and they let me leave a blank cheque for the bill days in advance so I could impress my date and not have to worry about the bill. Really nice place that's worth a try.

Aug 26, 2010 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

A nice view our over the lake, but the room itself felt too open. We could see everyone else in the place, as it's just a rectangle. The night we went a couple arrived by helicopter just as we were arriving.

The food was quite nice, even though the staff had no idea how to pronounce the European names, which made me chuckle, but didn't really detract from the evening. First time I'd eaten soufflé in many years - mmmm!

Apr 08, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  6     

The service was good, however, the restaurant varies in size depending on the size of functions on. The night we attended we were in a small room which was ok except it was difficult to see a view of the lake. Some of the items on the menu were not as described or not described accurately enough for example we were told the duck rillete was pressed duck which was in fact shredded duck. My partner was also disappointed with the slow cooked lamb which was rare which we were not informed of. The ambience and service almost makes up for the food but would be worth another try later on.

Jan 31, 2009