12 photosCentral Park Boathouse
4.2/5 — Very good(3,960 reviews)· $$· American· New York
Mubboo Verdict
A scenic American restaurant in Central Park, best for relaxed dining with a view.
Insider tip: Despite mixed food reviews, the lakeside setting and friendly greeting team consistently impress even those who just duck in from rain.
★ TravelFit — Who this spot suits
Tap a traveler type to see how well it fits.
Date night
73/100Atmosphere rated 4.5 and full bar suit couples, but some report loud, impersonal service and small portions.
- trip_types: Couples 41.8%
- amenities: full bar
- subratings: Atmosphere 4.5
- reviews mention partner in 1/4
Plan your visit
Price$$
Time needed1.5 hr
Best timeLunchtime for a beautiful table in front of the lake
AreaNew York
📍 East 72nd St + Park Dr N, New York City, New York 10021Menu →
Ratings
4.2/5Very good· 3,960 reviews
- Food
- 4.1
- Value
- 3.7
- Service
- 4.0
- Atmosphere
- 4.5
★ What reviewers say
✅ Diners love
- Waterfront lakeside setting
- Friendly and welcoming staff
- Quality of drinks
⚠ Watch out for
- Several reviewers note loud, impersonal service
- One reviewer found fries soggy and Reuben tasteless
- One reviewer says portions are very small
🍽 What to order
- Salmon
- Scallops
- Reuben
★ Real traveler reviews
Verbatim excerpts from TripAdvisor reviews.
★★Couples
“Loud, quick and unpersonal service. The food was even worse with soggy fries that have been sitting under a heat lamp way too long and the Reuben was completely tasteless. They add 20% on everything, probably because no one would tip that much otherwise.”
★★★★Family
“Central Park Boathouse is always an absolute must for us when we visit New York and this year it didn’t disappoint. We’d booked for lunch and we were also celebrating a special milestone birthday too. The team that greeted us on arrival were so welcoming and we were shown a beautiful table right in front of the lake.”
★★★Couples
“Food: it was okay. I ordered the salmon and my partner the scallops. They tasted decent, not bad, not amazing. Portions were very small. Drinks were pretty good. Service: service was subpar.”
★★★★★Couples
“We ducked in here just to get out of the rain and were so pleasantly surprised by the menu, the friendly and helpful service, the quality of what we ordered, and of course the site. We were walking from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the west side, and it was a perfect stop. We'll be eager to return.”
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Frequently asked questions
Is Central Park Boathouse worth it?▾
A scenic American restaurant in Central Park, best for relaxed dining with a view.
How much time do you need at Central Park Boathouse?▾
Most visitors spend about 1.5 hours.
What's the best time to visit Central Park Boathouse?▾
Lunchtime for a beautiful table in front of the lake
What should you order at Central Park Boathouse?▾
Salmon, Scallops, Reuben.