Service is AWFUL. These people are annoyed to serve you. Items are OVERPRICED. Despite being ignored for a good while, we asked -ALL SMILES- for waters and a diet coke. But no luck, this was going to be a rough ride. Although the I pointed at the soda fountain when I ask for it, the waiter returned with a canned soda. I politley asked again for fountain, and he got pisssed! He snatched the can away and -much- later returned with the fountain soda...which was terrible!! The syrup to CO2 mix was off so it tasted like soda water. But no way were we going to say anything. While we waited, we noticed the outragoues prices (for what we suspected would be diner-quality food) and decided just to have something small to hold us off and go to a real restaurant later. We waited so long to order that I finally moved the menus to the complete other side of the table hoping it'd be evident to the waiter that we were waiting on him to place our order. Nope, he didn't care. Walked by us a good five times before stopping to ask us if we were ready. Maybe he was hoping we would leave? We really should have. I opted for the smoked fish dip. The waiter scooped TWO TABLESPOONS out of a tub. $5 and the flavor was off. My boyfriend ordered something completely unmemorable but pricey. I do remember however that it was served with pizza sauce. Fish, with pizza sauce. Not cocktail sauce. Hello? Not all tomato sauces are alike people! The food took a very long time to come out. When it did, the waiter said NOTHING to us. Then he NEVER came by again. We couldn't even make eye contact with him because he would look away. After about 30 minutes of trying to flag him down for the bill, we walked over to him and asked for it. Then it took 15 minutes before he brought it over to us. Again, he said NOTHING to us. He just had shit face the entire time. What a miserable human being. Here's something that really peeved me too. They have a sign on the back of the soda fountain machine that says "Tap Water Cup $0.25 Vaso con Agua $0.25" I'm certain it is illegal to do so. Any establishment serving food for dine-in guests must 1)Offer free tap water and 2)Offer restrooms. What a great location gone to waste with this God-awful tourist trap.
(1)
Carlos P.
I have been coming to this place for more than 10 years and is still amazing. The fried fish is one of the many reasons I come back but specially the location and view. Every friend I bring are amazed by the experience. This is the best hideout place in Miami.
(5)
Dana W.
Best conch fritters I've ever had. The fish ceviche reminded me of the ceviche I had in Chile. I'll always come back here
(4)
Melissa N.
We just love this place, the ambience by the water and the cool music makes dining outdoors a truly relaxing experience. The food is always wonderful and the whole fried fish is AMAZING always! Bad experiences: cold sides and really slow/bad service. This has been something that we overlook because of wanting to enjoy the experience of coming all the way here but it would definitely make a HUGE change in staying longer and having drinks after dinner, etc.
(3)
Jeanette H.
Subsequent two more visits -- personal-size seafood paella was good. Crispy snapper was delicious. Seafood soup not as much. Seafoods are consistently fresh and not overcooked. Probably best off ordering what they're good at: simple seafoods like grilled lobster, fried whole fish etc. Service is generally good esp if you don't sit way out in the corner. Prices can be slightly lower for this hole-in-the-wall place though, but then there's the premium for the harbor view..
(3)
Todd M.
Stopped in for lunch on lazy Saturday... Long story short, view was good, food was overpriced shit!Service was also extremely slow.
(1)
Andrea S.
Service is terrible in this place, there was a sign to wait to be seated, no one came for about 20minutes and they knew we were there waiting, finally got seated waiters do not care about you unless you call them repeatedly.. food was average nothing to die for... The only amazing thing about this place is the view!!which is the only reason I can think people would come here...
(3)
Rachael B.
Boaters Grill is a great secluded spot at the tip of Key Biscayne with a great view of the water nestled in a little harbor and off the beaten path. It's a great spot to stop mid bike ride or run, however the wait was over 1 hour long. The ambiance is very relaxed and the menu is mostly all seafood (very fresh)! The prices are reasonable and everything we ordered was fresh, simple, and refreshing. People watching is great at this restaurant as you see boaters docking. I recommend it if you're not in a rush and want some fresh seafood.
(3)
Dario C.
The place is nothing fancy, yet its nice to spend a couple hours enjoying nice company a good quality seafood perhaps with a good beer. Do not expect it to be something other than what it is! The location is very nice, the service is good, the food is fresh. Its not your typical Miami upscale fancy seafood place! Still, I recommend it!
(3)
Naty K.
Boater's Grill is the type of place you would resort to if you happen to be at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Otherwise, who, in their right mind, would pay about $10 ($1.75 toll plus $8.00 to enter the park) with the sole purpose of eating at this place? Aside from the views, there is nothing special about this place. My friend and I were checking out the Bill Baggs nature trails, so after completing our hike, we became hungry and he suggested coming here. I saw the Yelp reviews and was skeptical, but he insisted. I guess the convenience factor was pretty enticing. We saw there was a wait, and he made the rookie mistake of assuming long wait = great food. It was already somewhat boisterous, which wasn't really ideal, but the waterfront views were enticing. We got one of the best tables in the house, and I immediately started taking photographs. This was probably the only high point of the meal and the only thing that may impress one while dining here, sadly, but let me continue. We got the menus, the waiter brought out drinks, and then we inquired about the house salad. He said it was large enough to share and we should be fine, but never did he mention any of the entrees came with a side salad option, that was something we'd discover later on and end up feeling cheated over. He took off before we could even place our entrees, something that baffled and irritated my friend. After some unsuccessful attempts to get his attention since chatting with his fellow servers was more important, he finally came over and my friend said, "Can we place our orders now instead of having to wait? I'd like to place my entree order at the same time I place my appetizer order." and the waiter sighed and said, "ok, what you want?." A bit rude and unprofessional but anyway, it gets better. We place the order and at that point find out that a side salad was an option for a side. The measly salad arrives. This salad might be okay for 1 person (though at approximately $5.00 for what you get, it is rather steep, Outback and 90% of other restaurants call a house salad a bowl full of lettuce and other ingredients). My friend and I split it though we each barely got any, and found out there was no dressing. We relied on the oil and vinegar on the table, though it would have been nice to be advised if there were any other dressing options or if that was the only one. When my friend ran out of tea and asked, "Do you have free refills?" the waiter said, "Ok" and took our cups and returned. Later we found out that we were charged for these "free" refills. Nice. Our meals came. Meh. I was not impressed. A simple filet of fish with some rice and beans, for almost $20 - you have got to be kidding me. I have had the same or better at those somewhat cheap chain Cuban restaurants, like the Latin Cafe or La Carreta. Presentation was not there, flavors were not amazing, and the fish just was not fresh; it wasn't rotten or anything, but it wasn't fresh off the boat either. Like I said, it was okay but nothing impressive. We finished and our waiter came and said "Did your waiter ask if you want dessert or coffee?" Huh? I thought YOU were our waiter??! Anyway, we placed our dessert orders with Mr. I-am-not-your-waiter, and then got the bill, with his name on top, which confirmed the fact he was our waiter all along. This is the epic part though: underneath the total, he handwrote "TIP: $12.00". My friend thought this must be a joke, he had never seen a waiter automatically tip himself. Either you're given an option to tip at your discretion, or the restaurant adds a mandatory tip. Once he did the math, he noticed that the guy tipped himself not 15% or 18%, but 20%! My friend was outraged and crossed out that amount and put in a 15% tip. As we were leaving, we saw him waving his arms around in outrage as he showed his fellow waiter what my friend had tipped, and we decided to book it out of there before he could throw a fit. Surely, we won't be back and I advise you to drive further up to the Miami River and dine at either Garcia's or Casablanca instead, if you're seeking seafood. They're both very competitive, cost less than this place, have waterfront views, but will offer better service and presentation, along with fresher seafood. I'm sick and tired of places that think they can charge extra for mediocre food just because they're in a "ritzy" part of town, so I say thanks, but no thanks!
(2)
Amanda F.
My family and I have been coming here for years on boat days. It can't get crazy packed at lunch time, so I reccommend coming a little earlier just to get a spot. I always order the rice with fish and I am never disappointed.
(4)
George C.
Delicious shrimp creole, beautiful water view. Very nice atmosphere located at the end of key Biscayne. Highly Recommended.
(5)
Cristina G.
Honestly, this place is not worth it. I went today with my family and we had the tostones with shrimp, which was alright but could have been much better by simply not skimping on shrimp. The shrimp were tiny compared to the ones in my linguine with shrimp. OH, the linguine with shrimp was extremely bland. I had to add massive amounts of black pepper and Parmesan cheese to it to make it edible. The shrimps were tasty, but not enough to salvage the dish. The only reason I gave this place another star is the view. It is rather lovely. I wouldn't recommend eating here though. I'd take my business elsewhere. Not worth the major bucks it asks for.
(2)
Cesar S.
This is a wonderful restaurant in key Biscayne. I started with mixed ceville, follow with "paella" and finished with guava chescake. With a plus of a wonderful life music and an amazing view of a the bay. Everything felt just perfect!
(5)
Brian C.
Returned here after having had a reasonable quality meal a few months ago. Today was a disaster. The waiter was miserable and the food extremely dry. We returned three meals and had something else. No apology or even a word from Mr Grumpy. The lemon slices were dry so I asked for fresh ones. He then brought a mountain of lemon slices as an insult. His name if you want to avoid him is Emilio. But the fault lies with the owner for not having quality control of the food or staff training. You pay for the view so bring your own food and eat outside. Much better value.
(1)
Monica L.
This is the spot for fresh snapper!!! I loved my churrasco with Mixed rice and we also got the hog snapper which was the best fried snapper I've had. You get plastic water cups and not the nicest utensils but at least the food is great!
(4)
Ozz B.
Best place to visit in town. Fresh food with a great ambience. Servers are amazing and the owner is always around to make sure everything is going great. The paella is a must try
(5)
William L.
Place is a absolute garbage. None of our fish filets were fresh, texture was kinda rough, I know fresh quality when I taste it and the taste was horrendous. Don't expect "catch of the day" quality here. Moros tasted plain and old. Plaintains were cold. Ceviche was OK. Still was crappy. Everyone in my party felt sick afterwards. Must've been the fish. We had grouper and corvina. Price? Too expensive for what you get, totally not worth it. Stay away. Their upscale image with the water and boats next to it means nothing.
(1)
Maurice W.
Terrible Friday night. Went there on a Friday night. It took about 20 minutes to be seated. Service was extremely slow. Waiter was a buff guy who never said his name. He looked like he didn't want to be there. He looks like he's better suited to work at golds gym. (The combination of the long table of kids and the guy performing made everything loud.) another guy initially gave us someone else's order. Lobster and shrimp asopera was decent. Cunch was decent. No follow up for our food (our table was in the middle of everything, across from the kitchen entrance, and there was only 2 of us.) bathroom had no tissue. The plus side is that the food was edible. No tip was given. Either the staff is ill equipped or the server tried his best to actively avoid me. I never want to come here ever again. Maybe this place is in the middle of no where for a reason.
(2)
Marqus R.
The crowds here tend to be loud, somewhat unorganized and confusing. Every time I've been here there have been family parties going on with the consequence of kids running wild about the place along with a few individuals getting off the boats who have clearly overindulged in their choices of beverages. I can't say that much about the culinary artistry behind their food and though much of it might strike the average Miamian as ordinary, it hit me as out of the ordinary, unique, and with number of menu items which I haven't found elsewhere such as the "Fish Roe," "Fish Adobo" or "Chile Poblano with Crab Meat" appetizers. Also their "Grilled Florida Lobster with Shrimp Creole," "Lobster and Shrimp Asopado" and whole "Grilled Hog Snapper," which just happens to be my favorite of the snapper family. I only wish I had been able to try some of each, but on the good side of not having been able to do so, it gives me something to look forward to in the future. I had the fish ceviche which to my sense of taste seemed to have been marinated not in Persian or Key lime but either with a lemon or a lime/lemon mix. Whatever, it was a good serving, enjoyable and tasty. I also ordered the Hog Snapper, which though my waitress didn't think was available but later found out that it was. Fish are generally ordered small, medium, large or jumbo and priced as a "market price" depending upon size and selection. When my "hog" was served it was served whole except most of the head and gill areas removed, but since it was rather large, either done so it would fit on plate or maybe because the head of a hog snapper isn't exactly the most charming thing to look at. It was nicely scaled with skin sliced so as to prevent shrinkage wrinkling of the flesh, tasty and with a clearly fresh quality. Though I'd only go two stars for preparation and presentation, I'm going all the way up to four because of what was to me the uniqueness of their offerings, which are clearly representational of the broad based ethnicity and diversity of the Miami area; which for me constitutes much of the identity of what Miami is all about.
(4)
Phoebe L.
Busy on weekends but perfect on week night. We (a group of four) ended up dining here both Sunday and Monday evening and it was two totally different experiences...but both wonderful. Service was great when it was busy and even better when it was quite calm. The paella was the best thing on the menu followed closely by the ceviche. While the whole fish was very fun and filling, there wasn't a lot of flavor to it. Key lime pie was just the right amount of sweetness to finish the meal. Be careful as the drinks are pricey but the food is worth it.
(5)
Adriana A.
The service is very bad, they throw you the dishes to the table and and bring you what is not asked for. The only good thing is the view and location.
(1)
Lina P.
Delicious place super chill and beautiful view. The snapper was to die. Paella, fish soup were amazing. Tostones were huge and great. They also serve the beer super super cold!!
(5)
Oscar P.
Service, food, ambience are great. HIGHLY recommend. Manuel is great server. This place is at the edge if a beautiful marina
(5)
Sunem N.
Never heard of this place until we went boating with our friends and they brought us here. We docked right up to the restaurant and were seated right away with a great water view. As we walked to our table every passing by plate locked amazing. There is so much variety it was very difficult to select what to eat. Our party of four started with shrimp filed tostones. Our waiter was so wonderful he thought our food was taking a little long (we didn't think so) but never less he brought us some shrimp and white fish ceviche on the house. We ordered the shrimp filled lobster, the pasta with shrimp and lobster and a extra large whole fried fish (big enough to share) with avocado salad, maduros, yellow rice, and extra tostones. Every plate was amazingly delicious. When we were complete stuffed and could take another bite, out waiter brings us a guava cheese cake and 2 espressos on the house! Could service be any better? Yes this place is pricy but the service, the fresh food, and water view are so worth it. Can't wait to come back and try some of the other items on the menu.
(5)
Pat G.
The fried snapper (head on) was DE-YUMMY! Because I'm a bit finicky, my daughter kept the head facing toward her. The snapper was deep fried and oh so good. It was served with fried plantain and cole slaw. The plantain was just okay, as was the cole slaw. Our server was awesome, even giving my daughter a kiss on the cheek as we were leaving (she must have left a mighty big tip)! Great place to go after a day on the beach. Swimsuit (with cover, for me), shorts, comfort wear. And, to eat outside with a view of the water and boats was awesome. Just off of Bill Blagg Beach, suggest you try it.
(3)
Nawal B.
I ordered lemonade, they brought me an 8 oz cup full of ice and said no refills. Upsetting!!! I understand if the cup was a full cup but really??? The rest of the food was not worth the calories or the cost. These people are not taking advantage of the location.
(1)
Silvina S.
It was just ok. We were a big group and the service was pretty fast and our server was really nice but the food wasn't that great. The location was awesome though.
(3)
Sherrie G.
Food was not edible. Service was terrible. Wouldn't recommend it at all. Beautiful location.
(1)
Labella M.
not worth the money food is mediocre and service lousy only the view and when the bugs are eating you up.
(1)
Juan G.
Fried whole Hog Snapper is awesome. Great views too. Add salt and lemon juice for a wow..
(4)
Katie L.
Great time!!! We stayed overnight in No Name Harbor and came here for dinner. The party was poppin with middle aged people and we loved it! In between our food orders we would get up and dance with everyone. The staff and customers couldn't have been nicer! Their ceviche is AMAZING!!! I could have eaten five orders of that fish! The group went gaga over the Chocolate Mousse Cake. Seriously devoured that thing! Our server gave us complimentary cuban coffee at the end of our meal. Overall, an amazing evening!
(5)
Daniel M.
This place was terrible! Terrible Friday night dining experience. Went there on a Friday night! I can't believe my friend actually gave this place two stars! The food was barely edible but I'll get to that in a second. It took forever for my friend and I to be seated as well as others as a big line piled up by the please wait to be seated sign... while servers stood around and did nothing.. didnt say a word to anyone and there where plenty of empty tables... non the less we still decided to wait. After about at least 24 minutes we were given one of the empty tables while others again waited. There did not seem to be any kind of host what so ever.. Our orders were taken pretty quickly however the server did a terrible job at explaining the food options and the menu. I was also confused at how they offered whole fished fried but you could only order a grilled fish fillet. The fried conch appetizer was decent.. that's it. When our food actually did come (which took a good amount of time) it wasn't the food we had ordered and the server who ended up being a different server than our original server looked confused asked his other little server buddies and proceeded to take those plates which had already been placed on our table to the right table. After another few minutes our food was bought out. My friends order was not what he wanted at all due to the poor explaining of the dish by our original server and was completely different than what he expected. I had ordered the rice and fries as sides but was given rice and beans however this was corrected and I was given a side of fries. The snapper fish filet did not taste anywhere close to fresh. The fish was really rough and basic. The rice, beans and fries were also really basic and bland. The beans tasted like they came from a can and the rice tasted like instant rice. The fries tasted soggy and all of the food had a weird smell. It was barely palatable. Other patrons around us also seemed very upset and bad vibes were strewn about everywhere. Non of the staff or servers checked up on us after receiving our meal. After we finally got the right food no one came up to our table for a good 20 minutes. It took a long time to get someones attention to simply get a water refill. The water was also served in these tiny plastic cups. Staff and servers stood around and acted as if they didn't not want to be there! It was obvious that they didn't care about hospitality and patronage. The bathrooms were very dirty and did not have any paper towels, toilet paper or soap!!!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!! It took forever to get the check and the meal was ridiculously priced! The fish filet and sides that were soooo basic and no where near fresh demanded a cost of $20. I usually always tip but no tip was given to this lousy place. I did not feel one bit bad about it. I'm not sure how this place still gets the business it does.The nice views of the water and prime location did nothing to make this place enjoyable. I would never recommend this place to any of my worst enemies ever in a million years!!!!!!! Do not eat here unless terrible, bland and not so fresh food is what you like accompanied by the worst service I have ever experienced in my entire life. This place should be shut down!
(1)
Dan M.
I visit here often since I spend a lot of time on the water. I love the accessability of this restaurant, I love the view of our beautiful city, the food is fresh and great portions. I have eaten the snapper dinner, the lobster plate and breakfast as well. I have few issues, the staff is a hit or miss. Some servers are decent and some flat out suck. I have visited during a busy time and when there are only a few patrons and its the same. I also dont like the cheap ass chairs my ass sits on.
(4)
A E.
To start off, the line to be seated took 45 minutes while there where empty tables, But I was able to enjoy the view of the opulent yachts in the bay. Once seated, my wife had to go get menus because we enjoyed 10 more minutes of the view. We ordered from the overpriced menu and enjoyed (timed) the view for 45 minutes more! The waitress came at the 30 minutes mark to ask if we wanted refill of our drinks... With my most Zen voice I said I would but with lunch... Ten more minutes and the food came. Hurray! Well.. The food was fresh and maybe OK but at $19.00 a plate for some fish, yellow rice molded in a cup and three Amarillos.. It does not cut the mustard! Come for the view.... But please go elsewhere unless you want service clocked with a calendar and not a watch.
(1)
Steve B.
Worst service ever. We went on a slow day while there were 5 servers standing around. How is it possible to receive bad service? Food was tasteless as well. We won't be returning.
(1)
Dennis M.
Excellent fresh fish, Snapper filet superb. Staff is friendly and quick. Long lines due to popularity. Don't pass this place up If you rather be by the ocean (beach) go to the Lighthouse Cafe just down the road, same ownership and equally as good.
(4)
Sonia V.
We asked for snapper but we got sway instead. Sent it back. Fish croquettes were okay, nothing to brag about. Only one small ice cream scoop of mash. We asked for bottled beer and it came already I opened - refilled with draft? Very pricey for the quality and portions. Come for the view but don't expect much.
(1)
Monica S.
For those seeking a sun-drenched, sea salt, crazy beautiful view and Cuban inspired experience, Boater's Grill is the respite to answer your prayers. I am forever a sucker for island-style ambiance and fresh products sourced directly from our waters, so Boater's Grill is naturally my habitat. To access by land (those lucky boaters can dock in style), you'll need to pay a toll to enter Bill Baggs state park. You'll likely find nature seekers, bikers and families taking in the wildlife that surrounds the grill. Once you hit the restaurant, you walk up a ramp to a top-floor experience that overlooks No Name Harbor. This is casual dining at its best and it's a quick win for the lunch crowd. On the given Saturday that I went, the line rolled down the ramp, so on those obviously gorgeous afternoons, plan to wait for a table. Once seated, the choice was an easy one: freshly caught whole snapper, nice and fried. The dish was enough to share between 2 people and the hunks of meat that pulled off the fish were perfectly paired with the dipping sauce. If you like to keep it simple, there's no better place for you.
(4)
Alex L.
It was ok. I agree with some of the yelpers when they said service is not that great. Waiter didn't ask if we needed anything else after food came. We had to ask a couple of times to pls have our water pitcher refilled. We were 6 and it was really hot outside. Inside was all taken. I ordered the grilled snapper with a side house salad. The fish was a little bland like others have said. I squeezed lots of lime juice on it and added salt. The salad was blah. My bf said his asopado de camarones was good. We also ordered frituritas de bacalao. They were ok. And flan for dessert which I didn't try. Parking into the park which leads you into the restaurant is $8. Total for 6 adults was about $180. No drinks. Not sure if we'll return although the view is nice. Maybe during winter. During miami winter that is when it's a freezing 68 degrees!!!
(3)
Emi T.
After a long day on the beach, we were starving. We had never been so far south on key biscayne before. Upon arrival, we fell in love with the view! The sun was setting so it was so beautiful and peaceful. I ordered the scallops in garlic sauce expecting it to be bigger scallop pieces but instead was the smaller kind. They were okay, but nothing special to be honest. Definitely would not come back to pay $20 for that. If I ever do come back, it would be to just enjoy the view.
(2)
Eve C.
Last week my boss took a few colleagues and I on a lunch excursion away from our normal routine in Midtown. Without even a hint or clue, we were taken out to Bill Baggs state park and plopped down at Boater's Grill in No Name Harbor. I gotta say, I was all kinds of impressed. The drive out to the end of the Key was an adventure in its own, as the Sony Ericsson was just getting going. We had beaten the lunch rush, so a table for our rather large party was put together in seconds. I knew I had to have fish at this place, so I opted for the grilled filet of snapper, which came with 2 sides. I also shared an appetizer of crab cakes. The crab cakes were chock-full of crab meat, without too much breading or other filling. Served with what seemed like a romesco sauce, it was very tasty. My snapper was a tad overcooked, but still very tasty, especially with a few squirts of lime. The fries and salad on the side were nothing to write home about. Prices are a little steep, considering the $1.50 you have to pay to get on to the Key, and the $8 per car you have to pay to get into the park. But hey, I guess serenity has it's price. What really makes this place 4-star worthy is the location. You have an amazing view of a pristine, crystal-blue harbor, and can see all the boats pulling up, not to mention the Miami skyline on the horizon. On our way out, we saw some people chowing down on the lobster and the ceviche, both of which looked awesome. Next time, for sure!
(4)
Gustavo A. L.
This one is strategically located smack dab in the middle of my long ride. We always come into the park and sit here to chill for a while before taking back to the road on our bicycles. A beer and some grub is always welcome, there are plenty of options to replenish the calories and fill the tank, if only the service wasn't so darn lackadaisical. If it is in fact true that the owners have put blood sweat and tears into this place... hire some waitstaff who gives a crap. This is a privileged location.... don't ruin it ..... please ....
(3)
Ari P.
The paella was excellent and the service was better than expected for a casual, high chaos type of location. Great few, super-casual with intermittent service. Also, you have to pay to get into the state park in which the restaurant is located, but only until 5:30 or so.
(3)
Juan S.
Mediocre food, service and prices. The best thing about this place is the view and that isn't even that great either. I'd pass and stop only if you're looking to stay in Bill Baggs park for awhile. Not recommended.
(2)
Jim D.
Meh, needs some help. Fish and fries came out cold so we sent back. Fish came back OK, but fries still cold?? Server was a bit miffed at our complaint. Overpriced for what they serve. Seems more of a tourist/boater trap than anything. Check out elsewhere...
(2)
Kristen M.
We went for a birthday celebration. The $8 they charge you to enter the park should be refunded if you're eating here. It's rather expensive for the mediocre food they serve and the food was cold. I had the fish fingers which I have def. had better & my bf had a cold palomilla steak. But the view is very very nice.
(2)
Missus F.
Ambiance is great - but that is where it seems to end Went here for Sunday breakfast before taking my friend to Bill Baggs (this basically was mistake number one of the day LOL) We ordered Pancakes and scrambled eggs. We received, after 30 minutes, fried eggs and french toast. Apparently, you get what they felt like cooking, not what you wanted. Strike 1. Strike 2 was the fact the food was overcooked and cold (we did not want to wait another 30 minutes to receive corrected dishes so we ate what they brought. Strike 3 was killing the ants crawling on the table and chair - i know, it is exposed to the outside - but i am sitting 10 feet from the cooking area. We will NOT be going back.
(1)
Maria A.
This place could be a microcosm of the good and bad of Miami. The words location, location, location have never meant more than when describing this place. It's situated on No Name Harbour inside Bill Baggs Park. More of a locals spot this hidden, picturesque place is well off the beaten path but right on the boated path. As boats drop anchor and hold up here for lunch and beers. The beers, I can see but the food isn't exactly fantastic think Cuban cafeteria on the water. It's clear that seafood is more their specialty and freshness isn't a problem here but overall this is not a foodie destination. Stick to the seafood and come with low expectations. You've been warned. Still, the service isn't great, the menu is anything but sophisticated, and overall, this place has so much untapped potential, yes it's Miami. Pretty but unrefined easy to like, difficult to love, frustrating cause it could be so much more and so much better, sad because you know it might never happen... This was a tough call between 2.5 and 3 but 3 won the day because we deserve more waterfront bars were you don't have to go through hoops, ropes, or doormen. You also don't have to worry about having to waste an hour of your life looking for parking or trading your first born in for the cost of a few drinks. Having said that this place could be cheaper.
(3)
Patty ..
A great afternoon boating with friends in the Miami sun to No Name Harbor for a little lunch at Boater's Grill. After a quick wait in line we immediately ordered rounds or beer & sangria's, shrimp ceviches, 1-steak & salad, 1-fried red snapper that was AMAZING and 1-seafood paella which of course was super pipping hot and great! Who'd think this place would have such great food...I hope to be back. Just be prepared you can wait in long lines and docking can be a bit tricky.
(4)
Julian B.
Fried Snapper is great here. Very big meals, and awesome Cuban sides. Sometimes they play salsa and the waiters start dancing on the tables. Really nice ocean-side view and not too expensive either.
(4)
Lidia C.
Zero complaints - the fried fish was delish and my mahi fillet, blackened, was sooooo good. Have their moose chocolate cake - epic. Enjoy! Go by boat or car :)
(5)
Lorely B.
From someone who loves the setting of Scotty's but is oh so tired of the "blah" food of the like, I was pleased to hear there was another spot with as great a view and, egad, better food? I have to try this place! So off we went.... Even though the "mosquito meter" at the entrance said there were plenty of human-sized critters, we were still excited to try it out. This is a cute spot, with a lovely view and a "Scotty's" feel. If I would've though about it a bit more, I would've waited til December to come here as it's a little toasty to say the least. Yes, there are fans, but still! Ok, so we had a few beers, and started off with the tostones w/shrimp in creole sauce. They were quite tasty! The shrimps come on the size, and they are little teeny weeny shrimpies, but they are still pretty tasty. They also have a nice, fresh ceviche too - good for this time of a year... A couple of beers more and on to or main course! I had the Lobster Festival Special, which is lobster topped with shrimp creole (same little shrimpies from earlier). This was a nice combo, and it was $19.99 vs. the $33 my hubby paid for a whole fried fish. Beware of prices kids!!! It's yummy, but pretty overpriced with avg service, unfortunately.... Dessert was cascos de guayaba with cream cheese, can't go wrong with that!!!! Overall, enjoyable... But for the price, maybe just stick to scotty's - you know what you're gonna get - cheap food, drinks and a fantastic view!! I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the bill for 5 ppl... Think they forgot there are plastic chairs!!!!
(3)
Pelle B.
This is a great place for Lunch or Dinner if you are on Key Biscayne. The staff was extremely friendly. We went for lunch and didn't want to try the humongous fried snapper. So my wife opted for the Adobo de Pescado, which were fried fish chunks. I had the Ropa Vieja, which I have to say is the best Ropa Vieja I've tried in Miami. Who would have thought it? It's obviously more expensive than what you'll see in the mainland, but you know not excessive.
(5)
Marilyn M.
Very casual place. Very beautiful relaxing view especially at sunset. Servers are very friendly and the food is delicious
(4)
Kitty H.
I visited BG on a Sunday afternoon. Service was slow and the food was bad. The only thing I recommed is the fried whole snapper everything else was yuck .... This is a cafeteria by the water. Will not be returning there.
(1)
d d.
BG's setting is wonderful. No Name Bay is beautiful. I love sitting on the deck watching the boats and the bay. We've eaten at BG 3 times. The first time was great. The food and service were good. The second time, the food was ok. The third time, the food was better but the service was eh. We usually get one of the grilled fish, a salad, and the black beans/rice. It's nice to have a sparkling water or a glass of white wine in the afternoon too. Ask for the garlic sauce on the side. The second time, our tilapia was drenched in it. It's good stuff, but not that much of it. It is unique that a place like this (a restaurant in a state park on a bay) has such good, fresh food. Usually, these kinds of places do hush puppies, hot dogs, and fries, and nothing else. BG goes beyond the Sysco truck, and provides a nice ambiance and tasty, fresh seafood. Also, there are plenty of options to keep visitors from overseas happy. Vacationers seem to enjoy themselves quite a bit here. The beverage choices and the menu have enough variety, that just about anyone can get what they need/want.
(4)
Usu I.
I come here for the fried fish, it's reallllly good! However, that's about it. I don't care for the loud atmosphere, the lack of air condition (in the summer), mosquitos, drunk people, etc. It could be more fun, if I were still in college. If I visit this place on a cool night with a much smaller crowd, i'd be happy. (that's just personal I guess) Waiting for a table is usual here and lack of organization is too. The service is never the same when you come here, and I have been plenty of times. There is so much chaos that it really depends on which waiter you end up getting. Whatever, order a fried red snapper, and you almost forget the world around you; it's delicious and the best in Miami. For the price, I expect excellent service. I recommend dressing for the beach to keep cool. This place is better in smaller groups less than 5 people.
(3)
Hilary G.
I experienced a few 'firsts' at Boater's Grill: my first paella, my first conch fritter, and my first maduro. Each of these firsts were memorable and delicious, especially when paired with the beautiful backdrop of No Name Harbor. The staff is friendly, the seafood is solid, and I literally crave their paellas. Go with sandy feet, go on a saturday night, GO for an all-around memorable experience.
(5)
Nikki B.
For one... we couldn't find the place. I suppose that's fine since it seems to be a local-style grubbery but... The location, lovely. Though it was a bit on the chilly side when I went (yes, cold fronts even come through Miami) and while the whole outdoor dining room was shivering, the staff didn't get the hint and didn't bother to drop down the plastic walls. Well, no, they dropped one down, and everyone cheered, but all it did was make it windier, and they didn't drop any more. The food.... I expected better. If you like your ceviche well-done... go ahead and order it. If you don't like soggy onions and tough, chewy fish.... The smoked fish spread was pretty good though! We also ordered the crab-meat stuffed poblano chile. It was... okay. The pepper was kind of soggy and the presentation could have been tighter (ie, splashes of sauce around the rim of the plate, if you're the sort of person to be bothered by that). The crab was average I'd say. We then ordered the yuca mojo.... except we never got it. We sat waiting, with nothing in front of us, for our waiter to either a. bring the dish or b. tell us why it was taking so long, but all he did was give other people their checks or awkwardly wander around. He then, after a long time, gave us our check. We didn't even bother to mention we didn't get our dish. The pricing is.... odd. A bottle of Presidente was $5.75! We also noticed that mozz sticks cost more than a hamburger... I don't want to know what kind of hamburger they serve... Good live music though! The gentleman did a nice job at serenading us. So, brownie points for the atmosphere, not so much for the service, food, and pricing. There are plenty of other places around Miami that would do better.
(2)
Bryan G.
Boater's Grill is a classic. I've been for both a gut-bomb brunch and for dinner. The food is good, not exceptional, but good. For brunch I had the eggs, ham, and cuban bread. That bread is great, although when you get to the end you realize you ate a whole baguette of buttery, pressed, goodness in one sitting. If you ride a bike there then you can better justify it. The kid's ordered sweets with french toast and pancakes. Pancakes were average while the french toast was really good. For dinner, I've generally had the paella. How can you not when it's probably one of their specialties and you're sitting right on the water! The paella has always been good. It's full of yummy seafood and not drowned out by too much rice. What makes B Grill a four-star is definitely the location. You can't beat being on the water and surrounded by nature. It automatically relaxes you. There are many places in South Florida on the water but they usually have too many TVs, boats and jetskis, and goofy frozen slurpy beverages served up in Carnival Cruise worthy keepsake glasses. Boater Grill is light years away from that...
(4)
Eva R.
It gets 3 because of the view, otherwise it will get less. The food was just ok, and nothing special.
(3)
Johana I.
Another beautiful day in gorgeous Miami with sunny weather. A perfect day to be on the boat...... UNTIL someone thinks it's a good idea to go to this place. Yuck and gross! I don't get why 1. It has gotten more than 2 stars 2. anyone would think this is such a good restaurant. Any place you stop to eat when out in the sea is usually good. Not this one.... It's super ghetto. You drive up and see all the other boats thinking there are cooking up some good food. The closer you get the more it smells like fried fish in old oil. Just because they serve you a fried fish with it's head, doesn't mean it has to be good. PLUS, just because they're serving you fish next to the ocean, doesn't mean that it has to be good. The menu's smells really bad. I'm glad someone else also noticed that. All of the chinaware and smallware are cheap. You get plastic cups,etc. The patacones and fries were cold and stale tasting. The only good thing about the ceviche was the red onions in the acidy lime juice! No one was going for the fish. Last but not least, $150 for four people. Cheap, smelly, not great food. You don't even get a great view. Ahh, and bad service. They need to turn on the fans, too. Blah. Let's just say I hope this is the last time anyone wants to make a stop at this place.
(1)
Michael C.
This place is about the location. The service is mediocre. Tried to order the fish spread and was actual told that it was not recommended today. What is that supposed to mean? The prices are way to high to be sitting in plastic chair for mediocre-sub par food.
(1)
A G.
Being a Florida native and fisherman/boater and one that likes off beat, hole-in-the-wall places I thought this place would be right up my alley, NOT!! Places like this may be short on comfort, but should be good when it comes to authentic atmosphere and food, not the case here! Food quality was so so, portions were small, and service was inattentive, 3 items on the menu were not available that night, "sorry, we are out of that." I would say the fish was fresh for I am pretty good at being able to tell if its more than a day old, but honestly, if I were the owner there is so much more I would offer to allow patrons to walk away satisfied and feeling like they had just sampled some old Florida charm and recipes. We got there after the park closed so thank goodness we didn't have to pay the $8 park fee, that would have surely added to the dissappointment. So I say, Skip Boaters Grill and find another off beat hole in the wall and write about it. The search goes on!
(2)
Kris B.
overpriced, bland seafood. slow slow service. only saving grace was the view of the bay until two engines simultaneously turn on and blast your eardrums. don't let the crowd fool you. the food and service do not warrant the prices had shrimp ceviche (cooked cocktail shrimp with lime and cilantro) crab cakes were mostly breadcrumbs.
(1)
Whitney R.
I give this place three for the food, but I would give it five for the view at Sunset. This might be the only place in Miami where you can watch the sun fall over the water. I went here after an afternoon of the beach and Jimbo's. The fresh fish is delicious, and this is a fun little place to take out of towners. It is really off the beaten path, and perfect for a sunset dinner. Just make sure they like seafood!
(3)
Nicole C.
This place is great if you want to grab some grub after a day of fun in the sun. You can get there by car or boat, but docking your boat can be a bit of a challenge if it's a nice day and everyone else has the same idea you did. The wait to be seated, as well as service, can be lengthy as well. The food is ok, mediocre at best. But, if you're looking for a chill place to watch the sunset and grab a bite, this is a decent little spot.
(3)
Chris K.
Not bad but don't expect much. Simplicity is the name of the game here. Basically a nice shack on the water inside the harbor. Great for boaters passing by. I expected more of a view though but since it's in the back of the harbor, you don't get much other than the harbor itself. For the food, just keep on going if you don't like seafood. Seriously. And I don't mean fancy dishes. I mean a whole fish - head and tail included - grilled, fried, etc. and served on a platter. The service was decent but not impressive. The prices were hefty, and don't forget to add the $8 park entry fee. I probably wouldn't go here again but if you're in the park and you're hungry, there's only two choices (other than joining someone's bbq, which I considered) so it's worth going to once. A nice, relaxing over-priced meal with a peaceful view. Next time I'm in the park, I'll probably go to the lighthouse cafe.
(3)
A. L.
Love this place... except on weekends when it's packed. It's a simple place but the food is good, the portions are big and the staff is friendly. Go on a weekday and look out for dolphins in No Name Harbor.
(4)
Rafael S.
It's the Keys in the middle of Miami... Best truly casual place in Miami. Go for the Stone Crabs (in season), the battered fried fish, calamari, whole fried snapper and the like. Nice sangria and very friendly attentive service. Have fun: its not fine dining, but a great location and the No Name Harbor view. Bring your out of town viistors here, they will enjoy it (in shorts).
(4)
Nathaly C.
I finally found this place after searching for it for a couple of years. I came here with some friends a while back and had the giant perfectly fried fish in mind since. My boyfriend and I found it yesterday and that fried fish was even better than i remembered! The portions for sides were a bit small, especially the rice and beans you'll most likely need to order two of each unless you're like me and just want to eat the giant beautiful fish that melts in your mouth. My boyfriend and I shared the "large" yellow tail snapper ($35), a couple of sides ($12+), and a pitcher of Sangria ($25). Over all the best part of the meal was my beloved fried fish although the Sangria made the whole experience a lot more fun. Very nice atmosphere, relaxed, outdoor dining on the water.
(4)
Jessica M.
Oh Boater's Grill.....what a disappointment. You have so much potential but I guess when you have such a gorgeous view, you don't really have to pay attention to your food. I have to say they were able to accomodate our large party of 17 fairly quickly. They have a tiny indoor space which we were able to take over. To be fair, service was pretty good for such a large party. The 2 stars have to do specifically with the food. We started off with 3 orders of conch fritters. Of the 3 I ate, I didn't detect one bit of conch. Fail #1. The conch fritters were served with marinara sauce, not cocktail sauce. We asked the server for cocktail sauce and he said they do not carry it. What kind of seafood restaurant doesn't have cocktail sauce? Fail #2. My boyfried and I decided to share a whole fried fish. For $34, I expected a hot, juicy, tender red snapper. Not so. What we got was a room temp, dry fish, which I had to squeeze no less than 4 pieces of lime and salt generously to get any flavor. I got a better fried snapper at the sketchy Cacique's Corner next to my office for $9.99. Fail #3. There also seems to be an inconsistency when it comes to serving sizes. Some of our dining companions ordered red snapper filets, which were quite generous in size, but of the 3 who ordered mahi, one filet was huge while the other two were barely the size of my palm. Fail #4. On a positive note, I did taste the red snapper filet which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I also tasted the kid's fish fingers which were good. I wish this place was better. I want to like it because its a nice place to spend an afternoon after the beach. I hope the food improves because like I said before, it has so much potential. I wish the menu was more seafood shack instead of pretend fine-dining.
(2)
Peter M.
Located on the water in the No Name Harbour on the bay side of Bill Baggs State park. The food sure beats the concession stands at the park. Cold beer and the frog legs are excellent. Nice place to stop if you are out boating on the bay.
(4)
Michael S.
My wife and I went for a sunset drink. The place was packed and the staff was overwhelmed. We only had beers and calamari. The beer was warm and the calamari tasted like rubber bands. This was our worst experience here in the twenty or so times we have visited. Maybe if it was less crowded it would have been better??
(2)
Erica U.
If I could give a zero, I would. We came here on a recommendation by the toll booth girl (which we should've taken as a grain of salt), but went there nonetheless. Our waiter come 3 times, once to get our order for drinks, entrees and to clear our plates. We ran out of water and had to ask another waiter for this and that took over 10 mins. When the bill came, I was ready to leave, but it took over 15 mins to get my bill back and our waiter didn't even give any eye contact or say anything pleasant. If I'm going to pay $18 for a really bad pasta dish and $22 for lobster, I expected a little more than what we got. You can't just expect a 20% tip, you have to work for it like everyone else does. Worst service EVER!!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Narine M.
It was an amazing adventure just boating to the restaurant (I'm a city girl ). The food was really good but the ambiance and view was great! I will make a trip there again the next time I'm in south beach again!
(5)
Trina R.
Waaaaaay over priced! This place is more expensive than Disney world or Atlantis for that matter. It's like a Cuban restaurant trying to be a seafood place. First of all they should have some sort of misters for the insane heat or maybe more fans. They brought a sangria that has no fruit in it? Basically wine with ice. They brought a paella with rice that cost $28! It was tiny!!!! With 28 I could have made my own paella to feed the entire restaurant! I ordered the conch fritters which came with fries that are worse than any fast food restaurant. The only thing good about this place is the view. I hope I never have to come back.
(1)
A C.
Very good casual eating. Seafood done well( not over cooked!)
(5)
Maria F.
We threw my mother a surprise birthday party at Boater's on Oct. 15 and it couldn't have gone better. The owner, Reina, helped me plan the menu for 15 people and we thought everything was delicious. From the ceviche, conch friiters, and salmon fish spread as appetizers to the seafood paella, lobster, and whole fried red snapper for main dishes with an assortment of sides--we couldn't have asked for better. Boater's has a rustic, comfy feel with a great view. And the service we got was amazing on this special day. I highly recommend it for both a special occasion or a casual night or weekend outing. It was a great day.
(5)
Andres A.
Really good fried fish, super casual place. It is right next to a marina and inside a park. The "tostones" are the best. Don't miss the key lime pie. After lunch / brunch go for a walk around the mangroves.
(4)
N. B.
Not a formal review, but just wanted to say that I dont really know how "Afghan" is associated with this place. Doesn't seem to have any food from Afghanistan, so...probably a mistake I guess. Just so others dont get their hopes up like I did!
(3)
Carol C.
I would have given this place 2 stars if it wasn't for the fact that this place's overall rating on here is WAY too high. Is it possible that I'm the only person that had a table full of smelly menus, felt instantly poor when I first checked out the menu, had the waiter that didn't want to be there nor knew how to speak English and had overcooked fish? I went with a group of 5 on what's been the most beautiful day of the year, so far. The day was sunny, the sun started setting while we were there, and the breeze was crisp. But nothing about my surroundings could distract me from the overpriced menu selections and shotty service. Perhaps my expectations threw me off but remember, I wasn't alone. I had seen this place while at Bill Baggs recently but hadn't heard much about it and now I know why. Our friends gathered to enjoy a casual meal outside in the perfect weather. The plastic chairs, worn wood floors, plastic window coverings, and plastic water cups screamed casual. I wanted to have crab cakes and the best grouper sandwich ever but instead was faced with $10 conch fritters and $30 paella, and $17 fish dishes. Others on Yelp describe this as a Cuban cafeteria on the water. Let's just say that I've been to cafeterias much better than this. When the most popular dish in the joint is the fried fish you might stop to think that almost anything tastes great fried and so, it might be the only thing edible here. They've learned to overcook everything - scallops, tilapia, sea bass, and mahi-mahi. Apparently, the salmon wasn't so bad. Even the maduros were overcooked! Not fried-at-the-tips overcooked, chewy-hard-and-inedible overcooked. I never thought I'd meet a maduro I didn't like. In sum, we all left with empty wallets and half hungry from the uneaten food. I'm not quite sure how wealthy Key Biscayne residents enjoy it here. Even with money to spare, I'd want to go elsewhere. For the many views this area offers, it's not worth it. If you go to find out for yourself, remember to tell them you're going to the restaurant at the guard gate. It'll save you $8. And I'll let you all know if I open up affordable top-notch fish sandwich shack on the other side of the inlet. Guaranteed it won't be hard to steal all their business.
(1)
Ramon C.
How I actually ate at this place is beyond me. I think this was my 3rd or 4th meal in a span of 2-3 hours. I ordered tostones stuffed with shrimp. Unfortunately it was tostones with a side of shrimp creole. Menu advertising fail. However the sangria was good and it was hot out so it was win. I would definitely come back for lobster or other seafood and when I haven't eaten 4 times in one day. The location is really nice as it overlooks No Name Harbour. After lunch you can go for walk around the park to help your digestion. :)
(3)
Debi M.
We agree with many yelpers. We rated the place a 4 for the view and a 2 for the food. Also people were smoking right next to us. Our waiter was not friendly.
(3)
Rob C.
came for the whole local catch fish -- shared a fried snapper bigger than my arm. goes well with an ice cold Presidente. service not the best, and you don't come for the ambiance despite being by the water, but you do come for a plain deep fried fish with lime and simple sides. (it's inside the park to the right, $5 car entrance fee)
(4)
Dddavid G.
So, admittedly I know the owners at Boater's Grill. I know the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this place so if you're looking for an unbiased review of this place, you're not going to find one here. Having said that, there are plenty of ways to maximize your chances at a great experience. For example, if you visit the restaurant on a saturday or a sunday, at say, 2:30 or 3 pm, be ready to wait, in the sun, for at least an hour at times (that's gotta say something about the food, no?) before sitting down. The staff will be surly and the kitchen will be doing it's best to just keep up with the orders flying in. So, when's the best time to go to Boater's Grill? Weekdays. Yup. Weekdays. Head down right after work, say 6-ish and experience one of the most killer sunsets Miami has to offer. The restaurant won't be very busy and you'll have the staff's undivided attention. If you absolutely must go on a weekend, I'd probably say that yeah, you're best bet would be to still go somewhere around sunset. There will be a lull in the crowd and the second shift of waiters will be coming in. Also, and this is the biggest thing to keep in mind. Order seafood. Order one of their six different paellas (for as many people as you need!). Order the whole fried snapper. Order the grilled lobster. I've taken a trillion people here and never once has the seafood disappointed. Why anyone would go to a Cuban seafood restaurant and order say, the pasta, is beyond me. That shits only there to placate vegetarians and children (no offense to either). What do Cubans know about making pasta? Just order a beer, some fish croquettes (made in-house, super amazing), maybe a shrimp ceviche and enjoy the vibe.
(4)
Max C.
I give this place high marks based more on the ambiance than the food. It's fun, festive and certain dishes are good. Sure, some of it is over priced and the napkins are about as useful as the plastic chairs that you sit in are comfortable, but forget about those minor details and go there to enjoy the setting. If you stick with the core: tostones, a grilled filet of local fish and key lime pie, then it's fintastic. The Fried snapper is really tasty and if you get the larger portion share it with your partner and you'll enjoy it even more. Note, the gnats can be a nuisance so be prepared if you have sensitive skin.
(4)
Sarah A.
Very laid back and casual. Not the place to go if you're in a hurry. Also, you have to pay $8 to get into the State Park, but it is only $4 if you come later in the day. The food ok and the service was terrible. The Key Lime pie is the best, which about makes up for its other pitfalls. It has a great atmosphere with all the boats docked out front because you can anchor the boat and come ashore to eat. They even had live beachy/island music.
(3)
Joe M.
Two stars for location. Service wasn't bad, but the quality of the food was abysmal. I'd agree with other reviewers who ventured that the owner is running down the clock on a lease. Bottom line: the beauty of the location far surpasses the food, service and attitude fom the staff. I have worked in restaurants for years, and I never send food back. I did here. Overall, the food on the Key isn't so special ...barring Costa Med, which is excellent. However, Costa Med doesn't have the stunning view of No Name Harbor. If you go to the Boater's Grill, order the whole fish. While waiting for my food to come back, I overheard a local say "Get the whole fish. It's the only way to go, here."
(2)
Debra R.
Saturday night after the Super Moon we tried the BG for the 1st time. Will never go again. Maitre D was no where to be found so went looking but then was told to go back and wait in line that was now longer. Open tables but we could not sit at them. Waitress said the shrimp creole were large and flavorful-NOT they were medium size at best with no seasonings. Just poured tomato sauce over them with a few peas and served. Salad on plate but no dressing except oil and vinegar, black beans had zero flavor. No waitress to fill up water. The setting is wonderful and with proper management, this restaurant could be a gem.
(1)
Jeannie J.
I was tempted to give Boater's Grill 5 stars!! I love this place. Nothing fancy, not pretentious, just simple Cuban food on the water. Great fresh fish and the tostones are the best I've ever had (and I've tried a few in my time). n.b., very casual - - think bathing suit or shorts and flip flops.
(4)
Gretel T.
The experience at this restaurant pushed me to make a decision to never buy a Groupon deal again. Where should I start with this one?...lets say that if Chef Ramsey ever came to this place he would have a heart attack. As I've said in my other reviews, I rate the restaurants based on 4 main categories: food, service, cleanliness and flexibility. We arrived at Boater's Grill to be welcomed by a horrendous smell of sewage waste mixed with mangroves. The setting up of a restaurant in this location was an epic failure. The smell was a huge turn off. We were greeted by an extremely rude and at the same time overly and inappropriately friendly waiter. The place was dirty everywhere, which instantaneously made me suspicious of the food coming out of the kitchen. The service was also extremely slow. The waiter was out of place by questioning our desire to share a plate. The menu was overpriced (average plate $18) taking into consideration the quality and amount of food served. But the biggest shock of the day was the food. Oh! the food was soooooo bad! I'm even including a picture of the fish we ate. A seafood restaurant that cannot properly cook fish should just close its doors immediately. The fish was under seasoned and extremely greasy, obviously previously frozen and not fresh. Additionally, the plate presentation was nonexistent. Needless to say that my Malaysian friend who came with us to this restaurant, and my husband, suffered from a stomach ache the rest of the day. My recommendation, PLEASE avoid this place.
(1)
Lynn C.
A few Yelp menu faves were not available. Conch croquettes were okay. Fried red snapper was a winner, as many Yelpers already testified. Wait staff was rather brusque. The flan was so-so. A friendly waitress or two would really make a difference in the experience!
(3)
Josie M.
Not many places left in Miami where you can go for a nice casual meal on the water. Food is good service ok but the feel by the ocean is great. We went on our boat with a few friends and totally enjoyed ourselves. Such a shame there are not more places like this. Tried of the over priced seafood. Try The fried whole snapper it's great so is the grilled fish.
(4)
Alex R.
Got there and sat at the terrace and waited.. And waited... I was then told I had to move because there was no service for two people at that location. I was moved to the back of the restaurant. I then waited another 20 minutes without acknowledgement. I finally ordered the food and when it arrived it all tasted bland and "generic". At some point an employee was smoking two feet away from our table. It gets two stars because of the location and the view.
(2)
Kate S.
$13 for a half pitcher of Sangria. A delicious avocado salad. A piece of guava cheesecake. Serious lusting over the whole cooked fishes passing you by to other tables... Not to mention that lovely view.... It's simple. It's lovely. I liked it here.
(4)
Carlos D.
The food was not fresh and to greasy! It had a wired stale smell. We couldn't eat it.. The waitress saw that we did not touch our food but didn't seem interested in knowing why. The view and the location are great though but what's the point if you cant eat the food?
(1)
Jeb S.
Possibly the worst meal I have ever been served. To think someone had killed a fish to be served this way is a crime. Horrible, inedible food. I have no idea how anyone would ever come back a second time. Hopefully someone else will re-open this restaurant.
(1)
Ursula P.
Great location, especially for boaters. Rustic atmosphere. The whole, fried Red Snapper was too die for. The Tostones with garlic/oil sauce were crispy and tasty. Try the fish ceviche for starters. Top it all off with a pitcher of Sangria.
(4)
Joe P.
Had another good experience here. Went on a bike ride in Key Biscayne with my gf. Stopped here on the scenic route. Awesome little place on a cove full of boats. Seems like enough people know about it but not too too many. It was packed but I didn't feel overwhelmed. It was chill but also with a party atmosphere. People were partying on their boats and we were drinking on the deck of the restaurant. We stayed for awhile and had a nice time. I'd go back.
(4)
Melanie A.
Let's just say...ew ew and more ew. I hate to be this blunt but the food is horrible. Mediocre doesn't even begin to describe. First of all, we boated here so we came through the back and the whole staff were running around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off. Only a few of them even spoke broken English, how delightful. We went to the front and told them it was 4. They all looked confused. Finally someone came over and said we need to "wait our turn" yet no one was waiting around us? a few minutes later someone else saw us waiting and just decided to seat us. I ordered the langoustines, my fiance first chose the salmon pasta but then changed his order to the lobster and shrimp fra diavolo, our guests order the whole fried snapper to share. Of coooourse the server messed up the order and brought the salmon pasta instead. Then we told her it was wrong and miraculously 2 minutes later she brought the fra diavolo. First of all, the langoustine shell would not even peel off!!! I should have known this was a horrible sign!!!!! I had to use my hands to peeeeel off the shell and it took a great deal of force to do so. This is one of my favorite dishes and I have never experienced the shell not coming off. They were un-edible. Saying that my taste-buds were not satisfied doesn't begin to describe it. My fiance tried one and was like "how did you eat this!?" His lobster and shrimp was OK but I mean how can you mess that up???? The whole fish I heard was good but I did not try it. Let's just say we will never be back here again.
(1)
Adam C.
For mostly fried food, this place takes forever. The waiters have the typical Miami "ees no my yob" look, as they snack away while serving food.
(2)
Anastacia B.
Boater's Grill is exactly what it appears to be. A no frills plastic tables, chairs, and cups back porch restaurant tucked away on the water in the Bill Braggs park. There are tons of families, noise, bugs, waits, and Presidente beer. I say bugs because seating is primarily outside and some other reviewers seemed surprised that there was nature involved with their outdoor dining experience. So you know you are eating in a State Park! There was a wait and yes between the loud music and crowd things were a little chaotic. Finally we were shown our table and my sister ordered the Florida lobster which turned out to be the best deal in Miami at $21. I ordered the grilled snapper and it was probably the best piece of fish I'd had in a long time. I did watch lots and lots of platters of the whole fried fish come out of the kitchen and that is definitely what I will order next time. It looked amazing. I suggest finishing your meal with a piece of the homemade guava cheesecake and a Cuban coffee.
(4)
Joy G.
Best fresh fried fish ever, the croquettes are my favorite.
(5)
Lauren S.
So expensive and so not worth it! Quality of food is poor for seafood and quantity is ridiculously small for the cost. I won't be eating there ever again. As the years have gone by, it gets worse and worse. It has become a tourist trap and all I can say is poor tourist. You can def' get great seafood and view in so many other places in Miami.
(2)
P V.
Don't bother stopping here other than using the bathroom. Ordered crab cakes that looked liked my dogs wet food shaped into a circle with a secret sauce. Others ordered the calamari which were confused for onion rings. The conch fritters were ok. Very expensive for quality that you get. Better food at a rest stop off if turnpike.
(1)
Adrian P.
Over rated To long of line, slow service. Nice to pull up on boat, but staff needs to get with it, not to mention chef
(2)
Seth W.
Boater's Grill is all about the view. I love looking out over NNH and watching the boats and forgetting that I'm 10 minutes away from downtown. The strategy is to keep your standards low - "Tourist Trap" level in fact, because as remote as Boater's Grill seems to be, they probably don't have to rely on much return business. I was pleasantly surprised by the service during my last visit. We were a table of 4 and had to wait 10-15 for a table. A waiter asked if we would like to order some drinks while we stood at the top of the stairs. That simple gesture (up-sell) set the tone for the afternoon and made all the difference. I find the food to be at least decent. The value is poor, but the view of a railing-side table is worth it to me.
(3)
Magda N.
What a disappointment! My husband and I wanted a seaside fresh fish location but this was not the place!!! The seaside but the food and service .
(1)
Maria Elisa M.
Nice view of No Name Harbor. As a consession, quality and flavor don't seem to be a priority. Worst crab cake ever, greasy calamari. Cold beer and that's about it. Come for the ambience but don't expect good food.
(1)
Courtney K.
Boater's Grill is a great place if you are looking for casual, no frills, not in a hurry, enjoy the weather and nice view sort of place. I've eaten here for lunch twice, both times I went in my bathing suit and cover up. I would highly recommend the whole fried fish, ceviche, and sangria. If I'm not mistaken, the fish comes with patacon (fried plantain patty), but if it doesn't, order that with it. Some people who have written reviews for this restaurant seem to have been expecting it to be something that it is not. It is not fine dining; it is simply a casual restaurant on the water with a nice view, fresh seafood with a cuban influence, and cold drinks. I recommend it.
(4)
Ash D.
Fish fish fish... Fried snapper... Delish! View is breathtaking... beer garden is a new addition on the first floor.. If you take your boat up there get there early and tie up and take a dip before dinner... The water is gorgeous and Crystal clear. Docking is $8 , pay in a provided envelop .
(4)
Alex B.
I love this place! Such a nice spot to have a nice meal with a view and the food is great. Fresh seafood everyday.
(5)
Chris R.
Though it is never safe to assume. I am going to give my assumption a shot at saying I do not doubt the food is as good as the service. Nothing like walking up to a place and not knowing exactly where the entrance is. Go in on one side and see a sign that says "line on the other side." A buddy and I proceed through the dining area. We get in line behind one couple. No greeter. No employees saying anything. Just a sign saying wait in line. After 10 minutes or so a few more people join the line. Still nothing from an employee. A few more minutes and a group of 6 show up to stand in line. Finally, a greeter shows up and decides to take the group of 6 before anyone else without even asking who is next or how many in each party. The group of 6 hopefully spilled something all over themselves for even going in front of any of us already in line as well. I am glad we decided to take our money elsewhere. I am sure the wait to order and wait for food would have been miserable. One bright side... decent view.
(1)
Astrid P.
We paid more than 40$ for a fish over cooked and burned. It's pitiful ! I never will be come back.... I think only drink a glass of water to look the view.
(1)
Alissa W.
We were boating and stopped here for lunch. The service took forever the guy told our group of 6 that two more minutes for our food that took another 15. I ordered a chicken Cesar salad the is a mix of Cuban food, and fried food. The place is outside so many wasps fllying around our table. Finally my salad came I turned over the lettuce to add the dressing they put in a plastic container on the side when a dead large fly was on the lettuce. This didn't just fly in my salad it was dead the kind you see when you don't wash lettuce. The place is dirty, and gross. I don't think we will be stopping on the boat again to eat here again that is for sure!
(1)
Maxine V.
Really bad. No A/C, completely outside. The air smelled fishy (from the open air kitchen). It was loud. The service was slow. The sangria was not a sangria at all, some lame concoction of wine and who-knows. The crab meat burger was flavorless. I would not have known it was "crab" if you had not told me. I suspect it was really fake crab...which I hate. My dad has seafood linguini, which was equally bland. The view is unimpressive. You have to pay $8 just to even drive through the park to the restaurant. Everything was totally and utterly sub par. Even the park sucked. In addition to all of this there was only one dirty restroom for each gender. NEVER COME HERE.
(1)
Nad M.
I love dining at Boater's Grill. The food is consistently delicious. I especially like the fresh seafood. The setting on the water, coupled with the live music makes for a fantastic Miami experience.
(5)
Elizabeth G.
Great place, great location! The whole fried fish is spectacular, and everything we had was excellent, hot and fresh. Good pork chunks, excellent black beans. It's a lively place with a lot of families, fully bilingual, friendly, efficient staff (who are attentive but don't hurry you) and food that is a combo of Florida fried style and Cuban. The mango cheesecake is delicious! Eat on the deck and enjoy the view. I never give 5 stars, so I'm giving it the best rating I give!
(4)
Jenna M.
So much fun! Live music & great ceviche... I was a happy camper. We anchored in No Name Harbor for the night and ate at Boater's Grill for dinner. We had a great time dining and dancing. The service was also amazing. I can't wait to return!
(5)
Ricky B.
My friend and I arrived here with the intention of ordering a simple burger and beer. Walking up to the restaurant from the parking lot, there is no obvious entrance or signage leading us to the correct entry. We walked around to the other side to see if it might be there and ended up just walking up the stairs to the dining balcony which then greeted us with a sign at the top saying "Line on other side". The dining balcony is an outdoor setting which overlooks No Name Harbor, a nice view. The ambiance was decent and casual, with tables and plates being "no frills" which seemed just fine for our mission. After falling in line behind a couple, we waited 10 minutes before someone ever came up to greet any of us. By this time, an elderly couple had joined the queue as well and just moments before the waiter came up, a family of about 6 got in line behind us, save the father who remained up front. When the waiter came up, he went straight for the father, asked how many, and the family of 6 proceeded to skip the 6 of us already waiting in line. So not only did the waiter completely ignore the other 6 of us, he failed to even inquire who might have been first. Following this, my friend and I decided to take our money elsewhere.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Marilyn M.
Service is AWFUL. These people are annoyed to serve you. Items are OVERPRICED. Despite being ignored for a good while, we asked -ALL SMILES- for waters and a diet coke. But no luck, this was going to be a rough ride. Although the I pointed at the soda fountain when I ask for it, the waiter returned with a canned soda. I politley asked again for fountain, and he got pisssed! He snatched the can away and -much- later returned with the fountain soda...which was terrible!! The syrup to CO2 mix was off so it tasted like soda water. But no way were we going to say anything. While we waited, we noticed the outragoues prices (for what we suspected would be diner-quality food) and decided just to have something small to hold us off and go to a real restaurant later. We waited so long to order that I finally moved the menus to the complete other side of the table hoping it'd be evident to the waiter that we were waiting on him to place our order. Nope, he didn't care. Walked by us a good five times before stopping to ask us if we were ready. Maybe he was hoping we would leave? We really should have. I opted for the smoked fish dip. The waiter scooped TWO TABLESPOONS out of a tub. $5 and the flavor was off. My boyfriend ordered something completely unmemorable but pricey. I do remember however that it was served with pizza sauce. Fish, with pizza sauce. Not cocktail sauce. Hello? Not all tomato sauces are alike people! The food took a very long time to come out. When it did, the waiter said NOTHING to us. Then he NEVER came by again. We couldn't even make eye contact with him because he would look away. After about 30 minutes of trying to flag him down for the bill, we walked over to him and asked for it. Then it took 15 minutes before he brought it over to us. Again, he said NOTHING to us. He just had shit face the entire time. What a miserable human being. Here's something that really peeved me too. They have a sign on the back of the soda fountain machine that says "Tap Water Cup $0.25 Vaso con Agua $0.25" I'm certain it is illegal to do so. Any establishment serving food for dine-in guests must 1)Offer free tap water and 2)Offer restrooms. What a great location gone to waste with this God-awful tourist trap.
(1)Carlos P.
I have been coming to this place for more than 10 years and is still amazing. The fried fish is one of the many reasons I come back but specially the location and view. Every friend I bring are amazed by the experience. This is the best hideout place in Miami.
(5)Dana W.
Best conch fritters I've ever had. The fish ceviche reminded me of the ceviche I had in Chile. I'll always come back here
(4)Melissa N.
We just love this place, the ambience by the water and the cool music makes dining outdoors a truly relaxing experience. The food is always wonderful and the whole fried fish is AMAZING always! Bad experiences: cold sides and really slow/bad service. This has been something that we overlook because of wanting to enjoy the experience of coming all the way here but it would definitely make a HUGE change in staying longer and having drinks after dinner, etc.
(3)Jeanette H.
Subsequent two more visits -- personal-size seafood paella was good. Crispy snapper was delicious. Seafood soup not as much. Seafoods are consistently fresh and not overcooked. Probably best off ordering what they're good at: simple seafoods like grilled lobster, fried whole fish etc. Service is generally good esp if you don't sit way out in the corner. Prices can be slightly lower for this hole-in-the-wall place though, but then there's the premium for the harbor view..
(3)Todd M.
Stopped in for lunch on lazy Saturday... Long story short, view was good, food was overpriced shit!Service was also extremely slow.
(1)Andrea S.
Service is terrible in this place, there was a sign to wait to be seated, no one came for about 20minutes and they knew we were there waiting, finally got seated waiters do not care about you unless you call them repeatedly.. food was average nothing to die for... The only amazing thing about this place is the view!!which is the only reason I can think people would come here...
(3)Rachael B.
Boaters Grill is a great secluded spot at the tip of Key Biscayne with a great view of the water nestled in a little harbor and off the beaten path. It's a great spot to stop mid bike ride or run, however the wait was over 1 hour long. The ambiance is very relaxed and the menu is mostly all seafood (very fresh)! The prices are reasonable and everything we ordered was fresh, simple, and refreshing. People watching is great at this restaurant as you see boaters docking. I recommend it if you're not in a rush and want some fresh seafood.
(3)Dario C.
The place is nothing fancy, yet its nice to spend a couple hours enjoying nice company a good quality seafood perhaps with a good beer. Do not expect it to be something other than what it is! The location is very nice, the service is good, the food is fresh. Its not your typical Miami upscale fancy seafood place! Still, I recommend it!
(3)Naty K.
Boater's Grill is the type of place you would resort to if you happen to be at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Otherwise, who, in their right mind, would pay about $10 ($1.75 toll plus $8.00 to enter the park) with the sole purpose of eating at this place? Aside from the views, there is nothing special about this place. My friend and I were checking out the Bill Baggs nature trails, so after completing our hike, we became hungry and he suggested coming here. I saw the Yelp reviews and was skeptical, but he insisted. I guess the convenience factor was pretty enticing. We saw there was a wait, and he made the rookie mistake of assuming long wait = great food. It was already somewhat boisterous, which wasn't really ideal, but the waterfront views were enticing. We got one of the best tables in the house, and I immediately started taking photographs. This was probably the only high point of the meal and the only thing that may impress one while dining here, sadly, but let me continue. We got the menus, the waiter brought out drinks, and then we inquired about the house salad. He said it was large enough to share and we should be fine, but never did he mention any of the entrees came with a side salad option, that was something we'd discover later on and end up feeling cheated over. He took off before we could even place our entrees, something that baffled and irritated my friend. After some unsuccessful attempts to get his attention since chatting with his fellow servers was more important, he finally came over and my friend said, "Can we place our orders now instead of having to wait? I'd like to place my entree order at the same time I place my appetizer order." and the waiter sighed and said, "ok, what you want?." A bit rude and unprofessional but anyway, it gets better. We place the order and at that point find out that a side salad was an option for a side. The measly salad arrives. This salad might be okay for 1 person (though at approximately $5.00 for what you get, it is rather steep, Outback and 90% of other restaurants call a house salad a bowl full of lettuce and other ingredients). My friend and I split it though we each barely got any, and found out there was no dressing. We relied on the oil and vinegar on the table, though it would have been nice to be advised if there were any other dressing options or if that was the only one. When my friend ran out of tea and asked, "Do you have free refills?" the waiter said, "Ok" and took our cups and returned. Later we found out that we were charged for these "free" refills. Nice. Our meals came. Meh. I was not impressed. A simple filet of fish with some rice and beans, for almost $20 - you have got to be kidding me. I have had the same or better at those somewhat cheap chain Cuban restaurants, like the Latin Cafe or La Carreta. Presentation was not there, flavors were not amazing, and the fish just was not fresh; it wasn't rotten or anything, but it wasn't fresh off the boat either. Like I said, it was okay but nothing impressive. We finished and our waiter came and said "Did your waiter ask if you want dessert or coffee?" Huh? I thought YOU were our waiter??! Anyway, we placed our dessert orders with Mr. I-am-not-your-waiter, and then got the bill, with his name on top, which confirmed the fact he was our waiter all along. This is the epic part though: underneath the total, he handwrote "TIP: $12.00". My friend thought this must be a joke, he had never seen a waiter automatically tip himself. Either you're given an option to tip at your discretion, or the restaurant adds a mandatory tip. Once he did the math, he noticed that the guy tipped himself not 15% or 18%, but 20%! My friend was outraged and crossed out that amount and put in a 15% tip. As we were leaving, we saw him waving his arms around in outrage as he showed his fellow waiter what my friend had tipped, and we decided to book it out of there before he could throw a fit. Surely, we won't be back and I advise you to drive further up to the Miami River and dine at either Garcia's or Casablanca instead, if you're seeking seafood. They're both very competitive, cost less than this place, have waterfront views, but will offer better service and presentation, along with fresher seafood. I'm sick and tired of places that think they can charge extra for mediocre food just because they're in a "ritzy" part of town, so I say thanks, but no thanks!
(2)Amanda F.
My family and I have been coming here for years on boat days. It can't get crazy packed at lunch time, so I reccommend coming a little earlier just to get a spot. I always order the rice with fish and I am never disappointed.
(4)George C.
Delicious shrimp creole, beautiful water view. Very nice atmosphere located at the end of key Biscayne. Highly Recommended.
(5)Cristina G.
Honestly, this place is not worth it. I went today with my family and we had the tostones with shrimp, which was alright but could have been much better by simply not skimping on shrimp. The shrimp were tiny compared to the ones in my linguine with shrimp. OH, the linguine with shrimp was extremely bland. I had to add massive amounts of black pepper and Parmesan cheese to it to make it edible. The shrimps were tasty, but not enough to salvage the dish. The only reason I gave this place another star is the view. It is rather lovely. I wouldn't recommend eating here though. I'd take my business elsewhere. Not worth the major bucks it asks for.
(2)Cesar S.
This is a wonderful restaurant in key Biscayne. I started with mixed ceville, follow with "paella" and finished with guava chescake. With a plus of a wonderful life music and an amazing view of a the bay. Everything felt just perfect!
(5)Brian C.
Returned here after having had a reasonable quality meal a few months ago. Today was a disaster. The waiter was miserable and the food extremely dry. We returned three meals and had something else. No apology or even a word from Mr Grumpy. The lemon slices were dry so I asked for fresh ones. He then brought a mountain of lemon slices as an insult. His name if you want to avoid him is Emilio. But the fault lies with the owner for not having quality control of the food or staff training. You pay for the view so bring your own food and eat outside. Much better value.
(1)Monica L.
This is the spot for fresh snapper!!! I loved my churrasco with Mixed rice and we also got the hog snapper which was the best fried snapper I've had. You get plastic water cups and not the nicest utensils but at least the food is great!
(4)Ozz B.
Best place to visit in town. Fresh food with a great ambience. Servers are amazing and the owner is always around to make sure everything is going great. The paella is a must try
(5)William L.
Place is a absolute garbage. None of our fish filets were fresh, texture was kinda rough, I know fresh quality when I taste it and the taste was horrendous. Don't expect "catch of the day" quality here. Moros tasted plain and old. Plaintains were cold. Ceviche was OK. Still was crappy. Everyone in my party felt sick afterwards. Must've been the fish. We had grouper and corvina. Price? Too expensive for what you get, totally not worth it. Stay away. Their upscale image with the water and boats next to it means nothing.
(1)Maurice W.
Terrible Friday night. Went there on a Friday night. It took about 20 minutes to be seated. Service was extremely slow. Waiter was a buff guy who never said his name. He looked like he didn't want to be there. He looks like he's better suited to work at golds gym. (The combination of the long table of kids and the guy performing made everything loud.) another guy initially gave us someone else's order. Lobster and shrimp asopera was decent. Cunch was decent. No follow up for our food (our table was in the middle of everything, across from the kitchen entrance, and there was only 2 of us.) bathroom had no tissue. The plus side is that the food was edible. No tip was given. Either the staff is ill equipped or the server tried his best to actively avoid me. I never want to come here ever again. Maybe this place is in the middle of no where for a reason.
(2)Marqus R.
The crowds here tend to be loud, somewhat unorganized and confusing. Every time I've been here there have been family parties going on with the consequence of kids running wild about the place along with a few individuals getting off the boats who have clearly overindulged in their choices of beverages. I can't say that much about the culinary artistry behind their food and though much of it might strike the average Miamian as ordinary, it hit me as out of the ordinary, unique, and with number of menu items which I haven't found elsewhere such as the "Fish Roe," "Fish Adobo" or "Chile Poblano with Crab Meat" appetizers. Also their "Grilled Florida Lobster with Shrimp Creole," "Lobster and Shrimp Asopado" and whole "Grilled Hog Snapper," which just happens to be my favorite of the snapper family. I only wish I had been able to try some of each, but on the good side of not having been able to do so, it gives me something to look forward to in the future. I had the fish ceviche which to my sense of taste seemed to have been marinated not in Persian or Key lime but either with a lemon or a lime/lemon mix. Whatever, it was a good serving, enjoyable and tasty. I also ordered the Hog Snapper, which though my waitress didn't think was available but later found out that it was. Fish are generally ordered small, medium, large or jumbo and priced as a "market price" depending upon size and selection. When my "hog" was served it was served whole except most of the head and gill areas removed, but since it was rather large, either done so it would fit on plate or maybe because the head of a hog snapper isn't exactly the most charming thing to look at. It was nicely scaled with skin sliced so as to prevent shrinkage wrinkling of the flesh, tasty and with a clearly fresh quality. Though I'd only go two stars for preparation and presentation, I'm going all the way up to four because of what was to me the uniqueness of their offerings, which are clearly representational of the broad based ethnicity and diversity of the Miami area; which for me constitutes much of the identity of what Miami is all about.
(4)Phoebe L.
Busy on weekends but perfect on week night. We (a group of four) ended up dining here both Sunday and Monday evening and it was two totally different experiences...but both wonderful. Service was great when it was busy and even better when it was quite calm. The paella was the best thing on the menu followed closely by the ceviche. While the whole fish was very fun and filling, there wasn't a lot of flavor to it. Key lime pie was just the right amount of sweetness to finish the meal. Be careful as the drinks are pricey but the food is worth it.
(5)Adriana A.
The service is very bad, they throw you the dishes to the table and and bring you what is not asked for. The only good thing is the view and location.
(1)Lina P.
Delicious place super chill and beautiful view. The snapper was to die. Paella, fish soup were amazing. Tostones were huge and great. They also serve the beer super super cold!!
(5)Oscar P.
Service, food, ambience are great. HIGHLY recommend. Manuel is great server. This place is at the edge if a beautiful marina
(5)Sunem N.
Never heard of this place until we went boating with our friends and they brought us here. We docked right up to the restaurant and were seated right away with a great water view. As we walked to our table every passing by plate locked amazing. There is so much variety it was very difficult to select what to eat. Our party of four started with shrimp filed tostones. Our waiter was so wonderful he thought our food was taking a little long (we didn't think so) but never less he brought us some shrimp and white fish ceviche on the house. We ordered the shrimp filled lobster, the pasta with shrimp and lobster and a extra large whole fried fish (big enough to share) with avocado salad, maduros, yellow rice, and extra tostones. Every plate was amazingly delicious. When we were complete stuffed and could take another bite, out waiter brings us a guava cheese cake and 2 espressos on the house! Could service be any better? Yes this place is pricy but the service, the fresh food, and water view are so worth it. Can't wait to come back and try some of the other items on the menu.
(5)Pat G.
The fried snapper (head on) was DE-YUMMY! Because I'm a bit finicky, my daughter kept the head facing toward her. The snapper was deep fried and oh so good. It was served with fried plantain and cole slaw. The plantain was just okay, as was the cole slaw. Our server was awesome, even giving my daughter a kiss on the cheek as we were leaving (she must have left a mighty big tip)! Great place to go after a day on the beach. Swimsuit (with cover, for me), shorts, comfort wear. And, to eat outside with a view of the water and boats was awesome. Just off of Bill Blagg Beach, suggest you try it.
(3)Nawal B.
I ordered lemonade, they brought me an 8 oz cup full of ice and said no refills. Upsetting!!! I understand if the cup was a full cup but really??? The rest of the food was not worth the calories or the cost. These people are not taking advantage of the location.
(1)Silvina S.
It was just ok. We were a big group and the service was pretty fast and our server was really nice but the food wasn't that great. The location was awesome though.
(3)Sherrie G.
Food was not edible. Service was terrible. Wouldn't recommend it at all. Beautiful location.
(1)Labella M.
not worth the money food is mediocre and service lousy only the view and when the bugs are eating you up.
(1)Juan G.
Fried whole Hog Snapper is awesome. Great views too. Add salt and lemon juice for a wow..
(4)Katie L.
Great time!!! We stayed overnight in No Name Harbor and came here for dinner. The party was poppin with middle aged people and we loved it! In between our food orders we would get up and dance with everyone. The staff and customers couldn't have been nicer! Their ceviche is AMAZING!!! I could have eaten five orders of that fish! The group went gaga over the Chocolate Mousse Cake. Seriously devoured that thing! Our server gave us complimentary cuban coffee at the end of our meal. Overall, an amazing evening!
(5)Daniel M.
This place was terrible! Terrible Friday night dining experience. Went there on a Friday night! I can't believe my friend actually gave this place two stars! The food was barely edible but I'll get to that in a second. It took forever for my friend and I to be seated as well as others as a big line piled up by the please wait to be seated sign... while servers stood around and did nothing.. didnt say a word to anyone and there where plenty of empty tables... non the less we still decided to wait. After about at least 24 minutes we were given one of the empty tables while others again waited. There did not seem to be any kind of host what so ever.. Our orders were taken pretty quickly however the server did a terrible job at explaining the food options and the menu. I was also confused at how they offered whole fished fried but you could only order a grilled fish fillet. The fried conch appetizer was decent.. that's it. When our food actually did come (which took a good amount of time) it wasn't the food we had ordered and the server who ended up being a different server than our original server looked confused asked his other little server buddies and proceeded to take those plates which had already been placed on our table to the right table. After another few minutes our food was bought out. My friends order was not what he wanted at all due to the poor explaining of the dish by our original server and was completely different than what he expected. I had ordered the rice and fries as sides but was given rice and beans however this was corrected and I was given a side of fries. The snapper fish filet did not taste anywhere close to fresh. The fish was really rough and basic. The rice, beans and fries were also really basic and bland. The beans tasted like they came from a can and the rice tasted like instant rice. The fries tasted soggy and all of the food had a weird smell. It was barely palatable. Other patrons around us also seemed very upset and bad vibes were strewn about everywhere. Non of the staff or servers checked up on us after receiving our meal. After we finally got the right food no one came up to our table for a good 20 minutes. It took a long time to get someones attention to simply get a water refill. The water was also served in these tiny plastic cups. Staff and servers stood around and acted as if they didn't not want to be there! It was obvious that they didn't care about hospitality and patronage. The bathrooms were very dirty and did not have any paper towels, toilet paper or soap!!!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!! It took forever to get the check and the meal was ridiculously priced! The fish filet and sides that were soooo basic and no where near fresh demanded a cost of $20. I usually always tip but no tip was given to this lousy place. I did not feel one bit bad about it. I'm not sure how this place still gets the business it does.The nice views of the water and prime location did nothing to make this place enjoyable. I would never recommend this place to any of my worst enemies ever in a million years!!!!!!! Do not eat here unless terrible, bland and not so fresh food is what you like accompanied by the worst service I have ever experienced in my entire life. This place should be shut down!
(1)Dan M.
I visit here often since I spend a lot of time on the water. I love the accessability of this restaurant, I love the view of our beautiful city, the food is fresh and great portions. I have eaten the snapper dinner, the lobster plate and breakfast as well. I have few issues, the staff is a hit or miss. Some servers are decent and some flat out suck. I have visited during a busy time and when there are only a few patrons and its the same. I also dont like the cheap ass chairs my ass sits on.
(4)A E.
To start off, the line to be seated took 45 minutes while there where empty tables, But I was able to enjoy the view of the opulent yachts in the bay. Once seated, my wife had to go get menus because we enjoyed 10 more minutes of the view. We ordered from the overpriced menu and enjoyed (timed) the view for 45 minutes more! The waitress came at the 30 minutes mark to ask if we wanted refill of our drinks... With my most Zen voice I said I would but with lunch... Ten more minutes and the food came. Hurray! Well.. The food was fresh and maybe OK but at $19.00 a plate for some fish, yellow rice molded in a cup and three Amarillos.. It does not cut the mustard! Come for the view.... But please go elsewhere unless you want service clocked with a calendar and not a watch.
(1)Steve B.
Worst service ever. We went on a slow day while there were 5 servers standing around. How is it possible to receive bad service? Food was tasteless as well. We won't be returning.
(1)Dennis M.
Excellent fresh fish, Snapper filet superb. Staff is friendly and quick. Long lines due to popularity. Don't pass this place up If you rather be by the ocean (beach) go to the Lighthouse Cafe just down the road, same ownership and equally as good.
(4)Sonia V.
We asked for snapper but we got sway instead. Sent it back. Fish croquettes were okay, nothing to brag about. Only one small ice cream scoop of mash. We asked for bottled beer and it came already I opened - refilled with draft? Very pricey for the quality and portions. Come for the view but don't expect much.
(1)Monica S.
For those seeking a sun-drenched, sea salt, crazy beautiful view and Cuban inspired experience, Boater's Grill is the respite to answer your prayers. I am forever a sucker for island-style ambiance and fresh products sourced directly from our waters, so Boater's Grill is naturally my habitat. To access by land (those lucky boaters can dock in style), you'll need to pay a toll to enter Bill Baggs state park. You'll likely find nature seekers, bikers and families taking in the wildlife that surrounds the grill. Once you hit the restaurant, you walk up a ramp to a top-floor experience that overlooks No Name Harbor. This is casual dining at its best and it's a quick win for the lunch crowd. On the given Saturday that I went, the line rolled down the ramp, so on those obviously gorgeous afternoons, plan to wait for a table. Once seated, the choice was an easy one: freshly caught whole snapper, nice and fried. The dish was enough to share between 2 people and the hunks of meat that pulled off the fish were perfectly paired with the dipping sauce. If you like to keep it simple, there's no better place for you.
(4)Alex L.
It was ok. I agree with some of the yelpers when they said service is not that great. Waiter didn't ask if we needed anything else after food came. We had to ask a couple of times to pls have our water pitcher refilled. We were 6 and it was really hot outside. Inside was all taken. I ordered the grilled snapper with a side house salad. The fish was a little bland like others have said. I squeezed lots of lime juice on it and added salt. The salad was blah. My bf said his asopado de camarones was good. We also ordered frituritas de bacalao. They were ok. And flan for dessert which I didn't try. Parking into the park which leads you into the restaurant is $8. Total for 6 adults was about $180. No drinks. Not sure if we'll return although the view is nice. Maybe during winter. During miami winter that is when it's a freezing 68 degrees!!!
(3)Emi T.
After a long day on the beach, we were starving. We had never been so far south on key biscayne before. Upon arrival, we fell in love with the view! The sun was setting so it was so beautiful and peaceful. I ordered the scallops in garlic sauce expecting it to be bigger scallop pieces but instead was the smaller kind. They were okay, but nothing special to be honest. Definitely would not come back to pay $20 for that. If I ever do come back, it would be to just enjoy the view.
(2)Eve C.
Last week my boss took a few colleagues and I on a lunch excursion away from our normal routine in Midtown. Without even a hint or clue, we were taken out to Bill Baggs state park and plopped down at Boater's Grill in No Name Harbor. I gotta say, I was all kinds of impressed. The drive out to the end of the Key was an adventure in its own, as the Sony Ericsson was just getting going. We had beaten the lunch rush, so a table for our rather large party was put together in seconds. I knew I had to have fish at this place, so I opted for the grilled filet of snapper, which came with 2 sides. I also shared an appetizer of crab cakes. The crab cakes were chock-full of crab meat, without too much breading or other filling. Served with what seemed like a romesco sauce, it was very tasty. My snapper was a tad overcooked, but still very tasty, especially with a few squirts of lime. The fries and salad on the side were nothing to write home about. Prices are a little steep, considering the $1.50 you have to pay to get on to the Key, and the $8 per car you have to pay to get into the park. But hey, I guess serenity has it's price. What really makes this place 4-star worthy is the location. You have an amazing view of a pristine, crystal-blue harbor, and can see all the boats pulling up, not to mention the Miami skyline on the horizon. On our way out, we saw some people chowing down on the lobster and the ceviche, both of which looked awesome. Next time, for sure!
(4)Gustavo A. L.
This one is strategically located smack dab in the middle of my long ride. We always come into the park and sit here to chill for a while before taking back to the road on our bicycles. A beer and some grub is always welcome, there are plenty of options to replenish the calories and fill the tank, if only the service wasn't so darn lackadaisical. If it is in fact true that the owners have put blood sweat and tears into this place... hire some waitstaff who gives a crap. This is a privileged location.... don't ruin it ..... please ....
(3)Ari P.
The paella was excellent and the service was better than expected for a casual, high chaos type of location. Great few, super-casual with intermittent service. Also, you have to pay to get into the state park in which the restaurant is located, but only until 5:30 or so.
(3)Juan S.
Mediocre food, service and prices. The best thing about this place is the view and that isn't even that great either. I'd pass and stop only if you're looking to stay in Bill Baggs park for awhile. Not recommended.
(2)Jim D.
Meh, needs some help. Fish and fries came out cold so we sent back. Fish came back OK, but fries still cold?? Server was a bit miffed at our complaint. Overpriced for what they serve. Seems more of a tourist/boater trap than anything. Check out elsewhere...
(2)Kristen M.
We went for a birthday celebration. The $8 they charge you to enter the park should be refunded if you're eating here. It's rather expensive for the mediocre food they serve and the food was cold. I had the fish fingers which I have def. had better & my bf had a cold palomilla steak. But the view is very very nice.
(2)Missus F.
Ambiance is great - but that is where it seems to end Went here for Sunday breakfast before taking my friend to Bill Baggs (this basically was mistake number one of the day LOL) We ordered Pancakes and scrambled eggs. We received, after 30 minutes, fried eggs and french toast. Apparently, you get what they felt like cooking, not what you wanted. Strike 1. Strike 2 was the fact the food was overcooked and cold (we did not want to wait another 30 minutes to receive corrected dishes so we ate what they brought. Strike 3 was killing the ants crawling on the table and chair - i know, it is exposed to the outside - but i am sitting 10 feet from the cooking area. We will NOT be going back.
(1)Maria A.
This place could be a microcosm of the good and bad of Miami. The words location, location, location have never meant more than when describing this place. It's situated on No Name Harbour inside Bill Baggs Park. More of a locals spot this hidden, picturesque place is well off the beaten path but right on the boated path. As boats drop anchor and hold up here for lunch and beers. The beers, I can see but the food isn't exactly fantastic think Cuban cafeteria on the water. It's clear that seafood is more their specialty and freshness isn't a problem here but overall this is not a foodie destination. Stick to the seafood and come with low expectations. You've been warned. Still, the service isn't great, the menu is anything but sophisticated, and overall, this place has so much untapped potential, yes it's Miami. Pretty but unrefined easy to like, difficult to love, frustrating cause it could be so much more and so much better, sad because you know it might never happen... This was a tough call between 2.5 and 3 but 3 won the day because we deserve more waterfront bars were you don't have to go through hoops, ropes, or doormen. You also don't have to worry about having to waste an hour of your life looking for parking or trading your first born in for the cost of a few drinks. Having said that this place could be cheaper.
(3)Patty ..
A great afternoon boating with friends in the Miami sun to No Name Harbor for a little lunch at Boater's Grill. After a quick wait in line we immediately ordered rounds or beer & sangria's, shrimp ceviches, 1-steak & salad, 1-fried red snapper that was AMAZING and 1-seafood paella which of course was super pipping hot and great! Who'd think this place would have such great food...I hope to be back. Just be prepared you can wait in long lines and docking can be a bit tricky.
(4)Julian B.
Fried Snapper is great here. Very big meals, and awesome Cuban sides. Sometimes they play salsa and the waiters start dancing on the tables. Really nice ocean-side view and not too expensive either.
(4)Lidia C.
Zero complaints - the fried fish was delish and my mahi fillet, blackened, was sooooo good. Have their moose chocolate cake - epic. Enjoy! Go by boat or car :)
(5)Lorely B.
From someone who loves the setting of Scotty's but is oh so tired of the "blah" food of the like, I was pleased to hear there was another spot with as great a view and, egad, better food? I have to try this place! So off we went.... Even though the "mosquito meter" at the entrance said there were plenty of human-sized critters, we were still excited to try it out. This is a cute spot, with a lovely view and a "Scotty's" feel. If I would've though about it a bit more, I would've waited til December to come here as it's a little toasty to say the least. Yes, there are fans, but still! Ok, so we had a few beers, and started off with the tostones w/shrimp in creole sauce. They were quite tasty! The shrimps come on the size, and they are little teeny weeny shrimpies, but they are still pretty tasty. They also have a nice, fresh ceviche too - good for this time of a year... A couple of beers more and on to or main course! I had the Lobster Festival Special, which is lobster topped with shrimp creole (same little shrimpies from earlier). This was a nice combo, and it was $19.99 vs. the $33 my hubby paid for a whole fried fish. Beware of prices kids!!! It's yummy, but pretty overpriced with avg service, unfortunately.... Dessert was cascos de guayaba with cream cheese, can't go wrong with that!!!! Overall, enjoyable... But for the price, maybe just stick to scotty's - you know what you're gonna get - cheap food, drinks and a fantastic view!! I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the bill for 5 ppl... Think they forgot there are plastic chairs!!!!
(3)Pelle B.
This is a great place for Lunch or Dinner if you are on Key Biscayne. The staff was extremely friendly. We went for lunch and didn't want to try the humongous fried snapper. So my wife opted for the Adobo de Pescado, which were fried fish chunks. I had the Ropa Vieja, which I have to say is the best Ropa Vieja I've tried in Miami. Who would have thought it? It's obviously more expensive than what you'll see in the mainland, but you know not excessive.
(5)Marilyn M.
Very casual place. Very beautiful relaxing view especially at sunset. Servers are very friendly and the food is delicious
(4)Kitty H.
I visited BG on a Sunday afternoon. Service was slow and the food was bad. The only thing I recommed is the fried whole snapper everything else was yuck .... This is a cafeteria by the water. Will not be returning there.
(1)d d.
BG's setting is wonderful. No Name Bay is beautiful. I love sitting on the deck watching the boats and the bay. We've eaten at BG 3 times. The first time was great. The food and service were good. The second time, the food was ok. The third time, the food was better but the service was eh. We usually get one of the grilled fish, a salad, and the black beans/rice. It's nice to have a sparkling water or a glass of white wine in the afternoon too. Ask for the garlic sauce on the side. The second time, our tilapia was drenched in it. It's good stuff, but not that much of it. It is unique that a place like this (a restaurant in a state park on a bay) has such good, fresh food. Usually, these kinds of places do hush puppies, hot dogs, and fries, and nothing else. BG goes beyond the Sysco truck, and provides a nice ambiance and tasty, fresh seafood. Also, there are plenty of options to keep visitors from overseas happy. Vacationers seem to enjoy themselves quite a bit here. The beverage choices and the menu have enough variety, that just about anyone can get what they need/want.
(4)Usu I.
I come here for the fried fish, it's reallllly good! However, that's about it. I don't care for the loud atmosphere, the lack of air condition (in the summer), mosquitos, drunk people, etc. It could be more fun, if I were still in college. If I visit this place on a cool night with a much smaller crowd, i'd be happy. (that's just personal I guess) Waiting for a table is usual here and lack of organization is too. The service is never the same when you come here, and I have been plenty of times. There is so much chaos that it really depends on which waiter you end up getting. Whatever, order a fried red snapper, and you almost forget the world around you; it's delicious and the best in Miami. For the price, I expect excellent service. I recommend dressing for the beach to keep cool. This place is better in smaller groups less than 5 people.
(3)Hilary G.
I experienced a few 'firsts' at Boater's Grill: my first paella, my first conch fritter, and my first maduro. Each of these firsts were memorable and delicious, especially when paired with the beautiful backdrop of No Name Harbor. The staff is friendly, the seafood is solid, and I literally crave their paellas. Go with sandy feet, go on a saturday night, GO for an all-around memorable experience.
(5)Nikki B.
For one... we couldn't find the place. I suppose that's fine since it seems to be a local-style grubbery but... The location, lovely. Though it was a bit on the chilly side when I went (yes, cold fronts even come through Miami) and while the whole outdoor dining room was shivering, the staff didn't get the hint and didn't bother to drop down the plastic walls. Well, no, they dropped one down, and everyone cheered, but all it did was make it windier, and they didn't drop any more. The food.... I expected better. If you like your ceviche well-done... go ahead and order it. If you don't like soggy onions and tough, chewy fish.... The smoked fish spread was pretty good though! We also ordered the crab-meat stuffed poblano chile. It was... okay. The pepper was kind of soggy and the presentation could have been tighter (ie, splashes of sauce around the rim of the plate, if you're the sort of person to be bothered by that). The crab was average I'd say. We then ordered the yuca mojo.... except we never got it. We sat waiting, with nothing in front of us, for our waiter to either a. bring the dish or b. tell us why it was taking so long, but all he did was give other people their checks or awkwardly wander around. He then, after a long time, gave us our check. We didn't even bother to mention we didn't get our dish. The pricing is.... odd. A bottle of Presidente was $5.75! We also noticed that mozz sticks cost more than a hamburger... I don't want to know what kind of hamburger they serve... Good live music though! The gentleman did a nice job at serenading us. So, brownie points for the atmosphere, not so much for the service, food, and pricing. There are plenty of other places around Miami that would do better.
(2)Bryan G.
Boater's Grill is a classic. I've been for both a gut-bomb brunch and for dinner. The food is good, not exceptional, but good. For brunch I had the eggs, ham, and cuban bread. That bread is great, although when you get to the end you realize you ate a whole baguette of buttery, pressed, goodness in one sitting. If you ride a bike there then you can better justify it. The kid's ordered sweets with french toast and pancakes. Pancakes were average while the french toast was really good. For dinner, I've generally had the paella. How can you not when it's probably one of their specialties and you're sitting right on the water! The paella has always been good. It's full of yummy seafood and not drowned out by too much rice. What makes B Grill a four-star is definitely the location. You can't beat being on the water and surrounded by nature. It automatically relaxes you. There are many places in South Florida on the water but they usually have too many TVs, boats and jetskis, and goofy frozen slurpy beverages served up in Carnival Cruise worthy keepsake glasses. Boater Grill is light years away from that...
(4)Eva R.
It gets 3 because of the view, otherwise it will get less. The food was just ok, and nothing special.
(3)Johana I.
Another beautiful day in gorgeous Miami with sunny weather. A perfect day to be on the boat...... UNTIL someone thinks it's a good idea to go to this place. Yuck and gross! I don't get why 1. It has gotten more than 2 stars 2. anyone would think this is such a good restaurant. Any place you stop to eat when out in the sea is usually good. Not this one.... It's super ghetto. You drive up and see all the other boats thinking there are cooking up some good food. The closer you get the more it smells like fried fish in old oil. Just because they serve you a fried fish with it's head, doesn't mean it has to be good. PLUS, just because they're serving you fish next to the ocean, doesn't mean that it has to be good. The menu's smells really bad. I'm glad someone else also noticed that. All of the chinaware and smallware are cheap. You get plastic cups,etc. The patacones and fries were cold and stale tasting. The only good thing about the ceviche was the red onions in the acidy lime juice! No one was going for the fish. Last but not least, $150 for four people. Cheap, smelly, not great food. You don't even get a great view. Ahh, and bad service. They need to turn on the fans, too. Blah. Let's just say I hope this is the last time anyone wants to make a stop at this place.
(1)Michael C.
This place is about the location. The service is mediocre. Tried to order the fish spread and was actual told that it was not recommended today. What is that supposed to mean? The prices are way to high to be sitting in plastic chair for mediocre-sub par food.
(1)A G.
Being a Florida native and fisherman/boater and one that likes off beat, hole-in-the-wall places I thought this place would be right up my alley, NOT!! Places like this may be short on comfort, but should be good when it comes to authentic atmosphere and food, not the case here! Food quality was so so, portions were small, and service was inattentive, 3 items on the menu were not available that night, "sorry, we are out of that." I would say the fish was fresh for I am pretty good at being able to tell if its more than a day old, but honestly, if I were the owner there is so much more I would offer to allow patrons to walk away satisfied and feeling like they had just sampled some old Florida charm and recipes. We got there after the park closed so thank goodness we didn't have to pay the $8 park fee, that would have surely added to the dissappointment. So I say, Skip Boaters Grill and find another off beat hole in the wall and write about it. The search goes on!
(2)Kris B.
overpriced, bland seafood. slow slow service. only saving grace was the view of the bay until two engines simultaneously turn on and blast your eardrums. don't let the crowd fool you. the food and service do not warrant the prices had shrimp ceviche (cooked cocktail shrimp with lime and cilantro) crab cakes were mostly breadcrumbs.
(1)Whitney R.
I give this place three for the food, but I would give it five for the view at Sunset. This might be the only place in Miami where you can watch the sun fall over the water. I went here after an afternoon of the beach and Jimbo's. The fresh fish is delicious, and this is a fun little place to take out of towners. It is really off the beaten path, and perfect for a sunset dinner. Just make sure they like seafood!
(3)Nicole C.
This place is great if you want to grab some grub after a day of fun in the sun. You can get there by car or boat, but docking your boat can be a bit of a challenge if it's a nice day and everyone else has the same idea you did. The wait to be seated, as well as service, can be lengthy as well. The food is ok, mediocre at best. But, if you're looking for a chill place to watch the sunset and grab a bite, this is a decent little spot.
(3)Chris K.
Not bad but don't expect much. Simplicity is the name of the game here. Basically a nice shack on the water inside the harbor. Great for boaters passing by. I expected more of a view though but since it's in the back of the harbor, you don't get much other than the harbor itself. For the food, just keep on going if you don't like seafood. Seriously. And I don't mean fancy dishes. I mean a whole fish - head and tail included - grilled, fried, etc. and served on a platter. The service was decent but not impressive. The prices were hefty, and don't forget to add the $8 park entry fee. I probably wouldn't go here again but if you're in the park and you're hungry, there's only two choices (other than joining someone's bbq, which I considered) so it's worth going to once. A nice, relaxing over-priced meal with a peaceful view. Next time I'm in the park, I'll probably go to the lighthouse cafe.
(3)A. L.
Love this place... except on weekends when it's packed. It's a simple place but the food is good, the portions are big and the staff is friendly. Go on a weekday and look out for dolphins in No Name Harbor.
(4)Rafael S.
It's the Keys in the middle of Miami... Best truly casual place in Miami. Go for the Stone Crabs (in season), the battered fried fish, calamari, whole fried snapper and the like. Nice sangria and very friendly attentive service. Have fun: its not fine dining, but a great location and the No Name Harbor view. Bring your out of town viistors here, they will enjoy it (in shorts).
(4)Nathaly C.
I finally found this place after searching for it for a couple of years. I came here with some friends a while back and had the giant perfectly fried fish in mind since. My boyfriend and I found it yesterday and that fried fish was even better than i remembered! The portions for sides were a bit small, especially the rice and beans you'll most likely need to order two of each unless you're like me and just want to eat the giant beautiful fish that melts in your mouth. My boyfriend and I shared the "large" yellow tail snapper ($35), a couple of sides ($12+), and a pitcher of Sangria ($25). Over all the best part of the meal was my beloved fried fish although the Sangria made the whole experience a lot more fun. Very nice atmosphere, relaxed, outdoor dining on the water.
(4)Jessica M.
Oh Boater's Grill.....what a disappointment. You have so much potential but I guess when you have such a gorgeous view, you don't really have to pay attention to your food. I have to say they were able to accomodate our large party of 17 fairly quickly. They have a tiny indoor space which we were able to take over. To be fair, service was pretty good for such a large party. The 2 stars have to do specifically with the food. We started off with 3 orders of conch fritters. Of the 3 I ate, I didn't detect one bit of conch. Fail #1. The conch fritters were served with marinara sauce, not cocktail sauce. We asked the server for cocktail sauce and he said they do not carry it. What kind of seafood restaurant doesn't have cocktail sauce? Fail #2. My boyfried and I decided to share a whole fried fish. For $34, I expected a hot, juicy, tender red snapper. Not so. What we got was a room temp, dry fish, which I had to squeeze no less than 4 pieces of lime and salt generously to get any flavor. I got a better fried snapper at the sketchy Cacique's Corner next to my office for $9.99. Fail #3. There also seems to be an inconsistency when it comes to serving sizes. Some of our dining companions ordered red snapper filets, which were quite generous in size, but of the 3 who ordered mahi, one filet was huge while the other two were barely the size of my palm. Fail #4. On a positive note, I did taste the red snapper filet which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I also tasted the kid's fish fingers which were good. I wish this place was better. I want to like it because its a nice place to spend an afternoon after the beach. I hope the food improves because like I said before, it has so much potential. I wish the menu was more seafood shack instead of pretend fine-dining.
(2)Peter M.
Located on the water in the No Name Harbour on the bay side of Bill Baggs State park. The food sure beats the concession stands at the park. Cold beer and the frog legs are excellent. Nice place to stop if you are out boating on the bay.
(4)Michael S.
My wife and I went for a sunset drink. The place was packed and the staff was overwhelmed. We only had beers and calamari. The beer was warm and the calamari tasted like rubber bands. This was our worst experience here in the twenty or so times we have visited. Maybe if it was less crowded it would have been better??
(2)Erica U.
If I could give a zero, I would. We came here on a recommendation by the toll booth girl (which we should've taken as a grain of salt), but went there nonetheless. Our waiter come 3 times, once to get our order for drinks, entrees and to clear our plates. We ran out of water and had to ask another waiter for this and that took over 10 mins. When the bill came, I was ready to leave, but it took over 15 mins to get my bill back and our waiter didn't even give any eye contact or say anything pleasant. If I'm going to pay $18 for a really bad pasta dish and $22 for lobster, I expected a little more than what we got. You can't just expect a 20% tip, you have to work for it like everyone else does. Worst service EVER!!!!!!!!!!
(1)Narine M.
It was an amazing adventure just boating to the restaurant (I'm a city girl ). The food was really good but the ambiance and view was great! I will make a trip there again the next time I'm in south beach again!
(5)Trina R.
Waaaaaay over priced! This place is more expensive than Disney world or Atlantis for that matter. It's like a Cuban restaurant trying to be a seafood place. First of all they should have some sort of misters for the insane heat or maybe more fans. They brought a sangria that has no fruit in it? Basically wine with ice. They brought a paella with rice that cost $28! It was tiny!!!! With 28 I could have made my own paella to feed the entire restaurant! I ordered the conch fritters which came with fries that are worse than any fast food restaurant. The only thing good about this place is the view. I hope I never have to come back.
(1)A C.
Very good casual eating. Seafood done well( not over cooked!)
(5)Maria F.
We threw my mother a surprise birthday party at Boater's on Oct. 15 and it couldn't have gone better. The owner, Reina, helped me plan the menu for 15 people and we thought everything was delicious. From the ceviche, conch friiters, and salmon fish spread as appetizers to the seafood paella, lobster, and whole fried red snapper for main dishes with an assortment of sides--we couldn't have asked for better. Boater's has a rustic, comfy feel with a great view. And the service we got was amazing on this special day. I highly recommend it for both a special occasion or a casual night or weekend outing. It was a great day.
(5)Andres A.
Really good fried fish, super casual place. It is right next to a marina and inside a park. The "tostones" are the best. Don't miss the key lime pie. After lunch / brunch go for a walk around the mangroves.
(4)N. B.
Not a formal review, but just wanted to say that I dont really know how "Afghan" is associated with this place. Doesn't seem to have any food from Afghanistan, so...probably a mistake I guess. Just so others dont get their hopes up like I did!
(3)Carol C.
I would have given this place 2 stars if it wasn't for the fact that this place's overall rating on here is WAY too high. Is it possible that I'm the only person that had a table full of smelly menus, felt instantly poor when I first checked out the menu, had the waiter that didn't want to be there nor knew how to speak English and had overcooked fish? I went with a group of 5 on what's been the most beautiful day of the year, so far. The day was sunny, the sun started setting while we were there, and the breeze was crisp. But nothing about my surroundings could distract me from the overpriced menu selections and shotty service. Perhaps my expectations threw me off but remember, I wasn't alone. I had seen this place while at Bill Baggs recently but hadn't heard much about it and now I know why. Our friends gathered to enjoy a casual meal outside in the perfect weather. The plastic chairs, worn wood floors, plastic window coverings, and plastic water cups screamed casual. I wanted to have crab cakes and the best grouper sandwich ever but instead was faced with $10 conch fritters and $30 paella, and $17 fish dishes. Others on Yelp describe this as a Cuban cafeteria on the water. Let's just say that I've been to cafeterias much better than this. When the most popular dish in the joint is the fried fish you might stop to think that almost anything tastes great fried and so, it might be the only thing edible here. They've learned to overcook everything - scallops, tilapia, sea bass, and mahi-mahi. Apparently, the salmon wasn't so bad. Even the maduros were overcooked! Not fried-at-the-tips overcooked, chewy-hard-and-inedible overcooked. I never thought I'd meet a maduro I didn't like. In sum, we all left with empty wallets and half hungry from the uneaten food. I'm not quite sure how wealthy Key Biscayne residents enjoy it here. Even with money to spare, I'd want to go elsewhere. For the many views this area offers, it's not worth it. If you go to find out for yourself, remember to tell them you're going to the restaurant at the guard gate. It'll save you $8. And I'll let you all know if I open up affordable top-notch fish sandwich shack on the other side of the inlet. Guaranteed it won't be hard to steal all their business.
(1)Ramon C.
How I actually ate at this place is beyond me. I think this was my 3rd or 4th meal in a span of 2-3 hours. I ordered tostones stuffed with shrimp. Unfortunately it was tostones with a side of shrimp creole. Menu advertising fail. However the sangria was good and it was hot out so it was win. I would definitely come back for lobster or other seafood and when I haven't eaten 4 times in one day. The location is really nice as it overlooks No Name Harbour. After lunch you can go for walk around the park to help your digestion. :)
(3)Debi M.
We agree with many yelpers. We rated the place a 4 for the view and a 2 for the food. Also people were smoking right next to us. Our waiter was not friendly.
(3)Rob C.
came for the whole local catch fish -- shared a fried snapper bigger than my arm. goes well with an ice cold Presidente. service not the best, and you don't come for the ambiance despite being by the water, but you do come for a plain deep fried fish with lime and simple sides. (it's inside the park to the right, $5 car entrance fee)
(4)Dddavid G.
So, admittedly I know the owners at Boater's Grill. I know the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this place so if you're looking for an unbiased review of this place, you're not going to find one here. Having said that, there are plenty of ways to maximize your chances at a great experience. For example, if you visit the restaurant on a saturday or a sunday, at say, 2:30 or 3 pm, be ready to wait, in the sun, for at least an hour at times (that's gotta say something about the food, no?) before sitting down. The staff will be surly and the kitchen will be doing it's best to just keep up with the orders flying in. So, when's the best time to go to Boater's Grill? Weekdays. Yup. Weekdays. Head down right after work, say 6-ish and experience one of the most killer sunsets Miami has to offer. The restaurant won't be very busy and you'll have the staff's undivided attention. If you absolutely must go on a weekend, I'd probably say that yeah, you're best bet would be to still go somewhere around sunset. There will be a lull in the crowd and the second shift of waiters will be coming in. Also, and this is the biggest thing to keep in mind. Order seafood. Order one of their six different paellas (for as many people as you need!). Order the whole fried snapper. Order the grilled lobster. I've taken a trillion people here and never once has the seafood disappointed. Why anyone would go to a Cuban seafood restaurant and order say, the pasta, is beyond me. That shits only there to placate vegetarians and children (no offense to either). What do Cubans know about making pasta? Just order a beer, some fish croquettes (made in-house, super amazing), maybe a shrimp ceviche and enjoy the vibe.
(4)Max C.
I give this place high marks based more on the ambiance than the food. It's fun, festive and certain dishes are good. Sure, some of it is over priced and the napkins are about as useful as the plastic chairs that you sit in are comfortable, but forget about those minor details and go there to enjoy the setting. If you stick with the core: tostones, a grilled filet of local fish and key lime pie, then it's fintastic. The Fried snapper is really tasty and if you get the larger portion share it with your partner and you'll enjoy it even more. Note, the gnats can be a nuisance so be prepared if you have sensitive skin.
(4)Sarah A.
Very laid back and casual. Not the place to go if you're in a hurry. Also, you have to pay $8 to get into the State Park, but it is only $4 if you come later in the day. The food ok and the service was terrible. The Key Lime pie is the best, which about makes up for its other pitfalls. It has a great atmosphere with all the boats docked out front because you can anchor the boat and come ashore to eat. They even had live beachy/island music.
(3)Joe M.
Two stars for location. Service wasn't bad, but the quality of the food was abysmal. I'd agree with other reviewers who ventured that the owner is running down the clock on a lease. Bottom line: the beauty of the location far surpasses the food, service and attitude fom the staff. I have worked in restaurants for years, and I never send food back. I did here. Overall, the food on the Key isn't so special ...barring Costa Med, which is excellent. However, Costa Med doesn't have the stunning view of No Name Harbor. If you go to the Boater's Grill, order the whole fish. While waiting for my food to come back, I overheard a local say "Get the whole fish. It's the only way to go, here."
(2)Debra R.
Saturday night after the Super Moon we tried the BG for the 1st time. Will never go again. Maitre D was no where to be found so went looking but then was told to go back and wait in line that was now longer. Open tables but we could not sit at them. Waitress said the shrimp creole were large and flavorful-NOT they were medium size at best with no seasonings. Just poured tomato sauce over them with a few peas and served. Salad on plate but no dressing except oil and vinegar, black beans had zero flavor. No waitress to fill up water. The setting is wonderful and with proper management, this restaurant could be a gem.
(1)Jeannie J.
I was tempted to give Boater's Grill 5 stars!! I love this place. Nothing fancy, not pretentious, just simple Cuban food on the water. Great fresh fish and the tostones are the best I've ever had (and I've tried a few in my time). n.b., very casual - - think bathing suit or shorts and flip flops.
(4)Gretel T.
The experience at this restaurant pushed me to make a decision to never buy a Groupon deal again. Where should I start with this one?...lets say that if Chef Ramsey ever came to this place he would have a heart attack. As I've said in my other reviews, I rate the restaurants based on 4 main categories: food, service, cleanliness and flexibility. We arrived at Boater's Grill to be welcomed by a horrendous smell of sewage waste mixed with mangroves. The setting up of a restaurant in this location was an epic failure. The smell was a huge turn off. We were greeted by an extremely rude and at the same time overly and inappropriately friendly waiter. The place was dirty everywhere, which instantaneously made me suspicious of the food coming out of the kitchen. The service was also extremely slow. The waiter was out of place by questioning our desire to share a plate. The menu was overpriced (average plate $18) taking into consideration the quality and amount of food served. But the biggest shock of the day was the food. Oh! the food was soooooo bad! I'm even including a picture of the fish we ate. A seafood restaurant that cannot properly cook fish should just close its doors immediately. The fish was under seasoned and extremely greasy, obviously previously frozen and not fresh. Additionally, the plate presentation was nonexistent. Needless to say that my Malaysian friend who came with us to this restaurant, and my husband, suffered from a stomach ache the rest of the day. My recommendation, PLEASE avoid this place.
(1)Lynn C.
A few Yelp menu faves were not available. Conch croquettes were okay. Fried red snapper was a winner, as many Yelpers already testified. Wait staff was rather brusque. The flan was so-so. A friendly waitress or two would really make a difference in the experience!
(3)Josie M.
Not many places left in Miami where you can go for a nice casual meal on the water. Food is good service ok but the feel by the ocean is great. We went on our boat with a few friends and totally enjoyed ourselves. Such a shame there are not more places like this. Tried of the over priced seafood. Try The fried whole snapper it's great so is the grilled fish.
(4)Alex R.
Got there and sat at the terrace and waited.. And waited... I was then told I had to move because there was no service for two people at that location. I was moved to the back of the restaurant. I then waited another 20 minutes without acknowledgement. I finally ordered the food and when it arrived it all tasted bland and "generic". At some point an employee was smoking two feet away from our table. It gets two stars because of the location and the view.
(2)Kate S.
$13 for a half pitcher of Sangria. A delicious avocado salad. A piece of guava cheesecake. Serious lusting over the whole cooked fishes passing you by to other tables... Not to mention that lovely view.... It's simple. It's lovely. I liked it here.
(4)Carlos D.
The food was not fresh and to greasy! It had a wired stale smell. We couldn't eat it.. The waitress saw that we did not touch our food but didn't seem interested in knowing why. The view and the location are great though but what's the point if you cant eat the food?
(1)Jeb S.
Possibly the worst meal I have ever been served. To think someone had killed a fish to be served this way is a crime. Horrible, inedible food. I have no idea how anyone would ever come back a second time. Hopefully someone else will re-open this restaurant.
(1)Ursula P.
Great location, especially for boaters. Rustic atmosphere. The whole, fried Red Snapper was too die for. The Tostones with garlic/oil sauce were crispy and tasty. Try the fish ceviche for starters. Top it all off with a pitcher of Sangria.
(4)Joe P.
Had another good experience here. Went on a bike ride in Key Biscayne with my gf. Stopped here on the scenic route. Awesome little place on a cove full of boats. Seems like enough people know about it but not too too many. It was packed but I didn't feel overwhelmed. It was chill but also with a party atmosphere. People were partying on their boats and we were drinking on the deck of the restaurant. We stayed for awhile and had a nice time. I'd go back.
(4)Melanie A.
Let's just say...ew ew and more ew. I hate to be this blunt but the food is horrible. Mediocre doesn't even begin to describe. First of all, we boated here so we came through the back and the whole staff were running around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off. Only a few of them even spoke broken English, how delightful. We went to the front and told them it was 4. They all looked confused. Finally someone came over and said we need to "wait our turn" yet no one was waiting around us? a few minutes later someone else saw us waiting and just decided to seat us. I ordered the langoustines, my fiance first chose the salmon pasta but then changed his order to the lobster and shrimp fra diavolo, our guests order the whole fried snapper to share. Of coooourse the server messed up the order and brought the salmon pasta instead. Then we told her it was wrong and miraculously 2 minutes later she brought the fra diavolo. First of all, the langoustine shell would not even peel off!!! I should have known this was a horrible sign!!!!! I had to use my hands to peeeeel off the shell and it took a great deal of force to do so. This is one of my favorite dishes and I have never experienced the shell not coming off. They were un-edible. Saying that my taste-buds were not satisfied doesn't begin to describe it. My fiance tried one and was like "how did you eat this!?" His lobster and shrimp was OK but I mean how can you mess that up???? The whole fish I heard was good but I did not try it. Let's just say we will never be back here again.
(1)Adam C.
For mostly fried food, this place takes forever. The waiters have the typical Miami "ees no my yob" look, as they snack away while serving food.
(2)Anastacia B.
Boater's Grill is exactly what it appears to be. A no frills plastic tables, chairs, and cups back porch restaurant tucked away on the water in the Bill Braggs park. There are tons of families, noise, bugs, waits, and Presidente beer. I say bugs because seating is primarily outside and some other reviewers seemed surprised that there was nature involved with their outdoor dining experience. So you know you are eating in a State Park! There was a wait and yes between the loud music and crowd things were a little chaotic. Finally we were shown our table and my sister ordered the Florida lobster which turned out to be the best deal in Miami at $21. I ordered the grilled snapper and it was probably the best piece of fish I'd had in a long time. I did watch lots and lots of platters of the whole fried fish come out of the kitchen and that is definitely what I will order next time. It looked amazing. I suggest finishing your meal with a piece of the homemade guava cheesecake and a Cuban coffee.
(4)Joy G.
Best fresh fried fish ever, the croquettes are my favorite.
(5)Lauren S.
So expensive and so not worth it! Quality of food is poor for seafood and quantity is ridiculously small for the cost. I won't be eating there ever again. As the years have gone by, it gets worse and worse. It has become a tourist trap and all I can say is poor tourist. You can def' get great seafood and view in so many other places in Miami.
(2)P V.
Don't bother stopping here other than using the bathroom. Ordered crab cakes that looked liked my dogs wet food shaped into a circle with a secret sauce. Others ordered the calamari which were confused for onion rings. The conch fritters were ok. Very expensive for quality that you get. Better food at a rest stop off if turnpike.
(1)Adrian P.
Over rated To long of line, slow service. Nice to pull up on boat, but staff needs to get with it, not to mention chef
(2)Seth W.
Boater's Grill is all about the view. I love looking out over NNH and watching the boats and forgetting that I'm 10 minutes away from downtown. The strategy is to keep your standards low - "Tourist Trap" level in fact, because as remote as Boater's Grill seems to be, they probably don't have to rely on much return business. I was pleasantly surprised by the service during my last visit. We were a table of 4 and had to wait 10-15 for a table. A waiter asked if we would like to order some drinks while we stood at the top of the stairs. That simple gesture (up-sell) set the tone for the afternoon and made all the difference. I find the food to be at least decent. The value is poor, but the view of a railing-side table is worth it to me.
(3)Magda N.
What a disappointment! My husband and I wanted a seaside fresh fish location but this was not the place!!! The seaside but the food and service .
(1)Maria Elisa M.
Nice view of No Name Harbor. As a consession, quality and flavor don't seem to be a priority. Worst crab cake ever, greasy calamari. Cold beer and that's about it. Come for the ambience but don't expect good food.
(1)Courtney K.
Boater's Grill is a great place if you are looking for casual, no frills, not in a hurry, enjoy the weather and nice view sort of place. I've eaten here for lunch twice, both times I went in my bathing suit and cover up. I would highly recommend the whole fried fish, ceviche, and sangria. If I'm not mistaken, the fish comes with patacon (fried plantain patty), but if it doesn't, order that with it. Some people who have written reviews for this restaurant seem to have been expecting it to be something that it is not. It is not fine dining; it is simply a casual restaurant on the water with a nice view, fresh seafood with a cuban influence, and cold drinks. I recommend it.
(4)Ash D.
Fish fish fish... Fried snapper... Delish! View is breathtaking... beer garden is a new addition on the first floor.. If you take your boat up there get there early and tie up and take a dip before dinner... The water is gorgeous and Crystal clear. Docking is $8 , pay in a provided envelop .
(4)Alex B.
I love this place! Such a nice spot to have a nice meal with a view and the food is great. Fresh seafood everyday.
(5)Chris R.
Though it is never safe to assume. I am going to give my assumption a shot at saying I do not doubt the food is as good as the service. Nothing like walking up to a place and not knowing exactly where the entrance is. Go in on one side and see a sign that says "line on the other side." A buddy and I proceed through the dining area. We get in line behind one couple. No greeter. No employees saying anything. Just a sign saying wait in line. After 10 minutes or so a few more people join the line. Still nothing from an employee. A few more minutes and a group of 6 show up to stand in line. Finally, a greeter shows up and decides to take the group of 6 before anyone else without even asking who is next or how many in each party. The group of 6 hopefully spilled something all over themselves for even going in front of any of us already in line as well. I am glad we decided to take our money elsewhere. I am sure the wait to order and wait for food would have been miserable. One bright side... decent view.
(1)Astrid P.
We paid more than 40$ for a fish over cooked and burned. It's pitiful ! I never will be come back.... I think only drink a glass of water to look the view.
(1)Alissa W.
We were boating and stopped here for lunch. The service took forever the guy told our group of 6 that two more minutes for our food that took another 15. I ordered a chicken Cesar salad the is a mix of Cuban food, and fried food. The place is outside so many wasps fllying around our table. Finally my salad came I turned over the lettuce to add the dressing they put in a plastic container on the side when a dead large fly was on the lettuce. This didn't just fly in my salad it was dead the kind you see when you don't wash lettuce. The place is dirty, and gross. I don't think we will be stopping on the boat again to eat here again that is for sure!
(1)Maxine V.
Really bad. No A/C, completely outside. The air smelled fishy (from the open air kitchen). It was loud. The service was slow. The sangria was not a sangria at all, some lame concoction of wine and who-knows. The crab meat burger was flavorless. I would not have known it was "crab" if you had not told me. I suspect it was really fake crab...which I hate. My dad has seafood linguini, which was equally bland. The view is unimpressive. You have to pay $8 just to even drive through the park to the restaurant. Everything was totally and utterly sub par. Even the park sucked. In addition to all of this there was only one dirty restroom for each gender. NEVER COME HERE.
(1)Nad M.
I love dining at Boater's Grill. The food is consistently delicious. I especially like the fresh seafood. The setting on the water, coupled with the live music makes for a fantastic Miami experience.
(5)Elizabeth G.
Great place, great location! The whole fried fish is spectacular, and everything we had was excellent, hot and fresh. Good pork chunks, excellent black beans. It's a lively place with a lot of families, fully bilingual, friendly, efficient staff (who are attentive but don't hurry you) and food that is a combo of Florida fried style and Cuban. The mango cheesecake is delicious! Eat on the deck and enjoy the view. I never give 5 stars, so I'm giving it the best rating I give!
(4)Jenna M.
So much fun! Live music & great ceviche... I was a happy camper. We anchored in No Name Harbor for the night and ate at Boater's Grill for dinner. We had a great time dining and dancing. The service was also amazing. I can't wait to return!
(5)Ricky B.
My friend and I arrived here with the intention of ordering a simple burger and beer. Walking up to the restaurant from the parking lot, there is no obvious entrance or signage leading us to the correct entry. We walked around to the other side to see if it might be there and ended up just walking up the stairs to the dining balcony which then greeted us with a sign at the top saying "Line on other side". The dining balcony is an outdoor setting which overlooks No Name Harbor, a nice view. The ambiance was decent and casual, with tables and plates being "no frills" which seemed just fine for our mission. After falling in line behind a couple, we waited 10 minutes before someone ever came up to greet any of us. By this time, an elderly couple had joined the queue as well and just moments before the waiter came up, a family of about 6 got in line behind us, save the father who remained up front. When the waiter came up, he went straight for the father, asked how many, and the family of 6 proceeded to skip the 6 of us already waiting in line. So not only did the waiter completely ignore the other 6 of us, he failed to even inquire who might have been first. Following this, my friend and I decided to take our money elsewhere.
(1)