The Dirt

Editors Note: St. Louis Sprout & About is excited to begin providing restaurant reviews. In our first review, writer Shannon Moore takes us along during her August trip to the Boathouse in Forest Park.

Oversized, weather-beaten rocking chairs painted in cheery blues and reds welcome diners to The Boathouse in Forest Park. Customers chat, rock and enjoy the view of the lake as they wait to be seated. The dock is loaded with paddleboats and canoes available for rental ($15/hr). Adults and kids pull on life-jackets, climb into boats, and paddle off toward the Art Museum and its enormous statue of Saint Louis.

Located at the edge of Post-Dispatch Lake in Forest Park, patio dining at The Boathouse is nestled right up to the dock. A long covered patio full of tables runs the length of the building, and there are additional outdoor tables under umbrellas. I took my three kids ages 7-14 on a Friday night for an early dinner around 5 p.m.  At other times the restaurant has been packed, and we’ve had to leave because my kids couldn’t handle a thirty to sixty minute wait. Tonight, however, the patio is wide open, and we’re seated and ordering in no time.  

The Boathouse is a relaxed, friendly restaurant that serves typical American fare: soups, salads, burgers, pizzas, as well as specials like salmon BLTs and rib-eye steak. Appetizers run $5-8, entrees about $8 (though ribs and daily specials run higher at $10-19). Desserts are $5. Kid’s meals are $4 with generous portions. Our meal cost $41 including tip, which was really reasonable considering that a fast-food dinner with my family runs about $25.  

My kids don’t appreciate most exotic dishes, so the Boathouse’s familiar fare suits them, and I adore the fish and chips. But to be honest, we don’t go to the Boathouse for the food; we go for the fun. Ducks wander up looking for a snack. Dogs are allowed on the patio where they enjoy complementary water bowls and dog treats. The paddleboats are always a hit, and there is live music on Friday and Saturday nights during the summer. Unlike many other restaurants, there aren’t TVs blaring from every corner. During the off-season fall and winter months, it’s cozy to eat indoors near the fireplace.  

At the end of our meal, my kids spot fish and a turtle swimming in the water. They immediately start tossing the animals bits of hamburger bun and a few French fries, too. As our server approaches, I wait for her to say, “Feeding the critters is not allowed.” Instead she says, “Oh, I won’t clear away this plate since your kids are using the leftovers.” Nobody cares that my kids are standing at the dock, not sitting at the table. Nobody cares that they are tossing leftovers to the fish. Nobody cares that non-diners ride up to the front gate, grab a doggy treat for their pooch, and pedal away. It’s summer at the Boathouse, and it’s all good.  

The Boathouse at Forest Park
6101 Government Drive, St. Louis
314-367-2224

Spring/summer hours:
Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday Brunch: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.