Advertising
You are not logged in

New York Magazine

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Home > Restaurants > Central Park Boathouse

Central Park Boathouse

Central Park
Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028
At 72nd Street  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-517-2233 Send to Phone

    Reserve a Table

  • Price Range: $$$

    Key to Prices and ratings

    Upscale
    • Almost Perfect
    • Exceptional
    • Generally Excellent
    • Very Good
    • Good
    Cheap Eats
    • Best in Category
    • Excellent
    • Delicious
    • Very Good
    • Noteworthy
    • Very Expensive
    • Expensive
    • Moderate
    • Cheap
  • Reader Rating:

    7.2 out of 10

    6 Reviews | Write a Review

  • Cuisine: American Traditional, Seafood
Courtesy of Central Park Boathouse

Official Website

thecentralparkboathouse.com

Hours

Nov-Apr: Mon-Fri, noon-4pm; Sat-Sun, 9:30am-4pm; Apr-Nov: Mon-Fri, noon-4pm and 5:30pm-9:30pm; Sat-Sun, 9:30am-4pm and 6pm-9:30pm

Nearby Subway Stops

6 at 68th St.-Hunter College

Prices

$25-$42

Payment Methods

American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

  • Brunch - Weekend
  • Classic NY
  • Dine at the Bar
  • Fireplace
  • Kids' Menu
  • Live Music
  • Lunch
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Private Dining/Party Space
  • Prix-Fixe
  • View
  • Waterfront

Alcohol

  • Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Profile

It was only this spring that I belatedly discovered the dramatic makeover financed by its newest owner, Dean Poll, an ambitious restaurateur from Long Island. In the past, a Boathouse table was basically about inhaling nature—never mind the food. Today the kitchen sends out thrillingly pure crab cakes, and a lush salmon-and-oyster tartare with a dribble of caviar. What was once tented dock is now a solid structure—winterized for special events and out-of-season rendezvous at the tall windows overlooking the lake. Even though the swans are gone, there are still ducks and turtles, an occasional egret or vagrant raccoon, and the same dude, Andreas Garcia, poling a restored gondola. Though it feels like no one is in charge as we come in, we spy the maître d’ in the distance and score a lakeside table to watch darkness creeping in as we share a citrusy fresh hearts-of-palm salad with an impressive cargo of lobster on top. Properly grilled filet pleases our meat-and-potatoes guest. And my roasted salmon with porcini-asparagus risotto is cooked minimally, as I like it. After dividing a well-made rhubarb crisp and suitably decadent chocolate raspberry cake, we wander outside to find the house trolley waiting to drop us at Fifth Avenue.

Prix-Fixe

Available for groups of 15 or more.

Trolley 
Year-round, a complimentary trolley picks up patrons from a stop at Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street and drops them off directly at the boathouse.  Between Nov. 4 and Apr. 14, the trolley only runs on Sat., Sun., and holidays.

Weddings
This charming pavilion is set by the lake in the heart of the park; it features wraparound French doors that open to an English garden and wooden patios facing the water’s edge. The boathouse’s event space holds up to 230 seated guests, from $145 per person. No outside catering except kosher.

Related Stories

New York Magazine Reviews

Featured In

7.2 "Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10
Write Your Own Review

Awful place to have Wedding receptions!!!

happyapark from 10019 | Posted on 4/2/09

Overall Reader Rating: 4 (Not Recommended)
Food: 6
Service: 1
Décor: 6
Value: 1

Our experience at Boat House Restaurant in Central Park was an unpleasant one. In particular, the general manager did not observe the promises made by other employees. One page contract can include only limited number of agreements. Therefore, we asked several...Read More

Loved it!

jts6b from 10467 | Posted on 8/26/08

Overall Reader Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Food: 9
Service: 9
Décor: 9
Value: 8

Went there for a birthday dinner with my husband, we had reservations and sat at the bar for about 15 minutes waiting which was fine with us. The food was delicious, from salad through dessert. It is the perfect place to...Read More

Read All 6 Reviews >>

Advertising

Latest News Near