OTB At the Boathouse

I absolutely adore this place due to its location on the water and the amazing set up and view. You won’t find anything else like it. Unfortunately since its opening a couple years ago I’ve been nothing short of disappointed with the service and food. Servers take a long time to respond even on a non busy day sitting at the bar. The food is also average at best. I am not sure if it’s a management issue or what but I have been there at least 8 times and it hasn’t gotten any better

Great food. Great atmosphere. Service can sometimes be on the slow side but they are usually packed so it’s understandable and usually worth the slight wait.

Excellent location. Easy parking and access to the park. This was our second time eating there. The food is good not amazing but good and filling. We had the salmon salads with goat cheese and walnuts. The salmon was thick and cooked perfectly. The view of the lake is perfect. The only criticism I would make is that they don’t really have any healthy options on the menu. It’s mostly burgers and bar food. A lot of people go to the park to exercise and it would be nice if they had more items for the fitness conscious crowd.

Well I had high hopes for this place, because the views are incredible, but the dining experience fell short and that’s why I give them a 3.5 star rating. Upon arriving, my friend and I were not greeted. We stood there and waited for what seemed like forever while the hostess scrambled around behind the station. She didn’t ask if we wanted to sit inside or outside, just proceeded to walk until I mentioned we wanted to sit outside.
Once we were seated and had looked over the menu we caught ourselves waiting again for our waitress that didn’t seem to be in a hurry to come over to our table. Needless to say I think the service here is a little rusty and could use some work.
We both ended up getting the babes on bikes burger that had avocado, bacon, egg, and bbq aioli. I thought the burger was really good and cooked just right. Chips came with it or you can upgrade to fries for a $ 1. We both got fries and I wasn’t to impressed; they seemed to be really soggy.
I am not sure if I would return which is unfortunate because it’s so close to home and the views of north park are beautiful!

Awesome location, set up, etc. But the food is kind of meh. They used to have amazing shrimp tacos but now they’re fish tacos and they’re not comparable. Come for the location and view, go somewhere else for better food.

Not as good as the southside location but still not bad, the location and ambiance more than make up for the drop in food quality. The view, the patio, the charm of the boathouse will have you returning for more beers after that long bike ride…

Went on a few different occasions because I was hoping for a different outcome but never got it. Food was fine. Service was terrible. If you can get a seat outside by the lake, it’s almost worth the trouble.
***Updated– Bad service is mostly wait staff’s lack of attention. Also, I have experienced incorrect orders and extremely long ticket times.

First, I’d like to say that this is an awesome location! Great views with a very cool atmosphere. They have Adirondack chairs, umbrella tables, and even a fire pit on the patio. My brother and I ate dinner outside despite the cooler Spring weather. Luckily, we were seated under one of the many kerosene heaters. The food was good, pretty standard. We both ordered burgers and fries. The waitress talked me into trying the The Dirt Rag Delight, which is a bacon cheeseburger with Wholey’s peanut butter and dill pickles. It was unlike anything I’ve had before. My brother had ‘The Thick’ and said it was good as well. They had a nice selection and variety of foods to choose from. Next time I think I’ll try something else, like the fish tacos. I had a decent mojito, it wasn’t in a large glass and still cost $ 7 which was a bummer.
Sadly, service wasn’t the best. When we arrived we were told there would be a 30 minute wait. So naturally we headed to the bar for a drink. Literally two minutes later they called us and said our table was ready. We hadn’t even ordered drinks yet. I’m not complaining that we were seated quickly. But I watched two groups leave when they were told there was a wait. I’m not sure why they were purposely turning customers away, since there were 8 tables visibly available. It was very strange. Our waitress was okay, we had to wait about 15 minutes for her to bring the check. If I had to guess they were understaffed and training some new employees.
Overall this was a cool place. I’d go back just for the view and atmosphere. It’s kind of a great oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I’d love to come back for a relaxing lunch or dinner.

Great view and great food. Draft list was exceptional. Service was friendly and fast. The décor was pretty cool. We will definitely be coming back!

Great bar and restaurant on the lake. Tons of beers on draft and really great burgers. I definitely recommend trying the Rachel Carson chicken wrap. Great appetizers as well. You really can’t get a better view them on their deck overlooking the lake on a hot summer day. I also highly recommend making a reservation online before hand, as they frequently get very busy especially on the weekends.

I was here during Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week and really need to get back. I can’t speak for the winter months but in warm weather the scenery and ambiance of OTB is fantastic with the open dining area and patio on the lake. I bet Fall would be beautiful.
Driving back to the location through the parks is interesting. It looks like a lot of activities like rope courses, zip lines and bike trails. Eventually to deadens into a castle like structure which is OTB. It looks very nice from the outside sitting in front of the lake. There is plenty of parking available.
We went in and there was a Weyerbacher Tap Takeover going on. We were able to grab beers from the bar and quickly made our way outside to the patio on a nice Spring day. We sat around the fire ring (no fire) in some nice comfortable wooden chairs. We had a chance to talk with the Weyerbacher reps and they provided us with several beers to try free of charge. These were full size pints. Now I know this isn’t the normal restaurant’s practice but it was their decision to bring these folks in and the main reason we decided to make the trip. Weyerbacher makes excellent beer! Looking at their normal beer list, it appeared to be decent on the craft selection.
After a few hours of drinking and longing on the patio we spoke with a hostess who sat us inside to eat. They are obviously known for their burgers and had a selection of several gourmet burgers at moderate prices. They also had appetizers and traditional sandwiches. I opted for the Heaven on Earth Burger which came with roasted red peppers, spinach, tomato, mozzarella and Sriracha ranch on the burger and a side of fries. The burger was a good size and delicious. I greatly enjoyed the burger. The fries were nothing great. I also ordered the Old Firehouse Dip with tortilla chips. It’s was served warm and very tasty but on the small side. I would recommend it as an appetizer for no more than two.
Service here was quick and friendly for as busy as they were. While the food was good, the location and atmosphere is what really stands out the most. A nice relaxing place to grab a beer or 6. Enjoy the view!

This is def one of my favorite places to go! Obviously summer or warm weather is the prime time to go, but I’ve gone in the winter and sat as close to outside as possible and really enjoyed watching people ice fishing on the lake.
Got to go for breakfast once and it was amazing. Sitting outside on a warm summer morning having a delicious, fresh breakfast was a little bit of heaven in my opinion!
Keep up the good work with the versatile menu options. Not many places around like this one!

Have read a lot of sub-​par reviews on here, and was very skeptical. Always thought the N Park boathouse was a beautiful building in need of a purpose. Decided to go on a Sunday afternoon just after 4, the hour between when they stop serving brunch and when they start dinner specials. What’s up with that?
Not overly crowded at all, which I knew thanks to NoWait. Several tables taken outside, in spite of temps in the high 40s. I’ll take my gorgeous view just inside the glass thank you, where there’s still heat. Grace, our waitress, told us to ignore the draft menu since she had an updated list. I had a 21^st Amendment Toaster Pastry IPA draft, my companion had a bottled Miller Light. Grace told me it might take a few minutes for my beer since they were just changing kegs (thanks for the heads up).
I ordered a WheelMill burger, medium, my friend, the fish sandwich. Though the burger was definitely not medium, it was good and not overcooked shoeleather. My companion really liked her enormous fish sandwich, that included enough house-​made chips to feed everyone.
It was a crisp, cloudless fall day, and the lake setting was spectacular. Sure it’s bar food, but it doesn’t pretend to be more. I can’t agree with the many posts regarding bad service — Grace was gracious ;) — but can only relay my experience on this day. OTB is a nice place for good conversation., decent food and beverage, in a gorgeous setting.

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to leave a review but honestly OTB is one of my favorite places to go in the summer. This is the perfect place to go with friends, or family, to grab a beer or a nice cider and relax by the lake. For so many years, the boathouse was just… a boathouse. Only filled with bathrooms and for storage. I’m so thrilled that they actually made something of this beautiful establishment!
They have indoor and outdoor seating, which is nice for those rainy days. I obviously prefer sitting out back on their patio overlooking North Park Lake. Sometimes the wait for a table can be long, especially after 5pm. But if you use the «NoWait» app, you can put yourself on the waitlist ahead of time.
The menu isn’t the largest but their burgers and salads are to die for, especially their «Heaven On Earth» burger. It honestly is just that. SO yummy! I recommend trying it with a turkey patty. Their appetizers are actually a good portion size to split between 2 or 3 friends. Try their black bean cakes! So warm and oozing with flavor.
OTB has a happy hour 5 – 7 and I believe their deals are usually $ 2 off whatever is on tap and $ 1 off cocktails and bottled drinks.
Try this place after a nice run around the lake or a beautiful ride kayaking on the lake itself. So deserving and well worth it!

Let’s face it, if we are all honest, the only reason this place is in business is the old adage of location, location, location. Despite being the land of 3 rivers, Pittsburgh does not do a good job of using its water for dining and drinking. OTB gets that right. Great location on North Park Lake with outdoor seating and casual outdoor seats to drink at as well. The bar menu is very good. Good selection of draft beers, bottles and cans and cocktails. They even have an «on deck» circle to tell you what beers are next in the draft rotation. Really good place to grab a drink and socialize, especially when the weather is good.
The food on the other hand is a different story. It is not awful by any means but the nicest thing I can say about it is that it is edible. I have been there 4 times (wanted to give it a decent shot before posting a review). Once for breakfast, twice for lunch and once for dinner. All four times the meals are «Meh». Things that are supposed to be hot are cold (like coffee and french fries). All burgers seemed to be cooked the same way despite how people order them. Buns are not fresh (or just not very good). Food descriptions are great on the menu and the staff is usually pretty good at helping you navigate the menu, the issue is it is just not that good. And don’t get me started on the wait times and the useless No Wait app they have. Do yourself a favor and meet some friends there for a drink or even happy hour but go somewhere else for a good meal.

i honestly thought about 3 stars, but the view itself bumped it up to 4 stars.
We decided to stop by OTB on Saturday evening. Unfortunately there was an hour wait and someone left their phone in my car. We decided to leave and return the phone rather than having the person wait 2 hours on their phone. We headed back Sunday evening for dinner but this time used the No Wait app (they do not take reservations)
The patio seating with the lake as the backdrop is absolutely beautiful! I would honestly recommend trying here just for the view.
For dinner, I was stuck between the fish tacos and the shrimp tacos. Bobby decided to get the shrimp & i decided to get the fish. We both ordered fries as our side & i also ordered a side salad since i was craving one.
Bobby ordered the McCandeless. which was OTB’s version of a Moscow Mule. it was tart, but very delicious. i only tried a few sips even though i would’ve LOVEDDD a drink on the patio, but im anti drinking & driving. I told bobby next time he has to play DD lol
There are a few reasons why i initially wanted to rate 3 stars. Our service was not the best. First, it took him awhile to greet us. in his defense he seemed busy and told us twice he’ll be over in a moment. He apologized and it wasn’t too big of a deal– we were enjoying the view and checking out the menu. However, during our meal service was still spotty. No extra napkins, no refills ect. They may have been understaffed. I only noticed 2 servers on the patio taking orders so maybe that is the reason. Another reason for thinking of 3 stars is the menu really isnt too big. It has nice options (appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches) but it just didnt have too many options. It is a burger bar so i’ll give i’ll forgive it for not having a ton of entrees.
Anyways, the atmosphere made up for everything. This would be an awesome date night or birthday dinner. just for the views alone. Kayaking is offered right next to the restaurant and it was fun to watch the kayakers. We thought about it, but i was in my not-​so-​comfy church clothes and we decided to stop back another time. Also, after dinner if you want to stay and enjoy the scenery, OTB offers lots of chairs on the patio to sit and enjoy a drink after dinner.
Note: My friend gave a huge thumbs up on their sunday brunch.

We just moved up to North Park, and this place is great. Food aside, the ambiance is great in the summer — sitting out on the lake, enjoying a few beers after work. It’s perfect!
Food — the burgers are good too. I got The Thick, which is one of the best BBQ burgers I’ve had. Their coleslaw isn’t that great to eat solo, but is fresh and has a nice crunch if you want to add it to the sandwich.

Love this place! It is a great addition to North Park and the North Hills. Located in the old Boathouse, it is a great reinvention of an old spot. The architecture of the building is classic, intricate and beautiful and the location right on the edge of North Park Lake is stunning. I promise when you are sitting on their deck, underneath one of their large, red umbrellas you will feel far, far away from Pittsburgh.
The food is delicious and tries to lean towards the healthier side of things, but there’s definitely some sinfully delicious items. The «Rachel Carson Wrap», named after a famous Pennsylvanian ecologist, is their version of buffalo chicken wrap with grilled chicken, buffalo sauce, blue cheese dressing on a soft, warm delicious pita. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of some spice like myself. Recently I tried the Lakeside Salad which features mixed greens with a HUGE filet of salmon with goat cheese, craisins and candied walnuts with housemade balsamic vinaigrette. It was delicious and surprisingly VERY filling. Other things to check out… their caprese Panini and housemade potato chips with a hint of ranch flavoring dusted on.
Pretty much the only reason I’m not giving five stars is sometimes the service can be a little slow. Last time cashing out our check took an incredibly long time, and for another table near us took almost 20 minutes and them asking multiple servers for help. It is always busy here (plan to get here early, especially on a beautiful day!) but they should plan their staffing accordingly.
Overall, a MUST do if you are in the North Park area!

Decided to meet up with friends today for lunch here. We have been training for the half marathon at North Park for the past month or two, so it was nice to come here to eat/​drink instead of run.
Temperature was fairly mild and it was sunny, so we decided to sit outside. The place was fairly crowded, but it was no problem getting a seat promptly. They have indoor seating here and outdoor seating, plus a small bar on the inside. The vibe here is extremely laid back, both on the inside and outside. The outside seating is on a nice sized deck that overlooks the lake.
The staff here is quite friendly, fast and efficient. No service complaints at all.
They food here was pretty good. They offer some appetizers, salads, burgers, wraps and sandwiches. I had the Heaven on Earth burger (minus the bun and fries). No complaints with it. My wife went with the fish tacos and she really enjoyed them. They have 10 craft beers on tap that crossed many styles (IPA, Pilsners, Red Ales, Belgian Whites). They also have a fairly extensive beer bottle list that covers your standard macro beers but also have a nice selection of craft beers.
I was pleasantly surprised with my experience this time around (previous time here we just had a fairly quick beer) based on some of the reviews. If you are looking for a nice place to sit outside and have a beer, I would definitely give this place a try.

This place was not what I expected at all, in a good way! The last time I walked by this place they were still closed and I kind of just pictured it as a little average café. I mean, can you blame me when the subtitle in their name is «Bicycle Café»? I’ve never been to the original OTB, either, so I didn’t have an experience there to give me any expectations about this place.
So today when I walked in after kayaking I was surprised to find a very chill and welcoming dining area with music playing near the bar and a bustling patio. The menu impressed me, too; I tend to expect fried finger foods from park dining areas but instead I found a full burger and sandwich focused menu with lots of vegetarian-​friendly options. And there were tons of healthy side dish options on the menu, too.
Given how busy the patio was my companion for the day and I opted to sit inside, which really wasn’t a problem; the patio and indoors area aren’t really separated by much more than a roof over your head, so we could enjoy a great breeze and were still far enough from the bar and speakers that the noise of the indoor area wasn’t a problem.
And not only was the atmosphere great, the food was pretty delicious. I had a slightly spicy and perfectly cooked turkey burger with fruit salad on the side; I also shared the black bean patty cakes with my dining companion and I thought they were absolutely perfect. (My companion thought they could have been a little crispier, but not me!) They were so tasty, especially once I added the amounts of Pico De Gallo, pinapple, guacamole and sour cream that I wanted. I partnered a Raspberry Summer Tea (Raspberry vodka and lemonade) with my meal and have to say, combined it was all a fantastic way to round out a beautiful summer day by the lake.
My only true complaint is with the bathrooms — the café’s attached to the public park bathrooms, and, well… the public park bathrooms are as horrendous as you might expect public park bathrooms to be. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough and it’s a shame that those bathrooms have to be affiliated with this place at all.
But other than that, no complaints whatsoever — great atmosphere, great service, tasty food, and a nice place to relax after walking or kayaking in the park. I’d absolutely eat here again the next time I’m enjoying the area!