The Retreat Restaurant & Bar

I’d heard about a couple of restaurants on Lake Wateree about a year ago and this was one of them. Last fall we drove up the backgrounds to find this place and it was closed. May have been closed for the winter, not sure.
Well, we decided to try again and this time it was open. It’s a very nice looking restaurant situated right on Wateree. There is no porch or outside dining, but they do have a nice room with windows all around that give you a good view of the lake. There were several pontoons pulled up to the pier and customers dining inside. The atmosphere is very nice, sort of like a lodge with all wood siding and reminds you of a hunting lodge inside.
We just wanted a small bite to eat so we decided to split an order of chicken wings (they have 6 or 12 wing orders). We ordered 12 Jamaican jerk dry rubbed wings with blue cheese and ranch dipping sauce and we also split the Summer Retreat salad.
The wings were outstanding. Great taste with just the dry rub. I could eat them with or without the sauces. They have various styles of wings (Teriyaki, hot teriyaki, mild, med, hot, and others. The dry rub jerk are some of the best I’ve had. Next time I’ll ask to have them done a little crisper (loved them the way they were but I like a little more crispy skin if I have a choice).
We ordered the salad with balsamic vinegariette per the waitress suggestion. The salad had fresh lettuce, feta cheese, candied pecans, cranberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges, carrots and grilled chicken strips. I iked it a lot. My wife thought that the strawberries sort of clashed with the balsamic. I didn’t mind. We both could have done without the chicken.
The menu was great. Service was very good and prompt. We will go back as I saw several orders go by the table that looked good. Their signature Nacho dish looked very good. Nice restaurant. I was going to order a beer but was told they don’t serve alcohol on Sundays. I’m not sure if this is a county thing or something with this particular restaurant. I believe Creekside on the other side of Wateree serves beer. Try it, you’ll like it.

We had the shrimp platter and is was great… Service was nice and beautiful place inside and out.

Had a great lunch yesterday. We were greeted by our waitress Haleigh who was terrific she was efficient, knowledgeable about the menu and oh so helpful my wife and I shared a bacon cheeseburger and the firecracker shrimp wrap, along with rings and Cole slaw for our sides. Everything was delicious. I highly recommend the Retreat to everyone and it is a nice easy ride from our home in Blythewood We will be going back soon to experience one of their dinner specialties.

My father took me to this place the other day for dinner. There really isn’t much choice out there, so I was skeptical, but I have to say the food was really good.
It’s a family based business with mom, dad, and daughter. I ordered the beef fillet and lobster tail special. The fillet was very good, but as a guy who used to spend his summers in Maine, the lobster was perfect. The baked potato should have come with a land deed, and the seasoned fries, as all the other reviews mention, were pretty dang tasty. I also tried some of my dad’s fried shrimp, and as a guy who lives in Charleston where Shrimp and Grits make world magazines, the shrimp was pretty delicious for being so far inland.
As far as the ambiance goes, the place is spotless. It has a rustic outdoorsy kind of feel to it with a nice view of the lake. The kitchen has a server window front and center you can easily see the cook, owner, cooking the food and observe the kitchen if you want. The staff couldn’t be friendlier, and they want to make your visit a pleasant one.
For sports fans, they do have ESPN on the flat screens hanging from the walls.

Absolute best on Lake Wateree. Great staff and really good food at reasonable prices. Arrive via car or boat. I like the steaks best and Shawn, the owner chef comes up with superb specials, really good with sauces/​reductions/​gravies. Shrimp and grits or beef tips and grits are favorites of our friends that visit. My wife loves the club wrap. The firecracker shrimp appetizer is superb. I wish they still had crab legs. Good beer selection for the area and excellent drinks. True some times things can be too salty, but I love the fries!

We enjoyed 2 delicious salads, after being out on the boat for the day. The food was plentiful. 32oz beer for under $ 4.00. The owner Shawn was very nice to talk with. We will be back on our next trip to Lake Wateree.

My favorite thing about this place is that it is near my house! Also i usually see someone I know which can make HH more fun. The service is pretty decent. The atmosphere, furnishings and location make it a pretty cool place to hang out. Especially since you can park your boat at their dock. Even if you have to wait to be seated you can order a drink and rock on the large front porch facing the water.
My favorite thing to get is the chicken philly sub and I like the seasoned fries. Great beer selection but a bit pricey. The specials always look good and seem big enough to split. Overall… go check it out.

Went in with large group of 20. Service was good for this many people with no notice as was the food. Beautiful spot to enjoy lunch over looking Lake Wateree

I eat here occasionally because there isn’t much choice. The burgers are good but the fries are not. They use too much salt and some premixed spice type flavoring for my taste. Salads are good. Shrimp are frozen imports and I can’t recommend them. Don’t get the oysters! I was appalled by the attitude of the chef when questioned about their freshness. The fish and chips would be good if they got rid of the pre-​seasoned fries. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. It’s a beautiful building with a lovely view. They just need a chef capable of doing it justice. Prices are average; hours need a vast improvement.

Awesome location on Lake Wateree! We stop in for lunch while we are out boating (especially when we have out of town guests). Very cute resturant. I love the cabin feel and the view of the water. The food is good too! I’ve had the buffalo shrimp wrap and the patty melt. The patty melt is super good! The service is always friendly. After lunch it’s nice to hang out on the porch and sit on the rocking chairs.

What a fabulous lakeside destination! Tremendous and tasty portions, delicious sandwiches and salads, and an expansive beer selection. It’s my preferred place on our lake, to be sure. Double-​check the hours before you go. They vary seasonally and has hamstrung me more than once.