The Boathouse v Paddlefish

Pooh's-Honey-Pot

DVC owner since 2020 - VGF, BLT and SSR
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We are recently turned pescatarians trying to decide between Paddlefish and The Boathouse on our September trip. Help please!
 
Well the food at The Boathouse is far better but when we went I found the place to be very loud but we did have an incredible server. Paddlefish is on our list of we may try it again in 10 years.
 
We love the Boathouse and go every time we go to WDW. They have excellent food and a big menu. If you sit outside or in one of the back rooms it is much quieter.
 
1C60CE8D-AB25-4BAB-ACD7-8F54D14182E9.jpeg Haven’t eaten at Boathouse yet, but we ate at Paddlefish last July and we all loved our meals! We all got something different (I got one of the boils, DH the scallops, DD the swordfish and DS the kids burger) and they were all good. Plus one of the best Bloody Marys we have ever had, we still talk about it.
 

Paddlefish has gotten so much better than what it was. The lobster corn dogs are so good and the boils are very nice. Boathouse is very tasty too. I think it's win win whatever you decide.
 
My wife and I have eaten at both and in our opinion the Boathouse is much better than Paddlefish. We felt Paddlefish was much better before their remodel.
 
We like both restaurants although we've only been to Paddlefish once and Boathouse about 6 times. During our last trip late December/early January we ate at both venues.

At Boathouse, we had our regular appetizers of chilled seafood, all pristinely fresh and going for a change of pace, shared a wedge salad and order of NY strip with fries. This trip we sat in a new locale, the outdoor high-top tables just past the indoor bar. This afforded us the opportunity to view the full range of seating in the restaurant. The place is huge and it's easy enough to change the noise level you are accustomed to by sitting in a different area. I wish they offered a plateau de fruits de mer/ seafood tower as a menu item but it's easy enough to order a la carte items and DYI. The cold poached/steamed half lobster is quite good and not in the least bit rubbery. Comes with 2 dipping sauces. A lovely selection of oysters on the half shell that come from up and down the east coast as well as the west. Some evenings they play live music and the crowd is a mixture of locals and Disney visitors making for a nice vibe.

We ate at Paddlefish early evening and truly enjoyed the make it your way seafood boil; it's quite a bit of food so you may want to share this entree. In hindsight wish we had ordered the lobster guacamole which is made at table. The young ladies sitting next to us seemed to enjoy it and gave the air of having been there before knowing what they wanted. Instead, we had starters of fried green tomatoes and lobster corn dogs. I think I'm done with fried lobster; masked the flavour of the lobby too much for me. The man enjoyed his green tomatoes and nevah gave me a taste. This happens frequently to me; either I'm the slowest eater on the planet or everyone else in my party is a glutton ;). We also enjoyed watching the sun setting as we ate; good times.

I think as "peskies" you'll enjoy either venue overall so just check out the menus and find out which has the food items you'd prefer most.

Enjoy your choice whichever it is:).
 
We ate at both last week. We loved the food and service equally at both. Go with whatever menu seems better to you.
 
Thank you all! Sounds like Paddlefish is a little bit quieter then?

We ate outside at the Boathouse last Saturday evening. Definitely not loud and weather was ideal (but obviously that won’t always be the case).

We did Paddlefish for lunch and had a table in the bar area. It wasn’t crowded enough to be loud.
 
Thank you all! Sounds like Paddlefish is a little bit quieter then?
I would imagine that both places average the same noise level on a weeknight. Keep two things in mind though: we've only eaten at Paddlefish early in the evening/late afternoon and with Boathouse it really depends on what part of the restaurant you are sitting in as well as whether it's the weekend or weekday. Also we're from NYC; what noise? LOL.

I would say the noise level is convivial at both locales:).
Are you looking for a romantic dinner or just want to be able to talk to each other while others talk among themselves as well?
 
The Boathouse is a steak and seafood restaurant run by the Gibson's group from Chicago. It takes its name from the beautifully restored collection of boats displayed outside the restaurant. You will find more of the menu devoted to steak and chops than you will at Paddlefish, but there are also tons of seafood selections and everything is perfectly prepared. While the selection of seafood will be greater at Paddlefish, we have always found the food and service at the Boathouse to be much better. We don't mind the noise - it's the kind of energetic atmosphere that we prefer. Paddlefish is quieter, but we have been disappointed with the service. The Boathouse has never disappointed us, so that would be my recommendation.
 














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