Ski Shores Cafe Reviews

Ski Shores has an amazing location. Sitting right over the water, you can enjoy the view, food and drinks while you feed the fish and turtles. The food is good enough but the experience is amazing. Today we went for the weekend breakfast tacos.

Food was decent and atmosphere was great but our waiter was the rudest waiter that we've ever had. He wouldn't take the order of our kids sitting at another table. Their waitress kept passing them by. He actually told us "he needed to slow our table down.". Terrible service!!

Made the decision to eat here one nite and it was great. Right on the water and the service was good too. I will go here again when in Austin and/or staying at Emma Long - Austin City Park.

I live in Austin and have for several decades now. I just want to put in my two cents for this place. If you miss Ski Shores, you will have missed an "Ahhhhhhh" moment in Austin. Things I love about Ski Shores: 1. Laid back atmosphere. People can either drive or boat up to the place for a bit and a beer. 2. Fish Tacos. I'm pescetarian and I love their fish tacos! 3. You can bring your dog(s)! They have dog bowls and water for your furry friends. 4. Even in summer, it's cool (in the shade) by the lake. 5. The wildlife. Turtles, fish, herons... it's a great place to watch (and maybe even feed) the "locals". Cons (also potential pros): 1. Live music (personally, I'd rather hear the natural sounds). 2. Limited menu. They don't have any real desserts. 3. It's a bit outside of downtown. Takes me about 25-30 minutes from North Austin. I spoke with the manager last time I was there, and they are going to attempt staying open during winter this year. I hope to see you there!

Local hospitality giant McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality (MML) has bought both locations of casual restaurant Ski Shores, revitalizing the Lake Austin location and turn the Barton Springs location into a second location of its casual cafe Lou's, as reported by Austin 360.Jun 22, 2022

Have not eaten here in a while. Glad my wife suggested it. Really enjoyed sitting by the water. Had our dog with us. Relaxing and quiet on the night we were there with a wonderful view of the water and boats and boards passing by. This is not a place to get in and out of in a hurry. Service was a bit too slow initially, but that was fine and once our server engaged with us he was extremely accommodating and made the meal more enjoyable. My wife had the fish tacos which she really enjoyed. My black and blue blue burger was excellent, although they forgot to put on the extra Patty that I asked for. The chicken wing appetizer was an A+, with blue cheese dressing. Somewhat pricey in my opinion for basically a burger-joint, but the view and setting justifies the price as does the tasty food.

We ordered a pizza, living nearby delivery should have been quick. Over 1-1/2 hours later the pizza arrived, absolutely cold. We heated it up, but it was definitely not worth the price.

Ski Shores is a great place for a pretty day! The staff is friendly and service is good. The menu is limited to ‘lake food’ and acceptable. It is off the beaten track. The main draw is the location! Prime location on the lake and within the Austin city limits. A drink and meal while feeding the fish, turtles and swans in this location would be hard to beat! You should try it.

Our spring weather led us to the wonderful Ski Shores Waterfront restaurant experience. The food is beach style and good enough. This is a place for the wonderful lake front experience that is hard to top. Make sure to feed the fish, turtles and turtles.

Ski Shores have been a favorite and a staple in my life since 1987. I have seen many changes over the years and am in disbelief after a visit tonight. We stood at the hist stand for 5 mins with lots of people walking by and nobody acknowledging us. You scan a QR code to see the menu and order. No more waiters. The ordering system doesn't allow you to type specifics. My favorite, and their top selling item, the Border Burger, is no longer on the menu and the prices are ridiculous. Almost twice the price as last year, 2 burgers and 1 fry for $50. No drinks. Everything we ordered came quickly but when we needed more water, napkins, doggie bag... there was nobody around. Despite the service, of course the app suggested 20% at a minimum. Spoke with the manager who said there is new ownership and the menu is now seasonal. He dismissed my concerns and let me know the place is making "more money than it ever has". I found that odd. since it was less than 30% full at 7:30 on a beautiful Friday night. SS has been a my spot for dates, out-of-towners, boat breaks and even business meetings. Whether or not you are a fan of SS skip the disappointment and enjoy a burger at Casino el Camino.

We have been coming here way longer than I care to admit and usually by boat.It has always been a fun and scenic place to take a break and grab a bite. Its better now than it has ever been. We had a young man help us secure the boat when we pulled in and we were immediately greeted and taken to a very cool table next to the water. Our server was a really nice young lady who was informative and attentive.Our glasses stayed full on a hot, hot day.Our food order was right on the money and plenty quick. The manager came by to check on us and when we left the owner thanked us for coming.This is the best cafe on the best lake in Texas. Ski Shores Cafe has been in business since 1954.My thanks to the owners for keeping this iconic place open.

Stopped here for lunch with some relatives. Service was very good. They got my order wrong, but quickly corrected it. We had to sit one row of tables over from waterside because of all of the flying insects. Still it was a pleasant experience with good food at reasonable prices.

If you are near Austin foothills stop by this little lakeside joint for a good burger and cold brew. Nothing fancy but relaxing little table in the shade at the water’s edge was a nice break to our day! Plenty of kids tossing bread into the water for the turtles to feed on!

Visiting the area and decided to have lunch at Ski Shores. It’s a great spot right on the water at Lake Austin. We sat at a picnic table by the water and had a combo of burgers and fish. Food and drink were good. A cool breeze from the water helped make for a very enjoyable visit.

You come here to sit by the lake and enjoy the view. The food is your typical sandwich choices found everywhere. They do a pretty good lunch and we had no complaints. It's a fun place to visit.

What happened to the vibe of this place. Cali hit hard and so did their prices by at least x2. A small margarita in a plastic cup is $15 and the burgers reach up to $21. Everything is also online ordering which takes FOREVER and isn’t customizable at all. The entire vibe of this place and why people came is gone. Catering to the Cali folk

Arrive by boat on Lake Austin to get the full experience. Food is OK. View is great. Usual 2 hour wait but not today - even tho it was Mothers’ Day - due to threatening weather. Several play area for kids.

1950's fam place for lunch on the lake! Boarder burger ROCKS!

Ski Shores is definitely a hidden gem. A lot of people don't know where it is, but those that do, love it! Great hamburgers, fish tacos, and nachos. Prices are reasonable and the food is good. The drinks are great too! Majority of the seating is shaded. Family-oriented place. Great for boat watching on Lake Austin.

Most people have never heard of those place. Food is good, drinks are good, and the location is even better. Watch out for the swap 😂 The workers are sweet and very kind. We will definitely return.

I went to Ski Shores two nights in a row last week, because I happened to be camping nearby with a sick husband. Generally, I would recommend it, but I suggest you go on with the right mindset. It is: 1. Kid-friendly -- nice playground, though you need to watch your kids carefully if they're smaller, because tables go right up to the edge of the deck, beyond which is the lake. They also have family movie nights on Fridays, with free s'mores for the kids. 2. Historic, with an awesome setting on a big deck with cypress trees on the shores of Lake Austin, 3. Dog-friendly -- note that you can't take dogs "inside," which precludes taking them to the tables that overlook the playground. 3. Boat-friendly. They have their own dock slips, so you can easily dock and dine. It is not: Fancy or extensively menu-ed. It's kind of in spirit a neighborhood watering hole, with a limited but good menu. Contrary to other reviews, there was a vegetarian burger on the menu, but just one. People are friendly, service is decent, and the food is a-ok. Just don't expect a gourmet meal, and you'll be fine! Also, "inside" is actually under a deck -- the only area that is climate controlled is a pretty small area near the bar and kitchen. So this place is much better when the temperatures outside are mild.

As it was Friday night, my sister opted for me and her family to go out to dinner. This place was picked because it had food everyone would like and a playground for the children. The cafe is right on Lake Austin and we were able to watch speedboats, wake boarders and swans on the water. The adults all got drinks, with me getting a Hoochie Momma which is a fruit punch slushy with moonshine in it (yummy). The adults also all got burgers. They were huge and full of flavor. We all really enjoyed them. The kids got chicken tenders with chips and salsa and all but devoured them. It was cool down by the water and it almost felt like you were far away from the city. Great place to go.

Food is pretty good, nice views on the waterfront!

If you're longing for a great burger & a cold beer on the shores of Lake Austin, this is the place! Although Ski Shores underwent a remodel & expansion a few years ago, it still retains it's original character and endearing qualities. A perfect place to hang with friends & family...a playground and Friday night movies provide welcome distraction(s) for the kids, while occasional local musicians entertain the grown ups. With water levels on Lake Travis approaching record lows, Ski Shores is one of the few waterfront spots accessible by boat in the greater Austin area. Happy trails!

We went to Austin for the first time and our friends took us here for breakfast. The breakfast tacos were great but what I really liked was the atmosphere. It was just a really fun and casual waterfront spot...I could have spent the whole day there, watching all of the water activities. I'd definitely recommend for a fun place to relax!

This restaurant is in a prime location for chilling by the lake. The food is pretty good, nothing amazing, but you can't beat the spot. You can even drive up in your boat, tie off, and get to-go food!

Stopped for a beer. What a great place to hang out and watch the skiers. Friendly friendly friendly. Not from Austin but felt right st home.

Our hosts wanted us to see the incredible view and enjoy a little laid back place, so we tried Ski Shores. Let me tell you, the drive to this place is like the Autobaun drive! the views are breathtaking, and drastic hills and curves are an adventure in itself!! Anyway, its a local hang kind of place, so don't get your hopes up for incredible food or service. But, the servers are very nice and they do make a great effort. The Kitchen on the other hand, doesn't necessarily have the same priority! We ordered Burgers, Fried Catfish/Shrimp Combo. All was fine, not awesome, but not horrible. I will say, the Catfish and Shrimp breading is very light and tasty. Would go back because I was 4th of July weekend and they were really busy!

Ski Shores is exactly what such a restaurant should be. You can access by car or boat. They are laid back in every way. The menu is limited and food is very good for what it is. The setting is so beautiful that nothing else should matter. Remember to feed the turtles, huge fish, du is abs swans. They prefer French fries.

I had been to Ski Shores several times before and always enjoyed myself. The last time I went with my family we sat at a table by the little playground. This was great because we could easy watch our son while he played and we ate. The bad part is we could also see into the kitchen. We watched as the worker who was washing the dishes in very dirty water, cleaning off the plates and leftover food with his bare hands and was emptying the garbage can was also in charge of assembling sandwiches and burgers with the same bare unwashed hands. We immediately stopped eating and continued to watch as this happened repeatedly for the next hour. And you guessed it, no hand washing. Nice location, cute idea but that is inexcusable and dangerous.

This restaurant by the lake is open whenever it's over 60 degrees and "dry" (not raining). My boyfriend and I had a little January cabin fever so we decided to drive out to the lake. He had an excellent swiss burger with mushrooms and I had a fried catfish basket. My meal was prepared perfectly and the fries were excellent. The ambience was relaxed and peaceful; this being a mid-week lunchtime. Although we didn't bring children, they would love it here what with a playground and turtles and fish to feed.

The setting at Ski Shores is as good as anywhere in town. And it is in town. The location is beautiful on the lake. The menu is limited but food is good. Make sure you feed the fish.

You can't beat the location on the water. Live music on the weekends. Super casual and good burgers.

We went hiking nearby here then popped in for a few cocktails. Saturday at 6pm the IT game is on tv the bar is hopping. Kids and families hanging out in the fresh air. Lake life happening here! Boats up and down entertaining us. Good music, nice deck. Great views. Good food. Friendly bar staff. Life is good

I'm actually reluctant to tell too many new Austinites about Ski Shores because I don't want it to get too crowded! Anyway, Ski Shores deserves a shout out. Their setting is absolutely so fun and "Austin". Even on a hot day, sitting on the decks over Lake Austin, it's cool. Their burgers are wonderful, their white sangria is absolutely refreshing, their beer is cold, and the setting is perfect. Then there is live music on some evenings and you couldn't ask for a better time! Oh, and their servers are friendly and so very helpful....they are the best!

Ski Shores is a treasure. Their lakefront setting little else matters. The location, service and food were very good. When you are there be sure to share your French fries with the turtles and huge fish.

Ski Shores is a Great Lake location. The setting is fabulous and hard to believe t a in a huge city. The service and food are op flight lake. The menu is limited limited. Weekend breakfast tacos are a little known treat.

I have been to Ski Shores on Lake Austin a couple of times before and really enjoyed it. This time there was a fundamental problem. I don't think that the chef tasted what he was putting out for us to eat. I ordered the Hummus for my grandson and he took one bite and spat it out. I tasted it and it was so salty that it was inedible. The #1 job of a restaurant is to make sure that the food is the best it can be. this was a MAJOR FAIL.

What better way to charge up for the new moon/solar eclipse/Perseid meteor show than right by the water? Came here on a Saturday afternoon around 4 for some wine and a salad. I would say this is a pretty awesome family restaurant ....a casual, laid back way to enjoy a fantastic lake view with your family or alternatively to contemplate or brainstorm for the future (There’s free WiFi so bring your laptop!) The swans, turtles + Asian carp are a divine touch! We did however witness a fight between a fly fisher and a table who didn’t fancy their view blocked by a guy hauling a fishing line in their face lol. 😂 There are sadly no Vegan or Vegetarian options (there’s 1 burger) .... but there is live music and also nice video games for Kids. Cheap and easy, good for families. Loads of outdoor seating. There were kids feeding the swans and turtles and playing video games. On Friday nights there’s a fire pit for smores. I assume it’s dog friendly because I saw bowls of water.

Went here for lunch while on a trip to Austin with 2 friends from overseas, one with an 8 year old son, and had a great time. The food was very good, with a fair bit of variety in the menu. The atmosphere is very laid back, fitting for a restaurant whose edge is a dock where kids of all ages can feed the fish. It was a weekend in July and the river had a lot of boats on it, some of which tied up at the dock. They advertise live music in the evenings, and movies after dark. Well worth a visit.

We recently re-discovered this restaurant which amazingly is within 15 minutes of Central Austin, even though it is right on the shore of Lake Austin. The cook is great, and the staff very friendly. We love the chicken and fish sandwiches and the french fries. They have a full bar, and large covered and uncovered areas. Some nights they even show movies around a fire pit! On Fall through Spring days that are warm, it's a great place for an impromptu celebration of why you live or visit Austin!

Early dinner with family including grandson was entertaining. Nice playground by seating but it was too hot to hang there for long. Seating on deck on water was fun with boats zooming by. Food was typical and grandson devoured toasted cheese sandwich. Live guitar and singer added atmosphere.

First, Kurt, our waiter, was especially charismatic and made our visit incredibly enjoyable. The day was especially busy for the restaurant and apparently our party ordered the last of the hamburgers which explained our sandwiches being served on toast. We were quite amused but weren't deterred in enjoying our delicious meal. Kurt had the painful job of alerting arriving boaters that the restaurant was out of food and could not serve alcohol without food. He handled the matter with much humor and offered recommendations to the would-be customers. So, thumbs up on the great customer service & for flying-by-the-seat of your pants when the inventory gets depleted. :)

Fun to sit by the water and watch the turtles and boats go by. The waiter was very helpful and competent. The chef salad was average, with some slimy greens. The shrimp tacos were tasty with possibility of gluten free tortillas.

Laid back atmosphere all year long... best burgers and onion rings! Children and dog friendly! There are ski shows in front of the dock, movies played outside for the younger ones. Literally something for everyone!! Great food, people, staff and everything else! Cold cold beer, including local craft beer and imports! Loads of fun and never have I seen it rowdy. That is well under control!

Ski Shores has been a popular place to eat for many years on Lake Austin. Recently renovated, it now includes waiters and a much larger menu of tasty food, a much larger area indoors and outdoors to dine, and the outdoors is dog friendly. We especially enjoy the bacon cheeseburgers, tacos (fish and beef), and pizza. Relaxing place to hang out and have a margarita!

Location is great, food is okay good boarder burger (though steak is over cooked and you're not asked how you want it), but service is terrible. Owner might not know how to smile and welcome customers, it takes a lot of time to prepare burgers... it would be so great with nice atmosphere and smile !

The food was average and very expensive. The wait staff is non-existent. You have to order using a VR code and the waitstaff says hi once.

Ski Shores has been an Austin Landmark since the early 50's and remains unspoiled to this day. Their location is still unspoiled and you feel like its a throw back with the construction and surroundings. On the weekends from 9AM to 11AM they serve breakfast tacos which are so large that they really should call it a burrito. Everything is freshly cooked and they use good quality ingredients. What really makes it special is that you can get of these tasty items for $3. Additionally, they serve Mimosa's for the same $3. Its a special place that pleases the pallets as well as the eyes in a totally relaxing environment

Boating on the lakes is not complete without a visit to Ski Shores Waterfront Cafe. Cruise up and sitting on a table right on the water in a beautiful location makes for a long lazy lunch! Good service and good tacos or burgers with a Lone Star beer - close to paradise!

Was there this past week. Only way they can make it is not very many places on the lake. For a locally owned place you would think it would be better run, have better food and service. I can only compare it to the few other places on Lake Austin accessible by both car and boat. Tops is Hula Hut, has been for years. Hands down the best and part of the Chuy's brand. Food, service atmosphere is almost always at the top of the game at Hula Hut. Able's on the Lake, we go there when we do not want to wait at Hula Hut. County Line BBQ, is not great BBQ and hit or miss with service but location is great.

Ski Shores is somewhat unknown even to many Austin locals. It sits right on the water, in fact our table was on a deck that was out OVER the water! Boats pull up and dock to come have a meal. People bring their dogs too. All open air seating, some covered, some not. Water view is awesome, on a beautiful day it sparkles. You can watch people boating, tubing, skiing. The menu has a wide variety such as pizza, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, nachos. We've been twice, all having something different, and liked what we had.

This place is insanely nice and fun to be at! We met some friends over there for a quick lunch around 12:30pm and walk out of there 7:30pm. Man that was awesome! I will be returning soon to this place. Definitely one of my top 5 best places all over the world to eat at!!

Sad what's happened... been going since the '80's... we were out recently, and though I do appreciate the fact of the little sprucing up, it's lost it's charm, and the outlandish prices just add to killing it... why did they go up more than 2-3x? I get prices are needing to go up, but over $30 for simple fish or shrimp (nothing fancy at all)... Why is it so impersonal now? Seems to now be Californianized, and trying to go for a more exclusive group... yet, I only see that failing as well... I still don't see them paying the prices for mediocre food... also dropped just about all of the local craft beers, why? ... Sorry, but unless something significant changes, I wouldn't expect this place to last long... won't be back until I hear things have improved.... Pros: View Some indoor seating now

Love this place. So relaxing and fun. We booked a ferry with Float On, they picked us up at the Pennybacker Bridge and after a cruise on the water delivered us dock side. Casual, friendly and not to be missed. Go

located on the river northwest of Austin, it is a busy low key cafe with burgers tacos and beer. A delightful hangout for watching the boats speed by.

A great way to start the weekend is to share breakfast tacos overlooking the lake from the Ski Shores Waterfront restaurant. The menu is limited to start the day but the location overcomes about anything.

The staff was very prompt and stopped back often to check on water and to make sure everything was good. Skip the queso. Very basic without any real spice. The chicken sandwich special was very good. And the view and outdoor seating was great. I would go back for a casual relaxed meal.

Fun location on the water. Simple food like buggers that were just average. Good service. Would go back.

This is worth a relatively short drive off the beaten path of 2222 on a somewhat winding road for a delightful outdoors casual cafe by a marina with views of lake activity including fishing and boating and nearby houses across Lake Austin. Nothing fancy. Good burgers and fried onion rings plus other items on a limited menu. Bar too. Go during daylight hours to enjoy to the max. Great fun spot for both tourists and locals. Think about calling ahead to find out if there is a wait to eat if crowded.

The food is good, the vibe is also good, but the prices are exaggerated. Everything is super expensive, it makes no sense. For first visitors could be a nice place, but for old customers like me, this place lost the feeling of family restaurant in Austin. I don’t like it anymore, it is California on the river

Ski Shores reopened with nice cosmetic upgrades but same great vibe and location. Food seemed better but far more expensive. With this location, who needs great food.

I don't often write about places that are local, but having just visited this hidden gem for the first time I can't help but sing its praises. You have to go out of your way to find this café. It's on the river in one those places where you have to go to some lengths to make your way to it. The location is spectacular, though. Even though it was pushing 100 degrees, we sat outside, literally next to the water. The breeze and the cool water made it quite comfortable even with the heat. The view is one-of-a-kind, as the river is somewhat straight along this stretch and there are beautiful houses to look at and lots of activity on the water. The food is quite decent, albeit typical of most "fast casual" places (hamburgers and sandwiches.) The service was attentive. The prices were reasonable. I can't wait to go back.

Ski Shores has changed greatly over the last few years. First it was renovated from a walkup burger place to a full service restaurant with pizza delivery. This year no pizza but an expanded menu. Not the feel of the old restaurant and the personnel have completed changed. Good food but less of old Austin.

Horrendous service! 25 minutes to finally be greeted by a server, who did not even bother to tell us she was busy and would be right with us, even though she saw we had no water and were looking around in confusion for 25 minutes. We were brought the wrong appetizer, then the wrong food three times. I asked for a salad with Thousand Island dressing. Apparently they do not have any, but rather than informing us of this and asking what I would like instead, the waitress brought two alternatives of her choosing, French and Creole. I thought the Creole was their version of Thousand Island because it was the same color. Then I tasted it and my mouth nearly blew up from the heat of the dressing. 5 minutes later she comes over to inform me they have no Thousand Island so she choose the others. Definitely should have been informed of this prior to my food coming, and asked what I would prefer instead. On top of all the many mistakes, she put our two 5 year olds orders in separate from ours, so not only did our food come first and at different intervals, our children's food did not come until 45 minutes later and after we requested the bill. By the way, they ordered a kids hamburger with fruit and corn dog with fruit. Pretty straight forward and simple for a bar and grill burger joint. Today is my birthday, so needless to say this was an incredibly disappointing birthday meal. The only positives I can take from this is the beautiful lake setting and the family movie and smores they offer on Fridays during the summer. The drive up from downtown Austin was beautiful as well. Considering we made the drive for the kids to enjoy a lakeside outdoor movie and some smores, we achieved that. The rest of the experience was just a major disappoint and will prevent us from ever making the drive for this restaurant in the future!!!

So slow for bar food.... 1 hour wait times ... low staff count ... clearly keeping costs low as they are on the lake and have no competition ...

Great local joint. Dog friendly. Plenty of seating, wait staff awesome. Food is what you expect: good pub food and great drinks. Mel waited on us. She was super sweet. Right on the water, charm and character and boats in/out. Don’t ever change!

We live down the street. We go to this restaurant about every 2 weeks. Usually get the hamburger and Mexican martini. The Mexican martinis cost $9 and the hamburgers $10 and up. Great view and a good place for the kids and dogs.

I've been going to ski shores since 2008 and have watched it develop from a small setup to what it is now. The food is always good, simple but good quality and the waiting staff are energetic and are clear on any kitchen delays during busy times. I've always enjoyed the food and the laid back atmosphere, even during busy times. A great place to sit in the shade and watch the boats on the river. Life music happens at weekends, which is a great addition to an already special place. Recommended.

Ski Shores has stepped up their game this year with an improved menu and much improved food. The service has always been great and remains so. We had the fish tacos, pulled chicken BBQ (yum!), spicy beef salad and spinach salad, all very good! Great place on the lake to relax, have a margarita, and fun lunch or dinner.

My family visited this restaurant recently for a casual lunch. We had a variety of casual foods which were plentiful and satisfying. The burger menu had plenty of variety and chicken and fish dishes were also available and tasty. The service wasn't rapido, but we enjoyed our lunch in leisure.

Food was okay but not great. The biggest drawback for me was the margaritas were sub-par. Nice views but not a place I would frequent.

Around since 1948 this place is just the best-right on the water, picnic tables and umbrella tables really put you in the mood to relax. The hamburgers are great and you can ask to have your ordinary fries turned into fried okra instead-then you'll know for sure you're in Texas. On weekends there are lots of ski boats that dock for a bite to eat and its quiet when school has restarted during the week. Lovely place to take a break.

This used to be a local favorite but was recently bought by MML hospitality group and has been ruined. Bad , expensive bar food ($20 for 2 small fish tacos, $32 for catfish, $20 burger that didn’t come with anything),you have to order on a pain in the butt app, the food was okay but came out at different times, the drinks came out last. Great setting but it’s lost its soul and we won’t go back.

Think those movies where the teacher recognizes potential in their disgruntled students that they don’t recognize in themselves, and coaches them to greatness. This restaurant is the worst kid in the class. The one that we all know could be a STAR, but has lacked proper mentorship and guidance so that it can just stop making lazy bad decisions and being it’s own worst enemy. Michelle Pfeiffer, where are you when Ski Shores needs you?! Specifics: Pro: The setting is phenomenal. We were happy that they put some lipstick on it and dressed it up. They play cool music. Con: Service? What service? You order from an app. so you get to stare at your phone for the first 15 minutes after you’ve sat down with your friends and family. Did you plug in your credit card number? Wait another 3 minutes to place your order then. Place a breakfast order at 10:30am, it doesn’t arrive until 10:50, and then you realize you need to order one extra breakfast taco. Sorry… the menu changed at 11:00, and the brainless robot kitchen is absolutely positively incapable of processing that request. and the humans can’t / won’t either. and of course, there is NO WAITER to have given you the courtesy of telling you the menu was about to change… At least you don’t have to tip, or at least I didn’t. I mean, who am I tipping anyway? The app? of all the “waiters” standing around talking to each other, no one took our order, noticed my empty cup of coffee, asked if we needed anything, or even noticed when we got up and left. Tip? here’s your tip: ditch the app. teach all those staff standing around how to actually talk to the customer and be useful. The limited things that they offer on the menu are both overpriced and not very good. I thought the purpose of specialization in a narrow menu was to perfect a few crowd favorites and do them consistently well. Maybe with efficiency they keep the price low, or speed up the process. Not in this case. it’s just limited choices of entirely mediocre food. Sadly… just like before. Only more expensive now. Seriously tho, the French toast is three pieces of sandwich bread bathing in a shallow pool of syrup. So, because there are basically only 2 options to have a dining experience on Lake Austin, this place survives. but Jesus, put a little effort into it, will ya? it could be soooooooooooooooo much better. What a disappointment.

This is a great place to boat and people (or boat-people) watch. We only had drinks, which were fine, nothing special, but the breeze and rustic vibe are totally Austin and totally laid back. We were not hurried in the least, even though all we ordered was one drink and had dock seats. We love how "off the beaten path" it is, which becomes more and more difficult to find in the Austin area. Go for the atmosphere, even if the drinks and food are nothing stellar. The place itself is.

I'm an avid patron at Ski Shores. I run a boat rental company on lake Austin. Lots of clients like to stop and eat. This place is really the place that I suggest when boating on the lake. I wish we had a few more places to park but I know they are doing the max already. I suggest the Border Burger, it will solve all your problems and get you ready for another couple of hours on the boat.

Great pizza & wings. Decent selection of cocktails & beer. Staff is always friendly & eager to please. You can catch some music there on the weekends too. Nice way to spend an evening.

It’s such a cool venue. right on the water , watching the boats and turtle show! However be prepared to PAY for this location!The drinks are small and expensive!15$ and up!! The food is nothing very special except pricey with small portions! two drinks and two tiny tostadas over $50!!! small burger 15$ !! not worth eating there!! service is ok. you order thru an app and someone delivers it.

My family and friends have been coming here for decades. We were so excited to finally have Ski Shores open again after being closed since November. What a disappointment it has been on two visits. There's no personal interaction with the staff except to tell us to order from the QR code. We received our first round of drinks - very tasty but VERY EXPENSIVE!!! We received our appetizer fine, but we waited and waited and waited for our second drink. We were told their Wifi wasn't working. O...K.... how about going to each table and asking everyone what was ordered to make sure no orders were dropped! The food runner guy took our drinks order. There were 3 of us in our party and only one of our entrees came out. Again, we writhe and waited and then after 5 minutes, the 2nd entree came out. Our 3rd entree never came out! We had to walk to the kitchen ourselves and ask where our food was!! We then had to sit and watch our third person eat as we had already eaten ours before it got ice cold! My fish taco was blah with no taste at all. We were pretty disgusted at this point, especially because the manager passed by our table, and others, numerous times and never once stopped to ask any of the customers if everything was OK. Bad manager! We did leave only a 15% tip because we knew none of this was the food runner's fault and all the staff shares tips. **Very poor decision to order via QR code!! **Managers need to be be more constructive in helping fix the kinks. This was my first visit after the reopening and my 2nd visit was just as bad as drink orders never arrived. ******Also, BEWARE that if you order a drink at the bar IN PERSON, you will automatically be charged 20% TIP!!!!!!!!

Our family visits Austin quite frequently. This restaurant is so laid back-and the staff is very friendly. It is right on the water and there are always fish and geese coming up to the edge. The food is good and they have a good variety. People park their boats hop out and get a bite to eat. You can bring your dog and they even have water bowls for them. On Fridays during the summer they play kids cartoons and you can roast s'mores. Also during the summer on saturdays and Sundays they play live music. My personal favorite item to order is the Asian crunch salad. They always run drink specials which is nice too. If you're looking for a laid back relaxing lunch or dinner this is definitely a great Austin stop.

We have been there 5 times since they reopened under new management since we live in the neighborhood & the grandkids want to go. Not once has someone come to our table to see if we need anything. I have had to go search for someone to bring us water and to ask questions about ordering. They have gone to a new ordering system that is extremely confusing if you want to split the bill. There is not the friendly feeling of getting to know the servers (since there is no one to help you except to bring the food) and if you need something during your meal you have to go find someone yourself. The food is better but extremely pricey and I have left there frustrated every time because of the lack of service.

We stopped in to Ski Shores with another family for lunch on a warm Sunday. We sat outside under the enormous cypress trees and ate a pleasant meal while we enjoyed the breeze and cool breeze blowing off the misting fans. The parking lot fills up fast so get to your meal a little earlier than you might otherwise.

Casual & relaxing, so enjoyable on a beautiful day to sit right at the waterside. Food is very good - burgers, sandwiches, tacos and such. Covered and outdoor seating, pet friendly too!

Very much a lake front (burgers and seafood) kind of place. Very good drinks, good service and the food was simple but really good. Only downside (hope they are reading this)... the menus...the physical menus smell... a long time of sweaty hands and sunscreen....

Laid back place on the lake. Good drinks, nice view, dogs are allowed in grass atea, and the food was descent chow. It's a pretty drivebin by bike and car...boating in is easier and there's ample parking for boats.

My daughters and I ate lunch at Ski Shores recently after a morning on the lake. I didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. The menu had a variety of options and everyone's food was tasty. The service is good and the facilities are clean & comfortable. We will definitely be back.

We went to Ski Shores yesterday to see the new operation. The new prices are higher than the old ones but the food seemed to be higher quality. The parking is more pain than it was before. We ended up parking about 1/4 mile and walking. Pretty sure the residents down there are going to revolt. The ordering and payment is all done via QR code, so you aren’t going to be making substitutions and you can’t ask any questions about the dishes. The payment process was even more ridiculous. Granted, we went during the first week of re-opening but they have some improvements to make.

First time at this restaurant...never even heard of it until a friend mentioned it. Well off the beaten path to the point of being difficult to find. Fare is typical bar/pub type food, burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc. I had the classic cheese burger. Quality was a little above average, but they do use a sweet type bun that I enjoyed. Fries were good too. The setting is what you go for. You are directly on the water and you have an up close look at all the water activities. Service was good and they do have a full bar.

There is nothing quite like being out on the lake and getting to pull up to a great restraunt in your boat, tie off, and go relax and people watch. They are fantastic, fun menu, outdoor movie after dark, fire pit for schmores, and very festive.

I love a place where you can eat outside, especially on a nice lake. Casual eating right on the water, bring your swimsuit and a pair of shorts and come on in. The view is great, they play beachy, reggae music and it's definitely family friendly. So for all that, it gets high marks. Problem is, the food is overpriced and not very good. We waited nearly an hour for our food to come out, and we are talking just burgers, chicken tenders, and a grilled cheese sandwich. The grilled cheese for my little guy was so nasty he refused to eat it. I tried it, and agreed with him! I had the chicken tenders, which were large, but they should've been for $10. Fried pickles were spicy but heavy on the grease. Hubby said his burger was disgusting. My brother and sister in law ate their food, but didn't have any kind remarks about it. Our server only came by a few times. He was polite when he was there. He just wasn't there enough. This is one of those places you could go and just have drinks and maybe an appetizer and enjoy the view. I wouldn't go when you're really wanting a good meal, or when you are in a hurry.

The open air dining here is a great experience. Picnic tables next to the boat docks is the best place to sample fish tacos. The fish used were first class white meat fish fillets. Great sauce and fries included. The kids ordered pizza and it was delicious. The restrooms could use some upgrading as it was about on par with a porta john at a construction site. But the food was great. Also had some live music playing. Can't beat this place to sit, eat, drink, and relax.

Sitting about half way between the two dams on Lake Austin, this is our goto food stop. The setting is really pleasant, down on the water shaded by trees, It is a really nice place to sit and have a drink, eat a decent burger or fish sandwich. You can feed the fish and turtles that hang out there as well. You can reach this place from shore. Just drive out to City Park /Emma Long Park on lake Austin and look for the turn off . Afterwards go enjoy Emma Long park. If you live in Austin and haven't been, then you have missed a real treat.

It's on Lake Austin, boats going by, the refreshing smell of cool water, cypress trees and cool, refreshing drinks. The setting is comfortable and the service is friendly and prompt. I love it. The only thing I would change? I'd have them add a gluten-free menu.

Ski Shores is the picture of lakeside dining. You can dock your boat, feed the huge fish, enjoy the views, and even have a very good meal. The food is lakeline, venue perfect for relaxing, service very good. Today we went for their weekend breakfast of tacos and coffee. A great way to start my day.

Our family came here for lunch with our three young toddlers. Very friendly place. Kids had a great time playing at their playground & feeding turtles & fish. The atmosphere is laid back & relaxing. It was fun to people watch. The view is incredible. Friendly service staff. Food is ok, not stellar.

Things have changed under new ownership and not in a good way. No waiters, Q-codes only to order. Very expensive. Forced 18% tip. Nice views (a pro) doesn’t make up for the cons.

visited grandkids, granddaughter's 10th birthday, and their parents drove us through the wilds of Austin to this venue. We found a table dockside, and partook of a delicious meal of hamburgers and salads, not a fancy place but the atmosphere is quite enjoyable. The grands fed the fish, turtles and swans who frequent to restaurant (wonder why) on this Austin lake establishment and also plays several games in the video arcade. It's a bit far from their home, but well worth a visit

Open since 1954, this spot is an Austin classic. Have the Border Burger! You can arrive by boat or car. Not sure you even need shoes. Super casual. Family friendly with a playground and video games. But you could just as easily encounter a bunch of rowdy boat drinkers.

If ambiance were the only criteria, this place would Geoff the charts. Great location to sit by the water, pulling up your boat, etc. But Ski Shores underwent a renovation a year or so ago that introduced table service (thus making it bait more trendy, I suppose), but the changed the menu too. The hamburgers of the old place, which I have been enjoying since the 1970s, are gone. The new burgers are clearly inferior. They went from being one of the best in town to one of the quite mediocre ones. Finally, the service seems to have lst the personal touch it once had. Gone is the onsight owner who made sure everyone was happy. Now it's just a place to grab something on the lake and is sorely in need of competition.

With the outrageous price of gas in our economy, Austinites must carefully decide where to spend this precious commodity. Ski Shores, which is accessed by either boat or car, should be the last place on this list. Not only is it difficult to find when driving, but it's lake location might as well be in Lake Travis. And the worst part is yet to come...If you thought you were in for a relaxing family meal on the lake, think again. Upon arrival, the restaurant's proprietor, George Levy, makes it a point to rid all potential customers of any outside beverages, INCLUDING Gatorade for pregnant women, and formula for babies. No exceptions. And if you happen to have litter in your car or boat that you thought would be okay to throw away in a Ski Shores trashcan, think again. It seems George would rather his customers toss garbage into Lake Austin, so he wouldn't have to bother with taking the trash out. And then there's the food...most of which is pretty decent. But I'm not sure how many people are ever in the mood to wait almost an hour for an overpriced cheeseburger and fries that are just so-so. Current management needs a serious attitude adjustment, or better yet, complete replacement in order for this place to stay above water (no pun intended).

This is a great location, it is right on the water of Lake Austin, there is a boat dock and picnic tables with full service. Also inside dining. The food is nothing to write home about but the location makes it worth the visit.

We went here after work on a Friday for some burgers and beers. Great place with an awesome vibe and good athmosphere. There was a live band playing and the food was pretty good! Awesome location with good views of the lake.

The staff are helpful and polite the food is good and the general area is beautiful to see . Don't forget to feed the grass carp they will almost feed from your hand . All in all a great eatery

We went here today to celebrate our daughter's birthday. She selected the restaurant because of the beautiful location. This didn't help much when it took at least 30 minutes before we saw a waiter and then it took over two hours, yes... two hours before we received our food. And... it was cold. We couldn't send it back because we did not have another two hours to wait. When I tried to pay, I actually stood by the counter trying to give the lady my credit card. After twenty minutes, I put cash on the folder and left! Will I return? Never!!

Oh my! The Ruby Sipper cocktail is excellent at Ski Shores! Highly recommend trying one. I’ve been on the lake for the holiday weekend - so we’ve been here several times for meals. I’ve had the kid’s meal grilled cheese (okay), fish and shrimp (good) and turkey wrap (very good). Friday family night with movie and smores! Kid friendly with playground, sand play area and arcade. Signature cocktails $9.00 and most menu items $9-$12. They also sell bags of ice! Open air - bar style place - not fancy - dog friendly - and tables on the water. Great get away from the everyday and great cocktails!

Ski Shores is a great and easy way to escape the city and enjoy the lake. The location is amazing, service excellent and food is plenty good enough. I cannot get enough. Try it.

What a nice surprise. How have I lived in Austin since 1996, yet never knew of this place? Such a laid back, shoreside/dockside restaurant with a fun vibe, and plenty opportunity for a shade seat outside (if you can't get seating inside). You'll want to sit outside, though. Boats pull straight up to the slips on the same level as the outside seating. Order food from your smart phone at your own pace. Kids have a blast playing in the sand with the giant beach balls in the play area. Didn't give 5 stars, only because the food was mediocre, but pricey. PERFECT waterside restaurant, though.

Poor service. 40 minutes from order to delivery. Fish tacos - OK. Chef's salad - very poor - leaves wilted - sliced carrot dried out - meat looked like just unwrapped from supermarket and scattered on plate. Admosphere - good.

We go there frequently and like the pizza, great burgers and breakfast tacos (they also have good full breakfasts--too much food for me!).

Shhh! Don't tell anyone about this quiet outdoor restaurant on the lake! I love going there with family and friends to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. If too many people found out about it, it might lose some of that special magic that it has! What's better than a burger and beer by the lake after work on Friday?

We keep trying to like this restaurant because of the lake views, but alas, we're done. Once you are seated, they make you order using an app. You order your food, you have to pay and tip before it comes, which means that if the food doesn't come out, you are out that money. Our order came out in stages, which means person 1 got their food first, then 10 minutes later, person 2 and 3 got part of their food, then 10 minutes later, person four got their meal. After 45 minutes, the rest of the meal never came. We asked for a refund for the food that didn't come. They said they would refund it, but they never did. Because you pay on an app, there's no way to get that money back if they don't do it on their end. So overall, 2 burgers, 1 chicken sandwich, 3 very rubbery chicken fingers, and 2 orders of fries that never came were $112. Everyone ate at different times since the food didn't come out all at once, and we didn't get the refund we were promised for what never arrived. We aren't coming back.

Lovely place on the lake! Great way for spending a lazy afternoon watching the world go by and staring at the turtles flapping their way in the water. Simple fares, golden pond! Peaceful and pure bliss all in one.

Fun place to go hang out at the river and have great food and great service watching the boats go by! Our food was delicious and drinks were ice cold. It’s such a fun atmosphere with families and dogs. Casual, friendly staff, great service.

This is one of my favorite places for relaxing fun meals. It is totally informal and some come here on their boat to eat and drink. Complete family place with sand and playground. Limited menu but food matches the place.

Friendly people, great food and awesome atmosphere! If you have kids this place has an outside playground. Also, the lake has fish, turtles and Swans that like to be fed. I had a burger and fries with a top shelf Margarita. Really enjoyed both. Looking forward to visiting this place again.

On my trip back to Austin after 15 years I was so happy to see that Ski Shores has survived the growth and hasn't been razed to place a million dollar home in its place. This is a down-home lakeside restaurant with picnic tables right on a covered dock right on the water. They serve up one of the best catfish sandwiches ever. My daughter was entertained by the turtles and fish in the water right by our table. They also have really nice live music in the evenings that just sets the Austin mood. Love it!