The number of boat up restaurants and bars along the waterfront is truly amazing, providing everything from fine dining to casual refreshments, even when spending the day on the Lake, and most furnish a staffed courtesy dock providing easy access to Lakefront eateries and amenities. These establishments are most popular in the warmer months, but as all are accessible by land as well as by water, many have become local favorites year round, and promote daily and weekly specials, as well as live and broadcast entertainment options on a regular basis. Almost all facilities are family friendly, providing a children's menu and activities, and more than a few are pet friendly with pet menus as well, creating an environment the whole family can enjoy returning to again and again.
The majority of restaurants on the lake provide other amenities that add to the ambience and culinary experience of dining on the Lake, and the most common, aside from the courtesy docks, is a swimming pool or protected, lakefront beach. As a waterfront establishment, most people arriving by boat are engaging in water sports and activities, and are already outfitted for a swim if desired, and even when coming by car for boat-free dining, preparing for all the amenities can contribute to a pleasant afternoon with friends and family.
Of course, most conventional restaurants serve alcoholic beverages, but at Lake of the Ozarks, bars and cocktails are taken to another level. Specialty drinks are almost customary at waterfront bars, usually according to the theme of the facility, and are often iced or frozen beverages, due to the warm weather prevalent at the Lake. Swimming pools often feature swim up bars, and may be divided because of age restrictions, or there may be a connected or nearby all ages pool, in addition to the pool with the poolside bar. Music and entertainment is also quite common at at dining establishments, which often feature anything from an outdoor deck, to a small stage, to purpose built amphitheaters on site, featuring daily, weekly, or nationally recognized performers.
Many of the full service resorts on the Lake offer multiple dining options, from upscale to casual eateries, and feature additional amenities such as a bar, swimming pool, arcade, spa, shopping, golf, or even a waterpark, at their facilities, meaning a simple outing for a snack could turn into a day long event for the adventurous or family minded. Most waterfront restaurants have some activities available in addition to swimming, such as beach volleyball or cornhole, and some feature weekly or seasonal tournaments or leagues. If a quiet meal is your preference, there is also a wealth of smaller cafes and dining options, featuring selections on par with larger establishments, and you can find them all over the Lake, in nearly any cove or inlet.
Spending the day on a boat doesn't mean you need to pack all your meals before you leave, and the Lake of the Ozarks provides plenty of possibilities for waterfront dining no matter where you find yourself in the area. If you prefer to enjoy refreshments on your boat, most restaurants offer carry-out options, and if you just need to replenish the drink and snack supplies, marinas, gas docks, and other waterfront activity locations frequently have snack shops or supply stores, delivering a wide range of necessities and local specialties at convenient locations. At Lake of the Ozarks, grabbing a meal or snack on the water is just as easy as on land, and only adds to the adventure the Lake can provide.