Now that the weather is finally getting warmer, more restaurants are opening their outdoor eating areas. For a real treat after being cooped up all winter, be sure to explore one of Indiana’s many waterside dining eateries. Here are some of the best lakeside restaurants in Indiana that you absolutely have to check out! Who said the lakes in Indiana aren’t perfect for a restaurant setting?

  1. Lighthouse Restaurant - Cedar Lake

Lighthouse/TripAdvisor

Lighthouse/TripAdvisor Lighthouse Restaurant is located on the stunning shores of Cedar Lake. With outdoor dining, a variety of indoor dining options, and a unique bar area, this upscale restaurant has an atmosphere that’s right for every customer. Indulge in fresh seafood entrees like their salmon dinner, bacon-wrapped scallops, crab cakes, or lobster. 7501 Constitution Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 46303, USA

  1. Boathouse Restaurant - Winona Lake

Boathouse Restaurant/Facebook

Kashyap M./Google Maps Photos This northern restaurant is nested on the charming Winona Lake, You can eat indoors or on their outdoor patio area, where you can watch the sun set over this picture-perfect lake. Some of their specialties include fish tacos, ahi tuna, clam chowder, and fried green tomatoes. This stunning lakeside eatery in Indiana is a must-do for locals and visitors alike. 700 Park Ave, Winona Lake, IN 46590, USA

  1. The Channel Marker - Syracuse

Ben P./TripAdvisor

The Channel Marker/Facebook This delightful Indiana lakeside restaurant is unique. Why? Because you can drive your boat right up to the dock and climb up to enjoy a great meal. Walk, drive, or boat your way to this charming eatery, with tropical decor, a fantastic tiki bar, and inventive cold island-themed drinks. Enjoy seafood favorites like coconut shrimp, cold water lobster tail, Chilean sea bass, and Alaska steak. 5793 E Pickwick Dr, Syracuse, IN 46567, USA

  1. Ainsley’s Cafe - Brookville

Steve Richardson/Google Maps Photos

Keith Gardner/Google Maps Photos Ainsley’s Cafe is a local haunt in Brookville that packs up when the weather is nice. Enjoy a great meal of seafood parm, shrimp, or calamari while you take in the gorgeous view of Brookville Lake. 15179 Old State Rd 101, Liberty, IN 47353, USA

  1. Bridge’s Waterside Grille - Michigan City

Gustavo Soto/Google Maps Photos

Steve Pearson/Google Maps Photos This lakeside restaurant in Indiana offers vibrant decor, an outside bar, and plenty of lakeside seating. Specialties include lobster bisque, fish tacos, and coconut shrimp. They also have a good selection of vegetarian and even vegan options. 508 E 2nd St, Michigan City, IN 46360, USA

  1. Rick’s Boatyard Cafe - Indianapolis

Gregg McAllister/Google Maps Photos

Gregg McAllister/Google Maps Photos This popular central Indiana destination is the place to be in the summer. Located on Eagle Creek, this seafood and waterside restaurant serves up a diverse menu of all of your seafood favorites, as well as sandwiches and salads. Come see why this is one of the most beloved restaurants in Indiana, lakeside or not! 4050 Dandy Trail, Indianapolis, IN 46254, USA

  1. Rivercrest Lighthouse Restaurant - Madison

Geoff McCuen/Google Maps Photos

chris chavez/Google Maps Photos This southern Indiana hidden gem sits along the Ohio River, offering one of the best views of the water in the area. Enjoy fresh and local seafood as well as all of your favorite pub foods at this local legend. 375 W Vaughn Dr, Madison, IN 47250, USA

Which of these lakeside restaurants in Indiana have you been to? What waterside restaurants in Indiana did we miss?

Lighthouse/TripAdvisor

Lighthouse Restaurant is located on the stunning shores of Cedar Lake. With outdoor dining, a variety of indoor dining options, and a unique bar area, this upscale restaurant has an atmosphere that’s right for every customer. Indulge in fresh seafood entrees like their salmon dinner, bacon-wrapped scallops, crab cakes, or lobster.

7501 Constitution Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 46303, USA

Boathouse Restaurant/Facebook

Kashyap M./Google Maps Photos

This northern restaurant is nested on the charming Winona Lake, You can eat indoors or on their outdoor patio area, where you can watch the sun set over this picture-perfect lake. Some of their specialties include fish tacos, ahi tuna, clam chowder, and fried green tomatoes. This stunning lakeside eatery in Indiana is a must-do for locals and visitors alike.

700 Park Ave, Winona Lake, IN 46590, USA

Ben P./TripAdvisor

The Channel Marker/Facebook

This delightful Indiana lakeside restaurant is unique. Why? Because you can drive your boat right up to the dock and climb up to enjoy a great meal. Walk, drive, or boat your way to this charming eatery, with tropical decor, a fantastic tiki bar, and inventive cold island-themed drinks. Enjoy seafood favorites like coconut shrimp, cold water lobster tail, Chilean sea bass, and Alaska steak.

5793 E Pickwick Dr, Syracuse, IN 46567, USA

Steve Richardson/Google Maps Photos

Keith Gardner/Google Maps Photos

Ainsley’s Cafe is a local haunt in Brookville that packs up when the weather is nice. Enjoy a great meal of seafood parm, shrimp, or calamari while you take in the gorgeous view of Brookville Lake.

15179 Old State Rd 101, Liberty, IN 47353, USA

Gustavo Soto/Google Maps Photos

Steve Pearson/Google Maps Photos

This lakeside restaurant in Indiana offers vibrant decor, an outside bar, and plenty of lakeside seating. Specialties include lobster bisque, fish tacos, and coconut shrimp. They also have a good selection of vegetarian and even vegan options.

508 E 2nd St, Michigan City, IN 46360, USA

Gregg McAllister/Google Maps Photos

This popular central Indiana destination is the place to be in the summer. Located on Eagle Creek, this seafood and waterside restaurant serves up a diverse menu of all of your seafood favorites, as well as sandwiches and salads. Come see why this is one of the most beloved restaurants in Indiana, lakeside or not!

4050 Dandy Trail, Indianapolis, IN 46254, USA

Geoff McCuen/Google Maps Photos

chris chavez/Google Maps Photos

This southern Indiana hidden gem sits along the Ohio River, offering one of the best views of the water in the area. Enjoy fresh and local seafood as well as all of your favorite pub foods at this local legend.

375 W Vaughn Dr, Madison, IN 47250, USA

For another wonderful waterside dining restaurant in the Hoosier state, be sure to check out Captain’s Cabin.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Restaurants By The Lake In Indiana June 05, 2022 Tori Jane What are some excellent lakeside restaurants in Indiana?   Indiana is located on some of the shorelines of beautiful Lake Michigan, and it’s home to plenty of rivers and lakes of its own, too. As a result, you’ll find all kinds of great lakeside restaurants in Indiana with lots of options for dinner with a view. Head to Michigan City and check out the Waterfront Bistro or go to Bloomington and enjoy dinner at Tradewinds Waterfront Restaurant. Oh, and there’s more – keep reading for ideas about those! As it turns out, there are lots of delectable options for lakeside dining in Indiana!   Where can I enjoy lakeside dining in Indiana?   The list continues! With literally dozens of choices, your dreams about lakeside dining in Indiana are all about to come true. Another one of our favorite places for lakeside restaurants in Indiana is the awesome Rick’s Boatyard, which is located along the breathtaking Eagle Creek Reservoir. It was opened and established in 1994, celebrating nearly three decades of delicious dinners with epic views. It’s perfect for just about any occasion, from anniversaries and birthdays to engagements and graduations. It’s also a great place for a first date!   Are there any great restaurants on the water in Indiana?   We think so! There are all the delightful, unique places listed in the above paragraphs, and then there’s more! Wander over to Culver and experience the delight that is the Lakehouse Grille, and Cedar Lake has a to-die-for establishment called Lighthouse Restaurant that’s got some of the tastiest chops and seafood in Indiana. In Noblesville, you’ll discover the delights of Wolfie’s Grill, and in Fort Wayne, the Lakeside Café is waiting to take your order. Then, there are awesome options like T-Bones Pier 11, which is in LaPorta, and Grandma’s Lakeside Café in Rocksville is the bees’ knees.  

The OIYS Visitor Center

Restaurants By The Lake In Indiana

June 05, 2022

Tori Jane

What are some excellent lakeside restaurants in Indiana?   Indiana is located on some of the shorelines of beautiful Lake Michigan, and it’s home to plenty of rivers and lakes of its own, too. As a result, you’ll find all kinds of great lakeside restaurants in Indiana with lots of options for dinner with a view. Head to Michigan City and check out the Waterfront Bistro or go to Bloomington and enjoy dinner at Tradewinds Waterfront Restaurant. Oh, and there’s more – keep reading for ideas about those! As it turns out, there are lots of delectable options for lakeside dining in Indiana!   Where can I enjoy lakeside dining in Indiana?   The list continues! With literally dozens of choices, your dreams about lakeside dining in Indiana are all about to come true. Another one of our favorite places for lakeside restaurants in Indiana is the awesome Rick’s Boatyard, which is located along the breathtaking Eagle Creek Reservoir. It was opened and established in 1994, celebrating nearly three decades of delicious dinners with epic views. It’s perfect for just about any occasion, from anniversaries and birthdays to engagements and graduations. It’s also a great place for a first date!   Are there any great restaurants on the water in Indiana?   We think so! There are all the delightful, unique places listed in the above paragraphs, and then there’s more! Wander over to Culver and experience the delight that is the Lakehouse Grille, and Cedar Lake has a to-die-for establishment called Lighthouse Restaurant that’s got some of the tastiest chops and seafood in Indiana. In Noblesville, you’ll discover the delights of Wolfie’s Grill, and in Fort Wayne, the Lakeside Café is waiting to take your order. Then, there are awesome options like T-Bones Pier 11, which is in LaPorta, and Grandma’s Lakeside Café in Rocksville is the bees’ knees.  

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Indiana is located on some of the shorelines of beautiful Lake Michigan, and it’s home to plenty of rivers and lakes of its own, too. As a result, you’ll find all kinds of great lakeside restaurants in Indiana with lots of options for dinner with a view. Head to Michigan City and check out the Waterfront Bistro or go to Bloomington and enjoy dinner at Tradewinds Waterfront Restaurant. Oh, and there’s more – keep reading for ideas about those! As it turns out, there are lots of delectable options for lakeside dining in Indiana!  

Where can I enjoy lakeside dining in Indiana?  

The list continues! With literally dozens of choices, your dreams about lakeside dining in Indiana are all about to come true. Another one of our favorite places for lakeside restaurants in Indiana is the awesome Rick’s Boatyard, which is located along the breathtaking Eagle Creek Reservoir. It was opened and established in 1994, celebrating nearly three decades of delicious dinners with epic views. It’s perfect for just about any occasion, from anniversaries and birthdays to engagements and graduations. It’s also a great place for a first date!  

Are there any great restaurants on the water in Indiana?  

We think so! There are all the delightful, unique places listed in the above paragraphs, and then there’s more! Wander over to Culver and experience the delight that is the Lakehouse Grille, and Cedar Lake has a to-die-for establishment called Lighthouse Restaurant that’s got some of the tastiest chops and seafood in Indiana. In Noblesville, you’ll discover the delights of Wolfie’s Grill, and in Fort Wayne, the Lakeside Café is waiting to take your order. Then, there are awesome options like T-Bones Pier 11, which is in LaPorta, and Grandma’s Lakeside Café in Rocksville is the bees’ knees.