My husband and brother was in the mood for barbecue during our last visit to the Ozarks a few weeks ago and Half Sauced Barbeque was the first place that we found from where we were staying. I looked on a few different websites for reviews but didn’t really any see any feedback so we decided to give it a try and really it wasn’t that bad.

They have a large variety of smoked fresh meats that have different types of sauces on them. I ordered barbecue wings and everyone else ordered the smoked barbecue ribs and seemed to enjoy it. The prices aren’t that high so even if you are paying for a large group it’s still affordable. I do wish they gave you bigger servings per order. We ordered a couple of different appetizers thinking that it would be enough to feed everyone until the individual orders came but it wasn’t so we had to order double what we had originally ordered. Since the prices were decent it wasn’t too bad.

I think that the service that we received was good and most of the staff was pretty nice to us. Our waiter refilled our drinks fairly quickly and was attentive so we didn’t have to wait for long periods of time for things like you do at some restaurants. They were fairly busy but still seemed to be on track so I would give them 7 out of 10. I would definitely eat there again and recommend others to eat there as well. You are getting good food at an affordable price with great service.

Oh there is one thing that I did not like about Half Sauced Barbeque and that is the bathrooms. It could have been that they just had not been cleaned that day because there was no toilet paper in any of the stalls and some of the commodes were less than sanitary.

My visit at the Shorty Pants Lounge and Marina wasn’t too bad. We had dinner there during our vacation last year and the food was good but the prices were a bit higher that we were used to. Of course we paid it so we could have something that we liked to eat but I don’t know if I would be able to bring myself to pay that kind of price on a daily basis but its okay every now and then. They had a variety of entrees that were under $10 which wasn’t priced too bad since several people could share it.

I ordered the duck wrap which was something that I had never heard of and I really didn’t like it after a couple of bites so I gave it to my dad which devoured it. He really liked it and ended up giving me part of his catfish and blackened snapper which was very good. My mom had ribs and a salad which she thought was good other than being a bit overcooked.

Even though the food wasn’t the best that I had ever had the atmosphere here was pretty laid back which made it a fun day and I really enjoyed the outside tables that they had which allowed us to eat and watch the boats dock at the same time. We got to see boats bring in fish food for many hungry fish that actually swam to the top to eat. I was able to take a few really good pictures for my travel journals which I really was excited about.

I would give Shorty Pants Lounge & Marina a 6 overall based on beautiful views, good service, decent food, good seating but with the downfall of pricey food. I would eat there again and would recommend it to friends and family.

I love Italian food and I love Li’l Rizzo’s. I live 120 miles away and I drive there every weekend just to eat there. Their food is beyond amazing and I love the laid back atmosphere here. I have tried almost everything on the menu and usually try to have something different every time I visit but my two favorite things have got to be the lasagna and pepperoni pizza. It has just the right amount of everything and really feels as though you are eating dishes from Italy.

Not only is the food great but the service is equally as good. Prices are average so I am happy with them. If you have a family is place is great and they really do go out of their way to put a smile on the face of kids. I see the servers telling jokes and just being naturally happy with where they work. How many places to do you really see where the workers enjoy serving their customers?

I did hear a couple people complain about the noise level and it was a bit loud but I don’t think I have ever seen a pizza joint that didn’t have any type of noise especially if there were children or teenagers there. I didn’t mind the noise especially since we usually have a large group with us for lunch. They cater well to groups of most sizes. The second time I ever ate here was after a wedding reception and we had at least 30 people in our group and we were all seated within 15 minutes and had our food in less than 30.

I give Li’l Rizzo’s a 10 because they are great at everything and provide on the best food at affordable prices. I will continue eating here at least 2 times a month like normal.

I have mixed feelings about Michael’s Steak Chalet for several different reasons. My husband wanted to stop here because he loves steak and we were starving so I agreed (even though I do not like steak I assumed I could find something else to eat). When we first got there the ambiance seemed really great and it was packed so I figured that the food would be really good. We asked how long it would take to get a table and was told 10 minutes max. It ended up taking about 45 minutes to be seated which really was disappointing since we had been traveling for 8 hours straight and were really hungry.

Once we got to the table it took another 20 minutes before our waitress even came by and she wanted to bring us drinks and give us a few minutes to order but we were ready by the time she got back with the drinks. I ordered the prime rib and he ordered steak (of course). The food ended up tasting okay but definitely not the best that I had ever had. My potato was overcooked and I started to ask for a new one but figured by the time I got it the rest of my food would be cold. The views were nice and the food was decent so overall I would give it about a 5. I would eat there again if I had no other choice but it wouldn’t be the first one that I picked.

One of the biggest things that I didn’t like was they have a smokers section and the smoke was blowing right in on us. We are not smokers so that was a huge problem for us to endure especially while eating. If I ever eat there again I would ask to be seated away from any smoking areas.

My family and I have been to the Lake of the Ozarks about 5 times total and I have eaten at On The Rise about 7 times and love it more and more each time I visit. It’s not only one of the best places on the lake to eat but maybe one of the best places that I have ever eaten in my life. To start off they have a large variety of foods available including breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are a bakery and a restaurant so you can choose to eat here or to just purchase bread and pastry products. We have done both and think it’s worth every penny that we have spent. My two favorite dishes is the Scottish club sandwich and their lobster bisque which makes my mouth water just thinking about them.

If you are on a budget many of their prices may be a bit out of your range because they are definitely not cheap which is a little surprising because they do have competition. However, with the tasty food that they offer they probably don’t have to sacrifice prices to keep customers. The homemade chips are also very good and if you are at a table you get unlimited refills on them until you leave.

The one thing that I do not like about On The Rise is the service at times. I haven’t really had too much problems with the waiters but I have seen them be rude to customers for no reason and act as though it’s okay. Their food is really good and I will eat there again but for those individuals who were offended I don’t blame them if they never return. Overall I would have given them a 10 for great food but I have to give them a -2 for customer service sometimes.

This restaurant my twin sister loves but I am not too fond of it. It serves mainly American food and lots of different desserts (which is the one thing I do like about them). I honestly prefer restaurants that are a bit more updated and this place is kind of run down in a way. They have reasonable prices for the food but I guess it’s just not my taste. We have been to The Lake of the Ozarks about 5 times now and every time we go my parents and twin sister all order their breakfast and seem to really like it. The pork chop and eggs seem to be the thing they order most but since I don’t eat meat I always opt for different things. I do kind of like their cheese omelets (minus the meet) and tea.

As I said they do make great desserts though including different kinds of cakes, pies, cookies and a lot of other yummy things. I absolutely love the Mocha Cake that they make which is weird since I normally don’t like anything with a coffee taste but theirs is the best. We celebrated my little brothers 8th birthday at the lake and they gave him an entire chocolate cake for free which I thought was pretty nice of them since most places would only offer to give a discount or sing happy birthday.

If you like to eat big then I would suggest going on Thursday nights since they have a buffet and you can eat as much as you like. Also they do something that I don’t see at many restaurants near the lake and that is serve different kinds of homemade foods including jellies and preserves. Their bakery is always packed when we stop in to eat so I guess they do fairly well. I would give them a 6 for friendliness and good food.

This is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at during my many visits to The Lake of The Ozarks. They have a great selection of Italian foods including Pizza, Lasagna, and many other types of noodle dishes. They have the best Pizza that I think I have ever eaten. If you are a pizza lover this is the place for you. They have the normal toppings such as pepperoni, sausage, meat lovers, ham, extra cheese (my family’s favorite) and tons of different specialty pizzas where you can pick your own toppings.

Another dish that my family really liked was the steak arcabso and prime rib. The best thing about this place for families is the fact that they have ample seating and great service. If you have kids and ever went to a restaurant that made you way for hours before even being seated with small children you know how important it is to get a table right away. Also they have a menu that offers items that will make almost anyone happy including teenagers (which sometimes is hard). My husband loved the fact that he could have as much Prime Rib as he wanted without having to pay extra. Not too many restaurants offer unlimited amounts on their more expensive foods.

On the flip side some of the dishes were a little expensive for my taste but over all I was satisfied with everything. I do wish that they had more dessert options that what they offered. Compared to many of the places that I have eaten during my visit to The Lake of The Ozarks I would definitely put it in the top ten for best overall restaurants. From 1 – 10 we would have to give it a 7 for a combination of the staff, cleanliness and great food.

My husband and I decided to try out this restaurant after reading a ton of positive reviews on it. We arrived on a Monday and were a little surprised because it’s very small, there weren’t a lot of customers there and they seemed kind of run down to be honest with you. Not really what I expected from the reviews that I had read.

So we decided to place order for a large hot sake, sushi role, pan-fried noodles, and Neptune in a Bird’s Nest which is a combination of veggies and seafood. We also ordered mocha ice cream for dessert. Honestly I was surprised by how good everything tasted and sometimes first impressions really aren’t everything because normally I would have not stopped at a place that looked so tiny and out of the ordinary but I am definitely glad that I did. The only complaint that I really had was the sauce that we used was a bit too bland for our taste but other than that they are probably one of the top 5 Asian restaurants that I have ever eaten at. The portions of veggies and seafood in my Neptune in a Bird’s Nest was more than I normally get even at some of the larger Asian restaurants that I eat at on a normal basis so that was definitely a plus for them. I think our favorite dish was the pan-fried noodles so the next time we are here we will try new things on the menu but continue to order this dish as well.

I would definitely give this odd little restaurant an 8 because there service is great, the food is great and the prices are very affordable. I know that we noticed one couple that seemed to be regulars so I am guessing we just stopped during one of the slowest times of the day or there would have been more customers in the restaurant.

Stockton’s Pub & Grill can be found inside the Premium Outlet Mall, Osage Beach, in Lake of the Ozarks. The restaurant describes itself as a uniquely American Pub & Grill in the heart of Osage Beach and the menu includes a variety of popular dishes commonly found in American restaurants: chilli cheese French fries, chicken strips, sandwich wraps, and burgers.

Ideally located to appeal to hungry shoppers, you might assume that Stockton’s Pub & Grill would be grateful for the busy trade afforded by the millions of people passing through the Osage Beach Outlet Mall. But unfortunately, on the lunchtime I visited with my family that was clearly not the case.

We were tired and hungry, and because Stockton’s is the only sit down restaurant in the mall, we decided to take give it a try. The menu looked good and the prices appeared to be reasonable, but although the location is convenient, the service at this restaurant really sucks.

We waited an unbelievable forty-five minutes to get served and I was on the verge of taking the kids and heading home instead. But worse was yet to come. The food (when it did show up) was lukewarm, and when I complained (politely) our waitress was downright rude and pretty much said it was not their fault. Eventually she offered to bring some more food, but given the wait we had already endured, I decided it was not worth the hassle.

Once we had finished eating, I requested the bill. Upon checking it, I soon realized that I had been overcharged and although I pointed this out immediately, the waitress was adamant the bill was correct. The manager was duly called over, but he stood by the waitress and ignored the obvious math error. It was only $2.65, but whatever happened to “the customer is always right”?

Take my advice and do not bother eating at Stocktons! I’ll give it 1/5 for the mediocre chilli fries.

J Bruner’s is a classic steakhouse restaurant at Lake of the Ozarks featuring fine dining in a casual atmosphere. It describes itself as warm and inviting, perfect for a casual meal after work, or equally as perfect for a special occasion. J Bruner’s restaurant is located on Highway 54 at Osage Beach and is very easy to find. It is usually busy, so reservations are recommended, unless you visit out of season.

I had heard great things about this restaurant, so I decided it was the perfect venue for a romantic meal for two. For the most part I was not disappointed: the restaurant was very busy, but we were seated at a nice table away from the worst of the noise and although it would have been good to have had some background music, there was still a decent atmosphere.

I ordered a steak with a side order of the famous onion rings and my girlfriend ordered the pork loin with plum sauce. The food was excellent. My steak was cooked to perfection and my girlfriend very much enjoyed her pork. Each dish was perfectly presented and a pleasure to eat. Our waiter was very attentive and more than happy to make recommendations before we placed our orders.

All in all, we had a lovely evening and my girlfriend was most impressed with my excellent choice of restaurant. In fact, she was so impressed that she insisted we went back for another meal three days later!

Second time around, the food was just as good. This time we were a little early and decide to try some cocktails before we ate. The bartender was awesome and the cocktails were delicious. Would I recommend the J Bruner’s to a friend? You bet I would. This restaurant definitely deserves a 5/5 for the food alone.

JJs at the Copper Pot is a well known restaurant situated on North Main Street, Laurie. Considered by many to be the best restaurant in the Ozarks, JJs markets itself as an “upscale dining experience” and has an extensive menu featuring entrees, appetizers, and an “after dining experience” as well as a children’s menu. The atmosphere is cosy yet casual, so if you are looking for a venue where you can enjoy great food while relaxing in comfortable attire, JJs is a good choice.

The chef at JJs, Jeff Super, recently won an award for best chef at the lake, and the restaurant is certainly well known amongst regular patrons for the quality of its food, which is why I elected to take our friends who were visiting from out of state.

On the night we visited JJs, we had made a reservation. This was fortunate as the restaurant was exceptionally busy and had we not booked a table in advance, we probably would have been disappointed. As it was, we were greeted with smiles and the service throughout the evening was excellent.

And so was the food! Our party ordered a selection of dishes from prime rib to lobster ravioli, salmon and Dover sole. The service was prompt and the food was absolutely exquisite. My friends were deeply envious that we were lucky enough to have such a wonderful restaurant on our doorstep. Even the salad dressings are wonderful. So good in fact that our friends decided to buy some so they could take the bottle home as a memento of a great dining experience.

But the best was yet to come. JJs serve the most delicious bread pudding on the planet. It is official. I have personally never tasted a better bread pudding anywhere, and neither has my husband.

In summary, I would have no hesitation in rating JJs a resounding 5/5. Amazing!

Docknockers Beach Bar and Grill Restaurant in Lake Ozark is a waterfront restaurant specializing in seafood dishes. Docknockers is in great spot right on the lakefront and you will find it just off Cherokee in the Wheelhouse Marina. It is a very popular venue with the boating crowd through the summer months, but is also a firm favorite of locals living in the Lake Ozark area. As well as an extensive menu, the venue also features entertainment on a regular basis, including live music nights, Happy Hour, and Party on the Deck nights.

The menu has a long list of all things fishy, so if you are strictly a red meat aficionado, the Docknockers menu might not be everything you ever wanted. However, for those who enjoy fish, the menu at Docknockers has plenty to be cheerful about and you can choose from light dishes to meals guaranteed to fill even the hungriest stomach up.

I took my kids along for a casual meal out one evening and although the place was fairly crowded, we placed our food order at the counter inside and found a table on the deck without a problem. Shrimp was served in a galvanized bucket over fries, which my kids adored. I ordered crabs legs and these were superb: cooked to perfection and washed down with an ice cold beer. There was a live band playing and the atmosphere was excellent.

Great food, good music, and a fantastic location all came together to create a really good night out, so if you are searching for a casual family dining experience or a lakefront venue to enjoy an evening with friends, the Docknockers Beach Bar and Grill should be top of your list of places to go in Lake of the Ozarks. For the crabs legs alone I would rate this venue 5 out of 5 stars.

Kevin Simpkins
Owner/CEO
kevin@go2lakeoftheozarks.com

Captain Ron’s Bar and Grill is a well known restaurant and entertainment hot spot at Sunrise Beach in Lake of the Ozarks. Captain Ron’s has an enviable location right on the water front that includes boat slips for those who arrive via the water. The dining room resembles a giant ship, but if you visit during the summer, you can also choose to sit outside on the patio or beach. Captain Ron’s regularly features a wide range of live entertainment and for the vast majority of the time, the place is usually very busy, which means you should be prepared to wait a while for a table.

The food at Captain Ron’s Bar and Grill is loosely based around the theme of All American dishes. Fish features on the menu and one of the tastier dishes worth trying is crab cakes with sweet potato fries and grouper with jerk sauce. Other not quite so tasty dishes include the pork tenderloin sandwich with its rather lumpy consistency and the tough as old boots ribs in lashings of bar-b-q sauce.

Overall, despite the fact that Captain Ron’s definitely has a great party atmosphere, particularly in the summer time, the food leaves something to be desired. Some of the dishes on offer are very good, but many are lacking in quality, which lowers the overall enjoyment of the venue.

Service is for the most part excellent and the staff are very friendly, so if you are happy to come to Captain Ron’s Bar and Grill to enjoy the atmosphere the venue is famous for, the restaurant has plenty to offer. What Captain Ron’s lacks in decent food, it more than makes for in nightlife and entertainment value.

Overall, based on the atmosphere, I would give Captain Ron’s Bar and Grill 3 out of 5 stars based on the mediocre menu, but would recommend it for a fun night out.

Rusty Reiter
Chief Editor and Columnist
rusty@go2lakeoftheozarks.com

Before visiting Horny Toad Bar and Grill in Lake Ozark, I had heard plenty of great stuff about it. Although I am not local to the Ozarks, we have some friends in the area and they all said the restaurant was a really cool place to visit, especially during the summer when you can enjoy a drink and meal while admiring the fantastic view across the lake.

So when we decided to spend a few days visiting friends in the area, I was really excited when I heard we were finally going to get to see what all the fuss was about!

The place was totally packed when we arrived and we could barely hear ourselves think. I have to be honest and say first impressions were not good. I had been expecting a slightly more upmarket venue, but what I got instead was a low rent branch of Mcdonald’s.

However, I decided to overlook the grubby posters of Farrah Fawcett and various 1980s movies in favour of ordering some drinks. It took ages to get some service as the waiting staff was rushed off their feet, but eventually we managed to attract the attention of a waitress and drinks duly arrived.

The view across the lake was pretty spectacular and more than made up for the overpriced food. In fact, it was about the only good thing about our evening. By the time the food turned up, it was barely lukewarm and definitely not worth the price we were being charged.

Overall, the Horny Toad Bar and Grill is probably a fun night out for the younger crowd, but we found it too loud and not good value. The restaurant had an amazing view across the lake, but it is more of a noisy bar than a quality restaurant so I would only give it a 2 out 5 stars.

Rusty Reiter
Chief Editor and Columnist
rusty@go2lakeoftheozarks.com