Boat Basin Cafe

Now, I love dogs! I grew up with dogs. I love animals -- I know what it's like to see your pet as your "baby"...and yet...a restaurant is not a place for dogs! It's unsanitary, noisy, and annoying. I went to the Boat Basin Cafe quite a lot last summer and I don't remember there being as many dogs as there are this year. It's out of control. You sit down and your neighbor's dog (and the tables are right next to each other) feels compelled to greet you. You've just washed your hands to eat and now need to re-wash. Perhaps, you're eating and your neighbor's dog is begging you for food. Or, like happened the other day, the dog a table away kept barking a little dog, sharp, stingy bark in my ear the entire time I dined. Come on, people -- control your dogs -- it's not cute or kind, it's not loving or divine -- no -- not at all. It's selfish, arrogant and disrespectful. OK -- we got the point -- you love your dogs -- fantastic, great, wonderful -- but it doesn't mean we love your dog, too. Please, do everyone a favor and leave your dog home when you dine out.

In Manhattan, dogs are an integral part of many households and it is great to be able to relax and enjoy a meal with man's best friend. This is an outdoor refuge -

I'm a born & raised NYer who lives just a couple of blocks from here and I've had it with this place. In all of my 25 years, I have never left a place in the middle of my meal. I have been to this place 3 times and no more. This is not a pet park, petting zoo or any other place where pets should be allowed. It's unhealthy and unsanitary. The place itself is nice and the food okay especially when you just want to enjoy a leisure lunch after a stroll.

I thought the food was fine. Ditto the location. It's family friendly, which is good, because I have two little boys. Only one thing stops me from unreservedly recommending: the dogs. I agree with an earlier comment: dogs have no place in restaurants. Especially if they are indulged by their owners, and especially if the owners are the type who get all uppity if you dare to suggest that watching a dog urinate is not the most appealing sight at the dinner table. I moved here a few months ago from London. I always thought that my fellow Londoners were crazy in the way they prioritised dogs over humans. But you lot are much worse. As we say in England, 'you're barking'. You also don't tend to clean up after your dogs - and that's bad in Manhattan, where there is a relative lack of green space and overcrowding on the streets. Still, that's another discussion. To conlcude: Boat Basin is nice.

I absolutely agree that if you're looking for white glove service, the best wine list and Zagat food - then this is not the place for you. But, if you want to forget for a while that you're in NYC and feel that like you're at a lakeside BBQ - then come. It's worth the wait! Have a frozen drink, play with the dogs and stare at all the cute people if you want. If this isn't your scene, simply acknowledge that you're a needier NYer and stop bashing this place.

For those of you sorely disappointed with the fact that there is plastic flatware- get over it! Have you noticed the grill outside? The whole point of the place is to feel like you're having a picnic. As far as the dogs go - again, picnic atmosphere. It's family friendly...one of the few places left I might add! As for "The New Yorkers" comment- The Boat Basin is on the Hudson, The Boat House is in Central Park.

We were happy to spend a great afternoon at the park and then enjoy a nice snack & drink without having to discriminate against our dog. Central Park is about nature, kids and animals. For Mark who obviously has no idea what the park means to New Yorkers, don't go to the park and complaint about 'hygiene' because that's the last place you will find it. The park is about nature, activies, kids and animals and not about silver cutlery and fast service. Thanks, Boat Basin!