Cliff’s Boathouse Cafe

Little place right on the lake. Great breakfast and fast service. They use all fresh, quality ingredients. A staple of Racine. A must try.

Hands down best in town. Staff is amazing and friendly, they make you feel like family. Everything on the menu is delicious, I’ve eaten the entire menu at least ten times over.

Good as it gets in Wisconsin! From the outside, you will probably think twice before entering but don’t be a snob, good eats and friendly folks await you! Their fried perch is excellent. Not much batter so don’t expect a tempura type experience. Nope, these babies are lightly battered and lightly fried, sprinkle on some salt and dig in!
The potato pancakes are as good as the wall outside sez they are. The would make any Jewish grandma proud. Good, cheap and hearty breakfasts too and you can get the potato pancakes at breakie time too.
I don’t think there is a salad to be had on the menu. And, that’s quite all right. Salads don’t belong at a place like Cliff’s!

Just the best in a 100 mile radius — get the potato pancakes and potato salad ask for mark as your waitress he is awesome!

If you’re in the area on a Friday night & have a hankering for fish fry, DO NOT overlook this place. We ditched some snooty beer dinner at another place last year when we were in town for a beer fest in favor of Friday night fish fry («when in Rome, er, Wisconsin…») and this was one of the only places that popped up via Unilocal.The outside didn’t look like much, and there weren’t a ton of reviews at the time. However, hungry folk that we were, and limited choices we had, we took the chance.
Oooo boy, so glad we did.
Depending on what time you arrive (the earlier, the better) there might be a line, but it moves relatively quickly. It’s a small place, nothing fancy, but they know what they’re doing: friendly service, clean digs, AWESOME food. Cod, lake perch, and their «secret recipe potato pancakes»…outstanding. Unlike any others I have ever had, they are fantastic. I could eat them all day, every day. My only advice is ask for extra applesauce and sour cream off the bat, because if you like an equal pairing with each bite, you’re gonna run out with the amount they give.
So, there ya have it. Don’t mess around. Just come here for Friday fish fry. Wear your fat pants and enjoy yourself.

Had a family breakfast here during labor day weekend 2015. Loved everything about it — location, décor, service, and food — especially the potato pancakes!

Went there for breakfast. The potato pancakes were fabulous (like a cross between hashbrowns and a pancake). Don’t get the sausage gravy.

Such a welcoming place with the best food! Will make the hour trip again any time that I can!

I was looking for a great Friday fish fry place and went here based on the great reviews. Fish was only okay. There was no crunch, no beer batter flavor, and it lacked salt. I would go again for the potato pancakes — those were delicious! Service was okay, but it’s run by one waiter, so I expected that. People were friendly and locals seem to love it.

love this place! sailed up from Chicago and were staying at reef point marina. we needed a good hangover breakfast place and this fit the bill perfectly! nice hole in the wall, breakfast/​brunch place. biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, and cliffs secret recipe potato pancakes were all awesome! we will definitely be back next time we are here!

Best breakfast in Racine! (and a really good Friday fish fry too)

The place doesn’t look like much from the outside and is small on the inside. Yet, it seems like the locals like it very much. We stopped in for lunch on a Thursday at 12:50. For some reason this is their «:short» day where the closing time at 1:00 P.M. They fed us anyway. I had the fried chicken and the wife had fried shrimp. Fries came with both and we both had the ham and bean soup. The food was pretty good as was the service. Prices are really reasonable, which is important since this is a cash-​only place. We will be coming back for breakfast and see what that is like. Maybe I’ll try their potato pancakes too. Potato pancakes are good if made right. This place is doing something right for the many years that they have been open.

Great find in downtown Racine. Convenient for boaters. Great food at reasonable prices. Terrific service. I recommend the potato pancakes, american fries, and sausage patties. Small space so expect to wait for a table during busy weekend mornings. One of the few places that can correctly and consistently poach an egg medium. Cash only.

**Cash Only** We stopped at this place after our tour of the SC Johnson company.
Homestyle food at great prices. The owner was super friendly and provided fantastic service.
Do yourself a favor and order the potato pancakes.

Another cool boathouse diner with a great water view. The burgers were excellent and the dining area splendrous with a unique look kids would enjoy.

Greasy, cheap, cash only, open for lunch/​brunch which is what we were looking for after the SC Johnson tour in Racine.
It feels quintessential Wisconsin. I could have done without butter on my toast and butter on my already fried potato pancakes, but I didn’t know that was the standard.
Everything tasted fine, and the waiter (owner?) was personable and brought everything in a timely fashion.
We are glad that we hid our pro-​Chicago cubs feelings, as it’s obvious that Chicago sports fans are not welcome. (They wouldn’t kick you out, but they are pro-​packers and brewers all the way)
$ 22 for breakfast for 4. Small– seats MAYBE 20.

Cliff’s is a divey-​looking place that offers great, well-​prepared, no frills fresh fish. When we were there on a weekday, it was hopping with locals and a few tourists. Walleye sandwiches are the best, but even better are the potato pancakes, which are honestly a dream cross between a french fry and a potato chip. You must try them. Am writing this review after the fact — we were there last May. Check to make sure they are open before you go — their hours are somewhat restricted.

Something I’ve always missed since leaving LA has been good fish & chips. I haven’t found a replacement in our 19 years here, but Cliff’s Boathouse has become a fond substitute with their epic weekly fish fry. Fond, that is until today. Things were off today in a big way. Fish was very brown and overly dry, the potato pancakes were overly browned and dry, and they weren’t refilling the iced tea. Seemed like the same old place, but sure didn’t taste like it, and for most of us, that’s all that counts.

Really enjoyed the food & service… if you’re in the Racine area it is a must breakfast stop!

Breakfast options in downtown Racine are limited but after discovering Cliff’s Boathouse Café just north of the harbor and the Root River, I’ve not only found where all the locals eat breakfast but the only NECESSARY breakfast spot in town… Thanks to Unilocal.
You could easily drive past this place because it’s just a white garage-​looking building [aka «dive”] with red letters boasting it’s All-​You-​Can-​Eat Friday Fish Fry ($ 9.25 between 11 am-​8 pm) and Secret Recipe Potato Pancakes. Heck, the «puh-​tay-​tuhs» (as I was raised to pronounce it and they say it) potato pancakes are what brought me in since it’s one of my favorite breakfast items.
Walk in the front door and the place is nice and cozy with roughly ten tables total. The walls are covered in trophy fish, sports memorabilia and random items. Keep in mind that you’re in Milwaukee Brewers territory; They even have the game schedule on their website (after all, Cubs is an acronym for «Completely Useless By September», according to a shirt on the wall).
For food, I got the Cliff’s Super Special of two potato pancakes, choice of meat, eggs your way, and two pieces of toast (get the sourdough!). You can get apple sauce or sour cream with your pancakes. No matter how you say ‘potato’ they’re fluffy, fried goodness. All this for $ 4.50!!! It’s a steal, in addition to all the choices. The waiter Marc, Cliff’s son, is very friendly and attentive. He’s sure to keep your coffee mug filled and warm. As the website and locals admit, he wears many hats including, but not limited to, «Son, Head Waiter, Maitre d’, Beverage Manager, Bus Boy Mentor, Phone Answerer, Crowd Control Manager, Peeler of the Potatoes, Sports Afficionado, and «The Closer» (of the door).» Others call him lazy to his face depending on the day you visit.
Keep in mind that Cliff’s only accepts cash, is closed Monday thru Wednesday, and they close at 1 pm every day their open except for Fish Fry Fridays. Also, check their website’s «Smelt Alert» to see if that offer Smelt that week ($ 6.50 a plate).
Go to Cliff’s before Guy’s Diners Drive-​ins and Dives does!