Ritz
The Ritz rocks on top
394 Okoboji Grove Road
Arnolds Park, IA
(712)332-2777
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Bar
There is a large outdoor patio on the lake, and indoor seating also with a good view of the lake. The Ritz is one of the larger bars in the area and tends to be very busy during the summer months.
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Features
Outdoor seating on the lake
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Casual
Semi-Casual
44 User Reviews & Comments
September 4, 2012 



I just called to order a pizza and the person who answered the phone stated that it was too loud in the bar and he could not hear me. So he hung up on me. This is not the first time that I get attitude and very very poor costumer service. These people are unprofessional and lack personality. I will never order anything from this place again.
August 30, 2012 



Great burgers, service is slow at times. Good view...This is a BAR‘s bar - not a restaurant
August 23, 2012 



Good pizza, but not worth $20 for a 13". Total rip-off.
July 25, 2012 



Worst establishment in Arnold‘s Park. Food is terrible and the service is a joke. Also watch out for the shady employees. The bartender when we went did not like her tip so she wrote in a larger tip for herself. Yes that is correct - she fraudently forged a larger tip for herself. The owner was contacted and refused to do anything about it.
July 10, 2012 



had to wait 2.5 hrs for food and there "famous burger" was dry and nothing special....and the management was rude and very unprofessional about this issue.... never going there again
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July 6, 2012 



6 of us sat down and ordered burgers, wraps and appetizers - it took 1 1/2 hours to get our food, which was cold when we received it. While waiting, we watched tables around us order, eat and leave before we received our food. After sending back a completely cold burger for a new one, we waited 20 minutes for that burger and asked for it again. 10 minutes later we were paying and our waitress took it off the bill, but one of us still didn‘t get to eat lunch. After 2 1/2 hours there, we decided we‘ll never return to such a poorly run restaurant.
July 2, 2012 



Special thanks to Sr. Dinkhole in the white shirt with the badge and bald head. Way to holler and scream at people that were just hanging out at a table and not causing any issues. That guy is going to wreck any chance this place has of making it. Easy off the roids bud!
October 3, 2011 



This is no Club for sissies or lightweights.
It is real as can be.
Now days real is really rare!
You will be surprised when you see some of the original
bands and music that play at the Ritz.
It is real as can be.
Now days real is really rare!
You will be surprised when you see some of the original
bands and music that play at the Ritz.
August 29, 2011 



I asked the waiter for a Vodka and Cranberry and it was the most horrible tasting drink ive ever had! I nicely asked for a new one and he looked at me like I was an idiot, and didnt replace it when I asked. Tables are all crammed together. Ill have to be drunk IF I come back!
August 21, 2011 



What a crap hole . Never had a chance to try the food ,but if it was anything like the service and the old Bitch behind a counter it too was probly crap . But the service and food was great next door . And the one star is only for being by the lake !
April 18, 2011 



Seems that the owner was high, and the cop was always hassling people. BTW how does a cop work at a bar and then get paid from them?
March 5, 2011 



there is not one place on lake okoboji where you can get a better party feel than the Ritz. the location is great and the atmosphere on the deck is unbeatable. best bar in boji!
January 26, 2011 



The service was good (even though it was busy)... the drinks were strong... the band was great (TripWire)... and for a summer bar, they had great food! I‘ll come back for sure.
January 12, 2011 



The staff is FAST for being incredibly overworked... I‘ve never seen a faster bartender than Muff behind their main bar. The food is amazing for bar food, and one fishbowl is enough to get a person plenty buzzed. I asked the staff if they could make an individual one (not in the pre-made coolers) and it was great! I‘ll be back every time I‘m in this town! Band was drunk and still awesome!!!
August 30, 2010 



ugly waitresses
bad food
bad cops
no smoking? wtf
fishbowls suck!
to expensive
bad food
bad cops
no smoking? wtf
fishbowls suck!
to expensive
August 30, 2010 



I am from Omaha, Nebraska and I liked the Ritz Bar at first until I tried their fishbowls. Awful for $22. Then I met the bartenders and they were extremely rude. One of the bartenders literally knocked my aunt on the ground to get past her. They have a gate with an EXIT sign, but if you go through it, you will be kicked out. They started clearing tables at 10:30pm as we were sitting at the table. I will not go back to this bar, and I would advise you to do the same! VERY dissapointed!!!!!!!!!
August 15, 2010 



Give me a break...I called the Ritz to order pizza the first time it rang and rang so I waited 5 minutes and called back...called again and the guy that answered the phone told me to call back in five minutes he was to busy to take an order. It looks like Taylor is making enough money that she does not need the business.
Come on Taylor get some help that will enhance your business not take it down. It is too bad your help doesn‘t care enough about helping to make your business a success.
Come on Taylor get some help that will enhance your business not take it down. It is too bad your help doesn‘t care enough about helping to make your business a success.
July 21, 2010 



I called the Ritz to ask what bands were playing this weekend. The man who answered the phone said I have no idea, I asked if someone else knew, he said no we‘re closed today in a smart tone. (Which they were not, we‘d been there today.) I‘ve been to the Ritz twice and both times I was unimpressed. Staff is always rude. ALWAYS. Thanks guy, whoever you are, for your once again quality service.
July 20, 2010 



You can tell a lot about a person by judging how they treat their waitress. Treat the staff well and they will be good to you, they are overworked and underpaid. This is a bar that has food. NOT a restaurant that has a bar, so don‘t expect your food to come out as fast as applebees. Everyone needs to just relax, and enjoy the fact that you are sitting on a beautiful lake, being served. Not working 17 hour days to serve rude, ungrateful, impatient customers.
April 27, 2010 



I have been to the Ritz many of times and have always had a blast! You don‘t go there if you want great service, you go there for the atmosphere, the drinks and pizza! Life is too damn short to be critical of all the small things. Have fun on your vacation, you‘re on Boji time after all!
April 9, 2010 



the ritz is the best bar in the lakes area. the owner Taylor and her employees are always right on top of things and the food is great but more than anything the drinks are cheap. i dont even go to any other bars anymore. for anyone coming up on vacation sit down and have one at the ritz it is always a great time....
July 15, 2009 



Too bad the staff was so terrible. On consecutive visits we had some of the worst service I‘ve ever gotten anywhere. With the great setup and location to go along with the nice affordable menu it COULD be the best place to eat in Boji, but not when the staff is annoyed you are there and doesn‘t care to do their jobs at all. It was unfortunate and ownership should can them all and get a real staff so the place can live up to it‘s potential. 2 stars just because the food is good...otherwise far less.
July 13, 2009 



Our band, Taxi Driver, is from Omaha and were invited to play The Ritz this last weekend - 3 nights. We had an absolute blast! The staff couldn‘t have been nicer, more helpful or fun....and it‘s just a really great, easy-going place to hang on the lake. To the owner, Taylor, the staff, and the wonderful locals of Okoboji - we love you guys and thanks for making us feel so welcome! See you at Winter Games!
June 23, 2009 



Expensive, scary, overworked employees.
May 29, 2009 



By far the all time best bar in okoboji.... Non locals beware... if you expect to be treated as royalty, stay (TF) home...the food is good but staff is over worked and under paid. The attidude from the staff is part of the experience. If you treat them with respect they will treat you with respect. But instead of getting uppiddy and whining about everything remember YOU‘RE AT THE LAKE!!! you could be at work. So leave your "me first" attitude at home or take it to the gardens, somebody there might care.
May 13, 2009 



I like the Ritz, it‘s great! I would suggest the Everything Pizza.
March 16, 2009 



First time visitor from many years go! The place could be a gold mine with some inexpensive updating before the season starts. Basically clean the place up and it will be a nice place for a good party. Don‘t let the place turn into a dive bar!!!
The drinks and food are inexpensive as a burger and fries are just under $8. Drinks are $3!!! Fishbowl drinks are memorable! Your typical bar food after a few beers. The staff does need to be respectful of the customer and that includes the owner and manager. Get your crap together!
The band, "Fork In The Road" from Logan, Iowa was fantastic this weekend. Great dance music and they play to the crowd. From Rap, hard rock and good dance move music so you can get down, wild and funky.
We will return and hope you do consider the above!!!
The drinks and food are inexpensive as a burger and fries are just under $8. Drinks are $3!!! Fishbowl drinks are memorable! Your typical bar food after a few beers. The staff does need to be respectful of the customer and that includes the owner and manager. Get your crap together!
The band, "Fork In The Road" from Logan, Iowa was fantastic this weekend. Great dance music and they play to the crowd. From Rap, hard rock and good dance move music so you can get down, wild and funky.
We will return and hope you do consider the above!!!
March 6, 2009 



The Ritz needs some updating to the building. The bathrooms are pretty gross and not even handicapped accessible. During the winter months, they have DJ‘s and Karaoke in the ground floor bar. Ceiling is too low and not much room for the DJ‘s to set up, let alone dance room. At times, it seems like they don‘t have the exhaust fans on when they are cooking, gets an oily, smokey smell to the bar. Makes you want to gag. The food is good, but have had better. You do get alot for the cost. Drinks too expensive. The view is awesome, especially at sunset. Otherwise, not too impressed with The Ritz.
January 7, 2009 



the best bar in the lakes area. Sunday funday is always awesome. A great place to meet friendly people
April 23, 2008 



The Ritz is a complete waste of time. NONE of the employees there, especially the tall blonde waitress & the male bartender have ANY respect for anyone that walks through that door. They are rude & obnoxious & should not even be employees anywhere. The place smells like smoke & is way to small to even enjoy. The karaoke part they do on weekends is just horriffic to listen to. You cant even sit there and listen it is so bad. I don‘t think there is ANY reason at all anyone should go to the Ritz unless they like the stuckup selfish group of people that care for nothing but themselves. I have been to a lot of other bars in that area, even the Regal Beagle beats them & that does nt take much
January 17, 2008 



The Ritz is always a great time! They have great service and who can beat the FISHBOWLS that you get to keep when your done with them! Amazing time!
August 5, 2007 



Awesome food, great bands, super fun! This is truly one of the best places to eat and party on the Lake
July 23, 2007 



The fries were the best fries I have ever had!!!!! They also had really good cheeseburgers too!! The server was very rude tho!
July 17, 2007 



yeah they were good, but i was there over the fourth. i live in estherville, i think that band was also from sioux city, going nowhere.
they are coming back first week of august too. can‘t wait till they come back, i‘ve seen bands with girls before, like stealing mercury, but GN simply rocked, she‘s the best girl singer i‘ve seen and the best band i‘ve seen all year, they were real tight, the drummer was awesome, they had so much fun, and it showed. the ritz is always fun and a great place during the summer
they are coming back first week of august too. can‘t wait till they come back, i‘ve seen bands with girls before, like stealing mercury, but GN simply rocked, she‘s the best girl singer i‘ve seen and the best band i‘ve seen all year, they were real tight, the drummer was awesome, they had so much fun, and it showed. the ritz is always fun and a great place during the summer
July 16, 2007 



I was there, that band was called Stealing Mercury, and they are scheduled to play there again on the weekend of July 20-21 ! Their website is www.stealingmercury.com, and their myspace page is http://www.myspace.com/stealingmercury. The bar was kinda dirty, but it‘s nice right on the lake, and the band was great!
June 28, 2007 



I was there the weekend of June 8-9 the band there was awesome I wish I knew the name all I know is they were from Sioux City totally worth going for. As far as the food the Tai Pizza is to die forl
June 12, 2007 



Awesome view, food, and staff!! Go once and you will definitely go back!!
May 5, 2007 



You guys are all crazy! Do don‘t go to the Ritz for fancy dining, you go to the Ritz for some great pizza and beers or maybe even a fish bowl off the boat. Is it loud? I sure hope so. That is what a bar is supposed to be. As for expensive. No way. It is priced at "bar" prices. Come on, give it a break and relax. You are on vacation!!
April 22, 2007 



What happened to you Ritz? You used to be so fun, and have now turned sleezy....why? It‘s sad that you waste such a great location in the Lakes area.
December 8, 2006
Great Pizza!-but this place gets to loud during the summer with the music!! and I can hear all the way up to my trailer!!!-Rude
August 21, 2006
A very casual place to get a bite to eat - don‘t go there if you are in a hurry - food was good but wait staff incoherent and impolite, kinda like they just arrived from some other planet. (ok, drunk) To be fair, it is late in the summer and they probably aren‘t thinking about serving more alcohol, just want to get back to school to drink more alcohol.
February 13, 2006
How long is reasonable to wait for service? Took 20 minutes to get our first round of drinks and more than 90 minutes to get the over priced food.
January 21, 2006
Go there, and you will come back again. The best pizza in town. There are lots of people, the deck is right on the water and the view is the best. The women are hot, all wearing swimsuits on a hot summer day, with bands on the deck. You will never forget a 4th of July at this place!
May 4, 2005
the fish bowls are TINY and they are very EXPENSIVE