Crows Nest Restaurant
LakesideA casual waterfront grill inside a working marina, weekends-only, with deck seating that stretches over the lake.
Crow's Nest is the restaurant attached to Blue Springs Marina, open Friday through Sunday with the kitchen running 11 AM to 10 PM. Boats can pull up to the dock and tie up free while you eat, which is most of the appeal. The deck juts out over the water, the carp and turtles will come up for the popcorn the staff hands out, and there is no other restaurant on this stretch of the lake doing the same thing. People drive in from Knoxville for the view as much as the food, and locals from Ten Mile use it as a default Saturday-night spot.
The menu runs casual American with several dishes earning specific name-checks: the pretzel with beer cheese, the smokehouse potato salad, the stuffed tilapia (with a crab cake and corn-shrimp chowder topping), waffle fries, real burgers, the seasonal beer-battered fish fry, fried Oreos for dessert. There is a full bar; the cold beer is reliable, the cocktails are inconsistent. Gluten-free options can be made on request. The kid menu has mini corn dogs and the patio is dog-friendly on a leash.
Consistency is the open question. On a slow lunch, the food comes out hot and the view is what you came for. On a packed summer Saturday with a wait for a table and a band setting up on the deck, the kitchen can lag and dishes can come out cold. Build in that expectation on weekend evenings. The marina changed hands recently and the dining room was redecorated in 2025; the kitchen is still finding its footing under the new ownership. The deck and the lake, at least, do not change.
Tips
- Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only; closed Monday through Thursday.
- The dock right at the restaurant is free while you eat, with plenty of slips during off-peak hours.
- Ask the staff for popcorn to feed the carp and turtles below the deck; it is provided free.
- Order something simple on a packed Saturday night; the kitchen handles burgers and pretzels more reliably than complex plates when slammed.
- The website's posted menu sometimes lags the actual kitchen menu; be ready for substitutions.
What people love
- The deck seating directly over the lake.
- Watching the carp and turtles come up for popcorn from the dock.
- Pulling up by boat and tying up free while you eat.
- Live music and a singer-and-guitar setup on the deck on weekend nights.
- A service staff that handles full tables well on busy nights.
What to know
- Closed Monday through Thursday; the kitchen runs three days a week.
- Kitchen consistency is variable: on a quiet service it is genuinely good, on a packed Saturday it can run cold and slow. Order simply on busy nights.
- Cocktails can disappoint; cold beer is the safer call at the bar.
- Cell reception at the marina is patchy.
- The menu changes seasonally and the website does not always reflect what is actually being served.
Best time
Weekday lunch is the smoothest experience, but only Friday counts since the kitchen is closed Monday through Thursday. Sunday afternoons are calm; Saturday evenings are the social scene with live music and a packed deck.
First visit
Pull off River Road into the Blue Springs Marina lot or tie up at the marina dock if you are arriving by water. The Crow's Nest sits at the marina's social end with the deck cantilevered over the water; ask for an outside table when the weather allows.
How to get in
Walk-in only; no reservations. On busy weekend evenings expect a wait for the deck, with the indoor seating filling more slowly.
With kids
The carp and turtle feeding off the deck (popcorn provided) is the kind of free thing that keeps small kids occupied between courses. There is a kid menu with mini corn dogs.
Signature items
- Pretzel with Beer Cheese
- Smokehouse Potato Salad
- Stuffed Tilapia with Crab Cake and Corn-Shrimp Chowder
- Beer-Battered Fish Fry (Seasonal)
- Fried Oreos
Location
Frequently asked
When is Crows Nest Restaurant open?
Hours are Friday through Sunday 11 AM to 10 PM, stable year-round. The beer-battered fish fry is seasonal and the menu rotates with availability.
Is Crows Nest Restaurant good for families with kids?
The carp and turtle feeding off the deck (popcorn provided) is the kind of free thing that keeps small kids occupied between courses. There is a kid menu with mini corn dogs.
How do I get to Crows Nest Restaurant?
Pull off River Road into the Blue Springs Marina lot or tie up at the marina dock if you are arriving by water. The Crow's Nest sits at the marina's social end with the deck cantilevered over the water; ask for an outside table when the weather allows.
Does Crows Nest Restaurant take reservations?
Walk-in only; no reservations. On busy weekend evenings expect a wait for the deck, with the indoor seating filling more slowly.
What should I order at Crows Nest Restaurant?
The signature orders are Pretzel with Beer Cheese, Smokehouse Potato Salad, Stuffed Tilapia with Crab Cake and Corn-Shrimp Chowder.
What should I know before visiting Crows Nest Restaurant?
Closed Monday through Thursday; the kitchen runs three days a week.
Last updated: April 30, 2026