Updated March, 2026
The Clear Lake food scene doesn’t sit still — and neither does our Bucket List Bites list.
Since we first shared it, a few favorites have closed, new spots have opened, menus have evolved, and yes — we now have a growing lineup of gluten-free standouts (see Trish’s list!). That’s part of what makes dining in Clear Lake so good. There’s always something new to try, and more ways for everyone to pull up a chair.
So we refreshed the list.
Whether you’re a local revisiting your go-to order or a visitor planning your next lake stay, this updated roundup highlights the bites defining Clear Lake right now. From comfort classics to crave-worthy newcomers — and gluten-free options worth seeking out — these are the dishes people talk about, recommend, and go back for.
Consider this your updated passport to eating well at the lake.
Click here for the full Clear Lake Dining Guide.
Ashley Weiss, Membership Engagement Director, Foodie, Gen-Y
Sweets:
Dole Whip, Charlie’s Soda Fountain
Monster Cookie OR Monster Cookie Ice Cream, Cookies, etc.
Scoop of chocolate custard with Reese’s peanut butter cups, Culver’s
Watermelon popcorn, Lillie Mae Chocolates
White Chip Macadamia Nut Cookie, Subway
Drinks:
Cherry Dilly Bar Shake, Clear Lake Nutrition
Caramel Apple Pop, Fizz Co.
Peppermint Patty Tea Latte, Holistic Harmony
Toasted Banana Latte, Livonia’s Coffee Bar
Raspberry Rush Fruit Smoothie, NIP Fitness & Smoothie Bar
Raspberry Lemonade, Lake Lemonade
Coca-Cola Fountain Pop, McDonald’s (why does their fountain pop always taste so good? Here’s one theory!)
Wild Berry Smoothie, Scooter’s Coffee
Bites:
Everything Omelet with hashbrowns & wheat toast, 7 Stars Family Restaurant
Signature Chicken Tenders with homestyle French fries (and don’t forget the yummy honey Dijon mustard!), Bennigan’s
Santa Fe Chicken Chipotle Wrap, Cabin Coffee Company
Guadalajara Special with corn tortillas, Cancun by the Lake
Freshly Breaded Cheese Sticks, Ge-Jo’s by the Lake
Three Steak Tacos, Gyro Place
Broiled Canadian Walleye with side salad with Ranch dressing and a baked sweet potato, Half Moon Inn
Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Lake Pin and Play
Four Star Pizza, The Other Place
Chicken Philly and sweet potato fries, Sevens Restaurant & Steakhouse
Cornbread Soup, Starboard Market
Sesame Beef Rice Bowl, Surf Galley
Bucket Bites Bonus! Food Trucks found at my favorite Clear Lake summer events:
Dirty Pig with a side of potato salad, Big Brad’s BBQ
Chicken Nachos, Mexican Flavor
Mr. Marley Mac Attack with side of baked beans, Smokin’ Manas
Sicily Pizza, Titanium Lunchbox
Jenny Fasbender, Events & Administrative Assistant, Stellar Home Chef, Gen-X
Food:
Flatbread, Reserve 173° Bar & Grill
Fresh Guacamole, Avion Azul
Brussels Sprouts, The Boulevard Bar & Grill
Dragonfruit Acai Bowl, Charlie’s Soda Fountain
Cheese Balls, Culver’s
Filet Mignon, Fareway
Mile High Pizza, Ge-Jo’s by the Lake
Chicken Sandwich, The Other Place
Any sourdough bread, Starboard Market
Half & Half Soup and The Dude Sandwich, Starboard Market
Chicken Sandwich, Chick-Fil-A Tri State Food Truck
Drinks:
Sugar Free Skinny Vanilla Latte, Cabin Coffee Company
Sugar Free Skinny Vanilla Latte, Scooter’s Coffee
Sugar Free Skinny Vanilla Latte, Livonia’s Coffee Bar
Treats:
Carrot Cake, Ge-Jo’s by the Lake
Popcorn, Lillie Mae Chocolates
Hot Mess Bar, Starboard Market
Stacy Doughan, President & CEO, Local Food Champion, Xennial
Food:
Brussels Sprouts, The Boulevard Bar & Grill
Burrito Supreme, Cancun by the Lake
Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza, Ge-Jo’s by the Lake
Lamb Gyro, Gyro Place
Barbeque Ribs, Half Moon Inn
Smashburger, Lake Pin and Play
The Other Sandwich, The Other Place
Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Rookie’s Rockin’ Sports Bar
Main Street Eggs Benedict, Seven’s Restaurant & Steakhouse
That’s Peachy Sandwich, Starboard Market
Drinks:
Palomino, Cabin Coffee Company
Layout Lane, Fizz Co.
Chocolate Covered Almond Tea Latte, Holistic Harmony
Blue Moon on tap, Lake Pin and Play
Iowa Nice, Lake Time Brewery
Margarita, Ge-Jo’s by the Lake
Blue Moon on Tap, The Other Place
Margarita, PM Park & Tiki Bar
Cherry Fusion, Reserve 173° Bar & Grill
Raspberry Mule, TAP’d
Sweets:
Dole Whip, Charlie’s Soda Fountain
Monster Cookie, Cookies, etc.
Reese’s Concrete Mixer, Culver’s
Tortush, Lillie Mae Chocolates
Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie, NIP Fitness & Smoothie Bar
Sea Salt Toffee Smoothie, Clear Lake Nutrition
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Crunch Bar, Starboard Market
Trish Fundermann, Events Director, Spicy Food Lover, Gen-X & Our Gluten-Free Girlie
The Tizzy, Garlic Parmesan Chicken Flatbread (GF) & Pasta with Chicken (GF), Reserve 173° Bar & Grill
Casa Azul Margarita and Avion Fajita with fried jalapenos on the side, Avion Azul
Kilkenny Grilled Chicken Salad (GF), Bennigan’s
BLT w/GF bread and Palomino, Cabin Coffee Company
Jumbo Margarita and Jalisco Special, Cancun by the Lake
Butter Burger Deluxe w/GF bun and cheese curds, Culver’s
Margarita and GF Hawaiian Pizza w/jalapenos and hot oil, Ge-Jo’s by the Lake
Steak Salad (no black olives), Gyro Place
Prime Rib, Half Moon Inn
Hot Honey Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza on GF crust, The Other Place
Vodka Lemonade, Rookie’s, Sevens, and TAP’d
Steak Salad with Feta Cheese, Ragin’ Cajun Burger (no bun), Seven’s Restaurant & Steakhouse
Chicken Enchilada Soup, Pesto Turkey Melt on GF Bun, Scotcharoo Bar, Starboard Market
Chopped Salad with Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Dressing, add jalapenos and banana peppers, Subway
Steak Chimichurri w/herb roasted potatoes, steak bites w/o bun, The Boulevard Bar & Grill
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza on GF Crust, Lake Burger w/GF Bun, Lake Pin & Play
White Mocha Latte, Livonia’s Coffee Bar
Cheeseburger w/GF Bun, Rumorz Bar & Grill
Maddie Anderly, Marketing & Communications Specialist, Brew Crew Captain, Gen-Z
Drinks:
Bloody Mary or Breakfast Shot (sometimes both) ;), Rookie’s Rockin’ Sports Bar
Vanilla Espresso Martini, TAP’d
Espresso Martini, Reserve 173° Bar & Grill
Espresso Martini, The Palms Rooftop Cabana
Margarita, Ge-Jo’s by the Lake
Butter Me Up, Livonia’s Coffee Bar
Tumbleweed, Cabin Coffee Company
Blueberry Refresh, Lakeside Landing
Sweets:
Dark Chocolate Truffles, Lillie Mae Chocolates
Snickerdoodle Cookie, Cookies, etc.
Banana Cream Pie Bars, Starboard Market
Rootbeer Float, Charlie’s Soda Fountain
Raspberry Cheesecake Cookie, Subway
Cinnamon Roll, Cabin Coffee Company
Birthday Cake Bite, Scooter’s Coffee
Blackberry Cobbler Concrete Mixer, Culver’s
Bites:
Bone-In Wings (Sweet Chili), Rookie’s Rockin’ Sports Bar
Lamb Gyro Supreme, Gyro Place
Crab Rangoon Nachos, Lakeside Landing
Burrito Supreme, Cancun by the Lake
Hawaiian Pizza, The Other Place
Everything Hashbrowns, Sevens Steakhouse
Brussels Sprouts, The Boulevard Bar & Grill
Corn Nuggets, Lake Pin & Play
Avah Hogg, Summer Intern ’24, Hometown Flavor Expert, Gen-Z
Food:
Mini Hot Ham & Cheesy, Cabin Coffee Company
Chicken Finger Wrap, The Other Place
Cheese Balls, Gyro Place
#3 Breakfast Sandwich, Cabin Coffee Company
Mango Chicken Sandwich, Seven’s Restaurant & Steakhouse
Onion Rings, PM Park & Tiki Bar
Chips and Queso, Cancun by the Lake
French Fries, McDonald’s Restaurant
Homemade Fried Chips, Rookies
Cheesy Bread Stix, The Other Place
Brussel Sprouts, The Boulevard Bar & Grill
Double Decker Pepperoni Pizza, The Other Place
Sweet Chili Chicken Wrap, Seven’s Restaurant & Steakhouse
Drinks:
Chai Latte, Cabin Coffee Company
Peanut Butter Power Smoothie, Scooter’s Coffee
Iced Palomino, Cabin Coffee Company
Sprite, McDonald’s Restaurant
Sweets:
Blueberry Scone, Cabin Coffee Company
Lemon Bar Ice Cream, Cookies, etc.
Cinnamon Roll, Cabin Coffee Company
Grasshopper Bar, Starboard Market
Cookie Dough Concrete Mixer, Culver’s
Libbey Hohn, Director of Tourism, Local Food Guide, Xennial
Indulge with me in the best of Clear Lake with this exclusive list of 24 Bucket List Bites! As Clear Lake Tourism Director and local food aficionado, these are 24 of my favorite menu items that I love to recommend to visitors and friends. Enjoy these tasty bites that take you on a scrumptious journey through the Clear Lake dining scene! – Libbey
Moscovian Mule, 173° Craft Distillery
Hot Beef Sandwich, 7 Stars Family Restaurant
Turkey O’Toole, Bennigan’s
Brussels Sprouts, The Boulevard Bar & Grill
Bandit Queen (Chicken Salad Croissant), Cabin Coffee Company
Queso Fundido with Mushrooms, Cancun by the Lake
Mud Sundae, Charlie’s Soda Fountain
Chocolate-Chocolate Chip, Cookies, etc.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich & Cheese Balls, Culver’s
Hot Oil Natomeli Pizza, Ge-Jo’s by the Lake
Chicken Gyro (extra tzaziki), Gyro Place
Filet with Hash Browns, Half Moon Inn
Raspberry Main Squeeze, Lake Time Brewery
Mahi Mahi Salad Sandwich, Lakeside Landing
Double Smashburger, Lake Pin and Play
The big bag of homemade caramels, Lillie Mae Chocolates
Iced Toasted Banana Latte, Livonia’s Coffee Bar
Hot Tuna Hero, The Other Place
Pepperoni Flatbread, PretzelMaker
Spinach Artichoke Dip, Rookie’s Rockin’ Sports Bar
Pizza (beef, mushroom, green olive with extra cheese), Rumorz Bar & Grill
Eggs Florentine, Sevens Steakhouse
Turkey Pesto Ciabatta Melt, Starboard Market
Paloma, TAP’d
We hope this list of must-try menu items gives you some inspiration to try something new!