When you think of Lake of the Ozarks, a place like Backwater Jack’s comes to mind—because there’s nothing quite like cruising in for delicious food and sticking around for a pool party!
The pink building welcomes boaters at the back of the 17.5 Mile Marker cove, where there’s plenty of slips for parking. Those coming by land can visit Backwater Jack’s at 4341 Beach Drive in Osage Beach and dine inside or outside.
NEW this year: LEVEL5 entertainment complex, which sits right next to Backwater Jack's in the back of the cove! It's like an amphitheater, but instead of seating, you're in swimming pools. With four levels of pools and the biggest DJ names and screens at the Lake, LEVEL5 has cemented Backwater cove as the hotspot of summer fun.
When the days get hot, Backwater’s has a pool too, where you can cool off and enjoy the swim-up bar. Live DJs and bands keep the beats going throughout the summer. But one of the best parts about the pool area is the sushi. Only available from May to September, the award-winning bites have a variety of options and flavor that leave you satisfied.
Great news! Backwater Jack’s is open daily at 11 a.m. Check out live music at the restaurant so you can plan your visit—just bring your crew and an appetite (and maybe your best dance moves).
With such a large menu, what to order can be overwhelming. Not to worry, here are some tasty items to try on your next visit:
What To Eat & Drink At Backwater Jack's
MAIN RESTAURANT
Grouper Fingers
In a secret honey breading, these white-fish fingers are CRISPY. Sweet and not too fishy, the raspberry tartar sauce add a lovely tang. This crunchy app is a must try if you haven't had it.
Senor Jack’s Mexican Pasta
Fuel up before the drinks start flowing with this rich, buttery mashup of Mexican and Italian flavors. Garlic chicken, peppers, and onions are sautéed with mild spices, then tossed in a creamy cheese sauce over fettuccine noodles. Served with tortilla chips—because no Mexican-inspired dish is complete without them.
Jack’s Loaded Jambalaya
Southern flavors shine in this Cajun dish. Backwater is generous with crab, scallops, shrimp, chicken, AND Andouille sausage served over a bed of wild rice. Sautéed onions and green and red bell peppers add to the savory profile, while the star is a not-too-spicy sauce. The sweet corn bread is the perfect way to soak up the jambalaya.
POOLSIDE
Jack’s Crab Cakes (New on the menu!)
On a bed of ginger miso greens, lay two deliciously soft crab cakes topped and elevated with a savory citrus bistro sauce. The jumbo lump crab melts in your mouth, while the outer crisp holds it together.
Pick Three Combo
A combo is the way to go to try multiple rolls, especially when sharing with a group. Here are three signature options:
Drunken Roll – a great one for sushi novices, this roll is stuffed with crab and fried shrimp tempura, then topped with tuna, teriyaki sauce, and wasabi aioli. It's surprisingly not-fishy!
Double Crunch Shrimp – sweet and crispy, this roll has fried shrimp tempura wrapped with cream cheese, crab, and topped with teriyaki sauce and wasabi aioli.
The Inferno *New on the menu* – so yummy, it's hard to share. Fans of spice will enjoy this roll of fried shrimp tempura, cucumber, and pickled ginger beautifully finished with avocado, wasabi aioli, sriracha, jalapeño, and chili oil. The heat hits later but isn't overwhelming!
Sweet & Spicy Chili Chicken (New on the menu!)
Karaage chicken—Japanese style fried chicken—sits on a sushi rice and slaw mix with sesame seeds and green onions to garnish. The house-made pineapple sweet chili sauce adds a little heat to this large portion size. This tastes a little bit like general chicken!
DRINKS
What's a lakefront restaurant without something to drink? Backwater Jack's has a range of alcoholic beverages to enjoy, from beer to frozens to cocktails (and even some mocktails). These can be ordered poolside or in the main restaurant!
Pain in the A$$ — a classic frozen drink around the Lake that is equal parts Rum Runner and Piña Colada. Add a floater for additional rum!
Lakewater — another drink readily available around the Lake, this sweet tropical cocktail is a blend of rum, pineapple juice, and blue curacao, which gives it the bright color.
Seltzer with a Topper — want to try something new? Order your favorite selzter and top it off with a frozen rum runner or margarita! The drink stays cold and you still get the fiziness from the seltzer.
Cruzan Confusion — a delicious tropical hodge-podge that feels like being on the beach. Served in a 32 oz bucket, this cocktail comprises of Cruzan Coconut and Mango rums, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice. It's dangerously easy to drink.
Coconut Cooler — tequila forward and oh so light, this drink features 1800 Coconut Tequila, coconut water, and splash of pineapple juice. Go with this one for something refreshing!
