We decided to have dinner here. When we arrived we were seated right away outside with a great view of the water. They had a gluten-free menu with lots of options, which was really nice. When I asked about their gluten-free precautions, our server reassured me that the chefs take it very seriously and are very careful when preparing gluten-free meals. We ordered the shrimp ceviche and seared ahi tuna for appetizers, and both were delicious! For our meals, I had Doc's paella, my daughter had the mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and vegetables, my son had the panko shrimp with fries, and my husband had the macadamia nut-crusted grouper with vegetables and rice. Everything came out fairly quickly and tasted good. Everyone in our party liked their food except my daughter she said her fish had zero seasoning or flavor, the service was great, and I really appreciated the care they took with gluten-free precautions. read more

See all

First visit.... So much to write and most not good. Our friends have all been here before and wanted a birthday dinner for 12 people. My girlfriend called several days in advance to book the reservation and was told the ONLY time they would accommodate 12 was 5:15pm (it was a Friday). Even though several of us work, she took it after they refused a later time. She even confirmed by a text they sent her the day before. The party arrived between 5-5:15. The table was not ready. Looked around and while busy, not all tables were full and smaller parties were being seated as they came in with no wait. 30 minutes later- after another table finally left and they cleared it they sat us. So much for a reservation that had to be only at that time! No attempt to seat us elsewhere- just waiting for that table to leave. The server, Kenny, came around and almost like a drill sergeant required everyone's attention (stern request for all to pay attention to him) so he could give the specials and inform us on how he was going to do the separate checks. I am all for him being able to keep everyone's check straight- just the way he explained was a bit off putting. He proceeded to take drink orders and then returned with them. Started taking food orders. I asked for an appetizer and my meal. He said is it ok if they come together? I said well I would like the app first. He informed me that if he did that and "held" my meal order there would be a small delay on my meal. I said no- I don't want to hold anything up. He took the rest of the orders. After a few minutes one person's appetizers came out. I will call him "B". B was nice and shared his apps with several people. At this point we were looking for Kenny as several drinks needed to be refilled or ordered. Did not see him. Few minutes later, meals started arriving via a couple food runners who started calling out what they had in hand. As dishes were being placed on the table my appetizer was called so I turned and the one he was handing me had tomatoes clearly on top. I said- that's not mine- I ordered no tomatoes. He looks up and quickly takes it to the end of the table where one of the others had already received my app and picked up a piece of it. He stopped him right before they bit into the piece. Told him that was the wrong one and switched them bringing me the one that had almost been eaten. He said- this is yours- he did not eat any yet. Yeah- but he had picked up a piece! At that point more commotion going on with meals arriving so I just took it but did not eat the one section. We all get our meals except B. One person asked for a side of ranch with their order- not delivered. We are looking for Kenny still- remember we needed drinks and now the ranch dressing. He seems inattentive (the prior customers at this table had left their paid check there- it was still on the table next to my friend until 3/4 through the time we were there as an example of his inattentiveness plus waiting to order more drinks). When Kenny finally comes to check on us he takes the drink orders and we ask about B's meal. Well because he asked for his appetizers to come first his meal is delayed. The second round of drinks come. Still no meal for B. The entire table is almost done eating their meals when B's meal shows up!! He told them just put it in a box. Kenny shows with all checks in hand but says- anyone have a sweet tooth? When nobody responds with a dessert request he starts handing out the checks. He did then offer the birthday person a free dessert as well as B due to the delay- they would not take any off the check for the delay (he declined). We paid and left. We had put 3 hours on our parking. We left with 15 minutes to spare! That gives you an idea of the delay for seating and service. Now I get it- party of 12 on a Friday. But as mentioned the place was not packed as others (smaller parties)continued to be seated with no wait. And we all were respectful of his check system and how we ordered. My girlfriend said "if this was my first time here I don't know I would come back". I chimed in...."first time here!" Pros: my meal was good (shrimp and grits). Several others enjoyed their food. Bathroom kept clean despite being busy. Cons (besides what I already have mentioned): my husband said after we left his chicken sandwich was rubbery- overcooked. My second drink (regular mojito) was very bland. Sorry- Will try other restaurants in that area before going back! read more

I was in town visiting some friends and they wanted to head to Doc Ford's after a long day at the beach for some dinner! Sizeable parking lot available at this location! The quintessential beachy vibe with indoor and outdoor seating! Big outdoor bar was perfect for us to belly up to while we waited for our table to be ready! Bartenders and servers were very friendly and present during our stay! All I heard throughout the afternoon was how much I needed to try the Yucatan Shrimp...and it did NOT disappoint! Garlicy, buttery, and perfect spice to these peel and eat Shrimp! The baguette is the perfect pairing! I also had the Grouper Tacos, which were perfectly cooked and had a yummy chimmichurri sauce on top! I appreciated that they came with fries as well, since two tacos wouldn't have been enough! If I had one critique, it was that the Mai Tai was far from a traditional Mai Tai...too fruity without enough Rum. I'd skip it if you are a fan of a strong Mai Tai! read more

Boca Ciega - Grouper Tacos - Bars Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

See all

I've been to this Doc Ford's location a few times and as always, it was a nice experience!! We were a part of a large party and our server, Haily, was excellent!! All the staff that assisted her with our table were also great!! We all had a nice variety of foods & drinks from the menu which were flavorful, in addition to looking great!! Heard tonight that the restaurant is going to be re-branded soon which will be interesting to see what lies ahead for the location. read more

See all

Started off lunch with the Original Yucatan Shrimp Doc's signature dish. It was absolutely delicious! The steamed peel-and-eat shrimp in the buttery garlic sauce with cilantro and Key lime had so much flavor. For my meal, I ordered the Mozzarella de Marinello Salad with a few modifications, and they accommodated all of my requests perfectly. The presentation was beautiful, and everything tasted fresh and well prepared. Overall, it was a really nice lunch. read more

See all

It is a busy place, so do first come first serve for seating. We had a big group and it took a while for us to get all of our food. No problem on that. But we did enjoy the food. I got the calamari and that was really good. Not fishy or smelling , it was not chewing but perfect. The baby back rib was good, bones were coming off, but it just feels like not enough meat on the bones. The soup was delicious, i really enjoyed all the thing i got and try a bit of my group's food. read more

See all

STILL 5 SOLID STARS! Last month my wing man Gary took me out to a restaurant on my birthday. And now it's his turn (Why do I call Gary my wing man? Gary is a USAF pilot, retired). Gary chose a reprise of Doc Ford's where we went last year for one of our lunches. As always, Doc Ford's never disappoints. Waitress Heather was fantastic, and added value to our dining experience. I started with one of my drink favorites: The Shipwreck ($11.95), and it includes a 'Navy' shot of rum on the side. Later I ordered a Bloody Mary ($12.95). Both drinks were tasty and packed a punch. We started off with Mussels ($14.95) and Calamari ($15.95) appetizers. The sauce that came with the mussels was exceptional. There were also two slices of bread to soak it up with. I made sure to take the remaining sauce home. For entrees Gary had Orange Ginger Shrimp ($24.95) and I ordered the Seafood Paella ($31.95). The Paella had shrimp, mussels, whitefish, and scallops. Gary had a complimentary birthdays slice of Key Lime Pie ($8.95 value) for dessert. I told Heather I was all thumbs, so she graciously packaged up our leftovers to go. Fantastic meal for $150 (Includes Generous tip) read more

See all

We had an excellent experience at Doc Ford's during our visit in St. Petersburg. Bryan, our server, was absolutely great, friendly, timely with the service, informative, and patient with the dietary restrictions. My wife had the danish baby back ribs and I had the Coco shrimp & scallops special. Both were good and quite generous portions. The star of the night was Doc Ford's Yucca Bloody Mary. I could've stopped with just this one drink and been full the rest of the evening. Extremely tasty and almost like a full meal. The best bloody Mary I've had to date. I felt like I had run a marathon after I finished. Nice atmosphere and great views of the ocean. Bryan was a big highlight. read more

See all

Location, Location, Location.. Party of 4 at 1:15 with reservations Saturday Afternoon- Place was busy, it's about location. Water view, pretty cool, food is good, nothing exceptional, service was good, I don't like asking for more iced tea. When you see it's almost gone ask me or just fill it. Why doesn't Doc Fords bring waters out like almost every other restaurant on the planet?I don't drink it, but one of our party had to ask for it? Perhaps ask if anyone wants it? It is super loud, nothing seems phenomenal but everything g is good and the view is great! read more

We were fortunate enough to sit outside on a beautiful Saturday by the bay. The very beginning was tremendous with Amy our server. This lady was on her game! I had a flight of rum and all three were great, especially with the added pineapple pieces that really should come with the rum flights as a great complement to the flavors! We had great food, great laughs and great service. Had a couple of small issues with bees because of the open soda fountain nozzles, if you are bee sensitive I wouldn't recommend that you sit outside. All of the food from the chicken taquito appetizer, (enough for 4 people) and the dipping sauce was phenomenal and the chicken with a light burn, was great. The fried grouper sandwiches were a little heavy on the breading, but that's a personal preference. Margarita pizza was tasty with the balsamic. We ate well and had alcohol for lunch! It's worth the trip! Ask for team Amy! So worth it! read more

See all

Drank and ate there for years. We've been walking the pier way before they built it up. Doc Fords foods and drinks have become mediocre and employees lacks proper etiquette and well overpriced for mediocre foods and drinks. That part have turned in to a tourist trap. read more

Fish tacos are a 10/10! We ate at the outdoor bar and listened to live music. Service was good, food was good, and the view of the water was beautiful. read more

Boca Ciega - Fresh fish tacos - Bars Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

See all

I think this is my favorite location. I was happy to see that the garlic in the Yucatan shrimp was fresh and not from a jar (see my review of the other location). The shrimp were excellent as usual. Would've loved a bit more toasting to the bread, but it was serviceable to sop up the Yucatan elixir. Nice portion of shrimp, likely a bit north of the 1/2 poind mark. Beer battered grouper was likewise tasty. One tiny complaint The blue cheese dressing with the wedge seemed a bit light on flavor, almost a bit watered down. Some extra crumbled blue cheese would have sufficed. But this is a minor complaint. Our server, Heather was great. This is my go-to location. You can sit on the deck out back and watch folks tooling around in their boats. Overall, hard to beat. read more

See all

Always go there for lunch and when I can, we come by Boat as they have a good number of Docks. That doc Ford's fish sandwich is off the charts and the fish is twice the size of the bun. I have a hard time ordering anything else since I like that so much. read more

Pretty nice location! Easy in and out parking with lots of space. Large seating area both inside and outside. Would have loved to sit outside but it was pouring outside. Outside is covered but some water was leaking through but again it was heavy heavy down pour so I get it. Inside is nice modern look. Mix of fishing and boat theme. Staff was great, luckily it wasn't too busy so they came around often to check in on us. The wife and I shared a whiskey flight. Good options and great mix of flavors. If you are whiskey person give it a try. For food I got the shrimp wrap and potato casserole. The wrap had great flavor with the nice creamy guacamole. I added some hot sauce to help spice it up a little but nothing killer or painful just good heat and flavor. The potato casserole was ok a little over cook on the top but flavor was lacking. Salt and Pepper helped out. If in the area again would try it again! read more

Boca Ciega - Whiskey flight - Bars Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

See all

So let us start with the service. Jasmin was very friendly and helpful, gave us plenty of time since we were all chatting away and not paying attention to the menu when we first got there. And she kept smiling, even when a full drink was knocked over on the table, onto a booth seat and onto the floor, with ice flying everywhere. We appreciated her. It's a typical bar/restaurant on the waterfront, nice view of the water and the boats. Not fancy, but very comfortable. The food was hit and miss. A New England clam chowder was a little blend, and I guess the clams must have jumped out of the pot before they scooped it into my bowl. An order of shrimp ceviche was very good. A spinach salad was pretty ordinary, but a tuna with a bed of rice noodles was excellent. A Cuban sandwich missed the mark. I had an order of Alaskan flounder fingers which were pretty tasteless. Good place to hang out with friends like we did today. The location on the water makes it 3 1/2 stars.. just can't get it to four stars. read more

See all

We really did enjoy the mocktail, so I want to start with that. However, it wasn't a busy night "Thursday" inside, and our server only came by three times, once to take order, drop off drinks, and check. My wife ordered grouper tacos and even she was surprised, saying it must be an off night. The plates were extremely hot, which makes me think the food sat under the heat lamp longer than usual. I never leave negative reviews, but for a $70 meal, this experience really missed the mark. I couldn't even eat my burger, the bun was extremely hard, and even though I asked for it well‑done, the meat was raw on the inside while the outside was charred. read more

Boca Ciega - Beans and Rice - Bars Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

See all

The portions were large, fries were incredible! Salmon & Mahi was super fresh Wait time on a Tuesday was minimal, place was very busy Felt like an upscale local bar, tv's were covering the Bolts & Rays Skyler did an excellent job! read more

See all

Ok ... SO!! The Mussels, the Fords Famous Clam Chowder, the Seared Tuna BUT The Youcatan Shrimp!! Must Must have!! Ask for Josh cool dude great service!! read more

Service was great! Waiter was very nice. They did accidentally undercook the salmon meal but did fix it quickly and were super apologetic (accidents happen and they made it right). The salmon was super good! Very flavorful and the mushrooms were amazing. The fish sandwich was also flavorful and quite good. The broccoli was a bit undercooked (in my opinion) but still good. The rum flight was super fun, a but pricey at $25 but fun. The Don Q was the best out of the three, so smooth. The other two were good though too. The restaurant is adorably decorated (fish/small aquarium). Overall, it is a cute option in the area. read more

Boca Ciega - Fish sandwich - Bars Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

See all

I just can't get enough of Doc Ford's. Having to eat gluten free, Doc Ford's has a very large selection of food to choose from. The food is always fresh, flavorful and abundant!!! Thank you for being consistent!!! read more

See all

Our server greeted us by telling us that all of their food is prepared fresh with no processed foods and very little frozen foods served. We had the prosciutto and fig flatbread and a side salad. The salad was full of mixed greens, , tomatoes, carrots, and croutons. The flat bread was delicious! My friend had the lobster roll and it was chock full of lobster. She said it was authentic and delicious! Our server was very pleasant and food came out quickly. We sat on the patio with a nice breeze in the January air. We will make our way back to this super delicious restaurant! read more

See all

Stopped in just before 9pm after getting into town on a Thursday evening. There were four of us in our group. We wanted to sit outside on their very large lower deck. We had to go upstairs to the hostess to come back downstairs to sit at a table. The waitress came over very quickly to check in and get our drink orders. They have a very large menu and drink selections. We ordered fried grouper sandwich, Cuban and two blackened chicken sandwiches. The grouper sandwich was a very large piece of grouper, not dry but would have liked it seasoned a little better. The Cuban looked good but was just okay. The two blackened chicken sandwiches were outstanding. The sides were got were fries and the slaw. The fries were top notch. The slaw was too wet and not really eatable. The hours are short I feel, closing at 10pm each night. It seems 11pm would make sense on Friday and Saturday but they know their business I guess. I was also told by a local, the previous business had live music. I did not see that they had this. Overall food, drinks, service and atmosphere would make me highly recommend and go again. read more

See all

This place was great. Took a late reservation for 8 people and we were seated quickly when we did arrive. Server was fantastic as well. Arrived at 5:30, right at sunset an it was fairly busy but he was fast and attentive. Room drink order as soon as we sat, ordered apps and entrees when he dropped off the drinks. Food was ready quickly even with ordering apps. Food was really good as well. Ordered the pork chop and it was huge! Cooked perfectly. Mashed red potatoes were tasty and creamy. I don't typically care for green beans but there were tender with just the right pop thru the skin, and salt and pepper made them perfect. Great view of the marina from where we sat and got to watch the boats come in at sunset. Had our own little section away from the smaller groups which was great cuz were a loud group but there's plenty of space so we didn't disturb anyone else. Also nice that the bar separates the section we sat in and the main dining room. read more

The food, as always was tasty. Our service was terrible. Had to get our own silverware for dinner, no plates for apps, no ask for 2nd drinks. Not enough water for all of us clearly t he waiter doesn't need to care because we had a party of 11 so he gets an automatic 20% my late husband and I would go a lot and enjoy ourselves. Tried to celebrate his bday there tonight with my family to celebrate his birthday. What a disappointment. read more

Had an amazing experience here as always! The food is wonderful but the view is even better. We always have good service every time we visit and the Yucatán shrimp is amazing!! read more

Boca Ciega - Bars Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

See all

The staff is the best in the business. Special shout out to Cornealious for the great and welcoming hospitality. He gets it. Great wings too and that view is unbeatable. read more

They got the call ahead reservation wrong then said we should have asked for an outside low table, how is one supposed to know that? Then the experienced server who was training a new one mixed up my order, the peel and eat shrimp had no flavor because they weren't the seasoned like I thought was clear when she said order the hot which had Old Bay, the hot butter wasn't butter but butter-flavored oil--no milky solids gave it away, & the shrimp were very dirty, couldn't eat half. She comped my meal, but probably won't go back. The trainee was great! read more

This was my second time at Doc Ford's and it was just as good as the first. I didn't get food since I was tight on time during my trip, but I did grab a drink and went with the Old Havana. Strong, well made and exactly how I like it. The staff was nice. My server Lisa took good care of me, she was just busy. The views here are unbeatable day or night. The ambience is relaxed, the inside looks great and the outside area has a small stage for live music along with heat lamps when needed. Parking is doable, but you'll need a little patience during weekend rushes. If you like good drinks, music and easygoing vibes, this is a spot you should definitely check out. read more

See all

Would rate it higher if I could. If you come to this area, this restaurant is a must. Really high quality food, the servers are really nice, and the live music is really good. I've been to the location in Fort Myers and it was amazing there too. The burger I had was very delicious and juicy, and came with nice, thick cut fries. read more

Boca Ciega - Burger and Fries - Bars Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

Nice atmosphere for the most part, except we had a very loud party in our small room. Food and drinks were good.

One of my favorite spots with fabulous views of the bay. Check out those yummy peel em and eat em shrimp! Fresh and delicious. Great service as always and wash those shrimp down with an equally yummy Key Lime Cider. read more

Boca Ciega - Peel em and eat em shrimp - Bars Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

Great location - all the vibes of Doc Ford's, none of the crowds. Gorgeous location at the docks and delicious food. Service was fast and food was great! read more

Boca Ciega - Bars Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

Bartenders very unfriendly. Other than the one that was waiting on us, they refused to even look or talk to us. The food was mediocre. Would not recommend. read more

Had a nice dinner with great service from Halle. Unfortunately a greeting card from me to my granddaughter just in from California with a $50 GC in it was left on the table and got thrown out. I'm happy to say they are making good on the GC which was unexpected and very much appreciated. Needless to say I'm quite pleased with Doc Ford's! read more

We stayed in the area for a week and this was by far the best dinner we had. Kris was also great, good came out super quick.

I had the lobster role which was described as New England style. It was not. There was noo pop tail meat in it at all. Just cull meat. Very disappointing read more

I liked all the food except the grouper sandwich I ordered with panko crust wasn't seasoned/flavored well. On the upside the sweet potato fries, wings and their calamari was amazing! Our server was fast and had very upbeat energy which was nice. It was a dock/fisherman theme which made you feel like you were on a tropical vacation. I enjoyed the ambiance and decor. read more

See all

Best mussels with the perfect sauce , awesome views and great drinks the service was great and I felt like I was on vacation.

They have a designated gluten free menu and so many options! Just make sure to tell the server you are ordering from the gluten-free menu. I had the ahi tuna appetizer which comes with rice noodles and a GF soy sauce and shrimp tacos. Both were delicious. Server was awesome and very accommodating! Will be back. Nice patio and the bar faces the water. read more