Food was delicious; but the portions were so small I needed to make my family extra food when home

Food always amazing. Cooked to perfection. Best Whole Belly Clams. Excellent Honey Salmon over a rice pilaf. Large seafood Fisherman Platter. Lightly Fried. Many other items. Very consistent every time we go. Definitely a 5 Star Place to go. read more

Dockside is a very well run resto that's captured what really matters in the food service biz: hospitality, excellent well presented delicious fried seafood, first rate table service and an extremely well organized kitchen delicated to quality and expediting orders as quickly as possible. It was a very busy 4th of July; we were astounded at how quickly we were seated; from ordering to receiving our food you couldn't ask for a more positive experience. Service was attentive, efficient; quick from order to payment. We both marveled at how well run, dedicated and choreographed the entire staff was. This restaurant delivers an exception product and a truly memorable event! read more

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Service was terrible. Waitress avoided us as our simple appetizer of steamers took 45 minutes to be delivered. The quality of food was not good. Swordfish was tasteless and over cooked. Same with broiled shrimp and scallops. Rice pilaf was border but minus flavor packet. So sad read more

Ignore the bad reviews, the food is great. We had crab cakes and calamari appetizers, the crab cakes were all crab, no filler. We then had lobster rolls, a fish sandwich and clam chowder, all wonderful. Will definitely be back. read more

Dockside Seafood & Grill in Branford is one of my favorite restaurants! The staff is always so friendly, and the atmosphere is amazing, especially in the summer. All of the seafood is so good, and they seriously have the best crab cakes! They also have plenty of options if seafood isn't your thing. Even when they're busy, they do a great job getting you seated pretty quickly, and it's always worth the wait. Definitely one of my go-to spots! read more

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We're visiting Branford with old college friends, already a plus. If you like beer and fried seafood, second plus We stopped here after a short hike and a beer really hit the spot. For food we had the New England Clam chowder, one of my favorites and this was really good. Then we shared the steamers fried captains platter, and an extra order of fried clams. We had both the strips and belly clam. I preferred the belly clam. The Cole slaw was really good too For six of us , just 2 beers 140 plus tip read more

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Had an awesome meal here. Excellent lobster bisque and an amazing lobster pot pie, both with huge chunks of delicious lobster. Some of the best seafood I've ever had!.Nice outdoor seating area overlooking the marina and the water. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Never got to sit. They wouldn't seat us until everyone was there. When our other car arrived, after us waiting for about 20 minutes, she told us we'd have to go on waiting list. The hostess was rude Not a good welcome to patrons. So we went to Lenny's. No issue there. They're very accommodating read more

Unsure why this place has bad reviews, it has a nice view and the lobster roll and lobster bread was sth best I have seen for this price anywhere; the waitress was super attentive and friendly, honestly this is so well priced rhat if you are in the area that is a must visit palace. read more

First time dining here. It was perfect. Mussels with garlic was sensational, lots and lots of garlic . Swordfish perfectly broiled served with a light rice pilaf. Fried seafood platter was lightly breaded, fresh, hot, with belly clams, scallops, scrod, shrimp. Really nice. Moderate pricing. This is now on our list of top restaurants in the USA! It's a throwback to the 1950s. Generous portions, moderate prices, good food. They even make their own coleslaw from scratch!! read more

We were seated right away by 2 happy, polite young ladies. Drinks Apps, entrees, desserts, excellent. Our waitress, excellent also. I thought for all we had, priced very reasonable. We forgot our leftovers, those polite young ladies went all the way in the parking lot to give us our food. How cool is that read more

Food was very good at fair prices. Service was first rate. Overall a good experience.

I love Dockside! I've been going to dockside since I can remember. I like how it's in a boatyard and there's always a pretty view from the restaurant. The service is always great and doesn't take long for the food to come out. I always get their New England clam chowder. It does have bacon in it, so if you're not a big bacon person, then you may not like it since it does have a pretty strong bacon flavor in it. I do prefer chowder without the bacon, but I do still like theirs! I love the grilled swordfish with blue cheese crumbles. Last time I went, I'd say the rice pilaf served with the fish was kind of dry and not that hot, but it was Father's Day and I know they were busy, so I know it's harder to keep up with everything being perfectly fresh when it's really busy. My grandma got a lobster roll with rice pilaf (had the same issue with her rice) & wasn't thrilled because they only put claws in her lobster roll without any tail mixed in, but she's eaten there a ton of times over the years and usually enjoys her meals there. She just wouldn't get a lobster roll again. My dad really likes their stuffed shrimp and clam strips. Overall, I highly recommend Dockside! They have some great seafood. Check it out! read more

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It was my cousin's birthday and she decided to come here to dine after the Thimble Island Cruise. The restaurant is by the water and the backdrop is just beautiful. We were greeted and were seated immediately. I ordered the Fried Fish Sandwich and it came with French Fries. The Fried Fish Sandwich was okay but the batter was coming off. It also became soggy after adding the Lettuce and Tomato. I would definitely recommend using a different type of fish because the fish was too thin to hold up onto the batter. I believe it was Tilapia fish. The fish was seasoned very well and the French Fries were delicious. The customer service was on point and are waitress was friendly and helpful. She definitely came to are table every now and then to come check on us. The restaurant is definitely great for the view but I wouldn't make it my regular seafood stop read more

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Good bar and nice seafood menu with ample selections and reasonable price. Good crowd with nice vibe and view

Our service and the restaurant decor was very nice. We sat outside overlooking the marina and the weather was perfect. Unfortunately, the reason to go to a restaurant is to have a good meal. For lunch today, we tried the clam chowder, crab cakes and the Captains Platter. The soup was great, but everything went downhill after that course. The oil that the fish platter was cooked in, tasted old, and the crabcakes were definitely both rancid, old and burnt. The waitress showed empathy, but obviously the manager didn't care. Nothing else was offered nor was the bill adjusted. I had heard good things about this restaurant and was very disappointed. read more

Dockside is located around boats. It's harder to see the water, but boy do you see boats. You can even park among them. The restaurant is very pretty, with even some outdoor seating for sunsets walking in. There are about four different dining rooms, one with a bar and one much closer to the water. The employees were all very friendly with greetings as you came in and out, and even helped each other out with getting refills and clearing tables. The lobster bisque was fantastic! It was thicker bisque with actual lobster inside! I wish I could have more shipped to me. The platter of fried oysters were well seasoned and fried well, and served with a ton of fries. Prepare to take home leftovers. read more

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Excellent lobster pot pie, one of the best ever with copious amounts of lobster meat. Excellent broiled seafood medley seasoned to diner preference (mine was Cajun seasoning), although the sea scallops were a bit smaller than I'm accustomed to for sea scallops. Also probably the best onion rings my wife and I ever had! The marina view is beyond a very large parking lot, but still a nice marina view. We will dine here again if our travels take us to Branford. read more

Live the food here. Very friendly staff and amazing location. Sit outside and have a drink while waiting for a table. I love their blackened shrimp on a Caesar salad. read more

We went today for lunch. I am just going to tell you no pics because I was too busy eating and visiting with my daughter! Lol But what we had was a fabulous table outside Jill was our server. Also awesome but now let's get into the real stuff, clam chowder , calamari ala vodka,peel and eat shrimp too much work there but good, steamers and oh yeah fried mozzarella. Now drinks were good but next Blackened tuna, lobster roll shrimp scampi all delicious. Our table on the deck overlooking the marina ohhh yeah! Way too full to go any farther!!! read more

I am a big fan of Dockside Seafood. Their lobster rolls are generous and reasonably priced and come with delicious fries. The lobster pot pie is an incredible deal - much more than one person can eat. The fish is always fresh and they will cook it any way you want - I recommend the Florentine. There is a senior early bird menu on weekdays which is definitely limited, but a good deal if they have what you want. There is never a problem with parking and there is some waterfront to enjoy as well if you are up for a walk after dinner. The vibe is definitely family-friendly as opposed to a romantic dinner for 2! It is not unusual to see 3-4 generations of an extended family enjoying dinner together. Servers work hard as a team - some have worked there for many years and others appear to be students; imperfections in the service are to be expected. I am happy that they are willing to hire some relatively inexperienced, but smart and hard working "kids" and I am ok if that means my silverware is not correctly organized...The kitchen is organized and we have never had to wait long for our food. And the bread and Cole slaw are great complementary starters for your hangry family and friends. read more

I really enjoyed having a drink and some seafood from the outside deck area at Dockside. I purchased the captain's platter with whole bellies for $32 which I thought was a great price! The serving size was a little less than some other places but it still was way too much for one person to eat and I took home a while other serving for the next day! And it reheated perfectly because it wasn't overcooked the first time!! The view was nice, the waitress (I'm horrible with names, and it's been a couple weeks, Madison maybe?) was super friendly and helpful. I did realize I never did get my coke slaw, but I didn't realize it until the next day so, I guess I didn't miss it! I think it's my new favorite place to go eat outdoors. Can't wait to go back! read more

Dockside Seafood & Grille - View from the patio @ the Dockside - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Food and service was terrific. We noticed they have a senior multi course offering during the week and before 5:30 that looked like a great deal but we were there on a weekend. I had the captains platter and took home half. My wife had the lobster casserole which was also good and she took home half. read more

I'm from out of town and was down in Branford in business. Stopped here for a quick lunch thinking we were going to be near water. So we sat outside in the deck and saw numerous sailboats dry docked and really no water in sight. I ordered the Cajun chicken garden salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing, my friend had the fried fish sandwich. My salad was a big proportion and packed with veggies, the dressing tastes homemade and delicious. The fish sandwich was good, a large piece of fish that was fresh and a good amount of home fries. Service was great, very attentive checking on us often. So, other than not being dockside near any water,and watching sail boat owners painting the undersides of their boats, it was a ok experience. read more

Such a nice place. Stopped on the way home and enjoyed a beautiful meal and a beautiful sunset. I had the honey lemon salmon and my BG had the seafood combo. Both were delish. Service was fast and quick read more

Dockside Seafood & Grille - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Casual fare. Indoor and outdoor seating. We were a party of 11 around 1:00 so had to wait a bit but were seated outside. Friendly service. Good food. Enjoy! read more

Dockside Seafood & Grille - Lobster pot pie - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Great spot in Branford located in a marina which makes for a great backdrop when dining on their outdoor patio. I went here to celebrate a friend's birthday and although they do not accept reservations, the waitlist moved quickly. While waiting, we grabbed a cocktail (a delicious coconut martini) from the bar and sat outside relaxing in their Adirondack chairs. Once seated, the service was friendly, attentive, and able to roll with the laughs and chaos of a larger party. I ordered a lobster roll and was pleasantly surprised by the generous portion of lobster meat on the roll. It was dressed with the perfect amount of butter and served with crispy fries. I look forward to returning to try more of their seafood dishes! read more

Dockside Seafood & Grille - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Wow! Some of the best fried clam strips I've ever had! I don't live in CT anymore but I always have to enjoy my Italian food and New England style seafood whenever I come home to visit a couple times a year. I had actually never been to Dockside, but my dad and stepmom took me here and I was loved how it overlooks a marina and has mostly outdoor seating. But most of all, I loved my meal! The clam strips are from Ipswich clams so I'm not sure if that's why they were larger, but I've never had clam strips so big. The batter was light and flavorful and everything just tasted great. I will definitely ask for us to return here for dinner next time I'm in town! Service was great as well and everything came out so quickly. You even get a family size coleslaw to share with your meal! Great little hidden gem not easily seen if you don't know about it. read more

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It's seafood season! Had a delicious fried fish sandwich with crispy golden french fries and a big bowl of New England clam chowder! Perfect way to enjoy a nice lunch on the shoreline. They have outdoor and indoor seating. The staff are always friendly and the service was fast. The vibes are very relaxed. It's just a really good local place to go for lunch or dinner. It always hits the spot! read more

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It's a vibe. Very NE seafood spot. Overpriced but big portions, of fries and rice... and the food is ok. I did like the lobster bisque. The service left a lot to be desired. Halfway into the meal, the waiter disappeared for like 15-20 minutes. I don't know what that was about. read more

First mistake we left Lenny's to come here. The Manager clearly doesn't care about the customer either with his snarky attitude. Got on the waitlist hostess said 50 min only waited 35 min thought we were lucky. Well little did we know nope...not the case. We sat down after 10-15 minutes the waitress came over and took our drink order, ok it's busy we'll cut some slack. Finally she shows up with a soda no other drinks,10 more minutes she brings the drinks and never brought or offered water while we sat outside in the sun. We ordered dinner and apps she brought the lobster bisque and not the other apps. The bisque was very tasty and full of chunks of lobster. Another 15 min goes by she brings the rest of the apps. Clams casino burnt (but sent them anyway)and fried mozzarella sticks. We get another drink that comes timely. Now we wait .....and wait .....and wait .... For our dinner. Now keep in mind the 4 tables around us have all now received bread (didn't get that) and their dinners. Still waiting no dinner. After 45 min I go to the hostess stand and see the waitress leaning on a table. I say listen it's been a long time and we need our food, she'll check and send the manager over. The sarcastic manager (if that's what you'd call him) comes over and says your food will be out it's on another station, WTF does that mean? The tables around us got food from different stations, bull. No apologies just walks away. Another 15 min go by the food shows up, now by this time it's dark and the patio is infested with mosquitoes and we definitely got 20+ bites while waiting. Total time for dinner 2 1/2 hours that's unacceptable. I could think of 100 other places I'd rather spend my $200 dollars on for dinner. We will never be back. Go to Lenny's. read more

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First visit did not disappoint! Food and service were perfectly on point despite a packed house. Our server Nicole made us feel special and handled the entire meal with talent and enthusiasm. We had steamers, lobster bisque ( filled with lobster chunks) and we ordered the lobster pot pie and the lobster orchiette. Both dishes had a lot of lobster in every bite and were well worth the price. Portions were large and we brought leftovers home. We really enjoyed this visit and will definitely be back. read more

Dockside Seafood & Grille - Lobster pot pie... loaded with lobster! - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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We came with no reservation and sat at the bar. We got great service and the buffalo wings were yummy for this non seafood eater. Bar tender was friendly. read more

Great whole belly clams. Fried just right. Not too much breading. Service good even though it was busy. Clam chowder with a lot of clams. Nice view of the marina read more

Our server Amy was amazing- very attentive! She made us feel comfortable and she was very friendly. Food was very good! The calamari with vodka sauce was great. read more

Love the interior. Our waitress was very nice. And I got the fried shrimp for appetizer and that was amazing and for the main course I got clam strips and onion rings. Both were amazing with their tartar sauce. Will come back again. read more

Dockside Seafood & Grille - Fried shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Having gone here for years even after previous rude treatment, we gave it another chance tonight. First in line at the front desk, a woman was just talking on the phone and totally ignored us. Then she said she had nothing to do with anything although was at the reception desk. When hostess came to get us she said that we could not sit outside as the tables were only for groups of five or more. Tried to sit us inside near kitchen and we just decided to leave. Never again. read more

I've been here a few times. It's good. 3 1/2 starts but not able to rate that way. Incredibly, there really aren't many restaurants on the water on the coast of Connecticut. This one is in a marina so lots of boats and a bit of a view of the sound but nothing very pretty or interesting. The food is always good, but not great. I had the fried shrimp. They were good but not very sweet. They were fried very well with a light coating, which was good. They gave 9 shrimp for lunch portion. The cocktail sauce was fresh and very good. I added onion rings for an up charge-we'll worth the $2. They're some of the best rings I've had anywhere. They gave me a small side of slaw at no extra charge. It was very fresh and good but the peppercorns need to be cracked a bit finer. My girlfriend had the fish and chips. She said the fish was very good. The fries- not great-likely from frozen. One other note...if you're a ketchup snob, they use an off-brand with high fructose corn syrup. read more

Dockside Seafood & Grille - Fried shrimp and onion rings. Side of slaw. - Seafood Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Great staff and great food. The atmosphere is as nautical as it gets. Love this place. Will go here when I am in area.