Food is always consistently good. The Best Whole Belly Clams and Honey Glazed Salmon. They have many other delicious items on the menu everything cooked to perfection no matter how busy they are. Excellent service too!! Strongly recommend this restaurant. 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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Good bar and nice seafood menu with ample selections and reasonable price. Good crowd with nice vibe and view

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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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

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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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

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

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 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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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 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

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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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.

We celebrated my friend's birthday on Saturday evening. A party of 13, who all arrived at different times! We had a lovely table outside with a view of the Marina and the sunset. Our server was the friendly, accommodating and very efficient Maggie. Maggie was always there when we needed anything. The drinks were great, the lobster bisque was hot and delicious. Lobster rolls were hot, juicy, plentiful and under $30!! My husband had the Clams Casino which were very tasty and the Captains platter which was delicious and a generous portion which he couldn't quite finish. All around the table there were oohs and ahh's of delight and "yummy noises". We did have some desserts which were good, not as tasty as the entrees but good. It was a perfectly lovely evening! The whole party agreed they'd come back, oh! And we'd definitely ask for Maggie! read more

I have always loved going to Dockside until today. I sat at the bar as I always do and was waited on by a very nice gentleman. While his service was good, he kept scooping ice with his bare hands into almost every drink he made. At first I thought it was a fluke and he simply forgot to use tongs or a scooper. I then saw him wiping his nose with the same hand he was touching ice with and then proceeded to dip the same hand back into the ice bin. He then took a handful of lemon slices and squeezed them for a cocktail. Never once did I see him use soap and water or hand sanitizer. Totally grossed out and probably won't be going back anytime soon which is too bad because the food is always excellent. I hope management addresses this health issue ASAP. read more

I love this place! Great seafood at a great price. Love sitting at the bar! Only wish it were bigger to accomodate more people! Bartender is always great! I hate that they close soon for the season! Where will we go! read more

Place was filthy & smelled. Staff was rude. Owner was rude. Food was terrible. Who would ever eat at this place? We're lucky we didn't get sick read more

Nice sunset view. Very busy. Overall a decent meal with some yes! And Doh! Service was friendly, our seats were a bit uncomfortable... the water kept dripping onto our feet & legs from the condensation... and if you happened to spill the drawn butter... now you have buttered "legs" & "feet". Lots of pesky mosquitoes feasting on you while you're chowing down on your meal. Not great. So bring some repellent! Food wise... where to start... the steamers were amazing! Juicy and plump... and so sweet. Would eat this again in a heart beat! Then there's the lobster ravioli and pot pie... which kind of fell short. The flavors were not mind blowing nor was it great... probably borders a "B-" if we're grading it. The pot pie was too cheesy... maybe the sauce was too thick? The ravioli was so boring... couldn't tell if I was eating lobster ravioli or just plain cheese ones. Then comes the lobster roll... oh wow, this was one dry lobster... either overcooked or just frozen. Didn't taste fresh at all. The texture was chewy... and no sweetness whatsoever. Side of fried clam bellies... which tasted more like clam strips... ugh. Kids penne & chicken tenders were good size for kids... also got a steak Caesar salad... very blah. Only if you're craving Steamers, otherwise it's a sleeper. #yelplife #vacaadventures #steamers read more

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We got there a bit too late for the prime rib, but our meals were delicious none the less! We had fish sandwich (very good), lobster pasta house specialty with vodka sause (very good), shrimp and scallops linguini (very good), and lobster roll (we prefer butter on the side but still very good and reasonably priced). Servers were super friendly (both at the table and the bar) - brought us cole slaw and bread for the table (no up charge). Definitely will be back, plenty of outdoor seating, right in the middle of large marina. Sunset in the distance. Fun summer vibe. No issues parking. read more

Ambiance is great....all I can say that is positive. The staff are all young, rude, and the children they have as security like to harass people for no reason. Will never go there again. read more

Went to this restaurant on 7/9/25 and got seafood platter with whole belly clams. I went for lunch and the food was excellent. The food was cooked perfectly and tasted so good and seasoned well.The clams were not hard, the shrimp was cooked perfectly and the scallops were very good. Better than Jimmie's in w haven and Chowder Pot in Hartford. I had to write the review because the cook did an outstanding job. read more

A restaurant located at a great location right next to a marina with a scenic view of the water and seating. We ordered clam chowder, lobster bisque, clam casino, a caesar salad, and a lobster roll. Overall the food was pretty good besides that there wasn't much lobster in the bisque and on the lobster roll. The service was kind of slow and unfortunately the lady that was clearing our table kept taking our small plates when we were still eating and she even threw away our to go box. She was rude when we asked why she took it away. Our waitress and hostess were decent but the waitress seemed a bit overwhelmed. Overall the food was pretty good, the view was amazing, and the service needs some improvement. read more

I have been going here for years and let me tell you things have changed. First off the manager is very rude. I get there with some friends and she is looking on the computer not saying a word or even acknowledging us. Then she sees that more people are standing there waiting to be seated and then she gets on the phone and starts to do a to go order while the whole entrance is packed. A young girl offers to help us but then gets yelled at by the manager to not help us. The hostess finally comes and we wanted to sit outside but there was no availability so we have to sit inside near the kitchen which was gross. I asked if we could sit at the table outside that wasn't taken and she said it is for parties of 5 not 3. Needless to say we left and won't be returning. read more