We had a girls day and decided to visit Stonington with a recommendations to check out the Dog Watch Cafe. Being my first time here I was pleased with the view as it was a lovely day to be by the water. We had a 45 minute wait for our table. Though you're able to go to the bar seating around in the back where we waited for our table. We ordered our delicious drinks as we had a wait time. I ordered the pain killer drink which was so delicious and strong. Only drinks and can't order appetizers though which I was disappointed as I didn't have anything to eat prior and I started to feel my drink. Once your buzzer is called you finally get your table which they have 15 tables available. The hostess in this area escorts your party to your table. There really isn't a bad seats there. There is a separate waitress for the bar area so you have to settle your bar table before moving over to your table. The menu has a plentiful of meals to choose from. I went with the fish & chips which was a good amount of cod. Also we had the oysters to start off with. The food was very delicious. We declined with the deserts as we were full. If you haven't been to the Dog Fish Cafe you should as you won't be disappointed with the fresh seafood they serve there. read more

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Not just dig friendly but dig welcoming!! Everyone we met greeted us warmly and then our pup with enthusiasm! Warmly summer day, sitting outside under the umbrella and watching the comings and goings of the dock. Awesome! We had a wonderful lunch. Local made brew offerings were a nice compliment to the bay scallops, which was a filling meal with veggies and potatoes. The Tuna Poké bowl was so tasty, I wish there was more! And a blueberry crisp special was shared by all. We will make the trek here again! read more

Dog Watch Cafe - Outside seating view - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

When my wife says "Dog Watch." I say woof yes!!! Love love love the amazing wings and they always come out piping hot with the sauce of our choice on the side...yum plus! Then I hate to say this because everyone will come and use up all the lobster... but lobster rolls blow away all the "famous," Lobster roll places around. The fries are much better and the staff is the best! The pulled porks and many other food items are great, we love it all! The place has great indoor and outdoor seating with a play area for the kids. Fun place to be... All this at reasonable prices! read more

Vegans..... head over to Dog Watch and try the Harvest Bowl...PERFECTION!!! Delicious lunch with family passing through, waitstaff did an amazing job. A delightful wait on the patio enjoying the cool breezes on the first of what I am sure will be many hot summer days. read more

I've been here a few times because it's a very pretty waterfront restaurant but the food was lacking this time. I ordered the steak frites and it came out super overdone and charred so the waitress offered to take it back. 20 minutes later they brought me another super charred overdone steak. Overall still a nice experience and super pretty waterfront restaurant but if you're not gonna order fish I'd stick to the cheeseburger the steak was a waste of my time. read more

Dog Watch Cafe - Steak Frites - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

The family loves this place. From the kids to adults. So any excuse to celebrate someone's birthday here we are. As always the service is phenomenal. They accommodated 10 of us and worked with us to get us all inside. The food here never disappoints and leaves you wanting more. The prices are great as well. Besides all the yummy stuff I've tried, this time I tried their tuna tartare and wow. The super crispy wontons are to die for. The sauce was the best I've ever tried. We also tried their calamari and it was cooked to perfection. Next time I will try their Poke bowl. Make sure to call for reservations as this place is always packed. They can sit you in and out in the summer but depending on the time you may have to wait. The place is always beautiful with so many flowers. So you can enjoy the view while you wait. Order a beer and even play some games. There's also a kids playground in the back. So you are, all set in this place. read more

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Got looked up and down by the waitress and was told there's a 4 hour wait. Plenty of seats available when we walked out back to look at the water. Granted I had grey camo shorts and a sleeveless shirt but come on..... it's outside dining!!! coulda spent a ton of money but their loss. Another company got my $180. read more

Visited Stonington recently to explore. Wonderful coastal vibe which felt very much like Martha's Vineyard. We looked online for local restaurants and settled on Dog Watch Cafe for lunch. It offered a very relaxed, welcoming ambiance and a wonderful harbor side location. We sat outside with a beautiful view of the water. Service was fast and friendly. I ordered the Bouillabaisse, which was the best I've had in years and very reasonably priced. My wife was also very happy with her shrimp dish. If this place were closer we would be regulars. Highly recommended. read more

Such a fun place. Love that it's dog friendly, plus the food is good, as is the ambiance.

We were party of 5 and asked to have drinks on the hi tops on deck while we waited for our table. Beautiful night and good Margaritas...I ordered the pasta with chicken . My friends had a pizza , lobster carbonara and burnt pork butts and lobster avocado. Dinner was good we finished with a piece of carrot cake. Our server was great .! Thanks for a nice evening . Highly recommend read more

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I'm a frequent diner at dog watch. The food is always good, fresh and quick. Today I had the tuna Bomb. It was delicious and a fun new dish to add to the menu. read more

Dog Watch Cafe - Tuna bomb - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

We were looking for a reasonably priced dinner in or near Mystic. We found Dog watch Cafe and we were very pleased. The food was fresh. The service was friendly and professional atmosphere is better than the pictures provided my Fiance and I look forward to going back again soon, definitely Reccomend. I had the cod sandwich lightly blackened, they did for me and my fiancé had the fish and chips. We both loved our meals. read more

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Excellent service. The clam chowder was tasty! We split a hot lobster roll. It was okay. The onion rings were okay. a little too breaded for me. Cole slaw was good. The view of the sunset was exceptional. read more

great views and our food was delicious! will definitely be trying the vegan tartar next time :) read more

December 2025 A local recommended this for a good afternoon lunch. The place is small but is right on the pier and you have fun views of the boat yard and water. The menu offers everything from soups and salads to scallop meals and sandwiches. Extremely well priced. There are about a dozen tables and a few high tops as well as a bar for seating. Parking is across the street. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. I wish they had brewed iced tea, but they said it only comes from the fountain. Ick! Ordered a bowl of clam chowder soup. Very creamy and good flavor. The clams seem to be gritty. Probably could use a good rinse before they are cooked. But overall, the flavor and consistency our clams and potatoes with each bite was nice. Ordered the cod sandwich with onion rings. The cod sandwich is quite large. Served on a brioche bun with tomatoes and lettuce and a lemon wedge It was served piping hot. The fish, although large and presentation was nice, it lacked flavor. The batter was not completely cooked toward the meat of the fish. You get your choice of side and we had onion rings. They were standard side, but cooked to perfection. Overall, I was pleased with this restaurant. I would give the ambience a five out of five, the weight staff service was five out of five and the food would be a solid four. I would definitely come back to this restaurant. read more

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Had a nice meal here! Parking very easy with a large lot. Easy to make reservations! Our table was nice right by the window and would've been a nice view of the water if it was light outside! Inside is cozy. Menu has a variety of options and they all sound good. We started with the burrata capers bruschetta and really liked it. Flavors all delicious but the grilled baguette pieces were a little skinny and hard to put the toppings on to stay. I ordered the blackened salmon sandwich and really liked it! Bread was crispy and ingredients tasted fresh. It came with a side as well. I was very full after this meal and had leftovers for another meal! Overall great meal! read more

Dog Watch Cafe - Blackened Salmon Sandwich - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

Stopped by for lunch and beautiful view of boats and water. Service was great and food was delicious. Great spot! read more

Dog Watch Cafe - Beau's Baby Big Macs with onion rings, Bang Bang Shrimp & Tuna Tartare - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

Dog Watch Cafe gets a lot of hype, and I honestly felt let down by it. The location and space is great, think waterfront, marina views with lots of polished wood. The staff were friendly and attentive. The food though was fairly disappointing. It felt like very standard dishes for the fish and chips, seafood casserole and scallops. Flavor was meh and the side vegetables were undercooked. read more

Stumbled into this little local gem on the water. The lobster mac and cheese was wicked good, lobster roll was on point and the wife enjoyed the codwich sandwich. The locals were hanging out so this is the right place. read more

Stopped for dinner while in town, didn't make a reservation but we were able to grab a couple seats at the bar. Steve the bartender was amazing. We had drinks and dinner and it was delicious. We had cod and scallops and both were fresh and not over cooked. We will definitely stop back in for lunch or dinner before we head home! read more

Dog Watch Cafe - Stonington Scallops - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

As close as I come to a 5 * and in the summer I'd imagine it IS. A 5 *. Great food, and I mean great. Excellent service and great atmosphere on the docks in Stonington. I had avocado with Lobster Salad lightly coated with a lime crema and pico de gallo. My partner in crime (wife) had the seafood nachos. You heard that right. Seafood nachos. Excellent on both parts. We ate in the heated from Patio (enclosed) and they even give you heaters and blankets so we were snuggly and warm. They allow dogs on the patios. Another perk. We will be back. read more

Fresh seafood nice views perfect patio service a little slow it was late . Really enjoy my scallops read more

Dog Watch Cafe - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

This is a favorite... the daytime Bartender Lisa C. is awesome. Our server Beth W. was so welcoming and down to earth. The hostess had a pleasant smile and encouraged us to come back tomorrow when Lisa is working. The Dog Watch is a go to place when we are in Stonington, CT because I just enjoy the casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Plenty of parking or an easy walk if you are on main street. Good menu with fresh fish and a wonderful chowder. Overall a great place to kick back and relax with friends, family and have a nice meal. Either lunch or dinner will leave you satisfied. read more

Love Dog Watch Cafe in Stonington Village. The food is fresh, they have multiple gluten free options and are willing to work with me to ensure I avoid gluten and enjoy my experience. The bouillabaisse is full of flavor and the Stonington scallops are SO fresh. Right off the boats. Downfall of being so good is there is almost always a wait, but there are plenty of places to sit outside and enjoy a cocktail, play a few yard games or grab a pager and stroll the bourough. There is a deck on the river with an outside bar and magnificent sunsets. A must try. Cocktails and service are top notch! Sadly forgot my phone in the car so no pictures:( read more

I visited this place with two locals; having been to the other location I had a sense of what to expect and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is vibrant and charming, located at the water's edge with lovely views of boating activity. There is indoor and outdoor seating; we chose indoor on this sweltering 90-ish degree day. The greeters and waitstaff were friendly and efficient. Our server had just the right mix of friendly helpfulness, taking our order quickly and checking in to see what else we might need. We started with refreshing non-alcoholic drinks (I had lemonade). We were looking for a caprese salad appetizer and the menu offered an interesting take, a Burratta Caprese Bruchetta. It was a grilled baguette cut into pieces, each layered with garlic butter, and on the side a mound of burratta cheese and a topping consisting of chopped heirloom tomatoes, basil pesto and a balsamic reduction. It was delicious. For the main course I had the fish and chips--the fish was moist and lightly battered, the sides of cole slaw and fries made to perfection. One companion had the fish tacos which looked yummy and she declared tasty if a bit messy. The other companion had a brisket grilled cheese sandwich which looked mouth watering, as described on the menu the "house smoked brisket on panini bread with grilled peppers, onions, mozarella cheese and chipotle mayo. I was so engrossed in my meal I forgot to take pictures, but the photos from the menu are exact replicas. Will definitely be back in a future trip to the area! read more

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They were so accommodating and everyone loved their food -- from chicken Caesar salad to lobster Mac and cheese to stuffed avocado to the dog watch tuna bomb -- all yummy and so was the Stonington Harbor Spritz. A little drive from Mystic but not too far. read more

Excellent service. We had two large tables. Friendly, good excellent. Beautiful place on the water.

Amazing seafood and the best fresh oysters. Service was great and the vibes were happening. The bouillabaisse was the best I've ever had. Also try the grilled oysters. read more

Dog Watch Cafe - The view from the table - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

A follow up to our first visit about 4 years ago and it's just as good as I remember. Our waitress was awesome and took care of our party of 8. We had delicious oyster appetizers and a super buttery clams casino. The cup of clam chowder was not too salty and had the perfect amount of everything! I ordered the grilled cod entree with panko and rice and veggies. I licked the plate clean. My family ordered the seafood paella and seafood casserole both of which they enjoyed greatly. Our other family members ordered the baked scallop entrees and could not have been happier. For our kids, there was one cheese burger and one order of Mac and cheese. Although basic, it was exactly that they wanted. Finally, the only negative if any is that one person ordered the lobster burger which lacked seasoning in their meat. However, they said it was cooked perfect and super juicy. We will always be happy to return to dog watch cafe when we visit Mystic. read more

Another fantastic spot near mystic that I would recommend for their clam chowder and affordability! If you want good seafood but don't want to spend a lot, this is a great place for quality and price. It was also one of the best clam chowders I have ever had. The service was fantastic and the space was very sunny and they have lots of cute outdoor space to eat and chill. I believe they are also known for their fish and chips & lobster roll. We didn't get either of them but the fish and chips looks great from the pic! I also got a french onion soup and would not get it again. I personally would skip it and get more clam chowder and calamari! There is a large parking lot across the street. read more

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Great place but my lobster roll was subpar tonight. Literally, like tuna from the can. All little tiny shredded pieces. Seemed like mostly celery. Hoping it was an off night. read more

Date night decision to head to the coastline for dinner, ended us at the Dog Watch Cafe. Hosted station was outside, the establishment is a little setback and hard to notice in the busy little boat marina, but a hidden gem worth the effort. Hosted was honest about outside seating but we were given a no wait option for inside with a semi-window view of the docks, still a pleasant view. The mini-split was offering hurricane winds inside but our waitress quickly obliged to calm the storm and shut off the unit wanting the best for our dining experience. Service was friendly and informative answering me any questions and offering suggestions. A couple starters clam chowder which was creamy and clam filled, delicious. Order of pretzel bites covered with an amazing parmesan butter dusting, another hit. Pretzel bites were crispy and soft inside with a delicate cheese sauce for dipping. Main course was seafood casserole, the portion was on the smaller side but very tasty a few shrimp, a couple scallops, and three pieces of lobster knuckles and claw. The coleslaw was awesome and the smashed potatoes were perfect. Steaks frites, frites were fries (still yummy), but not frites. Steaks was cooked to order and was extremely tender and juicy .... Delicious! No room for dessert but we enjoyed our last minute date night decision! Enjoy! read more

Was in town for a wedding and was looking for a restaurant that served seafood with a view. I am so glad we came. I had the best calamari, and the most delicious fish and chips. I only wish I lived closer so we could regularly. Service was wonderful as well. read more

Dog Watch Cafe - View from our table. - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

A very popular place but I got lucky with a seat at the bar on a Monday night. John, the bartender, runs that area like a well oiled machine and he's clearly a local and visitor favorite. The food is good and the menu is plentiful with options for everyone. My calamari app and broiled scallop entree were delicious. Slightly overcooked but I don't fault them since they're so busy. The flavor was divine. I took the key lime pie to go and I must say it's better than any key lime pie I've had in Florida! It's super creamy, great thick crust with maybe a hint of cinnamon. Perfect light citrus flavor but decadent dessert to cleanse the palette on a summer night! Beautiful place for a sunset dinner and great photos by the boats. I look forward to going back next time I'm in town. read more

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Good food, drinks, and service. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. One star off as the shellfish can be gritty. read more

We had a great meal at Dog Watch Cafe in stonington! We made a reservation for seats on the water, which with the sunny weather made for a perfect afternoon. Our party had a round of beers and strawberry spritz (a seasonal take on Aperol spritz) that was light and refreshing! The oysters were fresh and local. We also tried the lobster potato skins that were a special and those were awesome. Both types of lobster rolls were ordered and enjoyed! Overall it's a great place in the area to enjoy some seafood by the water. read more

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Came in last night with a group of 6 and was seated very quickly. Our server Rose was an absolute gem. Excellent service. We all enjoyed our drinks and food, and I'm excited to come back on a warmer day and sit outside. Great ambiance and decor inside, and love the extensive menu. read more

I am certain that this long established waterfront restaurant has more reviews than they need, but after last night's meal of paella and bouillabaisse, including very imaginative, bar offerings, plus just right Service, add my voice to the rest of the five star reviews. read more

Walked in and was seated right away. Ordered a drink and then ordered the tuna tartare. Ate all the tuna quickly while saving the crackers for dinner. The swordfish was juicy and flavorful. I would definitely visit again. My reviews are from the Bariatric persons point of view. It Took an hour to eat the protein and my drink while nibbling on the crackers and sides. read more

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Took my wife and three kids here for a family meal. Honestly thank god for this place because it has a playground outside and my kids were pleased which is everything when you have three little boys. Food was great service was fantastic and the boys enjoyed the little food they did eat. Real family style place I highly recommend. Ambiance is not too loud so you can have a conversation with one another. read more