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

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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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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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

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

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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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

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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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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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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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

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

I try and stop by here whenever I'm in the area, and this time did not disappoint. Love sitting at the bar, which was very lively for a Monday afternoon. Oysters super fresh, cocktails on point, great service. read more

Flies everywhere. I have never ever been to a place with so many flies inside. Wait staff told us it isn't normally this way. Well unfortunately I checked over the bad reviews of this place on Yelp after my meal because someone was complaining about flies two years ago here. So it's not an anomaly. It's a beautiful location. The food was average. The flies were horrific read more

The food was amazing. The staff was amazing. The service was amazing. And the Ambiance was perfect! Thank you for the amazing first time ever to the east coast and your place. read more

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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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Really great spot on the water and from start to finish a very nice experience. From the hostess to the servers, everyone was very welcoming and gracious. Didn't feel rushed and they were able to answer some questions re: food alergy issues. The nachos were a bit hit, served on a plate shaped like a dog's paw, and there are a lot of dog photos around the restaurant. Makes sense given the name! The brisket grilled cheese was great and filling, so it made for a nice lunch the next day also. The kale salad was crisp and tasty, and the poke bowl was fresh and delicious. Burgers and wings got a big thumbs up from the kids. Not a huge dining room, but it didn't seem crowded or uncomfortable. Small bar, with nice selection of liquor and beers. Definitely will be a repeat visitor! read more

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I visited on a Saturday with two friends and we all agreed we would not need to visit again. We were sat inside, so I'm sure the experience of eating outside by the water is different. The food was just ok. We got the bang bang shrimp and cod bites as appetizers. We all like the bang bang shrimp, but wouldn't order the cod bites again. For our main dish we all got the seafood casserole and it was just ok. The wine tasted like it was poured on top at the end and didn't have a chance to cook off at all. Overall our experience was just ok and we don't feel the need to come back. The positive thing about this location is that there is plenty of parking. read more

Visiting Stonington we stopped here for lunch between museum visits. It was a hot, hot day. There was a 30 minute wait for a table. We were told there was bar seating around back where we could wait for our table. They have a gravel parking area across from the main entrance. Behind the restaurant there is quite a lot of deck seating. Although each table has an umbrella I ended up with the sun on my back. Luckily I was able to switch with someone to be in the shade. Still, I was definitely over heating. There is a hostess in this area and it appears you can make a reservation to dine on the deck. She was escorting parties to their tables and acting as waitress for those in the bar area. With all the activity, it took a while for an order to be taken. Shortly after our drinks arrived we received a text message - our table was ready. We had to settle up w/the hostess for the drinks before we were seated instead of moving the bill over to our dining tab. This took a few minutes and we never received the receipt we requested. Unfortunately we were seated outside on the deck for dining. By this time my face is red, I am getting a headache and generally don't feel well. A busser stopped by with four short glasses of ice and a bottle of cold tap water. I asked her immediately to bring another and began gulping water. By the time the second bottle came I had consumed the first and was holding the cold glass to my face trying to cool off. I used the restroom after ordering and on my way through the restaurant to the (all gender) restrooms I see only half the tables inside are occupied. This kind of annoyed me as it was nice and cool in there and I was outside feeling faint. But I don't know their staffing issues, and maybe they all *just* cleared out. It is kind of 'cozy' (aka tables are close) in there, and loud, so maybe outside is better? The restrooms were decently clean. I ordered myself a light lunch of kale salad with salmon added. The vinaigrette is very nice and the kale fresh. I very much enjoyed this salad but it was so hot out it was no longer a cold salad by the end. Oh well. They seat you according to whatever is next available and it was a hot day. The waitress did try to assist another party to get more shade out of their umbrella but at lunch time it wasn't possible. I recommend a hat and sunscreen if you plan to dine here just in case. We left soon after eating and enjoyed the AC at the next museum. read more

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Top Dog! Been here several times over 2-3 years and it never disappoints. Celiac, so must eat Gluten-free. They have that down. Trust has been earned. Service is friendly, professional and very efficient. Food is very good and drinks too. Last time I was in it was jammed...but I got a spot near the bar and let the server know I was in a hurry. Despite the big crowd, I got my lobster roll (v. fresh and tasty) in a gf wrap in record time as someone from the kitchen literally ran it out to me. Great vibe and very well run restaurant. read more

Lovely spot on the water, books up early, make a reservation even for lunch and certainly for dinner Had the dogwatch salad with the amazing salmon, wife had the summer salad special with shrimp, scallops and Avocado. Both had the peach ice tea, recommend! Sit outside and enjoy the view read more

Dog Watch Cafe - What a nice view while waiting for a table - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut

Always a favorite, love my bartender Lisa, always ready to pour. Favorites are the seared tuna, tuna tartar and the Asian noodle salad, specials are always tempting. The view in the winter is special and summer deck is spot on. Neighborhood is perfect for walking it off after. Makes a lovely afternoon date. read more

I love the Dog Watch Cafe! My friends and I came here for one thing, The seared tuna!! It was on-point! The service was super attentive. The ambiance was busy, but that didn't stop us. One thing I will say, that I didn't overly appreciate, was the ole fashion I had. I know better than to send drinks or food back, but for future reference, use the Luxardo cherries and be more meticulous in making this drink. It'll pay off with tips. That's all I have for y'all. read more

Nice you can eat out on the deck now but loose the flowers Holy bees swarming everywhere. read more

Fantastic! The fish-n-chips was super delicious! Fresh cod in beer batter with crispy fries and crunchy coleslaw. Service was excellent and friendly. Great location and views read more

Had a delicious brisket grilled cheese with seasoned French fries in a chilly March day. We had a 40 minute wait in mid afternoon so this seems like the place to be. All the staff were super friendly. We sat on the porch which was chilly but they had lap blankets on the back of all the chairs. There's an awesome patio out front that seems idyllic for the warmer days. read more

Dog Watch Cafe - Brisket grilled cheese and seasoned fries. Paired with Black Hog Irish Cream stout off the specials menu! - American Near Me - Stonington, Connecticut