We did a lot of research and decided to try dons for takeout as we saw good things on Facebook. The portion size was good considering what we paid, however the seafood was overcooked on all 4 meals. The fish tasted very fishy and scallops had a gritty texture. Everything was overly seasoned with something that maybe we just are not used to, even in the soup. Save your money and try somewhere else. Gave 2 stars because it was for a larger order it was accurate and the staff was friendly. read more

Definitely local dinner place, with local charm. THE GOOD:The waitress was very nice and attentive and the food came out quickly. The clam strips were tasty. The price was right at $83 for three adults two kids, before tax. The NOT SO GOOD: The menu is strangely divided between seafood, vegetarian, and gluten, with others mixed in such as hamburgers. The spinach artichoke sandwich is a hard no. It was a weird hot paste inside a melt. Barely could choke it down. The he rest of the meal was "fine", but definitely lower quality food and portions were on the small side. There is a weird odor in the first dining room. Presumably because it is connected to the kitchen (think of the strongest seafood smell you've ever smelled with a pinch of sewer). Luckily we sat in the back dining room so no problems there. read more

I had dinner in the bar area. Service was great and I was able to watch the game. I had fried shrimp which was large and tasty. Drinks were good as well. read more

Not fancy if you're looking for fancy but good enough. We're here on vacation and this was one of the top 10 seafood restaurants in Trip Advisor. Many of us waited at least 30 minutes even though we noticed empty tables upstairs and downstairs. At first we waited upstairs where the bar is located. It was much rowdier than the downstairs dining room but not overly noisy. We did come downstairs to wait in the foyer because of the cigarette smoke from the patio. When asked about the smoke, we were told that they don't allow smoke in the dining area but because the doors open onto the patio, smoke will come in. So ask for a table downstairs if that bothers you. And of course, my wait was much longer because of that. When we finally got seated, we asked for lemons in our water but that never came. It was probably just our waitress because all, and I mean all, other patrons got lemons from their wait staff. No matter. I ordered the seafood platter broiled as my option and not fried. I uploaded a picture if you're wondering what it looks like. I was expecting a little bit more than 3 clams and 2 oysters, one shrimp, and one crab ball. There were also 3 scallops and that is what I expected. I didn't expect 90% of the platter to be covered by the fish. It was just too much fish and so little of the other items. I ate everything which was cooked perfectly and took home the fish. Just too much fish. The fish still had a lot of scales on the skin so it was hard to eat around the skin. Everything was lightly seasoned with Old Bay. I did like the plump scallops and the crab cake the most. The husband ordered his standard fish and chips (basket). He was very disappointed. He wasn't crazy about the batter. it was close to some frozen package of Gorton Fisherman's. The fries were mediocre and almost stale like a day's old leftover. We weren't terribly disappointed but wish we were more pleased. read more

Don's Seafood Restaurant - Broiled Seafood Platter - Seafood Near Me - Chincoteague, Virginia

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Didn't even get seated so I can't comment on food. But the older woman in the outdoor, new section was so blatantly rude to my entire party it left an awful taste in our mouths so we left. We had a party of 6, it was definitely a busy Thursday but we said we didn't mind waiting and having a drink in which she replied "we don't do a list" .... I'm not sure if that meant we had to just stand there and stare at the tables eating or what? We left shortly after bc they don't have railings on the docks and we had a young child with us. read more

Dear Diary, Let me tell you about Michelle, she was the most entertaining waitress I have ever encountered... that's right we had an encounter and one that we will remember for a long time. On top of her personality the service she provided was top notch and the food was phenomenal! Thank you Michelle for an evening of laughter, you got me good. One of the Sassy Sisters (Mom) 9-6-23 Wednesday! read more

Overview: horrible service, very understaffed, very overpriced, bad drinks If it's busy, expect to wait forever for your food. Other tables who arrive after you will get their food first. other tables of large parties will get their food first. If you order a salad and you dare to add chicken to it, expect to be hunger but broke. Upon finishing your tiny, mouse portion greenery your stomach will still be gnawing with need but you will be $23 broke. You can get a better salad at Chickfilet. The Coronas were great... oh, wait... thone were cans so they weren't able to ruin that. But if you got the margarita, advertised as using fresh squeeze juice, be prepared to be disappointed as you sip the chemical tasting, syrupy concoction that was reminiscent of cool aid and metal. Avoid the fish at this seafood restaurant. Just, enough said there. On a happy note, the fried pickles were tasty though lava-like in temp (not complaining there) and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the view was lovely.... But is that enough...?[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

This place just wasn't for me but we came in because the other restaurant had a 3 hour wait. For an appetizer the waitress suggested we get something that she stated wouldn't be on the menu much longer, which was some kind of tuna bites with a dipping sauce. When it came out it was extremely overcooked blacked tuna chunks with something like Franks Red Hot poured over the top and served with something like ranch dressing. It probably wasn't but whatever it was, it was not my favorite. I ordered the broiled seafood platter and everything except the shrimp was mushy, especially the fish. On the bright side the waitress gave my boyfriend a free beer since he had to wait so long for his order. But I didn't care for anything else about this place. read more

Don's Seafood Restaurant - The tuna bites for app were kinda weird - Seafood Near Me - Chincoteague, Virginia

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The spinach and artichoke dip was very good, and the other food was also pretty good. There was a minor hiccup when one of our 5 orders was wrong but no super big deal. The mac and cheese was not very good but that was the only thing that was bad taste wise. The waiters were very kind and it was not the best service ever but a little above average. read more

Horrible! Salad served on hot plate, no refills on drinks, broccoli was cold, orders weren't right, baked potato was cold and size lest than an avocado Waitress no where to be found, stuffed shrimp were"soupy" Not a very inviting decor, seem dirty and need cleaning and updating, don't waste your time and lots of money My daughter is pregnant and the waitress badgered her to stand up and show off her belly! read more

Service and food, GREAT. I had shrimp and scallops fettuccine and my with has seafood dream. Both were great, but order the smaller portions. Ended up taking some home which is not bad. read more

The staff greeted us immediately and even acknowledged my kids. They were busy but still got to us right away. The food was amazing!! Everything was so good - the Seafood platter, oysters, shrimp combo! And desert. read more

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we visited here on presidents weekend and just be ready to wait! we were told 1-1.5 hour wait, but they took our number and called us when it was ready which was nice! I had the ny strip steak which was amazing along with an exceptional Caesar salad! their dressing was amazing. my boyfriend had the seafood Alfredo which was disappointing and lacked flavor. other than that we had great service, our waitress was so sweet and it was a great atmosphere!! read more

Don's Seafood Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Chincoteague, Virginia

Such a great local seafood spot, if you're visiting Chincoteague you HAVE to stop here. We got the seafood platter, a dozen oysters and softshell crab for such a great value/price. Delicious! read more

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Went here with the family on a Saturday night. Wait staff was friendly and they had live music near the bar area. My son and I got the prime rib special, and you could tell they were prepackaged prime rib slices that were reheated from the supplier. My prime was cold in sections and warm in other parts...weird. It tasted ok, but nothing special. Another in the part got their stuffed shrimp, which was good. The rest of the food was unremarkable. I should have trusted the 3 star rating from yelp, but i tried another review site and we were late going and this place got us seated fairly quickly. The worst part was the kid at the table next to us got sick (not his fault), but I noticed he was frothed chocolate milk. I immediately realized my other son had drank the same. Within 15 minutes he got sick as well. Too much of a coincidence. Maybe others enjoyed their experience, but I doubt I will return. read more

The crab cakes were tasteless. My shrimp/ scallop Alfredo, they sprinkled cinnamon & nutmeg on it instead of Old Bay. Our waitress was pretty lame on paying attention and cut my other half off while she was explaining her concerns. Should have listened to the poor reviews of this place. Awful experience on Chincoteague! read more

We waited an hour and 15 minutes which we were told would be the wait. We were offered an upstairs table and our waitress was not with it at all. The other waitress was very calm and talking with tables sharing tips on what to order etc. ours was struggling to remember to bring our water and moaned when I asked for a different drink. The food was ok but not worth the premium prices. . My recommendation is, if there is a wait, don't wait. Go grab a sandwich at one of the places on Maddox. read more

We sat in their outside area near the dock, where you can order to go style meals, but enjoy them at their outdoor bar area. We had a few minute wait, so we decided to hit the bar up for their special drinks. Michelle was our bar tender/server. She was a ball buster and had a great sense of humor. We loved her banter with our family. Her drink recommendations were on point and we genuinely enjoyed her. The drinks were good, just the right amount of liquor. The men ordered local IPA's in cans and enjoyed them as well. As for food, it was okay. Not the best on the island, but not the worst either. We had oysters-fresh and good. Rock fish- okay, nothing special, mash potatoes, hush puppies and Mac and cheese were nothing special, but edible. We would probably visit this place again, but maybe just for drinks and appetizers. read more

I spent the weekend visiting the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia and this was the best dinner we had. The food wasn't fancy and neither was the service--it was plain spoken and efficient--and the smothered flounder tasted like flounder, generously portioned and seasoned to perfection with Cajun spice and a buttery sauce and topped with succulent, perfectly cooked shrimp, scallops and crab. My dining companion had a half portion of the broiled scallops and enjoyed it thoroughly (and appreciated the "just right" size). Both of these menu options were good for takeout which we carried over to the picnic tables on the dock overlooking the bay. Prices were very reasonable. I would give another half star if I could, but half a star off because my side of wild rice could have been hotter. read more

Don's Seafood Restaurant - Smith Island Cake - Seafood Near Me - Chincoteague, Virginia

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Would hands down agree that this is "the place" to go on the island--especially during the shutdowns. The outdoor seating area is spacious, the customer service is wonderful, and the menu is awesome. Had the fried scallops and crab dip last night and I think I we will be back again. Update. Went here for a second time and the service was lackluster and the food was cold. We have settled in the middle for three stars. They started at five, so maybe this place is hit or miss? read more

4 stars ONLY because of the lazy Hostesses. As other reviewers have stated there is a serious need for some customer service training at the hostess stand. Not being greeted, speaking so quickly that the request or command to wait upstairs in the bar needed to be repeated and laying out on the hostess stand. Just awful. Now, beyond that it was a pleasure to eat here. The bartender was delightful the waitress was friendly and attentive. The food was impeccable and worth every penny. 100% will return. read more

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Service was awful, we were ignored by our waitress the whole time, no bread, almost no drink refills, took forever to get any food, and then we were rushed out (barely got and finished our food) for people coming in. Crab dip was also bad, it was basically just cream cheese with a sliced up tortilla to dip. read more

The service was good. The salad was fresh. I just didn't love my meal. Stuffed flounder and it was a little dry. The baked potato wasn't good and the string beans I think came out of a can. I have to say my husband loved his blackened cod and garlic steamed clams. read more

Service was great, Mac and cheese was gross stay away from it and take off menu, kids 10 and under will like otherwise is tastes like paste. No seasoning starchy think it may be a bagged product that sits for hours before service. Hush puppies were best we have yet!!! Flounder Oscar was good but no seasoning and if I was to guess it was a powdered holly sauce base. Salt and pepper goes a long way on bagged and prepared ingredients. read more

Had a fantastic crab dinner at Don's. The service was on point - the food was exceptional, and the quantity of food was extremely generous. We've been coming to Don's for years - but they really outdid themselves this year. It's one of those places you don't want to miss. read more

Visited Don's for the first time last month and it was amazing! Food was great, service was just as good as the food. I had heard wonderful things about the food at Don's, but had to check it out for myself. BEST seafood on the Eastern shore.... read more

Meh. Our food was good. Not great. No blue crabs for 2024?!?! Not sure how that happens, but that was kinda why we went.

Food was just ok. Our server, Michelle, was much more interested in talking to friends in the restaurant than in helping us. She put the rolls and drinks in the table, and turned away so quickly to speak to her friends as I was trying to ask her what the fish of the day was. I had to flag her down 10 minutes later to get the information to complete our order. read more

Service was good, but not great. She seemed flustered and she was not very attentive. That is literally the only reason for 4 stars. Because the food was great. My kids ordered a cheese pizza and devoured it. I ordered a pound of steamed shrimp and a cup of creamy crab soup. The soup was so good. I was irritated about the shrimp because when she brought it she didn't bring cocktail sauce and I waited about 5 min and couldnt get her attention and finally walked up to her in the restaurant. Who serves shrimp without cocktail sauce? However, the shrimp was cooked to perfection. So, I would go back. I would probably not want to be with the same waitress. But either way the food was delicious. read more

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The wait was 45 minutes. You always think, something you have to wait for is going to be good. Well this place was not as good as times before. The hush puppies were cold and tasted like lard. The fried shrimp was like it had been fried in old grease. How do you get cold food when a restaurant is that busy? I gave it 3 stars because my waitress, bless her heart, was the only server upstairs and was doing a bang up job. So disappointed because you expect better of a place like this. read more

Food was terrible. Cold steamed clams and shrimp tasted like sewage. Literally! Had to send back. Baked potato and broccoli were fine. Waitress was fun! Outside deck bar was nice at sunset. read more

If you appreciate high quality food, good service and resonable prices in a casual environment you will enjoys Don's. Reservations are highly recommended at this restaurant in business for 50 years. My crab imperial was superb and the mashed potatoes were freshly made. I wish I would have had their homemade soups. This is the best meal that I have had in Chincoteague so far. My kind of place. read more

Usually don't leave reviews but this time it was needed. Came here with my family, waited almost an hour for a table which was fine, no complaints. Everyone enjoyed their food and it was pretty affordable. Unfortunately the service was absolutely terrible. Im not sure her name but our waitress was EXTREMELY rude AND demeaning. I think she intended to be funny but it was not working for her. When we asked the price of a dish she replied " i dont know, can you not afford it , are you cheap? " We also had to ask for refills for every drink and she did not bring waters unless requested. I am a server myself and acting this way would not fly at my job. read more

They're great with food allergies! We continue to come here because they have a specific menu for dairy free option and gluten free options. Service was great and efficient as well. read more

Service was great, food was fresh and delicious! The ambiance was just what we were looking for.

The crab cakes were tasteless. My shrimp/ scallop Alfredo, they sprinkled cinnamon & nutmeg on it instead of Old Bay. Our waitress was pretty lame on paying attention and cut my other half off while she was explaining her concerns. Should have listened to the poor reviews of this place. Awful experience on Chincoteague! read more

The first time we tried Don's, the food and service was amazing! The second time, the complete opposite experience. Walked in to not having to wait for a table but sat at least a half hour with two hungry children and no waitress. Finally i asked the hostess and she apologized taking blame. We finally get a waitress and she didn't seem to know much about the menu, didn't bring out bread until right before our food came out, then brought plates after bread was gone. Drinks not refilled even one time. Waited a while just to get the bill. Food was nowhere near as good as our first visit (not too long ago). Both my husband and myself ended up with very bad stomachache. Overall, awful service and food. Had high hopes for this cute restaurant in town. Won't be coming back. read more

We heard Dons was the place to go for good seafood on the island, I was very disappointed, I opted for the $30 portion of Smothered Fish with your choice of Flounder or Rock crab meat, shrimp and scallops prepared in garlic wine sauce, Don't get me wrong the service was very good. I received the plate with a average fillet of flounder topped with one scallop and one very small single shrimp ( not scallops ) with a very small portion of crab meat that was sub par, very mushy and cold. The seasoning was over powering. I fully understand the price of food at our current rate of inflation, but I really feel for $30 I was cut short. I know Dons can to better than that. I may have just caught an off night.... Maybe next time... read more

This review is the second and final installment of my recent overnight visit to Chincoteague Island last month for my high school reunion. The first one was a review of my excellent motel accommodations and was posted yesterday. Don's Seafood Restaurant was the chosen venue for our reunion. It first opened in 1973 and is located in the heart of downtown Chincoteague at the intersection of Main Street and Church Street. After reaching Main Street from the Chincoteague Causeway via VA-175, you make a right hand turn, and the restaurant is located just a few short blocks away. My review of the motel provides more detailed directions for reaching the island itself. The restaurant is located on the right with ample signage that can't be missed. A short right hand turn onto Church Street leads directly to their spacious parking lot, overlooking the Chincoteague Channel. Don's Seafood Restaurant is a very old school and traditional no frills style seafood restaurant. Their most notable specialties include crab cakes, flounder, and oysters and clams on the half shell. Their clams and oysters are sourced from Tom's Cove Aquariums, also located in Chincoteague. A variety of other seafood and non-seafood offerings are available as well. The meeting area for our reunion was held in a private room upstairs next to Chattie's Lounge, a popular night spot with a cocktail lounge, raw bar, and dancing nightly. Live music from local bands is provided during the weekends. My graduating class was a small one with only 33 students. Sadly, eight of us have passed away, and a few others were unable to make the reunion. Our gathering consisted of about 25 people, including some of their spouses and our senior class English teacher. Our reunion kicked off with a Happy Hour, during which I ordered a Gin and Tonic from Chattie's Lounge. It was a weak one, which was okay with me. I just wanted a drink to hold in my hand while socializing with my old classmates. I didn't want to get too buzzed. Our private room provided us with more than enough space to allow us to mingle and socialize comfortably. Scenic and panoramic views of the Chincoteague Channel were enjoyed from their windows. I was too busy mingling and socializing with my old classmates to concentrate on taking photos. A professional photographer was on hand to take a group photo of us outside. I did manage to take a photo of my seafood. When dinner time arrived, I ordered the following: FISH OF THE DAY: I was given a choice of either Cod or Flounder, prepared either fried or broiled. I was hoping for another style of preparation, such as blackened or pan seared, but no other option was available. Each of their seafood entrees comes with either two sides or one side and a small salad. I am not a fan of this format, as I feel it reveals a lack of imagination from the kitchen. I prefer for my sides to be creatively cooked and artfully combined with my seafood on the same plate. I chose the Flounder, prepared broiled, as I am no longer much of a fan of fried seafood. My Dad and I used to go flounder fishing when I lived on Chincoteague, and I was having a reminiscent craving for some fresh Chincoteague flounder. My two sides were as follows: BAKED POTATO: Served on a separate plate, it was a small one, I like fresh butter with my baked potato, but tiny butter packages were provided instead and were hard to peel. The potato was ordinary and forgettable. My Rating: 3 Stars. BROCCOLI: Served in a small bowl, the broccoli exhibited a bland taste with little or no seasoning and a raggedy appearance. My Rating: 2 Stars. My Flounder turned out much better. It was a large fresh filet presented on an even larger oval shaped plate. The flounder exhibited a soft and buttery texture that was tender and juicy, nicely seasoned with a generous dose of paprika. Just a little more salt and pepper would have rounded out its seasoning. The presentation was a bit lacking, as there was a lot of empty space on the plate that could have been attractively filled in with some artfully prepared veggies and other ingredients. This illustrates my general dislike of the "two sides" format. My photo did not turn out to my satisfaction. I failed to shake off the glare from the light above our table. With the benefit of hindsight, I should have moved the lemon slice more counter-clockwise to help block it out. My Rating: 4 Stars. Our servers did an outstanding job. They were very attentive and bent over backwards to accommodate our needs. My Rating: 5 Stars. Our reunion ended with a special ceremony with fond remembrances of our classmates. It felt great to see my old classmates again, and I'm glad I made the trip. For my dining experience itself, my more precise rating is 3.5 Stars, which I am rounding up to 4 Stars. In closing, I would like to thank Don's Seafood Restaurant for hosting our reunion and our class leaders for their excellent job putting it together. read more

Don's Seafood Restaurant - Broiled Flounder - Seafood Near Me - Chincoteague, Virginia

There are better restaurants for the price. Place was too expensive for sub par seafood. The worst place we visited.