We came here with a small friend group and I was honestly surprised by the food. We got a combination of apps and had plenty to share. My only gripe is that our waitress, although super friendly, was a bit slow on refills and the tab. That being said, I'd be back. read more

Looking for a fun spot for a beverage and a nosh- nailed it!! This place is a little off the beaten path but worth looking for. Happy hour from 11am to 5pm!! Great food . Sis had tacos and i had the egg rolls with bang bang sauce. Love it!! read more

We stop by Zef's quite often in the summer! I just love the vibe and the upper patio area. It's a great spot to meet up with friends and enjoy the boats. I enjoy their food, too. Nothing super fancy, but they have the basics. Last time we stopped in, I had the sliders and my bf had the chicken sandwich; it was huge!!!! read more

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First time here and I truly enjoyed it. I was in a mood for a burger and was recommended this place. Love how this place is located off the water. It was evening time when we went, but I'm sure it's a beautiful scene in the daytime to look out at the water. I also loved the hanging lights in the entryway, so pretty. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries were okay, but were under seasoned. However, I truly enjoyed my burger. It was delicious and tasted fresh off the grill. The drinks were good, not too strong. Our server was nice and friendly. Overall, it was a great experience and I will be back to try more often menu. read more

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Service was great and outdoor patio area is nice viewing the lake/boats. Do not be fool by the lobster roll (mkt price) it is all imitation crab, was kind of disappointed. read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Lobster Roll - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

The food is good but I have one complaint. They have a cheese burger with beer $17. Beer alone is 5 as is the wine. I do not drink beer and asked to substitute the wine. I was told that was not allowed, so, I picked something else . read more

A group of 8 of us met at Zef's for dinner on a Thursday night. We all came in at different times, but the server seemed aware and came over each time more people arrived. It was only the 13th of November, but they had already decorated with some holiday lights, which, while very cheerful, felt like they were jumping the season a little. I ordered the pulled pork sliders. The buns were small & sweet, but they were overstuffed with the pork and other fillings. I really could only eat one at the time. They came with homemade chips that were ok there, but when I warmed them up at home with the leftovers, they were really good. Since it was November, it was dark, so we couldn't see the water, but I would guess it was a pretty site. read more

Rating 0 On the evening of August 19, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m. My partner and I went to Zef's after leaving the cemetery, where we had gone to visit his father in honor of his 72nd heavenly birthday. We were hoping to have a peaceful and enjoyable dinner together. We began our meal with the Crab Rangoon, which my partner loves from Zef's, along with Mule mocktails. When our appetizer arrived, I placed our dinner order and politely requested plasticware. The waitress informed me that plasticware was only provided for carryout orders and that she could bring me hot water to sanitize the silverware. I explained that I had previously experienced a very serious health situation and, because of that experience, I was uncomfortable using the restaurant's silverware and specifically needed plasticware. Despite explaining this, I was told that plasticware could not be provided. I then asked to speak with a manager. Approximately ten minutes later, the manager, Alley, came to our table. Unfortunately, our dinner arrived at nearly the same time. I explained the situation to her and asked whether we could simply pay for the plasticware if that was necessary. She told me that this was not an option because the restaurant had a limited supply and the plasticware was strictly reserved for carryout orders. She stated that if I wanted, they could box up my food and provide me with plasticware. I then asked her if she could contact her supervisor or the owner to see whether an exception could be made, especially since I was willing to pay for the plasticware. She said she would check. Another 10-15 minutes passed before she returned and told me that she could not provide the plasticware. At that point, the situation had become so uncomfortable and upsetting that we decided to leave. Our food was taken back, and we were charged only for the appetizer and drinks. What makes this experience particularly disappointing is that I have been to Zef's approximately four times this summer and have received plasticware on each of those occasions. I have always considered Zef's a place I could comfortably return to, which is why the way this situation was handled was so surprising and upsetting. I want to be clear that my complaint is not simply about a piece of plasticware. It is about how a customer's clearly stated need was handled after I took the time to explain my circumstances. I was willing to pay for the requested utensils and even asked management to contact someone above them to see if an accommodation could be made. Instead, after multiple conversations and a considerable amount of waiting, we ultimately left without eating the dinner we had ordered. We subsequently went to the neighboring Dox Grille House, where I had no issue receiving plasticware for our meal. While I appreciate that restaurants may have policies regarding supplies, I believe there should also be room for reasonable customer-service discretion, particularly when a customer explains that a request is connected to a personal health-related experience. I have genuinely loved Zef's food and waterfront view, and I have supported the restaurant repeatedly. That is why this experience was so disappointing. I never expected to leave feeling as though my concerns were being dismissed, especially during what was already an emotional evening for my partner and me. read more

The venue was really nice as it's on the water and the upstairs has a great view of the marina. The food is always amazing and we love coming here. The menus for the upstairs and the downstairs are different however, and if you want to sit upstairs with the better view but like something from the downstairs menu you can't order it. Also on a busy night it's difficult to find parking but this rarely happens; the ambience and service and food overall are pretty great read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - French onion soup - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

My aunt and I ate here Thursday evening. We started with the pretzel bites and really enjoyed them. For entrees, my aunt got the Greek salad and added chicken. It was a nice size and had plenty of toppings. I got the bourbon glazed salmon and brussels sprouts. It was on the menu with a side of rice, but I asked if I could sub it for a side of veggies and they were fine with that. The veggies were listed on the menu literally as VEGGIES, so I did have to ask the server which veggies ones specifically they were (broccoli & cauliflower) The side was decently sized and seasoned well but 90% broccoli (which I didn't mind) and HEAVY on the stems. There were more stems than actual florets. Things I didn't like: The table was visibly dirty when we were seated. I feel like as a restaurant a clean table is the bare minimum and should've been noticed. When I asked for it to be cleaned, the young server pointed to a spot that had a lot of crumbs and asked "Just here?? Or do you want me to wipe the whole thing." ...UHHHH. Yes?? Also, my aunt and I were seated at a four top, directly across from each other. Every time the servers brought food, they placed it at the *opposite* end of the table and walked away, and we'd have to reach down and grab the plates. I've never experienced that before and I didn't like it at all. read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

Zef's left me with mixed feeling. Some things were good like pretzel bites, and fishs tacos. Lobster tacos missed their mark just strange combination. Cevapi dinner was good. Aperol spritz was good as well. Ambience was off floors were dirty, tables were not cleaned not sure if they were short staffed or just busy. Couldnt sit outside upstairs not enough shade for all the tables. Our waitress was super. read more

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Great little spot (which is growing with the upstairs addition!) by the water! Awesome food and great drinks! Parking is very limited so prepare for valet. My wife and I have come here a few times with some friends to get some drinks and food. We've also been here for a shower in the upper level. Inside is really nice and we're served very quickly. I've had different kinds of tacos and chicken dishes and all have been really good! They have a large alcohol selection (beer and liquor) so you'll definitely find something you like. Only issue is parking. Many of the spots seem to be filled by workers or simply if you get there during peak hours, they're all taken. A lot of the lot is valet now. It ranges from $5 to $10 but kind of inconvenient if there's a line for valet and you just want to park and get in. read more

Trash ass restaurant! Servers are incompetent and don't know how to properly do their jobs! You mention a customer is allergic to a certain food and they can't even substitute it out. Will NEVER be back at this trash place! read more

Love this place right in my town. I love our Lake St Clair and the view of the boats and the lake is the perfect way to enjoy an outdoor lunch on a nice day. You can also sit inside, of course. Service is great. I had the Buffalo Chicken Wrap and my friend has the BLT. Both came fresh and hot. Their fries are delicious!!! Some kind of yummy seasoning on them but not overpowering. We also had the Calamari appetizer. Very well done...Will always order that!! read more

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Second time coming here and tried something new. The service was nice and kind and attentive. We came on a Sunday and were glad that they had football on the tv's. My husband had their slap on the wrist burger and he enjoyed it! I had their shrimp po boy and it was a bit too salty for me. They gave a big portion but next time I order I think I would request no salt. Their truffle fries are delicious. And they do give a good portion for the price. But the only thing is saltiness. Two other people in our party ordered the same thing and said the same as well. But all in all, we would come back to try different things. The views during the day are beautiful as well because you see the boats and the docks on the water. read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Shrimp po boy - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

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We've been a few times before but this time for the lobster roll for me and wrap for the hubs . The lobster roll is served on a proper New England style hot dog bun and toasted, there was a decent amount of lobster neat as well. Our server was friendly and prompt and we got seated quickly upstairs on a Saturday around 3:30 . Good views of the boats and water read more

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I love Zefs in the summer. Great views food the lake from the outdoor patio upstairs. I will say, parking can be a real pain here, especially during brunch service or in Friday/Saturday nights. The service is good and the prices are what you'd expect on the Nautical Mile. Looking forward to having some nights out there during the summer of 2025! read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Fish tacos - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

Good food, but the service left a lot to be desired. The view was disappointing as well, consisting mainly of docked boats.

Came here last minute right before the dinner traffic hit and we were easily able to be seated for 3 people. We had the option of going up to the second level (which had a condensed menu compared to the main level), staying on the main level, out on the patio, or rooftop. We chose to stay on the main level since it was my first time there and I didn't want to be limited to options. The place was very spacious while decorated beautifully. It perfectly fit a nice dinner setting with a view while also functioning as a sports bar. They had garage windows that opened up on nice days that I really liked. There were so many things on the menu that I wanted to try and I couldn't narrow it down so I had our server pick for me. I ended up getting the fish tacos that weren't too bad. The filling tasted great but the fish was a little too big for the taco and ended up being too soggy after eating the first one (of three). We also ordered the Bang Bang shrimp and the flavoring tasted good, but the shrimp was just a bit too chewy. The Lobster Mac & Cheese was good and so was the burger. Overall it wasn't too bad but I just think I ordered the wrong items on the menu. I would love to come back and try something else that looked good. The only other thing is that for such a large building that can seat a lot of people, the parking sucks. There is not much parking available at all and half of what is available is reserved for valet. The restaurant is dockside and located by the marina so it's hidden all the way in the back from the road as well. read more

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I stopped in for my 3 year "I'll give it another shot..." Still sucks. We came in for brunch on Sunday. The offerings sucked; over-priced and incomplete, no bennys at all. (is it even brunch without a benny?) $20 corned beef hash, no eggs on top. $20 biscuits and gravy, no eggs on top.... If you're going to charge someone $20 for breakfast, at least make a killer breakfast. The chicken and waffles looked small and unappetizing. Only one guest ordered off of the brunch menu - veggie bowl, $15 for three scrambled eggs, and some veggies on top. I ordered french onion soup just to get me by until I could get out of there and get some real food, that sucked too... burnt to shit. Drink prices are ridiculously expensive. They advertise Lions games, no beer or drink specials. The bloody mary bar is a $15, build your own... $15 for one shot of titos, and access to a very lame spread. I don't see why anyone goes to this place, but not many people do - it was pretty dead. Only bright spot was the service. Our waitress did a great job, thanks Emily... This place is back on my "protest if someone suggests it" list. read more

Not good. Waitress was amazing but the runners were delayed to bring food to me and my family

The portions are huge (everyone had leftovers to bring home) and the holiday specials were all delicious! read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Smoky Pesto grilled cheese with sweet potato fries - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

Taco Tuesday is a great excuse to visit Zef's. I've attached photos of menu. 2 taco minimum..but take advantage of their 3 taco combo $22, 4 tacosbof your choice, rice and beans....while the rice and beans are underwhelming, the $22 is the least expensive way for 3 tacos. Shout out to our server Kayla, very personable and great suggestions. Our overall favorite was the Surf & Turf, grilled steak, shrimp, peppers and onions, Chipotle sauce and cilantro. Next favorite was the Jerk Chicken, crispy chicken, Caribbean jerk sauce. Pineapple and Pico. 3rd is Chimchurri, grilled steak, Chimchurri, pickled red onion and Cotillard cheese. Last, was the Tropical Heat, smoked brisket, mango habanero sauce, Pico, Pineapple and cotija cheese. The Zef's Margarita $7, house tequila, simple sugar, fresh squeezed lime very good. $3 Beers: Corona, Corona light and Modelo read more

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The chicken for the the chicken sandwich was so rubbery it was not edible. Service was less than kind. It looked like most people sat at the bar when they came in. read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Chicken caprese sandwich - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

We came here with a large group for a mini-family reunion. Here is how the experience shook out: Great: - I ordered the fish tacos as I saw a lot of great Yelp reviews for them and they were incredible! My uncle who was sitting next to me ordered fish and chips and the tartar sauce looked homemade so I asked the server for some. One of the best tarter sauces ever and I enjoyed it on my fish tacos. - Waffle fries were cooked perfectly as was my husband's burger Not as great: - When I heard we were going to a dockside restaurant, I was excited and expecting to see the lake. No, we saw dock and a lot of marine equipment. Bummer. - Ladies room was out of hand towels. We told the server and the young lady who was doing the greeting when folks entered the restaurant - they seemed to take it seriously but given that I had seen a few women before us leaving the restroom shaking their hands dry, it made me feel like this issue was ignored for some time. read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Burger with waffle fries - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

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We went in for lunch today. We had the perch dinner and two Ruben sandwiches. All of the food was very good. Our waitress was excellent. She picked us up from the hostess stand, helped us with our orders, and was very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance was great as it was a beautiful day outside and the windows were open. Unfortunately, the hostess was really bad. When we were walking up. She turned her back to us and took a phone call. She was literally on the phone for 5 minutes and never turned around to face us. Thankfully, the waitress acknowledged us and was great. read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Hostess turning her back to us for 5 mins.... - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

I had the Grilled Shrimp Tacos, Amazing! I hope they never stop making the Salsa that I had, it is comparable to mine, that I learned how to my Mexican partner! read more

I went for Sunday brunch for my brother's bday. The windows were open and a great breeze was coming in off the water making a perfect temperature for dining. We started with calamari, bourbon glazed Brussel sprouts and truffle fries. All were delicious and large portions. I ordered the spicy margarita for my drink and I loved the hint of spice. Sometimes the jalapeño is overpowering but this one was great & strong. For my entree I selected the fried green tomato blt with sweet potato waffle fries. The sandwich is huge, I could inky finish 1/2 of it and took the rest home . I wish they had a honey dipping sauce for the sweet potato fries but they were crisp and evenly salted. The service was fast and friendly. Keep in mind 20% gratuity is added on parties of 6 or more. read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Spicy margarita - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

First let me say our server was excellent. We went on a Sunday and enjoyed the build your own Bloody Mary bar. For an entree, I had the Bourbon Salmon. I thought the salmon was excellent. The rice was good overall but it had some crunchy bits of rice that were uncooked. I don't know how that would happen. The deep fried Brussels Sprouts were good but a bit of a mystery. I loved the balsamic glaze, chopped bacon, freshly chopped tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese on top. But the Brussels Sprouts were warm not hot, not crispy. Were they not made to order? Just reheated? I think that might be the case. It would explain why they weren't crispy. Crispy Brussels Sprouts=good. Crispy rice=bad. read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Bourbon Salmon - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

This place is great. The food was amazing. I celebrated my birthday brunch here 4-30-23 at 1pm w/ my party of 20. The salmon & Brussel sprouts were so good. I was obsessed w/ the steak bites appetizer. My spouse loved the man-mosa. The Mamosa bar is a little deceiving, because you actually have to get up and go to it opposed to it being purchased per table or group. My server brung me my juices though && that was beyond amazing. I'll definitely be back here. read more

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Big portions, no real view, poor A/C, very muggy. On a Saturday night in July it was half vacant. The only place on the east side serving turkey burgers, for the fitness obsessed friend. Fries portion was huge and perfect. I had the Maryland crab cakes with bang bang sauce. Huge disappointment, not sweet crab, no chunks, kind of fishy. Bang bang sauce lacked zip. Server seemed tired. No compelling reason for a return engagement. read more

Hold the flys!!!!! Specifically the nets! As soon as I was seated the nets started to attack me. So much so that I covered my drink with a napkin. In the midst of waiting for my entree I had an appetizer and I had to continuously wave the nets away. I spoke with the waitress about it and she informed me that they know it's an issue and they have being doing everything they can to combat them but nothing is working. She did say that they had gotten better though! To even imagine them being worse is ridiculous. After our entree came up we immediately asked for boxes and left. I would not return. Food was about a 5/10 I didn't get to eat it that day, lost my appetite! I ate it the following day. read more

This was our first time here. We had lunch on the upstairs deck. The view of the water and boats was very pleasant. Our waitress was attentive and helpful. I had a lobster roll and it was quite good. I stole a bunch of my husband's fries. They were really delicious! I'm generally not crazy about french fries but these were done very well. They were crispy and nicely seasoned. My husband really enjoyed his pulled pork sandwich. The coleslaw was also very tasty. We will definitely be returning. The only reason I am not giving five stars is because I could not come here with a friend who has a problem using the stairs. While this was not an issue for us, this would prevent someone who has difficulty ambulating from enjoying the upstairs deck. read more

Came for a bachelorette dinner, not having much information about the place. My biggest complaint was the parking outside was so odd. I ordered a sandwich, it was large and delicious. The service DID take a while though. I wondered what the hold up was because it wasnt full at all. read more

First off, people, we need to stop complaining about how imperfect the service is in some places. Have you been paying attention to the world the last two years? There are people I know who would not enjoy their experience here because the service is not particularly crisp. Expect to wait a while after you place your drink order before you get your drinks. Expect a bit of a wait after you place your food order before you get your meal. And, don't expect the universally young service staff to bring your bill quickly or remember carry out boxes. Also, don't be shocked by minor mixups in the order. Read no further if these are dealbreakers for you. Still reading? Good. The food here is worth the wait. We predictably ordered the fried brussels sprouts. I hate to be somebody who follows a trend, but I don't mind that you can find fried brussels sprouts in many restaurants these days. They use a good amount of bacon, and dressed it up very nicely here, with shaved parmigiano Reggiano, and an ample amount of balsamic reduction. But, one reduction they definitely need to make is less oil. I took some home, and I had to blot it with several paper towels. I'm not sure if they left it in the pan too long or didn't drain it, but it took away from an otherwise terrific flavor. If only they used the touch with the fryer that they used on the fried pretzel bites. Delicately crisp and salty on the outside, but soft and fresh on the inside. And, the queso dip that went with it was good enough that I didn't ask for mustard. I always ask for mustard with pretzel bites. The breaded mozzarella sticks themselves were pretty standard fare, but the marinara sauce was excellent. Very assertive oregano flavor, which I love but rarely see it at American restaurants. I tried to stop my wife's mom from ordering the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, because I figured it would be too spicy for her. But, she ordered it anyway. It appears that they started serving it with the hot sauce on the side, and you have to ask for it. What remains is a very flavorful and monstrously large fried chicken sandwich. My wife and I could've split it, and both been full. While everybody ordered the excellent fries, I enjoyed equally excellent thick cut homemade potato chips. My wife gave me some for fries, but I also enjoyed the chips. I didn't order the shrimp po boy because i've been disappointed many times by how stingy restaurants are with shrimp. It's not like they're giving us lobster, but many places act like it. My daughter ordered it, and I was stunned by how huge the shrimp were: about 2 inches across, and enough to fill the large French roll. If you valet park, you will need to pay $5 upfront, but they won't bother you again when you retrieve your car. That was actually the quickest thing they did at the restaurant. That won't stop me from coming back here again, unless I'm in a hurry. read more

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So it's my first time trying this place, and I had been hearing about it for awhile being they I live so close to the shores. The establishment itself is attractive. The service was okay. And the food was just the same. I'm not keen on being negative unless it was truly a bad experience, I just wasn't blown away at all and nothing special to write home about. My friend and I shared a starter of the crispy Brussels with cranberries, balsamic, goat cheese and almonds. This was definitely the best thing we had. I got a po boy with truffle fries and it was okay. My friend has a chicken house salad and it was standard. I found it weird they offered Chinese food options as their specials, that threw me off a little. So overall just a basic experience. read more

Rating this one star because the unnecessary forced valet is now $7. If you haven't been to this restaurant, the valet is completely unnecessary. The parking lot is about 8 feet from the front door. Furthermore, they are now charging extra if you want to use your debit or credit card to pay for your meal so before you even order your food, you are paying $7 + tip for unnecessary and forced valet parking and then extra money if you are not paying cash for your meal. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in that area and I don't like feeling like I'm being taken advantage of and quite honestly, the food is not good enough for me to put up with all of this. Honestly, this is enough to make me not return and I have been a long time customer. read more

On a Wednesday afternoon place was steady. Picked my sit at the bar and was welcomed by Sarah. She was welcoming, informative, super polite, and hands-down a true football fan. The Caprese salad and calamari were the two items I came here for.. they were the bomb. Sarah suggested the blue cheeseburger with sweet potato waffle fries. One the best burgers I've had in a very long time. Place was clean. Staff was also welcoming. It's December by the water and I wasn't expecting to have such a great upbeat experience....five stars all around. read more

Zef’s Dockside Bar & Kitchen - Bars Near Me - St Clair Shores, Michigan

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Parking here is awful. I never have cash, so I couldn't valet ($5). All the non-valet spots are at the way back/front of the parking lot nearest to the street. I had to wait for someone to leave in order to park. You come here for the view, which is why I did. Great atmosphere and the service was decent. Food, eh, nothing was awful, but nothing was wow/cravable. We shared the bourbon brussel sprouts, dockside eggrolls, and steak tips. Not sure why the upstairs and downstairs have different menus, I understand having a limited menu upstairs, what I don't understand is having items on the upstairs menu that aren't on the downstairs menu. 1 star off for parking and the other off for just 'eh' food. read more

Stopped by for a Relaxing afternoon lunch on a weekday. Place was quiet, afternoon only half full. Great location, really nice menu, and our server Amanda is very attentive. I was taken back by the extremely pricey 'craft' tacos, at 8:50 apiece, but as it turns out, there are street tacos on the flip side of the menu. Planned to have a drink before lunch, but date but not on an empty stomach, so in order of truffle fries, along with her glass of Moscato, and my Tito's. The fries were absolutely fantastic! Perfectly done and very tasty! Unfortunately, we never tried the tacos, as for fries satiated us. And thank goodness... As two drinks and an order of fries, with tip amounted to $43! just a sign of the times, I suppose... read more