Aaaaamazing! Spicy wonton are to die for!!!! Sausage Incredible and good beef broth They are very proffessional and polite Big smile. ..good food big 10****
(5)
Darryl R.
First let me explain by saying that my wife and I have frequently have eaten at the Dolpin seafood in Natick for many years we have had large group small group reaservations, and have never had a problem orcmplaint about food or service. It saddens me to have to post this poor review that my ftriends and I experienced on Monday April 27 which was my Birthday. My wife made reservations for a party of 5, after the waitress took our drink orders which consisted of mostly wine. It took about 20 minutes for her to come back with. we finally placed food order which actually took almost an hour before the entrees came out.. Surprisingly everyones food was cold. After being frustrated with the level of customer service from the waitress and the apologizies about the cold food I decide to speak with the manager Serge. I explained our disappointment and disatisfaction of the the time that it took for the drinks but everyone's meal was cold, his response was I can offer you a 50 percent discount on the food. That was unacceptable. The manager then spoke with the owner and came back to our table and told us that if we were not satisfied with our food that he would take all the food back( to only throw it away) and take the food off the bill. that was slap in the face I have never experienced this type of service from any restaurant t I am so disappointed with the dolphin and never plan to return to this establishment I did try to reach out to the owner Ted who has yet to return my phone call. All I can say is enter at your own risk this place has changed so much.
(2)
Martha G.
When this place first opened up about 10-15 years ago it was good. I've gone there for lunch 3 times in the last 5 weeks and been disappointed. This last time the service was terrible. Our waiter, Luis, was abrupt and definitely not interested in how we were enjoying our meal. The swordfish kebab was over-cooked. The lettuce in the salad it was over was brown. But he didn't want to hear any of what we had to say. Then we decided to approach the manager who essentially had the same attitude. (Fish rots from the head down so they say.) Get a new manager in other words. Because if the manager has that attitude, you'll be out of business! We won't be going there again. Too bad because it once was a great place.
(2)
Bob E.
We have been regulars for many years. Food is good and a good value, but service is very chancy. They seem to have a high turn over rate of staff. After our last encounter we are writing this place off.
(2)
Travis P.
Everything here I would call mediocre; however, they have a good deal some of the time where they give you 2, 1 1/4 lobsters for 22 dollars.
(2)
Chris A.
Ruined my Father's Day 1. My chicken parmesan was tasteless. 2. My friend specifically ordered his broccoli to be overcooked. (He has a sore gum). They undercooked the broccoli. He also asked that they leave the skin on the salmon. They didn't 2. My other friend said her scallops were "like rubber" 3. My nephew said "my food is just OK. I think it needs salt" 4. My Dad (the most important person on Father's Day) said the "food needed salt" My Dad NEVER complains. For him to say that the food needs to be salted tells me that the food was bad. I tasted it. It was bad. In addition his lemonade was 95% water. When I complained about my Chicken parmesan to the Manager she claimed it was a fish restaurant. Well why was chicken parm on the menu then ? I tried to complain about the other issues. The woman manager just kept talking over me. Needless to say when my mother was alive Her, my Dad, my Nephew and myself were regulars there. The cooks-the food was much better. It ruined my Father's Day. None of us will ever go back !!
(1)
Beverly S.
I came here for lunch with my husband. We both ordered soft shell crabs. He had a soft shell crab sandwich. I ordered 2 soft shell crab appetizers (one sauteed and one fried) with a side of broccoli. The crabs were fresh but very bland. My crabs came on piece of non edible lettuce (a garnish?) The broccoli wasn't fresh so I sent it back. The waiter did replace it with fresh broccoli at my request. It's too bad the food doesn't measure up to the pretty atmosphere, but who cares about atmosphere when the food is mediocre at best. If your expectations are very low, consider eating here. If you are looking for good food, go elsewhere!
(2)
Nancy R.
From the moment you walk in you are greeted by friendly people and a beautiful atmosphere and decor. The food was amazing! The sole Al la Pedro was absolutely wonderful. Our waiter, Alexander was charming and recommended our dishes.
(5)
Susan R.
Went on a thurs night was not super busy but the parking lot was packed so we had to street park. They had a tuna special but refused to split a portion for app instead of dinner which was annoying so we had mussels in wine which were good. We both had the lobster Natick Lobster was over cooked and bland. Rest of the dish was good. Our waiter was not awesome and seemed either new or clueless. Was just ok not really impressed
(2)
Katherine M.
I have been eating at the Dolphin for years. I am within walking distance and would really make this my go-to place every week - however.... The menu, if not actually 30 years old, certainly appears that way - despite their beautiful renovation, this is your Grandma's seafood restaurant. On top of that, what they do serve is so bland and tasteless it hardly ever fails to disappoint. I finally mustered up the courage to share my thoughts with the barman and the manager Serge. Trying to "cater to their older clientele" and to "keep down costs" were among the excuses provided for not trying harder. I was queried for ideas, which I provided, but I'm not sure that that's the customers job - don't they have a chef? Look, I am writing this because I really want Dolphin to be successful. I am worried that they have rested on their laurels and the fact that they don't have any competition in downtown Natick. That is about to change however and with the building of new apartment buildings and luxury condos going up all around them, they are in jeopardy of losing out. PLEASE Dolphin! Please be better! Update your menu, make it tasty and interesting, offer a fun drink menu that includes other alcohols beside vodka, add a small plates menu, etc etc! I want you to be my regular go-to place and so will all those young folks moving in!
(2)
Katie P.
My boyfriend and I stopped in for lunch last Sunday. I had a cup of calm chowder. I really loved it! I did stumble across one small shrimp in it and thought that was odd. He got the bisque, also very good. We split the stuffed mushroom appetizer; phenomenal! For entree's he had the seafood marsala & I had fried scallops. Honestly, everything was simply amazing. The marsala was a light wine flavor Which was perfect for the seafood. My only negative would be the ratio of relish to mayo in the tartar sauce .... but, seriously that is reaching for a negative. The server was attentive, nice and accommodating :)The Manager was polite and engaged with guests. I will be back :)
(5)
Reid F.
Having been there a bunch of times (but probably no more), I now describe Dolphin as having relentlessly mediocre food and consistently sub-par service. Tonight's example was that after having two appetizers, we were told that in order to split a $35-dollar lobster meal, we would have to pay a $7 charge for plate-splitting. It was only after we cancelled the order that they relented. The baked stuffed lobster was (surprise!) mediocre.
(2)
Matthew T.
Good food and nice place to meet friends or family. Easy parking. It's not Legal's but it's good and worth the trip.
(5)
M Q.
If you want decent seafood, DO NOT step foot in here. I cannot not believe the quality is so BAD given it is within 30 min drive from Boston. Good seafood is almost an expectation given where we are but this place might as well be in the middle of Ohio. Anyway, here are the specifics: 4 of us came here for lunch. I ordered the halibut. First, the piece of fish tasted like it came out of deep freeze and thawed in a bucket water.... I almost though they gave me a cheap piece of white fleshed fish instead of halibut because there was no freshness to the taste. This piece of protein belongs to the cat food category. For close to $15 (lunch hour), you should be able to land some good food. So don't waste it here. Next is the service. To make things easy, each pair of us ordered the exact same fish and sides. So there's really only 2 distinct orders to deal with. Yet, none of us got what we ordered. Really!!! There are only 4 tables and they can't get this right. Come on!! I think the only decent part of this lunch was the salad. Please take my word, DO NOT COME HERE if you want good seafood.
(1)
Lisa G.
Been here several times there food I always fresh and delicious
(3)
Skye G.
Seafood sampler - 2 cherry stones, 2 oysters, 2 shrimp was a nice assortment. I added a fried whole clam dinner with baked potato and side of broc. I like to come here when you want a quiet relaxing meal with good conversation since it is easy to talk in the dining room. There are places where I love the food but find myself screaming over the crowd. The decor is whimsical, charming and trendy. The waiter was right on with service. The parking lot is free and there are meters on the street if it gets busy.
(4)
Marj B.
I went for the first time about two weeks ago. Never would have found it if a friend who lives in Natick wasn't driving. With that said - THE FOOD IS AWESOME! Probably THE best Oysters Rockafeller I've ever had - fat juicy oysters smothered in a creamy cheesy sauce with the spinach laying just beneath! Mmmmmmm. The grilled swordfish was very good ...nice size good grilled flavor....a friend had fried seafood platter and said wow I got more fish than fries and he did! Another friend got the casserole with the lobster tail - SOOOO MUCH food for the price - and it was really good but I thought the lobster was a little tough and chewy - scallops and shrimp were awesome. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also very nice modern, cool, upscale without being stuffy. If you like seafood just go here - all four of us at my table agreed it was much better than Legals or any place else we've been in a long time!
(5)
Stephanie S.
A couple of weeks ago my boyfriend and I came in here to try the place out and we definitely want to come back. I ordered their broiled scallops (yum!) with salad and a baked potato. My salad came out nice and fast, and our waitress, Marine (cool name) was awesome. She was super attentive, kept coming over to get us new drinks, and checked on us just enough. The food was good, but the service was amazing. I'm sure we'll be back soon!
(5)
Liliana G.
The bartender was condescending and unpleasant. We decided not to get food and might not in near future. He did apologize in the end but that didn't revive my appetite.
(2)
Joe C.
This restaurant does not, in my opinion, deserve some of the terrible ratings it has received lately. So, I'd like to balance out the reviews with my assessment of this place. Recently visited with my wife and son on a Sunday afternoon. First the pluses: 1) The menu offers good selection for different tastes. On this particular day I was feeling for seafood, but my son isn't a big fan of seafood. So after reviewing menus for places like Legal Seafood and other restaurants, Dolphin had the most options, including steak tips and a few chicken dishes. 2) There is plenty of parking in the lot, and the restaurant is very clean. 3) Also, they have a very nice "early bird" menu - even on Sundays which is not typically found in most restaurants. Now the minuses: 1) My wife and I ordered the same dish "broiled schrod", but received them cooked 2 different ways (even though we ordered them the same). But we decided to taste each other's dish and compare the two. Bottom line - the version that came with a cracker topping was very moist, the version that didn't was dry. My son said his Chicken Marsala was 50/50 - chicken was very good, pasta was overcooked. They also served warm bread, which was very good and a big hit with my wife and son. 2) The waitress was very pleasant and friendly, but did not come around often enough. This seems to be a consistent theme among reviewers. In the end, we had pretty good (not great) meals, generous portions, for a good price. The total for our 3 meals, including 2 glasses of wine, was around $55. Probably $25 less than a similar meal at Legal. So overall - i give it 3 stars.
(3)
Barbara J.
I ordered the filet of sole stuffed with seafood stuffing and wished I just got plain fish. The fish was very thin and overstuffed with breading with an overly rich sauce. I felt like my body was inflating as I ate. Way too rich but there was no way of knowing until it came to the table. I think its a good idea to ask for a full description before placing the order. We stayed for karaoke, and it was a nice crowd.
(3)
IntricateWeeski O.
A nice evening out as ruined....Our waiter wasn't terrible but was no where to be found for long periods of time. Now to the food: we had steamed mussels Provençal, Seafood a la Dolphin and the Seafood Casserole. The dishes looked nice and tasted fine but we both got FOOD POISONING. To let the restaurant know so that they may check their food before serving to others, we called the restaurant and spoke with a manager. The manager didn't listen and said that he doesn't know what happened to it since no one else complained about getting sick. This was handled extremely unprofessionally by the manager. I will never trust their quality of food and preparation and definitely do not recommend this restaurant to others. If you're passing through this area, pass by this place and head to a better restaurant.
(1)
Kenny Y.
First time here, It was firday and its kind of busy. We order the clam chowder steam mussle, lobster clam bake and swordfish. The mussle and grill. Sword fish was okay. But the lobster and clam bake were below average. The lobster was way over cooked. Toughtest lobster I ever eaten. Yuck. The clams were really big but not very fresh. The only good thing we had was the clam chowder. The service is slow. 2.5 star
(2)
Janelle M.
I was staying in Natick for work and am mostly a pescatarian. And, when you think Boston you think seafood (or beans I guess). I didn't want the standard Boston area Legal Seafood because it feels so much like the big huge chain it is (and the servers never know anything about the fish) so The Dolphin was recommended by the hotel (local, downtown Natick, etc). Upon arrival, I was not impressed as they do not have a hostess on Monday nights. It was a little unclear what to do to get a seat. Someone helped me after a few minutes and told me that it was everyone's job to help out "when they noticed someone standing there." Owners/management - that is just not a good plan even if it is just a few minutes. It just doesn't put the diner in the right frame of mind. There is a lively bar (lively even on a Monday). I sat in a booth in a large open room. The restaurant was less than half full and it was pretty noisy. I would be very concerned about noise if it were completely full. Yet, since I was alone, this centrally located booth was the perfect spot for observing and listening and writing this review. The menu is extensive and offers plenty of choices for seafood lovers (cooked all ways). There are also some choices for the meat lover in your group. I am pretty picky about fish so I asked if the salmon was wild or farm-raised. The server knew it was farm-raised but he did not know the source or if it was responsibly farm-raised. This is another point of feedback for management. Increasingly, diners are going to ask you this information and your servers should know the source of your products. In fact, the next table he served....he told them about the salmon special (with Wasabi) and they asked the exact same question. I asked the server what the most local fish was and he informed me it was bluefish. He then went on to make it sound pretty unattractive telling me it was dark and very fishy and that some people liked it and many people didn't. I will never know since, with that description, I passed. But I really did appreciate his honesty. I chose the salmon on "greek salad." The portion was huge, likely 8 ounces of salmon or more. It was good but had clearly been cooked in some oil when I had asked for none. Salmon is generally oily enough on its own. The salad was decent - lettuce, onion, shredded carrots and olives. Not really "greek" but pretty good. There was none of the feta cheese described on the menu but I didn't really want it anyway. The prices are what I would expect given the quality - $15 for the salad I described. One other thing....I was alone which I guess is a restaurant's nightmare because I just there, read my paper and observed. The waiter's stand was right in front of me and boy did I get an earful. This is something I would have never noticed had I not been dining alone. All in all, the service was OK (although the server kept calling me "miss" in an irritating way even though I am a 'mature' woman and was very slow at the end), the atmosphere was OK and the food was OK. Oh....and the wine was.......OK. Would I come back or recommend the place to friends......no.
(2)
Chris M.
This establishmemt comtimues to amaze my palate, even since moved to natck i 1995. The scallops are sweet and tender, the seafood pasta with white sauce was amazing!
(3)
Amanda C.
Great food, seafood and more. Can't beat the $6.50 apps at the bar with a Rogue beer!
(5)
Candice B.
Just spent my Groupon on the "Lobster dining experience" for 4. I paid $60 for it, and it supposedly comes with four 1.25 lb lobster and 2 orders of shrimp cocktail. I have been a lifelong Natick resident before I moved in October and Dolphin is sort of like an underdog restaurant. Competitions such as Legal's and SkipJack's on Rt. 9 diverted much attention from this little place in downtown Natick. I have not gone to Dolphin's since probably freshman year of college so it was a looooong time. Upon walking into Dolphin's, I have noticed that the restaurant has shrunk. What used to be the bar area is now an "In Shape for Women". The hostess stand is deserted, and what used to be a front foyer dining room is now a catering office for a different restaurant. Instead of being greeted by the host/hostesses right when we walk into the door, we now have to walk all the way down the ramp, to a non-existent hostess stand. We were seated right away the service was so-so. Besides the 4 lobsters and shrimp cocktails, we also ordered clam chowders, fried oysters and seafood platter. The waiter made a comment about "I'll be surprised if you guys can finish this". It wasn't offensive, but it was weird in a way, like, I would never say that to a customer. Anyway, the fried oysters were kind of tasteless, the fried seafood platter was bland. Clam chowders were a little too watery for my taste (I like them thick and creamy). The lobsters were tiny, I guess they would qualify as "chicken lobsters". When the bill came, it was the most confusing thing I have ever seen. I don't really care about the mechanics of how the Groupon works in their computer system, but I just think that the Groupon wasn't much of a deal. I paid $60 for their groupon. The 1.25 lb twin lobster dinner was $25.99. Shrimp cocktail was $8.99. So, with 4 lobsters ($25.99 x 2 = $51.98) and 2 shrimp cocktail $17.98, we really only saved $9.96. The saving wasn't significant like other restaurant Groupons that I have gotten that are 50% off. I am surprised that Dolphin's is still around, given the lack of crowds (besides old folks) dining there. It was a nothing special dining experience for me and my family, will probably be another 10 years before I will come back here again "for old times sake" (if they are still around).
(2)
Fabrice L.
Stopped by on my way to Boston the next day. Warm and friendly services. Good choices on the menu. We were served rapidly after placing our orders. The broiled seafood platter was cooked to perfection, the squids had good seasoning. Overall, a very enjoyable evening in a family-type atmosphere.
(4)
Lee H.
I'm afraid that our last few visits to Dolphin were not as good as earlier ones. The restaurant has tried to reinvent itself as a somewhat more upscale place. The decor is less drab, but the food is bland, overpriced, and somewhat overcooked. Too bad. It's close to where we live, and we'd be there all the time. It's still OK, but now it's just average. What a shame.
(3)
Steve G.
Very good fisherman's platter. Tartar could be more flavorful. Clam Chowder was ok.
(4)
Steve P.
Previous visits: 5 stars Current visit: 1 star Overall: 2 stars. Update Jan. 12, 2014: My kids ate here again for another birthday and had a very similar experience to the one described below. Lobster was tough and not very good. Unfortunately it appears the Dolphin's quality problem is a trend, not just a one-time unfortunate experience. We've come to the Dolphin for special occasions in years past. It was always great, so we went again yesterday as a Christmas present to our extended family. This time we were very disappointed. The restaurant was only moderately full, but the food took probably 45-60 minutes to arrive. When it finally came, the 3 lobster dinners were the toughest we'd ever had (and between us, we've eaten a lot of lobster in our lives). The claws were salvageable, but the tails were just plain bad. The other 6 dinners, all seafood, were fine. We concluded the lobsters were cooked as soon as we placed our order, then put under a heat lamp for the next half hour or more, where they continued to cook. And cook. And cook. They ended up like hard rubber. We've come to expect a decently trained wait staff at the Dolphin, but our waitress was not at all well trained. She occasionally kept us watered, but never acknowledged the long wait - no apology, no offer to check on our food for us, nothing. After our food finally came, she never checked on us or asked how the food was. We politely but honestly told her the condition of the lobster. She apologized once but that was the end of it. No expression of concern or even surprise, no explanation of what had happened, no offer to take it back or even to mention it to the kitchen. My parents ordered coffee after she had already brought us the bill. With 3 bad lobsters and a significant bill from a party of 9, you might think she'd let it slide. Nope. She picked up the bill off the table and brought back a new one with the coffees added to it. We've had enough good experiences at the Dolphin that we'll probably give them another chance at some point. But with problems in both the kitchen and on the floor, their quality is not what it used to be.
(2)
Richard F.
Yesterday,My brother ,myself,and my niece and nephew took our Mom our for lunch for Christmas.Our server was terrific,missed catching her name.She said she had started working their about four months ago. I had the seafood alfredo which was excellent.Mom had the salmon,and she was pleased,My niece had the chicken fingers .My brother and my nephew had the so called lazy man lobster.No complaints on the way the lobster was cooked. Now the complaint.The dolphin advertises that they use a pound and a quarter lobster.We were told that it looks small on the plate because the meat came out of the shell.I was brought up with shellfish.Living in Boston and Cape Cod I have been around shellfish for over fifty years. I know what a pound and a quarter lobster looks like after it has been shelled.I am angered and insulted that the Dolphin would think I was that stupid and naive to believe they used a pound and a quarter lobster.The lobster tail was the size of my thumb the so called claw was ....well you know that phrase looking for a needle in a haystack?????. To think that the dolphin restaurant blatantly false advertises(lies)about their lobster is think that the public is dumb enough to believe it, is pathetic. So go to the Dolphin the with the exception of their idea of a pound and a quarter lobster the food (what i had) is good If you order the lazy man lobster either Find Sherlock Holmes and borrow his magnifying glass or request to see the lobster before it is cooked.BUYER BEWARE!!
(2)
Laurene I.
Went there with my husband because I can walk there. I usually go to the bar and get served by Jon (who I like a lot). I always get the swordfish kebab salad (which is usually fairly decent). I only go there because it is local. I have had too many bad experiences to not finally review. I probably won't go back after this experience. Tonight we sat in the restaurant. The service was terrible and the food was even worse. I ordered the Lobster Casserole. It was heavy and greasy and the lobster was totally overcooked. My husband ordered the Fish and Chips which was bland and totally tasteless. How can you own a seafood restaurant and serve bad Fish and Chips? Well, the Dolphin figured out how to do that. The waitress was inattentive! She forgot my salad until the food was delivered, our water glasses sat empty (and we were drinking water). She disappeared for long periods and was nowhere to be found. We were her ONLY table. What the heck? It was over $50 for 2 meals and one appetizer. Not worth 1/2 that if you ask me. Sorry Dolphin...never again!
(1)
Mai R.
Had the lobster feast and enjoyed it! Also they have very creative drinks! The ambiance was great too. My husband and I enjoyed our dinner.
(4)
Randall H.
I love food. You can't eat food in a restaurant without service staff and unfortunately I have a love/hate relationship with that aspect of eating. Tonight at "the dolphin" of 12 Washington Street in Natick, MA the hate side of my relationship with the service side of dining out came into full effect and ruined my last supper (see kidnapping/organ harvest statistics for Mexico) with my parents and grandmother. I fly out tomorrow to Mexico for an extended stay trip and my grandmother had asked if we could meet at "this nice seafood place in downtown Natick" before I leave since I'm at high risk of being kidnapped and/or having my organs harvested. Some say that I have too high standards, am too honest, and sometimes am a blunt a*shole HOWEVER I feel like I know what I like and in circumstances where you pay for a service, I'm entitled to legitimate service. The Dolphin, like a young lad with his first girlfriend and a few coors lights, peaked too soon. Reserving a table was seamless and we lucked out by scoring a parking space very close to the entrance. Upon entering the restaurant I was impressed by it's modern aesthetic and the enthusiastic hosts who took me and my parents to the table as we awaited my grandmother's arrival. Our waitress was pleasant however we had to ask her, after 3 times at our table, what the specials of the evening were. I got my plate of lemons for the iced water I was to consume since my present family did/does not consume alcohol and then ordered a bowl of clam chowder. All well and the conversation is great, could this be the preamble to a good review? Fu*k No. I'm dining with three of the most important people in my life: My parents (who birthed me) and my grandmother (who instilled consciousness of fashion at a young age) and when our entrees were served they had fu*ked up both of my parent's dishes. This meal was all planned around coming in, dining, and running out quick to catch a show, which is why I made the reservation at this no name place anyway just to assure sh*t didn't hit the fan. Sure enough, my father's scallops were "garlic butter" not "Cajun style" and my mother who had ordered the garlic butter drizzle on her swordfish had received a dry flavorless piece of meat. Trying to stay calm I went to the host and asked to speak with the manager...since our fat waitress was no where to be found. The joke of a manager, in broken English asks me what the problem was. I told him that we'd waited quite a while for our food, this was an important dinner for me, and that they fu*ked up two entrees for my parents. Then I told him to come to my table and showed him his kitchen's fu*k up as the rest of the diners gazed over. Dumbfounded by my distraught reaction he asked if my parents would like their dishes remade properly. Do you really need to ask? You are managing an establishment that cannot serve what it's guests are ordering... Yes, fix the fu*king problem don't wait for your customers (remember the people who are catalysts to your income) to ask you to do it. He takes my parents incorrect meals away as our waitress returns to the dining room, as she was wiping semen from her face (She had to be giving out blow jobs to still have her job since she apparently doesn't know how to check her fu*kin meals for accuracy before serving them) I just gave her a look of disgust and threw up in her eyes. In an attempt to conquer my starvation, I started eating my Mahi Mahi which came with zucchini and summer squash. I had to choke the food down so my parents didn't hate me for calling the manager over again to ask him if he'd just served me rotten rat intestines and this soggy sh*t they claim to be an edible side of veggies. They served the fish on a romaine lettuce leaf...wow, really classy bro what'd you learn that in your online culinary class? The flavorless meat would have been better alone with a garnish housing something bold with flavor and then the overcooked veggies??? I mean overcooking vegetables is beyond amateur it's downright disrespectful to the culinary gods and I cannot fathom how anyone let that leave the kitchen. The waitress comes over (probably after blowing the manager for the second time) and tells my parents that the manager is going to comp them 2 desserts. I kept my mouth shut, there's only so much "the son" can do before flipping tables. My parents got their food, no one got dessert, and they ended up taking $20 off the bill. I tried three of the four meals that our table had ordered and I'm sure you could find some decent food there but I can guarantee you there are better places in Natick to spend your money rather than this wanna be restaurant. Please don't go to this sh*t hole... It looks really nice but like that chick from the corner who's got pretty eyes, looks don't matter when you wake up with crabs.
(1)
Linda W.
Had lunch here for the first time. Service was good, it was lunch time and not many people in the restaurant. I ordered the haddock broiled with garlic butter. The salad was small not much to it few greens and carrots with some other mixed greens. Main dish was the haddock which was very moist, looked as if it was partially cooked. Couple of pieces of squash and broccoli for the side, very small portion. I had a few bites of the haddock but since it looked uncooked I did not eat anymore. When we were done the waitress asked how everything was and I told her about the fish. Her reply was " well it's either hit or miss you know with fish". So I paid and left. Would not go back.
(2)
Kim Hong L.
From my prospective, I didn't think the food was all that great. Everything we had ordered came out either burnt or under cooked. What got me really frustrated with this restaurant was how horrible and rude the waiters and waitress were! As we were walking in, the host looked right at us, but then decided to ignored us for awhile until we had to say something. It took them awhile to took our orders, but even so they had forgot most likely everything we ordered. We had to constantly reminded them at least twice, but of course they all replied with such rudeness and bad attitude. It's ridiculous how long it took them to seat us, take our orders, bring out our drinks BUT so quick to grab their tips! Never ever will I come here again.
(1)
Warren S.
Staff was excellent. Food not so much... Maybe just an off day but I couldn't eat the seafood stir fry. Some of it tasted as if it had gone bad. Other then that most of the staff was very hands on. One even went out and put money in the meter for me.
(1)
Alexandra D.
This place is really just ok. I've been coming here for years but mostly for lack of better places close by. Tonight the service was extra bad. There was no room in the bar so we had no problem with sitting in the dining room, (we were in good company). The waitress took a while to come over and when she finally did she dropped off bread, but did not take our drink order. We waited another 10-15 mins and she came and took our drink order and we got a couple apps. I asked for raw oysters and a cup if chowder. 10 mins later she came back over to tell me that there were only one kind of oysters left did I just want those instead of a mixture. Yes! Fine now I have to wait for her to put that order in. Another 20 mins later she brings the food. The oysters were warm and there was a skin over my clam chowder. Whatever I was hungry and ate it. Eventually we wanted another drink but ended up passing on it because she took so long to come back over (we actually asked the bus boy to get her). It was all kind of a bummer because it was so slow and quiet in the dining room so there was no reason for it! (Unless that waitress was doing the entire bar or something too!) I gave 3 stars because I have had other good experiences there, and the bar atmosphere is nice. I have also had much better service there on other occasions. But the food itself is always very mediocre. Good for just getting a couple cocktails though!
(3)
Eamon M.
They totally misrepresented on the Groupon we bought recently. We were all supposed to get 1 1/4 pound lobsters but if they were 3/4 pound that would be generous. I didn't know lobsters grew that small. Also, how long does it take to boil a lobster and melt some butter? 5 minutes, 10? Then why did we wait a good 40 minutes between our soup and the lobster? I've been there before and never really been impressed with either the food or the service but this experience has been my last. Not that I am a fan of Legal Seafood but if you are in Metrowest go there instead. Next year we will have to find some other place for our traditional Hanukkah Lobster.
(1)
Jeannette L.
I've been here once before it was renovated and it was certainly the place for the oldies. Didnt remember what I ate there, so I guess it is not memorable. After the renovation though, I think they are getting more younger looking crowd, I want to say mid 30s? Although, the older townies are still there. =) The drinks are good, the service is decent, but the food is hit or miss. The calamari is kind of chewy and not fresh. But I remember getting their seafood pasta and I enjoyed that. it is in pretty good location in Natick commons and it is close to my home, so cant complain.
(4)
Amy E.
Sunday night Stump Trivia was fun. They have a good selection of craft beers and very reasonable prices. The pulled pork sliders went down easy. We were surprised at the low numbers on the bill after two hours of trivia fun - we will be back!
(4)
Danielle K.
I don' t know why all the bad reviews for this place! I think they have great seafood for reasonable prices! Its right near to where I work so I come here sometimes for lunch or other work functions with co-workers and I have YET to be disappointed! Their Seafood Marsala is my absolute favorite thing on the menu (and probably on the list of one of my favorite foods in general) and its consistantly wonderful and I HIGHLY recommend it. The rolls they serve are hot and fresh out of the oven and the seafood is cooked just right. I've never heard any complaints from anyone that has been here with me so I don't know the fuss from everyone! I just went there today in fact and got the Seafood Marsala again... $9.99 for a HUGE lunch portion that I ate half of and will be eating the other half for lunch tomorrow :) YAY FOR THE DOLPHIN!
(5)
Byron M.
This is the sister restaurant to Dolphin Seafood in Cambridge. Like their other restaurant in Cambridge, this restaurant offers excellent seafood at reasonable prices. Tip: Great deals during lunch. If you are near Natick during lunch, you may want to stop by for a bite. This place is a bit more upscale than their other restaurant, but prices remain to be reasonable for seafood.
(4)
C S.
It was fantastic. We went on a Groupon, and were not really expecting it to be this good. Our experience with Groupns have been so-so, but not here.
(5)
Doug M.
I've never had a bad experience at the Dolphin. The decor is average, but the food is very good. The fried clams have improved and are now some of the best in the area - no question. I recently had the fisherman's platter and it was excellent. When my son came home for winter break - one of his first requests was for Lobster ala Natick. It's a winner ever time. I highly recommend the Dolphin.
(4)
Blake M.
good seafood; good prices.
(4)
Paul G.
Dolphin serves fresh, delicious seafood from a large and varied menu. Its prices are somewhat below those of Legal Seafoods a few miles up the road, but the quality is equivalent, in my experience. The bar is well stocked and the selection of specialty drinks substantial. They make a good, full martini. Waitstaff has always been attentive. Decor is a little tacky, despite a makeover a few years ago. Excellent lunchtime value.
(4)
Allison L.
What kinda restaurant again?? They even don't know how to cook tuna.... hello??!!!! You may wanna give a try if you have 5 hours for dinner!!!
(1)
Heather O.
My mother, who was also dining with me at the Dolphin on the evening that inspired my review, wanted me to emphasis just how horrible our evening was. It totally s*cked. I had a headache when I walked out of the place and I felt hungover the next morning even though I wasn't drinking alcohol the night before. Mom also pointed out to me that it appears as if I am insulting chain restaurants in my review. I am not - I am a huge fan of the chain restaurant. In fact while having dinner at the Dolphin I said TWICE that this would never happen to me at Outback. Mmm... Outback.
(1)
S. R.
My husband and I went here for lunch on a Sunday and we were probably the only people in the place who couldn't spin yarns about the Great Depression, or possibly the Alamo. There was a nursing home event going on in the lounge and an elderly man at the bar fighting with the manager. We expected a different vibe, but I love an early bird special as much as anybody else so we were prepared to give the food a chance. I was so excited by the variety of fish on the menu. I ordered the bluefish. Sorry, we never have any bluefish. Okay (I kind of expected that, nobody serves bluefish). How about the flounder? Nope, no flounder. I was assured they had all of the usual favorites. Great, all the fish I cook at home. I ended up with SCROD. Probably the same fish used in fish sticks. It was okay, but it's rather hard to screw up broiled fish unless you completely burn it. It came with a very small side of vegetables. My husband hates seafood so he ordered some chicken and pasta dish. He said it was okay. On the plus side, the seafood chowder was very good. Rarely have a ever seen shrimp in a chowder. Usually they just use cheap fish... like SCROD! Service was okay. Small requests for ketchup or drink refills were forgotten in the sea of special requests made by more senior patrons. Until that day I had never heard of anyone requesting a wedge of orange with their drink. Can you do that? Would I go here again? Probably not. Our meal was decent, but pricey for what it was. I think $45 was too much for a lunch with no desserts, no alcoholic drinks and just 1 cup of seafood chowder for an appetizer.
(2)
Andrew C.
I know plenty of people who are younger than 50 in Natick but I sure rarely see them at the Dolphin. It must be a tradition or the decor because the food is pretty standard seafood, and as that it is pretty good. My wife likes the calamari salad and I usually go with some kind of white fish. Be aware that some of the broiled seafood comes with too heavy a crumb topping. They have a lobster bake with the usual sides and a twin lobster special as well and to me lobster is lobster unless your sitting next to the ocean eating it. Their clam chowder is pretty good as well. I wouldn't drive out of my way to hit the Dolphin but if you are in town and just want good seafood I'd go. If you want a romantic ambiance, look elsewhere. (Probably also good for a bigger group of people because they have some pretty big tables as well and you can make your own ambiance with a big group)
(3)
C. J.
I've been here for dinner a total of three times and left with the same impression each time. Not much to say about this place except that I found that the quality of the seafood is just not great. With so many other great seafood restaurants in this area, my recommendation would be to skip this one.
(2)
Jamie S.
Great bar! Stacey is tied for best bartender in the metrowest (with Dr. Fitz at Stone's Public House in Ashland...) Food was solid. Good big piece of fish for my dinner entree. However, stay away from the oysters. I ordered a half-dozen and had to send them back because they were too warm. Ouch. Hoping I just hit them on a bad day for oysters. Anyway, it's within stumbling distance of my childhood home, so next time the Mrs. and I need a cocktail before or after a visit to my parents, to the DOLPHIN WE SHALL GO!!!
(4)
Andrea G.
Have eaten here in the past, maybe a year ago. Things look better inside but the service is seriously lacking. I cannot speak for all the waitresses, but ours and several other servers weren't very attentive. In an establishment like this that caters to a generally older clientele, this shouldn't be an issue. The food itself is just ok. Honestly will not be coming back anytime soon. Pained me to give our server even 15%. Ugh
(2)
Megan M.
This place it's pretty terrible as far as seafood restaurants go. I went with my entire family and no one enjoyed their meals. The food was very poor quality and the service mediocre at best. It was like we were at a Red Lobster type chain restaurant. Poor excuse for a seafood restaurant in New England.
(1)
Amber J.
One of my favorite restaurants! Go there usually once a week. Love the salmon and swordfish. Also the stuffed sole is delicious, if your willing to eat the calories. Stuffed lobster is also pretty good!
(5)
Keith H.
I will start by saying generally speaking we have had decent food and service from the Dolphin in the past, that is the reason for two stars. Yesterday we ordered take out from the website menu the following: *Crab Combination Salad......................................16.55 Two pan -seared homemade crab cakes with grilled jumbo shrimp and scallops served over garden salad We asked what was in the salad due to food allergies, mesclun, so we asked if they could change it to iceberg or romaine lettuce, the answer we got was no problem, I'm glad we checked when we picked up our order, both salads were MESCLUN. We also asked for Blue Cheese Dressing, but we received creamy parmesan or ranch. According to the menu this salad comes with grilled scallops, NONE were included! Needless to say this was a very disappointing experience!
(2)
Tao O.
Overall good food and service. Bar can get a little backed up at times, and the place is a bit overpriced but nice spot in downtown Natick.
(3)
Barry M.
Went to dinner on Saturday evening. Very nice white table cloth atmosphere with excellent service. The R.I. calamari was excellent and the first time I have seen it served in a large taco shell. The Ceasar salad with swordfish tips was the best! Highly recommend!
(4)
M S.
Terrible - Or should I say Blah! If I were to give this dinner a movie title, I'd call it "Dinner with the Fly's" because there was alway a fly buzzing around my plate. The Water - tasted like chlorine, unfiltered and undrinkable - Yuck! The Coconut shrimp - While Good Idea, it was poorly executed. It tasted like little dripping balls of oil, all the taste was lost. The idea - breaded shrimp with coconut with a dipping sauce and a dab of mustard, Great!... The execution... An Oily Blah The Swordfish Kabob and Caesar Salad - Blah, Blah with a side sauce of Blah. The chocolate cake tasted like it was prepackaged from Costco. Therefore, it's Overpriced Blah. Waiter: friendly and attentive. Price: way too high Conclusion: if you are a rich little old lady with no taste buds this place is perfect for you. Otherwise avoid it. I'll never go back. It makes me wonder if the people who rated this highly ever get out of town much... UPDATE: 8 hours later, and I still feel the greasy shrimp sitting in my stomach like a bag of sand.
(1)
E E.
Had a great time at Dolphin's bar. Fantastic wings, generous pours, and live music that's compatible with conversation makes this place a winner.
(4)
Nikos L.
Hospital food at $19 a plate...Canned marinara and pomodoro sauces, re-fried fried calamari, loud, mediocre service, a geriatric hangout...Just plain hospital food for a pricetag...Stay away...Better than Legal Seafood some say, yes, if you have no taste buds.
(1)
Jamie H.
we had a groupon to dolphin seafood, which for $30 included (for 2 people): 2 chowders, 1 shrimp cocktail, and 2 lobsters, each with 2 sides. when we arrived, the staff was welcoming and quickly seated us at a table, but then had to wait over 10 minutes for our server to come by. however, when he did arrive, he was very friendly, articulate, and explained to us how the groupon option worked. after that initial delay, his service was good throughout the meal. he was attentive and timely with the dishes, and while he asked how everything was at times he did not hover for feedback or interrupt the meal. now for the food itself. we started with a new england clam chowder and the seafood chowder, which had shrimp and tilapia. both chowders were creamy and served hot. i did think they were both heavy on the potato and light on the fish, and the baby shrimps in the seafood chowder were very very baby. i chose the garden salad for one of my sides, which was a nice size for a starter. the shrimp cocktail came with 4 jumbo shrimp, the sauce was likely bottled but had a decent flavor with just a bit of kick. we also had a few dinner rolls that were of the frozen variety, but i ate one anyway. our lobsters came out steaming, but were a little under the promised pound and a quarter. it was clear that they had been tanked for a while, since the claws were pretty shriveled - but yes, i do know that it's lobster in february. they were pretty good, and came with steamed broccoli and rice pilaf (just plain yellow rice). overall, the food was decent, but didn't stand out as amazing. the vibe was relaxed and there was a bar in the front with what looked to be a great drink menu. there were a lot of options on the main menu, and it would be an 'easy-to-please' place for a family looking for decent seafood that's not terribly expensive.
(3)
Kayla H.
This place is great, if you know how to navigate it. We live 3 minutes (walking distance) away and go here all the time. Dinner included. What we've found is that the sit-down-have-yourself-a-nice-meal experience is meh ... But the appetizers and the drinks in the bar area are amazing. The waitstaff is really great. They are personable, available, and ready to make everything happen for you. They have excellent drinks, great atmosphere, and we really like going here as our default spot. Our suggestions: The dinner entrees are mediocre at best, but seem to be improving The appetizers and drinks: Amazingly awesome _ Settle in the bar area for great drinks, maybe a martini (dirty),a side car (yes they know how, and it's the best we've had), or anything else from the drink menu, and order from the bar menu. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
R B.
Still fine, but I'd rather go to Cap'n Marden's. Has the ambiance of what I think a cruise ship would be like. Big, so rarely a wait. I've had a number of particularly bland meals here lately, but it's still a good deal for lunch, prices are reasonable. You could do worse. (You could go to Legal's.)
(3)
Apple K.
First time there - new to the neighborhood, and had received a gift card as a housewarming present... so we thought we would try it out. We waited to be seated in the bar. Service in the bar was very good. However you have to pay for your drinks in the bar and cannot add it to your meal bill. Server did not tell us about the specials... After we ordered, we heard him telling other tables about them. Service was very slow, server apologized several times for the delay in food being ready. Appetizer - Martha's Vineyard oysters. Excellent. Entrees - Seafood Diablo. Pasta was mushy and some of the seafood tasted not right. It was clear that the dish had been nuked just before being brought to us, because it had been sitting at the pass so long. My husband loves pasta and seafood.... and of this, he only finished about 1/3 of his entree - it was so bad. Seafood Sampler. (an appetizer, I ordered as my entree) 3 oysters, 3 cherrystones, and 3 shrimp. Cocktail sauce was good. Seafood arrived on a bed of mostly melted ice, water was standing 3/4" deep. Shrimp was ok at best, though a tad warm. The oysters looked not so good, did not try them. My husband tried the cherrystone and immediately spit it out as it tasted as if it had gone bad. Server told the manager, who deducted 1/2 of our bill... Which is all and good, however we now have a lot of our gift card left - and little desire to return.
(1)
Sara E.
I would absolutely NOT ever go back to this restaurant. To begin, the wait staff did not know the product on the menu. I ordered the shellfish sampler and the waitress said there were two types of oysters and one type of clam. The sampler had one type of oyster and one clam and shrimp. This was not what I wanted. The worst part was that when I ate the first clam it was not fresh (rotten raw seafood is the worst taste ever). The waitress argued with me, saying it was fresh when it smelled and tasted rotten. I had to spit the clam out and cancelled the rest of our order. I do not trust a restaurant that serves rotten seafood. I will NEVER go back to this terrible place.
(1)
Serenity B.
Good seafood, great price, I can always finish my meal and feel satisfied!
(4)
Pearle N.
Every time I go w/ just my daughter I get lousy service and we gave the Dolphin 4 chances. Apparently a single mother w/ her young child doesn't warrant good service at all. I can't stand the lousy service at all....and when I mention it to the so called manager I get a dirty look and a what do you want me to do about it attitude. I would not recommend this place to any one. If you want to sit at a table waiting for service for a long time and then get barely mediocre sea food for nearly top dollar...go straight ahead. I'd rather go to the Italian restaurant across the street and get one of their seafood specials.
(1)
Gee W.
Who gives this place 5 stars? I would go back again to see if it got better, and it wouldn't be the last place in the world I would choose - but Dolphin gets a D if your particular about your food.
(2)
Amelia D.
Terrible. I have been multiple times. The seafood is mediocre. The bartenders are terrible. I asked about the alcoholic iced tea. The bartender said "I dunno, I've never made it before!" Really? I went to the bathroom at the end of the night and my friend said that the bartender was concerned I was unable to drive home. I had 3 drinks. Not to sound like a lush, but on a weekend night I usually have 6-7 drinks. I guarantee you I was not drunk after 3. Perhaps lightly buzzed. It was a Wednesday. Are you serious? The whole experience left me disenchanted. I have been to MANY MANY MANY bars in my life and I have been to the Dolphin at least 10 times or more. I am 30 years old and I know how to hold my alcohol. I live 1 town over and PROMISE you I was not drunk after 3 cocktails over a loooooong period of time. The bartender is asking about my sobriety? Seriously? AWFUL experience. A friend of mine told me he was thrown out of the Dolphin for acting "too drunk" months ago---I assumed he had misbehaved and acted like an ass. After this experience (tonight), I believe he probably had done nothing wrong---they are very prude in their judgement of customers. Probably cause they are used to the elderly crowd that fills this place. If you are going to run a bar, you might NOT want to cut off your clients after 3 drinks (in a 3 hour time span). Not exactly good business. I will not go back. Instead I will go to the Chicken Bone, Pepperoncini's, BBC, or ANYWHERE on Rt 9 over this dump. P.S. all old people in the parking lot. I'm trying to park. Get the f out of the way. Addendum: In the bartender's defense, perhaps he is new (that would explain him saying he's never made one of the drinks on the limited drink menu) and being overly cautious. However, I only actually ordered 2 drinks that night. The 3rd was a shot that HE BROUGHT OVER as free samples for me and my 2 friends. If he thought I was too drunk, why did he bring the 3rd drink, which I did not even ask for?? The whole thing was just an odd experience. I might have gone back, but then this morning I got a message on Facebook from a girl named Stacey---one of the bartenders who WASN'T EVEN THERE LAST NIGHT. She read this review, and wasn't happy about it so she sent me a message calling me names and insulting me. Guess she felt the need to stick her nose in, even though she knows nothing about what actually went down. So now I REALLY won't go back. Way to lose a customer!
(2)
Nicole F.
Cannot say enough good things about Dolphin Seafood!! My friend and I went for dinner this past week and had a wonderful time! We were greeted very warmly by the hostess and manager and were quickly seated. Our waiter was amazing and very attentive to our table. We started with the calamari (very good) and I had the salmon and shrimp over caesar salad... salmon and shrimp were both grilled to perfection! Highly recommended! And my friend had the swordfish, which she loved! We finished with the molten lava cake which was a perfect way to end a great meal! I have been to Dolphin Seafood quite a few times and have always been extremely satisfied with the food, service and atmosphere!
(5)
Jessi E.
Came here for a late lunch one day, which ended up being the "early bird" special time. Immediately felt lame. And the sudden urge to buy Gold Bond and a fresh pair of crisp white Rockport Prowalkers. Maybe keep a stash of individually wrapped hard candies in my pockets (like Werther's, or those gross ones with the wrappers that look like a strawberry). I digress. The food was meh. I wouldn't say it was memorable (insert distasteful Alzheimer's joke here), although it wasn't terrible either. The "early bird special" menu did seem very well priced ... and given that a lot of places in Natick Center close around 4 on Sundays, that makes it a LITTLE less shameful. I thought the decor -- blue lights, fire place, glass tiles around the bar -- all had definite potential. Re-name the place something like, the Aqua Lounge, or something hipster - so all the 20 and 30 somethings who have moved out to the 'burbs can feel cool again!
(3)
Ben J.
Ah, the dilemma - About the only bar to which I live within walking distance, but I am not ready to become part of the "I liked Jimmy Buffet when he was young" aging townie crowd. What's a man barreling into his mid-30s to do? Drink at home, I guess. Also, the food? Not so good. Sandy chowder, chewy shrimp. It's not *horrible,* but it's not very good. Especially for the price, which was too high for the quality of the food.
(2)
Sue K.
apparently, dolphin seafood is the place to be and be seen in natick...for the 65+ crowd, that is. as mentioned in other reviews, this place must be a stone's throw from a retirement home because it's always buzzing with old folks. still, if you don't mind eavesdropping on a little dialysis talk here and there....dolphin is a great spot for a seafood lunch. the good thing about a place that's popular with the grannies, is that you can expect certain things from them: affordable prices (lunch specials 'til 4PM and then early bird specials after that!), quick friendly service, and a reliable meal. i've only ordered from their lunch menu, and it's a real deal. for about $8-$13, you get a decent sized piece of fresh fish- prepared almost any way you want, with two sides and a roll. the fish is great quality, fresh and tasty...the roll is hot and the sides are nothing to complain about. there's enough food to fill the bf up and i leave with leftovers. oh! and unless you need that coveted wheelchair spot, there's plenty of parking in the lot.
(4)
Josh F.
Service was slow. Good food.
(2)
Madkat M.
What a bummer. Stopped in for lunch - party of four. Steamer app., good size portion no flavor, too thick, not sweet, served no butter. Took a good 10 minutes or more waiting for butter. Service really slow. Waitress nice, but uninformed. When asking what size difference of steamer app. Vs meal we were told the app. Is smaller. Really?! Duh. Stuffed lobster tail ok. Steak tip ceaser all yellow lettuce. Not one piece of green to be found. Freezing cold. No hostess. Sorry, won't be back.
(1)
Andrew T.
This place is amazing! Dolphin is newly renovated - the dining room is beautiful and tasteful enough to make Dolphin an excellent spot for any celebratory dinner or romantic night out. The bar area is perfect - also newly renovated, it is separate from the dining room but not completely detached, perfect lighting, great decor, excellent place to hang out for a drink and appetizers, etc. The food is amazing, but the prices steal the spotlight. $5.99 appetizers Sunday - Thursday! My girlfriend and I go to Dolphin and typically get oysters, mussels, crab cakes and coconut shrimp, and a couple beers for $30-$35 - you can't beat the prices. The food is delicious - try all of the appetizers. Entrees are fairly priced and just as tasty. I recommend the lobster, steak tips, oysters Rockefeller, mussels, summer breeze sampler, burger and lobster sliders, fish and chips, crab legs, et al. I would stay away from the quesadilla app and the clam strips. The staff and management is always excellent and don't mind menu modification requests. Drinks, such as the Mai Tai ad Cloud 9 are outstanding.
(5)
Harold E.
We picked "Dolphin" restaurant off the internet looking for a seafood house in MetroWest. This seemed promising. We come from Hudson and know good/great places in Boston, NYC, NJ, SF and NO, too. We were delightfully surprised at Dolphin. The quality of the meal for the price was terrific. The seafood was perfectly cooked. The waitress was friendly and efficient, nice people at other tables. Metrowest restaurants can be a terrible experience-poor chowda, haddock and fried clams. Food quality, selection and service is #1for us here. Decor was OK. We will be back with friends to also enjoy with us!
(4)
K M.
I went to Dolphin for the first time last week for lunch. The restaurant is somewhat hidden in a parking lot. I wouldn't think it was a restaurant if I hadn't know the name. The decor was ok, it was more of a casual style. Most importantly, the food was very good and tasty. Perfect pasta! I have to say, it had to be one of the best I've had so far. The price was reasonable and great menu selection. Will definitely return for lunch, dinner and drinks!
(4)
Skip B.
The Bartender was eh, but he was slammed so I'll give him a break. The food was very good. My date and I both had the clam chowder and the swordfish sandwich both were very good and I would recommend both. This was the first time I had been there, they have a nice bar area and the prices are more reasonable then other Seafood found out on the Strip. I will definitely be back.
(3)
Melissa M.
Lobster a la Natick is absolutely delicious! Also try to Svedka around the world cocktail, tastes like the pink Flavor Ice. Waitress was very nice and helpful. Even my dad, who doesn't like seafood, was very happy with the Chicken Parm. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Leighann F.
Observe, ladies and gentlemen: the Natick townie bar scene! A restaurant bathed in decor that was fashioned straight out of Home&Garden, March 1984, complete with cheap alcohol, nightly specials and mid-forties singles women at the bar drinking their Amstel lights out of pint glasses. Seriously, this is the only place serving any kind of alcohol after 9pm "in town" in Natick. I could be wrong, but this is the only one we found. We stayed for one drink, waiting for our ride back to Cambridge, spent next to nothing for them and had pleasant conversation with the bartender. Our visit has nothing to do food, just a quick place to grab a drink and pass the time. It did the trick, if not reminding me of dinner in Atlantic City, NJ circa the Reagan Administration.
(3)
Steve R.
Went here the other night for dinner, it was very good. Much cheaper than Legal Seafood and the quality is just as good if not better. Not the perfect restaurant, yet I would have no problem returning. I had the grilled salmon and it was cooked perfectly.
(4)
Dave A.
Wonderful spinach and shrimp dip, I had the Seafood Diablo (very good), and my wife was raving about the Lobster a la Natick days later. Reasonably priced with a fun atmosphere. We will be going again!
(5)
Deborah S.
I would not go to this restaturant. I went with my family and treated horribly. We were there at 6 and did not eat until 8:00. The food was so so and the when we were suppose to get desert the waiter never came and only asked one person for desert. I complained to the manager only to make me feel bad about complaining. I will never go there again!
(1)
Charles C.
Service was fast and the portions were perfect. Seafood was very fresh. Waitress was very attentive.
(5)
Xin S.
We came with a Groupon and had a fantastic meal. Our Groupon included 2 chowders, 1 shrimp cocktail, and 2 lobsters with 2 sides. We got the seafood chowder and clam chowder, both were delicious. The shrimp cocktail was a standout: 4 gigantic shrimp (perfect texture!) with very horseradish-y cocktail sauce--pure yum. We got salads and cole slaw as our sides. The lobster was fresh and meaty, perfect with the drawn butter. We enjoyed all the food very much. The timing of the food coming out was a bit strange, the soups, shrimp cocktail and salad came out quite fast then there was a long wait for the lobster. Not that big of a deal, as service besides that was wonderful. The decor of this place is beautiful too!
(4)
Tim J.
Appetizers in the bar area are pretty good and reasonably priced, especially for seafood. Good local beers on tap. Dinners are mediocre and service can be slow at times. Would recommend for drinks and appetizers, can probably do better for a sit-down meal.
(3)
Shan H.
"Meh" is a fitting phrase for this place. The waiter was friendly, our appetizer (calamari) was not flavorful and a bit overcooked (read: chewy calamari). I got the mussels provencal, which decent ... they could have had more flavor, but I love mussels so the dish was okay to me. My boyfriend got the paella (sp?) which was mediocre at best. We likely won't be going back for another meal here, although we did enjoy the atmosphere and the family-run feel of this restaurant.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Ela L.
Aaaaamazing! Spicy wonton are to die for!!!! Sausage Incredible and good beef broth They are very proffessional and polite Big smile. ..good food big 10****
(5)Darryl R.
First let me explain by saying that my wife and I have frequently have eaten at the Dolpin seafood in Natick for many years we have had large group small group reaservations, and have never had a problem orcmplaint about food or service. It saddens me to have to post this poor review that my ftriends and I experienced on Monday April 27 which was my Birthday. My wife made reservations for a party of 5, after the waitress took our drink orders which consisted of mostly wine. It took about 20 minutes for her to come back with. we finally placed food order which actually took almost an hour before the entrees came out.. Surprisingly everyones food was cold. After being frustrated with the level of customer service from the waitress and the apologizies about the cold food I decide to speak with the manager Serge. I explained our disappointment and disatisfaction of the the time that it took for the drinks but everyone's meal was cold, his response was I can offer you a 50 percent discount on the food. That was unacceptable. The manager then spoke with the owner and came back to our table and told us that if we were not satisfied with our food that he would take all the food back( to only throw it away) and take the food off the bill. that was slap in the face I have never experienced this type of service from any restaurant t I am so disappointed with the dolphin and never plan to return to this establishment I did try to reach out to the owner Ted who has yet to return my phone call. All I can say is enter at your own risk this place has changed so much.
(2)Martha G.
When this place first opened up about 10-15 years ago it was good. I've gone there for lunch 3 times in the last 5 weeks and been disappointed. This last time the service was terrible. Our waiter, Luis, was abrupt and definitely not interested in how we were enjoying our meal. The swordfish kebab was over-cooked. The lettuce in the salad it was over was brown. But he didn't want to hear any of what we had to say. Then we decided to approach the manager who essentially had the same attitude. (Fish rots from the head down so they say.) Get a new manager in other words. Because if the manager has that attitude, you'll be out of business! We won't be going there again. Too bad because it once was a great place.
(2)Bob E.
We have been regulars for many years. Food is good and a good value, but service is very chancy. They seem to have a high turn over rate of staff. After our last encounter we are writing this place off.
(2)Travis P.
Everything here I would call mediocre; however, they have a good deal some of the time where they give you 2, 1 1/4 lobsters for 22 dollars.
(2)Chris A.
Ruined my Father's Day 1. My chicken parmesan was tasteless. 2. My friend specifically ordered his broccoli to be overcooked. (He has a sore gum). They undercooked the broccoli. He also asked that they leave the skin on the salmon. They didn't 2. My other friend said her scallops were "like rubber" 3. My nephew said "my food is just OK. I think it needs salt" 4. My Dad (the most important person on Father's Day) said the "food needed salt" My Dad NEVER complains. For him to say that the food needs to be salted tells me that the food was bad. I tasted it. It was bad. In addition his lemonade was 95% water. When I complained about my Chicken parmesan to the Manager she claimed it was a fish restaurant. Well why was chicken parm on the menu then ? I tried to complain about the other issues. The woman manager just kept talking over me. Needless to say when my mother was alive Her, my Dad, my Nephew and myself were regulars there. The cooks-the food was much better. It ruined my Father's Day. None of us will ever go back !!
(1)Beverly S.
I came here for lunch with my husband. We both ordered soft shell crabs. He had a soft shell crab sandwich. I ordered 2 soft shell crab appetizers (one sauteed and one fried) with a side of broccoli. The crabs were fresh but very bland. My crabs came on piece of non edible lettuce (a garnish?) The broccoli wasn't fresh so I sent it back. The waiter did replace it with fresh broccoli at my request. It's too bad the food doesn't measure up to the pretty atmosphere, but who cares about atmosphere when the food is mediocre at best. If your expectations are very low, consider eating here. If you are looking for good food, go elsewhere!
(2)Nancy R.
From the moment you walk in you are greeted by friendly people and a beautiful atmosphere and decor. The food was amazing! The sole Al la Pedro was absolutely wonderful. Our waiter, Alexander was charming and recommended our dishes.
(5)Susan R.
Went on a thurs night was not super busy but the parking lot was packed so we had to street park. They had a tuna special but refused to split a portion for app instead of dinner which was annoying so we had mussels in wine which were good. We both had the lobster Natick Lobster was over cooked and bland. Rest of the dish was good. Our waiter was not awesome and seemed either new or clueless. Was just ok not really impressed
(2)Katherine M.
I have been eating at the Dolphin for years. I am within walking distance and would really make this my go-to place every week - however.... The menu, if not actually 30 years old, certainly appears that way - despite their beautiful renovation, this is your Grandma's seafood restaurant. On top of that, what they do serve is so bland and tasteless it hardly ever fails to disappoint. I finally mustered up the courage to share my thoughts with the barman and the manager Serge. Trying to "cater to their older clientele" and to "keep down costs" were among the excuses provided for not trying harder. I was queried for ideas, which I provided, but I'm not sure that that's the customers job - don't they have a chef? Look, I am writing this because I really want Dolphin to be successful. I am worried that they have rested on their laurels and the fact that they don't have any competition in downtown Natick. That is about to change however and with the building of new apartment buildings and luxury condos going up all around them, they are in jeopardy of losing out. PLEASE Dolphin! Please be better! Update your menu, make it tasty and interesting, offer a fun drink menu that includes other alcohols beside vodka, add a small plates menu, etc etc! I want you to be my regular go-to place and so will all those young folks moving in!
(2)Katie P.
My boyfriend and I stopped in for lunch last Sunday. I had a cup of calm chowder. I really loved it! I did stumble across one small shrimp in it and thought that was odd. He got the bisque, also very good. We split the stuffed mushroom appetizer; phenomenal! For entree's he had the seafood marsala & I had fried scallops. Honestly, everything was simply amazing. The marsala was a light wine flavor Which was perfect for the seafood. My only negative would be the ratio of relish to mayo in the tartar sauce .... but, seriously that is reaching for a negative. The server was attentive, nice and accommodating :)The Manager was polite and engaged with guests. I will be back :)
(5)Reid F.
Having been there a bunch of times (but probably no more), I now describe Dolphin as having relentlessly mediocre food and consistently sub-par service. Tonight's example was that after having two appetizers, we were told that in order to split a $35-dollar lobster meal, we would have to pay a $7 charge for plate-splitting. It was only after we cancelled the order that they relented. The baked stuffed lobster was (surprise!) mediocre.
(2)Matthew T.
Good food and nice place to meet friends or family. Easy parking. It's not Legal's but it's good and worth the trip.
(5)M Q.
If you want decent seafood, DO NOT step foot in here. I cannot not believe the quality is so BAD given it is within 30 min drive from Boston. Good seafood is almost an expectation given where we are but this place might as well be in the middle of Ohio. Anyway, here are the specifics: 4 of us came here for lunch. I ordered the halibut. First, the piece of fish tasted like it came out of deep freeze and thawed in a bucket water.... I almost though they gave me a cheap piece of white fleshed fish instead of halibut because there was no freshness to the taste. This piece of protein belongs to the cat food category. For close to $15 (lunch hour), you should be able to land some good food. So don't waste it here. Next is the service. To make things easy, each pair of us ordered the exact same fish and sides. So there's really only 2 distinct orders to deal with. Yet, none of us got what we ordered. Really!!! There are only 4 tables and they can't get this right. Come on!! I think the only decent part of this lunch was the salad. Please take my word, DO NOT COME HERE if you want good seafood.
(1)Lisa G.
Been here several times there food I always fresh and delicious
(3)Skye G.
Seafood sampler - 2 cherry stones, 2 oysters, 2 shrimp was a nice assortment. I added a fried whole clam dinner with baked potato and side of broc. I like to come here when you want a quiet relaxing meal with good conversation since it is easy to talk in the dining room. There are places where I love the food but find myself screaming over the crowd. The decor is whimsical, charming and trendy. The waiter was right on with service. The parking lot is free and there are meters on the street if it gets busy.
(4)Marj B.
I went for the first time about two weeks ago. Never would have found it if a friend who lives in Natick wasn't driving. With that said - THE FOOD IS AWESOME! Probably THE best Oysters Rockafeller I've ever had - fat juicy oysters smothered in a creamy cheesy sauce with the spinach laying just beneath! Mmmmmmm. The grilled swordfish was very good ...nice size good grilled flavor....a friend had fried seafood platter and said wow I got more fish than fries and he did! Another friend got the casserole with the lobster tail - SOOOO MUCH food for the price - and it was really good but I thought the lobster was a little tough and chewy - scallops and shrimp were awesome. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also very nice modern, cool, upscale without being stuffy. If you like seafood just go here - all four of us at my table agreed it was much better than Legals or any place else we've been in a long time!
(5)Stephanie S.
A couple of weeks ago my boyfriend and I came in here to try the place out and we definitely want to come back. I ordered their broiled scallops (yum!) with salad and a baked potato. My salad came out nice and fast, and our waitress, Marine (cool name) was awesome. She was super attentive, kept coming over to get us new drinks, and checked on us just enough. The food was good, but the service was amazing. I'm sure we'll be back soon!
(5)Liliana G.
The bartender was condescending and unpleasant. We decided not to get food and might not in near future. He did apologize in the end but that didn't revive my appetite.
(2)Joe C.
This restaurant does not, in my opinion, deserve some of the terrible ratings it has received lately. So, I'd like to balance out the reviews with my assessment of this place. Recently visited with my wife and son on a Sunday afternoon. First the pluses: 1) The menu offers good selection for different tastes. On this particular day I was feeling for seafood, but my son isn't a big fan of seafood. So after reviewing menus for places like Legal Seafood and other restaurants, Dolphin had the most options, including steak tips and a few chicken dishes. 2) There is plenty of parking in the lot, and the restaurant is very clean. 3) Also, they have a very nice "early bird" menu - even on Sundays which is not typically found in most restaurants. Now the minuses: 1) My wife and I ordered the same dish "broiled schrod", but received them cooked 2 different ways (even though we ordered them the same). But we decided to taste each other's dish and compare the two. Bottom line - the version that came with a cracker topping was very moist, the version that didn't was dry. My son said his Chicken Marsala was 50/50 - chicken was very good, pasta was overcooked. They also served warm bread, which was very good and a big hit with my wife and son. 2) The waitress was very pleasant and friendly, but did not come around often enough. This seems to be a consistent theme among reviewers. In the end, we had pretty good (not great) meals, generous portions, for a good price. The total for our 3 meals, including 2 glasses of wine, was around $55. Probably $25 less than a similar meal at Legal. So overall - i give it 3 stars.
(3)Barbara J.
I ordered the filet of sole stuffed with seafood stuffing and wished I just got plain fish. The fish was very thin and overstuffed with breading with an overly rich sauce. I felt like my body was inflating as I ate. Way too rich but there was no way of knowing until it came to the table. I think its a good idea to ask for a full description before placing the order. We stayed for karaoke, and it was a nice crowd.
(3)IntricateWeeski O.
A nice evening out as ruined....Our waiter wasn't terrible but was no where to be found for long periods of time. Now to the food: we had steamed mussels Provençal, Seafood a la Dolphin and the Seafood Casserole. The dishes looked nice and tasted fine but we both got FOOD POISONING. To let the restaurant know so that they may check their food before serving to others, we called the restaurant and spoke with a manager. The manager didn't listen and said that he doesn't know what happened to it since no one else complained about getting sick. This was handled extremely unprofessionally by the manager. I will never trust their quality of food and preparation and definitely do not recommend this restaurant to others. If you're passing through this area, pass by this place and head to a better restaurant.
(1)Kenny Y.
First time here, It was firday and its kind of busy. We order the clam chowder steam mussle, lobster clam bake and swordfish. The mussle and grill. Sword fish was okay. But the lobster and clam bake were below average. The lobster was way over cooked. Toughtest lobster I ever eaten. Yuck. The clams were really big but not very fresh. The only good thing we had was the clam chowder. The service is slow. 2.5 star
(2)Janelle M.
I was staying in Natick for work and am mostly a pescatarian. And, when you think Boston you think seafood (or beans I guess). I didn't want the standard Boston area Legal Seafood because it feels so much like the big huge chain it is (and the servers never know anything about the fish) so The Dolphin was recommended by the hotel (local, downtown Natick, etc). Upon arrival, I was not impressed as they do not have a hostess on Monday nights. It was a little unclear what to do to get a seat. Someone helped me after a few minutes and told me that it was everyone's job to help out "when they noticed someone standing there." Owners/management - that is just not a good plan even if it is just a few minutes. It just doesn't put the diner in the right frame of mind. There is a lively bar (lively even on a Monday). I sat in a booth in a large open room. The restaurant was less than half full and it was pretty noisy. I would be very concerned about noise if it were completely full. Yet, since I was alone, this centrally located booth was the perfect spot for observing and listening and writing this review. The menu is extensive and offers plenty of choices for seafood lovers (cooked all ways). There are also some choices for the meat lover in your group. I am pretty picky about fish so I asked if the salmon was wild or farm-raised. The server knew it was farm-raised but he did not know the source or if it was responsibly farm-raised. This is another point of feedback for management. Increasingly, diners are going to ask you this information and your servers should know the source of your products. In fact, the next table he served....he told them about the salmon special (with Wasabi) and they asked the exact same question. I asked the server what the most local fish was and he informed me it was bluefish. He then went on to make it sound pretty unattractive telling me it was dark and very fishy and that some people liked it and many people didn't. I will never know since, with that description, I passed. But I really did appreciate his honesty. I chose the salmon on "greek salad." The portion was huge, likely 8 ounces of salmon or more. It was good but had clearly been cooked in some oil when I had asked for none. Salmon is generally oily enough on its own. The salad was decent - lettuce, onion, shredded carrots and olives. Not really "greek" but pretty good. There was none of the feta cheese described on the menu but I didn't really want it anyway. The prices are what I would expect given the quality - $15 for the salad I described. One other thing....I was alone which I guess is a restaurant's nightmare because I just there, read my paper and observed. The waiter's stand was right in front of me and boy did I get an earful. This is something I would have never noticed had I not been dining alone. All in all, the service was OK (although the server kept calling me "miss" in an irritating way even though I am a 'mature' woman and was very slow at the end), the atmosphere was OK and the food was OK. Oh....and the wine was.......OK. Would I come back or recommend the place to friends......no.
(2)Chris M.
This establishmemt comtimues to amaze my palate, even since moved to natck i 1995. The scallops are sweet and tender, the seafood pasta with white sauce was amazing!
(3)Amanda C.
Great food, seafood and more. Can't beat the $6.50 apps at the bar with a Rogue beer!
(5)Candice B.
Just spent my Groupon on the "Lobster dining experience" for 4. I paid $60 for it, and it supposedly comes with four 1.25 lb lobster and 2 orders of shrimp cocktail. I have been a lifelong Natick resident before I moved in October and Dolphin is sort of like an underdog restaurant. Competitions such as Legal's and SkipJack's on Rt. 9 diverted much attention from this little place in downtown Natick. I have not gone to Dolphin's since probably freshman year of college so it was a looooong time. Upon walking into Dolphin's, I have noticed that the restaurant has shrunk. What used to be the bar area is now an "In Shape for Women". The hostess stand is deserted, and what used to be a front foyer dining room is now a catering office for a different restaurant. Instead of being greeted by the host/hostesses right when we walk into the door, we now have to walk all the way down the ramp, to a non-existent hostess stand. We were seated right away the service was so-so. Besides the 4 lobsters and shrimp cocktails, we also ordered clam chowders, fried oysters and seafood platter. The waiter made a comment about "I'll be surprised if you guys can finish this". It wasn't offensive, but it was weird in a way, like, I would never say that to a customer. Anyway, the fried oysters were kind of tasteless, the fried seafood platter was bland. Clam chowders were a little too watery for my taste (I like them thick and creamy). The lobsters were tiny, I guess they would qualify as "chicken lobsters". When the bill came, it was the most confusing thing I have ever seen. I don't really care about the mechanics of how the Groupon works in their computer system, but I just think that the Groupon wasn't much of a deal. I paid $60 for their groupon. The 1.25 lb twin lobster dinner was $25.99. Shrimp cocktail was $8.99. So, with 4 lobsters ($25.99 x 2 = $51.98) and 2 shrimp cocktail $17.98, we really only saved $9.96. The saving wasn't significant like other restaurant Groupons that I have gotten that are 50% off. I am surprised that Dolphin's is still around, given the lack of crowds (besides old folks) dining there. It was a nothing special dining experience for me and my family, will probably be another 10 years before I will come back here again "for old times sake" (if they are still around).
(2)Fabrice L.
Stopped by on my way to Boston the next day. Warm and friendly services. Good choices on the menu. We were served rapidly after placing our orders. The broiled seafood platter was cooked to perfection, the squids had good seasoning. Overall, a very enjoyable evening in a family-type atmosphere.
(4)Lee H.
I'm afraid that our last few visits to Dolphin were not as good as earlier ones. The restaurant has tried to reinvent itself as a somewhat more upscale place. The decor is less drab, but the food is bland, overpriced, and somewhat overcooked. Too bad. It's close to where we live, and we'd be there all the time. It's still OK, but now it's just average. What a shame.
(3)Steve G.
Very good fisherman's platter. Tartar could be more flavorful. Clam Chowder was ok.
(4)Steve P.
Previous visits: 5 stars Current visit: 1 star Overall: 2 stars. Update Jan. 12, 2014: My kids ate here again for another birthday and had a very similar experience to the one described below. Lobster was tough and not very good. Unfortunately it appears the Dolphin's quality problem is a trend, not just a one-time unfortunate experience. We've come to the Dolphin for special occasions in years past. It was always great, so we went again yesterday as a Christmas present to our extended family. This time we were very disappointed. The restaurant was only moderately full, but the food took probably 45-60 minutes to arrive. When it finally came, the 3 lobster dinners were the toughest we'd ever had (and between us, we've eaten a lot of lobster in our lives). The claws were salvageable, but the tails were just plain bad. The other 6 dinners, all seafood, were fine. We concluded the lobsters were cooked as soon as we placed our order, then put under a heat lamp for the next half hour or more, where they continued to cook. And cook. And cook. They ended up like hard rubber. We've come to expect a decently trained wait staff at the Dolphin, but our waitress was not at all well trained. She occasionally kept us watered, but never acknowledged the long wait - no apology, no offer to check on our food for us, nothing. After our food finally came, she never checked on us or asked how the food was. We politely but honestly told her the condition of the lobster. She apologized once but that was the end of it. No expression of concern or even surprise, no explanation of what had happened, no offer to take it back or even to mention it to the kitchen. My parents ordered coffee after she had already brought us the bill. With 3 bad lobsters and a significant bill from a party of 9, you might think she'd let it slide. Nope. She picked up the bill off the table and brought back a new one with the coffees added to it. We've had enough good experiences at the Dolphin that we'll probably give them another chance at some point. But with problems in both the kitchen and on the floor, their quality is not what it used to be.
(2)Richard F.
Yesterday,My brother ,myself,and my niece and nephew took our Mom our for lunch for Christmas.Our server was terrific,missed catching her name.She said she had started working their about four months ago. I had the seafood alfredo which was excellent.Mom had the salmon,and she was pleased,My niece had the chicken fingers .My brother and my nephew had the so called lazy man lobster.No complaints on the way the lobster was cooked. Now the complaint.The dolphin advertises that they use a pound and a quarter lobster.We were told that it looks small on the plate because the meat came out of the shell.I was brought up with shellfish.Living in Boston and Cape Cod I have been around shellfish for over fifty years. I know what a pound and a quarter lobster looks like after it has been shelled.I am angered and insulted that the Dolphin would think I was that stupid and naive to believe they used a pound and a quarter lobster.The lobster tail was the size of my thumb the so called claw was ....well you know that phrase looking for a needle in a haystack?????. To think that the dolphin restaurant blatantly false advertises(lies)about their lobster is think that the public is dumb enough to believe it, is pathetic. So go to the Dolphin the with the exception of their idea of a pound and a quarter lobster the food (what i had) is good If you order the lazy man lobster either Find Sherlock Holmes and borrow his magnifying glass or request to see the lobster before it is cooked.BUYER BEWARE!!
(2)Laurene I.
Went there with my husband because I can walk there. I usually go to the bar and get served by Jon (who I like a lot). I always get the swordfish kebab salad (which is usually fairly decent). I only go there because it is local. I have had too many bad experiences to not finally review. I probably won't go back after this experience. Tonight we sat in the restaurant. The service was terrible and the food was even worse. I ordered the Lobster Casserole. It was heavy and greasy and the lobster was totally overcooked. My husband ordered the Fish and Chips which was bland and totally tasteless. How can you own a seafood restaurant and serve bad Fish and Chips? Well, the Dolphin figured out how to do that. The waitress was inattentive! She forgot my salad until the food was delivered, our water glasses sat empty (and we were drinking water). She disappeared for long periods and was nowhere to be found. We were her ONLY table. What the heck? It was over $50 for 2 meals and one appetizer. Not worth 1/2 that if you ask me. Sorry Dolphin...never again!
(1)Mai R.
Had the lobster feast and enjoyed it! Also they have very creative drinks! The ambiance was great too. My husband and I enjoyed our dinner.
(4)Randall H.
I love food. You can't eat food in a restaurant without service staff and unfortunately I have a love/hate relationship with that aspect of eating. Tonight at "the dolphin" of 12 Washington Street in Natick, MA the hate side of my relationship with the service side of dining out came into full effect and ruined my last supper (see kidnapping/organ harvest statistics for Mexico) with my parents and grandmother. I fly out tomorrow to Mexico for an extended stay trip and my grandmother had asked if we could meet at "this nice seafood place in downtown Natick" before I leave since I'm at high risk of being kidnapped and/or having my organs harvested. Some say that I have too high standards, am too honest, and sometimes am a blunt a*shole HOWEVER I feel like I know what I like and in circumstances where you pay for a service, I'm entitled to legitimate service. The Dolphin, like a young lad with his first girlfriend and a few coors lights, peaked too soon. Reserving a table was seamless and we lucked out by scoring a parking space very close to the entrance. Upon entering the restaurant I was impressed by it's modern aesthetic and the enthusiastic hosts who took me and my parents to the table as we awaited my grandmother's arrival. Our waitress was pleasant however we had to ask her, after 3 times at our table, what the specials of the evening were. I got my plate of lemons for the iced water I was to consume since my present family did/does not consume alcohol and then ordered a bowl of clam chowder. All well and the conversation is great, could this be the preamble to a good review? Fu*k No. I'm dining with three of the most important people in my life: My parents (who birthed me) and my grandmother (who instilled consciousness of fashion at a young age) and when our entrees were served they had fu*ked up both of my parent's dishes. This meal was all planned around coming in, dining, and running out quick to catch a show, which is why I made the reservation at this no name place anyway just to assure sh*t didn't hit the fan. Sure enough, my father's scallops were "garlic butter" not "Cajun style" and my mother who had ordered the garlic butter drizzle on her swordfish had received a dry flavorless piece of meat. Trying to stay calm I went to the host and asked to speak with the manager...since our fat waitress was no where to be found. The joke of a manager, in broken English asks me what the problem was. I told him that we'd waited quite a while for our food, this was an important dinner for me, and that they fu*ked up two entrees for my parents. Then I told him to come to my table and showed him his kitchen's fu*k up as the rest of the diners gazed over. Dumbfounded by my distraught reaction he asked if my parents would like their dishes remade properly. Do you really need to ask? You are managing an establishment that cannot serve what it's guests are ordering... Yes, fix the fu*king problem don't wait for your customers (remember the people who are catalysts to your income) to ask you to do it. He takes my parents incorrect meals away as our waitress returns to the dining room, as she was wiping semen from her face (She had to be giving out blow jobs to still have her job since she apparently doesn't know how to check her fu*kin meals for accuracy before serving them) I just gave her a look of disgust and threw up in her eyes. In an attempt to conquer my starvation, I started eating my Mahi Mahi which came with zucchini and summer squash. I had to choke the food down so my parents didn't hate me for calling the manager over again to ask him if he'd just served me rotten rat intestines and this soggy sh*t they claim to be an edible side of veggies. They served the fish on a romaine lettuce leaf...wow, really classy bro what'd you learn that in your online culinary class? The flavorless meat would have been better alone with a garnish housing something bold with flavor and then the overcooked veggies??? I mean overcooking vegetables is beyond amateur it's downright disrespectful to the culinary gods and I cannot fathom how anyone let that leave the kitchen. The waitress comes over (probably after blowing the manager for the second time) and tells my parents that the manager is going to comp them 2 desserts. I kept my mouth shut, there's only so much "the son" can do before flipping tables. My parents got their food, no one got dessert, and they ended up taking $20 off the bill. I tried three of the four meals that our table had ordered and I'm sure you could find some decent food there but I can guarantee you there are better places in Natick to spend your money rather than this wanna be restaurant. Please don't go to this sh*t hole... It looks really nice but like that chick from the corner who's got pretty eyes, looks don't matter when you wake up with crabs.
(1)Linda W.
Had lunch here for the first time. Service was good, it was lunch time and not many people in the restaurant. I ordered the haddock broiled with garlic butter. The salad was small not much to it few greens and carrots with some other mixed greens. Main dish was the haddock which was very moist, looked as if it was partially cooked. Couple of pieces of squash and broccoli for the side, very small portion. I had a few bites of the haddock but since it looked uncooked I did not eat anymore. When we were done the waitress asked how everything was and I told her about the fish. Her reply was " well it's either hit or miss you know with fish". So I paid and left. Would not go back.
(2)Kim Hong L.
From my prospective, I didn't think the food was all that great. Everything we had ordered came out either burnt or under cooked. What got me really frustrated with this restaurant was how horrible and rude the waiters and waitress were! As we were walking in, the host looked right at us, but then decided to ignored us for awhile until we had to say something. It took them awhile to took our orders, but even so they had forgot most likely everything we ordered. We had to constantly reminded them at least twice, but of course they all replied with such rudeness and bad attitude. It's ridiculous how long it took them to seat us, take our orders, bring out our drinks BUT so quick to grab their tips! Never ever will I come here again.
(1)Warren S.
Staff was excellent. Food not so much... Maybe just an off day but I couldn't eat the seafood stir fry. Some of it tasted as if it had gone bad. Other then that most of the staff was very hands on. One even went out and put money in the meter for me.
(1)Alexandra D.
This place is really just ok. I've been coming here for years but mostly for lack of better places close by. Tonight the service was extra bad. There was no room in the bar so we had no problem with sitting in the dining room, (we were in good company). The waitress took a while to come over and when she finally did she dropped off bread, but did not take our drink order. We waited another 10-15 mins and she came and took our drink order and we got a couple apps. I asked for raw oysters and a cup if chowder. 10 mins later she came back over to tell me that there were only one kind of oysters left did I just want those instead of a mixture. Yes! Fine now I have to wait for her to put that order in. Another 20 mins later she brings the food. The oysters were warm and there was a skin over my clam chowder. Whatever I was hungry and ate it. Eventually we wanted another drink but ended up passing on it because she took so long to come back over (we actually asked the bus boy to get her). It was all kind of a bummer because it was so slow and quiet in the dining room so there was no reason for it! (Unless that waitress was doing the entire bar or something too!) I gave 3 stars because I have had other good experiences there, and the bar atmosphere is nice. I have also had much better service there on other occasions. But the food itself is always very mediocre. Good for just getting a couple cocktails though!
(3)Eamon M.
They totally misrepresented on the Groupon we bought recently. We were all supposed to get 1 1/4 pound lobsters but if they were 3/4 pound that would be generous. I didn't know lobsters grew that small. Also, how long does it take to boil a lobster and melt some butter? 5 minutes, 10? Then why did we wait a good 40 minutes between our soup and the lobster? I've been there before and never really been impressed with either the food or the service but this experience has been my last. Not that I am a fan of Legal Seafood but if you are in Metrowest go there instead. Next year we will have to find some other place for our traditional Hanukkah Lobster.
(1)Jeannette L.
I've been here once before it was renovated and it was certainly the place for the oldies. Didnt remember what I ate there, so I guess it is not memorable. After the renovation though, I think they are getting more younger looking crowd, I want to say mid 30s? Although, the older townies are still there. =) The drinks are good, the service is decent, but the food is hit or miss. The calamari is kind of chewy and not fresh. But I remember getting their seafood pasta and I enjoyed that. it is in pretty good location in Natick commons and it is close to my home, so cant complain.
(4)Amy E.
Sunday night Stump Trivia was fun. They have a good selection of craft beers and very reasonable prices. The pulled pork sliders went down easy. We were surprised at the low numbers on the bill after two hours of trivia fun - we will be back!
(4)Danielle K.
I don' t know why all the bad reviews for this place! I think they have great seafood for reasonable prices! Its right near to where I work so I come here sometimes for lunch or other work functions with co-workers and I have YET to be disappointed! Their Seafood Marsala is my absolute favorite thing on the menu (and probably on the list of one of my favorite foods in general) and its consistantly wonderful and I HIGHLY recommend it. The rolls they serve are hot and fresh out of the oven and the seafood is cooked just right. I've never heard any complaints from anyone that has been here with me so I don't know the fuss from everyone! I just went there today in fact and got the Seafood Marsala again... $9.99 for a HUGE lunch portion that I ate half of and will be eating the other half for lunch tomorrow :) YAY FOR THE DOLPHIN!
(5)Byron M.
This is the sister restaurant to Dolphin Seafood in Cambridge. Like their other restaurant in Cambridge, this restaurant offers excellent seafood at reasonable prices. Tip: Great deals during lunch. If you are near Natick during lunch, you may want to stop by for a bite. This place is a bit more upscale than their other restaurant, but prices remain to be reasonable for seafood.
(4)C S.
It was fantastic. We went on a Groupon, and were not really expecting it to be this good. Our experience with Groupns have been so-so, but not here.
(5)Doug M.
I've never had a bad experience at the Dolphin. The decor is average, but the food is very good. The fried clams have improved and are now some of the best in the area - no question. I recently had the fisherman's platter and it was excellent. When my son came home for winter break - one of his first requests was for Lobster ala Natick. It's a winner ever time. I highly recommend the Dolphin.
(4)Blake M.
good seafood; good prices.
(4)Paul G.
Dolphin serves fresh, delicious seafood from a large and varied menu. Its prices are somewhat below those of Legal Seafoods a few miles up the road, but the quality is equivalent, in my experience. The bar is well stocked and the selection of specialty drinks substantial. They make a good, full martini. Waitstaff has always been attentive. Decor is a little tacky, despite a makeover a few years ago. Excellent lunchtime value.
(4)Allison L.
What kinda restaurant again?? They even don't know how to cook tuna.... hello??!!!! You may wanna give a try if you have 5 hours for dinner!!!
(1)Heather O.
My mother, who was also dining with me at the Dolphin on the evening that inspired my review, wanted me to emphasis just how horrible our evening was. It totally s*cked. I had a headache when I walked out of the place and I felt hungover the next morning even though I wasn't drinking alcohol the night before. Mom also pointed out to me that it appears as if I am insulting chain restaurants in my review. I am not - I am a huge fan of the chain restaurant. In fact while having dinner at the Dolphin I said TWICE that this would never happen to me at Outback. Mmm... Outback.
(1)S. R.
My husband and I went here for lunch on a Sunday and we were probably the only people in the place who couldn't spin yarns about the Great Depression, or possibly the Alamo. There was a nursing home event going on in the lounge and an elderly man at the bar fighting with the manager. We expected a different vibe, but I love an early bird special as much as anybody else so we were prepared to give the food a chance. I was so excited by the variety of fish on the menu. I ordered the bluefish. Sorry, we never have any bluefish. Okay (I kind of expected that, nobody serves bluefish). How about the flounder? Nope, no flounder. I was assured they had all of the usual favorites. Great, all the fish I cook at home. I ended up with SCROD. Probably the same fish used in fish sticks. It was okay, but it's rather hard to screw up broiled fish unless you completely burn it. It came with a very small side of vegetables. My husband hates seafood so he ordered some chicken and pasta dish. He said it was okay. On the plus side, the seafood chowder was very good. Rarely have a ever seen shrimp in a chowder. Usually they just use cheap fish... like SCROD! Service was okay. Small requests for ketchup or drink refills were forgotten in the sea of special requests made by more senior patrons. Until that day I had never heard of anyone requesting a wedge of orange with their drink. Can you do that? Would I go here again? Probably not. Our meal was decent, but pricey for what it was. I think $45 was too much for a lunch with no desserts, no alcoholic drinks and just 1 cup of seafood chowder for an appetizer.
(2)Andrew C.
I know plenty of people who are younger than 50 in Natick but I sure rarely see them at the Dolphin. It must be a tradition or the decor because the food is pretty standard seafood, and as that it is pretty good. My wife likes the calamari salad and I usually go with some kind of white fish. Be aware that some of the broiled seafood comes with too heavy a crumb topping. They have a lobster bake with the usual sides and a twin lobster special as well and to me lobster is lobster unless your sitting next to the ocean eating it. Their clam chowder is pretty good as well. I wouldn't drive out of my way to hit the Dolphin but if you are in town and just want good seafood I'd go. If you want a romantic ambiance, look elsewhere. (Probably also good for a bigger group of people because they have some pretty big tables as well and you can make your own ambiance with a big group)
(3)C. J.
I've been here for dinner a total of three times and left with the same impression each time. Not much to say about this place except that I found that the quality of the seafood is just not great. With so many other great seafood restaurants in this area, my recommendation would be to skip this one.
(2)Jamie S.
Great bar! Stacey is tied for best bartender in the metrowest (with Dr. Fitz at Stone's Public House in Ashland...) Food was solid. Good big piece of fish for my dinner entree. However, stay away from the oysters. I ordered a half-dozen and had to send them back because they were too warm. Ouch. Hoping I just hit them on a bad day for oysters. Anyway, it's within stumbling distance of my childhood home, so next time the Mrs. and I need a cocktail before or after a visit to my parents, to the DOLPHIN WE SHALL GO!!!
(4)Andrea G.
Have eaten here in the past, maybe a year ago. Things look better inside but the service is seriously lacking. I cannot speak for all the waitresses, but ours and several other servers weren't very attentive. In an establishment like this that caters to a generally older clientele, this shouldn't be an issue. The food itself is just ok. Honestly will not be coming back anytime soon. Pained me to give our server even 15%. Ugh
(2)Megan M.
This place it's pretty terrible as far as seafood restaurants go. I went with my entire family and no one enjoyed their meals. The food was very poor quality and the service mediocre at best. It was like we were at a Red Lobster type chain restaurant. Poor excuse for a seafood restaurant in New England.
(1)Amber J.
One of my favorite restaurants! Go there usually once a week. Love the salmon and swordfish. Also the stuffed sole is delicious, if your willing to eat the calories. Stuffed lobster is also pretty good!
(5)Keith H.
I will start by saying generally speaking we have had decent food and service from the Dolphin in the past, that is the reason for two stars. Yesterday we ordered take out from the website menu the following: *Crab Combination Salad......................................16.55 Two pan -seared homemade crab cakes with grilled jumbo shrimp and scallops served over garden salad We asked what was in the salad due to food allergies, mesclun, so we asked if they could change it to iceberg or romaine lettuce, the answer we got was no problem, I'm glad we checked when we picked up our order, both salads were MESCLUN. We also asked for Blue Cheese Dressing, but we received creamy parmesan or ranch. According to the menu this salad comes with grilled scallops, NONE were included! Needless to say this was a very disappointing experience!
(2)Tao O.
Overall good food and service. Bar can get a little backed up at times, and the place is a bit overpriced but nice spot in downtown Natick.
(3)Barry M.
Went to dinner on Saturday evening. Very nice white table cloth atmosphere with excellent service. The R.I. calamari was excellent and the first time I have seen it served in a large taco shell. The Ceasar salad with swordfish tips was the best! Highly recommend!
(4)M S.
Terrible - Or should I say Blah! If I were to give this dinner a movie title, I'd call it "Dinner with the Fly's" because there was alway a fly buzzing around my plate. The Water - tasted like chlorine, unfiltered and undrinkable - Yuck! The Coconut shrimp - While Good Idea, it was poorly executed. It tasted like little dripping balls of oil, all the taste was lost. The idea - breaded shrimp with coconut with a dipping sauce and a dab of mustard, Great!... The execution... An Oily Blah The Swordfish Kabob and Caesar Salad - Blah, Blah with a side sauce of Blah. The chocolate cake tasted like it was prepackaged from Costco. Therefore, it's Overpriced Blah. Waiter: friendly and attentive. Price: way too high Conclusion: if you are a rich little old lady with no taste buds this place is perfect for you. Otherwise avoid it. I'll never go back. It makes me wonder if the people who rated this highly ever get out of town much... UPDATE: 8 hours later, and I still feel the greasy shrimp sitting in my stomach like a bag of sand.
(1)E E.
Had a great time at Dolphin's bar. Fantastic wings, generous pours, and live music that's compatible with conversation makes this place a winner.
(4)Nikos L.
Hospital food at $19 a plate...Canned marinara and pomodoro sauces, re-fried fried calamari, loud, mediocre service, a geriatric hangout...Just plain hospital food for a pricetag...Stay away...Better than Legal Seafood some say, yes, if you have no taste buds.
(1)Jamie H.
we had a groupon to dolphin seafood, which for $30 included (for 2 people): 2 chowders, 1 shrimp cocktail, and 2 lobsters, each with 2 sides. when we arrived, the staff was welcoming and quickly seated us at a table, but then had to wait over 10 minutes for our server to come by. however, when he did arrive, he was very friendly, articulate, and explained to us how the groupon option worked. after that initial delay, his service was good throughout the meal. he was attentive and timely with the dishes, and while he asked how everything was at times he did not hover for feedback or interrupt the meal. now for the food itself. we started with a new england clam chowder and the seafood chowder, which had shrimp and tilapia. both chowders were creamy and served hot. i did think they were both heavy on the potato and light on the fish, and the baby shrimps in the seafood chowder were very very baby. i chose the garden salad for one of my sides, which was a nice size for a starter. the shrimp cocktail came with 4 jumbo shrimp, the sauce was likely bottled but had a decent flavor with just a bit of kick. we also had a few dinner rolls that were of the frozen variety, but i ate one anyway. our lobsters came out steaming, but were a little under the promised pound and a quarter. it was clear that they had been tanked for a while, since the claws were pretty shriveled - but yes, i do know that it's lobster in february. they were pretty good, and came with steamed broccoli and rice pilaf (just plain yellow rice). overall, the food was decent, but didn't stand out as amazing. the vibe was relaxed and there was a bar in the front with what looked to be a great drink menu. there were a lot of options on the main menu, and it would be an 'easy-to-please' place for a family looking for decent seafood that's not terribly expensive.
(3)Kayla H.
This place is great, if you know how to navigate it. We live 3 minutes (walking distance) away and go here all the time. Dinner included. What we've found is that the sit-down-have-yourself-a-nice-meal experience is meh ... But the appetizers and the drinks in the bar area are amazing. The waitstaff is really great. They are personable, available, and ready to make everything happen for you. They have excellent drinks, great atmosphere, and we really like going here as our default spot. Our suggestions: The dinner entrees are mediocre at best, but seem to be improving The appetizers and drinks: Amazingly awesome _ Settle in the bar area for great drinks, maybe a martini (dirty),a side car (yes they know how, and it's the best we've had), or anything else from the drink menu, and order from the bar menu. You won't be disappointed.
(4)R B.
Still fine, but I'd rather go to Cap'n Marden's. Has the ambiance of what I think a cruise ship would be like. Big, so rarely a wait. I've had a number of particularly bland meals here lately, but it's still a good deal for lunch, prices are reasonable. You could do worse. (You could go to Legal's.)
(3)Apple K.
First time there - new to the neighborhood, and had received a gift card as a housewarming present... so we thought we would try it out. We waited to be seated in the bar. Service in the bar was very good. However you have to pay for your drinks in the bar and cannot add it to your meal bill. Server did not tell us about the specials... After we ordered, we heard him telling other tables about them. Service was very slow, server apologized several times for the delay in food being ready. Appetizer - Martha's Vineyard oysters. Excellent. Entrees - Seafood Diablo. Pasta was mushy and some of the seafood tasted not right. It was clear that the dish had been nuked just before being brought to us, because it had been sitting at the pass so long. My husband loves pasta and seafood.... and of this, he only finished about 1/3 of his entree - it was so bad. Seafood Sampler. (an appetizer, I ordered as my entree) 3 oysters, 3 cherrystones, and 3 shrimp. Cocktail sauce was good. Seafood arrived on a bed of mostly melted ice, water was standing 3/4" deep. Shrimp was ok at best, though a tad warm. The oysters looked not so good, did not try them. My husband tried the cherrystone and immediately spit it out as it tasted as if it had gone bad. Server told the manager, who deducted 1/2 of our bill... Which is all and good, however we now have a lot of our gift card left - and little desire to return.
(1)Sara E.
I would absolutely NOT ever go back to this restaurant. To begin, the wait staff did not know the product on the menu. I ordered the shellfish sampler and the waitress said there were two types of oysters and one type of clam. The sampler had one type of oyster and one clam and shrimp. This was not what I wanted. The worst part was that when I ate the first clam it was not fresh (rotten raw seafood is the worst taste ever). The waitress argued with me, saying it was fresh when it smelled and tasted rotten. I had to spit the clam out and cancelled the rest of our order. I do not trust a restaurant that serves rotten seafood. I will NEVER go back to this terrible place.
(1)Serenity B.
Good seafood, great price, I can always finish my meal and feel satisfied!
(4)Pearle N.
Every time I go w/ just my daughter I get lousy service and we gave the Dolphin 4 chances. Apparently a single mother w/ her young child doesn't warrant good service at all. I can't stand the lousy service at all....and when I mention it to the so called manager I get a dirty look and a what do you want me to do about it attitude. I would not recommend this place to any one. If you want to sit at a table waiting for service for a long time and then get barely mediocre sea food for nearly top dollar...go straight ahead. I'd rather go to the Italian restaurant across the street and get one of their seafood specials.
(1)Gee W.
Who gives this place 5 stars? I would go back again to see if it got better, and it wouldn't be the last place in the world I would choose - but Dolphin gets a D if your particular about your food.
(2)Amelia D.
Terrible. I have been multiple times. The seafood is mediocre. The bartenders are terrible. I asked about the alcoholic iced tea. The bartender said "I dunno, I've never made it before!" Really? I went to the bathroom at the end of the night and my friend said that the bartender was concerned I was unable to drive home. I had 3 drinks. Not to sound like a lush, but on a weekend night I usually have 6-7 drinks. I guarantee you I was not drunk after 3. Perhaps lightly buzzed. It was a Wednesday. Are you serious? The whole experience left me disenchanted. I have been to MANY MANY MANY bars in my life and I have been to the Dolphin at least 10 times or more. I am 30 years old and I know how to hold my alcohol. I live 1 town over and PROMISE you I was not drunk after 3 cocktails over a loooooong period of time. The bartender is asking about my sobriety? Seriously? AWFUL experience. A friend of mine told me he was thrown out of the Dolphin for acting "too drunk" months ago---I assumed he had misbehaved and acted like an ass. After this experience (tonight), I believe he probably had done nothing wrong---they are very prude in their judgement of customers. Probably cause they are used to the elderly crowd that fills this place. If you are going to run a bar, you might NOT want to cut off your clients after 3 drinks (in a 3 hour time span). Not exactly good business. I will not go back. Instead I will go to the Chicken Bone, Pepperoncini's, BBC, or ANYWHERE on Rt 9 over this dump. P.S. all old people in the parking lot. I'm trying to park. Get the f out of the way. Addendum: In the bartender's defense, perhaps he is new (that would explain him saying he's never made one of the drinks on the limited drink menu) and being overly cautious. However, I only actually ordered 2 drinks that night. The 3rd was a shot that HE BROUGHT OVER as free samples for me and my 2 friends. If he thought I was too drunk, why did he bring the 3rd drink, which I did not even ask for?? The whole thing was just an odd experience. I might have gone back, but then this morning I got a message on Facebook from a girl named Stacey---one of the bartenders who WASN'T EVEN THERE LAST NIGHT. She read this review, and wasn't happy about it so she sent me a message calling me names and insulting me. Guess she felt the need to stick her nose in, even though she knows nothing about what actually went down. So now I REALLY won't go back. Way to lose a customer!
(2)Nicole F.
Cannot say enough good things about Dolphin Seafood!! My friend and I went for dinner this past week and had a wonderful time! We were greeted very warmly by the hostess and manager and were quickly seated. Our waiter was amazing and very attentive to our table. We started with the calamari (very good) and I had the salmon and shrimp over caesar salad... salmon and shrimp were both grilled to perfection! Highly recommended! And my friend had the swordfish, which she loved! We finished with the molten lava cake which was a perfect way to end a great meal! I have been to Dolphin Seafood quite a few times and have always been extremely satisfied with the food, service and atmosphere!
(5)Jessi E.
Came here for a late lunch one day, which ended up being the "early bird" special time. Immediately felt lame. And the sudden urge to buy Gold Bond and a fresh pair of crisp white Rockport Prowalkers. Maybe keep a stash of individually wrapped hard candies in my pockets (like Werther's, or those gross ones with the wrappers that look like a strawberry). I digress. The food was meh. I wouldn't say it was memorable (insert distasteful Alzheimer's joke here), although it wasn't terrible either. The "early bird special" menu did seem very well priced ... and given that a lot of places in Natick Center close around 4 on Sundays, that makes it a LITTLE less shameful. I thought the decor -- blue lights, fire place, glass tiles around the bar -- all had definite potential. Re-name the place something like, the Aqua Lounge, or something hipster - so all the 20 and 30 somethings who have moved out to the 'burbs can feel cool again!
(3)Ben J.
Ah, the dilemma - About the only bar to which I live within walking distance, but I am not ready to become part of the "I liked Jimmy Buffet when he was young" aging townie crowd. What's a man barreling into his mid-30s to do? Drink at home, I guess. Also, the food? Not so good. Sandy chowder, chewy shrimp. It's not *horrible,* but it's not very good. Especially for the price, which was too high for the quality of the food.
(2)Sue K.
apparently, dolphin seafood is the place to be and be seen in natick...for the 65+ crowd, that is. as mentioned in other reviews, this place must be a stone's throw from a retirement home because it's always buzzing with old folks. still, if you don't mind eavesdropping on a little dialysis talk here and there....dolphin is a great spot for a seafood lunch. the good thing about a place that's popular with the grannies, is that you can expect certain things from them: affordable prices (lunch specials 'til 4PM and then early bird specials after that!), quick friendly service, and a reliable meal. i've only ordered from their lunch menu, and it's a real deal. for about $8-$13, you get a decent sized piece of fresh fish- prepared almost any way you want, with two sides and a roll. the fish is great quality, fresh and tasty...the roll is hot and the sides are nothing to complain about. there's enough food to fill the bf up and i leave with leftovers. oh! and unless you need that coveted wheelchair spot, there's plenty of parking in the lot.
(4)Josh F.
Service was slow. Good food.
(2)Madkat M.
What a bummer. Stopped in for lunch - party of four. Steamer app., good size portion no flavor, too thick, not sweet, served no butter. Took a good 10 minutes or more waiting for butter. Service really slow. Waitress nice, but uninformed. When asking what size difference of steamer app. Vs meal we were told the app. Is smaller. Really?! Duh. Stuffed lobster tail ok. Steak tip ceaser all yellow lettuce. Not one piece of green to be found. Freezing cold. No hostess. Sorry, won't be back.
(1)Andrew T.
This place is amazing! Dolphin is newly renovated - the dining room is beautiful and tasteful enough to make Dolphin an excellent spot for any celebratory dinner or romantic night out. The bar area is perfect - also newly renovated, it is separate from the dining room but not completely detached, perfect lighting, great decor, excellent place to hang out for a drink and appetizers, etc. The food is amazing, but the prices steal the spotlight. $5.99 appetizers Sunday - Thursday! My girlfriend and I go to Dolphin and typically get oysters, mussels, crab cakes and coconut shrimp, and a couple beers for $30-$35 - you can't beat the prices. The food is delicious - try all of the appetizers. Entrees are fairly priced and just as tasty. I recommend the lobster, steak tips, oysters Rockefeller, mussels, summer breeze sampler, burger and lobster sliders, fish and chips, crab legs, et al. I would stay away from the quesadilla app and the clam strips. The staff and management is always excellent and don't mind menu modification requests. Drinks, such as the Mai Tai ad Cloud 9 are outstanding.
(5)Harold E.
We picked "Dolphin" restaurant off the internet looking for a seafood house in MetroWest. This seemed promising. We come from Hudson and know good/great places in Boston, NYC, NJ, SF and NO, too. We were delightfully surprised at Dolphin. The quality of the meal for the price was terrific. The seafood was perfectly cooked. The waitress was friendly and efficient, nice people at other tables. Metrowest restaurants can be a terrible experience-poor chowda, haddock and fried clams. Food quality, selection and service is #1for us here. Decor was OK. We will be back with friends to also enjoy with us!
(4)K M.
I went to Dolphin for the first time last week for lunch. The restaurant is somewhat hidden in a parking lot. I wouldn't think it was a restaurant if I hadn't know the name. The decor was ok, it was more of a casual style. Most importantly, the food was very good and tasty. Perfect pasta! I have to say, it had to be one of the best I've had so far. The price was reasonable and great menu selection. Will definitely return for lunch, dinner and drinks!
(4)Skip B.
The Bartender was eh, but he was slammed so I'll give him a break. The food was very good. My date and I both had the clam chowder and the swordfish sandwich both were very good and I would recommend both. This was the first time I had been there, they have a nice bar area and the prices are more reasonable then other Seafood found out on the Strip. I will definitely be back.
(3)Melissa M.
Lobster a la Natick is absolutely delicious! Also try to Svedka around the world cocktail, tastes like the pink Flavor Ice. Waitress was very nice and helpful. Even my dad, who doesn't like seafood, was very happy with the Chicken Parm. I will definitely be back!
(5)Leighann F.
Observe, ladies and gentlemen: the Natick townie bar scene! A restaurant bathed in decor that was fashioned straight out of Home&Garden, March 1984, complete with cheap alcohol, nightly specials and mid-forties singles women at the bar drinking their Amstel lights out of pint glasses. Seriously, this is the only place serving any kind of alcohol after 9pm "in town" in Natick. I could be wrong, but this is the only one we found. We stayed for one drink, waiting for our ride back to Cambridge, spent next to nothing for them and had pleasant conversation with the bartender. Our visit has nothing to do food, just a quick place to grab a drink and pass the time. It did the trick, if not reminding me of dinner in Atlantic City, NJ circa the Reagan Administration.
(3)Steve R.
Went here the other night for dinner, it was very good. Much cheaper than Legal Seafood and the quality is just as good if not better. Not the perfect restaurant, yet I would have no problem returning. I had the grilled salmon and it was cooked perfectly.
(4)Dave A.
Wonderful spinach and shrimp dip, I had the Seafood Diablo (very good), and my wife was raving about the Lobster a la Natick days later. Reasonably priced with a fun atmosphere. We will be going again!
(5)Deborah S.
I would not go to this restaturant. I went with my family and treated horribly. We were there at 6 and did not eat until 8:00. The food was so so and the when we were suppose to get desert the waiter never came and only asked one person for desert. I complained to the manager only to make me feel bad about complaining. I will never go there again!
(1)Charles C.
Service was fast and the portions were perfect. Seafood was very fresh. Waitress was very attentive.
(5)Xin S.
We came with a Groupon and had a fantastic meal. Our Groupon included 2 chowders, 1 shrimp cocktail, and 2 lobsters with 2 sides. We got the seafood chowder and clam chowder, both were delicious. The shrimp cocktail was a standout: 4 gigantic shrimp (perfect texture!) with very horseradish-y cocktail sauce--pure yum. We got salads and cole slaw as our sides. The lobster was fresh and meaty, perfect with the drawn butter. We enjoyed all the food very much. The timing of the food coming out was a bit strange, the soups, shrimp cocktail and salad came out quite fast then there was a long wait for the lobster. Not that big of a deal, as service besides that was wonderful. The decor of this place is beautiful too!
(4)Tim J.
Appetizers in the bar area are pretty good and reasonably priced, especially for seafood. Good local beers on tap. Dinners are mediocre and service can be slow at times. Would recommend for drinks and appetizers, can probably do better for a sit-down meal.
(3)Shan H.
"Meh" is a fitting phrase for this place. The waiter was friendly, our appetizer (calamari) was not flavorful and a bit overcooked (read: chewy calamari). I got the mussels provencal, which decent ... they could have had more flavor, but I love mussels so the dish was okay to me. My boyfriend got the paella (sp?) which was mediocre at best. We likely won't be going back for another meal here, although we did enjoy the atmosphere and the family-run feel of this restaurant.
(2)