Dockside Seafood Market
3311 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach, VA, 23451
Dockside Seafood Market Menu
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Address :
3311 Shore Dr
Virginia Beach, VA, 23451 - Phone (757) 481-4545
- Website https://www.docksideva.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kristie B.
Had a great lunch with the hubs here last weekend. We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather for a relaxing lunch on the water watching all the boats go by. We both had the Dockside Seafood Platter. The shrimp and scallops were nicely cooked and the crab cake was meaty and fresh. But what really stood out was the flounder. I don't typically favor flounder because it is so often sort of "rivery" tasting. Not here! It was the freshest, whitest flounder I've ever had and it was perfectly cooked. I'd never shy away from flounder here. Another standout was the roasted potatoes. So many places tend to just boil the potatoes and slap some butter and rosemary on them. Here they season and roast them so that they're just a tad crispy on the outside and beautifully cooked on the inside. Wish mine at home came out that perfect! We have family coming into town this week so we're looking forward to bringing them back with us... maybe they can help us pick out a boat!
(4)Cory S.
I can't give 0 stars?! After reading previous reviews about the manger I can't say I'm too surprised about my attempted visit to this restaurant. So we walk in on this past weekend which happens to be 4th of July weekend. No biggie, an hour and a half wait is expected. Not a problem at all. What led us to walk out of there after only being in the building for not even two minutes was how we were treated by who I'm guessing was the manager (previous yelper review said she was an older heavy set brunette lady). Just plain rude. After being greeted by the hostess, this manager is leaning on the hostess stand and turns around to us and gives us this disgusted/condescending look and asks "What do you want". What kind of question is that? Um to patronize your business you overweight geriatric doofus? I was in shock. My girlfriend and I both looked at each other and walked right out. I don't know if this "manager" had too many orange crushes or what but she was out of it.
(1)Kate W.
this review is for the market, not the restaurant. Amazing fresh fish and seafood, lots of locally-caught options. Staff are always very nice and helpful. If in doubt, ask what was caught that day :) Prices are not a bargain, but definitely fair.
(5)Devon R.
One of the best spots I've experienced in the area for good seafood! The prices aren't too bad for the quality you get! I've always had great service here! My go to spot!
(4)Hiba I.
The vodka sauce pasta with blackened salmon was the richest most delicious seafood pasta I've ever had! Their salmon (local) was cooked to perfection :) GO VA BEACH!
(4)Keiko M.
I had one of the best scallops in my life today. I asked if the scallops in the case are fresh enough for sashimi. A guy said ,'Yes. But dry scallops are much better. More expensive. We use them for the restaurant.' I trusted him and bought 6 about 1/2 pound for about $12. Also I bought Lynnhaven oysters for $12 and 6 James River ones for $9. At home, I put them on French mix salad with fresh dill. OMG! They took me to the heaven. The oysters were super good too. I keep practicing shucking oysters with a new knife. I must have same ones again tomorrow. Thank you for the amazing knowledge and fabulous fresh seafood!!!!
(5)Rob R.
Stopped in last night for a couple of brews and some steamed shrimp - service was on point, they assisted in pointing out a good cigar shop, the beers were cold and the view was outstanding. You never know how it is when you visit a seaside town - this place is a no frills, straight on stop if you are looking for a place to eat . Hell even the locals like it - that tells you something !
(5)a texan i.
Sure, this place has beautiful sunset views but the food was just ok ezp for the price. Hubby had the seafood platter and i had crabcakes and calamari to share. The only thing delicious was the crabcakes...really good! Service was good and the hostess was friendly. Wait wasnt too bad for a Thursday. Not sure if I'll be back. I just hate paying good money for mediocre food
(3)Layla L.
I love this place. Great outdoor seating, delicious food and friendly attentive service. They've kept it casual and classy. Their picnic tables are well kept and clean and the view is very pretty at sunset. They had live music tonight which was nice. I've been here numerous times and would choose it over chicks or the place next door (can't recall the name)
(4)Danielle S.
OK. .. very good food! Our waitress Sophia was not only adorable but sweet! Scenery was absolutely breathtaking ... pics below. So here's the low down on what we had ... scale of 1 to 10 Lumpia (Filipino spring rolls)... delicious! 10 Hush puppies. .. oh my! 10 Broiled crab cake. . Pretty good considering were marylanders and therefore crab cake snobs. ..7 Fries. ..5 (but we're at a seafood place) Baked scallops. .. yummy. .8 Stuffed shrimp. .. very fresh. ..9 Coleslaw. .. fresh and crisp and not too saucy. .10 My partner absolutely loved the fresh tomatoes (go figure) Overall dining experience. .. TEN 10!!! I LOVE YELP. .. thanks for recommending. Now we're going to ride bikes to burn this goodness off! ! Ps... if Sophia reads this. . She was also the highlight of my lunch I wish I could take her back to md
(5)Marisa F.
Beautiful view, great place, great food, great mango margaritas and the best crab cake I had
(4)A L.
Went a few nights ago and it was awesome!! I had the fried flounder and my husband had Cajun salmon. Our fish was oh so fresh and cooked perfect. I am a big big fan now and my god u can't beat the outside deck and view. Loved it.
(5)Christina J.
Can't believe I just discovered this place! The view from the restaurant and great food definitely makes this a spot to come back for. I went with my boyfriend and I had the crab cake sandwich and he had the fresh catch flounder. Both dishes were so great and everything was really fresh! We also had orange crushes that were some of the best I've had. The staff was great too! Very friendly hostess and waitress!
(5)Angie C.
WORST PLACE EVER. The scallops, shrimp and flounder was dry, flavorless, and unappetizing. Seemed as if it was frozen and just thawed out, according to my friend there shouldn't have been a pool of water surrounding our food if the seafood was fresh. Came in there expecting a great food based on the previous reviews posted but sadly let down. The fried calamari was just fried without seasoning, edible but none the less flavorless. Their coleslaw was drenched in vinegar and put on the same plate as the fries making it more soggy even though the fries were pretty soggy to begin with. The oysters we had were decent but not the best I've ever had, did not seem fresh. This restaurant did have one good thing about it, the service, but good service doesn't fill our hungry stomachs.
(1)Donna K.
We Have been here twice. Food is delicious. Very good service. Highly recommend. They also have a Market to buy fresh fish.
(5)Hank R.
Outstanding fresh seafood. Greek salad is great with a crab cake added. The best crab cakes I've ever had. Can't say enough about em. A locals place. Most tourists don't even know it exists.
(5)Lorraine P.
Great location. I recommend sitting outside on the deck. The views of the waterways were great. The food was good, hour and prompt. I recommend getting there early for lunch. It fills up fast.
(4)T W.
I went here over Memorial Day weekend at the recommendation from a local. This is a little gem tucked away in Virginia Beach. Go on a nice day and sit on the back deck, the view is priceless. The food is fresh and delicious! I plan on visiting this restaurant for many more years to come!
(5)Nikki B.
Easy to miss but very good place to eat! The front half of the building is a seafood mart with the freshest seafood and reasonably priced. They also have a big selection of wines. Towards the left back corner is the restaurant with bar, inside, and outside seating. I ordered the broiled platter with veggies and potatoes and I was not disappointed. Their crab cakes are amazing and so fresh! We also ordered their lemon crush which was very tasty. The appetizer was small for the price but overall it was worth the trip and we will definitely return!
(4)Nina K.
We had a terrific experience here -- sat at one of the bar tables looking out at the water and the sunset. Service was excellent (thank you, Lauren). Food came out very quickly. Outstanding crab cakes, clams casino, hush puppies and grilled rockfish. We eat crab cakes everywhere we go when we visit Virginia Beach and these are the best.
(5)Michelle O.
I'm a huge seafood fan and love trying out new places to eat. I've heard people rave about Dockside but have never been myself until last night. Now I know what all the hype is about. When we first walked in, we were a little confused as where the actual restaurant part was because you have to enter through the little marketplace. Once we got to the restaurant, we noticed it was pretty busy. We wanted to sit outside since the weather was nice and the scenery was beautiful, but there was going to be a 40 minute wait so we settled for the hightop in front of the bar which we were able to sit at immediately. We still had a nice view of the outside. After we got settled, I ordered a Orange Creamsicle Crush which I got within a minute (probably since the bar was right behind us). It truly did taste like an orange creamsicle ! As for food, we started off with some calamari, spinach artichoke crab dip, and hush puppies. I was not disappointed at all with any of them. They all had a lot of flavor, it was neither bland nor too salty. Everything tasted fresh also. For my main entree I ordered a burger topped with a crab cake. Normally when I get a crab burger, it's just lump crab on a burger. The fact that this was an actually crab cake on top of a burger was just amazing ! The fries that came with it was great as well. They were hot and crispy, just the way I like it. It was only my first time eating here, but I have a feeling it will be one of those restaurants I frequent.
(5)Tony B.
I regret not coming here more often when I lived here. I guess I just always took Dockside for granted... Now that I live in landlocked Austin (which I love and am NOT knocking), I always look forward to my visits back to Va...partially because I know I will be sitting on that fantastic deck looking out into the water. The sound of gulls and boats puttering by and the smell of the water. It's the standard fare one would expect from a restaurant on the water, but it is well executed. I always go straight for the half shell oysters. They have both Eastern Shores and Chincoteagues. Always fresh and succulent. Calamari is perfectly fried to a tender golden...hell...I have yet to have a dish that was not perfectly cooked and delicious. To get to the restaurant, you pass through the shop. Incredible wine selection and great seafood market. The little Filipino dude that works there is great, as is the rest of the staff. Great view, great food, and great service. Thanks, Dockside, for being a great destination when I go home to visit.
(5)Sarah S.
I am from California and my husband and I went to Virginia on a business trip. All I am going to say is this--go to Dockside. That's it. This restaurant alone makes me seriously consider moving to Virginia. That's not hyperbole--we actually talked about it! It's beautiful and right on the water (gorgeous sunset, huge windows). Service is friendly and fast. And everything is good. EVERYTHING. She crab soup, clams casino, crab cakes, fried fish, shrimp cocktail, every single thing we ordered was perfect.. was so good, we went here 2 nights out of the four we were there. The only problem with Dockside? It's not within driving distance of my house.
(5)Mark S.
Great place. Pretty busy, but didn't wait very long for a table. Food was good and fairly quick to come out.
(4)Sarou C.
We have gotten seafood twice from Dockside. The first time my bf went and picked up a dozen of female crabs for.. Get this.. $10!! Yes only ten smackaroos! The crabs were sooo sweet! We devoured them! After they were gone I was longing for more. So today my bestie and I went over to get some clams and crabs. I was pleasantly surprised that the market didn't have a nasty fishy smell like a lot of seafood markets have. Always a plus. For a dollar more they will steam the seafood for you. We decided to do that and walk around. The restaurant next door had such an.. Ahhh.. Breathtaking view. I could picture myself drinking an ice cold beer eating some crabs looking out into the water. But no, we didn't do that. We took our food and left so we could go home and make our sauce and eat it with rice. We Asian!! Anyways, I was a little disappointed that our crabs were not fully cook. So we had to do what we didn't feel like doing and paid them that dollar to do. Bingo! Steam them! All in all, great prices for seafood and mighty delicious.
(4)Elizabeth Aaron W.
The blackened tuna bites are my favorite! I also ordered she crab soup and 1/2 pound steamed shrimp. The shrimp were huge and delish. (Nothing like those other restaurants puny shrimp) I would have given five starts but this is my second visit and my margarita always tastes off. Maybe it's the mix? I am a huge stickler on my drinks. I was going to order a grapefruit crush as well but they are not made with pink grapefruit which makes the drink IMO. We sat out on the back deck outside and enjoyed the view. (Minus the older drunk couple making out on the dock for 30+ minutes.) There was a band which played until 10. Jimmy Buffet, etc...Watched boats come and go. Our server was really friendly an answered all my questions! Will go back soon.
(4)D C.
Called and reserved for an 8 am Saturday. I would approximate about 30 people were there for the half-day fishing (excluding captain/deckhands). Purchase tickets in the Dockside store/market (left side of parking lot) before going on the boat. Both deckhands were friendly and helpful. One deckhand was clearly experienced. They walked around helping new fishers and showed simple step by step on releasing the line to the bottom of the Bay. Deckhands prepped the bait and rod for everyone before the first stop. There were a couple of people who had brought their own rods. We stopped 4 times (close) and had some catches and rode out for another 30 minutes (far) to the last stop before returning. Unfortunately we went when the water was super cold. Only 4-5 fish were caught, the largest being 11 inches. Water, towels, motion sickness medicine, koozie, snacks, etc. are available for purchase. There were 4 people who were clearly nauseous (heads down) so I highly recommend taking some motion sickness medicine if you're not sure beforehand/first timer.
(5)Morgan B.
I'm eating an amazing fried crab cake sandwich in JANUARY. JANUARY. 31 degrees outside. Regardless of the season, it was the best crab cake sandwich I've had to date. Nice size, perfectly fried, and that tartar sauce is BOMB. So flavorful. Didn't even need ketchup for my fries, I used tartar sauce.lol
(5)Nya A.
Our first time visiting here and my family loved the scenery, the Alaskan snow crabs and fried shrimp. We sat inside near the window, since the wait was 40 minutes to get a table outside near the dock. In front of the restaurant is a market, so at first we thought they closed the restaurant, walk through and you'll find the hostess. Friendly staff and we were happy with our waitress, she was accommodating.
(5)Mary W.
Absolutely in love with this place :)) the food is amazing and the staff in always so genuine. For great outside seating in the summer with an incredible view this is the spot.. ohh and they have some pretty awesome beers as well!
(5)Maria Teresa C.
I can't count how many times I've been here! Always a pleasure and a pleasant food experience. Their seafood is always fresh.Good hang on a summer day where you can sit outside and enjoy the view of the Chesapeake Bay. Their crab cakes are super delicious..full of crab meat. Last night I head the crab cake platter that came with fresh veggies and my chose of potato salad. Huge portion, I had to take half of it home. So if you are a seafood lover, come to this place! You will never get disappointed. Don't let the front of the place fool you. You'll be surprised once you get in! Good service,good food!
(5)Phil F.
Best scallops that I've ever had! This place is a must I've lived in VB for 2 years and upset that I've never been here.
(5)John Y.
Being an out of towner from California, out here we're on a hunt for seafood. Tonight was our first night in town, and after pouring over the yelp reviews and menus, we decided to give Dockside a try. Now, I'm a seafood lover. Crab, Lobster, Shrimp, Fish, I'm all about it. My girlfriend, she's not as into it as I am, she eats shrimp and fried fish once in a while, but that's about it. We loaded up the address in the GPS and headed out from the hotel (which is very nice by the way, I'll be reviewing that later.). We pulled into the parking lot and it was full. There's a good sign. Walking into the restaurant we were greeted right away and told to pick our seat (table and chairs, not our butts) anywhere we like. So many things we needed to try. She Crab soup being one of them. Being from the "other coast" we had no idea what it was. But our server, Sarah, was more than happy to explain it to us. We asked the usual tourist questions which she answered with a smile. We ordered our drinks: a couple of sodas, appetizers: half-dozen Clams Casino, Shrimp Cocktail and a cup of She Crab Soup, and entrees: Fried Crab Cake dinner and the Dockside Seafood Platter. The drinks came out, and just a few minutes later our appetizers. I was really excited for the Clams Casino. My girlfriend (who, if you remember isn't really a seafood person) was the first to try the She Crab Soup and got this look on her face. She was loving it. I had a taste and yes, it was amazing. I had a few bites, then moved on to the Clams Casino. I ate the first one and....wow, honestly, one of the best things I have ever eaten. My girlfriend grabbed one and had a taste, then did something I never thought she'd do in a million years, SHE HAD ANOTHER! Yes, the Clams Casino is that good. Finally the Shrimp Cocktail. Large, plump, fresh shrimp. Chilled perfectly and served with fantastic cocktail sauce. The appetizers didn't last more than 5 minutes, and we were actually sad that we hadn't ordered more of the soup and Clams Casino. Out came the entrees. A large piece of fried white fish, 3 large fried scallops, 3 large fried shrimp and a good sized crab cake. along with a plate with my fried red potatoes and veggies. What can I can, delicious fresh, fried sea food. The fish was breaded and fried perfectly. Crispy on the outside, flakey on the inside. The Crab Cake was delicious, delicious crab meat. The shrimp, plump and crispy. The scallops were great as well. Not soggy inside, cooked perfectly. My girlfriend's Crab Cake was the same story, Fantastic! If I had to choose one thing that wasn't perfect, it would be the tartar sauce. I'm not a fan of dill, but it was still a good sauce. A little hot sauce on the fish in place of the tartar and it was good to go. We're only in town for a week, but this may be where we eat all of our meals.
(5)Dawn M.
we wanted a dog friendly restaurant near Virginia Beach. The main reason we are giving this place three stars is that they only have a small area to seat guests with dogs. Even though there was green grass around the tables for the dogs to rest on, there were also many cigarette butts. They need to clean up their dog park. It seems used more often as a smoke break area. The staff was pleasant. They did bring me a dish other than the one I ordered but it looked yummy so I ate it anyhow. The shrimp were good. The fries were good. Steak was good. The veggies were steamed but not as fresh as they ought to be so they get 3 stars for that as well. My margarita was tasty. It is a bit pricey for what you get. We did enjoy looking out over the water and chatting with a couple of guys about their dogs. I think they were regulars.
(3)Troy S.
In all honesty, I love coming here. This place has dependably good Chesapeake Bay seafood all around that is as fresh as fresh can be. When you come in, you enter through their seafood market. So, feel free to stop in and get them to filet some fish for you take home or get your little seafood extravaganza with a wide selection of shrimp, crablegs, scallops, and many options for fish. They can also set you up for your own fishing trip with your buddies. Now, on to the restaurant. So, there are 2 separate areas I enjoy here. First, the indoor bar--I come here for good drinks, great bartenders that always take care of me with a generous pour, and hot dog!--they have some awesome happy hour specials, not just on drinks, but on the food too. Come here Sunday through Thursday from 4-7PM and you will get a great hook up with a tasty cheap dinner. Keep in mind, Happy Hour is only valid at the bar and the bar tables, which includes this 20-top in front of the bar--this is definitely not reserved for just one party, just sit down and chat it up with some randoms and enjoy the bevs. So, the best part of Dockside really is the outside. I love to walk out on the patio and have a seat and enjoy all the boats coming by. I will start out with a pomegranate mojito or sangria and just sip on it for a bit before I order, watching the sunset. Some evenings, they also have some chill music to wind you down and get your hips moving a little. For apps, they have lots of goodies. Some of the best include clams casino, stuffed shrimp, fried shrimp and anything off the raw bar--oysters, clams, some of the best steamed shrimp. For you blue crab lovers, they have you covered so you can come and have your own blue crab fest and the best part is you don't have to clean up afterwards. For me, I am a softshell lover--the entire softshell season, I come here and just get repeated orders of softshells. Not everybody knows how to do softshells, but Dockside softshells are among the best in the area. They also offer like 10 or so different fish for catch of the day--fried, grilled, broiled, blackened or topped with crabmeat. They also have sandwiches, crabcakes, seafood baskets, pastas, she-crab soup--you will love it. The crowd is a little older than Chick's generally, but who cares...the food is much better. Cheers! FYI: for whatever reason, their address is listed as being on Shore Dr. This may be their technical addess, but they are really at the 2200 block of Vista Circle.
(4)Inday R.
I think this place is over rated at best. The reason I'm giving it a two star is that my husband liked their calamari appetizer the rest is mediocre in flavor.
(2)Keelan D.
I am from out of town and heard about this restaurant from two different locals and the food did not disappoint. It was very busy when we got there but they got us in within a reasonable time. While they had many choices for their catch of the day and is what both my wife and I got, I thought the seafood options were more limited than I expected but it was fun being right on the water. I gave four starts because the head host did not seem to care about customer service and he was talking about non-family friendly topics with what seemed to be some of his friends to the table behind us.
(4)Emily R.
Craving seafood so we stopped in for lunch. Service was good-waitress was very friendly and attentive-invited us back for the evening on weekends with live music. Ordered the spinach crab dip-had high hopes for it, but it was served on the cool side of warm. Probably would have been better piping hot. Apparently it's usually served with pita chips, but they were out & used tortillas. Hubs got the salad with grilled chicken (he said it was good) & as I couldn't decide what to order, I got the broiled seafood platter. I was a bit skeptical as those can really be hit or miss, but I was pleasantly surprised! 3 shrimp, 3 large scallops, a crab cake & flounder. It was all delicious! Side of veggies were soaked in butter & the potato salad was too sweet-relish-y for me. Domestic beer was $3, which isn't outrageous considering. There are a few other seafood places we want to try, but we'll probably come back during crab season to give it another shot. Seafood platter was excellent, which is why the 4 star rating. Meh sides & appetizer had this heading to the 3 star range.
(4)Creagan B.
Oyster rock and stuffed shrimp are slammin!! Aaannddd....can't beat the view! The steak didn't have much flavor. It didn't have any spices on it. It was just a plain ny strip steak. I wouldn't suggest getting anything other than seafood from this restaurant. I enjoyed my dinner and appetizer. I will definitely be back. The crab legs were good too. The shrimp pasta was just ok.
(4)Ashlea L.
Can't believe I just ate here for the first time, especially since I'm such a seafood lover & live so close. A coworker recently told my boyfriend that if you like crab burgers, this is the place to get them & he was right. So we headed over that night for some burgers & brews. We went on a Friday evening, it was busy but we only had to wait about 10 minutes to get a table outside. They have local beer on tap which is cool, so we enjoyed our beers while looking over the menu & listening to some live music. The prices are a little high, but it's quality seafood & not a tourist trap. Worth the price for sure. We did our typical ordering, we both order something different & split so we can sample two different items. The crab burger was Heaven! The burger was cooked perfectly & the crab was delish. The cheese melted perfectly with it all. We also ordered the fried fish sandwich. The fish was so fresh, however I was so full from my 1/2 of the burger my boyfriend was able to finish my portion after I had a few bites. We both ordered the side of red skinned potato salad & it was sooo good. We'll definitely be back! Maybe scallops next time :-)
(4)Page E.
Our go to seafood joint when we aren't looking for a fancy experience. Almost always have the stuffed flounder and it never disappoints. Kids and wife love it to.
(5)Brooke B.
Pretty good food and fast service. Although its super busy on a Saturday night(kind of to be expected).
(4)Kelsey K.
Beautiful view!! Especially when the sun goes down over the water. Beautiful deck dinner for warm evening. Food was excellent. Drinks were hooked up. I'll def be going back. If you have a boat, pull right up to the dock and eat!
(5)Anna L.
I'm torn between giving Dockside 3 or 4 stars. The food can be hit or miss if you order something on the richer side, but the view is gorgeous and you know the seafood is fresh when there is a fish market right in the entrance. This has been one of our favorite stops when we visit Virginia Beach. It's off the boardwalk and away from the tourists. We always sit outside and stay to watch the sunset while enjoying a bottle of wine with our meal. Many nights we have been treated to live music, usually one person playing guitar and singing acoustic music. Really nice for date night. You can dock your boat at the restaurant and the patio is dog friendly so feel free to bring your pooch. One of our favorite appetizers at Dockside is the Clams Casino. I was surprised when my husband told me he had never had Clams Casino before. We ordered 1/2 dozen to start and my husband loved them so much we order them every time we come now. The clams are fresh, not chewy with just the right amount of onion, pepper and bacon. A delicious start to every meal. I usually go with the catch of the day and it has always been prepared well, fresh and tasty. There is usually a selection from which to choose and I normally debate between swordfish and rockfish - two of my favorites. My husband enjoys his crab legs and one visit they had the King crab. They were huge and delicious. The times the food has been somewhat of a miss for me was when I ordered something a bit richer. One visit, Dockside offered a special - a fish topped with scallops and a creamy sauce. The description sounded delicious, but the actual dish was way to rich and made me feel a bit sick afterwards even though I did not finish. It was fresh and tasty, but just too rich for me. The wine list is impressive especially for a place that looks somewhat divey from the inside. I attribute this to the wine store near the fish market at the entrance. They have a great selection of unique wines and I usually leave with a couple bottles to take with me. The upcharge for a bottle of wine in the restaurant is not excessive at all. The specialty here is definitely the seafood. I would avoid the steaks, pastas and anything on the richer side. But if you are in the mood for a fresh, simply prepared seafood meal with a great view, Dockside is a wonderful choice.
(4)Mafalda L.
Never actually ate inside. Always order take out. Delicious crabs! Always my first choice for some crab eating. Very fast with order and friendly staff.
(5)Alex W.
This is becoming a favorite spot! The location can't be beat. It is great to be able to enjoy drinks and good food and have a beautiful view of the water. This is a great place to have an inexpensive meal and a cold drink on a hot day. Try the fish tacos - they're amazing!
(5)Antoine D.
We go there every week to get our fresh salmon and tuna to prepare our own sushi. Fresh and delicious!
(5)Sunny M.
The service and food could be improved upon. Don't recommend. I would go to Chics or Bubbas.
(1)Phyl D.
We had a great experience this evening at Dockside. Their waterfront location on Lynnhaven Inlet offers great views and we enjoyed sitting outdoors. Five star rating to our waitress, Jaye! She was one of the best waitresses we have had in a long time. She answered all of our questions about the menu and offered great suggestions on preparation. She was attentive and checked on us frequently. You could tell she genuinely enjoyed working at Dockside and interacting with customers and invited us back on Mondays and Tuesdays informing us of the shrimp and lobster specials! Our fresh catch tonight was delicious: a blackened tile fish caught that morning and blackened grouper. We were even greeted on our way out and thanked for our business. We will definitely be back.
(5)Kyndra S.
"Meh" sums up Dockside perfectly. Called to see if they did reservations or call ahead (since we knew it'd be busy) and the woman who answered the phone came off pretty rude. Whatever, didn't deter us from coming. For a table of 2, its was an hour plus wait, which after all, wish we hadn't waited. The service was ok, the drinks were ok, and the food was really just meh. I got one of the pasta dishes, and it was just so bland. My boyfriend got the combo, and was disappointed with it as well. I just think there are much better places to check out in VA beach that serve more fresh and flavorful dishes.
(2)Debbie K.
We decided to try this restaurant the other night, despite a few recent negative reviews. We found the staff to be quite attentive and the food was generally good (not great). The atmosphere was rustic and the music from the live artist performing in the bar area was enjoyable even from the dining room. We tried the she-crab soup, which my husband loved, but my daughter didn't care for. I found the French Onion soup to be too sweet for my liking. My oldest practically inhaled two dozen steamers, so those must have been good. My husband also enjoyed the blackened platter, but felt that the fish was the least enjoyable part of the offering. All in all, the food & experience was good and we now find ourselves visiting the dockside every few months to enjoy the view, fresh catch, and other specials. With our additional experiences, I've adjusted our "first impression" 3-star rating up to 4-stars. The food & service is good enough to keep us coming back for more.
(4)Nadia W.
I just moved to Virginia Beach and of all the seafood restaurants I've been to this is by far my favorite great food, great customer service and a great view.
(5)Raghda O.
This place is awesome! Perfect ending to a great day on the beach. We were a large party with children and they were able to accommodate us immediately. We ordered Lynnhaven oysters that were heavenly. The steamed shrimp, buffalo shrimp and fried calamari are delicious. For entrees we had the seafood platter, mahi, tuna and stuffed flounder. I can't even begin to describe them! The service was great and so were prices. If you're ever in VB you should definitely stop by Dockside's.
(5)Matthew B.
The seafood market, as it has been, will always be my go to for fresh seafood and overpriced wine. Five stars, hands down, any day of the week. The restaurant, however, will not be my go to seafood restaurant purely based on the poor, poor service we received late Saturday afternoon. This review is for the restaurant. Four stars for the food, one star for the waitress. We were told to seat wherever we would like so we chose a table on the deck in the sun. Roughly five minutes later a waitress showed up and asked if we had been helped and took drink orders. After our drink order she asked if we had received menus (dumb question). Nope, no menus. When she returned with the drinks, she brought menus and made the comment "just so you know, we have soft-shells" - we love soft shells but also looked curiously at one another knowing this is not the time of year for soft shells. Ten minutes later, when she returned we, our group of four ordered three soft shell sandwiches and one flounder sandwich. We wait and wait and then another ten minutes pass and she returns, "no soft shell sandwiches" and "do we need menus to decide?" - yes, obviously we need menus to re-decide. So after orders are placed, the food comes out in not such a short time later and includes everything but my flounder sandwich. She has brought the "platter" version with two sides and said "oops, this isn't yours - i told them to hold yours but they already made it and i grabbed the wrong one" I could go on and on about how the waitress disappeared for 10-15 minutes at a time leaving both our table and another one behind us on our own. I watched two other waiters/waitresses happily assist their customers, not taking more than a few minutes if there was a special request. We were at this restaurant for almost two hours during a dead, dead time of the day when the restaurant was slow! We waited on the check for nearly 20 minutes after she "forgot it" twice. She served food to the table behind us and disappeared leaving them without napkins or silverware. We watched the table angrily get up and search for what they needed. Our waitress looked shocked when we came inside to get our check, stumbled around to find it and handed it over. I'm hoping that it was just a bad day for her, or maybe she's dating one of the cooks, or wants to date, and was just flirting away the whole time we were that but there is no excuse for the poor, poor service we received. If you see this waitress, move to a different table. Now.
(2)Michelle R.
My family and I visited this restaurant tonight while traveling. We were a little hesitant when we first pulled up. Once inside, the servers were friendly and the view was perfect! We all LOVED the spinach, artichoke and crab dip, but some didn't enjoy eating it on the hard bagel chips - I personally loved that. For the price it would have been nice to get complimentary hush puppies with our meal. We purchased a basket with our appetizer because we were starving and they were just OK. I had blackened crab cakes and they were the BEST I've ever eaten! My daughters had the kid's meal crab legs and they enjoyed them although they were steamed too long and didn't pop out of the shells like they should. Hubs had the broiled platter and while he enjoyed it, the portion was small for the large price! The desserts were enjoyed by all although they were also small portions. I expected to be stuffed for $140 and none of us were - even after two appetizers. While the food was good we'll definitely try another spot on any future visits.
(3)Ana P.
This is my new spot for seafood! I love the casual atmosphere with expertly cooked fresh seafood and great service. I had the fresh oysters, Lynnhaven ones were my favorite. The crab cakes are the best I've ever had! The steamed Maine lobsters are excellent, juicy, sweet, tender... and reasonably priced. We also had the hush puppies that were delicious with corn kernels. My husband had the broiled scallops and he raved about them. My sons had their usual chicken tenders, they were homemade and yummy. The only thing I didn't care for was the calamari, for me the batter was too eggy. Great wine selection! My mom was visiting and she wanted a casual place with a deck next to the water so I yelped and found this gem! We went there twice within two weeks! The second time the weather was beautiful and we sat outside. What a treat! All of a sudden a beautiful yacht moored at the dock. It was a memorable Sunday lunch. As we were leaving we had to look at the Seafood Market. I have never seen a cleaner seafood market! They are usually smelly but this one is super clean with great variety and agai, reasonably priced. We bought littleneck clams to make them in a garlicky wine broth for a light dinner with toasted baguette. I love this place and would definitely be back and recommend it to seafood lovers!
(5)Preston H.
My wife and I got married on the beach very near this local restaurant and our friend arranged for the 20 members of our family to have dinner there to mark the occasion. This restaurant is the true epitome of "don't judge a book by it's cover". To enter, you have to come through a small market and it appears to be a "Dive Bar" but the dining experience did not disappoint. I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and have a high expectation for seafood and it's preperation. The prices were more than reasonable and the food was exceptional, especially the broiled seafood of all varities and, as others have mentioned, the crab cakes. The flounder my wife ordered was flaky and moist and flavored beautifully. Everything I tasted surpassed my expectations. The setting is rustic and the wait staff is young and inexperienced (at least our servers) but they were eager and patient with a large party including children and did a great job! We met and thanked the owner on our way out (who had been on the beach when we were married, catching and prepping fish for the night's service). In short, this is a great escape from the commercial tourist area in VA Beach and i can't wait to visit again when I visit my VA Beach friends in the future.
(4)Amber C.
Came here specifically for blue crabs! They did not disappoint. The rest of the experience however did. Inside was very much a bar atmosphere, loud, rowdy, crowded... on a Tuesday night at 6. The service outside was slow, and the food took an eternity. Literally multiple tables were in and out before we got our meal (I'm guessing it was the crabs but an hour still felt excessive). I would be willing to go back and order different food because the food was not an issue. Hopefully it was just an off night.
(2)Jenn K.
This place was pretty good! Got to arrive by boat at sunset, literally, via dockside, which was fun! very romantic/ idyllic setting from the outdoor dock side. Highly recommend coming here during good weather at sunset! We all had massive portions, especially the side veggies with the meals and the salads. I enjoyed a sumptuous feast of snow crab legs. A lot of them were difficult to crack so its possible they weren't super fresh but since I'm slow at the tedious process of cracking crabs and they were cooling off quickly, I'm not sure. The server was attentive but it took really, really long to receive main dishes so thats the only reason I didn't really give 5 stars. I left my cc here and was so grateful that they held it for me! I also enjoyed shopping and browsing around their market inside. Great gift ideas, tshirts and unique wines/liquors with beautiful labels!
(4)Jon P.
Great food, value and service. Went there with local friends and three of us had grouper with their redskin potatoes mixed fresh vegetables and salads. The grouper was the best we ever tasted as were the potatoes and vegetables.
(5)Davin H.
Order your fresh tuna between seared and medium rare... Best seafood I have had in years...
(5)Ted T.
Poor service. Main entree did not come out with rest of partys food. Kitchen couldn't get order right. Did get a free beer for the outrageous wait. Maybe it was the server, maybe it was the kitchen, but whoever the manager was they never came to table to apologize or be accountable for wait or poor service. Meh
(1)Xerxes N.
Nothing super stellar to report here. I went there a few weeks ago for my best friend's birthday. Just like any place on this strip you'll get a pretty view of the water. The food was decent at best. I ordered a dozen raw oysters and had a few shells that you could taste on a few bites. Our wait staff was pretty helpful but I do remember service being a bit slow.
(2)Angie M.
Called ahead to ask if blue crabs were on the menu since it was my husband's birthday and he wanted them. They had them. He ordered oysters and half a dozen crabs. I had spinach dip appetizer and she crab soup. My husband eats crabs and oysters EVERYWHERE he goes. He is well versed. He ate one of the oysters and almost barfed. He never tasted anything so gross. He said it tasted like the garbage of a seafood restaurant smells. Bad. A few more smelled not so good so he sent them back. Crabs were small and not meaty as described. He was not impressed. One was bad, too. My soup was good and the appetizer was supposed to have crab in it but I didn't taste any. Probably will not return. The waiter tried to make it better but...
(2)Johney M.
Went to Dockside with friends. Perfect night the wait on the inside was 45 min and on the outside an hour and a half. Prices were reasonable to high. food was plentiful and delish! Wait staff very friendly and attentive. The room they sat us in was very very loud. Everyones voices seemed to echo. Way too noisy! I would most diff. go back just on a different night and time. Loved it!
(4)Rachel W.
Ask for a table with a view of the melted fan! Oh, and the water. :) This restaurant came right when my family needed it. We had spent the day in Virginia Beach, and we wanted seafood. All the places near the boardwalk had terrible reviews on Yelp, so we ventured away from there. We got to this little cluster of restaurants and I again checked Yelp, and we decided to go with the one that had the best reviews, and it was Dockside! You walk through their market to get to the restaurant, and at 530 on a Friday night they were picking up and getting busy, but they had plenty of room and we sat right down. Some of my party got the she-crab soup, and said it was marvelous! We also got calamari for an appetizer, which was delicious. All of us got shrimp in some form, and we all agreed they were the highlight of the meal! The shrimp were huge and fresh and delicious. Their crab cakes were really delicious, and even the person who got steak said their steak was perfect! The waitress was friendly and offered recommendations and any info on dishes we wondered about, and she was willing to humor my family and our silliness. I went with a group of five, but we saw them handle several big groups (12+) with speed and ease. I highly recommend Dockside! I wish I lived here so I could visit frequently.
(4)Noella M.
We go there a lot. Just ask for a table and we are good. No problem with service...fast. we eat early to avoid the crowd so we are good. Recommendation: steamed shrimp, crab cakes divine, non greasy french fries, fried flounder great, large servings...and more. Parking is fine. Why not five stars...hard seats for my back...but that just me, my husand, and two friends.
(4)Pat G.
This review is for the Market only. When you walk into a seafood market and don't smell any fish it's a good thing and that is what happens when you walk in here. There is another seafood market very very close to this place and it pales in comparison in selection and price. I got oysters and clams. The person selection my oysters tapped them together to verify they are alive, so much fun to watch him. The Lynnhaven oysters were delicious, I'm sure they would have been wherever I bought them but the price and selection was much better than any other local spot. The only downside is the other grocery items and wine they carry, very over priced. The seafood is fresh and delicious.
(4)E S.
Awesome service and great food. Thanks for a great experience! ! Extremely accommodating to a large party with kids. Enjoyable experience by all. Recommend!!
(4)Dinah K.
The she crab soup was bland, but I liked the red snapper and loved the oysters. While the food was so-so, service and location and ambiance were on point.
(3)Gene Z.
My wife and I have been going to Dockside for many years now and it is still the best place in the Tidewater region for excellent seafood. On a recent visit, I had the crab cake sandwich and my wife had the steamed shrimp. Both were excellent. The crab cake was perfectly broiled and was all crab, no filler. The accompanying French fries were hot and just perfect. My wife's shrimp were jumbo, perfectly steamed with just the right amount of seasoning. They are served with melted butter and cocktail sauce. In the past, we have had the she crab soup, and the catch of the day. Order the rockfish or flounder, depending on the season. Never has the food disappointed. The décor is just what the name implies, dockside with seating either on the dock overlooking the Lynnhaven inlet, or inside with bar and adjoining restaurant decorated of course, in nautical décor. It is clean and bright. The service is prompt and friendly. Dockside is the go-to place for Chesapeake Bay dining.
(4)Deanna J.
This place was kind of hard to find. Now that we've found this place we will be going back. My husband friend told us about this place. The food here was great!!! I had the stuffed flounder (real crab meat stuffing). My husband had the rock fish meal. I couldn't eat all of my food. Needles to say the next day it was still very tasty. The staff was very nice and pleasant. I would definitely recommend trying this place.
(4)Jessica C.
Great fresh and affordable seafood. The crab cakes are a must. The outdoor seating on the deck is also wonderful even in the summer.
(5)Mel V.
My wife and I joined a few friends on July 7 for a going away get-together. This was my first time eating here, and I must say, I really enjoyed my dinner experience. When we first got there, we went straight to the bar as we waited for our party to arrive. The bartenders were very friendly and made great drinks for us. Our server (bayle279 according to the receipt) was also friendly and did a great job serving our table. My wife and I ordered the fried calamari as an appetizer and baked stuffed flounder n fried oysters as our meals. The food was GREAT and I'm looking forward to going back to Dockside in the near future! The only downside for me and the reason why I didn't give Dockside 5 stars was the hostess/greeter. She was not very welcoming and seemed a little annoyed when I told her we had a party of 8. Not a good first impression. Fortunately, the rest of the staff was great and made up for her unfriendliness. I highly recommend this place, and again, looking forward to going back for great seafood dinner.
(4)Lora W.
I love sitting outside, inches from the Lynnhaven, eating well prepared seafood. It's a casual atmosphere, dining at wooden tables. The she-crab soup was some of the best I have ever eaten. There were huge chunks of lump crab throughout. We also got calimari which was lightly battered, thin pieces perfectly cooked. I ordered the fried shrimp. They were huge with a light crunchy coating. I got the red skinned potatoes which were nicely crisp with garlic. The steamed vegetables were really good. It was huge pieces of broccoli, zucchini, carrots, cabbage and green beans. They were cooked to perfection. Our meal was a little pricey but we had lots of leftovers, so I don't consider it a bad deal.
(5)Kirstina C.
Dockside is my family's go-to place when we are craving great seafood. Our out-of-town guests also love ordering frozen seafood from this place to take home with them because everything is always so fresh and delicious. On this particular visit, we had a party of 6 and were seated immediately. You have to walk in through the market to get to the restaurant area (I'm sure there's another entrance somewhere that I haven't seen before). There are three places you can eat: the bar area, regular seating area, or on the deck (which is amazing on a nice spring/summer day!). Because it was a particular chilly day, we sat in the regular seating area and were about the only ones there. We ordered our drinks, appetizers, and food almost right away. For our appetizers, we ordered a couple bowls of she crab soup (which is always creamy with a ton of lump crab meat), calamari (comes with the tentacles, breading is very good!), and raw oysters (which basically tasted like they're fresh from the ocean, my fave!). I always order the crab cakes with potato salad because they were so huge and tasty. You can order the crab cakes broiled or fried. They were also on special for $14.99 as a weekly night special (I want to say it was a Thursday). Because we like to order a variety of different items, I never finish my food. It's great as a lunch the next day! I highly recommend this place to anyone searching for great seafood on Shore Drive!
(5)Matt P.
It must've been an "off" night at this oft-positively reviewed restaurant, known for fresh local seafood and a no-frills ambiance. The wait was long for our party of seven (not unexpected on a Saturday evening), but we enjoyed the outdoor band by the dock and grabbed a few beers before the meal. The kids played around. All was fine - until we actually got our meals. A lot of the food just wasn't fresh. The flounder was very thin and stuck to the plate, the stuffed shrimp ($23) was overcooked and tough, and the fried calamari was stuck together in very heavy batter -- would've been much better with the lighter, flakier version you see at a place like Gordon Biersch in Virginia Beach. The tuna bites were fine but were also overcooked beyond our specifications of medium rare. As for the service, they consistently refilled our drinks and made appareances throughout the meal. Unfortunately, I was double-charged for dinner even when we gave them two cards to split the meal. It was an error that could've easily been avoided by the waitstaff. Hopefully that charge will come off my bank account (as they provided me with a voided receipt), and I thankfully had enough money in my account at the time. So... A mixed bag with service. Later that evening, a few of the guests in our party weren't feeling well. It wasn't food poisoning, but we were obviously not eating fresh seafood. Overall, this was a disappointing experience given the positive reviews. Some restaurants get really busy and cut corners -- and that was evident during our time at the Dockside.
(2)Maricruz M.
The food is great and the customer service is excellent. Love to eat here. I have brought family members here when they are in town, hearing live music and amazing food can't wait for the summer
(5)Jill N.
Best seafood market anywheres in VB. Great restaurant happy hour specials.
(5)Curtis M.
I went there during happy hour on Fri. Super packed! Everyday they have a happy hour special menu. Their buffalo shrimps are so tasty. Also Lynheaven oyster at the seafood market is awesome. I often buy there. If you eat at Salacia, wow pricy!
(3)