Dockside Seafood and Grill — Restaurant in Branford

As expected from some other reviews I have read, this was a great place for dinner! You cannot beat the atmosphere and setting. We arrived around 7-7:30 or so. We had a short 20 minute wait, which we took as an opportunity to have a cocktail at the bar. We were able to get some stunning photos of the docks and sunset...if I may say so myself. ;) I started with the crab cake appetizer. It came out as a rather good size which means, as in most cases, it was mostly filler and not much crab. Unfortunately, this was the case here as well. Still very good, but I certainly prefer much more crab. I would still give it a solid 3.5, because it was a decent crab cake. The two entrees we had were an Orecchiette with lobster and a grilled salmon with rice pilaf. The Salmon was grill well, meaning it wasn't burnt or tasting like a cinder. Luckily, they know enough not to have the grill too high. The lobster dish was great. There was no shortage of lobster by any means. I counted 4 full claws and several legs as I shoved it down my gullet. It was served in an Alla Vodka sauce, which I think is a bit too heavy for lobster, but again, couldn't stop eating it. The service was....mehh You can tell that our server was not trained too well, or was just tired from the day. Either way, she was a bit of an afterthought. Not very attentive, knowledgeable, or overly enthusiastic about much. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and say it might have been an off day. At the end of the day, it is certainly a spot that I would stop in again if I am ever...

TLDR: Perfect Coastal Gem Before Your Thimble Island Cruise

We had such a wonderful experience at Dockside Restaurant in Branford, this spot is a true hidden gem on the shoreline.

From the moment we arrived, we were seated right away on the outdoor patio, where the view overlooking the marina was absolutely beautiful. The breeze off the water was refreshing, and even though the place was buzzing with regulars and locals (always a good sign), there was enough space between tables that we could relax and enjoy real conversation. The whole setting felt peaceful, coastal, and authentically New England.

The seafood options are outstanding, especially for those of us who prefer our seafood fresh, light, and simply prepared not buried in deep batter and fryers. Everything we ordered was cooked perfectly and tasted so fresh.

My husband had the tuna steak, and it was tender and flavorful.

My in-laws each tried something different: the swordfish steak, and the blackened salmon were both excellent.

My mom and I both had the lobster roll, but I opted for mine served over rice instead of roll, and it was absolutely delicious. Light, satisfying, and full of flavor.

Everything came out hot, fresh, and plated with care. The service was easygoing and kind, without being rushed or too formal..just the way it should be at a shoreline restaurant.

This made for the perfect lunch stop before our Thimble Island cruise, part of our Branford shoreline tour. The food, the views, and the breeze made the day feel extra special.

We’ll...

I have eaten here with my family many, many times. The last time I went was for a relative's birthday, and that was about a week before they closed down for the season. One owner was present, and we thought it odd that she allowed what amounted to just about the entire waitstaff to congregate very near to our table. They staff was talking about weekend plans, texting, joking and laughing in an area that was literally on top of our seats; they acted like we were invisible. They were rude and grabbed up our dishes before we finished, and made us feel very rushed. One waiter went to take away a family member's soup dish, and my family member, finally have had enough said, "can I finish it first?" That earned us a dirty look. We didn't order birthday dessert, because they made us so uncomfortable. We didn't have a dedicated server either. One of the group would swoop down on us, continue to talk to his/her friends while taking the dishes away. We were never asked how anything was, did we want more wine, or soda; nothing. The food wasn't even good that night.They were right on top of us for a very uncomfortable 40 minutes. I spent a lot of money that night for cold clam chowder, and greasy fish. Worst of all, the owner was present almost the entire time and didn't say anything...