Weathervane Seafood Restaurant — Restaurant in Dover

While the food is ok, definitely gone downhill in the last 5 years or so, some items are still very good. We used to visit probably a couple times a month, but after the hideous treatment we received at our last visit, it will definitely be my LAST visit. So with Covid 19 disrupting everyone’s lives and routines, we, like most everyone else, find ourselves cooking more meals at home, but still trying to help out local businesses by ordering from one of them a week. So, we called and placed an order to Weathervane in Dover, when we got there, went in, payed and tipped (our tips during Covid shutdowns have been considerably more than normal, as we realize how hard these times have been for the staff), came out and saw there were actually tables outside we could sit at to enjoy our meal, rather than sitting in our vehicle. There were 4 or 5 tables on one side of the building and only one was occupied. We sat at a table and were right in the middle of our lunch, when the manager came out and VERY condescendingly said, “this is ok THIS time, but for your information-these tables are for “order in” patrons only!” I replied, well, considering what’s going on in the world currently, I would think you’d be happy to have anyone ordering from you, and you would be a little bit more welcoming. What is the difference if we sit here, or take it home! It’s not like you’re missing out on a tip or anything, and we’re not keeping the table from anyone else? She said that doesn’t matter, these are for dine in only. Then as if THAT didn’t make us uncomfortable enough, or ruin my appetite-I stopped eating my meal after she left-ANOTHER staff member, a waiter walked by and said “ these tables are for dine in only” to which I replied-yes, we were very rudely informed of that minutes ago. And honestly that’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard in a long time! He said, no, it’s really not! I informed him it most definitely is, we paid for our food, and left a pretty hefty tip, which we now regret leaving, it shouldn’t matter if we use an EMPTY table! You clearly don’t have a line of customers waiting to sit! He replied well, we do have a list! When we left, the party that was seated when we got there was still there, and as we drove past the other side of the building we saw 6 or 7 additional tables-ALL EMPTY!!! We will never visit there again, and if anyone wants tremendously delicious-fresh seafood, try out Windjammers Restaurant in Rochester! Fabulous food and they truly APPRECIATE...

IF I COULD GIVE 0 STARS I WOULD!!! On 5/23/19 I took my mom and daughter to The Weathervane in Dover, NH for an early dinner. Since my mom just moved to the area a couple months ago I thought it was a nice place to bring my family. My mom and daughter ordered the clam strips dinner and I ordered the whole clams. We had our dinner, got a couple of to-go boxes, paid the bill, left a hefty tip and went to our separate homes (my daughter and I live two hours away). Well within my 2 hour commute home, my mom called me and asked how I was feeling and I told her I was ok. Well she proceeded to tell me that she had been throwing up and has had diarrhea for the past 2 hours. I then called my daughter and she informed me that she had been experiencing the same symptoms as my mom. I immediately told them both to throw away those to-go boxes and that I would call the restaurant in the morning. I called the Weathervane the next day and informed them as to what both my mom and daughter was experiencing and that I was concerned for any other patrons that may order the clam strips and they should check to see if they were bad. The manager on duty was very nice and apologized for what they were going through, said that she was going to check the clam strips and email corporate right away of this incident. I gave her my name, address, phone number, receipt number and explained they both ate the same thing... clam strips. Well here it is a week later and no phone call, not anything in the mail, nothing. I called again today got a different manager and explained I called last week and haven't heard back from anyone in a week and she proceeded to tell me.... get this: "well they are quite busy with a lot of complaints".......WAIT WHAT!!!? Um no thanks Weathervane I'll be spending my $80 on dinner...

Unfortunately, this was probably one of the worst restaurants I've ever been to. The service was wonderful, my waitress was very nice and attentive but that's about all I can give this place. It's not clean, it's not fresh, there is a severe lack of diverse menu options and no one in my party finished their plate let alone eat half of it. If a customer has 90% of their food left on their plate and asks you to take it away, you should be asking if the food was to the customers liking or of something was wrong with it. People don't go out to eat just to throw money away and not eat the food.. Not to mention the prices here are FAR above what they should be for what I would consider school cafeteria grade food in both taste and presentation. The "famous fish and chips" were extremely fishy tasting and veryyy slimey. The batter was slowly sliding off the fish and the smell of it was off putting. Just a few bites made my stomach turn. The table seasoning was old and discolored but they had topped it off with "fresher" seasoning creating a line between the old, pale, unused seasoning and the new. I watched kitchen staff go into the bathroom on their phones and walk out without having washed their hands. I hate leaving such a negative review as I believe the wait staff are well trained and good at their job- but I really encourage anyone and everyone to pick a different restaurant. From the older reviews it seems like this place used to have it together a little better before COVID hit. It's not worth "seeing for yourself" with this one, it's just not...