Tognazzini's Dockside Restaurant — Restaurant in Morro Bay

Tognazzini's Dockside Restaurant in Morro Bay has quickly become our favorite dining spot in the area, and our recent visit only reaffirmed our love for this establishment. This was our second time dining here since October 2022, and once again, we were met with exceptional service and a delightful atmosphere.

One of the standout features of Tognazzini's is their dog-friendly policy. As dog owners, it can be challenging to find restaurants that accommodate our furry friends, but Tognazzini's goes above and beyond in this regard. The fact that they warmly welcome dogs made our experience even more enjoyable. We appreciated being able to bring our two doggies along and found the outdoor patio to be a perfect setting. We particularly liked the table at the very end, facing the wharf, which provided a serene spot for our pets away from other guests.

The staff at Tognazzini's was absolutely wonderful. The moment we entered, we felt welcomed and taken care of. The ordering process was simple: you place your order at the counter, and they call you when it's ready. The efficiency of the staff ensured a smooth experience. Their attentiveness and friendly demeanor added to the overall positive ambiance of the restaurant.

Now, let's talk about the food—it was simply awesome. The menu offered a variety of options, and we tried a few different dishes. I opted for the salmon taco, smoked scallop taco, and clam chowder, all of which were flavorful and expertly prepared. The combination of fresh ingredients and skilled cooking techniques was evident in every bite. My wife enjoyed the fried oyster and chips, which he found to be deliciously satisfying. Even our doggies were treated to their own meal of chicken strips, and we appreciated that they provided a bowl of water for them.

The live music at Tognazzini's added an extra layer of enjoyment to our dining experience. The artist played acoustic guitar and sang happy, relaxing songs that perfectly complemented the ambiance. It created a pleasant and laid-back atmosphere, making our evening all the more enjoyable.

In conclusion, Tognazzini's Dockside Restaurant exceeded our expectations once again. With its dog-friendly policy, relaxed casual dining, and stunning views, it has become our go-to place in Morro Bay. The attentive staff, delicious food, and live music only added to the overall fantastic experience. We highly recommend Tognazzini's to locals and visitors alike who are looking for a memorable dining experience in a...

Charming little dockside restaurant. Their SCALLOPED POTATOES are amazing!! Honestly, I would never expect a side dish to be the star of the night, but they were so tasty, I would totally go just to get that. What do I have to do to get the recipe? 😄

The swordfish was very moist and literally drowned in butter (which is fine by me 😀). The lemon flavor was a bit stronger than I like, but I understand lemon is one of the most common flavors selected to accompany seafood, and many people will probably enjoy it.

The "spaghetti and meat sauce" (actually linguini, as all their pasta dishes are) had more meat than noodles and tomato combined! I mean, you're definitely getting your money's worth of meat, but I would have actually appreciated some more pasta. The ratio was ridiculous and it made the sauce very greasy. It almost appears as if they didn't drain any grease from the meat at all. I couldn't eat all the meat. Cheesy garlic bread is complimentary with pasta, but you have to ask for it.

Sourdough bread & butter is also complimentary before your meal, by request. The bread and butter were quite good.

Most entrees highlight a wide selection of fresh seafood, though there is at least one chicken dish, and linguini with meatsauce, if you don't care for seafood. They also have a kid's menu/”lighter appetites" section with more traditional (non-seafood) fare, like mac & cheese, cheese quesadilla, chicken breast and hamburger patties. Burgers & sandwiches available during lunch.

Most tables have a decent view of Morro rock and the adjacent docks. No booths, as far as I could see.

Expect to pay $20-30 per adult for dinner. A wee bit pricey, but it's what I expect from a waterfront restaurant right next to Morro Rock. When in Rome!

N.B. It's easy to get confused because they have 3 locations all right next to each other. The main restaurant with traditional indoor table-service is up front, closest to the parking lot. Live music and patio seating (also dog-friendly) is at the "Dockside Too Fish Market" location behind the restaurant and slightly right. The boat-shaped building is the "Dockside 3 Smokehouse/Pub." They're all called Tognazzini's, but have slightly different atmospheres...

I have been wanting to come here for years. Finally was able to come today. And such a disappointment.

It’s a family place that hasn’t been remodeled for decades but that’s the character of the place and I wouldn’t change it.

When we walked in Erika greeted us, answered our questions, then sat us. A gentleman that was cleaning and setting up tables took our drink orders but he didn’t speak great English. But that didn’t stop him and he gave great service! Actually he gave the best service to us tonight. CiCi helped him and also picked up dishes but she had other tables. We had no idea who our true waiter was until after we had ate the bread and crudités (awesome BTW). Then we waited another 5-10 minutes before James showed up (we are now at least 20 minutes being there) and asked us if we were only having drinks. In which we said No. We had come because we were hungry and wanted to try the fish and chips. He apologized. This is when we finally understood who our server was and what’s interesting is he blamed everyone else for not coming to see us sooner but himself for not seeing about us or understanding why we were there. Being in the service industry, even though someone might tell you something, you find out for yourself how someone is doing and if they want something to eat or not. Horrible service by James. Don’t care how busy you might be you should always check on people seated in your service area. It’s a hospitality thing. Care about people.

Now, the food. Erika did tell us that they lightly bread the fish before we sat down. It didn’t register that it wouldn’t be crispy until we got the dish. The fish was indeed lightly breaded but not crispy. Unfortunately the fries were soggy and not great. When you have fish and chips you want both great neither soggy. Not the case here. Have had better on the Central Coast and even better places in Morro Bay.

Sad part, neither one of us have a desire to go back, nor will I ever recommend this place to anyone...