Cole's Dock Side — Restaurant in New York

As a food enthusiast, I'm always on the lookout for exceptional dining experiences. Cole's Dock Side had been on my radar for quite some time, thanks to the many rave reviews it had received. Located on a picturesque marina, I was excited to see what culinary delights the restaurant had to offer. Unfortunately, despite having a decent experience, I was left feeling rather underwhelmed.

Upon arrival, it was hard not to be captivated by the serene waterfront setting, which set the stage for a potentially memorable evening. However, this initial excitement was soon dampened by the lengthy wait time to be seated. Even though the restaurant was fairly busy, the delay seemed excessive, particularly as we had made a reservation in advance.

Once seated, we were eager to peruse the menu, which boasted a selection of seafood dishes and American classics. We decided on an assortment of appetizers to start, including the crab cakes and calamari. The presentation was visually appealing, but the flavors were somewhat lacking, failing to make a lasting impression. The crab cakes, for instance, could have benefited from a zestier sauce, while the calamari needed a touch more seasoning.

For our main courses, we ordered the grilled salmon and the surf and turf. The salmon was cooked well and the accompanying vegetables were fresh, but the dish as a whole failed to excite our taste buds. The surf and turf, featuring a filet mignon and shrimp, was a similar story. While the steak was cooked to our desired temperature, the shrimp was slightly overcooked, and both components were under-seasoned.

Given the stunning marina location and glowing reviews, I had expected a dining experience that went above and beyond the ordinary. However, the food at Cole's Dock Side was merely satisfactory, and nothing truly stood out as exceptional. The service was attentive and friendly, but it wasn't enough to compensate for the unremarkable dishes.

As a restaurant located in such a prime spot, with a reputation for excellence, I believe that Cole's Dock Side has the potential to be so much more. It's crucial for them to up their game, both in terms of flavor and creativity, to truly thrive in the competitive culinary landscape. I hope that, in the future, the management takes note of customer feedback and makes the necessary improvements, so as to live up to the high expectations set by their prime location and glowing reviews.

In conclusion, while Cole's Dock Side didn't leave me with any major complaints, it also didn't provide the memorable dining experience I had anticipated. The long wait time and merely satisfactory food make it hard for me to wholeheartedly recommend this establishment. I hope that the restaurant takes the opportunity to evolve and grow, so that it can reach its full potential and truly make a lasting impression on...

This is a really nice local restaurant serving really fresh seafood. It makes really good use of its location near the marina and being on an island.

I went with my parents on a Saturday night. We called ahead to reserve a table to be safe after a few other places said they were booked. They had the table ready when we arrived but it wasn't really prepared - there wasn't cutlery, plates or glassware for everyone. Overall the service was kind of off - a waitress never introduced herself to us, but random people would walk up to us and ask if we needed anything. The drinks came out pretty quickly and they weren't anything special - the martini with the blue cheese stuffed olive was fine.

The bread basket arrived with a fresh loaf of bread but also one bizarrely stale piece that appeared to be red with sauce. It took a while for the food to come out but it was fresh so I didn't mind. The calamari was delicious - it almost melted in your mouth, firm without being chewy. The duck rolls were alright - the sauce was good but it was clearly an effort to re-use old duck. I had the scallops as my entree and they were delicious. My mother got the blackened shrimp and scallops on top of the arugula salad. The dish had a bit of spice to it so be warned.

Overall I think the service wasn't great because they were really busy - which isn't an ideal scenario but is understandable. I'd also rather a seafood restaurant be too busy than the opposite. I enjoyed my entree a lot and could see myself returning with family for a...

Cole’s Dockside is an amazing restaurant, with gorgeous views, great food, and even better staff. I held my son’s first birthday party at Cole’s Dockside this past weekend and everyone raved about the food and service. I cannot say enough good things about them- From the planning process working with Mike and Lisa, to the day of service working with the new owner and Scott (head wait staff), everything went smoothly. The staff and especially the new owner were so gracious and accommodating. They met all of my needs and then some. We had a large party, which couldn’t be closed off, and I had high expectations for layout and decor. The new owner opened the restaurant very early to allow my decorator to come in and set up and his staff set up the event the exact way I had asked for. He also allowed me to use the completely renovated back room/patio for kids entertainment, which he did not have to do, but was the hit of the party for these children. Mike (manager/bartender) also did a quick magic show for my guests, which was a big hit!

If you’re looking for a great place to have dinner with relaxing and gorgeous views or if you’re looking for a place to host your next party, Cole’s Dockside is it! We will certainly be returning!

P.S. Mike will be performing in a dinner/magic show event at Cole’s. Call now to sign up. Many of my guests will be returning for the show- it was very...