Dock 9 — Restaurant in Stonington

Tonight was our first time going to Dock 9 and we feel so very lucky that we live in a walkable distance to this fabulous new restaurant in Stonington Connecticut.

Whenever I try out a new restaurant and they are bold enough to have shrimp and grits on the menu I go for it. If they can do a good shrimp and grits, especially up north, then generally I consider them pretty good. Now the shrimp and grits at this place are not the normal just basic creole sauce And shrimp. This dish was different yet that does not mean it was bad because in fact, it was excellent! It stayed within the bounds of what grit should be, but added on with additional vegetables and lovely seasonings with just a hint of spice that would make anyone happy. And I was one happy woman eating this amazing dish.

My husband on the other hand, loves Mexican food and had the Carne Asada tacos with flour tortillas. Having lived in Texas we have a good understanding of what Carne Asada should taste like and this was exceptional as well.

The service was amazing, the vibe was cozy yet vibrant. The owners were a delight and truly were looking forward to expanding their new restaurant and making it even more of a neighborhood establishment that would bring in not only locals but travelers as well.

I know a lot of of the buzz right now is for brunch because it is excellent, but their dinner menu is also worthy and it is a great place to watch sports on TV with your friends.

As I like to say, this restaurant is a definite Do Again.

Did I forget to tell you that on Sundays they have Buck a Shuck for oysters? How could I forget...

We went tonight for the 1st time but definitely not the last! The atmosphere was great! We were greeted immediately by a host, who turned out to be our server! In other words, it seems that everyone is a host and a server; we love that!! There’s a total family vibe; everyone was definitely on the same page as far as service goes.

Our server’s name was Kyle; he couldn’t have been more friendly or professional and he knew how to let us have time for ourselves. He did not rush us, but was there when we needed him. (That’s a skill you can’t teach.) . Here’s our food review…. Best Brussels EVA… Quinoa salad …. Fantastic Tortilla elote dip (Mexican street corn ) Fantastic. Meatballs, great Paella …. Large portion… delicious!!!! All drinks were so crafted and truly delicious!!!! Started with infused ciders ended with espresso cocktails!!!! We will all go back..definitely worth checking out. Tara PS. The owners, Morgan and Frank, were on site. They went to each table ensuring people were happy. The live music was really good and at the proper volume so we didn’t need to “talk over” it. What a refreshing place in Southern Rhode Island. Keep up the great work, guys....

10 Stars, 4 Visits, 1 New Obsession ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At this point, I’m not sure if Dock 9 is a restaurant or a personality trait because I’ve been here four times in a week and a half and I have no regrets. If they had a punch card, I’d have a free entrée and probably a reserved parking spot by now.

Tonight’s culinary adventure was led by bartender Noah, who deserves his own Michelin star for cocktail crafting and good vibes alone. I had the blueberry espresso martini (I now believe caffeine, fruit, and vodka are the holy trinity), followed by a Bee Nice, which made me feel exactly that—buzzed and full of joy.

Let’s talk food: The whipped feta? I would fight a goat for the recipe. The wings? Crispy, saucy perfection—no napkin left unneeded. The short rib mac & cheese? I blacked out halfway through and came to just in time to say “I love you” to it.

I’ve reviewed Dock 9 before, but I felt morally obligated to return with a sequel because the food and experience just keep topping themselves. If I disappear for a few days, assume I’ve moved into the bar and am helping Noah zest lemons.

10 stars. Dock...