Old Dock House & Marina — Restaurant in Town of Essex

The Old Dock House in Essex, NY is a true lakeside gem that delivers the perfect blend of relaxed Adirondack charm and unforgettable views. Nestled right on the edge of Lake Champlain, just steps from the Essex-Charlotte ferry, it offers stunning panoramic views of the Vermont mountains and sunset-lit water that create an unbeatable dining atmosphere. Whether you're seated on the deck under shaded canopies or inside the rustic, nautical-themed dining room, the vibe is warm, casual, and welcoming. Service is consistently friendly and efficient—even at peak summer hours—and the staff makes everyone feel right at home, from families with kids to boaters pulling up to dock. The cocktail list is a highlight (don't miss the mango-infused “Essex Escape”), and the dog-friendly policy, sandbox for kids, and live music nights make it a true summer destination.

The menu leans into classic American and pub-style favorites with a focus on seafood, and it delivers with consistently solid execution. Favorites include the French Dip sandwich, coconut shrimp, and a generously stuffed lobster roll. Portions are satisfying, and there are gluten-free options available for those who need them. The casual vibe doesn't sacrifice quality—this is hearty, comforting fare made for enjoying with a cold drink and a lake breeze. The Old Dock is only open seasonally, so timing your visit from May to October is key, especially if you're planning to catch one of their legendary sunsets. Whether you're arriving by ferry, by car, or by boat, The Old Dock House is a must-visit for anyone in the Champlain Valley looking for a memorable and relaxing dining experience. Five stars, every time.

Two twos my word ya gerbert memaws brisket was boosin. Also don’t mind my acoustic cousins they were drunk on all of the...

Only drink here. BYOF. Everyone who has been here knows this, so I will reiterate ADAMANTLY the following for newcomers: 1) the setting is great. The view is beautiful, the ambiance is great, the table setting is decent - how can you not enjoy it? 2) the servers are very friendly, if completely disorganized. The people who work the floor are nice, but it seems clear they are covering for a haphazard management and a kitchen that is run by feral cats. 3) the food is literally terrible. I don’t know how it’s even possible to mess up a BLT chicken club but they did. It was like eating cardboard and old mayonnaise with day old bacon strips and the charred remains of a bird that fell into a house fire. All our food was cold. COLD. Fries were cold. A toasted sandwich was cold. The BURGER WAS COLD. How does food even get this cold? Did they refrigerate it? They had time - it took 45 minutes. It’s like they went out of their way to see how terrible of a food experience they could make. Lastly, the artichoke dip is probably the most ridiculous attempt at food I have ever seen from a supposed restaurant in my life. A basic hors d’ouvre that ANYONE can look up on the internet how to make fabulous in about 5 minutes was literally just mayonnaise from a jar and some oily preserved artichokes mixed in. I think my 4 year old nephew cooks better than this. I still cannot believe they served this with a straight face. My suspicion is that they are filming everything and it’s a show about what level of terrible food people are willing to pretend to enjoy when presented with a good view. McDonalds is caviar compared to this. How is it possible that this happens? WHO is the chef??? A horse? I just...

I’ll give this place two stars for the fact that it is on the Lakes’ edge. I have to say that the manager named Missy, is the absolute worst individual that any business owner could employ. So we showed up yesterday from Willsboro, NY. Looking for a different scene. The weather was great. The place was lightly busy. Time being 1:30. We were seated. Ordered a beer. Enjoying the scenery. My wife has a neck condition. She asked if we could be reseated at a recently vacated table. Right on the water’s edge. We waited patiently. We then asked our waitress again if we could move to the other table. A table of OUR choice. We were told that we could NOT move to another table. Again we were willing to wait for the table to be cleared.

SO My wife approached the Hostess/Manager/Missy and asked why we couldn’t be seated to a different table. She replied; we had multiple people ask for that table. All told No. PERHAPS the manager doesn’t realize that the Patrons pay her!! Missy/manager is not good for business. She doesn’t smile. And she’s Very RUDE to patrons. Sadly our enjoyable afternoon was disrupted by her actions/demeanor. The wait staff observed gets 5...