Dockside Restaurant & Tiki Bar

Very cute and lively. Our server Jamal was great. The cocktails are good and the food was fresh/yummy. I will definitely return. The beach was right outside the restaurant which is a plus. Great first experience.

It was a Saturday night and we were looking for a place that might have live music. This place delivered. We are quickly seated by a large speaker which was way too loud for us. They then moved us to the back section of the restaurant, much better now. Our server made some drink suggestions. There are no draft beers here. They do have a full selection of other drinks and beers. I ordered oysters on the half shell and they were prepared well. There were some small pieces of shell in with the meat. It would be nice if they would cut the meat off the other side of the shell too. I ordered the fried oysters which were just a hair-over cooked but still good. Theyre hush puppies are delicious. My wife ordered the broiled scallops and they were a little overdone also but had good flavor. All in all are pretty good experience. Theres a large tiki bar area outside with cute old boats that you can sit in. I would imagine the view is fantastic when its warmer outside.

This is a fun spot and I look forward to returning. The service was very good. Food was tasty and the Orange Crush was probably the best Ive ever tasted. I wouldnt say Im a connoisseur but Ive had more than a couple. I loved the decor, the creativity with outdoor seating, and decoration.I dont judge this place based on what it isnt. Its a beach bar. It mostly offers fried food but it was well fried so that is a limited complaint. Limited back bar but what they made they did well. Its a beach bar and its fun! But its loud. The space was nowhere near capacity and it was loud. No DJ or live music when I was there. We were on the edge of the outdoor area and could talk ok, but we also could hear several other conversations from 30 ft away. Lastly the outdoor bathrooms (kinda permanent porta potties) need major work. The walls were falling apart and this is the beginning of the season.I do look forward to visiting again and enjoying the beach, orange crush and fantastic staff!

We really enjoyed the food here and the service was spot-on. We got a table right away with no wait at all. There is ample parking also.We ate outside on the patio and had a nice view.I had the Seafood Pasta Jumbalaya which was delicious and perfectly seasoned. The sausage has a little “kick” to it but it is not overpowering. The pasta was cooked al dente and was sort of a curly pasta. The curly pastas tend to hold more sauce (and thus more flavor than the flat pastas such as egg noodles for example) due to the increased surface area. This pasta was a great choice for the jambalaya.My wife had the Scallop Basket which was also delicious. The scallops are lightly breaded and seasoned in a creole seasoning. They were tender and perfectly cooked. It was served with fries.We will be back again to try other things on the menu for sure. When in the area, stop by this little gold-mine of a restaurant for delicious seafood with a southern flare.

Saw this place on Instagram as a great place to bring kids. It was just ok. The atmosphere is more adult (bar, drinks ,etc). The area is very tiny. The photos make it appear to look like a larger. Everything was condensed so the kids are right on top of the customers drinking at the bar. The food was ok.

If you sit outside its self service dining. You order at the bar and pick up your food and drinks there.Food is a bit over priced for bar food, if you are sitting outside no refills on your soft drinks. Bar drinks are reasonable on the alcohol pour.The overall atmosphere is great! We look forward to our next visit.

This place is seriously the bomb. The food was absolutely amazing. So fresh and well prepared and service was quick! The drinks were delicious too. Live music and dancing. It was a very friendly atmosphere. I can not wait to come back!

Stopped by for Sunday Brunch. Variety of outdoor seating, good fun, great music

We have been going here for years, for the view of the lake at the restaurant’s doorstep. As the weather cools, bring a sweater to the outdoor cafe that is the real reason to come to this special place.The food has noticeably improved this year. And there are tasteful shirts to buy if you want to buy into sporting your favorite eatery, etc..

Only gave 4 stars due to lack of signage.. hostess booth at entry was empty. Wandered around five minutes till we figured out what we were doing. Once we figured it out the food was excellent, waitress was great, milky way cake was off the charts, dockside punch was delicious!!

8/18/23 Dockside has one of the coolest vibes of any restaurant I’ve ever seen. Every weekend there is a DJ or live music. The seating ia a variety from anything from eating on a beached pontoon to hammock chairs to picnic tables with thatched roof umbrellas. My seared tuna tacos were delicious!!! The sweet hostess was working her tail off (give that young lady a raise) and was smiling the whole time. Great place for friends, families, or just by yourself. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND going for dinner so you can enjoy the beautiful sunset!

Its an outdoor bar. My only complaint really was it was loud. The music, possibly a DJ was just too loud. Im used to outdoor bars, etc. but this was exceptionally loud. Kids were dancing and everyone was having fun! So thats all that counts. Mixed drinks a little pricey for what it was. Friendly staff.

Well start with he good. The Dad Guys were a great choice for live music. They are fantastic and I wish they had a large crowd to entertain when I was there.The location and setup is great. The decor is perfect for the vibe that one would want for a beach bar scene.The menu is pretty basic and not very exciting. Our waitress seemed to have a hard time focusing and forget our drinks and food. It took awhile for her to come back and tell us that on a Sunday night that only the prepaid margaritas and other drinks were all that they had. I asked for an Old Fashion and she told me that the bourbon bar wasnt open. There was a bar area with a lot of people, so it seems odd that only the speciality drinks were available.Unfortuneatly the food was overcooked and bland. Based on the prior reviews and reputation, I think that they were just having a bad night. Hopefully Ill have a better experience the next time.

Every summer, we visit Dockside with a large group. It’s one of the best days of the year with friends and family. Dockside never disappoints. Delicious food & drinks, friendly & efficient service, awesome music, and overall amazing atmosphere. Thanks Dockside & wonderful staff for being so accommodating and helping create so many great memories for us.

Went on Memorial Day weekend. It was packed full. Everyone was out enjoying the sun and waves or playing on the beach. Had a few drinks and some fries to munch on and tide us over.The fries were good, the kitchen got a little swamped, and they ran out of a few things on the menu, so it had to shut down for a little bit for a resupply. The holiday rush got to them, but they held it together like champs and kept thing churning out at a decent pace.The drinks were really good. Got the dockside punch and electric lizard. Refreshing, and we got them in buckets. So we had a nice little souvenir to take home too.The atmosphere was what youd expect from a beach side bar. You had picnic tables,you can eat in boats, swimging hammocks.The staff was great. They have two stages where live music is played. We caught the tail end of one act and the beginning of another. Had to leave cause the weather was getting a bit spotty but could easily spend a good while here. People were friendly and you can watch the boats and jet skis sail by on the river.

This place could be so great, I was so excited to take my family here, on the water, lots of tables on the sand, plenty of room to bring kids. The problem was that the music was SO LOUD nobody could hear each other speak. Even inside, when the DJ/band were playing outside, it was deafening. Our kids and our friends kids asked to leave many times because it was hurting their ears. It was hurting my ears, too! Such a lovely place in a nice location ruined by excessively loud music. I would totally understand the volume level if it was a night time event and people were dancing, but this was 5pm! Please consider turning the music down by like 50% during dinner hours.

Colonial Beach is a nice town to visit. If you want a good place to relax, grab a drink and have some food...stop by the Dockside. It is located right on the water, providing a nice setting to take in some sun and relax. They have a nice Tiki bar on the beach and their food was tasty. We tried the punch and the orange crush drinks, both good. The dockside burger was tasty, as was the cheesesteak and the hushpuppies. The staff is friendly and you will definitely enjoy yourself here. Stop in and have yourself a good time.

The weather unfortunately was gloomy and cold but great atmosphere! Beers were food and the fried mozzarella was tasty w marinara. Didnt really eat eat here and the burger my boyfriend got looked like a simple burger. I would come back for the atmosphere when the weather is warm and take advantage of the outdoor setting.

I love this place! It’s such a nice spot to feel like you’re not in Virginia. The vibe is cute and there is seating everywhere- people even sit in the boats to listen to the live music. Margaritas there are 💯 and the food is ok. I usually get the crab cakes, my son loves the Philly cheesesteak and my husband loves the oysters. We mostly go for the atmosphere, drinks and music - my kids love to run around and play with people’s dogs.

Great vibes, views, and people! As a visitor passing through Colonial Beach, I can tell this place was a local favorite. Very family friendly as well, I was glad to see that my toddler was one of many enjoying their outdoor space. Food and drinks were good as well.

Staff very attentive Food was delicious both evenings ordered the specials #1 Prime rib (was delicious best I’ve had in a while and cooked to perfection ) #2 was Turkey leg again great cool tiki vibe we were visiting during the week but looked like entertainment on weekends.

Food is typical beachy fare. Our server failed to show up in spirit. If you don’t like people enough to engage, why work with the public?! Great atmosphere, though. The hammocks were very popular and looked inviting.

Went their with the family, fast service getting seated and good selection of cocktails and starters. I had the rockfish (blackend) and it was awesome. Great taste and perfect texture. Great view of the beach and not too loud.

I didn’t eat anything because I had went some where else earlier but was recommended to come see TABOO from S Maryland and that Band is AWESOME!!!! They play music for EVERYONE and I LOVE IT!!! They had me kicking up sand!!!! I’ll try the food next time. 😉😉😉

Delicious & well run eatery, dogs, bathing suits & children are welcome. The Roadducks Band was playing great music & the outdoor atmosphere can’t be topped. Lots of laughter & silly antics from guests. I’ll def be back❣️👏🏼👏🏼 I LoVe Colonial Beach, VA… such a relaxing, laid back vibe. My kind of place‼️

The staff was super friendly and offered excellent customer service. I had the fried oysters and hubby had scallops basket. Cooked perfectly and served immediately as the fries were hot and super crunchy. Loved the hush puppies, slightly sweet and served with butter. Everything was just really good. We also had bucket bloody Mary’s made to our specification. Very good. Best seafood I have had in a very long time and can’t wait till we go back again.

Made us feel like a local. Super friendly, excellent food, great atmosphere. Bring your puppies and wear your sandals!

We (party of 2) were seated by a hostess at a table with supposed wait service. We sat there for 40 minutes and watched wait staff hit every table around us. . Tried to get our own drinks at one of the bars at which we were completely ignored. Worst service and experience we have had in a very long tome. Stay away if you actually want food and drinks.

We ate here durning our stay in colonial beach. The host was really accommodating and helped get us seated. My aunt uses a walker and can’t do steps so she was very helpful in us finding the best way to get seated. A lady brought us menus and then we didn’t see anyone for awhile. The server finally came and said no one told her she had a table which I believe bc she was a great server. Service was great after she got to us. The food was delish. I didn’t get photos of everything but the hush puppies were amazing and I got the fish n chips and it was also amazing! We will def be back!

The place is very friendly and clearly a local favorite because it was packed today. Of course, the weather was amazingly nice for a change. The servers are nice. Very casual place right on the point and on the water. We ate lunch and had a great time. The meals were hot and tasty. 100% worth visiting if in Colonial Beach. The views are amazing.

We drove 2 hours just to arrive and have them immediately tell us they were closed as they ran out of food. It was 9 am and their website yesterday said they opened at 8am. Then they told us no dogs allowed when we specifically came here because it was supposed to be dog friendly . Disappointed we didnt even get to try it and where shooed away instantly. We went to the beach next to the restaurant and have been seeing several cars arriving. Even saw 3 food delivery trucks stop by. Such a shame as this was going to be our first time here. Figured they would have been more prepared as it is Memorial Day weekend. Not at all the experience we had wished for.

Food was great..got the crab cakes Benedict...coffee was excellent as well! Lovely destination and fun!

Im only giving 3 stars for food because:1. It was a menu take over so the choices were limited.2. The food was not hot... We were hungry so we just ate... The fries were hot though.3. Waitress was fabulous.4. They had a guy singing who was good, had a Darius Rucker vibe, it was just very loud.5. It was very busy and crowded but flowed well.We want to go back when its warmer and its back to the regular menu cause the place was cool.

This restaurant is very adorable, located next to the beach,family-friendly and dog-friendly. They also feature live music, and most importantly, have terrific staff!

Wow! You’ve gotta eat here when you’re in Colonial Beach. I never have high expectations of tiki bars or dives in general. The food here was really good. The crab cake was handmade with huge chunk of crab and very little filler. The hushpuppies were fried just right and so tasty. My husband got the blackened shrimp tacos with this funky greenish sauce that was absolutely delicious. And the best part… the bartender has a heavy pour.

We always come here on Vacation to Colonial BeachBut its more of a drinking restaurant than a family restaurantHas a cool Beach vibeThe service was awesome and we really like the food but the doors being open on the time the flies enjoyed our food to

Emily was great and very friendly! The food was great; the seafood jambalaya is a must-try. We were here on a Thursday and there was a group playing Wii bowling; dude bowled a perfect 300 twice in a row. 10/10 all around.

Really nice local beachside spot, live music, nice atmosphere good to meet locals and drinks. Food not a big hit 😕 but I would give back for the fanfare and atmosphere.

I was visiting Virginia Northern Neck and was told to hit Colonial Beach, and let me say it was the the best time. I had lunch, a Por Boy Shrimp Sand. It was 12. Dollars and very good. It was a Friday day time around 5pm and the music and atmosphere was great to. I highly recommend it.

Had broken foot on crutches walked in and had to wait for someone to finally come out to help me and my husband. We are from out of town for our anniversary weekend. Took our order. And then disappeared and someone else brought our food then we had our food to go but had to wait on the check so had to wait again. Soon as she brought check she left again and had to wait for her to come back she didnt so we had to find someone else to give money to and then we left. Soon as we left to go back to motel we had no utensils so we had to eat with our hands and no napkins. Cant get utensils from motel office was closed.

Great location on the edge on Monroe Bay with great food. We ate back on the deck during their burger night. Fantastic service from a friendly staff and a great selection of beers. It was a great meal and at a great price. Highly recommended to anyone visiting this area or just passing through.

The food was amazing! Our server was hopping busy but always had a smile. And who can complain about the atmosphere when there is a live band... and an antique cash register?!?

Tonight was my first time here. Was on my way from Kinsale to Fairview Beach on my boat and decided to stop in for some dinner. The Dockside Burger was pretty good. Staff was extremely friendly. I sat inside at what I would call an auxiliary bar. Unfortunately I was fighting off fruit flies the entire time and there were several dead flies on the bar top. Other than that everything was great. Ill definitely be back.

Served specialty cocktails in a small bucket. Drinks were great, food was decent. Excellent location and decor. Professional staff. Very cool tiki bar right on the beach.

Been going here for years and I have to say the mardi gras menu has to be the best I have seen in quite some time. My hats off to the chef for the food was just fantastic. Best I have had for some time now. The service and atmosphere were all so pleasant and peaceful. My wife and I really cannot rave enough of how much we enjoyed our meal and how pleasant our waitress and hostess were. Thank you, Thank you and I hope you add some of the Louisiana menu to your regular menu. Keep up the great work!!

We had a great time here at Dockside. Live entertainment was awesome. Drinks and food was awesome. The people and service were amazing!! Cant wait to return.

The only good thing about this place is location... food is subpar bar food, and service is not that good at all... waiters just took as much tip as she felt like it...

Food is okay, and overpriced. The Absolutely great, service is very good too. Ive had a lot of fun here,... Barefoot in the sand ⌛ just watch where you step lol

We love Dockside. Its our favorite place. We are trying to make our stay around the 4th of July an annual visit, and this was our 3rd.

Food and service were great. Crab fries were amazing! Went early afternoon with an infant, two kids and several adults. Everyone was happy with the menu.

The fried shrimp had no flavor the hush puppies was blan the steam shrimp was good I will give them that, it was my first and last time there I will go to Wilkersons from here on out

Mann ,,, where to start.. from the wait staff all the way to the owner...the place is worth the drive..everyone jokes and has a great time with the customer s and goes out the way to make you feel wanted and appreciated..hell they make you feel like your family should..Just a real place !!.

The food was delicious, hot, and fresh!! The service was happy and friendly, and the environment is right on the water. Spacious, and airy.

Was a nice place to have lunch, see the water, room for kids to run around. Went back for Happy Hour and music. Enjoyed it!

It was okay. It’s not really a tiki bar, but the tiki drinks they served were really strong. This is more a bar and grill. Food was okay. I had the special which was a muffuletta sandwich (or close approximation) and French onion soup. The live entertainment was great!

Great little tiki bar with lots of small town beach flavor, bands, beer, drinks, and food!

Great atmosphere and layout, drinks are well poured and tasty. Dog and kid friendly.

Great service, people, food, sunsets and views!

Review showed dog friendly. When we arrived we were not asked if our dog was a service dog and they said no dogs . It was very cold outside , a heater was there but not working . While we were eating someone was allowed to bring their dog in. Our dog had a vest theirs did not .The food: salty fries, scallops were undercooked.The service was polite but not that friendly. We are not locals and plan to return to the area. Will definitely not come back.

Stopped in as part of a pocket run to raise money for the local fire department, just a couple drinks,no food. Great place to hangout

Good food, very nice place and atmosphere right on the water and service was good, love it.

Lots of fun. Food was good. Ambiance was perfect.

Fun. 1st time. Will be back next year on our visit to VA.. On the water. Great service. Delicious calamari. Great Night to sit outside. Eat. Watch people play corn hole!! Enjoy the sunset. Definitely a must stop.

We had such a good time here. Key West vibes in Virginia. I had no idea that this existed. However, I was blown away by the food and the band absolutely kicks yeah butt.

Fun outside experience with band. Pizza and drinks very good. Cheers to the drink Shipwreck!

The shrimp were over cooked, the hush puppies were cold, the fries were thin and cold and we spent over $150.00 dollars. For three people.

It is huge. It covers the whole point. The place is so cute and colorful and the staff is kind and friendly. Go and have fun!

The service was great, the atmosphere was spectacular and the view was amazing. I even made a new friend today!

I was disappointed that they didnt have the dining room anymore. I dont know if its under construction or if theyve totally eliminated it. If you want to dine inside you have to stay in the pub area which is affected by everyone coming in and out to use restroom and entering or exiting the building. The fried oysters and the fried scallops were absolutely fantastic! The french fries were horrible. They didnt even taste like potatoes I think they were cooked in the same oil as some of their fish. The hush puppies were just okay. They were overcooked, just bad timing. Normally their hush puppies are some of the best around. Service was very good. I will have to think hard before I go again if they dont have the dining room open. The weathers just too hot to sit outside and its very loud out there with all the partiers. Again, the scallops and oysters were fantastic and our waitress was very good.

Great Brunch and atmosphere on the water. Reasonably priced and good service

Dockside is everything a tiki bar should be. We were there early one Saturday evening with two small kids. They have several old boats buried in the sand which kept the kids entertained so we could relax and enjoy a drink. The bar staff and patrons were friendly and welcoming. Great remedy for your pandemic isolation blues.

We didnt get to eat dinner on our visit because it was excessively hot and they had problems in the kitchen but we were able to head out back and watch a band in the sand by the water. Great fun

The service was good. I wouldnt recommend the place otherwise. Food was honestly not impressive for the amount of money I spent for two people. Fries were cold and tasted like yesterdays fries reheated. It was the same with the sweet potatoes fries. The hush puppies were stale and cold. Our shrimp was extremely over done both fried and steamed. This place is an absolute waste of your money.

Always have fun! People are great! Staff is cool! Music is good! Cant wait for it to be in full swing again!!

Went to enjoy a nice dinner and hear the band Hijynx...friendly staff...good food cooked properly and delivered in a timely manner...6 oysters very fresh with a very tasty homemade remoulade...oysters on the po boy were lightly breaded and seasoned to allow their Chesapeake taste to come through...thin french fries served nice and hot...Gabby is a very patient, professional, and knowledgeable server...they also had a toys for tots night with a tree full of gifts patrons kept bringing...

I have spent three horrible days with food poisoning from eating oysters at this restaurant.My wife and I drove 50 miles specifically for this luncheon and our trip was just not worth it.I havent been able to eat anything since and have lost 7 lbsThey need better quality control of the food they serve.

Youd think if you ask your waitress to make sure the oysters are cleaned with no worms that she would be kind enough to actually not serve oysters with worms. On a previous visit here we also had oysters with worms and 2 of our friends got violently sick in ways I cant describe. They waitress know this.

Everyone was really nice and our food was delicious! Good bloody Mary’s too;))

Came here on a Friday night and had such a great time. The atmosphere was great very busy and they had live music. Outside is first come and no service so you have to order everything at the bar. The food was fantastic so all in all a great time.

I only gave the service 4 stars Because they were really nice But the food we received was horrible. We paid over a $100 for 3 items. A appetizer and 2 dinners that were not worth $20. They served us fries that were recooked or reheated. They were hard as a rock and full of nothing but grease. The crab cakes were not lump crab meat it was just the worst food ever. We chose to try this place over the river boat Which proved to be a giant mistake. The riverboat has 3.9 stars. This place had 4.5 I dont know how Im assuming the atmosphere.

We got here at 7pm had oysters, which were humongous! Shrimp tacos stuffed with Pico and shrimp and delicious and also a side of hushpuppies which where piping hot and great. Only downside is they ran out of specials but there is always next time.

This is a nice place located on the south end of Colonial Beach which has plenty of outdoor seating and water views no matter where you sit. The menu has burgers, seafood, and plenty of fried food. All drinks and food served in plastic. Burgers are hand patted however mine was over done. The fried scallops dinner was done nice and was delicious. The drinks were standard quality.

We had not been to this establishment since it was the Yacht Club. Much happier and upbeat vibe. We listened to a singer/ guitarist from Chester Virginia who sounded great. We met a couple of friends who had dinner with us and hung out. Great experience.

The weather was amazing and the food really good! The atmosphere was very enjoyable with a band playing live music.

Really only outdoor eating on beach type place in town. Very crowded on weekend. Had a DJ. Inside seating had no AC. Food took longer than expected due to computer issue. Food and drinks were good. Great place for kids to play in sand and to get pics when sut Is setting.

Food was good but they charge you $1.00 if you want fries. I wanted to switch my side of squash to fries instead 🤔 That was a first in my book .

Great specials and really fun place to soak in the views. Had a crab cake wrapped in talapia, so good.

Awesome place. Great food right on the beach and live music on the weekends.

Great place, fast service. Skip the local beach and hang out at Dockside’s beach where you can order drinks and food. The beach is actually nicer there, no rocks. EXCELLENT Wings! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been disappointed ordering wings from various places. This place has GREAT WINGS, big and meaty and cooked properly. Also had live music! Can’t go wrong with Dockside. They are closed Mon/tues.

Great bar at the end of town. Great atmosphere, fun times

First time there last weekend. Service/waitress Alexis was quite good. We ordered 2 simple dishes: fried shrimp and a fried fish(Cod) platter. What we got was an oversized plate(s) of limp, tasteless shoestring French fries. The fried Cod was dry probably from freezer burn, tough and tasteless. Eight tiny, split in half , vein in shrimp, also tasteless. And The three tiny Hush puppies were over cooked and tasteless as well. Is Dockside a restaurant that specializes in Seafood?Sorry, maybe the cook was having a bad day but we wont be eating there anymore.

This is an amazing place to go to hang out and relax by the water. The food was absolutely fantastic. The service was fast, friendly, and they were on top everything. The mixed drinks were so so delicious. They definitely were not weak on the liquor either!!! I would recommend this place to anyone who is in the area. Definitely will be back next time I am in town

CAN NOT WAIT!!!! This place was awesome on a very warm winter Sunday- this place will be even more fun in the height of summer ❤️❤️

We arrived in town and read great reviews about Dockside, so we decided to try it out. Due to the heat, we had to sit outside at one of their picnic tables that had an umbrella (not an issue). Food and drinks had to be ordered at their outside tiki bar. We ordered the crab and shrimp, hoping it would be great since we are so close to the Chesapeake Bay. The food took over an hour, had no flavor, the shrimp were overcooked, amd everything was served in to-go containers. Our daughter, who loves shrimp, spit them out because they tasted bad. Very disappointed in the food, especially for a restaurant that is right on the Potomac and so close to the Bay. Our experience here was just bad overall with both food and service. While it may be different on another day, we will not be returning and was not worth the over $100 we spent.

Great lunch, fun place, beautiful view and friendly staff

My family eats at Dockside every couple of weeks. Love their steaks, love the shrimp, really love the crab soup when available. They do not have straws heads up if you have kids. All in all we love it, literally enjoyed everything we have tried. Wings, chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp. I’m going there shortly and ima eat until I’m ready to bust

Went for a Mardi Gras celebration. They had a live band and the people there was cool , staff wasnt very friendly

Great place for drinks and food! Service was amazing!

What a great way to spend labor day weekend. Great service, music, and our little doggie was able to play on the beach there too!

Seems like a nice place, probably great party place at night in the summer. Had their Ruben Egg roll, was ok but you only got 1 egg roll for $8, not a good value. Their potatoes leek sound was outstanding. Ill will be back, just because I m sure there are better things than egg rolls on the menu.

Just pretty fun all around. What a cool space!!

🚩!!!!!FOOD POISONING!!!!!🚩Yesterday I came here with a group of friends,We got sat inside because nothing outside was available and it’s first come first serve with the seating outside and a lot of people weren’t even eating out there just sitting at the picnic tables having a drink from the bar which took up seating for people who actually wanted to be seated to eat outside. We chose inside because we were hungry and wanted to eat, no air circulation it was very very 🥵 HOT. The orange crush was very good, I ordered the BURGER with everything on it. I ate that and not even 1 HOUR later I was very very sick. I definitely got SERIOUS FOOD POISONING from this place and made me violently sick on my vacation and I was sick for over 24 HOURS!I still haven’t fully recovered. I would think twice on this place!!! If you look at the other 1 star reviews you’ll see how many people get sick from eating here in the last year 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩beware!!!!!!!!!!

Overall, we had a good time but not a great time. Ordered fish and chips and got 1 large piece of fish and a ton of fries. More fish, less fries. Same with oyster basket. They did make a fabulous vegetarian sub sandwich and side salad. Wait staff was superb, and the atmosphere was fun.

Good drinks! The band was setting up when we left, just didn’t get a chance to stay. Very smoker friendly so if you can handle cigarette smoke you’ll be fine.

Great food, service, and view. Most of the seating areas are without air conditioning, so it can get hot. The shrimp tacos were excellent, as were the oysters Rockefeller.

Wonderful setting. Beer options were weak and most food was deep fried. If they hired a first rate kitchen staff and had a real bar this place would be unbeatable.

Friendly atmosphere and staff, good food and drinks and bands!

Great food and drinks love that it is a dog friendly place my Zora and my friends dogs were welcomed and loved on the whe time we were there plus dogs got to go into the water!

Real life tiki bar at the tip of CBVA. Fresh seafood, cold beer, great service!

They had a live band no cover charge places packed had a good time

The best Long Island in Colonial beach!!!!

Food was ok. Service was slow for not being very crowded in the restaurant.Bar seemed to be jumping busy. Had some poker run stop going on.I would give them another try.

We were in town for a wedding in the area and stopped by Dockside both nights we were there. We shared the scallop basket the first night (which was delicious!) and the second night we just had drinks. Music was rocking both nights and their outdoor set up was amazing and it looks like its a great time when theyre in season (we visited in late April). We had a great time, and will definitely visit it again if were ever back to Colonial Beach.

Maybe they could tell I was an out of towner, but this was one of the worst service experiences Ive had in a while. Gorgeous location, think waterfront family restaurant, not bar. Great chicken wings and decor, just strangely hostile waitstaff.

Barefoot Joe was amazing! 👍 & The Polar plunge 😁

Scenic and fun place with amazing service and great tasting food… Would highly recommend the fried shrimp or the fish and chips!

Amazing experience here!!! Fantastic fresh seafood here, great decor and energy. Service was fantastic and my mothers birthday dinner was incredible and memorable. I recommend coming every chance you get!

Our server, Maddie, went above and beyond. She was very knowledgeable of drinks, specials, and all questions. We will return and ask for her! Her skills went beyond our expectations! 10/10

Best breakfast BLT w/egg that I’ve ever had. Hash browns were amazing, and so were the biscuits and gravy. Cute little beach (river) side restaurant that we will continue to frequent when we are in the area.

Maddie was exceptional! Greatest waitress i’ve ever had. 5 starts across the board! She was so kind and attentive. Love her!!!

Great food. Great service, Awesome location.

I went there for dinner and an 80s party with live music. It was great time! The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The food was excellent and the prices were extremely reasonable. Just a really great place to have a nice time with whoever youre with.

I am not a seafood guy, so the burger on the menu needed to be delicious! It was, and big. The adult drinks are not under or over strong with alcohol, its perfect. I highly recommend going to this place. It was also a family environment as well. There is lots of seating inside and outside, or standing around.

Great atmosphere, beautiful location and the bartenders are inviting and entertaining. The crab cake sandwiches are amazing.

Beautiful views but that’s pretty much it. Food was severely over priced and not good at all. We ordered a dozen oysters, the seafood jambalaya pasta and a fish and chips. The oysters were not shucked properly and the jambalaya was all pasta. We visited around 6pm on a Tuesday with our 3 young children. They were playing music with curse words in it. Literally every song. I could understand a weekend and later in the evening but not at the time we visited. Also, the food is served in takeout containers which kind of leaves everything soggy plus not very environmentally friendly. Would take a pass on this place. Staff were very nonchalant as well.

First time here. Crab cake was really terrible - the worst Ive ever had anywhere. The only good thing was the service. Will try another restaurant the next time I return to CB.

Love it here! The outside Tiki bar and the beach access! The staff is awesome! The crab cakes are delicious!

Very disappointing.Just brought my family of 10 from Fredericksburg to enjoy dinner. Called ahead. Got there and they werent offering food. 2 hrs later we left for a different restaurant.

After hearing amazing things about their brunch, we decided to go try it. Apparently, they had some Jeep event going on and were afraid their kitchen would not be able to keep up, so they only offered a heavily edited menu, standard breakfast food. Food was good, atmosphere was nice, but seriously disappointed by the lack of options. Having family that has worked in the restaurant business for 20 years, I have never heard of such a thing. Either staff more people for the event or train your kitchen staff better. Would probably be great if there wasnt something going on.

The restaurant was nice with a great place for the kids to play, but the food was very disappointing. My wife ordered the fish and chips and received one chicken finger sized piece of fish that was too hard and chewy to eat.I got the fried oysters, which were quarter sized, but good, but I only got 5. At least the drinks were tasty.

Solid food and large drinks. We love being able to let the kids play in the water while we get to relax.

Its a complete hit or miss.Seafood pasta, scallops, and shrimps were good. Avoid tuna taco and especially avoid prime steakSeafood jambalaya pasta - i liked the scallops, crab, and shrimps. The tuna was not good. Pasta sauce wasnt that flavorful but the seafood made up for itTuna taco - my husband disliked it. He said it was overcooked. The tartar sauce has very strong horseradishFried scallops - mother-in-law liked itShrimps - our friend liked itSteak - it looked boiled. It was also very bland. Father-in-law hated it. We tried it too and its was terrible. They gave sauce thats exactly like what they gave for the tuna taco sauce (strong horseradish)

Very busy, waited in line for drinks as there was no server. Thankfully I was standing in front of my brother in line as I was able to order a cheesesteak as my meal, as the next person in line he was told the kitchen I now on a limited menu and he was only able to order steamed or fried shrimp, I do NOT eat seafood so this would have been a big issue for me.

Atmosphere and food was amazing! We really enjoyed the oyster basket and scallop basket the second time we went. The scallops were cooked to perfection crispy on the outside and Super juicy on the inside. The first time our food was good also but I wish my shrimp po boy had a nice creamy spicy sauce to go with it. My husband enjoyed his shrimp tacos . Otherwise everything was fresh and delicious. We look forward to visiting Colonial Beach again

Fun atmosphere, But dont expect much from the food. The fish and chips were pretty good, but they were $20...Ive definitely had better for cheaper.The atmosphere really is great though. Super fun bright vibes, and games like cornhole for people in the back next to an outdoor bar.All in all, a good place to come have a few drinks and a good time. Just get your dinner elsewhere.

We didnt stay to eat, we only wanted to look around, but the atmosphere was abuzz with happy chatter & laughter. Will definitely come back

Nice spot, especially for outdoor dining, sitting at picnic tables in the sand. Be prepared for most of your meal to be fried. That said, the fried scallops were delicious, but when served with hush puppies, all sitting on a bed of fries, the trying can get to be a little much.Very limited ale selection - mostly standard, mass-produced beers. Pleasant place for a nice meal, hear with the mentioned limitations.

Eh, serving staff was good, but they were out of things on Sunday.

Stopped in for an earlyish dinner, around 4. Wasnt really busy for a Saturday at that time which was cool. Sat quickly and asked for two Budweisers and the waitress said Bud Light. I said no, Bud Heavy. She was completely confused. Kind of funny really. Guess its just a generational thing I found funny. Anyhow, I said just plain old Budweiser and she finally got it. We had the calamari to start, followed by fried shrimp and fried oysters. Everything was fantastic! The calamari was perfectly cooked and not over breaded. Same with the oysters, and they just melted in your mouth. Be interested to know where they came from. Werent salty at all. The shrimp were very good, just not at the same level as the rest. Or server the rest of the night was on the ball. Kind of bikerish vibes to the atmosphere which is cool by me, but also consider they do bike night and shows, etc, theres, so it stands to reason. Place looks like it would be jammin in the summer with their tiki bar outside and cant wait to come and check it out then.

It was interesting.... The steak was a little bland (not sure how that happens). The crab cake was a 4 out of 5, the staff was STELLAR and the atmosphere was fun (inside on a Saturday night with a live band outside). Overall it was a pleasant experience with our daughters while on vacation

Went here last year and the food was pretty solid, however we tried to come by this year even called ahead to make sure the kitchen would be open , arrived exactly when we said we would after a 45 minute drive, and the hostess says sorry the kitchen is closed.If you are unsure if the kitchen will be open for a family of five, 45 minutes in the future just tell them it wont be open and not waste their time.

Great tiki bar with live music!

Great experience. Loved the live band. Food could have been a little fresher but one of the better tiki bars I’ve been to.

The place is nice, great scenery,atmosphere. My downfall was bartenders. Three bartenders and four people waited over 20 minutes to even take order. Not counting time it took to make a simple bar drink. We left because service was no good,. Everyone looked to be enjoying their food and it really looked good and delicious.

This place is amazing! If you like drinks on the beach with good times and good people, this is the spot! Im coming here every damn weekend!!!! Super cool place!!!!

Cool atmosphere. Will be a great place to go after the pandemic passes. Want to come back in the summer. Looks like a 1st rate Jimmy Buffet Island style party place. Decent food. Be sure to try their rum punch. Very nice.

We were very excited to try this place out bit slightly disappointed. You could tell the shrimp and fries had been cooked earlier in the day and sat under a heat lamp until we ordered. It’s hard to mess up fried food but that’s the best way to do it. On the positive side, the crab cakes and hush puppies were cooked to order and very good. So I give it 4 stars. If they cooked the fries and shrimp upon ordering it would get 5 stars. Advice to owner, set some quality standards and stock to them.

Some of the best fried oysters I’ve had anywhere. Real nice vibe here too.

Wasnt sure what to expect. Glad we went....everything was fantastic! Food was fresh and delicious. We shared a seafood platter and oysters on the half shell. Our server Ty was one of best and very attentive. The private beach with chairs and swings to sit and watch the sun set was the perfect end to a great date night.

Bartenders very friendly...food and drinks just too expensive for the quality. Fun atmosphere is youre looking for lively music and beachy vibe.

Even with the computer system down, staff handled the lunch crowd efficiently and in a friendly way! My table had the shrimp tacos, fish and chips, and a crab cake sandwich. Delish! Sitting by the water on one of the last warm afternoons for October was a real treat! The casual atmosphere at this beach front restaurant is perfect for Colonial Beach.

I am giving this five stars for atmosphere mostly. The food was scrumptious, but it was on the very plain side. Beautiful beach-like atmosphere, young crowd with all ages, decent beach next to restaurant and a local hangout with fun people! It is a fun time.

The place is a local almost historic place to go and enjoy seafood and the drinks. They have an outside area called the Tiki Bar which is right on the beach. Drinks are a 4 on a 1 to 5 and the menu in my opinion has goon from a really nice selection, to faster, not so hard to prepare, leaving a bit to be desired. Also the opened but covered with a roof portion of the place had no fans on or anything and was stifling hot when we were there. We had to go outside outside to get some breeze. portion of the restaurant. However, the bands are always REALLY good and the atmosphere outside is always great. I think they need to make a choice and decide to either go back to top notch or continue to slide. This is just my opinion.

Me and my family had a great time here. Great food, awesome ambiance to relax and have fun. Kids were having fun at the beach and we were having fun listening to awesome band, enjoying food and drinks. You should visit this this place. You can get to it by car or by boat if you have it.

Fun place, wait staff and bartenders were nice. Food was good, had the cheesesteak, it was yummy. Fell in love with their Dockside punch, first one was superb, second one was weak. They have live music out on their heated patio. Fun atmosphere.

Fun atmosphere, great service, delicious food and tasty drinks! Came here with my husband on a work trip and have no complaints! Will definitely be coming back!!

Service was great. Boat parade and Jeep parade was festive. Bean soup was amazing along with crab balls. Flounder was fresh and fried perfectly. The hangover burger was ok. Over cooked on a medium order. Nevertheless the service was amazing so the burger I can stomach. Next time I will stick to all seafood.

If you havent been here yet get rolling. The food is Great, indoor or outdoor seating Fantastic. The Tiki bar with the sand beach, music plenty of seating and exclusive areas. Schedule your summer of fun at the Dockside! Days and hours are limited and in high demand.

We love Dockside Restaurant & Tiki Bar. We eat and have cocktails there a few times a month. Their seared tuna tacos are amazing and the margaritas are very yummy! My only complaint is the smell inside the restaurant area (closed since COVID19 started). Its smells like severe mold/mildew or even sewage. Hopefully they will get things cleaned up and re-opened when safe. Until then we are happy to eat/drink in the outdoor area.

Fantastic Reggae/Funk band, Panic for the Vibe!

Had a really great time. Good food, drinks and music! Are going back today for lunch!!

Watched a guy fall walking out to the parking lot and at first no one helped him. He staggered to his feet and then almost immediately fell again, this time hitting his head HARD on the corner of a post leaving a deep gash in his head. He was not able to get up for at least 20 minutes, and required a roll of gauze around his head. A staff member yelled at a patron who called 911 and said “no one asked you to do that”. Thanks for making the world a slightly worse place, Dockside. Maybe spend more time trying to be a Good Samaritan than worrying about liability next time. Potential patrons, just hope you don’t have a medical emergency here. They will chastise you for calling EMS.

Nice views, good local atmosphere. I liked their creative use of pasta instead of plastic straws. But both my friend and i felt ill within 30 minute of eating there (we ordered different items).

Called to make a reservation for 9 people at 7pm on a Friday night. Person who answered said they didnt take reservations but they werent busy and would not have any trouble seating our large party when we got there. Arrived at the restaurant 20 minutes later only to be told the only available tables for us were outdoors and they couldnt seat us all together. This would have been fine but it had started raining. They were saving numerous empty tables inside for people already sitting outside & wouldnt give us 1.Definitely felt like we got the bait & switch so we left and got seated immediately at another restaurant.I give them 3 stars because we have been many times before over numerous years and really enjoyed it. We just chalked this night up to Covid confusion.

The fish and chips were the worst I’ve ever had. I’m giving this 2 stars because I didn’t get the chips, I got the hush puppies instead and they were normal tasting bagged frozen hush puppies. The atmosphere was good, the beer was cold and the waitress was nice.

The service was quick, polite, friendly and accurate. Music was excellent. Price was very reasonable. Place was crowded, but two of us got it, drinks, appetizers, meal another drink and were done in just under an hour to catch the trolly. We did not feel rushed. Great time had by all

Just sad lol. Was really excited based on previous reviews... was sadly disappointed. Server was very unfriendly, didnt offer the specials s for drinks and when we finally saw the drink menu, it was too late.She asked, how would you like your burger cooked... I replied, med-well... I was nit aware this was a foreign language. She gave me a blank stare, I then said... pink in the middle. Again she didnt process it... the best part is it came out like a chared brick.Prices are outrageous and restrooms were filthy.Never going back and makes me want to open a restaurant because the area could use a good spot to eat.Two stars because the band was good.

They now have the best whiskey selection in a 30-mile radius. Plus, I can not emphasize how amazing their staff is. I bumped this up to 5 stars because they slimmed down their menu and really focused on doing a few thing right instead of a lot of things mediocre.

Place is a good hole in the wall joint, no a.c inside, food isn’t bad but isn’t the best either and overpriced, good people and good atmosphere and most of the service is excellent however the older Hispanic woman who works the outside bar is very rude and shouldn’t have a job there!

Such a great view here! I had the seafood jambalaya, while my lady had the crab legs. The shrimp appetizer wrapped in bacon was great! The mixed drinks are great as well. Definitely stop by this place!

Relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. We were there for lunch on a holiday afternoon and the place was closing shortly after we arrived so its hard to give a thorough review since we were rushing to eat so the staff could clean up and close for the day. We sat outdoors at one of the covered picnic tables and I enjoyed the scenery. It gave me the feeling like I was in margaritaville. Ive heard there is nice entertainment on weekend nights so Im definitely going back to check out the dinner menu. Located at the southern tip of Colonial Beach in the marina, you definitely get the beach vibe while there. Next time, I will check the hours of operation before making the 45 minute drive so I can enjoy the entire experience without rushing.

We love the Trivia game at 7:30 Thursdays and go early for dinner because the food is quality, well-prepared, and served by a great staff. Also, the drinks are worthwhile. And the prices are appropriate.The lack of a fifth star is a warning that sometimes the noise level gets overwhelming, especially if therea a band. But maybe you like that.

Wow, what a disappointing dining experience. The service was slow and unfriendly. The popcorn shrimp appetizer tasted like it was frozen shrimp that was just microwaved. The fried outside was not crispy at all, it was soggy and basically uneatable. The hush puppies were extremely hard and served with a side of heated up brown sugar and cinnamon, perhaps? I am not even sure. I had one and could not eat anymore, the same with the shrimp. The wine was bad that I ordered, I told the waitress and she just said she would take it off the check. Do yourself a favor and do not go to this restaurant. The atmosphere is cool, but the table was sticky. The food is disgusting, unfortunately. Such a disappointment.

Such a beautiful spot for dinner! Our server Gil, was so attentive and steered us in the right direction for drinks and dinner choices. Heres a tip for you: get the green beans with your dinner. So unexpectedly good!

We went there on a Saturday for lunch and before a gig. I had a shrimp poboy and really enjoy it. Either very lightly breaded or grilled with a sherry wine sauce. Different spin than you typical fried shrimp on roll. Good fun service.

Walked in to a huge crowd on a poker run. Great atmosphere, great drinks, friendly staff and customers. Right on the beach. Live music, an acoustic guitar player/singer this afternoon, pop cover band tonight. A very good time!

Love this place so much! The kids meals were huge and delicious. Or grown up meals were so delicious - the French onion burger was incredible!!! Our kids enjoyed the beach after lunch too!

Location was beautiful. Beer was cold. Locals, staff and patrons were friendly. Plenty of room inside, outside and waterside. A definite stop if you’ll in the area! Dog friendly

Great service even during a high rush, food was good and filling, and atmosphere is just what you need on a summer day

It was the 4th of July weekend and they were severely understaffed. The waitress was awesome and worked hard to get our food out in a reasonable amount of time. The food was very good and flavorful.The only real downsides were the heat (A/C not cool enough) and the relentless onslaught of flies inside.

Family friendly and dog friendly. Great food. Amazing view!

Awesome place inside and outside seating. Live entertainment and their food was awesome. Definitely recommend!

Food tastes as it should, staff were Chick Fil A service, seating & dining was very unique for the environment & perfect, the menu was simple but very accurate for the area. The only grip is the price for the portions and the fact that they used styrofoam in such a rich natural environment is a bit concerning but that could be a cost saver for them and the COVID pandemic, so it is what it is. Overall great place for first time visitors.

Great place to come by boat motorcycle car golf cart or a seaplane. Great Outdoor atmosphere with dining indoors and Outdoors. Usually always have a nice band playing and you can dance with your toes in the sand. Been going to Darkside quite often and the service is always outstanding. Good friendly people.

Great place to grab a bite and a refreshing beverage. Beautiful views and fun atmosphere. The food is good- not great. But I’d definitely come back just for the laughter and smiles.

Always enjoy this place. Great deal on crabs and shrimp. Great live music when we were there too.

Great food and service. Things to know you enter in through the back, Indoor and outdoor seating and friendly staff. Emily was our waitress she was awesome and was spot on recommending the fried scallops.

Great location. Sit outside if you can. Seafood was excellent. Everything is pretty reasonably priced for the quality of the food. Our server was friendly and outgoing. Good joint. Id revisit.

Even though it was getting dark upon our arrival, we still had time to enjoy the great waterfront views. It was getting pretty crowded and very few customers were wearing masks so we decided to sit at a picnic table out by the water. When sitting outside, you place your order at a walk-up window and they give you a beeper that lets you know when your order is ready. My wife had a cheeseburger (which was a bit dry) with coleslaw (pretty plain) and I had a shrimp po-boy sandwich with hushpuppies. The shrimp were cooked perfectly; moist, tender and with very thin breading. My wife thought the hushpuppies were a bit plain but they were hot, crispy and tasted great to me with the butter spread on them. Its worth a second visit just for the view but it will also give us a better idea on the food quality. Prices were reasonable.

Always good food, drinks, and beautiful surroundings!

Last Saturday evening, my wife and I drove from NOVA to Dockside in Colonial Beach for a great early Mardi Gras Party, which included great live band, awesome Cajun food, and amazing Bourbon cocktails. Definitely worth the drive to enjoy amazing atmosphere and experience water view in a small town setting.

Fun place for live music and summer fun!

I love this joint! Friday night trivia (make a reservation it gets full!) With the most charasmatic and enthusiastic host, affordable drinks, great specials that change every week. This is a hidden gem and has probable the BEST food in the area. You may want to take a cab, maybe Im getting old but trivia is lit.

Nice people, great atmosphere. They welcomed our dogs with a little bucket of water. Food was great too, excellent service and great view of the river. Definitely recommend!

Good people. Late night stuff has a bet of a rough croud, not bad just rough like a college party, but with a older crowd. Get in and out of there by 8, its 5 stars. Stay for the band, its 4 stars but the bands are great.

Im sorry to say our experience wasnt a great one. The salad was brought out before the appetizer and the entree had no flavor and was cold. And they had run out of baked potatoes. (Who runs out of baked potatoes??)I hate writing a bad review, but I was very disappointed. I was really looking forward to a nice night out with my husband.

Nice on the water place to come to for food or drink. More of a location and vibe place than anything. Food was passable if forgettable.

I have to call this place a hidden treasure! Ive been driving past this restaurant for years never knowing it existed. My parents told us about this place so we have their dinner a try, and it was awesome! Great seafood, live bands, outdoor beachfront dining, tiki bar, this place has everything! They even have an old boat that was converted to a sandbox, and my 2&4 year old loved while we finished our meals! And afterwards, the kids even to a dip in the river to end their fun filled day.

The food was great and the staff were friendly! However the function and flow of the restaurant seems a little unorganized, the communication between staff members left more wait time than was probably necessary. That being said, we were seated promptly as told and served all of our food while it was hot.