Well, the excited Southerner is back in the great state of Maryland. I'll be here for a couple months helping out while a lady gave birth on my first day on the job , y'all know me , always happy to help. Made my reservation for party of one at By the Docks When I arrived. I was greeted quickly (bless her) and explained I was a little late. While I was waiting for her to see me she received a call and made a comment about "who books a reservation 15 minutes ahead of time". (Well that's actually what I did.) and when I said that's actually what I did. The hostess looked at me and said "well you don't count" smiled and then she then sat me. My server, Leslie greeted me. I ordered my food (crab and lobster egg rolls), and a glass of the house white wine (a yummy Pinot Grigio) to pair perfectly with my seafood egg rolls. The interior was bright and open with bronze and wood accents The wine came out about five minutes later and then I proceeded to wait for roughly 30 minutes for the appetizer that was meant to be my entrée to come out. the appetizer came out hot and fresh, chock full of lump crab and lobster laying on a bed of the Asian slaw.. shoo mercy, everything tasted great, but by then my wine was empty. Parched lil bit. I opted for the strawberry cheesecake. (Shout out to Yia Yia's bakery, y'all know your desserts!) People, It was the size of my head and creamy and light and the tartness of the strawberries was on point. I mean it was so good, it'd make ya push your granny in the creek, good! When Leslie brought out my check she let me know they comped the wine for the delay on the egg rolls.. Well shucks... that, y'all, was great service recovery. Turned my first experience here from meh to well, bless em... Hot tasty food, (even a delay can happen on the best of nights), and a yummy dessert.. By the Docks.... We will be back! read more

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We've been for dinner and HH and the food is pretty good. The HH rolls are huge! Cocktails are great and well balanced and the cream of Crab was delicious. read more

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Recently came here to eat for the first time and it definitely won't be my last. A great meal, excellent wait staff, and just an overall delicious restaurant. The only negative was it was very cold but it was also very cold outside and the door kept opening so it made it cold in the restaurant but that didn't deter our meal and our experience. It was cold so my friend and I both got a big bowl of crab soup and when I say a big bowl, it was mammoth! I usually at a bowl because usually it's not much bigger than a cup but this was huge and it definitely affected the amount that I was able to eat of my meal, however that's what doggie bags are for! I had the crab cake platter with a single broiled crab cake, french fries and applesauce. It was delicious. The crab cake was big and meaty and full of jumbo lump crab meat and very little filler. The fries were crispy and tasty and the applesauce had huge chunks of apples and was very good. For what we got our meal was super reasonable. My friend got the fish and chips and had this big huge long piece of fish that went from end to end on her plate. I tried her fish and it was really tasty. All in all a really good meal and I look forward to coming back in the future. Highly recommend a visit here. read more

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We celebrated my mother's 79th Birthday here on 7/18/26 and the service was great and the food was very good but it could have been better. The crab cakes didn't have enough seasoning so we added the Old Bay seasoning, the lobster was a little tough and they could have given us more vegetables. Other than these few complaints, it was great. read more

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I always have an great time here. I finally tried the Sunday brunch buffet it was so delicious. They had breakfast items and lunch items, with a oyster and sushi bar and light desserts. We had a few drinks as well, they were a little too light on the alcohol for me but tasted great. The service was nice, helpful and attentive. It was a great brunch atmosphere, I definitely want to try steak night. read more

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If we want to eat out but don't want to think about what to order or what's on the menu, we always head to By the Docks because we know we'll never go wrong. We were immediately seated and as always, the food did not disappoint though this is my first time writing a review. The crab cake is always a must for us -- absolutely delicious every time. My daughter had the NY steak, which she said was incredibly tender and flavorful. My other daughter devoured her Double Smash Burger so quickly that we didn't even get a chance to take a picture! The Greek salad and Natty Boh Beer Mussels were fresh, flavorful, and so comforting. The staff were pleasant and attentive, and the whole atmosphere was cozy and welcoming. By the Docks continues to be one of our favorite spots for a relaxing, satisfying meal. Highly recommend! read more

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A great experience with excellent customer service and delicious food. It could have been because we had a larger party and needed the additional attention but service was excellent for our party of 10. We had a great time. The waitress always had the drinks filled and was never too far for long. The ambiance is mostly casual and family friendly. Don't feel the need to dress up. The crab imperial was excellent. The special sauce they use was amazing and food was all seasoned very well. We highly recommend. The bread before dinner was also warm. No complaints. We would love to come back and try something different. read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Crab Imperial - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Stopped in for lunch during restaurant week. And I was thoroughly pleased from start to finish. Greeted and seated immediately upon entering. The restaurant is clean and with classy beach like aesthetics. The bathroom well maintained. Our server was very attentive to the table. The food was sooo good in every bite. Chef Kiss. I heard they have a great brunch, so I can't wait to come and experience the brunch. Definitely check this place out. read more

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Whew this is OUT there! I was coming from Gaithersburg, so it took me over an hour. But I was committed to keeping my promise, meeting my friends, and witnessing a special moment. I was the last one to arrive in the party, though apparently I wasn't that far behind. It's a spacious parking lot, though, the lines are kind of hard to see depending on where you are... especially at night. I was able to walk right in and was greeted by the hostess. The restaurant is kinda big... two floors and some areas are hidden by walls. It was a lot to take in, but my priority was locating the party, who I almost immediately saw upstairs. So I found the steps, and made my way to them. Now I could go on and on about how many delicious looking things were on their menu, and I was juggling a lot of possibilities. I ultimately decided on the gnocchi and crab, but before that came, that bread & butter we got... man. It was so warm and lovely, but that was just the warm up. That pasta dish was the best. decision. ever. I think I've stated before how I'm not a big mushroom person (I got sick in college from it, though I do still like to give it a chance on occasion). The gnocchi and crab had wild mushrooms, bacon cream sauce, truffle oil, and crispy bacon itself. There were a lot of mushrooms... but you know what? Everything tasted fantastic together. I was literally devastated when my plate was clean. Once I got settled, I did get to take it the decor and everything... the place is really nice! I would definitely go back. I must explore more of that menu. read more

We visited yesterday for my aunts birthday. The place is very clean and neatly decorated. I guess it is as close as you get to fine dining in the area. We sat in a booth near the bar. We had the bartender as our waitress. She was very nice and recommended food and drinks. For me the service was a little slow as she was constantly making drinks for the servers and had her back to us. We had the Onion rings to start. They were very good except the sauce ... I think they called it tiger sauce was a concoction of horseradish, sour cream , and perhaps mayo was a kiss for me. I'd recommend they get some southwest dressing from their food distributor. They would be really killer with the right condiment. My aunt and wife both went with salads. Wife had the Cobb and my aunt the house with chicken. Everything looked great and was nice and fresh. The chicken looked really good and was cooked right with a nice char. I ordered the coffee rubbed Ribeye MW with the Demi glaze on the side. It game with a potato casserole looking thing and cream spinach. So, the steak was okay. The temperature was right but the outside.... I think it was blackened and kinda salty. The potato dish was tasty but it could've been cooked more. The potato was on the underdone side of al dente. But they were tasty anyway! The cream spinach was good as well. I'd go back .. but would probably focus on the Seafood. It's worth a try. **** To management... if that steak is blackened you might want to put that on the description, if not I'm not sure if it's being fried in oil or something. But either way it's just off. The coffee rub is fine but the Demi ? I'm glad I got it on the side. Further, steak lovers love the taste of steak ... it's definitely too fancy for Middle River. read more

The drinks and service was the best thing at this restaurant! I heard so many good reviews about the crab cakes, but they are not good at all. Save yourself the time. I would only go back for the drinks and the service of our amazing waiter. read more

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This restaurant is a bit deceiving from the outside -- the parking lot has plenty of space but the lines are really faded. Once you walk in, though, it's surprisingly huge and beautifully designed. It's two stories with some great semi-private dining areas. The food was outstanding. I ordered the Gnocchi and Crab, and it was fantastic! The picture honestly doesn't do it justice. The dish comes with gnocchi, wild mushrooms, lump crab, a bacon cream sauce, and truffle oil, topped with even more bacon and crispy wild mushrooms. It was absolutely delicious. I also tried some of my fiancé's crab cake, which was very good as well -- flavorful with little to no filler. I would come back just for this pasta dish and this place is an hour away from me! read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Gnocchi & Crab - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Absolutely terrible experience. My boyfriend and I have now been here three separate times, and every visit has reinforced why we won't be coming back. The service has consistently been rude, dismissive, and inattentive. On previous visits, we were practically ignored while watching other tables receive prompt service. The food was mediocre and nowhere near good enough to justify the attitude. Our most recent visit was the worst. We came for happy hour, sat at the bar, and presented valid government-issued IDs showing that we are both over 21. Instead of simply verifying them, the staff immediately became rude and refused to serve us because our IDs are vertical. At no point did anyone handle the situation professionally or treat us with basic respect. I completely understand businesses being cautious with alcohol service, but there is a huge difference between following the law and treating paying customers like criminals. The staff's attitude was condescending from the start, and the entire interaction was unnecessarily hostile. Three bad experiences are not a coincidence. Between the poor service, average food, and disrespectful treatment, there is absolutely no reason for us to ever return. read more

The day before valentine day was packed. Even thought I made a reservation I was not able to get seated so I decided to sit at the bar. I wasn't able to order during happy hour although I was in the restaurant starting around 6:50. The manager John was nice enough to have quick conversation with me and gifted me for my next visit . The restaurant looked nice and the food was good however the stares and the mean looks definitely made my girlfriend feel a bit uncomfortable. I may try it again in the spring or summer I hear it a bit better then. read more

Let me start by saying, I love By the docks. I have been here several times but this time I was extremely disappointed. I got the crab cake and shrimp as my dinner and the Oyster Rockefeller and I have had before, yesterday they were absolutely terrible. They were covered in spinach and it was completely overwhelming. The crab cake was ok and the shrimp were overcooked. I will give them another try but the other day was not the best experience. read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

We came for dinner on Saturday, 1/25/25 with reservations at 7 pm, but the lobby area was very crowded. We didn't get seated until 45 minutes later. The restaurant shouldn't take more reservations than necessary. Our waitress Kimberly was very nice and attentive, but the broiled rockfish was overcooked and smaller than what we had in a previous visit. The best food item was the fried calamari appetizer, which was large and tender. Our table was close to other tables that you can hear their conversations so don't discuss anything personal. Finally, the women's bathroom stall floors were wet, but it was not raining or snowing that day. The men's bathroom paper dispenser was not working. Overall, I would not recommend coming here on a Saturday unless you're not hungry. read more

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Fantastic Energy and Top-Tier Service Despite the Crowds! I visited By the Docks this past Friday to celebrate my friend's birthday and catch the tail end of Restaurant Week. Even though it was an incredibly hectic Friday night, the experience was a win. We were 10 minutes late due to traffic, but we called ahead and the staff was very accommodating. When we arrived, the lobby was packed. Since I'm in a wheelchair, the other patrons were kind enough to usher me to the front to check in. Despite the crowd, we were seated in under 5 minutes. Our server, Abner, was honest from the start, giving us a heads-up that it was a "crazy" night. We did have a kitchen mix-up where our entrees arrived before our soup and salad. Abner was clearly frustrated on our behalf, but we told him to just bring it all out--and the food did not disappoint! The lamb chops were tender and flavorful, and the crab cake really "brought it" in terms of quality. My peanut butter and jelly bread pudding was the perfect finish. I also want to mention that the manager made it his business to stop by our table at least twice to check on us. I apologize that I didn't catch his name, but I thought that was a great touch considering how busy they were. The space is a bit tight for a wheelchair when it's that crowded, and the bathroom is smaller than expected for a place this size, but I was still able to maneuver fine. Big thanks to Abner and the team--I'll definitely be back! read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Maryland half and half soup Colossal jumbo lump crab cake Lamb chops House salad Stuffed mushroom caps - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Perfectly cooked fresh seafood, great cocktails, excellent service, great finish with dessert and coffee! read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Halibut with crab, fried potato balls, spinach - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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By the docks was so good that I literally made a TikTok review right after leaving lol. They have beyond amazing service, delicious , reasonably priced drinks, and the restaurant is so aesthetically pleasing, especially with the boats hanging from the ceiling. I absolutely love the $25.99 Tuesday night special where you can get a salad, crab cake dinner with two sides, and a crème brûlée for dessert! you also get free bread! read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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Never going here again! Horrible service from Sue so I did not tip. Received notice from my bank the next day saying my amount has been updated due to the addition of a tip! I was dumb founded! I did not tip on purpose and this person had the audacity to steal my money (yes it's stealing if I did not authorize it) and tip herself! I immediately called the restaurant and asked for the manager whom reimbursed me the tip amount within minutes and said she would "talk" to Sue but honestly I don't feel like she will be reprimanded accordingly. I would press the matter but it was only a $5 tip but it's still the principle of doing that. The audacity! Just horrible! read more

Great place great atmosphere great service if you're looking for crab cakes or seafood this is the place. read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Restaurant decor - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

I wanted a good pork chop. I eat one maybe twice a year. So I was looking for places on Yelp. I hunted. Then I decided that eating it once a year mea y that I should have a good one. So on crabcake night I went to a place knowing that the food would be good. I went to By the Docks.knowing that it would be packed with crabcake eaters. Their crabcakes are good. I have had them several times. Btlut I wanted a good porkchop. The rolls with honey butter made for a good appetizer. But when the entree came out there was no turning read more

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Love their Brussels sprouts. Service was good Wings should be cooked longer That guy always standing up front like he is security every time I go there. I like the way It looks in there. But why they always throw you next to some strangers. read more

I visited By The Docks on November 14 and had an extremely concerning experience regarding customer safety. My young daughter used the restroom, and within less than one second of her hand being under the faucet, she was burned by scalding hot water. Her hand turned visibly red and she cried from the pain. Although there was a sign warning of hot water, that is not an acceptable substitute for maintaining safe plumbing since Baltimore County plumbing code clearly states that public handwashing sinks must not exceed 110°F. I immediately brought this to the manager on duty, Mike, who showed no concern whatsoever. He simply advised they have a warning sign, did not apologize, did not offer ice or any assistance for my daughter, and made no effort to address the hazard. I emailed the restaurant that same evening and still have not received any response. Because the situation involved a clear safety hazard, I reported it to Baltimore County Public Safety. They inspected the restaurant the following week and confirmed the water temperature was over 140°F, and advised the establishment to correct it, but they did not have the authority to enforce repairs. I was then referred to Baltimore County Plumbing Code Enforcement. Plumbing Code Enforcement went out promptly and found that the bathroom sink produced steaming hot water immediately upon being turned on. A work order has since been issued, but it's disappointing that customer safety was apparently not a priority until authorities intervened. My advice: spend your money somewhere that actually values its customers. Jimmy's Famous Seafood nearby is similarly priced but offers far better food quality, service, and management. By The Docks has lost my business, and I hope others take this warning seriously. The food here is overpriced and mediocre, but it's the disregard for customer safety that makes this place truly unacceptable. read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Extreme safety hazard at By The Docks - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

I came here for a date because we both wanted seafood. The staff were friendly, the food was amazing, and the white sangria was delicious. read more

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This place has been around for a long time now in middle river. It's been renovated, and the interior is charming. The dinner rolls came with regular butter and honey butter. I'm not a fan of honey butter, but I tried it and I really was impressed. Also, our waiter gave us a ton of both butters, enough to choke a horse, which as a big man I really appreciated. The crab cakes are big and beautiful, probably one of the better ones you'll get in a restaurant. The calamari is generously portioned, crispy fried and tender. The side salad comes in a weird bowl with a sharply angled top that looks nice but functions terribly, especially since the salad needs to be cut up more so you can actually eat it, and the bowl simply doesn't allow you to do it. My 10 yo daughter got the kids spaghetti, in a different but equally strange bowl. I'm going to say it was only ok, since she didn't eat much of it. My more adventurous 8 yo girl got the sushi, a big California roll, which she said she really liked. Service was great, our waiter did a great job of taking care of us. read more

Unfortunately, I will never return to this spot. The house salad was fresh, great.....That was the highlight of the meal. The Maryland crab soup was bland, boring. I was so excited about the Chesapeake Crab Alfredo but it was trash. Great server & service, and meal was comped without me asking. By The Dock just didn't deliver. read more

Took a dear friend there for her birthday. She has been battling cancer & recently lost ger husband. I wanted to surprise her with cake I bought & asked the girl behind the desk if she could have someone bring it to the table after the meal to surprise her. She said she would. When we were seated low & behold the cake was on the table. I was in tears as it was suppose to be a surprise after the meal. Just ruined the whole dinner time, When I was leaving I expressed my sadness to the manager, He was very dismissive & said "It was just a cake". Like get over it. Very sad. read more

The crab cakes were made of CHEAP crabmeat. It was awful. The Maryland crab soup was just as bad. This restaurant used to have great crab cakes. Will not be going back . Server was the only highlight. read more

The stuffed shrimp were salty and fishy! This place has really gone down hill! I remember when the crab cakes were so delicious now they taste like bad meat and just awful read more

Went for lunch during restaurant week - Haven't been there in years, but I've heard so many good things. Unfortunately my crab cake tasted fishy. They brought me another crabcake, but at that point, I lost my appetite. So we decided to try one of each of the desserts they brought a cannoli and and the tiramisu. The cannoli was mediocre at best. The shell wasn't even crunchy. They say Presentation is everything well that failed terribly. It was a tiny piece and look like it was flung on the plate. We didn't even try it! (see photo) read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Great service, I forget his name but I know he was a veteran. It's been years since I've been here and I was really impressed by the layout and decor. Big party and everyone was happy with their choices. Only miss to me was the crab dip (too creamy) read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Crab Gnocci (this dish was amazing) - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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This restaurant was recently remodeled, and a whole new atmosphere was created, very beachy and nautical...hanging canoes, lights suspended by ropes, and the amazing wall up stairs, yes, it was made of Oyster shells, what a masterpiece! They went all out in creativity. If you choose to dine upstairs, be prepared to climb lots if steps. Now, to the food, I ordered the meatball sub with homemade marinara sauce. The meatballs were so tender and flavorful, the sauce was well seasoned, and this came with an accompanying side salad and Cheaspeake potato chips.. free refills on soft drinks. The sub roll was very fresh, and the provolone on to was melted perfectly. The manager said they have brought back the weekend brunch buffet...$35. Only Sunday. Service was excellent, and there was plenty of free parking and handicapped accessible. read more

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I would give them a 3 3/4 stars. Atmosphere was too warm. The shrimp salad - the shrimp tasted very fishy. Don't know where they came from. Cream of crab was a bit thick and I couldn't taste the sherry. I don't think I would get that again. The smash burger was ok. The burgers were two different sizes, so one was small on the bun and the other hung way over the roll. Would I eat there again? Maybe. read more

I took my husband here and they did not disappoint! The food was delicious! Everything was seasoned well without over doing it! We will put this on the go to list for sure! read more

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2nd time here service absolutely sucks. First time I left after 20 minutes not getting waited on. But I like the crab cakes. This time I ordered carry out. 45 minutes late I'm still sitting here. Manager finally took notice. Found my food. Gave me $10 and apologized. read more

I've been to this restaurant multiple times hoping things would improve, but after three disappointing visits in a row, I'm officially done spending my money here. First time, my client and I ordered a salad and an alcoholic drink -- neither ever came. Second visit, I ordered two items (a salad and crab dip) and never got the salad. They just asked if I still wanted it -- I told them to forget it. Today was the last straw. I spent $33 on a salad and crab soup. Neither me nor my sister could eat it -- the soup tasted overwhelmingly like flour. When I called to give feedback, the manager simply said, "I wish you would've told me while you were here so we could've taken it off, but thanks for the feedback." That kind of response just shows a lack of real customer care. There are way better options in the area like Koco's, Papa's, or Michael's down the street. Don't waste your time like I did. It's just like a hit or miss with this place. It's not like it's always good every time. Who wastes their time with that? read more

My waiter was very rude to the birthday boy not me I would never recommend this place

This weekend, I wanted to go somewhere that offered a variety of things so I decided to come to By the Docks. I've been here a bunch of times and I've even taken my family for celebrations and brunch. I will say say that I like the new upgrades to the decor. This was my first time being in the bar area and the booth we had was cozy. Overall my experience was decent but I had a few gripes. 1. The salad used to come with the meal but a side salad was $6 and it came in a weird bowl. It took everything in me not to knock it over. 2. My server. He was much more attentive to a table that came in after us. He checked on them often but we basically only saw him when he took our order and gave us the check. We spent more time with the food runners. He also forgot one of my items that I ordered. I'm not sure if I was charged for it because I just paid the check and left. Now to the good part.... I ordered way too many items to list each one but the food was great. I don't like that they have sides set for each entrée but they will allow you to substitute which is a plus. I will return but hopefully I'll have a different server next time. read more

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We enjoyed an amazing dinner here during Baltimore County Restaurant Week! One of the best and largest crabcakes I've had for the price. Service was good, food was excellent and the restaurant was clean and updated. Highly recommend! read more

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