Came in town for surprise visit. My friends recommended this place for some seafood so we went. Started out by saying the food was okay. I ordered the Cream of crab soup. With boiled seafood platter. Buy me originally being from being Baltimore, I was not impressed with the crabcake. The service was excellent and the restaurant was not too bad. But all in all the food was pretty good. read more

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

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Don't forget the possibility of an accident due to the oil in parking lot! I'm in the area and in a wheelchair. We came by and left because I didn't want to slide, fall and get hurt. When will it be cleaned up? What will it take? Forgot to upload the pics! read more

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

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I recently visited on August 16th for my birthday dinner. The food was AMAZING! The service was excellent! We were seated promptly and the restaurant is gorgeous on the inside. I'd definitely recommend it! read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Crab cake and Lamb Chops - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

We went here for Mother's Day. It was a special menu. The service was amazing, our server was the best. We went Sunday at 1:30pm. The food was amazing good portions. I had the ribs and cake. And cream of crab soup. I hadn't been for awhile but it doesn't disappoint. Definitely recommend good value for your money. Worth every penny read more

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

The food was delicious. The waitress couldn't have been nicer. And sometimes we see the owner which is very nice.

I went for lunch on Monday and had chicken alfredo. I got food poisoning and was sick all night. I found out the next day a coworker got food poisoning from eating a crab cake sandwich a few weeks ago. read more

We went out for a Birthday/Mother's Day Lunch. We didn't realize that on Sundays until 2 it is strictly the Brunch Buffet. All we had been thinking about is their crabcakes! The server was able to get us crabcakes as our entree! We were ecstatic. Service was awesome. The crabcakes were great and those of our party that got the Brunch Buffet loved it with the made to order omelets, fresh seafood and even sushi. read more

We are from out of town and made a 815 pm reservation on Mother's Day. We called and told them we would be about 20 min late and was it on to still hold our table. The person who answered the phone said sure come down. We arrived at 830 and when we were getting out of the uber to enter the restaurant, I received a call from the restaurant and told that the kitchen was closing because and they would not serve us. Since we were already there, I walked in and spoke to the Manager "Mike." Who said they couldn't serve us because the kitchen was closed. This is very disappointing as we drove on Mother's Day because we drove 30 min one way get to this location. They didn't offer us anything for our time and money we spent on the Uber. The manager didn't apologize and lacked professionalism and empathy. Customer Service is everything. I will never ever go back to that location very unprofessional. The manager definitely needs a class on how to treat customers. read more

I made reservations at By The Docks for restaurant week. They had a promotion where you could get a four course meal for $40 it was a deal I couldn't pass up. Apparently a lot of people couldn't pass the deal up because even though my reservations were for 7 o'clock. we waited for about 15 minutes before being seated. Not a big deal because again there were a lot of people there for restaurant week. The hostess' were kind and apologetic for the wait and seated us as soon as they could. The restaurant has a nautical aesthetic, two levels and very cozy. Noise level is moderate and the lighting is just right . Once seated, the server came over, greeted our table, took our drink order and gave us some time to look at the menu. We shared that we were there to do the four course special, and she went ahead and took our order for all courses. While we waited for the food, fresh baked rolls were dropped off at the table, accompanied by honey butter. It was so delicious. For the first course I went with the cream of crab soup and the second course I did the crab egg roll. The third course I selected crabcakes and fried shrimp which came with a side of potatoes and grilled zucchini. For the final course I had cannoli. It was obvious they were batch cooking to accommodate the restaurant week rush. With that said, I still found the food to be of good quality. The cream of crab soup was a little bit chunkier than what I'm used to, but it wasn't bad. The crab egg roll was paired with a slaw. That was very tasty. I really loved how crispy and flavorful the fried shrimp was and they were not stingy with the crab meat for the crab cake. The crabcake was huge. They drizzled some type of sauce on the potatoes that had a little kick to it for my taste buds but it was tasty and complemented all of the flavors on the plate. I prefer plain cannolis. Since they didn't over do the chocolate chips , I was actually able to pick them out and enjoy it plain. The food was really good. I enjoyed my time and plan to go back when it isn't so busy just to see how the atmosphere is on a regular night. If you made it to the end of my review, this is your sign to go check them out . read more

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Walked in about 11:30a.m. and was greeted and seated immediately. The waitress Sara was very friendly and polite. She bought us lemon water. I was there for the $19.99 lunch special. Crab cake, 2 fried shrimp, coleslaw and fries. He ordered clams and a beer. I also ordered a margarita. I have to say nothing disappointed. He was also able to get a boiled egg with his clams. The drink order came out right away and the food was not too far behind. It was beautiful inside with a nice cozy setting. I am definitely willing to return and check out some more menu items. read more

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Fantastic food and service! haven't been since before 2020 covid, everything is superb.

The food is great and responsibly priced. I had the twin lobsters. And an array of appetizers during happy hour. The margaritas are a little too sweet because they use a mixer. The service was good while sitting at the bar. And the interior ambiance is nice. The outside of the restaurant was not reflective of the inside. read more

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

What a trainwreck of a meal. I'm glad this was one of my mother's picks so I don't have to feel guilty for making her pay $90 (FOR LUNCH, not even the full-price dinner menu) for a meal that was basically inedible. This is clearly one of those restaurants made famous by people with no tastebuds, like Pizza Johns and Squires. Famous crabcakes my butt. I hope we don't get sick from that cream of crab that tasted like a salt lick and a gallon of rotten cream had a baby. My mom had fried shrimp and fries, and kept saying how she liked it but the shrimp were obviously out of a box, Gordon's or SeaPak would be my guess. Most of our meal tasted like it had come out of a box, except the crab. That probably came out of a 25 lb plastic bucket, that expired several days ago. I had coconut fried shrimp tacos, which could have been amazing. "Mango salsa," it said on the menu. "Guacamole," it said. What I received was an abomination - previously frozen coconut shrimp, detailed, and cut into quarters, "salsa" surely must have been a jar of tomato paste with a diced mango. That's NOT how you make mango salsa. I couldn't taste anything else. It was so overpowering. As we sat there, loudly laughing and making fun of our craptastic meal, I made the boyfriend try some "mango salsa" on a plain, unsalted tortilla (the side) and the face he made was priceless, and since By the Docks uses cloth napkins (oh la la, trying to class up the joint), he had nowhere to spit it and had to use a piece of discarded lettuce. I tried to convince my mom to taste it and she spent three minutes yelling, "I don't wanna!" like a seven-year-old. The boyfriend had the Baltimore Chicken sandwich, where the chicken had been cooked into shoe leather, stringy and tough. More sour crab meat. "The best thing on the plate is the pickle!" He also had a cheesesteak. I cannot, for the life of me, remember when that man didn't finish a cheesesteak. When our sweet waiter Christian asked us how it was and I proclaimed, "Terrible!" He laughed. I can't decide if he thought I was being sarcastic, or if he gets that answer a lot. Also, why is the point of sales on the wall in the main dining room? Just thrown up there, crooked, with all the cables everywhere? Take some pride in the appearance of your restaurant, people! When diners find out the truth about your food, at least give them a pleasant dining atmosphere to bring them back. Second chances DO happen. Not for us though - because, as locals, this was more than our second chance. This was the last chance. WILL NOT RECOMMEND. Take your money someplace else. If you really need a crabcake, try RiverWatch. You'll pay just as much, but you can sit on the water, which sure beats a dingy, loud (Could the bussers crash the dishes off the tables any louder!?) dining room with a floor that shakes and vibrates every time someone walks nearby. BEWARE. read more

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I knocked this off my Foodie Bucket List on a date night! 8-4-24. My awesome homegirl mentioned them and so did my bff and I've been to several crab cake spots so I had to try them as well. And it exceeded my expectations!! The ambiance inside was maaarvelous!! My waiter/server was Blane!! He suggested some menu items and I went ahead and got two of the BEST things recommended in One!.. I ordered the Lamb chops (4) & Crab cake 8oz thick one too No fillers all you could taste was very well Seasoned huge chunks of crab Meat. My Bf got the feature presentation (not on the main menu blame said I believe ) the Pistachio Pesto chicken Pasta!! And let me tell you!! You can tell immediately from ONE BITE!! it's made fresh!!!! pesto and I'm not a pesto girl but honeyyy it's a Vibe!, The crab cake was SEASONED by Grandmas hands because it was seasoned all the way thruuu that thang!! not just salt and pepper sprinkles! The lamb chops SEASONED down to the bone!!! Delicious!!!! The zucchini & the potato balls with the aioli was very good !!. Blane was very immediate in checking our table often, getting everything without being asked to he just did them!! He's TRULY the definition of Top Tier customer service!! So should you come to dine here know the people are nice , the service is treat you like family and the food will leave you highly satisfied!! I'd surely come back here!!! The crab cake was sooo good I even purchased my mama one!!! So thank you everyone involved with my table!! 8-5-24 Update!! The day after dining and eating the rest of our meals crab cake sandwich included STILL tastes as fresh and excellentè as the day it was purchased!! Definitely order from this place read more

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Food was delicious!! Great happy hour and the service was top notch. We will definitely return soon

Updating from my last review, which was in the height of the pandemic in 2020. Obviously, they are now open again for indoor seating and have been for quite some time. By the docks has the best crabcakes. There really is nothing else that comes close. We almost exclusively order the crabcakes so I don't have as much familiarity with the rest of their menu. I've tried the chicken Chesapeake and I do enjoy it. We usually get a variety of side dishes and they're all decent, but the star of the show is the crabcakes. I think we've had the shrimp cocktail once or twice and it was good. I think there really isn't much point in trying anything else unless you just are feeling adventurous. You come here for the crabcakes... So get the crabcakes. read more

While the ambience and food was delicious, our server Jimmy appeared to want us to hurry our meal. We arrived about 12:15 pm on Dec 11, 2023, and were encouraged to leave at 1:37pm. Once our lunch arrived at the table, we were eating for about 15 minutes when Jimmy came to our table with takeout containers (without being prompted to do so). Two minutes later he came with the check. We were all so shocked that we got out of there as fast as we could because until that moment we no longer felt welcomed. I'm hoping that this is not a restaurant policy that servers are taught to do for specific guests. But I'm not sure if anyone in my party will want to visit again or recommend BY THE DOCK to any friends or family. That is unfortunate because before I retired I frequently bought my staff to dine during celebratory meetings. Restaurant: 4 stars Server/ Bartender - Jimmy: 3 stars read more

Always a great experience here. Their crab cake is one of the best around, but I had to come here to talk about the amazing restaurant week experience. The food was phenomenal. They really need to consider adding that crabby wrap to the menu. It was that good! They just need to make sure to include a side of the crab aoili as asking for a side of that really took it to the next level! Their homemade chips are so good! Finally, I'm absolutely in love with their new decor. It looks so amazing in there now. Only small criticism is the wait staff seem to be spread too thin or something as they tend to be hard to find when you need something. read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Crabby wrap! What's left of it. Was so good! - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

I came here for a birthday celebration. (Note that they don't give out complimentary desserts for any occasion.) I had never been and was pleasantly surprised by what I experienced. Despite the name, the restaurant isn't actually a waterfront restaurant. Nevertheless, the seafood tasted fresh, the staff was diligent, and the restaurant was inviting. I ordered the broiled platter. I was ready to be critical given how expensive items are here but I have no choice but to commend the restaurant. The portions are massive and, more importantly, delicious. Two people could easily have split the entrees and still been full. I wouldn't share mine though--I'd rather take the leftovers home, thank you very much. On the Docks is easily the best seafood experience I've had this year. read more

By The Docks Restaurant - Broiled seafood platter with rice pilaf and roasted veggies. So much food, all of it tasty! - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Love this restaurant. Ate there three times in April 2024 and twice in Dec 2024. Had Tuesday night crab cake special four of the visits and clams casino and octopus app the other time. Worth it every time. Service was great. Love the atmosphere as well. Try it. You will not be disappointed I assure you. read more

I love the food, people, and the specials are killer deals. Don't miss out on the crab cakes!!!!!!

Delicious Baseball sized crabcakes were great. Online ordering was a breeze and the staff were super friendly upon arrival. The hostess recommended me to come back and try the raw bar, so I will make my way back. read more

I visited this place Sunday, and it was pretty good for a quick find. I had the crab cakes, which were very large, and they weren't too bad. They did have a slightly different taste than what I expect from blue crab, but perhaps it was another type of crab they used. The service was nice and it was a nice atmosphere. I would try this place again and test out another dish. read more

the atmosphere is very welcoming, everyone is so nice and helpful. the food is so amazing and filling, its really well plated too. plus they have such good music. read more

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

A Culinary Gem: By The Docks Restaurant Prepare to embark on a gastronomic journey like no other at By The Docks Restaurant, where the marriage of seafood and steak results in an unforgettable dining experience. By The Docks is located next to Bengies Drive-In Theater in Middle River. And for them, excellence is not just a goal, but a standard upheld with unwavering dedication. From the moment you step through the door, you're greeted with an inviting atmosphere that sets the stage for an exceptional meal. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply seeking a memorable dining experience, By The Docks delivers in spades. Now, let's talk about the food - the true star of the show. From their signature buffalo wings to their sumptuous stuffed shrimp, each dish is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to quality and flavor. The buffalo wings, in particular, stand out as some of the best I've ever tasted - perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a sauce that strikes the perfect balance between tangy and spicy. It's a culinary revelation that leaves a lasting impression. And then there's the stuffed shrimp - a dish that not only satisfies the appetite but also indulges the palate with its rich and flavorful combination of ingredients. Each bite is a symphony of flavors, with the tender shrimp complemented by a delectable crab stuffing that's both satisfying and delicious. Of course, it wouldn't be By The Docks without their impeccable selection of seafood and steaks. From huge Crab Cakes and Stuffed Lobster Imperial to perfectly grilled filet mignon, every dish is prepared with precision and care, ensuring a dining experience that's nothing short of extraordinary. In conclusion, By The Docks Restaurant is a culinary gem that deserves every bit of praise it receives. With its outstanding food, inviting atmosphere, and unparalleled commitment to excellence, it's a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a truly exceptional dining experience. I personally do not live nearby, but my family makes regular trips as this has become one of our favorite destination restaurants. read more

Just had a great dinner. The service was great. My service, Iris was very friendly and personable. We will return agin.

Stopped here on the way back to NY from DC because of their good reviews and vegetarian options. My friend and I both got a bunch of dishes to share. Everything we had was delicious and I had the most delicious bowl of cream of crab soup that I've ever had here - it was a HUGE portion as well. The waiter we had was super nice and attentive. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Easily the best seafood restaurant I have ever been to! The menu is huge and caters to seafood lovers as well as those who prefer something not so fishy :) You can get salad, steak, burgers, pasta and chicken here as well. Four of us had reservations for a Saturday and were seated immediately upon our arrival. APPS: Coconut Shrimp were HUGE and very tasty! Didn't care for the marmalade sauce though. The Firecracker Shrimp were delicious as well. Love the house-made spicy cream sauce they are tossed in. ENTREES: I ordered the Jewels of the Sea combo platter which included a 4 oz cold water lobster tail, jumbo lump crab cake (this is the biggest crab cake I've ever seen), jumbo shrimp and scallops. Ok--this was so good, just writing this is making me drool. Everything was perfectly cooked and so yummy. The crab cake has very little filler. My fiancé ordered the Chesapeake Crab Alfredo, which was fettuccini alfredo topped with a jumbo lump crab cake and surrounded by PEI mussels. He didn't care for the mussels so I helped him out :) They were good! He thoroughly enjoyed his dinner as well. The strawberry cheesecake is to die for. We wanted to buy the entire cake but didn't have anywhere to store it...thank God for our waistlines lol. Service was decent, but not the best. Our server did try his best but seemed overwhelmed with a lot of tables. This won't deter us from returning! read more

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

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I attended By The Docks Restaurant in Middle River, MD, a month ago for a retirement dinner. Everything on the menu looks delicious. This was my first time, and I want something good and filling to eat. I decided on the double crab cake platter. The waitress asked me how I wanted my crab cake broiled or fried. I did not know which one to get, so the waitress advised me that I could get one of each, so the next time I know which I want. So I said Great, I'll order one of each. Well, today, I had a lunch date with my best friend. Both of us love seafood, so I told her this was a great spot to go. As we entered the building and checked in, the receptionist was very nice and set us at our table. A waitress came over to take our order. As we told the friendly waitress our order, my girlfriend wanted the crab cake platter, but she did not know which one she wanted, fried or broiled. I suggest she get the one single crab cake, and I get the double, so I can get one fried and one broiled. When I told the waitress what I wanted, she advised me that my request was not honored. I told the waitress and my friend about the offer I was giving to me from another waitress about a month ago. She advised me that ordering two different orders regarding the crab cakes will confuse the cooking staff. So, I said nicely, seriously. She also said the cooking staff was short-handed. So, I said will take the crab cakes broiled then. I apologize to my friend for being unable to try the fried crab cake. So when the platters arrived at our table, everything looked good, except the fries. The fries were cold, and we told the waitress, and she brought us some new, hot fries. After we paid for our dinner and left a tip for the waitress, I apologized to my friend I'm really sorry for the service of the food. read more

I really want to love this place... but there are always a few hits and misses each time I go. For this visit, We went around 2pm on a Sunday which meant we had to wait for about 30 mins for them to switch from Brunch to dinner and add more tables. Once we were seated the service was SLOW. We were there from about 2:30 to 5:30 and that was not by choice! It was restaurant week and the deals were great. $40 for a 4 course meal! The appetizers are always delicious. We had calamari and the half and half soup. Next up was an oyster appetizer that I wasn't a fan of at all and I love oysters but this was bad! Next up was the entree. The most liked meal at the table was the shrimp and grits. There was also a crab cake meal and a stuffed flounder meal and they were both just ok. Needed more seasoning and the food was lukewarm. Last but not least was the dessert and the cannoli was delicious. The chocolate bread pudding was the other choice and I was told it was good but would've been better if it was hot. Overall the ambiance is nice and the food is decent and huge portions but the service was SLOW and the food took forever to come out. I do want to try it one more time for Sunday brunch. All you can eat for $35 per person! Now that's a deal. read more

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Service is great. Meals are large and perfect and well worth the money . I enjoyed seafood & steak here on many occasions and will definitely eat here when I'm in town! read more

First time here. Delicious beet salad with radish, apples, Greek yogurt dressing and crab meat--wow! Service was friendly and timely. Lovely decor and atmosphere too. read more

By The Docks Restaurant - 1/3 of the delicious beet salad pictured! It's huge and so I took some home. - Seafood Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Went here for a birthday dinner when the restaurant we reserved was closed (don't ask). It ended up being restaurant week and the food was great. We all had the RW menu and liked all of the options. Our server Abner was great and attentive to our table, the restaurant was nicely decorated and the pace of the meal was perfect. The birthday man enjoyed his day! A must try if you're in the area. read more

Awesome evening... and food was delicious as always! Our waiter was so young and so good he did an excellent job!!!! Thank you Blane H for serving us!!!! read more

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

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Horrible experience. Made a reservation for 7:15pm and when we arrived there was a crowd of people. We went up to the host stand and told them we were here for our reservation but the guy told us "there are reservations in front of you" (very rudely). We asked "how many people?" He just told us a lot. Never gave us an answer until we went back up. He told us only 3 people were in front so we waited but more people then 3 people went to get there tables so we went back up there the the answer changed to 4 more reservations in front of us. They never gave us a clear answer. We did not get a call about a table being ready until 8pm, so 45 minutes after our reservation. I could have been understanding if there was clear communication but the guy at the host stand was absolutely rude and was not helpful. Should have been truthful about how many more reservations were in front of us rather than lying to make us wait longer. read more

There were about 20 of us who ventured out to By The Docks Restaurant on a Monday evening to celebrate my daughter's birthday. Several of us arrived about 5 minutes before our reservation, but you won't get seated until at least half of your party has arrived. Once we were seated, one of the servers brought out water and bread immediately. Our server Abner was great, very attentive, kind and on point. Because we were a large party we knew it would be a lengthy process. Abner took our drink orders first, then appetizers some time after that. The Monday night special is everything Lobster, including Lobster Bisque which most of us ordered. Unfortunately I had to send mine back because it tasted like cheese dip, but others at the table said they enjoyed it, but it wasn't hot. The Oyster Rockefeller, which is one of my favorite appetizers, wasn't good at all. There was so much spinach and the flavor of whatever was on the top just wasn't good. The stuffed mushrooms, grilled octopus and wings were all very good appetizers. Dinner arrived and most of the table had ordered the whole stuffed (w/ crab imperial) lobster, everyone was pleased with their entrees. I ordered the Fried Trio, but had requested my crab cake to be broiled, and that was good. Two people had pasta and they both said they enjoyed their meal. The stuffed flounder was also a hit. The portions sizes were generous and everyone had leftovers, so that was good. The entrees come with 2 sides and unfortunately most of them were sub par. The sautéed vegetables were cold and looked leftover. The steamed broccoli had brown spots. The rice pilaf wasn't pilaf. I will say the French fries were delicious. I'm not sure if when I'm in town again, I'd go back on my own. But if I was invited I wouldn't turn it down. read more

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

While the ambience and food was delicious, our server Jimmy appeared to want us to hurry our meal. We arrived about 12:15 pm on Dec 11, 2023, and were encouraged to leave at 1:37pm. Once our lunch arrived at the table, we were eating for about 15 minutes when Jimmy came to our table with takeout containers (without being prompted to do so). Two minutes later he came with the check. We were all so shocked that we got out of there as fast as we could because until that moment we no longer felt welcome. I'm hoping that this is not a restaurant policy that servers are taught to do for specific guests. But I'm not sure if anyone in my party will want to visit again or recommend BU THE DOCK to any friends or family. That is unfortunate because before I retired I frequently bought my staff to dine during celebratory meetings. Charletta read more

We have been to The Docks twice now! Once for lunch and once for dinner. Both times we had great seafood and service!

Just popped in to restaurant in the area. Staying at a hotel in the area due to losing my home to a fire. John the owner came over and greeted us. The staff was spot on! Happy delightful courteous most delicious softball size of a softball all lump. Lastly vegetables grilled sautéed zucchini and broccoli rabe style. Delicious read more

By the docks has a good crab cake, not great. There are large chunks of jumbo lump crabmeat. The filler is bland, lacking flavor and old bay. There were no crab shells, thankfully. The crab meat was strategically on the top and outer edges of the crab cake. Right in the center was the tasteless filler. The mashed potatoes and corn were basic. Corn kernels were soggy; no crispiness or crunch. The gravy had an old taste and started to clump. read more

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