1. great seafood 2. meticulously clean 2. great service 3. cheerful smiles 3. great atmosphere read more

We have been searching for a place that served oysters and found this diamond!!! I was very impressed with the food, the service... we will be returning soon. read more

Captain John's Dockside - Filet of Catfish Beer Battered Onion Rings and crab legs - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Decided to go back after a long absence and was not disappointed. Our food was prepared lightly fried and broiled, seasoned well and hot. The service was excellent, attentive but not over bearing. Our drinks were prepared very well. The portion sizes were smaller than the past (pre covid) but the was plenty of food to consume and take leftovers. Prices are as expected, fair and reasonable. There is plenty of parking . The restaurant was clean and comfortable. read more

We have visited this restaurant SINCE IT OPENED-- though less frequently since we moved farther away from it. It continues to be one of the best mid-priced seafood restaurants in the C.H.-Durham area, mostly attributable to the conscientious oversight of owner "Captain John." Through our decades of dining here, he is ALWAYS present, customer-focused, and caring about the food that they serve. My Seafood platter meal last night was delicious: 4 kinds of seafood, all cooked perfectly according to my "lightly fried" preference, plus a baked potato & plenty of condiments for UNDER $20! And John's baklava was as good as any in the area. Plus, he made his usual courteous visit to our table to catch up on our lives. My advice: If you're a (fried) seafood lover, please try this unassuming restaurant before Captain John decides to retire! He also strives to offer creative dinner "specials" that look to be very fetching. read more

One-hour wait for food, 45-minute wait for hushpuppies, overcooked seafood, clam chowder like water. Only five tables of patrons, so no excuse of being busy. What a horrible meal that should have been an enjoyable evening out with family. Fish sandwich was okay, per my mom, who loves everything. This restaurant will never get our business again. read more

Had the best seafood ever ! Scallops and oysters-YUMMY ! Also great service and OK prices.

Always a enjoyable meal and time. My oldest granddaughter loves the popcorn shrimp. It is a must eat every time she visits. I ordered the calamari appetizer for the table excellent , very warm and not rubbery. It was gone in a few minutes. For my entree I had fried flounder and shrimp with French fries. So, it was a fried treat night. It was a very tasty meal. Will be back. read more

Captain John's Dockside - The fried flounder and shrimp plate. - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Worst restaurant in area. Do not recommend. The food is bland and sometimes partially frozen. Never fresh. Usually don't have enough people working, open at 4pm and stop taking orders at 8pm. Their ambience is very distasteful, if any at all. read more

Captain John's Dockside - Bar Area - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The food was really good. The appetizers are very good and have a nice variety. For the mains the variety was even better. I got the chicken sandwich and it was pretty good. Ambiance was nice but I think if it was a little fuller and some more energy this could be legendary. Now the service, it was incredibly good. I can not stress how good this was. Our waiter was really nice and even offered to take a photo for us. My grandma also is a little picky about her scallops and she asked the waiter and then a little later THE captain john came out and talked with her face to face about about the scallops. He also told us his story and he is a lovely man. Food 8.5/10. Ambience 8/10. Service 11/10. So I'm updating this rating to a 5 (previously 4) when we were leaving captain John came out again and gave us some of his cousins homemade Greek pastries. Service is now a 12/10 and the pastries were really good bumping the food up to a 9. read more

Captain John's Dockside - Sweet tea, fried chicken sandwich, French Fries - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The food at the dockside doesn't taste fresh to me. I grew up eating fresh fish on the regular and absolutely love fish, but at the dockside the shrimp seemed rubbery and the fish tasted fishy. I tried them three times but have yet to find something interesting liked on their menu. read more

My partner likes their open mic night on wednesdays and you get $10 off your meal when you play. Pretty cool... read more

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I called to see if they're now allowing dine in again, which they are, so we thought we'd come over, all the way from south Durham. I think they may be under new ownership and communication to even get in the door once there was lacking. Turns out you have to enter at the front side of the building that faces 15/501. I didn't even know there was a door there, let alone it being called the "front door"! It's the bar room and that's the only place they're allowing seating. I was told it was so they could keep people safe. Well the room was pretty packed. So much for safety. No seating allowed in the usual big dining room where you would normally enter by the side parking lot next to the take out door. There seemed to be only one person waiting the tables and she looked like she was in utter chaos. She took our drink order and brought it in decent time, but after ten minutes, she still hadn't returned to take our order. She even went to another table nearby that had come in after us to take their order. We couldn't even get her attention as she literally ran to the kitchen. I know many restaurants are short handed these days, but if one is why not put a cap on how many parties they seat rather than overloading themselves? The vibe in there was so unsettling we put money on the table to cover the soda we ordered and left. Probably won't return again either. read more

Captain John's Dockside - Scallops &fried oysters - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Nice wait staff, perfect hush puppies and we enjoyed our meal. It reminds me of the seafood restaurants at the Carolina shore.

Best Calabash style seafood in the area. The food is always fresh and delicious. Captain John is always there to greet you and suggest the daily specialties. Enjoy the Clyde Jones folk art while you are having your meal. read more

Over priced and the quality of the food is poor! I specifically asked for dark side flounder....I got one very small piece of dark and the rest were white side. The lg chicken finger plate is suppose to come with 6 strips. There were only 5 and obviously cut in half because they were so freaking tiny and tough!! I'm continuously disappointed with my orders from them, but kept going back because of convenience. I will not be going back! I will drive to Dry Dock in Siler City!!! They are awesome!!! read more

Ok, I've been going here for years, both in-house and takeout. I've finally had enough of this pathetic place. I just paid $18 for an oyster platter takeout...first it was 10 minutes later than they stated on the phone...I get that, sometimes things take longer than expected. Got home, we got 8 tiny oysters! I called to complain, first got told would I like to speak to the manager, I said yes...first person came back and said there was "nothing they could do" and that "oysters were out of season." Ok, I get that, but then put MORE in the plate? Absolutely ridiculous and rude to boot!!!!! Never again! read more

Captain John's Dockside - The pitiful excuse for an Oyster Platter ($18)...minus one oyster that had already been eaten. - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Been going here several times a year for the past few years and have never had a bad meal. The Tiki Bar with live music is great!!.

We decided to try a new restaurant yesterday...arriving about 5 pm. After entering the facility, we should have turned around and left without ordering or eating as we were confronted with a stench that suggested that the restaurant does a poor job cleaning their facility We were lead through the main dining room to the bar room, which had people 4-5 loud men/women rowdily drank at the bar. We ordered broiled seafood dinners, which resulted in stomach / GI issues later in the evening. After our experience, we wondered what the health department evaluation had been for the restaurant. Regardless, the restaurant needs a current health department inspection. We have no plans of ever returning to this restaurant. read more

We were in town because of a family emergency and this place was recommended. Frankly we were both exhausted and would have been happy to just eat almost anything and go back to the hotel and crash. We were very, very pleasantly surprised. The people were friendly and the food was both delicious and plentiful. This place is truly a hidden gem. Go there. read more

This was the best seafood I've had in ages. It was made fresh, perfectly cooked, and quick to arrive at the table. The service was amazing. Waitress tended bar and anticipated every request to our table before we ever asked. Sweet tea was great with the smallest dash of lemon. Plus this restaurant is locally owned and operated since 1992. 10/10 would HIGHLY recommend. read more

Captain John's Dockside - Catfish, shrimp, amazing hush puppies (I'm not a hush puppy fan) and French fries. - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I have family which has lived in the area for approx. 30 years and we've been visiting the area since they moved here. During that time, we've driven past Dockside for approx. 25 of those years (sign says they opened in 1992). Today was the first time we decided to try the food. Upon arrival, we were quickly greeted and offered a table along the wall. It was maybe one minute from the time we were seated to the waitress coming over to ask for drink preferences. We didn't have time to even open the menu, though no huge deal. Once we determined what we'd like to drink, it took another several minutes for the waitress to come over to our table and take the order. She walked past us several times, each time looking at us as we looked at her, yet she never stopped by or made any comments about coming back in a minute or two. When we finally got her attention, her comment was "you ready to order?".... Drink orders were taken with a "what do you want to drink" kind of attitude. Prior to ordering the food, I asked if there were any muscles in the gumbo, as the person I was dining with is allergic to them. The waitress said no and then walked away. About ten minutes later, the waitress reappeared with the same kind of attitude regarding the food orders. She had zero personality and it really showed. When the food came, it tasted pretty good. I had the salmon filet, which was served with a baked potato and some of the fried dough. The salmon was well cooked and not dried out, which was nice. However, my potato was rotten inside. The other person at our table also had a rotten potato. Our waitress never came by to ask how the food was; it took us asking another waitress for assistance to get food that we could eat what we paid for. Overall, service was just terrible. I am normally a generous tipper (18-20% for dine in), but tonight was an exception. While the food was decent, I don't see any compelling reasons to come here vs. one of the nicer fish restaurants around Franklin Street. read more

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Friendly atmosphere, the blackened grouper was huge and delicious (definitely enough to share). Sat at the bar and the bartender was very cautious with spreading out sets of groups. Key lime was homemade with an Oreo crust. read more

Sure Captain John's has Calabash-style seafood, but if you're overlooking the specials (posted only at the front) you are missing out on the real wonder that is The Captain. When we have that rare seafood craving in-and-around Chapel Hill, this is the only place we go. First, the basic menu is extensive. You can get pretty much anything served how you like it, from crab cakes or legs to broiled catch-of-the-day. The specials are incredible, though. Where the basic menu is good for a plain seafood meal, the specials are for when you're feeling like you need something more. Shrimp Fra Diavolo (not particularly spicy), Mediterranean dishes, and specialty pastas (as well as other catches of the day) are in abundance. All using fresh ingredients, fresh herbs, and a wonderful balance of flavors that far surpass places like Squids - hands down. Also, they have live bluegrass music on certain nights and "happy hour" specials. Go forth and eat man! read more

Captain John's Dockside - Fried clam strips platter - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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A hidden gem in the Triangle! One of the cleanest restaurants around, and the food quality cannot be beat. From Fish & Chips to Seafood Diablo you just can't go wrong. Great food in a unique environment prepared by people that obviously care, and take pride in what they do. You will be hard pressed to find a better value in Chapel Hill. read more

Captain John's Dockside - Perfect Blend of spices with just the right amount of seafood. The mussels are the best I've ever had! - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I wouldn't say this is the best seafood restaurant out there, but it's certainly easy to be a fan of the food. Another day trip to Pittsboro and every time I've gone out there I've passed Captain John's and thought to myself "Self? You need to stop and try this place!" I finally took my own advice and stopped with my bride and her sister. The visit had its ups and downs. First, the name is a little misleading - there are no docks here, no boat slips and the only way a boat is going to get anything close to dockside is to be hauled in on a trailer. Atmosphere inside is that of wide open space somewhat sectioned off. It's well painted, white painted wainscoting and natural wood finishes with seascapes, seafaring items, things to make it look like a seafood place including a stuffed marlin over the fireplace mantel. With that said, the wait to be seated was almost non existent. We were there during off hours, however, and one of the servers immediately started fussing at the hostess with "NO!!! I'M DONE! DONE FOR THE DAY! NO!! Do NOT SEAT ME!!!" very plainly and loudly... which IMHO is a horrible public display of an attitude that exhibits traits of someone who is NOT a team player and really does NOT do whatever it takes to help the business they are a part of succeed. I get it, you don't want any more tables for the day, your shift is supposed to be over, but hey... that can be said in a private conversation instead of saying it with gusto in front of the guests who are waiting to be seated. After being seated, a nice young lady came over to take drink orders and handed us little slips of paper that had the day's specials on them. Note - these are the same specials that are written on the board out in front of the hostess station that we totally missed. Great concept, great sales approach for making people aware of the daily specials. We placed our orders, received our salads and appetizers and then we... waited... ...and... ...waited... ...and waited some more... The food FINALLY came out! I would say it was a solid 20 minutes or more after we had finished our salads and appetizers. The scallops were terrific - a little gritty, but still terrific! I had one of my bride's crabcakes, and it too was terrific! So, in summary, the food is delicious - whether or not it was worth the wait is... eh... I don't know, but it was indeed good. The attitude we witnessed at the hostess station from the server who didn't want to serve anyone else was horrid. Our server, however, was terrific. read more

We loved it. It reminded us of some of the places we used to eat at in the Midwest. Friendly owners and servers, excellent service, great food. I had the broiled shrimp and my husband had the scrod. Both were outstanding. And the hush puppies were some of the best we've had. Definitely going back. read more

Can you give less than a star? Avoid if you can. Service super slow. Food over cooked and some seemed spiked (the calamari especially - tasted extremely fishy). We are here 7 years ago and had the same experience. Hoped that after 7 years they would have improved. They did not. We will kit give them another shot. read more

This place doesn't have very good food after 6pm. The owner insulted staff WHILE restaurant was open so ALL costumers could here everything. The owner sometimes serves raw food and blames the servers. Servers are amazing. Don't get paid enough and do an amazing job even short staffed sometimes. read more

This place is good for families. We had a group of maybe 20 people, and everyone was happy with their food. Reasonably priced, and the customer service is awesome! When you go - ask for Daniel! (: read more

Captain John's Dockside - 9oz Ribeye. - Seafood Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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I've known Captain John ever since I was born and to be quite honest with you I would never go anywhere else in Chatham County that serves seafood as John does Dockside Seafood grill. read more

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I moved to Chapel Hill a couple of months ago and since I'm a big fan of seafood, this place was on my radar almost from the beginning. Anyhow, I tried a carryout meal from Captain John's Dockside last night and was very happy overall. I had the steak and lobster tail combo, which came with choice of potato (I chose steak fries but baked is also available), a side salad, and a slice of garlic toast. I also ordered the shrimp cocktail appetizer. The food was very good and carefully packaged. All of the garnishes you'd expect were included... melted butter, cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, ketchup, and steak sauce. I was also asked if I needed utensils (I didn't). Overall I was pretty happy with the service and the food offered at Captain John's and I'm looking forward to my next visit. read more

The lady cleaning the table with glass cleaner The plate style is a little off on sandwiches. All food taste like a old freezer burn taste and the atmosphere is like depressing to walk in and the hostess look depressed. read more

Went for Valentine's dinner and the food was fantastic. Everything was cooked perfectly. I had whitefish, popcorn shrimp, and fries; My wife had crab cakes, shrimp and baked potato. The portions were more than enough and we both had the Seniors/ Children's portion, and still had to take some home. I've been driving past Capt. Johns for the last year and now regret doing so. Our last Seafood visit was to Red Lobster in Durham, and that was a terrible experience. Captain John's Dockside is on my GO TO list for seafood. The atmosphere is older but has a family restaurant charm to it. I did notice they have a play area for children, which I thought was a nice touch. read more

Good local place for a fried seafood platter. They also have a few Greek / Mediterranean inspired dishes. Friendly service and reasonable prices. read more

Great seafood! I have loved this place for years now, but a week ago my steak was not the greatest and I had to send it back, select a different menu item. The quality of the food is always fresh and delicious, plus a wonderful waitstaff. Try not to eat too many of the huspuppies before your entree arrives, cause they are quite tasty! FYI: this place is closed on Mondays. Tuesday-Saturday opens at 4:00pm. Sundays at noon. read more

Captain John's offers both Calabash-style and grilled/steamed seafood options. My wife and I were hungry for the bad-for-you food and got the Fisherman's platter (calabash style) to share....the platter is certainly large enough to feed 2 people...I can't imagine eating one whole platter alone. (although by the looks of some customers, they do consume an entire platter solo....). For about $14, the fisherman's platter comes with oysters, scallops, shrimp, flounder, and deviled crab...plus fries, hushpuppies, and slaw. We enjoyed the seafood. We didn't like the fries...lack of taste and soggy. Hushpuppies were good (comes in ring shape) but not great. You can ask for more free hushpuppies. Our boys (not in a seafood mood) got a burger and chicken sandwich and enjoyed these offerings. For the area, I would go back to Captain John's again for the calabash and good prices. read more

This place is absolutely terrible the server was nice enough but the food is barely edible and the restaurant is a need of a remodel. Save your money read more

They got rid of that awesome 30 shrimp for $12.95 deal. Still brightly lit, still lacking anything approaching hipness. Festooned with Clyde Jones originals, who, depending on the time of day, may be across the street at Lowe's waiting for a ride home. (That's not a joke.) read more

If you are familiar with Calabash style seafood, you'll be comfortable at the Dockside. "Calabash style," for those of you that haven't been there, is a polite way of describing the food without using the f-word - "fried," that is. The Dockside offers the typical array of NC fried seafood and will broil it if you like, although I can't say I saw a single person eating anything broiled. I ordered the "Fisherman's Platter" and, of course, it had way too much food. Everything was pretty much as you would expect except for the shrimp and the scallops which were far and away the best things on the plate. The shrimp were nice sized, lightly breaded and tender on the inside; not the infamous overcooked kid's meal popcorn shrimp. Much the same for the scallops. Actually, the fried oysters were quite tasty but I have to be in the right mood for those. Very casual place with very good service, reindeer with christmas lights and poinsettia still in bloom. If you looking for a place to eat when you find the Allen Brothers have randomly gone fishin' again, stop in. We did. read more

I give captain john's a solid 4 stars. The food is good, service is prompt and you do not go away hungry. If you do it is your fault. The round hush puppies are some of the best I have ever had. It is my go to place on Saturday nights for supper. read more