Truly a hidden gem!! The menu has some really good options (even some non-seafood items like popcorn chicken and Mediterranean pastas), but the most delicious items seem to always be up on the specials board. I love ordering the crab cakes and fra diavolo--those are so so delicious. Capt. John is always floating around when he's not preparing dishes in the back, and he is a great, caring guy. I met his entire family (they were all working) too, so it really is a family-run business. One of my favorite restaurants in Chapel Hill. The nice new bar is great and always hosting free live concerts...gotta try it if you're in the area! read more

MADE ME SICK!!! We should've known this place wasn't right when the text on the old dirty paper menus' was blurry & they didn't bother to do new ones. The tea was other first clue tasting old like it was going bad from sitting out too long. My shrimp dinner didn't taste terrible just not good. My husband's fish sandwich was so old, dry & inedible - he only ate his potato. But he was lucky he didn't eat it as I started feeling sick from my food on our way home, developing stomach cramps & before the evening was over was throwing up the entire meal. I actually felt better after it was out of my stomach just left with bad indigestion & gross from the after effects of bad food to start my holiday weekend - ugh! We had high hopes for this place since it's the only fish place in Chatham County but after this, will never return. The waitress was very nice & we gave her a good tip since the food quality isn't her fault. Not sure how this place got any good yelps or stays in business but I definitely advise against it. read more

I had a coupon worth $15,00 so took my husband and son. We were seated right away in a part of the restaurant that was busier (which was good, as parts were empty). Our waitress was very attentive. I ordered one of the specials--crabcakes, because I heard they were Captain John's specialty. I was not disappointed. The crabcakes had no bread filler or crust that was obvious--all crab meat. It came with a baked potato, cole slaw, hush puppies. The crab cakes were big so I ate one and took one home to eat the next day. It was still delicious the next day. My husband got broiled scallops and said they were very good. My son got the fried seafood platter and he ate all of it and didn't even get indigestion. The atmosphere here is more like a cafeteria than a restaurant, but the service and the food is very good and the prices are reasonable. read more

We my wife and I frequent Captain John 's weekly and each time the food and waitstaff take great care of us. All menu items are great but we think the oysters on the half shell are more than great. Captain John usually gets out of the kitchen and visits the diners read more

Captain John is a remarkable Chef with a strong Greek heritage and a ton of charm. He will gladly make his Greek specialties for you if you just ask .... and they are fantastic! Last night we were a party of four and had: A glass of Ouzo to start. Then Greek style mussels in white wine and olive oil with oregano - this was a memorable appetizer. One of us had oysters on the half shell and said they were great. This was followed by a beautiful fresh Greek salad for prepared with perfect spices and dressing. Then 3 entrees: 1. Home-made crab cakes with almost no breading, just a delicious crust, tons of crab and a remoulade sauce on the side. 2. Whole red snapper broiled with lemon and olive oil. Crispy on the outside and flaky and moist inside. 3. Shrimp Mykonos - a pasta dish with a heavenly tomato sauce that has melted feta cheese in it and mixed with tender shrimp. The meal was simply wonderful and the waiter (Quinton) was attentive and skilled. Captain John is welcoming, warm and a great person to talk with. After the meal, he met us at the door of the restaurant with some fresh oregano from Greece to take home. This was a memorable evening and meal. Try the Greek specialties and enjoy! You will be very pleased. read more

Though not big fans of Calabash-style seafood, went there with my whole family including octogenarian grandmothers - one from New England and used to good seafood and one a very picky eater. New Englander loved the clam chowder and picky eater ate the entire Salmon special she ordered without any complaints (a rarity on both counts). I ordered the beer battered fish and chips special. Best I'd had in years. Large, lightly battered and cooked perfectly. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the specials at a "Calabash style" restaurant. Most of the other guests, there for the Calabash, seemed happy with the offerings in that area. Waiter was one of the best we had had in a long time in the area - even at 'high end' restaurants. He was knowledgeable of the menu, not hesitant to make recommendations and handled a table of 8 with not issues with timing of orders. He handled the '20 question' game that some of my party seem to play at every place we eat and handled substitutions perfectly. My recommendation is that this restaurant is great for the Calabash style if you like that, but its specials and are as good as some higher-end establishments at a much lower price. read more

What a great seafood restaurant. The food was outstanding and the service was second to none .My husband and I come from the seafood capitol Louisiana and have eaten seafood in every state we travel to.I would rate this restaurant the best Mr John makes crab cakes to die for no fillers just crab meat I also had the dungacess crab which was the best my husband had a ribeye and shrimp that was cooked to perfection . This was our first time eating there and definitely not the last while we are in N C . I am very critical of restaurants and I have to rate this one a five star . read more

Worth the trip! A favorite of the locals and if you are new to the Briar Chapel area, this is a great place to try. Order from the Specials Menu to get started; your meal comes with a salad and their famous hush puppies in the shape of skinny donuts. We had Linguini a la Mykonos with jumbo shrimp and feta cheese in a lite and fresh tomato sauce - it was awesome! Thank you to Chef John and the team; we will definitely be back! read more

After moving to the Chapel Hill area, Capt. John's was our first dinner out. I love fish, and well before dinner was over, I knew the place would be a favorite. We have been back numerous times, and the experience is always the same: attentive and prompt service, large portions, expertly prepared, and reasonable prices (most large-sized items under $15). We've tried many things: The fried flounder, crab cakes (lots of crab, and no filler), and clam strips are the best I've eaten. The steamed mussels, scallops, pasta, fish and chips, shrimp (fried or otherwise) are all super. Seldom do we eat here that Capt. John doesn't circulate through the dining room to check with every table. A few have not liked Capt. John's--no place is 100% perfect (I've given my share of low ratings to places others love). The average 4-star rating tells the tale--this is a terrific place, tended to by someone who cares about the product he puts on the table. No question we will back again, and again--starting with dinner tonight. read more

First time here and I found the staff incredibly attentive. If you're looking for some good fried seafood this is your place. Prices are reasonable and food is solid. We shall return read more

This place has pretty good reviews so I was shocked at how awful the food was! Tired, greasy, frozen fried food.

I feel like most of the folks posting negative reviews must have caught the staff of this place on a bad day, because all the years I've been going here, the service has been fast and polite, and the food has been very tasty (with ample portions) and reasonably priced. I personally like the decor and general atmosphere as well. read more

We will definitely come back here. They have an amazing variety of food, and all of it was excellent. I got seafood gumbo and linguine fra diavolo (one of the "specials") and my boyfriend got the fried seafood platter. Their sweet tea was even particularly good! Very friendly and attentive waitstaff too. Wonderful experience for low key but delicious seafood! read more

We used to go to this restaurant frequently, but never again. The last time we went, the only people in the restaurant were us and one other couple. My fish came out frozen in the middle. I complained, and the waiter took it back to the kitchen. It came back a little while later, cut into four pieces and very over cooked. In other words, it was inedible both before and after if was "fixed." The restaurant owner was standing out by the kitchen and knew what was going on--he was the cook. He never came over to check on us or apologize. The waiter also never said sorry. We were not give any discount for this inedible meal. They will never see us there again. read more

After many months of curiosity we finally went to dinner. We figured it had to have something going for it since its been open for over 20 years. The service was great as was the food. I especially enjoyed the hush puppies. The crab cakes were flavorful with very little filler, jumbo shrimp were great, and the broiled scallops were cooked to perfection. Not fancy, but a very comfortable place to eat. We will definitely go back. read more

this place is horrible the food is most certainly not fresh but frozen the flounder was low grade should have stuck with the popcorn shrimp baked potato was cold butter wouldn't ever melt the waitstaff was horrible as well i dont think half of them had ever waited a table in their life the waitstaff have when to crap these last couple of months and the food as well so sad use to really enjoy it jerica was alwasy so helpful sorry to see her go read more

I enjoy the food here always. The taste was not the concern. My issue is that my waitress checked on me not once my entire time at the restaurant. She was nice and all but I waited almost 15 mins for a box and my check because she was mad about something that was happening behind closed work doors. I was not the only one who had to wait, there was another gentleman as well. Please ensure the staff understands that they have to check on the guests throughout the stay, not just ehe. the order is taken or when they want to collect money to get paid. read more

We have enjoyed dining at Captain John's for almost 20 years. The food is fresh and well-prepared. In addition to the fairly large menu, daily specials are offered and the staff will usually accommodate special requests. The decor has been upgraded to include a "tiki bar" area that features an open-mike music night on alternate Wednesday evenings. read more

Was better when it was Dry Dock. Went here with big family dinner recently. Subpar service and food. Waited about an hour. Most everything is fried. Wasn't very good...and when fried food isn't very good something is wrong. read more

I'm thinking they must have a new chef because the food has certainly taken a dive! My last visit was a disappointment! Service was OK but the flounder I ordered didn't have much flavor! read more

Show up at 930 to wait ten mins at the door to be told they have closed because they were slow when they are open til 10. Last time I will go to this place read more

We had a get together here last week and really enjoyed both the food and the service. The fried calamari appetizer was incredibly tender, and the tasty hush puppy rings (what an interesting way to make them) kept coming. Among our group we ordered the Fisherman's Platter, which had ample amounts of fresh, tasty seafood, piping hot fries and tasty coleslaw; Blackened Scallops on a bed of vegetable couscous, moist with just the right amount of seasoning; and Mediterranean Style Whitefish, served on a bed of spinach and cut up potato, an interesting and tasty presentation. We were served promptly, and the bill was very reasonable. A nice choice for a pleasant family evening out. read more

Just moved to area from NE. Surprised at such high ratings. Interior was pretty old and shabby. Fish and shellfish are clearly frozen and not fresh. Got flounder which was bland and just two white strips of meat on plate. Unatteactive. Hush puppies bland. Baked potatoes and salad were great though. Wait staff prompt and v nice. Hope this was just an off night and will try again. Kevin A read more

BF and I go to Captain John's regularly. BF always gets the Fisherman's Platter or the fried shrimp, oysters and/or fish, which is very good and he always leaves happy. But I'm not a fried seafood kind of girl, and I've tried many of the Captain's Specials and broiled plates, with new ones changed out frequently. Last night I had the Mediterranean Salmon, which was outstanding...a bed of spinach lightly sauteed in olive oil, topped with a perfectly broiled piece of salmon, covered with olives, feta and a yummy sauce. On other visits I've had the Whole Broiled Flounder Greek style, a nice big fish perfectly grilled with herbs and a light sauce. The Whitefish Santorini is great, large broiled fish with herbs and a special Greek sauce. The Cajun seafood and pasta dish was hot, spicy and very tasty. There is another mixed seafood and pasta with creamy sauce dish which is delicious. The traditional plates of seafood, ie shrimp, scallops, fish, prepared broiled, are winners too. Portions are big, and I often take half home. Potatoes are real oven baked, salads are fresh, and the Greek salad is especially wonderful with romaine, red onion, tomato, cucumber, feta and a wonderful Greek dressing. The Captain is the cook, who will come out to discuss the dishes. We have eaten at Captain John's at least a dozen times in the past few years, and never had a bad experience. BF loves the TV's placed around the dining room, tuned to the ballgame, but I turn my back to the TV, to optimally savor my food without mental interruption. I highly recommend this place. read more

I love to go there! The waitresses already know what I drink and a second after I arrive I have hush puppies and ice tea in front of me. My favorite food are the crabcakes.And I never get tired of shrimp. Sometimes they offer a delicious South American dessert : Tres Leches.I highly recommend this place. It is to die for!. read more

I have ate at this restuarant only twice. The first time the food was ok, not great, just ok. So I decided to try it again. I order the 2 food combination, oryster and catfish. What a big disappointment. The cook, must have been in a hurry, because the fish was not cooked all the way through. The oysters tasted terrible. I ended up trashing the majority of the plate. Could not stomach trying to pick out done pieces of fish to eat. I have learned my lesson. Will not be eating at Captain John's Dockside again. I will only eat at Drydock in Siler City, were the food is excellent. Captain John's Dockside is a waste of your money. Do not eat there. read more

My husband and I were in chapel Hill for the weekend and I told him I want some seafood. I love seafood, so he looked up on his phone and found this place. He said the reviews are great. I said let's go! He knows how picky I am about food since growing up in the family restaurant business in Bostons Historic North End. I decided to have the clam chowder. I'm originally from Mass. so the chowda is like chowda not soup. Well this clam chowda was awesome. The best I have tasted since moving to NC 7yrs. ago. I ordered the swordfish which came with the chowder or you can get a salad. I don't eat carbs so I asked for veggies on the side. They had asparagus and I told my waitress I want it sauteed with olive oil and salt, no problem, and it was cooked to perfection, so was the swordfish. My husband ordered the scallops, in some places you get maybe 4-5 large scallops, well he got 7-8 large scallops cooked to perfection. He had some wine and I had Proseco. We LOVE the food and the menu choices and will be back. I know food and how it's cooked and everything was spot on and the portions are amazing. I met the owner, Ave Maria and told her the food was incredible. I signed up for future emails and she said they will have Valentine specials. You know where I'll be on Valentine's day. See you there!! read more