2/10/26 The smelts an utter failure: heavily breaded and deep fried- ended up with a mere hint of fish- smelts should ALWAYS be pan-fried. Any Mainer knows that. The mushroom carbonara with bucatini was very very good, but too filling; couldn't finish it. The vanilla creme brûlée perfect. read more

Dockside Grill - Those are smelts, not chicken fingers. Harrumph. - New American Near Me - Falmouth, Maine

Going to Darkside Grill at the end of summer feels like the perfect way to wrap up the season. It's located right on a marina and yacht club so your view is stunning blue water filled with sailboats. As for the food, me and my family ordered a lobster roll lobster chowder, and the crabcake starter. All were phenomenal! I especially liked the lobster roll because it was super lightly dressed with mayo so I let the lobster for itself! The lobster chowder also came with freshly sautéed lobster in it and looked delicious. read more

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During our recent Christmas sojourn to visit relatives in Freeport, Maine, my companion and I, in the company of another couple, managed to squeeze in a very pleasant evening at the Dockside Grill in nearby Falmouth. Quaintly ensconced at the Handy Boat Marina, the Dockside Grill afforded - or so we were informed - lovely views, not only of the marina, but also of picturesque Casco Bay. Unfortunately, since this was the 23rd of December, those spectacular seascapes could only be introspectively envisaged, as the night was, as James Weldon Johnson so poetically put it, "blacker than a hundred midnights down in the cypress swamp." Conversely, the restaurant's interior was warm and inviting, sporting several cozy dining areas and a lively wrap around bar. The service was as convivial as the ambiance; and the cuisine - which I would describe as New England fare with cosmopolitan flair - also had a good deal to recommend it. There were, of course, the usual regionally-inspired suspects - Maine Lobster Roll, Local Oysters, Baked Stuffed Haddock with crab & lobster, and the ubiquitous Fish & Chips - but also several intriguingly innovative dishes as well. Steak Oscar with béarnaise for instance... Miso Glazed Salmon companioned by a massaman curry (a rich, mildly spicy Thai creation)... and Wild Mushroom Carbonara with guanciale (Italian salt-cured pork) and bucatini. Our quartet's choices for the evening were diversified, to say the least. The other gentleman in our party went right for the Steak Frites, which he thoroughly enjoyed... And his wife was equally impressed with her Chicken Marsala. My dining partner was quite pleased with her Seared Scallops; and my Braised Short Rib simply blew me away. It was so lusciously & incredibly tender that the services of a knife were entirely superfluous. But more than this, it was set on a seductively rich pillow of gouda-based mac n' cheese. So rich, in fact, that I was barely capable of ingesting half the generous portion. It certainly did not go to waste, however, as the other gentleman in our party polished it off for lunch the following day. The list of desserts - if you'll pardon the pun - was short & sweet: Chocolate Flourless Torte... Godiva Chocolate Mousse... Vanilla Crème Brulée... Rotating Flavor Cheesecake. Interestingly enough, both couples decided to share the same dessert, the Cheesecake. Which, on this particular evening, was cranberry-orange and quite excellent. read more

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If I didn't know I was in Maine, I would have thought I was vacationing in a resort in Florida. Good veiws, a lobster roll and a great bar, made me a happy traveler. I will return. read more

I'm not sure many places can beat the open air first floor seating on a beautiful summer evening here. 10 stars for that! Food and drinks - not quite as impressed. I had the summer sangria which was good but not a ton of flavor, and surprisingly no fruit in it. First time I've had sangria without some sort of fruit floating. I tried sip of my friend's raspberry thyme lime Ricky and it was ok, but again, didn't have the flavor that I thought it would. More lime and tartness than anything. Only drink I thought was done well was the strawberry jalapeño infused margarita. As far as food, the bang bang shrimp were fantastic. Nice big fried shrimp were perfectly cooked with a yummy bang bang sauce. I also had the fried haddock sandwich with garlic, rosemary fries. What looked like a very large piece of fish, ended up being a lot of beer batter - probably an inch past the actual fish. While the beer batter was good, it really overwhelmed the haddock. The fries were average and not as crispy as I like or expected. I felt like I could have used some salt on both the fish and the fries, which is unusual to need at a higher end restaurant. Our server was friendly & attentive. Will I go back because of the water and seating- yes. Will I go back for the food and drinks - no. When I am paying the money I am for a meal here, I expect it to be on point and this just missed the mark. read more

Visited this month. Seafood was delicious. As in really, really good and fresh. The sides were skimpy and bland. Service was subpar and we were treated rudely. It was such a strange experience since this place was highly recommended by good friends who are locals, as well as someone else who works at a near by store. They were thrilled this place has opened back up. We had such a fantastic experience everywhere else in Portland. Every single person who served us, drove an Uber, etc. were so nice, friendly and helpful. In contrast, the staff at Dockside did not really seem to want to be there. I saw a wait person being treated rudely by management. I think this starts at the top with customer service needing a rehaul. read more

A group of four of us waited a short time period for an outdoor seating option. The service was great. We created our own buffet with lobster rolls - with a curry couscous, six little neck oysters from the raw bar, lobster corn chowder, shrimp cocktail, fred zucchini, Calamari and various N.A. beverages. Everything was very good. The zucchini had summer squash also -skin was tough. Wonderful to sit outside and enjoy the view and fresh air. read more

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Dockside! You rock! Our family decided to take on a new tradition and celebrate the Seven fishes on Christmas Eve. My favorite dish -tuna tartare- at the restaurant was prepared for my contribution to our feast. My order was Skillfully packaged, on time, for me to take to our celebration. The event was so successful we might not wait for Christmas to repeat this event. Thank you! read more

Thankfully we had a reservation because I wasn't prepared for how busy it would be at 12:30 on a Friday. Our party of five was seated right away at a table outside, and given menus. There was sort of a mixup with the menu--apparently there was an "old" specials insert in my menu and they didn't have what I tried to order. I ended up going with the beet and goat cheese salad and a glass of sangria. The salad was fresh and delicious, however smaller than expected. I enjoyed the sangria. The crème brûlée I ordered for dessert was quite good as well. Overall, I'd say this is a good place to go for a leisurely lunch. The view of the marina is beautiful and you will not feel rushed if you are there to catch up with friends. (We arrived at 12:30 and left it was after 3!) However, I can see how someone looking to get in and out might be disappointed with the pace of the service. read more

Dockside Grill - Beet and Goat Cheese Salad - New American Near Me - Falmouth, Maine

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Had lunch in November and everything was perfect. Service excellent and the tuna poke nachos were delicious.

We walked in, no reservation. Hostess said about 15 min wait. We asked to sit at bar , we were told "no, too many people just came in". I had to ask hostess if she would take our name. I had to ask where we might wait. Absolutely clueless. A number of folks came in after us, were told similar....had to ask hostess to take name!! Then a couple walked up and asked to sit at bar. They were told yes, but to hold off ordering??? Oh well. Needless to say we left. So sad. A little training and professionalism goes a long way. read more

Amazing. Have some wine and order Cioppino! Guaranteed! Ask for Angel, she's the best!

Only thing they have going for them is the view. Extremely overpriced and food is very average. Used to have a happy hour then dropped that so they could rip people off more i guess. Sicilian table much better if looking for place to go in Falmouth. And they have great hh read more

If you don't have a reservation don't bother, if you do prepare for bland overpriced shitty sea food.

Nice view of the water. The chowder, crab cake and tuna melt were delicious! If you want to be seated make a reservation. We were luckily able to squeeze in at the bar and had a great lunch! read more

I don't leave a lot of reviews, but I felt compelled to after our experience at Dockside this weekend. I went in with mediocre expectations based on the reviews of this place, but I was blown away! We were a group of four with a reservation. We were seated immediately and our waitress arrived momentarily. She was attentive throughout the meal. The food was wonderful! We had the tuna tartare and the bang bang shrimp for appetizers. Then my husband and I share crab cakes, the fig salad and the scallops with mushroom risotto. My in laws had the duck and the steak entrees. I tried the spritz cocktail as well. For dessert, they were offering local seasonal cheesecakes and we tried one of each! The sweet potato was the best :) I think the overall rating of this place doesn't effectively reflect the experience. We enjoyed it immensely for a nice meal (with great views!) and my in laws commented that they will be back very soon. read more

The steak hit the spot, and my bartender Keith was on point! Will definitely be coming back, especially when the outdoor bar opens back up! read more

On our way from Massachusetts to Maine and it was time for lunch. My husband had recently been to Dockside Grill and we were nearby so off the highway we went. Proximity to I295 is good so this can be a place for lunch when traveling. We were dining in November so the upstairs of the restaurant was open but not the downstairs area which is seasonal. We were greeted and seated quickly. Server was friendly and we received our drinks soon after ordering. Food was a bit slow to appear and the check at the end of the meal even slower. The restaurant has a nautical wood theme and with lots of windows showing off a great view of the ocean. However, the space lacks a warmth and feels stark and cold. We ate at a high top in the bar area and our table seemed to be just there in the middle of things. It felt odd. The bar was fairly empty and I do mean the bar. Just a few bottles of liquors and some glasses. Certainly a lack of ambiance. My lobster roll was fine, not one I would order again as it lacked flavor. It was served in a grilled bun and while it was nice to see grill marks on the bun, the bun was very cold, like it was grilled earlier and taken from the refrigerator just before serving. My husband's salmon BLT was good. Easy parking in a big lot and nice restrooms. read more

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It was a sunny, warm day and we were looking for a place where we could get a lovely lunch, have a glass of wine and enjoy the ocean breeze. Dockside Grill fit every bill! We had lovely seats at the bar with a view of the boats and the harbor. Our bartender, Juliana, was wonderful. We ordered the fish and chips and crab cakes, two dishes that we love to try and we can share them back and forth. The fish and chips were perfectly fried, light and crispy. The crab cakes were amazing and the sauce was to die for (it also worked pretty well w/the haddock!) We washed it all down with a lovely Sonoma Cutrer. All in all a wonderful time and we will be back! read more

Dockside Grill - A man and woman are seated at a table outdoors at a waterfront restaurant, with boats, a marina, and a small building visible in the background. - New American Near Me - Falmouth, Maine

Great drink menu. Service was great. Ambiance was nice, right on the water. Sat outside at the bar.

Enjoyed a great Father's Day dinner here. Great food (pork chops, salmon, zucchini fries), good local beer selection on tap, great service, great atmosphere. Love the nautical theme & rich wood decor, and it was especially perfect being open-air in the 70-degree evening. read more

Great meal and the atmosphere can't be beat. The fish tacos were terrific. What a view.

My boyfriend and I's favorite spot for special occasions. The food is so great, and it's perfect for a date night. I love the miso glazed salmon, and he said the steak frites were some of the best he has ever had. Definitely check this place out! read more

Dockside Grill - New American Near Me - Falmouth, Maine

Dockside is a nice staple with a great view. It's a pretty cool Maine Seafood experience. I befriended some waitstaff and they seemed very overwhelmed and stressed out however. I wish this weren't the case. The food is fresh and tasty but you could also go into Portland for a similar experience without the hassle of wait times. I would get fish sandwich honestly and just keep it simple. It's tasty. Lots of tables. It's pretty ok. read more

Good food , service and view of the ocean. We went for Sunday brunch and had the amazing frittatas. Very good. We also had the lobster corn chowder which was excellent! We ordered mimosas and split the homemade donuts. I would definitely go back. We stayed in Portland and Ubered it to the restaurant and back . read more

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My first time visiting, my sister treated me to a birthday dinner here. After finding that the lower lot was full, we settled for parking up top. Finding the door where we were suppose to enter from there was confusing. Maybe areas were shut off because it was May, but better signage would have been helpful. Once we found our way down to the ground level and around back , we were seated in the heated open area. The views were breathtaking. There was a cute fire pit area that would be perfect for a small group. Our waitress was kind and attentive. All of food, starting with our soup and chowder appetizers and ending with a haddock and chicken entree was absolutely delicious. In fact, my sister said it may have been the BEST chicken dish she's even had. Perfectly cooked so that it was juicy and tender! She was a little apprehensive about going to a restaurant that specializes in seafood, but was pleasantly surprised to learn that even their non-seafood dishes were beautifully executed as well. read more

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Great blackened fish sandwich!! Great views and a great server. Really rude hostess. She put us all in a bad mood but our server saved the day. read more

Dockside hangout, whether embarking or disembarking, or even just coming down to the shore to enjoy the view and THE FOOD, come enjoy this perfect spot just north of Portland. (Reserve or call ahead required.) Solid and consistent excellence from this kitchen, every time!! Check the pics. ++ HH happy hour 4-5. $5 drinks and small plates. Ftw + short wine list, but each will help cover your bases, whatever mood you're in. ++ Barr Hill martini COVID SAFETY * you must reserve or call ahead to be seated. * rules posted as you arrive at the ramp * staff wearing masks * tables in the open air bar are all safely distanced FAVORITES ++ Cioppino. Haddock, fennel, mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, squid. Tomato and onion base. ++ oysters so fresh you want to them to bring you "a dozen every seven minutes until somebody gets sick" ++ crab cakes. Wondrous fresh Jonah crab, sesame lime remoulade. ++ B.L.T wedge salad. Homemade cilantro ranch dressing. ++ Salmon en croute (special) potatoes and verts ++ Seared halibut with mango salsa AMBIANCE The credit for the ambiance has to go to the beautiful view of the Casco Bay and the delightful salty sea air that refreshes no matter what time of day. Bring your friends and gather round the fire in the semi-circular cushioned niche, or sit at the beautiful bar. One night, after most of the diners had left, they let me change the music from the beach-bar pop rock which is the normal to my favorite, Oscar Peterson trio. Enjoying the final moments of dusk was pure bliss. read more

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The food was great fish and chowder. Service was great with nice waitress. And the scenic view

Don't waste your money! Last time we went, we ordered shrimp, tacos, a lobster roll, the kids, grilled cheese, and the kids pasta. The lobster roll was small and bland for $34. The shrimp tacos were OK but there were only two small shrimp tacos and no french fries or side salad. The grilled cheese came out black on one side and the kids pasta was bland and such a small portion. Can you really not afford to put a little more pasta in the dish? It is so inexpensive... Why would you go cheap on the pasta? We went again today and ordered steak egg rolls, and found hair and them. Two orders of French onion soup, which were halfway decent but ever since we got home, we can't stop drinking water because they were so full of salt. Another kids grilled cheese. This one was actually less burnt but my daughter has been chugging water ever since she got home so there's that. tried the shrimp tacos again only ate one. We took home shrimp, tacos, and half of the grilled cheese, but I don't think we'll be eating them. Salt overload... read more

Dockside Grill - Shrimp taco. Grilled cheese and fried. - A sandwich with toasted bread, fries, and a side salad with purple cabbage and greens in a brown takeout box. - New American Near Me - Falmouth, Maine

What a gorgeous scene at this restaurant! You can either sit at the bar, a table, or a restaurant by the fire. Food was great. I got a cheeseburger while my family also enjoyed the crab cakes and the corn and seafood chowder. They were also very accommodating of allergies and were very patient with us as we were with a group of older adults. Would highly recommend! read more

Dockside Grill - New American Near Me - Falmouth, Maine

Atmosphere was wonderful. Service and food were very poor. Waited over an hour for a simple appetizer. Waited another 30 minutes for fish and chips that were awful. The waitress seemed to disappear frequently. Left a message for the manager, no return call. read more

Beautiful view. Waiting staff is friendly and attentive. Food is very good and fresh. read more

Dockside Grill - Wedge salard - A wedge salad featuring chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black and green olives, blue cheese crumbles, bacon bits, and a creamy dressing on a white plate. - New American Near Me - Falmouth, Maine

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Had a great lunch of wedge salad with seared scallops. Everyone enjoyed their food and drinks. Service was good and of course being in the water and looking at the boats was fun.goid selection of foods in menus read more

Food came out slow/ cold and found a hair in my food. They asked if I would like another French onion soup and I declined. This place has so much potential. read more

We had a very nice brunch here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We sat at a covered outdoor table, looking out at the harbor. The food was delicious. We had the crabcakes and a ceasar salad, also a wonderful strawberry donut for dessert. The service was good as well, the prices were average. My only criticism is the music ( they had for brunch) was loud and the vocals were whiny. But, I don't think they have music all the time, just Sunday brunch. I look forward to going back. read more

Love to support local business and the food is great, but this is the third or fourth summer in a row where hostesses / staff have been unwelcoming and unfriendly- any request or potential change is a huge deal and not met with the ability to accommodate. It puts a damper on the meal and experience. Not sure we will be coming back read more

Based on a half dozen visits over the last few years, patio is preferred on a nice day and the indoor restaurant area can provide a beautiful ocean view. The food has been consistent with a strong bar selection. Reasonable prices and the waitstaff are professional and friendly. Finding this restaurant can be a challenge the first time. Easy parking at the lower lot near the entrance, we have always found a spot. Fun place to meet friends and watch the "boat people" unwind. Overall, this is one of Maine's best ocean-view restaurants south of Brunswick. read more

We try very hard to support local businesses! Sadly, our experience here was poor. We ordered steak medium rare. It was pricey -- around $40. The first plate was medium to well done. We sent it back and were then presented with meat that was deep red and bloody--very rare, nothing medium about it. The rest of our party was done eating by the time the two "re-done" steaks were brought to the table. Of course the steak was comped but we felt a fine-dining restaurant with this reputation and price point should know how to prepare steak. The rest of the food was unmemorable. read more

Like a yacht club anyone can go to. Delicious food and drinks, million dollar views, one of the best on Casco Bay.