Came here for dinner on a Friday night, they were pretty busy despite the weather being pretty gross so I'd recommend getting a reservation. It has a nice old fashioned feel to it, almost like you're in someone's old fashioned home. Our waitress was friendly and helpful with any questions we had about the menu, which had a wide array of options in the seafood and pasta areas. They also had a lot of specials that evening and a nice selection of beers, wines, and cocktails along with a small but comfortable looking bar area. A lot of their seafood options featured nuts which I would usually go for, but I was strongly recommended the steak and it had been a while since I had a good steak. I remembered having au povire sauce on a burger in New York and loving it, so I was excited to see how it came out on the strip steak. This version of the sauce was much creamier, if I hadn't seen mustard mentioned in the description I never would've guessed it was used, but it balanced out the abundant and strong pepper used on the steak. The steak itself was fairly juicy, but without the pepper and sauce I don't think it would've been anything special. The only vegetable available was asparagus, but for the starch they had a couple of different options. The roasted potato was good, but the portion size for both sides was very small. If you're in the area I think it's worth checking out if you're looking for a somewhat fancy dinner location. While I enjoyed my steak, if I were to go back I think I would stick to the seafood, as it certainly seemed to be their strong point. read more

Dolphin Restaurant - Strip Steak Au Povire - Sandwiches Near Me - Barnstable, Massachusetts

Good food, great service. I loved the shrimp scampi. So fresh and homemade. Hubs had the salmon on arugula & really enjoyed it. Server was awesome. Very attentive & friendly & we really appreciate that. One star off b/c they didn't have lobster that was featured on the menu b/c it was too pricey for them to buy. But that was our only complaint. read more

Dolphin Restaurant - The front door view - Sandwiches Near Me - Barnstable, Massachusetts

I used to come to the Dolphin quite a bit back in the day. A buddy of mine and I frequented this place, mostly the bar, for drinks. The vibe was nice and the service was always great. The seafood is definitely good and worth a try. read more

Very friendly service. Great atmosphere. Outstanding food! This is a little oasis at the Cape and well worth the visit. The scallop casserole was to "die for"! read more

First time visiting for dinner last evening and it was fantastic. Homemade, warm bread was wonderful. Swordfish tips were very tasty, perfectly prepared and terrific. Wine list modest but nice selections. Charming ambiance, friendly staff. Looking forward to our next visit already. read more

iMessage Ever since my kids were very young, Dolphin has been a favorite restaurant. It is homey and dependable, the food is always well prepared and reasonable. unusual, layout with the bar "in the way" of the main entrance. Worthwhile to call ahead in the summer time as it is quite popular. read more

The food was horrible and the owner and the employees were very grumpy and very dirty tables and clothes the food was super greasy and if I could give zero stars I would and the owner speaked horrible to me and so did the waitress. Would not recommend buttercup caffe is close and better. Not to mention if you would like windex sprayed in your face go ahead to the dolphin restaurant read more

I ordered the blackened sword fish. It was a piece about 3 by 2 1/2 inches, overcooked, very dry and hard, Salso dressing on top, ice cold, vegetable asparagus, which I don't eat (not given any choice) Mashed potatoes were very good. Service: no complaints Ambience: seated 2 yards from table of 6, all extremely loud, laughing, shouting, obviously had much too much to drink. Wait time for 6 o'clock reservation: 15 minutes for our party of four. Lighting very poor. Had to use our smart phones to read menu. Won't hurry back. read more

We love this restaurant! If you love seafood, good service, and a sweet little downtown area, and this is the restaurant for you! If you have a chance to stop in the dolphin restaurant and dine with someone you love or with some special friends this will be a treat. read more

Dolphin Restaurant - Menu for drinks and crackers for appetizer - Sandwiches Near Me - Barnstable, Massachusetts

My wife and I recently enjoyed our first visit to the Dolphin. It's a lovely Cape Cod dining experience. The service is pleasant, experienced and prompt. The food is worthy of the self promotion as fine dining. But somehow management has ruined the experience by piping in music that is too loud and not at all what the majority of their senior customers would possibly choose. The music was more fitting for a truck stop in Nebraska. No music selection at any volume would please everyone, so why play any music at all? Try it. read more

First time we had visited the restaurant - service was good - food was terrible the swordfish was totally undercooked - very very pricey for small portions. Would not recommend or revisit ever again. read more

Delicious food and the best bartender on Cape Cod !! Johnny B !! I highly recommend The Dolphin read more

Going there tonight for Christmas Eve dinner! That's how much we enjoyed it last time. Ambiance is wonderful, as is service and food! Looking forward to seeing what tonight's menu will be. read more

Went there for lunch with a couple friends. The place is pretty fancy or at least tries to be. The adult beverages were pretty good, but nothing spectacular. The chowder was ok, but I've had better. The lobster roll was definitely a disappointment. The lobster didn't really have any flavor, it was quite chewy, and I wasn't too keen on the cream sauce they smothered it in. If you want to try a TRUE lobster roll, go the the Raw Bar in New Seabury, Mashpee. It's a little pricey and they are only open in the summer, but that's a lobster roll should taste. My friends ate the crab cakes and the fried shrimp. The crab cakes were pretty bland and didn't seem to have much crab in them. They for sure weren't homemade. The shrimp, well they looked as if they were cooked appropriately, but I did not try them. read more

After our whale watch we stopped for lunch. Our waitress was charming, very friendly and great service. The food couldn't be better. The French onion soup was delicious! When back on the Cape we'll be back again! read more

Menu was very limited but the items we did get, were very unique but flavorful. Started off with calamari, not the usual side of marinara sauce but came with spinach, roasted peppers, and feta cheese. Very good. For the main dish, I got the scallop casserole. Very creamy and flavorful with a good amount of scallops. The Parmesan crumbs were a nice touch. Overall very good experience. read more

Dolphin Restaurant - Sides - Sandwiches Near Me - Barnstable, Massachusetts

See all

Had dinner here Friday night. Front desk said 45 minute wait for table. Went to the back past bar to open high top table. Plenty of seats. Same menu and quicker service since bartenders wait tables.I had crispy sole and wife had stuffed sole.Both delicious. Came with baked potato and grilled asparagus. 2 devils purse on tap and 2 glasses of white wine. Desert was a cream pastry cheese cake So good. 105 bill..so worth it. Quiet relaxed spot. Try it out..go to the back and sit best people watching too..Will be back..thank you read more

So lovely, a local spot. On our first visit to the Cape years ago, we visited for 6 days and had two meals at the Dolphin because we loved it so much. We have come back every visit since then. The pistachio crusted halibut was the best I've ever had, and the service from our sweet waitress was wonderful that first time. I wish I had asked her for her name. We asked for gluten-free options and she was oh-so-helpful, smiley, and welcoming. It was our best restaurant experience on the Cape, and certainly the best fish we had during our stay! Cozy, romantic and unpretentious with excellent food. The chef and owners here know what they're doing. We already miss it!! read more

I ate there about a month ago with my wife, my daughter and my two teenage granddaughters. It was a very busy night. We were seated in a high traffic area and, to top it off, our waitress was stressed to the max. The food was acceptable but our experience was otherwise not enjoyable. In fairness, we will give it another try; and update this review at that time. read more

Consistent delicious food, drinks and attentive fun servers Servers can make or break the experience and satisfaction!

The dinner rolls were warmed and toasted to perfection. The texture could not have been more perfect. I am a snob when it comes to ceasar salads and I can tell you that this place has a really really good ceasar. Next came out the lazy man's lobster casserole and I was a little surprised by it being lets say a bit small. However this is one amazing dish we are talking about. Amazing but just a bit small. Mashed potatoes were also really good. Very cozy interior, we had a nice window table in the front. Our waiter was a pro. Their tap list leaves a lot to be desired but to be fair they are not that type of place. Other than the beer every thing was great I want to give this place a strong 4.6 based on the food quality, service and environment, but the portion size being a bit on the small size brings it to a 4.4 maybe a 4.5. Glad I tried this place out and the next time I visit the cape I will check this place out again. read more

Been to Dolphin 3 times and must say food has been good.Waitstaff very nice but the hostess needs to take a coarse in how to handle customers.Not too nice and won't be back read more

Always have a well done, presented, delicious meal at the Dolphin. We've eaten there over a dozen times, will definitely go back!

Love the staff there and the attentiveness they provide to the patrons. Neighborhood gem!

This is prob a 4.5. We had a great time here. Not cheap but not crazy $. Quality of food was high with variety of seafood (fish, scallops, lobster) and meats (duck, steak, hamburger) not just thrown in butter or fried. Menu is not focused on fried food which we enjoyed. Nice atmosphere with an old school Cape Cod feel. Pros: Great service, welcoming staff, clean restaurant Well spaced tables Several menu options for all types of diets and several price points Cons: Weak wine selection Cocktails not impressive could/should simplify menu. It was regular and "special menu" with lot to choose from. Need to mix up veggies read more

We had no idea what to expect... we were in the mood for fried clams after vacationing in Nantucket where the food was excellent, but very high brow gourmet and expensive. We were ready for some real get down and dirty fried American seafood. Boy, did this place deliver. We ordered fried clams and fried oysters. The food came out. We didn't think we would get through the large portion that was delivered to us, but it was so delicious that we ate it all. Then we ordered peach cobbler for dessert, it was humongous and delicious, much like your grandmother would make. Best of all was the waitress Penny. She is 100% personality... Penny, would be worth the trip alone! Be prepared to eat a lot, right now, my stomach is full all the way up to my throat!!! read more

Dolphin Restaurant - Desert! - Sandwiches Near Me - Barnstable, Massachusetts

Lori and I where here for the first time yesterday What a treat The decor is so homey and the food is delicious Lori had her walker and the staff could not have been more helpful We will be back! Jackie S read more

If you love great food, nice atmosphere and professional service, "Dolphin" is a great choice! First time diner, we had a group of 11 on a busy Saturday night. We were quickly seated, seasoned cream cheese and crisp crackers on the table were great! I had a Bloody Mary, perfectly seasoned, while other had wine and cocktails. "Joe" was our server. Let me tell you, I've been to plenty of restaurants all over this country and Europe and I know something about professional servers. JOE was amazing! He knew the menu, took our orders and anticipated our needs! One of our party and I ordered the "Lazy Man's Lobster." Not sure what to expect, I was totally amazed by this dish! First of all, LOADS of fresh, sweet lobster meat, claw and tail pieces in a gratin pan with a fantastic creamy reduced sauce which was absolutely delicious! All at our table raved about the food AND the service! Thank you, and keep it going! I'll be back! read more

Stopped in on a recco and so glad we did! Wonderful food (we had salmon w orange burre and sole almondine, both excellent) and our server Janie was sweet and attentive. An unexpected treat was a complimentary dish of cheese spread and crackers to start and dinner rolls with meals (have you noticed restaurants stopped serving bread lately). The ambience is cozy, maybe a little rustic but for the quality and cost just fine for me. We will be back! read more

On February 12, my 17 year old son took his girlfriend to dinner at The Dolphin with another couple. He ordered the Seafood Fra Diavalo, which he said tasted fine except for something sour. A short while after returning home from dinner, he was vomiting so much and for so long that his sides ached. My spouse emailed the restaurant the following day to be sure the kitchen checked all the ingredients so no one else fell ill. We asked that they contact us. When we didn't receive a call, my spouse, a professional chef, called and left a message for the owner. When the owner returned the call, she immediately said, "no one else was sick from the pasta." She ultimately offered to send him a gift certificate, which arrived today, for less than the cost of the dish that made him sick. What a massive F you. I am shaking my head in disgust at how little the owner cares. read more

A lovely restaurant The first thing I noticed when walking into the Dolphin Restaurant was how lovely it looked. Flowers everywhere with cool things on the walls and shelves. Someone obviously spent a whole lot of time decorating in here. But then I guess they had time because the Dolphin has been in the same family for about 60 years and they definitely have it down by now. The entire restaurant is very beautiful and has a feel of an old house, which is what the building probably was at one time. You can sit in front and get a view of the traffic and watch the people in the quaint village go by, sit at the wonderful bar or in the back and have some quiet. All three are great and the people working here are friendly and very casual. Attentive and personal but in a unpretentious and small town way. The food of course is great and very reasonably priced, especially considering it's on the cape. Both the salmon and the salmon salad are about as good as it gets. The Dolphin has been around for a while and I suspect it will continue to thrive. Definitely one of our very favorite restaurants on Cape Cod. read more

See all

I had a good experience eating lunch here. Look forward to returning - I tried to the Cape Cod Reuben and it was delicious - Fries are very good; highly recommend (I know they are fries, but seriously) - Helpful and attentive waitress - Inner decor was very nice and place was not too crowded at lunch time read more

Along with the fire station, courthouse, and The Barnstable Restaurant and Tavern, The Dolphin is one of the mainstays of the Village of Barnstable. I have only eaten at The Dolphin for dinner, so I can't comment on lunch (but the prices look good!). I've eaten here on and off-season, and the food is consistently good. Unfortunately, service is a little bit off. On my last visit, our waiter could have been friendlier and failed to offer a 2nd round of beers. I've had much worse service, but the waiter did bring my overall experience down (otherwise they'd get 4 stars). In the "R" months, make sure to try the Barnstable Oysters. The appetizer ($10) is served with six half shells, perfect for sharing. I usually stick with the specials for entrees, whether it's swordfish, salmon, or cod. All entrees (even the specials) come with a salad. The previous time I visited, our waitress informed us that the specials didn't come with a salad (weird). This is definitely a cozy atmosphere, which makes for a nice, relaxed dinner on a cool summer night or brisk winter evening. The tiny bar is a favorite among locals, so be prepared to sit in the dining room. Cape Cod Beer is on draft, which includes Cape Cod Red and their seasonal. For some reason they were still pouring Harvest Time on my last visit (December 23rd). I'm probably going to dine at The Barnstable Restaurant and Tavern next time I'm in town, but I do like The Dolphin. Some tips: parking is out back and you can enter from the back (walk through the dining room or bar toward the hostess table). Take out orders are available, and it's one of the few places to get fried seafood in the winter. read more

See all

One and Done! Sat at bar at 7:00 to m. Plenty of seats available. Bartender was attentive. Restaurant was out of the special we both wanted at 7:10. That should have been our cue to leave but we plowed forward. Ordered fish cake appetizer. Undercooked, cold, and zero taste. Roche Bros frozen fish cakes are superior to what was served. Onto entrees. Ordered a chicken Caesar salad for her and fried oyster taco for me after the bartender sung the praises of the seafood. Chicken was overcooked and dry. The oysters were brutalized in the fryer. I can truly say that they were the worst fried oysters I've ever been served. Zero taste due to being breaded and fried to death. Brutal! Was offered a free dessert which we didn't ask for and it was a very good bread pudding in all fairness. I wanted to like this place. I didn't and won't be going back. read more

My wife and I are frequent visitors to the Cape over many years, and the Dolphin Restaurant remains one of our favorites. They have great food, reasonable prices, in a clean and attractive setting. All these things in my opinion equal success and a loyal customer base. Today our server was Laura, who took great care of us from beginning to end. I had crab bisque (the best I have ever had) and the clam strip dinner which was one of the specials today. My wife had a crab melt sandwich and she loved her choice as well. If you have never been to the Dolphin you need to make it a priority. We drive up from Mashpee regularly. read more

Dolphin Restaurant - Clam Strip Dinner - Sandwiches Near Me - Barnstable, Massachusetts

See all

I really like this place. I have been here about a dozen times over the past 5 years. It's definitely a locals haunt which is kinda fun & cool. It's a super cozy little unassuming place in Barnstable Village. The decor & ambiance is very similar to Mattakeese Wharf although I think the food is better here. There's a cute bar area in the back & there's two dining areas which is nice. The decor is heavy wood, with barrel chairs & dark carpeting & a Maritime theme. The wait staff are very friendly & helpful & efficient. They greet you immediately, get you seated, take your drink order & bring you a basket of bread, cheese & crackers which is fab. Very old school! I have eaten in the dining room with friends & at the bar: both are great! The Bartenders are nice, helpful & efficient. A good selection of wine, beer & liquors. There is no pretension here at all. These people are no nonsense & many of them have been working here for many many years. The food is always consistently very good & portions are generous. Great seafood, meat & pasta dishes. Plenty of soups, salads & appetizers to select from also. The prices are slightly pricey but for the portions, it is pretty comparable to most other very good restaurants in the area. I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a very good, no nonsense, cozy restaurant in the Hyannis area. read more

Excellent place, real flowers on each table, soft music playing with a real cozy feeling. Nice lunch and good prices. Chicken wrap with blueberries and walnuts was great. Half tuna sandwich and chowder was also good. Cozy is a good description for the place. We sat at window table overlooking the Fire Station. On Route 6A directly across from the Fire station (north side of the road) in Barnstable read more

I was excited to come back to The Dolphin restaurant after being gone for twenty years but the quality of the food was inexcusable . The rest of my party ( four of us in total ) made similar comments . The management should have made half an attempt to bring decent food considering it was the end of the season & a lot of locals " paying" a visit after the summer rush . I wish this could be a raving review but just because you got the location doesn't mean you got the quality . read more

We had an early dinner on a recent Sunday. Their hours had changed but we were invited in early and had a drink and crackers with delish cheese spread. We both ended up ordering the same dish baked stuffed Schrod. It was delectable. The stuffing was mounded top during cooking process. This was perfect as the piece of schrod was thick and perfectly cooked. Very good mashed potatoes with very thin green beans were served with the dish. Five stars includes the whole experience quaint and cozy ambience , refreshingly (in pandemic) courteous and welcoming service; pace of service was relaxed and relaxing. This is a family owned restaurant over at least two or three generations . It has only changed for the better. read more

I ordered a steak slightly pink and it came raw. Looked like it was previously frozen. The potatoes and asparagus were Luke warm. Sent it back. It returned well done. Took two bites and was done. Obviously I didn't eat my dinner. Was charged full price!!! Also, have been there once before and both times the hostess was very unwelcoming. read more