The food itself is quite good, and there were definitely some things we really enjoyed. My tacos were absolutely delicious, with so much fresh flavor, and the tacos were also one of the few dishes that felt like a generous portion. My fiancé got the meatloaf and was very satisfied with his meal. That said, most of the portions are pretty small for the price. The prices feel a little high for what you're actually getting, especially when you factor in the overall vibe of the restaurant. I think a lot of what you're paying for is the location, which makes sense as it's beautiful to sit on the dock, but you lose some of that mystique if you're sitting inside. The atmosphere doesn't quite match the price point for me. Overall, the food is delicious and there were definitely some standout dishes, but I think the portions and pricing could be better aligned with the overall experience! This is a great spot to visit. read more

Mallards At The Wharf - Fish Taco (3) - American Near Me - Onancock, Virginia

Exhausted from a long day of travel, we sought a restaurant off the beaten path. We needed a restoration to make the last leg of what became a 13 hour journey. Mallards at the Wharf is what our GPS directed us to. The GPS just said "Mallards", so we were pleasantly surprised to see it was on Onancock Creek with boats moored adjacent to the outdoor dining deck. The hostess pointed in a vague direction to seat ourselves as she followed, but I couldn't figure out how to get to the deck and had to ask her to lead us. I thought it might put her off, but I was brain-numb from driving for the previous 7 hours. We sat in the shade with an incredible view of the boats and the creek. It was so beautiful that I didn't think the food would matter at all, which is good because it was a mixed bag. I ordered a whisky sour, with house whisky.... Whatever's in the well. Waitress didn't understand what was meant by my order, probably my bad. I was so tired that I couldn't sort my brain. We figured it out and it arrived with a slice of lemon and a slice of lime instead of a flag, so it was sour like a Warhead! We ordered fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. The only thing we could taste was the oil they were fried in and the pimento cheese they were topped with. The 3 tomatoes were the thickness of a slice of Kraft American cheese and no larger than the diameter of a Pepsi can. We wouldn't order that again. Ever. We also ordered a cheeseburger, which was lovely, but wasn't served with onion, pickle, or any spread. No mustard, ketchup or mayo. It wasn't something we would order again either. Redemption came in the guise of a swordfish steak. It was grilled to near perfection, moist, flavorful and topped with cilantro microgreens. This was a delicious entree. With it was a lovely, fresh mixed leafy green salad topped with blue-cheese vinaigrette. We wouldn't go back for that dish alone, but we would go back. The menu is appealing, with a variety of seafood. I do recommend it, for the ambiance, and the swordfish. We did order a key lime cake. It was good. Not "inspired", but good. We also ordered a brownie to go. It was hot. We dodnt understand heating a brownie, when the item isn't for immediate consumption? Maybe it was hot out of the oven from being baked. I will learn to sprout cilantro microgreens, because they were excellent. When you look at the high rating, remember the rating is on "your experience", not just one aspect (the food). read more

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A must stop on the way to or from Ocean city, A little gem of a find in Onancock VA. Food was masterfully done, service was stellar, host was delightful in greeting us. Ambiance was all bit of wharf! Super nice vibe sitting on the water. When traveling eat local support local community commerce. Thank you! read more

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Service was outstanding. Excellent Fire Corn and crab with red pepper bisque. Crab cakes are top notch. Great place to eat! Great ambiance! read more

Best fresh seafood, service and overlooking a beautiful wharf. Definitely worth trying when you visit Onancock, Virginia read more

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Cool place on the water. Customers service was great and so was the food! Will definitely be back. read more

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Great food, service, and atmosphere Another great place for lunch or dinner Last time we were there I had the Caesar salad with steak awesome!! The steak melted in my mouth Can't wait to go back read more

My go to spot when I'm in the area for work! Love sitting in their outdoor area right on the dock! When night hits and the live band starts playing the atmosphere just upgraded even more. Order a bucket of beer and enjoy! read more

Mallards At The Wharf - Tin Fish Board Mackerel in lemon oil / Sardines in mustard / Smoked oysters / Herbed cream cheese / Saltines / Hot sauce / Pickled Onions - American Near Me - Onancock, Virginia

I really had high hopes for my visit to Mallards at the Wharf. Bonus points for being able to make a reservation via their website. The location is really pretty. It is on the water and they offer both indoor and outdoor seating. Our waitress was pretty good. She was attentive and helpful with the menu. The bathrooms are extremely small, almost like an airplane. There was not a spot to hang my purse or jacket if you had one. The food was good, but seemed meh. I am not sure if it was because it was lunch fare and if it is different at dinner time. Non of the food wowed me or the guests I was with. The food tasted good, I just had different expectations going in. It's kinda like what I said when I was getting a wedding cake almost 20 years ago that the wedding cake not only has to look good but it needs to taste good. The food looks good here, but it doesn't leave a wow factor for me. Fried Green Tomatoes: Pimento Cheese was over powering and the batter lacked flavor. The crabby spring rolls were good. I did enjoyed those. The crabcake was pretty good, but not the best. My salad was nice the dressing was different, it was a blue cheese vinaigrette. I personally enjoyed it, but others may not. Overall would I come back, maybe. read more

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Can't beat sitting on the dock of the bay enjoying great food with a dozen friends. The duck was delicious. Everybody said their food was exceptional. Our waitress was delightful, and enjoyed the fact that one of us was her high school math teacher. The desert cake is well worth the calories. We'll be back. read more

quaint marina restaurant with delicious food and awesome signature cocktails , Lynn was an awesome server!

Food was good and it was a nice setting. Sat out on the deck on a Friday night. The live music was ridiculously loud, I mean over the top obnoxiously loud. Totally ruined a pleasant evening out for dinner. The band was good, but who cares when you are getting a splitting headache. We got moved inside, but my opinion of the place was severely tainted by the experience. read more

My experience was underwhelming. My food was cold and my server was clearly sick with a cold/flu yet, was working around food! I was so turned off from any enjoyment because of those two factors. read more

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This is one of my favorites on the shore! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The crab flatbread is outstanding. Portions are generous. The staff are so helpful, attentive and knowledgeable. They have a beautiful outdoor setting overlooking the water with live music as well. read more

I always enjoy the ambiance at Mallard's, whether it's sitting inside in the small dining area or outside on the dock, both are unique and comfortable. The view is unmatched, overlooking Onancock Creek which leads to the Chesapeake Bay. Really enjoy the crushes (orange, watermelon, etc). The crab cakes are great, as are the crab stuffed avocados. A lot of fried options on the menu but many fresh options as well. Will continue to frequent this establishment for the food and view. read more

Great location! With that small town vibe. On the water and with a laid back atmosphere this was a nice place to stopnin for lunch. Watching the boats dock and enjoying great food was a great way to waste away a Saturday afternoon. Pet friendly with both inside and outside sitting made this a place for anyone looking to relax. read more

Rolled in on Friday night about 30 minutes before closing. Everything was great. Loved the feel of this old waterfront building. My rockfish was great; and my daughter's crab cakes were excellent! read more

That is one of our favorite lunch places because it is on the water. It is quiet. The severs are friendly and efficient. The food is served attractively AND it is appropriately hot or cold. read more

This place was excellent! The place has a ton of character and charm. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The food was the highlight of the meal (other than the company). Tried three starters: Tuna Poke, Fried Green Tomatoes, & Mushroom & Brie soup. The Poke was fresh, seaweed crisp and the wasabi was great! My wife loved the fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese. Y'all the soup was next level in flavor. My wife even enjoyed the broth and she hates mushrooms. Impressive. I had the Sea Scallops and she had the crab cake sandwich. My scallops were nicely done. My only want would have been either a few more or larger specimens. Otherwise the dish was very nice. My wife's sandwich was lackluster. The cake itself was seasoned well and not a lot of filler. One of the owners came table side to check on everything which is a pro move in my book. You don't see much of that anymore. One other noteworthy topic is the facilities. As far as i could tell there were only two bathrooms both singles and right by the bar so waiting can get crowded. They have ample seating outside which seemed popular. Plus it's right on the water. If we're ever in the area again, we will be back for sure. Worth the visit! read more

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On the way back from a weekend in New York and we were craving something filling and satisfying. The reviews of this place were what caught our attention and ultimately we choose to stop here for lunch. The hype is real!!! Wished this place was closer to home and not 3 hrs away Everyone loved their meals, the fried green tomatoes were so good on my BLT that we ordered them as an appetizer. I absolutely loved my BLT, a straight 10/10 meal. My bf's dad is allergic to seafood (don't ask why we stopped at a seafood restaurant), and got the pulled pork sandwich and completely demolished it. He's got a specific taste and knows when good food is good food and highly rated his meal. My bf loved the swordfish filet and side soup, and the desserts were also amazing! Can't believe this spot is not only in a quiet area with waterside outdoor seating and has a specialized and curated menu, but also every part of the meal was great experience. The young gentleman who served us was sweet and quick. We will be back for sure!! This place is clearly a neighbor favorite and a hidden gem to tourists who are passing through. read more

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Mallards and Chef Johnny Mo were incredible. We went for our 18th anniversary and I had emailed ahead and asked for a special request that meant the world to my wife and the Chef absolutely delivered creating a custom appetizer for us and then delivering a 4 course meal for two that was amazing. They saved the table overlooking the wharf and Lynn made our service and night as perfect as we could of hoped. The entire staff were friendly and welcoming and we enjoyed every bite of dinner. I would highly recommend Johnny Mo's specialty, his crab cakes, the beef medallions melted in your mouth and the key lime 7 layer cake was something I've never had before and would drive 2 hours to eat again! read more

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Good service, they tried hard. Menu was limited, no fried food. Crabcakes were just ok, no lump

My first lunch at Mallards at the wharf in Onancock yesterday. Great pub food , featuring seafood. I had the crab avocado salad and the crabby fries. Awesome! Also a drink with cranberry juice, ginger beer, vodka and rosemary that was amazing. Exceptional service - including HOT, good coffee. It's in an historic building - an old mercantile. We were in a cozy downstairs room, overlooking the water, but there is an "upstairs" that has room for larger groups. Definitely going back. read more

Food was good, expensive. I was disappointed that I made reservation for the dock for birthday and they placed us inside by window . After dinner we wanted to move to the dock and they wouldn't let us sit there. Way to ruin our plan to listen to band and watch sunset on our trip. read more

Mallards At The Wharf - Scallops and Braised Beef Short Rib - American Near Me - Onancock, Virginia

Quaint water front venue - we had a delicious broiled rockfish special and crab stuffed avocado for lunch.

Soup of the day is delicious! Crab stuffed avocado is excellent!! The avocado is ripe and perfectly filled with crab salad.... The wrap looks great and no complaints from my partner! Cole slaw was good. The building is full of history and decor is lovely! Service is superb, (even with one waiters' first day) . Worth the drive and what a cute small town, worth Big beautiful homes! read more

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If you want a beautiful view, history, and delicious food, this is the spot! We sat outside and had the poke, singlcrab cake entree, and the crab spring rolls. everything was delicious, the plating was beautiful, and the service was great. Highly recommend this spot! read more

we walked out after 10 minutes with no service. When I walked up to the bar to inquire, all I got was blank stares. As we walked out, several servers made snarky comments about me, so if this is the way you treat customers, I will never set foot in the restaurant again! If I could leave a zero rating I would! read more

This local spot is a hidden gem! It was too cold and wet outside to eat, but we got a cute table right by the window. The crab bread was so good we ended up ordering a second one! We're from Florida and this topped any appetizer you can order there! We also enjoyed the crab egg rolls! In my opinion, the crab cake wasn't anything special, but it was still good. We really enjoyed the mallard salad with blue cheese vinaigrette!! I absolutely loved the cherry blossom drink! Mom and hubby enjoyed the orange crush. I loved the vibe and all of the servers and everyone who worked there just seemed like good people! We had a blast! read more

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Tuna sandwich, the driest bun I've ever had. Tuna was cold in the middle. Bartender says it's fresh, but I wonder of it's frozen. Didn't have much taste. Environment is fun,beautiful views out back by the water. Outdoor bar is energetic, live music was a nice touch. Spoke with a few locals, I always some how manage to have a good time, so I did. I'd come back for a drink & entertainment. read more

The good & the bad. Location is amazing. Onancock is a precious, quaint town and this restaurant is on the wharf, so great views of the water/marina. The vibe is awesome. The crabcakes are delicious. The bad - they don't have french fries. This sounds trivial, but when you drop $25 a meal and get a bag of potato chips like you're at subway on your plate - it feels cheap & trashy. read more

stopped in for a drink and an appetizer the crab bread don't waste the money on this one. crab I shall say I didn't taste it nor did I see any. all I could taste was cream cheese over load and doughy pitta bread read more

Food portions extremely small, which could be excusable if they were made with prime ingredients (the store bought sauces and dressings do not signify this). Beyond that my husband ordered a catch of the day with 3 soft-shell crabs, he got 2 and a quarter sized third with 6 green beans and a quarter cup of mashed potatoes. The food is good, it is not gourmet. The service was deplorable, we had to go up to the bar and ask for cutlery, we ordered an appetizer that was never put in, had to wait a ridiculous amount of time before flagging down our waitress to submit our entree, then had to ask for the check. The setting is beautiful, which in my opinion this business owner leans far too heavy on to justify the prices. The drinks were excellent, the bus people did well, the view and ambiance were spectacular. All in all I would love to give this business a second try in hopes that this is not all they have to offer. read more

We went for lunch and were very pleased with the food and the service. We had the Fried Green Tomatoes and Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos which were excellent. Nice, casual atmosphere and outdoor dockside dining is available. read more

Had a business lunch there and it's so quaint. Wonderful water view too bad it wasn't nice out to enjoy it more. We had a great waitress that my associate was making nuts on choosing a beer. She handled it well! read more

We sat outside on the lovely deck overlooking the water. It was about 2:30 and not very busy. We put in our entire order starting with a shared bowl of Tomato Bisque with goat cheese. It was amazing, but stone cold. Our server was nowhere to be seen. We finally asked another server to help us out. He took it back to the kitchen and our server brought it back saying "tell me if this is hot enough" but left without waiting to find out and never checked back. Meanwhile while we waited for my Cobb salad and my husband's steamed mussels, a table of 4 was seated next to us. Both their appetizers & entrees showed up before our food was delivered. When our food finally showed up, the mussels were cold and clearly had been sitting a long time. I found the waitress & told her we wanted a fresh order but right after found her again & cancelled them saying we would just share my salad. She said she would bring us the order at no charge. It showed up in less than 5 minutes, so we both were sure she simply microwaved the old order. Again she didn't bother to check on us! Our waters were never refilled, Meanwhile both tables next to us had wonderful attentive servers who kept checking back & refilling water. read more

Nice place, atmosphere is nice, good food. Nice place to relax and have a drink and lunch or dinner.

This place was hopping on a Wednesday night, great view along the waterfront. It is dog friendly, so we sat at the bar outside. Sara helped us and filled our beer glasses and brought water for the pups. Mallards sells a cup for $15 which includes a beer, subsequent refills for beer or crushes are $5. However they only have ONE beer on tap. For dinner, I had the crabmeat stuffed avocado which consisted of lightly dressed crabmeat in 2 avocado halves, perfect for a light dinner on a sweltering day. My husband had the shrimp sandwich, he ate the shrimp only because the roll was INEDIBLE. I've never seen him leave a roll behind, it was bad! We decided to go back the next day for drinks only, so we could use our cups. It was 90' outside so we opted for a beer. They had issues with the keg, so the cups were 1/2 filled and warm. The server immediately rectified the situation and offered us crushes, not our thing but refreshing on a hot day. I do wish they offered more beer options. Unless you are local, or plan on drinking lots of refills, the cups really were worth it. It's a cute momento. read more

Mallards At The Wharf - Our beers! Devil's Backbone Juicy IPA - American Near Me - Onancock, Virginia

Nice water front dining.great bar, great seafood, mussels, clams, crabs, Definitely recommend read more

You can't beat dining on the water, but only a few tables have the view, so book ahead, go at non-peak hours, or take a chance. But Johnny Mo, the chef, doesn't rely on location. The food is innovative and interesting, the prices reasonable, the service is good, and the drinks excellent. read more