Docks Oyster Bar - Midtown East, NYC

We went for lunch and the service was knowledgable and superb. The fig and arugula salad was tops as were the LI oysters. The clam chowder was tasty, but thin and light on the clams. The crab cakes have no fillers and are indeed tasty, but the crab has no lumps of crab, is shredded crab. The cheesecake was the best these New Yorkers have tasted in a long time. Delicious. Noise level can be high, less so at lunch. We look forward to another visit soon.

It has a great happy hour and the oysters and clams were very fresh! The sushi roll was very good as well. The bartender was very friendly and helpful with choosing items. The calamari dish for happy hour had too much sauce over it, but the calamari itself was well prepared.

We went for Happy Hour oysters and drinks. Unfortunately, there were couple of oysters were bad. But the manager was very nice and took care of it. Thanks to him. We enjoyed their great selection of drinks and food. Highly recommended.

Excellent happy hour and great sushi. The bar was packed but the maître d' went above and beyond to seat us. Spicy tuna and spicy yellowtail rolls were excellent - fish was fresh and good quality, not too much rice. Good selection of happy hour items including oysters. I can't wait to go back.

$1.50 oysters and clams per piece is outstandingly good! Cherrystone clams are huge and so satisfactory that I can't believe it's just $1.50🥰 You need to be seated to the bar counter to get Happy Hour menu, though.

We had a fantastic meal here we were a party of 11. The staff was friendly and helpful. The restaurant was clean and the food was delicious.

This by far was the best experience of a 5 course meal. The service was outstanding with EVERYTHING.

Absolutely loved our experience here! Happy hour is amazing with amazing bar staff. Restaurant ambience was spectacular and food was so good too! Our waiter seemed disinterested (even generally annoyed) hence the 4 star but the rest of the team were phenomenal

Great bar! Great food at the bar. This is my second time here and Zoe, Robert, Christopher have provided five star service! The oysters are fresh! You can have cocktail sauce, horseradish, a vinegarette or lemon with your oysters. The calamari and the rocking shrimp are also flavorful! The ambiance is chill. People at the bar are from all over, tourists and locals! Great vibe! Happy Hour is seven days a week, 3pm-7pm.

Nothing extreme, but I was turned away from the bar staff and management on a Wednesday at 10:30. Met with a cold shoulder of "well our GM told us to do last call" Been a fan for years. But really not a way to treat somebody only looking for a martini. At 10:30 at night.

Docks is an oyster bar and seafood grill, offering an all-day menu, HH, cocktails, and desserts. We came here as a large group, making reservations in advance. We ordered some shareables: +Shrimp Scampi - prepared with tomatoes, scallions, and capers; served with grilled bread +Smoked Oysters Rockefeller - topped with spinach, Parm, and bread crumbs; this tasted a little 'fishy,' and the oysters themselves were a bit small +Fried Calamari - Rhode Island style +and, Crispy Brussels Sprout Salad - with apple slices, candied peacans, and fig balsamic For our meals, we had: +a Maine Lobster Roll - served with remoulade in a buttered bun +Organic Faroe Island Salmon - served with roasted root veggies, potato leek puree, and basil oil +Pan Seared Diver Scallops - served with roasted root veggies, potato leek puree, and basil oil +Seafood Risotto - with shrimp, crab, honeynut squash, mascarpone, and sage +Maine Lobster Ravioli - with lemon, tarragon, and Parm crema +and, Grilled 14 oz Prime NY Strip Steak - with Parm herb steak fries Overall, the food was fine; I think there could have been more seasoning and more flavor. Service was good, but could have been more attentive in terms of getting refills, making sure our drink and meal orders were correct, etc.; there wasn't much of pressure from the waitstaff when we were chit-chatting and such. Easy to get to by public transportation. +good for large parties

Classic oyster bar in Manhattan. Great fresh seafood, good wine list and friendly service. Sat at a bar full of regulars and never felt out of place. Would definitely return on my next visit to Manhattan.

Docks Rocks! When I'm in Manhattan, I've found this to be the greatest restaurant in my zone. It's a top shelf, 1st class establishment. Every time I'm in town in find myself at Docks, sitting at the bar & having an amazing feast. I like to start with some Irish Coffees when they open at 11.30 am. Then I graze thru the menu of the freshest seafood. Today was the sashimi platter, which followed the Baked Clams Casino ... like Oysters Rockefeller but with clams. I've had both- they both are fantastic. For the past 5 years, I've eaten here whenever I'm in town and I have always been extremely happy & satisfied every time. I guarantee I'll be back - tomorrow!

Thanks to my soulmate for coming out to the city for another date night on Tuesday. The service is great, the decor is nice, and the food is delicious at Dock's. We had a nice quiet table in the back so we could hear each other speak. My favorite appetizer is the Seafood Cobb Salad. It was so delicious. We'll be back for more!

Came here for happy hour and it was packed! While they do have good happy hour oyster pricing, we weren't a fan of the type of oysters they served that day. Also, this may have been one of the only times I've sent wine back. The Palomas were also just ok. Hopefully their non-happy hour options are a bit better because my experience here left a lot to be desired, and I love oyster/wine/cocktail happy hours.

Wow, could sum up this review in three letters. Had a reservation And when we arrive, we are immediately seated, even though they've been hit with a large party they were able to pivot and made us feel quite comfortable. The ambience is nice and open and a little loud. The volume was fine as it allowed you to talk knowing that no one else could hear you. The service staff was prompt, efficient, and well knowledgeable. The food was quite delicious and very fresh. I don't know what more could be asked for next time. I have the opportunity to go to New York, I will be back.

Solid HH spot near midtown for post work drinks and oysters! We sat at the bar and our bartender was super attentive and gave great pours of wine. We got 12 oysters, fries, spicy tuna roll, fried calamari, and then another 12 oysters. The oysters were good but not super meaty. I wish they were bigger, but they did the job for $1.50. The spicy tuna roll was tasty and so was the fried calamari. Fries were crispy and hand cut but not worth $14 for the portion! Overall, I'd come back for the HH. Pricing: Wine: $9 Spicy tuna roll: $10 Oysters: $1.50 Fries: $14 Fried calamari with Thai chili sauce: $9 They also had a live jazz band playing which was super cute!

My first time at Docks and it was fine. It was busy but our servers were consistent with checking on our large party of 11. They made great recommendations and were quick and efficient. I had the seafood risotto which was decent but lacked seasoning. My best friend had the NY Strip steak which he raved about. Not disappointed, I'd come back on another trip to NY.

GREAT oyster happy hour spot in midtown. Can get a little crazy so try to go early! If you manage to snag a seat at the bar service is super quick and easy and the bartenders are very friendly. Interior is a bit more upscale, but during happy hour it feels like all walks of life are in there. The price for the quality of oysters cannot be beat here! Haven't tried their entrees, but definitely a go to happy hour spot.

Recommend: Seafood Cobb Salad Not recommend: Any sushi (overpriced for what you get) Food: Standard seafood quality. I've been here several times, but my most recent time I had ordered the Seafood Cobb Salad and it took more than 40min to get to me after I finished my sushi roll. I've never had a salad take that long. The restaurant had many open tables, and the waitress showed up once during that time to check in on me. I asked where my salad was, and she brought it out shortly after. I assume it was forgotten on the counter. The salad at least had a decent amount of protein for the macros. Sushi is overpriced for what you get. Other seafood entrees were okay, but not that memorable. Service: Fair. The workers who collect dishes show up more frequently than the waiter/waitress. Tables near me were getting angsty because of how infrequent the waitress would come to their area. Vibe: Friday and Saturday nights will have live music in the evening from 6-9p. They have a low-lit ambience, but with many groups of 4+, it can get loud during dinner time. During happy hour it will also be loud.

I was in the mood for oysters. Disappointed with the selection, so opted for half dozen and then had the lobster roll. It was lack luster. The parmesan fries were very good. Overall decent service, but not my scene...they appear to cater more to tourists and persons who live within a 3 block radius.

This review is based on the excellent happy hour. A great selection and great service!! The only downfall is the bar gets crowded pretty quickly.

Fun vibes at the bar and varied happy hour selection of raw and fried seafood, gets packed!

One of the best Raw Bars in NYC, a great Menu, and the Service was great! We were there for the $1.50 Happy Hour Oysters & Clams. We had a Reservation, but Dock's is huge, so there's never a long wait for a table. Great atmosphere.

Stopped by Dock's a few days before Christmas for happy hour. The bar was packed, but found a seat without a problem. The ambiance was good and the bartenders were stellar... very attentive, patient, and friendly despite how busy they were. They deserve five stars. I ordered smoked Oysters Rockefeller, an appetizer from the regular menu and a shrimp appetizer featured on the happy hour menu. The shellfish was very fresh, but lacked seasoning/salt/something. The smoked flavor came through with the oysters Rockefeller, but that's about it. Kind of bland. The shrimp were battered and had an aïoli on it that was supposed to be spicy. The shrimp and or the batter needed seasoning because they were lacking flavor. I asked the bartender for hot sauce, which he kindly obliged. That added some kind of a kick, but other than that, blah. I guess I need to try other dishes, but nothing is pushing me to rush back other than the delicious Pinot Grigio that was on the happy hour menu.

Years since I've been here and reviewed this establishment. I'm glad I returned and gave a second chance. Pleasantly surprised with the service and the happy hour choices. Comfortable atmosphere. Glad I came back.

This restaurant is always happening! Packed when others are empty. Every seat offers a great view in the restaurant. Drinks are full delicious pours. And the oysters the best. Stephen Weingrad and Melene's go to place! Save table #21 ! Melene N.

My first impression was the wonderful, efficient, friendly, professional STAFF. Hostess was most accommodating. Our waiter was AMAZING - he made meal suggestions and assisted with dietary restrictions as well. Yes, we both enjoyed our delicious food: linguini with white clam sauce and the crab cakes.

I've been to Dock's many times over the years and have always enjoyed the experience. I have the seafood. Quality of the food is excellent. The service staff is well trained and is at the level of what you would expect from a well established restaurant. The room though large is divided into sections so as not to feel overwhelming. Lively and relaxed. The bar serves some tasty libations and the oysters are always a favorite. Unconventional for a seafood restaurant, one year, at Thanksgiving I ordered a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and it was excellent.

I moved to the Netherlands 5 years ago and really miss east coast seafood. While in NY for a business trip I came across Docks Oyster Bar while looking for a place with clams. The cherrystones here are AMAZING. Next time I am in New York I will be back for sure.

Met a client here for lunch today and it was the perfect spot to host a lunch. Will likely come back with clients for HH/dinner, as they have a private area in the back. We had the Oyster sampler, shrimp cocktail and lobster casserole to start. I got the fish(cod) and handcut fries. While my client got the scallops and said he would be coming back to try more. Service was professional and prompt, while the ambiance was also professional/classic Manhattan.

Do not waste your time going here - much better places in the city with quality seafood. Came for dinner with a friend in a Monday night and was excited to try Docks since I always walked by and saw how it busy it got. Started off with the oyster sampler which was fine...I've definitely had better oysters elsewhere for cheaper. I ordered the yellowfin tuna which was so dry and lacked flavor that I ended up just eating the veggies. My friend has ordered the lobster roll and it ended up being on stale piece of bread and the lobster also lacked taste. Definitely won't be returning here.

A dizzying variety of seafood options varying from fluke with cherry tomatoes to Sushi to Lobster Kim Chi rice with short ribs added to the menu. The seating area is large and the large windows provide a panoramic view of the street traffic. The service is prompt, courteous and attentive. Loved the various types of bread in the ensemble. They do have a pre fix menu for the restaurant week for $60 including options for appetizers, main course and dessert as well. I'd say (after trying the fluke which is predictable but good, and the Kim Chi rice which is a surprise and deliciously spicy) it's probably best to stay with the traditional seafood options here. That's not a bad thing. I'm all for a predictably good non-experimental trout any day. The short ribs lack an edge and we had to add some squeezed lemon to get some of the flavors to come out and the cauliflower is barely roasted so it comes out very firm although the golden raisins add a sweet and insular flavor to it. Good for business meetings and lunches also given its location

Docks is a good spot for dinner but also has a fantastic happy hour. Zoe works the bar and alone is worth the visit. Great drinks, engaging conversation, and has complete command of her environment. The best!

Docks Bar is a great spot for happy hour! The ambiance of the place is etiquette for an oyster bar. I loved how it didn't have the fishy smell and was extremely clean. The oysters were a decent size and delicious! Not only were they delicious, they were affordable which is great in today's economy. The bartender was extremely friendly and helpful when we were ordering. I would definitely come back for the dinner service.

Docks has been serving up fresh seafood to the Midtown East crowd for decades, and that's saying something in the fickle NYC restaurant biz. One can count on excellent seafood and professional service at Docks. Personal faves include the lobster risotto, baked clams, arctic char, fish and chips and for dessert, Docks' truly stellar key lime pie. Prices are fair for midtown, with fresh raw oysters and clams on offer at just $1.50 each during their daily happy hour (3-7); claim your seat at the spacious bar up front and wash those bivalves down with a nice variety of discounted beer and wine. It's usually no problem getting a same day rez at Docks since the well decorated space is relatively large. Happy hour is first come first served. The vibe is a bit corporate but still very friendly.

Food was great...atmosphere even better, but was made the time memorable was our server Erin...THANK YOU!

I say 3 stars because although I love the atmosphere. Servers are very nice. Prices are high and portions look smaller each time I go.

We were very pleased to get turned onto this place. The food was delicious. Our server was impeccable. Cleanup was a little slow, but it was busy. They were very kind to us. We felt connected and overall was just a wonderful evening.

Dock's Oyster Bar has been around for a good number of years which is a testament to their focus and concern about the quality of the food and its presentation, with friendly, professional service and an interior ambiance that makes you feel like you're in a three-star establishment at a fraction of the cost! And don't let the name mislead you...besides the great happy hour bar scene (at a good size bar!) the seafood (including oysters of course) and steak choices, offer not only great options but you can't make a mistake with any choice. My wife and I have been stopping in for years, with and without guests of ours, and we love it! Try it yourself!! - Frank & Roseann Nicoletti, NY, NY

This is a decent restaurant. The atmosphere and decker, along with the live jazz create a nice dining atmosphere. The staff is friendly, attentive and responsive! On to the food.... The cream and potatoes in the a clam chowder were the headline of this dish. The clams were tough and chewy. I would not recommend this appetizer. The Maryland Crab Cakes were full of lump crab. You can taste the crab. Mild flavor that needed an extra dose of flavor form remoulade. Overall, a hefty amount of crab for the price. While I didn't enjoy the veins in the greens, the potatoes paired well with the crab. Good flavor! And the Sorbet...excellent way to rinse it all down with a mildly sweet sorbet. Two large scoops....loved it!

We came here for happy hour as I was meeting my college friend and we needed a place near Grand Central. I was delighted to know that the oysters were on special as were the drinks. You don't just have to sit at the bar, you can sit at a table near the bar. We actually sat there for over two hours with our food and drink and laughing as well. This place has been around for a very long time and that's a good thing. I'm glad to see they made it through the pandemic because it is a pretty big space. I know they get a large business crowd so it's important to know that they are still busy. I wouldn't necessarily going here all the time but for a meet up it is perfect. I also know that their seafood is fresh and since that's one of my favs, I was sure it would be a good visit.

Sitting at the bar is good choice for happy hour, they service u fast and good. Oyster is good

As always a fantastic experience at Dock's! We were there for Christmas Eve and enjoyed their specials for the night - the halibut, branzino and short ribs were delicious and service was excellent. The jazz trio is always a perfect touch! Thanks for making our Christmas Eve even better!

Nice place to stop in for a drink. Very aesthetically please on the inside. Lots of seating with big bar in the middle. I had the La vie entire drink and enjoyed it. Nice service at the bar. Did not eat there, but the food looked good.

I have been enjoying Dock's for many years. It has become an NYC classic. The Happy Hour is not to miss, but it's not just that. It's a wonderful spot for business, pleasure and people watching. The location is close to Grand Central and easily accessible by subway. Highly recommend Dock's!

Went for restaurant week but did a mix and match of the price fixe and data card menus. Friendly hostess, Decent waitstaff. Drinks were summer fire fly. Had the smoked oysters rockerfeller which were beatifically presented by the waiter's lifting of the cover allowing the hollowly beautiful smoke aroma into the air. The pulpo on a bed of polenta was tasty: topped with pancetta and greens, the octopus was tender. It's not on the standard menu and I can't recall the exact name of the dish. Recommend the sake it to me drink. Had the crème brûlée but it was a little eggy to me- I've had better. Docks is a great alternative to a steakhouse- always a lovely time.

My friend hosts her daughter 1st birthday at Docks Oyster Bar. It was a private party and the restaurant prepare everything wonderfully. Food and service are excellent with brunch menu. The course starts with seasonal fruit salad and assorted breakfast pastries. Main course has 3 choices of Challah French toast, Farmer's Hash and Shrimp five lettuce Caesar salad. Drinks are bottomless coffee, Juice, tea, Bloody mary's and Mimosas. Everything is perfect, great party and some of my friends who are fans of this restaurant stay after party for oysters. I wish I could stay with them but I couldn't so I will make a plan for oyster next time.

Great food and service! Really enjoyed our evening. Clams, Scallops and the Steak were outstanding.

When Bob Hope died at 100 in 2003, I remember some commentator mentioning that he was surprised at how few people there were under 40 who remembered the comedian and wartime empresario, opining that it was indeed possible to outlive your fame as the Latest Generation shoved the Greatest Generation aside. Such is the case with Docks. When I worked in the area it was a very frequent lunch spot and when I left, it all but vanished from my consciousness. That's my bad as the venerable seafood restaurant remains terrific delivering a classic bowl of New England Clam and a Lobster Roll that brought all of the superlatives rushing right back. Docks has been around forever having outlived so many "of the moment" Manhattan eateries that I lost count. I won't let years pass again between visits. Somewhere Bob Hope is nodding his head in approval... whoever he is. Five easy stars.

We had a party to go to on a Saturday night and we decided to come here for happy hour for a drink and $1.50 oysters. We got there at 6:30 to a bustling restaurant. There were a few open seats at the bar and we took a seat and were offered menus and a drink. We ordered 18 oysters and 6 littleneck clams, a spicy tuna roll, and the docks shrimp. The service was fast and the food was fresh. The shrimp were hot, and crispy. My preference would be to have the sauce on the side instead of it being drizzled on the shrimp. It was the perfect pre party spot for appetizers and drinks. We'll definitely be visiting again!

Rip Off Alert!!! I've had Shrimps bigger than the Lobster Tail on my "2 Pound Lobster". Paid $100 for literally 4 bites of lobster meat. And that's after nearly an hour long wait. This placed used to be legendary...so sad...

Greetings and salutations yelpers. For my birthday treat my good friend took us back to Docks. Once again the food staff drinks were all amazing. Although we partake in restaurant week menus which included appetizers, we still had to deviate and order the Bake Clams Casino. One of my favs, always ordered when I dine. One taste my eyes close and I have to suppress the moan of delight I want to elicit. The main reason it did not receive the 5 stars I didn't appreciate the dog in the dining area and the lady walking back and forth a few times with it. In addition at one point when my friend pulled in her chair for her to pas she nastily stated.. what, you think I'm trying to steal your purse. We didn't let the incident sour our meal and definitely will not prevent us from dining again. Tip; There are a few tables in the bar area in the event you want to partake in happy hour but do not want to sit at the bar. Arrive early and grab a table. Yelpers definitely add Docks to your list you won't be disappointed.

I hadn't been there in many years. We were warmly greeted by the host, and then quickly greeted by our waiter. Our waiter was efficient, polite, friendly, and attentive. One of us made a request to substitute a vegetable with our main courses, which was easily accommodated. My friend and I shared a Caesar salad which turned out to be not my favorite, because it is made largely with kale. The dressing was fine, though I've had better. We each had pan-roasted branzino, which was excellent! Flavorful, skin crisped, and perfectly cooked. There is a good selection of wines by the glass. We finished with decaf cappuccinos which were very good. We can't comment on desserts. We lingered over the coffee and never were rushed. Prices are on the higher end, but I felt this dinner was overall a good value. I will not wait so long to return.

I went with a large group. Our service was fine. I had the grilled scallops which were 4 large ones and some greens which were tasty. There is a happy hour from 7-9. Wine is 10. and raw oysters are 1.50. However if you are eating in the dining room , you can not get happy hour oysters. I will return during happy hour for that. The ambiance was fine. I found it a bit noisy. My scallops cost $40. As I said , I will return for happy hour. I love oysters. Regularly the oysters are over 3. apiece .

"Food was great!! Good value!! Drinks were reasonably priced. Very clean and appealing atmosphere. The staff, disappointed in lack of training!!! Very unprepared. Had to request EVERYTHING...more water, take dirty plates away, missing silver!!! If I was the manager on duty I would feel EMBARRASSED by this!!! I'm in hospitality myself, WORLD CLASS winery...we would never have an employee untrained on the floor...and 2 at the same time, unheard of!!!"

Really good seafood and not horribly expensive. We shared a snow crab boil and it's a good thing we did. Almost couldn't eat everything even splitting it. Excellent clam chowder to start. A bunch of muscles, clams, and shrimp included with the crab. Plus a dessert. Good place.