Dockside Restaurant & Tiki Bar

Dockside Tiki Bar is a vibe. Margaritas? Yes, please. Orange crush? Eh… gave me more “Tang in a cup” than “fresh-squeezed sunshine,” but we survived. The shrimp and crab legs hit the spot, and if you like your dinner with a side of loud laughter and music, sit at the bar. Want to actually hear the person next to you? Head to the dining area. Outside seating is a win for the views. A fun little “you gotta stop here at least once” spot when visiting Colonial Beach, VA.

Great location, vibes, food and entertainment!! Definitely plan on returning and trying more items from menu. Burgers were delish and others really like the pizza. The GM informed us they were under-staffed, but overall the service was good. Looking forward to our next visit.

Fun Beach Vibes, Great Setting — But Pricey Food Dockside Restaurant is definitely a cool beachside spot with a unique vibe. The seating made from boats is such a fun touch, and the whole place has that laid-back, tropical feel with lots of palm trees and ocean breeze. It’s a great place to snap a few beach getaway photos and enjoy the scenery. The drinks are well-priced and refreshing, which made for a relaxing afternoon. The food was decent, but the prices were definitely on the higher side for what you get. You're really paying for the atmosphere here more than anything. Overall, it's a fun place to visit once in a while if you're in the area and want to enjoy the beachy setting and a cold drink.

What a fun place. Right ob the beach and it's beautiful. Food was delicious. I was not expected, but the burger was probably the best I ever had. Crab legs are little to pricey, but it's okay. Unfortunately they had no dessert, that was kind of weird. Will definitely will come back!!!

Really cool location right on the water, with, of course, a nautical and tiki bar theme. I had the bbq smash burger, and my sister had the crab cake and my wife a seafood platter. It wasn't bad. It could have been a little juicier, and my sister's crab cake was a little undone, but they were very accommodating and re-cooked it for her. Pleasant server and awesome scenery. I'm sure it's a hit with the locals.

Dockside is a very cool place. I have been coming here for decades and today's meal did not disappoint. My fried scallops were cooked to perfection. The fried oysters were out of this world and not one grain of sand. I love the bread pudding, when it's available. The decorations are really neat and the beach has been beautifully restored. Thanks Dockside. I'll be back 😎 STOC

We spent NYE at Dockside. (We're from Arizona.) It was such a fun night. The drinks were strong, and the food was awesome. We had crab stuffed mushrooms, tuna poke, lobster tacos, and the best fish and chips I've had in years. Jerry Wimmer's band kept everyone on their feet dancing the whole night. The man hardly took a break from playing. What a great voice and energy. But what really made us feel welcome was our attentive waiter, Gil. He hustled his butt off for us all. night. long. He stayed on top of all our drink and food requests with a smile and genuine enthusiasm. He's a gem. We're very happy our friends, Teri and Larry, brought us here. Thanks, Dockside, for a great, memorable night!

Very cute and lively. Our server Jamal was great. The cocktails are good and the food was fresh/yummy. I will definitely return. The beach was right outside the restaurant which is a plus. Great first experience.

Fun Beach Vibes, Great Setting -- But Pricey Food Dockside Restaurant is definitely a cool beachside spot with a unique vibe. The seating made from boats is such a fun touch, and the whole place has that laid-back, tropical feel with lots of palm trees and ocean breeze. It's a great place to snap a few beach getaway photos and enjoy the scenery. The drinks are well-priced and refreshing, which made for a relaxing afternoon. The food was decent, but the prices were definitely on the higher side for what you get. You're really paying for the atmosphere here more than anything. Overall, it's a fun place to visit once in a while if you're in the area and want to enjoy the beachy setting and a cold drink.

The food was good, but check the prices on the crab legs first. The drink's, very good. The band was fair but the loud drunken women were a bit much. Management did nothing to quiet them down. But I guess this is normal these days. They should have a hostess or a sign at the main entrance to direct you where to go. Had to find an employee because I'd never been there before. In all fairness, its okay, but I will give it a second chance.

A MUST visit when in Colonial Beach. This place has it all. Indoor seating, outdoor seating, picnic tables, adult only swings, a beach are, yes you can go in. The atmosphere is so great! Great people having good times!!

I stopped by here on my way back to Richmond and I had a great time. The restaurant is right on the edge of the water and it was packed with people enjoying a beautiful day. When I got there, I was seated right away and had a very attentive server who gave me Fantastic suggestions for my lunch. I ordered the Shrimp Po boy and it was flavorful and very delicious. You definitely get your moneys worth. I found the place to be somewhat easy to navigate and accessible. My only Issue was with the bathroom and that was more due to it being a little narrow and low ceilings. Outside of the bathroom, I was able to navigate the area with ease while using my cane.

This is the "Cheers" of this beach. Lots of drunk locals. But food and drink are good. Staff is fast and efficient. Vibe is loud and energetic.

It'd been years since we'd been to Dockside and it's totally different now. They leaned into the tiki bar and now it's more of a fun hang out riverside watering hole, rather than fine dining. They have garage doors they open up in nice weather, lots of awnings and shaded areas. No beer tap, but plenty to drink and good seafood. The huspuppies were melt in your mouth, I had pretty good snow crab legs, and he loved the tuna tacos. Our waiter was a chill hippie we dug. We'll be back for those seafood craving lazy evenings.

This place is for the locals, full of regular entertainment and a great decor that ushers in the beachfront. You can choose from indoor and outdoor seating. Definitely would recommend.

I love the vibe at dockside! Cute little beach, live music on the weekend, feels like you've been transported to a tropical island (especially when it's 100 degrees!). They also have the only dog friendly beach in colonial beach so super big plus on that side. The service is a little slow and not particularly friendly if you aren't a local, food is good but a bit pricey (I got the crab cake sandwich, husband got a burger, fries were nice and crunchy), and expect everything to be served in plastic and there was no recycling in sight.

We stopped by with a party of five. We were seated quickly on the patio. We waited a bit for a waitress but did order Garlic Parm wings and old bay wings and hush puppies appetizers. We asked for recommendations and she said hamburger and steak sandwich, odd being a seafood restaurant but ok. We waited a bit again and ordered dinner crab cake sandwiches, shrimp baskets and blackened fish tacos. Our waitress came out and said the had to send one of the cooks home sick and our appetizers would be out shortly. Our wings and hush puppies finally came out and they were good. Dinners Crab cake sandwiches great Fried shrimp basket- bad rubbery few shrimp Blackened fish tacos- not cooked all the way lacking blackening seasoning So if we were to come back we would come when as busy and hope service was better. We would reorder wings, hush puppies and crab cakes.

Amazing spot if you're looking for seafood and want a great view. Very beachy/Jimmy Buffett vibes. Drinks are strong but good. BEST CRAB CAKES OF MY LIFE Definitely a must stop in the summer especially when there's live music.

Honestly dockside was probably the only place worth mentioning in colonial beach. The drinks were pre made so checkout was fast. We didn't get any food, but did notice that it came in plastic tins. The service style is "order here and we will page you to come get it and bring it back to your table". The atmosphere was really cute and we enjoyed the views and the sand. There was live music and a Dj, both were okay but mostly we enjoyed just enjoying the scenery. Also, very dog friendly !! Best part of the whole place.

I went here with friends for lunch on a weekend. It was absolutely packed in the bar outside, but it was cool inside. We were able to get a table quickly. Service wasn't super fast, but we didn't wait a long time either. I ordered a shrimp po boy. It wasn't New Orleans quality, but they got the bread right, which is the most important part. Everyone else said their food was also good (burger, shrimp tacos, Mahi tacos). It hit the spot, and I'd go back. Parking can be challenging in Colonial Beach, but their lot size was ample.

We had a fun time. This is right on the water and we ate under a tiki hut. We watched boats come in, kids playing in the water. Listened to a very pleasant guitarist/singer. The food is bar food and was not very good. I had a soft shell crab plate and my husband had their other special and we were both disappointed. Flavorless. Wait times are very long! We even wondered if they had lost our order ( they did not). Come and enjoy a beer and a sunset. We would have enjoyed our evening more had we just done that.

Nice place. Waterside, beautiful views. Bring your kids, or not. Bring your dog. A bit pricey but good service. We plan to go back. That says alot now-a-days :)

Drinks are always Good. They have a wide ranger of alcohol including Sauvignon blanc (which a lot of bars don't carry and it's a delicious one). We got the sweet potato fries with ranch which were perfectly crispy and a side was HUGE!! The ranch is homemade and a standout. Boyfriend got the fish and chips and it was the biggest fish I have ever seems and was so fresh and flaky. Bloody Mary and other drinks were great as well. And I was totally happy with our experiment

Great place, funky atmosphere. The seafood was good although a little expensive. They have a couple of boats on the lawn you can sit in to eat. Fun for the kiddos.

The menu that is pictured is not available at the restaurant, but we had already driven there and there weren't too many more options. It is probably better in the summer when you can sit outside. Oyster Po Boy was good but more bread than anything. Calamari was ok. Fish (good) and chips (meh). The Fried Mozzarella was the only thing that was fantastic. Service was super slow. Waitress was ok. But we did hear someone ask her for something and she told them she was too busy to get it and just kept walking We saw someone had ordered soup and mentioned we didn't see soup on the menu. She said it's a special that comes with a premium Oyster Po Boy. Then when we asked why she hadn't told us about any specials when we had ordered one she shrugged. Over priced. Wouldn't go back.

Fresh seafood= great ! Service = wonderful ! Prices = very reasonable. Family friendly environment - a community favorite !

My boyfriend's entire family has been coming here for years and we all have some of our best memories from here. If you have kids, dogs and are looking for a Tiki Bar with live music and a simple menu this is your perfect place. But, come it stay and chill for a while and they charge a bit extra, but it's worth it for the view and the ambiance. They have one of the best Steak and Cheese sandwiches in the area if you are not into Seafood, and even though it's not on their current menu, if you ask for a salad and Grilled chicken it's always super fresh and I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me it's local. Calamari is pretty good, sauce is better, crabs are always a big hit with the kids as soon as we can pry them away from the sand. It's always quickest to walk up to the bar and get drinks outside rather than to get a waitress and sit inside but all the bartenders and really friendly and great. Our family takes over a section of the outdoor tables every time we come and there's always 1 or 2 of us who's order us messed up but it takes too long to fix and we can never find wait staff to help, but the rest of it all is all good. Always a good time!

Love this place, food is wonderful, staff is really friendly, drinks are great. Dockside has a great beach vibe with old boats that have been converted to serving spaces, and easy access to the beach. Very kid friendly.

Great service and food. This is definitely a tiki bar, surf shack vibe and it works. The bartender was great helping make my pregnant wife a non-alcoholic low sugar cocktail, and the dockside punch I had was tasty and mixed perfectly. The fish was phenomenal and the fries were excellently cooked: crispy and tender. Just a add a little salt out of the fryer and they would have been perfect. The crab cakes were okay, but I was expecting more after having the fish. I can see why this is a popular spot with newcomers and regulars alike, and I will definitely be coming back once I've moved in.

The food was delicious, through no fault of the servers my food was delivered with mayo, which I cannot eat. I was unable to catch the attention of anyone to get it corrected until the rest of my party had finished their meal. Needless to say I did not get to enjoy dinner

Dockside is right up there with any of the best tiki bar restaurants on the Chesapeake. Even in the heart of the winter on a Saturday night, live music brings a crowd and every table on the patio was filled. The wings were pricey but with the live music and ambience, well worth it. Here's the kicker- my wife is 28 weeks pregnant and wanted dessert but we found out they had sold out. Our young waitress comes back 3 minutes later with this ginormous cupcake that her boss had brought in but she took the customer first approach and made our night. We'll be back for that gesture alone!

What's not to love about Dockside? An incredibly fun beach set up, complete with beautiful white sand. Live entertainment is a regular feature and the service is always friendly and efficient. The menu is unremarkable, but has plenty of tried-and-true favorites, all executed pretty well. Was stunned to find the house wine selections are actually decent and I think them from the bottom of my heart for not stocking gross Barefoot wine, which a lot of the more casual bars do. Could use a few more kinds of beer on tap. BUT - the reason you go to Dockside is that IT'S GOT SUCH a FUN VIBE. It's next to impossible not to feel happy there. #PRICELESS

Great place for a true Virginia coast experience. Relaxing. Fun. Authentic sea food offerings (had to try the oysters!) & full bar. I loved the way they pastel-painted boardwalks and picnic tables to match and created seating areas with retired sea vessels. They also have a grouping of inviting hammock chairs for "adult swingers only." Very memorable.

Thursday evening, 6/20/24, easy parking. As a party of 10 we were pleased with the service. Everyone here is always so friendly when we come. Hubby enjoyed his steak, but OMG those French fries that came with his steak topped with crab & sauce were to die for. Several of us shared them at the table. My burger was perfectly cooked. Grandson's Steak Sandwich was enjoyed. Cousin enjoyed his Fish & Chips, and I can't remember what everyone else got. We never felt rushed at this family gathering, and the littles took to the beach and played & had fun. We love the beach area, so quaint, and you can see they have put a lot of hard work into it. Great memories were made here. - Thanks

Service and food were horrible. Crab cake was tasteless, scallops were mushy, and oysters were bland. They were also out of tacos, mozzarella, and limes! So not waste your time or money here.

I have been to this restaurant twice, and the first time was an overall positive experience. Today, we were seated at 11:42 and were told that we could not order food until 12:00 because they were switching from brunch to lunch. At 12:00 we were told we had to wait to order until 12:15. At this point, we paid our tab for drinks and left. Being expected to wait 30+ minutes to just order is unreasonable, especially with a hungry child waiting to eat. I only give it three stars because of the first experience, but I will not be returning after today.

Great vibe and great times. The cheesesteak was nice and service...top notch. Went out of their way to deliver great service

This place is a lot of fun for casual outdoor eating and drinking. My margarita was very good as we sat at picnic tables watching the sunset over the water meeting other travelers who also had a black Lab with them. Dog friendly outdoor casual dining was perfect for us. It's pretty much order and serve yourself. The menu is a variety of fried seafood nothing quite gourmet category. You're there for the relaxing casual atmosphere and dog and kid friendly scene. It's a happy place!

I came here for drinks and didn't try the food so my review is based on the drinks and atmosphere. I'm a beer drinker and they have a pretty basic selection which was disappointing. Throwing in some blue moon would have been appreciated or anything beyond the basic budwiser category. The setup is cool. They had live music which was good. There are a lot of locals drunk and running around. I'd come back, but because I don't like their beer, only for a drink or two. It's a fun local dive bar.

Food was good but the mixed drinks were $10.50. Mostly Ice and not really a mixed a drink - poured from a bottle. Outrageous! Never again! Good luck people! Glad you have a lot of money to waste. The owner should be ashamed!!!

Very nice atmosphere. There was a live band playing. We sat outside. Not sure if service is different inside. You order at the bar and then they buzz you. They were out of a bunch of items. So we settled for the shrimp po boy Not the best I've ever had but it was good and I'd eat here again

Amazing place to boat to and dine. We snacked on baskets of oysters, scallops, soft shell crabs, and shrimp!

Went for happy hour and stayed for dinner and the sunset. The staff was very nice and the bartenders were fun. The mini buckets of drinks hit the spot. The food was good- I had the fried shrimp basket and it was nice that they weren't heavily coated in batter. The hush puppies were also yummy. There was live music and the atmosphere was fun!

Nice cold drinks. On the water. Sand. Lots of seating. Live music. So far, so good. Foods a little pricey and just okay. Got the three tuna tacos which comes out to just over $6 each. Of the three, two had burnt sections of the flour tortilla giving a disagreeable acrid taste. They were a bit bland otherwise. Spouse got shrimp tacos and liked them much. Everyone seems very friendly. One of the bartenders just humorously requested a bar fight start. Pretty nice place to spend a sunny afternoon. Update: I read a review of someone else's tuna taco. Evidently the green sauce is supposed to be wasabi. Wouldn't have guessed that, thought it was a creamy verde.

Great food , fun environment, great entertainment On the water What's not to like

Everything you'd expect from a sleepy beach town eatery and more! From the moment you walk in the place, you get that neighborhood cozy beachy feeling. To the left is the main dining room, to the right is the intimate pub, and thru the back is the porch dining which leads out to the tiki bar. Lovely waterfront view of sand and surf to enjoy your surf & turf. My hubby had the fish tacos and raved about them! My friend ordered the crabmeat & scallops in white wine combo and she was in seafood heaven! I had the burger and it was hefty and juicy! The loaded baked potato that I substituted for fries was fluffy and delicious! Our server had a charming English accent and was so personable and sweet. She was accommodating and efficient. She let us know about the live Music they have and told us to check out the line up on their Facebook page! Will do! I'd like to see tidier restrooms, but other than that, this place is sure to give you some great food and wonderful memories! Get ready to party! (But no throwing your pork chops... uuummmkay!)

New to colonial so this was definitely a good find for us! Looking forward to this boating season to ride by and listen to the bands. Love this spot!

We had a great lunch on a rainy Sunday in January. It's winter outside, but the vibe inside was warm and fun! We had a terrific lunch and great service!! There was a cream of crab soup special, and the old bay boiled shrimp was fantastic!! My landlover husband had a great steak sandwich. He was especially happy with the French fries! Skinny and hot! Delish! We were so happy to stumble on this great small town spot! Looking forward to returning in warmer weather!

Service was super slow. Portions are very small. I ordered the shrimp basket and it had 7 small shrimp with fries that were just ok. No hush puppies at all. Expected a lot more for what we paid. We won't be back.

Came to this restaurant for a nice dinner with my boyfriend, had a hard time trying to figure out where to go in since we aren't locals. Was seated once finding our way in but I walked away for 10 minutes to use the restroom and they left my boyfriend sitting in the corner and NEVER ONCE came to ask him his drink order until I came back.... BECAUSE HE IS BLACK they wouldn't serve him until they seen a white lady with him.... AND THATS BULLSHIT. Needless to say he ordered a beer and we left. They seemed to be racist in my eyes!

Went there this weekend. It was a beautiful day and the view outside is amazing. As far as the food - we had wings for an appetizer and the were very good. A bit expensive but glad we got them. We had a cheeseburger - with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. They charge 50 cents for pickles. A bit ridiculous but your stuck if you like pickles on your burger. Burger was just ok.

Great view and location . Scallops are always delicious and fries are on point. The rest is literally hit or miss. Sometimes the wait staff is great other nights can't be bothered. We come for the view and the Scallops.During the summer season be prepared to wait because they are always packed and hopping. Would recommend this spot.

This pet friendly/kid friendly place is a great spot for food, drinks, and hanging out with friends. Several seating options are available inside and outside. Dockside does adjust for the weather and has covered seating as well. The food options are delicious and you can't go wrong with anything seafood. Take the golf cart or car!

Great food and service!! I love the tiki bar and outdoor atmosphere by the water! Also, there was a band playing one time I went!

This place has a great location hence it's quite popular. The outdoor seating area is big and good to see the sunset. However, the food and drink were just average except the jambalaya was quite nice. Lastly, they had live music and the quality was not enjoyable.

Drinks are premade in jugs. I never thought I would meet a hush puppy that I didn't like but I did today. Bland. The music was too loud and terrible. I would never go back. If want your children to be around drunk people. This might be the place for you.

My family and I came for dinner and we were not disappointed! My daughters ordered from the kids menu and one said the burger was great, the other felt that the grilled cheese was amazing! It was nice to see a restaurant put care into kids food. My husband and I split the Oysters Rockefeller which were delicious as well as the shrimp po'boy. The bread was really good and there were lots of shrimp. Overall dinner was delightful. The ambiance of Dockside is outdoor tiki village. It gave the girls a safe place to play and the parents a safe place to relax. Overall, we'll be back!