Dockside Restaurant
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Dockside Restaurant

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A casual marina spot on the water's edge with an eclectic seafood-heavy menu and full bar. Famous for its views and boat docking.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Dockside Restaurant

Dockside Restaurant

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A casual marina spot on the water's edge with an eclectic seafood-heavy menu and full bar. Famous for its views and boat docking.

"This Wrightsville Beach tradition offers stunning views and a relaxed atmosphere for enjoying fresh seafood."

TIP

Dock Your Boat

Take advantage of available pull-up dock spots for a convenient arrival.

Popular Dish Choices

Try well-loved options like shrimp and grits or crab cakes for a flavorful experience.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 11:30AM

Cuisine

Seafood

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(910) 256-2752

Address

1308 Airlie Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Waterfront Dining with Marina Views

Waterfront Dining with Marina Views

Enjoy stunning harbor views and a unique boat-docking experience right by the water's edge.

Wrightsville Beach’s Top Eight Instagram-Worthy SpotsWilmington Waterfront Restaurants
Signature Seafood Dishes

Signature Seafood Dishes

Savor delicious crab cakes, shrimp and grits, and fresh catch specials in a vibrant atmosphere.

Wrightsville Beach’s Top Eight Instagram-Worthy SpotsGoogle Review
Boat-Friendly Destination

Boat-Friendly Destination

Dock your boat and step right into this lively marina restaurant for a seamless dining experience.

Top 10 Local Waterfront Dining Hotspots in Wilmington, NC
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

📍Dockside Wilmington, NC | Recommendation: Southern Seafood Alfredo #fyp #dinner #foodie #seafood #yacht #eastcoast
@miranda.alexiss
202 likes • 16.3K views

Dock Your Boat

Take advantage of available pull-up dock spots for a convenient arrival.

Popular Dish Choices

Try well-loved options like shrimp and grits or crab cakes for a flavorful experience.

Dockside at Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington NC. Have you been?
@bradsmithcoach
30 likes • 711 views
@Gryfitti at Dockside #sundayfunday #brunch #happywife #vibes #fyp #gryfitti
@him7483
12 likes • 2.1K views

Embrace the Atmosphere

Enjoy the laid-back vibe and outdoor seating, especially on nice days.

Consider the Price

Prices may be higher than expected; reviewing the menu beforehand is advised.

Tips

from all over the internet

Dock Your Boat

Take advantage of available pull-up dock spots for a convenient arrival.

Popular Dish Choices

Try well-loved options like shrimp and grits or crab cakes for a flavorful experience.

Embrace the Atmosphere

Enjoy the laid-back vibe and outdoor seating, especially on nice days.

Consider the Price

Prices may be higher than expected; reviewing the menu beforehand is advised.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Dockside Restaurant offers a popular waterfront dining experience with stunning views and the unique convenience of boat docking. While many praise the delicious seafood, friendly service, and vibrant atmosphere, some reviews mention declining food quality over the years and issues with slow service or drink preparation. However, for special occasions or a casual meal by the water, it remains a go-to spot for many.

"My husband ordered fried flounder and I ordered the crab cakes so we shared. The food was absolutely delicious. The staff were hustling around, taking care of everyone the whole time. Very clean and friendly atmosphere after a morning playing at the beach!"

Nicole L

"We have been coming to this restaurant for 10 years now and over the years we have noticed a decline in the food quality. A time or two ago, we swore that we would never come back but we always get sucked back in because it's on the water and after a few hours of kayaking we are usually hungry and just want a cold beer and some shrimp. The peel and eat shrimp use to be good but lately they have been just ok. The beer is no longer served in bottles but now is in cans only. They use to have beer on tap but no longer have that either.
Today we stopped in after kayaking, knowing that it was going to be hit or miss. Well today was the final straw. We were seated immediately and then waited about 20 minutes before somebody came to take our drink order. It was a female waitress who did not introduce herself and we asked about the beer hoping that maybe something had changed, but no. We don't like beer in cans, so my friend ordered a coke and I ordered a cocktail, a Spicy Paloma which I have had before at other restaurants. We waited another 20 minutes for our drinks to come and mine seemed like it had been sitting a while because the ice was mostly melted and the drink was very watered down. My friends coke was watered down also. We should have sent them back and left at that point. Once I found a straw and stirred my drink it was a little better. However a Paloma is usually a little fizzy and this was not. It was just not good. The Tajin was all over the outside of the plastic "glass" instead of on the rim.
We finally placed our food order and waited another 20 minutes until our food came. We both ordered the fiesta bowl. Mine was with chicken and my friends was with shrimp. We had never had this before and will never again. The shrimp were tiny and looked like they had been frozen. My bowl with the chicken was a little better. The bowls were mostly rice and it was very dry. Of course when we realized this our missing in action waitress was nowhere to be seen. We asked another male waiter for ranch dressing and he went and got her. So we asked her for ranch dressing and she brought us 2. This made the bowls a little bit better but just ok.
The other food item that we ordered was the homemade potato chips which are always good. When the waitress brought our ranch dressing we went ahead and requested the check because by now we had been there over an hour. Of course she brought the check immediately. I put my credit card with the check to let her know that she could take the check but she never came back. When we waited as long as we were willing to wait, we got up and went to the hostess station like we had seen the couple at the table next to us do. The hostess asked who our waitress was and we told her that we had no idea as she had not introduced herself. The hostess then asked us what she looked like - at this point we were really annoyed and showed her which table we were seated at. She went off to find our waitress and left us standing there waiting. Our waitress finally appeared and took our payment and we left. We were there for 1 hour and 20 minutes....for lunch, not by our choosing. As we walked out we once again said.. ..never again. I'm not sure who is managing the staff but they should be fired. It appears that there is very little training or accountability."

Dawn Dykstra

"Beautiful Seafood Rehearsal Dinner at Dockside!

We would 10/10 recommend Dockside as a rehearsal dinner venue. The gorgeous, laid back atmosphere is just what we needed the night before our wedding! The intimate upstairs room overlooking the water was perfect for the family and bridal party to kick off wedding weekend!

Food was delicious, drinks were fabulous. Staff were amazing! Kris and Corey helped us throughout planning and were exceptional to work with. I have no complaints at all! What a special night. Thank you, Dockside!"

Anna Scarlett

What People Like

Stunning waterfront and marina views
Convenient boat docking
Friendly and attentive service

What People Dislike

Inconsistent food quality
Slow service at times
Limited beer selection (cans only)

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Dockside Restaurant offers convenient pull-up dock spots, allowing you to dock your boat and dine.

Top 10 Local Waterfront Dining Hotspots in Wilmington, NC

Based on reviews, popular choices include crab cakes, shrimp and grits, and the salmon BLT.

Google Review

Yes, the restaurant is noted to be dog-friendly, making it a great spot to bring your pet.

Google Review

Yes, the restaurant has ample outdoor seating on its decks, perfect for enjoying the weather and views.

Wilmington Waterfront Restaurants

Dockside offers a relaxed, casual, and friendly atmosphere, characteristic of a marina restaurant.

Wrightsville Beach Restaurants- Wrightsville Beach NC

Currently, Dockside Restaurant serves beer in cans only and does not offer draft options.

Google Review+1

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Visit Dockside Restaurant, a frequent filming location for popular television shows and movies including Nicholas Sparks’ The Choice. A Wrightsville Beach tradition for more than 30 years, Dockside is perfectly perched on the water’s edge, providing stunning views of the marina and Intracoastal Waterway in a unique, inviting atmosphere. Snap an Insta-worthy selfie or capture happy hour views while savoring the best of local seafood like the crab cakes or fresh catch sandwich.

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Since first opening its doors, Dockside has been synonymous with great food and a casual, relaxed, even rustic atmosphere. Perched on the water’s edge of Wrightsville Beach, our flagship location draws on the local region’s natural features- from the island setting to the beach style and coastal Carolina attitude-and blends with them with Dockside’s own unique, friendly and inviting atmosphere.

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If you two are looking for a more casual seafood experience, Dockside Restaurant is the place to go. Located in Wrightsville Beach, right in the marina, this restaurant serves an eclectic, seafood focused menu with a full bar (that is the most important part). In this beach side atmosphere, take a chance to indulge in some fresh seafood and a drink with your significant other.

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Dockside Restaurant 1308 Airlie Road, near Wrightsville Beach, 256-2752. Since chef James Bain took over the kitchen at this Wrightsville Beach institution, you can expect an emphasis on local seafood. The outside seating is perfect in warm weather, and after 5 p.m., the sandwich offerings switch to dishes such as Sneads Ferry seafood succotash and seafood a la Charleston.

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The Dockside Restaurant is open daily for lunch at 11 AM and, with a name like Dockside, the seafood doesn’t have to go very far once it’s caught. The restaurant is literally dockside and has been a Carolina tradition for over 30 years. Located on the water’s edge at Wrightsville Beach, the atmosphere here is relaxed and casual and the food is the freshest.

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Dockside is a local Wrightsville Beach establishment that has been serving up coastal eats and tropical drinks for over 30 years. They are located in the central hub of Wrightsville near Fish House and Bluewater. The ample amount of outdoor seating on their decks provides the perfect atmosphere for grabbing some cold drinks and doing a little boat watching.

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Dockside also allows you to dock your boat and hop off and go eat. It’s Wilmington’s casual marina spot, offering a seafood-heavy menu with a full bar and the freshest local (and regional) ingredients. Fun Fact: Dockside was used to film the famous television show “Dawson’s Creek.” You may recognize Dockside as the restaurant “The Icehouse” in the show.

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For over 30 years, both locals and out-of-towners have flocked to Dockside Restaurant & Bar for its stunning ocean views and delicious food. Located right on the water’s edge of Wrightsville Beach, Dockside offers the perfect escape for its guests. The menu features a number of starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees, and desserts.

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Both Dock Street Oyster Bar and Grill and Dockside will satisfy your oyster jones and then some. Dockside imports them fries and broils them and has a Po-boy sandwich that is off the charts fantastic. Dock Street (we love the downtown version) has a killer raw bar and imports their oysters fresh daily from Louisiana.

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