Dog Watch Cafe

Great place! Wonderful staff, great food, lovely decor. Right on the water. 👨‍🍳

Super special Fourth of July because we had perfect weather, great lobster rolls and a surprise 30+ minute fireworks shows put on by locals across the water and could see various shows in the distance. Perfect place for a great drink food and sunset!

Came here on a super rainy day with our dog and we sat on the covered and heated patio. Our waiter was super friendly and attentive, gave us blankets and our puppy a water bowl. We felt welcomed and well attended to. Food was phenomenal, and it was a peaceful time spent sitting on the porch, eating, and watching/listening to the rain. Had the fish and chips, warm lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, and pasta. Can't recommend this place enough!

amazing amazing amazing!!! always the date night spot when we come home to visit cause nothing beats new england seafood!! the clams casino, oysters, and roasted cod were fantastic! sit outside on the dock, great ambiance! the cocktails were great too! see you for the next special occasion 😁

We didn’t have a reservation. The wait was sitting outside among gorgeous flowers, enjoying fabulous drinks! Our dinners were delicious and perfectly prepared. Service was excellent, as was an our table with views of the water.

Recommendation: LOBSTER BLT ON CIABATTA, STONINGTON SCALLOPS, outdoor table at sunset. . Detailed review: the restaurant is about 70 miles away from my house, it took me an hour to get there. It’s a hot afternoon, the temperature was 87F and humidity is 90%. I got to the restaurant at 7:10pm. We got a table at 7:30 and we were on time for a beautiful sunset. Sitting outside is highly recommended. Our orders were: 🍽 BANG BANG SHRIMP: I wish the Shrimp could be fresher, but the disc was good. (4 ⭐️) 🍽 WATCH HILL OYSTERS: very fresh, delicious, quite small. (4 ⭐️) 🍽 LOBSTER BLT ON CIABATTA: very good, delicious. I also ordered French Fries as a side, very crispy! (5 ⭐️) 🍽 STONINGTON SCALLOPS: my wife really love this disc. I tried 3 pieces and I have to agree with her, it tastes awesome! (5 ⭐️) 🥂SKINNY COLADA: this drink is not strong, sweet, refreshing. (5 ⭐️) 🥂PAINKILLER: really good even though it’s quite strong for me. (5 ⭐️) => So I have 4.5⭐️ for the food. . The view from my table is beautiful and our waitress was very helpful. Her recommendations were very good.

Parking across street large lot. Chairs tables front of restaurant before you walk in. Bathroom to right as you walk in. Hostess to left. Get a seat closer to the bar area. Views are magical. Outside another dozen or more tables and a bar. So no need to worry about space. But as the season kicks in make a reservation. Prices are inexpensive for the shore. Food is excellent. Drinks prices reasonable. Good beer choices and mixed drinks.

Best seafood I've ever had! Raw oysters and steamer clams were outstanding!! I don't think I've had an oyster better. The bouillabaisse main course I had was equally as good. Reservations are a must, and I will definitely be back!

My all time FAVORITE restaurant!! The food, service, environment, and atmosphere of this place makes it worth the 6 hour drive! Their seafood entrees are so tasty and fresh. An absolute must for any person within 50 miles of this amazing (and calming) restaurant!

We came in on a bustling Saturday afternoon around 1pm and were sat promptly. Our waitress was very attentive and water was provided immediately by another team member. We were celebrating so we decided to start with a cocktail. I had the Apple cider Proseco with Aperol topped with an orange slice and a cinnamon sugar rim and it was delicious! I ordered the codfish sandwich and it was light and flaky. My father in law had the same and he loved the French fries which were incredible. We had a beautiful view of the harbor and the light in the restaurant made it feel open and comfortable and the staff were very welcoming. I can’t wait to come back and bring my mom. I highly recommend lunch at the Dog Watch Cafe. What a cool place!

Dog Watch Cafe in Stonington, CT, was recommended to us by friends. We ordered bang bang shrimp starter to share. It was delicious. For mains we had the seared tuna steak with noodles and seaweed salad. The other main dish was blackened swordfish with green vegetables. Both excellent dishes. Very full by the end of the night. The waitress was very friendly. We sat indoors and had a window view of the sea, boats, marina. There’s outdoor seatings and car parking across the road. We pre-booked our table through an app called OpenTable. Definitely looking forward to coming back.

Fantastic. We went early before the dinner rush and sat outside on the rear deck overlooking the marina. Dog and kid friendly. Drinks were delicious, food was great. Calamari had banana peppers and sausage and it was crispy and enough for the table to share. Scallop risotto was creamy and tasty. Mahi fish tacos offered two tacos that were very filling. Will return!

Delicious food, terrific service & pleasant on the deck! The flowers are gorgeous during the season. If you have a wait, the comfy chairs out front under umbrellas are very nice. They even ave fire pits if cooler.

This was the best meal I had while visiting Mystic. It was pretty busy, a 40 minute wait for 2:00 pm on a Saturday. Worth it though. The location on the water is beautiful and the service was great. I had the fish & chips and my friend had the steak sandwich and both were delicious.

Stopped in for lunch with the wife and pup. Service, food, and the overall atmosphere was great. Thanks for the great service and food.

Celebrated Father's Day a day early at the Dog Watch in Stonington, CT. First things first make sure you make reservations, that will save you a lot of time waiting for a open table. Beautiful sunny day sky filled with puffy white clouds seated outside by dock with great view of the water. Started off with dozen clams on the half shell locally sourced clams sweet and delicious, next some PEI mussels, again delicious in a white garlic sauce. Entrees were Stonington scallops grilled with mixed veggies and mashed potatoes, lobster salad roll and a brisket and cheese sandwich. ALL the food was great. So my Father's Day treat was as good as it gets, perfect weather, perfect view, delicious food an most importantly time spent with my Daughter and Son in law.

Food was excellent minus the chicken egg roll things.. gross.. why are they so creamy, yuck! The view itself is worth coming for at least a drink.

REALLY like this waterfront cafe/restaurant *for it's casual and friendly atmosphere, and local, "laid back" vibe. Menu and food are above average, nothing special, but location -with outdoor seating, literally on the docks, is very special!

Great Service, Great Food, Fantastic view and reasonably priced! We had our pup with us and they even brought him a water bowl! Thanks so much! 💙

What a great experience - the food was delicious, the waitress Rose was a delight along with all of the rest of the staff, and the beer and cocktails were great! Especially delicious were the truffle risotto and scallops, and the steamers.

Came out to the area for a little getaway. Great relax bar restaurant. Food was great and service was fantastic. Looks like it would be very popular in the summer. Definitely would come back if we are back in the area. Oh and they also have a cute little gift shop in the front of the restaurant.

I’ve always heard good things about Dog Watch Cafe, and I’m so glad I finally went. This is a charming, waterfront restaurant that is staunchly New England. They have an impressive amount of outdoor seating. Inside they’ve maximized the space so there’s plenty of seating. The staff is all 5 star plus from the hostesses to the server. Ours was a great, young lady named Riann (spelling). She was perfect in every way- attentive, had great suggestions, always smiling. The lavender lemonade is an amazing drink. I appreciate a restaurant like this where the cocktail is a good size. Nachos for an app, burger and scallops were all delicious and again, generous portions. The star of the day was the Limoncello dessert. Wow! It comes in flute glass and it’s the perfect way to end a meal. Definitely look forward to coming back!

Wonderful locations and nice view of the boatyard. Dog friendly so Molly watched people and birds. The oysters were decent for the area. Tuns tartar was delicious. Fish&chips good. Scallops very nice.

Place is cozy and nice, you can sit outdoors with a warm fire by your table. Drinks are nice ,I had a spring Ahead refresher I feel like it’s worth a try Food is real magic here , Grilled oysters 🦪 -> don’t leave without tasting these. They have the best creamy Grilled chicken penne pasta. Nachos could be better. Nice getaway place on a Saturday night

This is such a great little spot! I went for the second time yesterday, and introduced it to another friend. We ate out on the patio, right on the water. It was a little cool out, but there were blankets and a heater at every table. We ordered Dog Watch Nachos which were excellent. My friend ordered Salmon and I had the Stonington Scallops. It was absolutely delicious. For dessert we both got the Salted Caramel Warm Brownie... again, yum! It was such an enjoyable evening with a great sunset. If you're ever in Stonington you definitely need to try this place!

Great place wait staff and bartenders are really nice and the views are perfect. Good place to watch the sunset. We brought the puppy and she loved it as well. We had drinks out back and ate in the front open patio. Really had a nice time. There's also a little shop on the property with merchandise you can purchase and the proceeds go to animals in need. Plus icecream there!

Yes, they do have beautiful flowers planted all around. Food is also really - really good.

The Stonington Burrough location has the atmosphere and small town, local vibe! Steak frittes and charming bartender...Matt? He was busy on a Wednesday, super friendly and on it!

Top notch all around. Nothing beats a great oceanside spot with beautiful outdoor views & music, gorgeous giant pots of flowers. No doubt the patio is beautiful at night. Warm & friendly service. Expansive menu that all sounds wonderful. We enjoyed the seafood casserole & chopped pasta salad + Dog Watch tuna - both amazing! Perfect portion sizes. If we were staying close we’d definitely come back again. If I lived here I’d be a regular for sure!! You should check it out - enjoy!

I’ve been coming here for years—my in-laws used to have a place on the Point—and the views and food are always top-tier. No complaints there. But last summer we showed up with a reservation near opening time and the check-in process was honestly a mess. We checked in with the hostess at the front, were sent “inside,” and then the host team inside acted like we’d wandered in from the street and tried to send us back out again. Zero clarity, zero welcome. It felt like we were being bounced around for no reason. Apparently the terrace has its own entrance and staff… which is great, but maybe tell guests that before they go on the scavenger hunt? It’s not obvious, and it put a weird vibe on what should’ve been a smooth experience. We still had a nice meal (fried clam platter was completely perfect), but the arrival was confusing and unnecessarily awkward. A simple sign or clearer directions would go a long way.

Food was standard but tasted very fresh, and since it's by the water the price is always a bit higher. We came in on a weekend around 2pm and the place was full and only the patio was available which was fine for us. You can buy clothes here such as sweaters and vests with their own branding.

Awesome view of the sunset sitting outside. Perfect time to dine out. The calamari and nachos were delicious to start out. The main dishes were amazing and not what I expected of a brisket grilled cheese. Absolutely delicious! The pasta with flounder was also good. Glad we made reservations to dine outside.

Fun restaurant on the water with nice views and outdoor seating. Have only had appetizers and drinks. The rating is mainly due to location. Great New England feel with water views and rustic decor. Have only sat in the bar area. Drinks were nice. Nachos were okay, lots of chips piled on with cheese on the too layer. Queso was tasty. Would definitely return to try more food or just have a cocktail.

Amazing staff, everyone was very friendly and our waitress was attentive. The food was excellent, special crab and artichoke dip was delicious, key lime pie was very good. The fried cod was fresh and delicious but the breading was a bit heavy. Great atmosphere, inside or out.

Such a cute cafe and very popular! The Stonington scallops mushroom risotto was delicious and the fish and chips received rave reviews as well! I love the dog rescue fundraising campaign as well! So nice to watch the sunset out the window along with the boats on the water. Definitely would go back when in town!

FANTASTIC!!! The place is Fab! With a view that resembles you are ON a sailboat without the rocking. My meals, yes! More than one were phenomenal ... the service OUTSTANDING. Everyone was friendly!! Loved it!! BTW, as side note, I was the only 'tanned skin' person there. Multiculture safe!! Loved It!!!

Great service! Enjoyed The lunch. A little disappointed in the whole belly and fried clams. They were very small clams. I’m used to rather large, plump clams. So it was a little disappointing. Just a little. It was a nice meal.

Location is the one thing the Dog Watch Cafe has going for it. If you want a nice view, book ahead, however go for the views - not so much for the food. On a recent day trip to the Connecticut Coast we decided to drop in to the Dog Watch Cafe for a late lunch. It was a beautiful day and the views from the deck seemed nice, however the outdoor seating was full so we opted for a table inside rather than wait the 90 minutes or so estimated by the host. Sadly, inside we found that the food did not compare with the views. Local seafood options were limited, and the fish and chips special was not very special - a heavy batter obscured the delicate though well cooked fish and the "chips" were processed, frozen, starch sprayed fries. Despite their short comings, they were a cut above the fish tacos on the regular menu. Nothing about this dish worked. Flavorless "Salad Cream" sat on top short sticks of processed cheese. A tiny amount of soft cabbage lay up a strip of grilled Mahi Mahi whose flavor mostly came from the grilled marks and oil. And all this was place in a flavorless cold flour taco. If you are looking for bland food - this is the ticket. And oh yeah, I almost forgot, half way through the dish I discovered five leaves of lettuce had been placed under the metal taco holder. It is unclear if these were supposed to be eaten, or decoration, which really didn't matter because lying flat on the plate the only practical purpose they served was as a buffer to prevent the taco holder from scratching the plate. The one thing that made the experience a tiny bit better was that they did feature a small number of beers from a local craft brewery. In the end I was highly disappointed.

We love Dogwatch Cafe but our last dining experience was disappointing. The service and atmosphere was amazing but the food was bland, greasy and did not resemble photos posted online. We felt the chef didn't feel the love that night and the food reflected it. We will definitely try again because we love it there.

I doubt this review will manage to bring about improvements in the food or poor acoustics at Dogwatch, but as a Boro resident we’ve always been dismayed by our experiences there. There’s a cynicism prevalent at Dogwatch, maybe because it reliably attracts hoards of patrons given its waterfront location. We’ve visited three times in the last 3 months, only to encounter poorly executed mains like burnt-to-a-crisp belly clams, soggy fries, weirdly spiced bouillabaisse, and today’s chewy, stringy reheated lobster salad. We would be remiss not to comment.