A year or two ago, I am not entirely sure when, Adam and I drove over to The Dock for dinner. There are a couple of buildings, a bar area, and I am pretty sure I was pregnant so after a few minutes of staring at it all I said screw it and we went somewhere else for dinner. What a mistake that was!
Wanting to enjoy the beautiful weather and a kid-friendly dinner on the water, we decided to try this place again last week. We packed up the girls, drove on down (it is by the Niantic draw bridge on the Waterford side) and were determined to get some food. It can be a little tricky to find, but there are signs by the traffic light and beyond letting you know which way to go. We went up to the small building that looks like a house and ordered our food, then headed over to the dining area by the water. The pub is also in this area and was pretty busy on a Friday afternoon, but being that we had the kids we didn't go down there.
There is an "inside" dining area (you can find pictures on their website) and a deck, which is where we sat. From here, you can see all the important things that are going to make your meal enjoyable if you have children - the water, the train, the bridge, the ducks/other birds, the parked construction vehicles, the boats and some artificial palm trees with coconuts that are thankfully secured to their planter. You would have though we had brought Cece to Disneyland with this view. Also by the seating area is one of the most important things to me on a Friday afternoon in the summer, the bar. I believe you can also buy raw bar items there as well.
There is a decent selection of beers and they take credit cards. Once your food is ready they call your number out over a loud speaker and you just go back to where you ordered and pick it up.
Honestly, everything was delicious. The portions were pretty large, everything was hot and fresh and high quality. We all completely finished our meals without any whining or figetting, and Mommy and Daddy were able to enjoy 2 whole beers each, which is pretty rare around these parts.
Cecilia really enjoyed herself and was singing and dancing and enjoying the scenery the whole time (my apologies to those who came to eat around us). Every member of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful. We went at around 4 on a Friday and didn't have to wait on any lines, but it seemed to be filling up as we were leaving - someone even stood in our parking spot to get it when we left. Even if you have to wait though, it is totally worth it. There aren't many good dining options in Waterford and The Dock is truly one of the best.
For more information on The Dock, check out their website. We suggest stopping by for dinner or even just a drink! It is a great place to relax and enjoy yourself. I can't wait to go back.
To see this post with pictures, head on over to Cece & Me
