The Dock Stillwater

I have gone to the Dock Cafe for decades and was pretty worried after COVID when they remained closed for so long, but I was recently in Stillwater and go to return. As with most places after COVID I worried that the service and food would have changed from what I had always loved so much, but I was happy to find it was still an amazing experience!First of all the ambiance is still wonderful! The large booths near the bar are my Happy Place overlooking the river, listening to them shaking my martini... wonderful!! They also have other dining room areas also overlooking the river as well as a patio open in the warmer monthsThe service in my years of experience has always been amazing: experienced, friendly, professional, thoughtful. The food is timed perfectly, they check back for refills etc. Wonderful!The food....So good! From the starters like our recent Crunchy cauliflower and Crab cakes to their delicious Shrimp Diablo pasta with terrific flavor and HUGE shrimp, to their expertly crafted cocktails it is a beautiful way to start or end your day in Stillwater!

Seated outside on the patio. Weather was perfect. Jordan was our waiter. We ordered two vodka tonics, a bowl of soup each and the bread. We waited 30 minutes for our drinks because I waited for Jordan to come back. It was mid-afternoon and it wasn't that busy. When I reminded him, he said he forgot. The food took even longer Fortunately, the food and drinks were good. Service - no

Lovely table overlooking the St. Croix River for enjoying a leisurely lunch with friends to celebrate a birthday. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. Birthday boy had the Walleye Sandwich; the companions had Chicken Wild Rice soup and the Scallops appetizer. We all shared Calamari and all left happy! Approve.

What a great place to have lunch and enjoy the view. I have to admit the view is what sold us on where to eat but the food ended up being delicious. The service was friendly and very responsive to our needs. Overall great place to enjoy a meal.

I have tried this place twice now and no interest going back.The first time I did take out. When I arrived to pick it up the staff seemed so discombobulated. All I was picking up was a cup of soup. Most recently I wanted the dining experience and had someone in from out of town and figure Stillwater is the best area to show her while in town. We stopped by for a drink and lunch. We were unable to get outside seating but found seat at the bar to overlook the river.We were never brought water, the wait time to even get our drink ordered took awhile, we placed our food orders pretty fast and when the food was delivered it was just placed in front of us. We weren't asked do we need anything else, everything look ok. Nothing.I finally had to stop someone else who stopped behind the bar as I couldn't believe I ordered a Rueben and couldn't spot any sauerkraut. I did not the original bread served with it so I did ask for the non rye bread but where is the sauerkraut. I did stop on Labor Day and felt awful for the young girl trying to manage everything. I don't feel she was in a supportive situation as the place didn't appear to be appropriately staffed for a holiday at meal time.

After alot of not so great reviews on Yelp, we thought we would go and see for ourselves. We were pleasantly surprised. We sat outside on the patio on a very warm humid summer day. It was pleasant! Large trees provided shade for the entire patio, food was great, service was great! Watched boats of all kinds out on the river as we ate. We will be back again!

We've been here a hand full of times while visiting family in Stillwater. If you are looking for a great patio setting with water views, this is about the best choice for outdoor dining in Stillwater. They do not take reservations for the patio but you may put your name in with the hostess and have a drink at the inside bar while waiting. I've never dined inside but it looks nice and you still can have a view of the river.We always have at least 8 people so it is hit and miss depending on the time of day. We waited about 45 minutes at 6:30pm for outside seating. It is a beautiful patio with large trees and nice string lighting over the tables. Very romantic if you were to come on a date. Warning, if you are susceptible to mosquitoes bites like me, wear mosquito repellent. I forgot to apply this time and came home with about 60 large, painful bites. I usually remember, however, paid the price for my forgetfulness. I would like to compliment the staff. From the Hostess to the Bartender to the servers, everyone was very, very nice and all smiles. That was not always the case at this restaurant but the current staff is fantastic. The server was attentive and quick. We ordered several appetizers including calamari, spinach artichoke dip, cauliflower bites. The appetizers are typical bar food. We also had ordered Rueben sandwiches, pasta Alfredo, salmon and some items for the kids. Everything tasted fine. Is it 5 starts good, absolutely not, however our overall experience and setting were great. If you are visiting Stillwater, make sure to stop in at The Dock.

Came for a afternoon snack and drinks on the patio. Pluses: dog friendly! Beautiful and spacious patio with amazing views. Service was a-okDownsides: food. Calamari was fine. The bread appetizer was disappointing. The olive oil served as a "dipping sauce" tastes no different than the Costco olive oil I use for cooking. There were no added herbs or spices. Not even salt or pepper. I was not certain what to do with the grated Parmesan served in an accompanying bowl. The "whipped" butter was not whipped in any way, basically just a solid piece of butter. The bread was actually quite good. This dish can definitely use some upgrading.

If you're in downtown Stillwater and want a riverside view with good food. This is your place to go! The outdoor patio is perfect for dinner; the sun is blocked by the restaurant and allows for a nice shady dining area. The service here was attentive and accommodating. I got a turkey sandwich with blackberry jam and some sweet potato fries. The turkey was well cooked and had a ton of flavor! There was only a hint of the jam, so it was like eating a turkey, cheese and bacon sandwich, but I didn't care because the turkey tasted so good. The sweet potato fries were served with some sort of spicy aioli and it was delicious!!! Definitely recommend. The parking lot is small, so be prepared to park farther away and taking a stroll to get there. Overall, the service, view, and food was a hit and I would go back here again next time I'm in Stillwater :)

The Dock is a wonderful spot, especially if you're looking to enjoy a meal with a beautiful view! We sat on the patio overlooking the St. Croix River, which made for a relaxing and scenic experience with all the boats passing by. The partially shaded patio was perfect for a comfortable, extended stay. Our food came out quickly and was delicious - the burger was good, but the standout was the unique and flavorful turkey sandwich. Overall, a great place to unwind, and we'll definitely be back!