Dog Watch Cafe in Stonington - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Dinner on the deck overlooking the river was great. Really good service and friendly people. Totally relaxed atmosphere.

Great food and outdoor dining views.

We arrived without a reservation so we were quoted an hour wait. Not a problem, we were glad to wait! However, we got texted for our table and walked up to the host stand to be asked if we were a party of 2 ( we were a party of 4 and I could see on the link that the text message took me to and it also said left waitlist so this was a mistake on the host) we waiting another 5 minutes and we were sat thankfully. Once seated, we weren’t even greeted for nearly 15 minutes and once we were greeted, it was not the most welcoming experience. After waiting an hour, youd think we’d at least be greeted and treated with kindness and not made to wait any longer or made to feel like we were an inconvenience to her. The servers demeanor was just off, and you could hear her speaking a lot kinder to the tables around us so I’m not sure what the weird attitude was for. I couldn’t even tell you her name because clearly that wasn’t an important thing to tell your table. I ended up getting fish tacos, and they were okay at best. They were small pieces of fish, with a massive amount of coleslaw, and what seemed to be Mayo and not the spicy chipotle sauce that was advertised. At this point, I wasn’t even going to send anything back because I was starving. I also got a French onion soup that looked like the cheese melted around the bowl and there was maybe a dollop of cheese in the actual soup. We then asked for the bill because it was nearly impossible to get her to come to our table which followed up with her question of “ why would you want the bill if your still eating?” There was one person who had food in front of them and was waiting for a box. Not sure why it was even a necessary question, what if we had to be somewhere ? Just all around weird experience and felt like we were unwanted. I work in this industry and I was just utterly disappointed with this whole experience if I’m being completely honest. I’ve heard great things about this place, and I really don’t know if I’d come back.

Nice place on the water, friendly barkeep. Good food, tasty drinks.

I loved this place from the service to the food!

The food is always good. Love the way they cook the steamers in garlic. I enjoy bringing my dog out on the deck to sit with me during a meal.

Good food, lots of choices. Great views and great service.

The Lavender Lemonade cocktail was delicious. Service was great. Loved sitting out back by the marina.

Good food, friendly staff in a great location.

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!

Went for lunch. The food was good. Sitting on the deck by the boats and water made for a good atmosphere.

Perfect summer lunch on the dock! Four people for lunch. Had the Codwich sandwich, lobster roll, fish tacos and a special of the day a salad with peaches&blackened scallops. All four entries were perfect! Beers and Hibiscus spritzer were wonderful! Excellent service from Becky. One note of caution: when making reservations be sure you are reserving at your intended location! There are 2 locations: one in Mystic (no water view), and the Stonington location. I mistakenly reserved Mystic. Thankfully they called me and changed locations for me! ❤️❤️

Our waitress was awesome didn’t get her name but she hustled, food was yummy and drinks were quite tasty!

Tiffany was terrific! I have food sensitivities and she took very good care of me. 👍✨ The room was bit too loud, though.

The pizza salad was very good. The rest of us ordered the lobster roll which was also very good. Highly recommend.

Came here for drinks after arriving in Stonington for a long weekend. We didn’t get food but the cocktails were unique and strong and the prices were reasonable for the area and the atmosphere. We sat on the dock in the back and got to enjoy the beautiful view of the harbor. The service was good, we ordered on an app for that particular seating area and the servers were quick with delivering the drinks. Other areas of the restaurant are full service.

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.

The staff was super nice, as well as the food n drinks were pretty good taste/price wise. It's best if you try to get a seat outside around the back where you can see all the boats.

Rude! After 1 hour on the back deck our waitress told us we had to leave because they had a reservation waiting for our table. We were eating and drinking plenty per usual. We paid and moved to a high top in the bar area. Over the next 1.5 hrs there were at least 10 empty tables on the deck. Our table remained empty for at least an hour. LIARS! I’ll never go back. So rude and uncalled for. DON’T RECOMMEND.

They are consistently good. Are they getting a James Beard Award? No. Are we always happy with our meal and service? Yes. They make a wonderful New England clam chowder. Dogs are welcome at outdoor seating. We have been visiting the area for 4 years, always eat here, and have never been let down.

This is a perfect spot on the water. We sat outback by the docks, and the view and the atmosphere could not have been more lovely. We had the strawberry salad which was inventive and absolutely delicious. Clams Casino and clam chowder were also very good. My one complaint is that the seafood in our entrées was very overcooked. Scallops and shrimp can be ruined by a cooking. The polenta that the shrimp was served with it was absolutely amazing. Same goes for the risotto that the scallops were served with. I really wanted to give it five stars, but a seafood restaurant on the water can do better in cooking their shellfish. That said, this place is really worth a try and there are other dishes that I would like to go back for It has such great potential.

Wfe had a Lobster roll, Loved it! I had Steamers loved them!

No place stays the same, but they made a big mistake with the outside bar. No atmosphere Ai failure.

First of all we were seated right on the water outside. We had the puppy with us. Right away someone brought us water and offered water for the puppy. The waitress that was going to be waiting on us Rose, breezed by telling us she'd be right with us. She was true to her word and arrived at the table and took her drink orders. We asked her for suggestions and she went through a few of the menu and we both decided on the scallops. I opted for salad and coleslaw as my sides. You are given several options. My companion opted for fresh fruit and vegetables. Everything was delicious. The service was great. Rose apparently has been a waitress for over 50 years and she was tremendous. Highly recommend this place.

Beautiful peaceful and delicious lunch.

A real great restaurant with great food. We ate at the bar and the staff was excellent. The bartender was very nice also. The people sitting at the bar were nice too. The only minor issue was when we were seated the hostess said we were fully committed when we saw many tables empty. Never really understand why people do that but luckily the bar was available. The lobster roll was phenomenal and the pizza was excellent too. I would definitely recommend!

Nice boat yard views, decent food, weird rules on buying drinks.

Delicious seafood, friendly staff, terrific service and superior water views. If you stop in try their New England Clam Chowder you’ll thank me later.

Great food, drinks and view. Service was friendly and prompt. I got the wrong drink by mistake and she fixed it right away without issue.

After being on the road for 6 weeks, eating at innumberable restaurants, at last a terrific restaurant, with fair prices, great food, great service, great outdoor ambience. It was so good we returned the following night - a first for us. The experience was just as good if not perhaps better. I have no quibbles.

Great outdoor area. Lively atmosphere. The scallops were fresh and delicious. Friendly staff.

One of our two top favorite restaurants in CT. Right on the water. Delicious, fresh seafood. Fantastic drinks. Good variety. Fast, efficient staff. Easy to make reservations. Friendly locals. Go there now!

Bartender Lisa was awesome!🙆🏼‍♀️ Love this place, delicious 🍤food and 🍸cocktails, nice people, beautiful place & they are dog🐕 friendly what more can one ask for🤷🏼‍♀️

Such a great place! Food, service and atmosphere was outstanding. Lately, for us it has been hard to find a decent place to eat out and this place delivers. Not only was the food amazing, the staff is very friendly and the view is so peaceful and relaxing . We will be back!

Great atmosphere; great food; phenomenal service

Great service. Food is above average.

Good food, good service, great views.

Great outdoor seating and lawn games. Food was delicious and the staff were very friendly!!

We love having lunch on the deck.

The location, service and quality of the food was all excellent. We both had the North Stonington scallops cooked differently and they were delicious. Clam chowder was one of the best I've had. Nice view overlooking the little marina. Only thing I didn't care for was having to order drinks off the QR scan code & also check out. Should all be part of the "restraunt experience"

Great place by the water. Great food n service. Been there many times from Ma.

A great place for a great “New England” dinner. Good service, good food, great location, wonderful atmosphere and just a great time.

They have changed their bar (dock ordering ) to a QR CODE it STINKS! You can’t pay cash, no instructions. It changed my entire experience. We waited 25 min for a drink. Go back to the old way. Ridiculous

Excellent lunch. Friendly service and staff. Our food was delicious and prepared quickly.

Really good food and great location! I tried a lot off of the menu and everything was delicious! They even gave us a complimentary dessert for my birthday! 10/10 would go back

Great everything,just need more help

Best meal, service and experience of our vacation.

Very busy Tuesday lunchtime. We ate outside very pleasant under umbrellas and with a view of the docks. Good choice of drinks the draft IPA was v good. The lobster roll was excellent and the fries crispy and hot.

Just popped in for coffee before noon. Service was very friendly.

We had the best friendly service and excellent food!!!! I love this place ❤️ They made this a great experience for my younger daughter!

Been multiple times and always enjoyed. Tables right on the water, good food and drink. This place loves dogs and supports causes for dogs. As a dog lover myself that's just another plus for me

Food was amazing and was fairly priced. Cherry on top was the strong drinks. My dog was very comfortable reference picture

Good place for a nice lunch. The menu is varied but pretty standard. Clam chowder was above average, as were the cod fish sandwiches. Onion rings were amazing. It's over and under bridges, etc. and on the water, but always crowded so try to make a reservation.

So happy we found Dog Watch for lunch. We ate outside on the deck in the sunshine with a great view of the water. Service was friendly and fast. We had the chowder and fish/chips. Both excellent! Don't miss it. Worth the drive from Mystic. Park across the street in the large lot. From there you can walk about a mile to the point and see the beautiful historic homes of Stonington along the way.

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!

my husband and i loved this restaurant! right next to the water with plenty of menu options. highly reccomend.

Whoo that good was good! Glad I ate during my vacation!

The Dog Watch Cafe was everything we needed it to be after a rainy 5 hour drive. The food was delicious (chowder, fish sandwich, fish and chips), and the service warm and welcoming (Thanks, Rose). It had the feel of a local hangout. I would highly recommend it, and hope to return the next time I'm in Stonington.

Food is solid, but great atmosphere.

Fantastic place!! Food was great and what a view!!

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.

Wonderful lunch. Food, staff, and atmosphere 5-stars!

My husband and I recently just got married and chose the Dog Watch as our place to dine with our family after the ceremony. The whole staff treated us so kindly and were intent on making sure we had an excellent dining experience on our special day! The food was incredible, and the view of the ocean was spectacular. Having our wedding party here made our wedding day perfect, I'm so glad we chose them!

Oooops so sorry, I reviewed the wrong place.

Beautiful place to unwind and enjoy your meal,

Consistently great seafood with a stunning view

Love the coziness and friendly staff. Nachos were soso really all cheese on six chip rest all naked and pricey.

Meal was delicious. Scenery was beautiful even though it's winter. And service was wonderful. Place was crowded but that didn't seem to take any toll on wait or food time as both were fast!

We can’t go often because we are from out of town but the first thing my wife and I do everytime we go to stonington is head to the dog watch cafe. We’ve never had a bad experience. We absolutely love this place!!

Love this place. Beautiful waterfront views. Huge wine list. It's definitely a good "locals" neighborhood restaurant w/ great seafood.

Awesome ambiance and food was amazing

Loved Dog Watch. Great food and service.

love the outside table spot Onion soup was top notch

We have been to both restaurants numerous times. This was a special occasion and turned out beautiful. All of our entrees were five stars and our wait person Sydney was terrific. Whether the seafood risotto, bouillabaisse, seared tuna all were first rate.

First time there on the recommendation of a couple we met at the lobster pot Christmas Tree. Great place with tasty food at reasonable prices. Our server (Teresa?) was wonderful. Food is missing one star because the creme brulee crust was hardly there, a couple small spots of crust were all there was. The atmosphere is only four stars because it's noisy. Overall rating is still five twinklies!

Beautiful scenic Cafe. Sadly, I didn't like my food at all (fish tacos) and was not asked if I liked it or not (so obviously no exchanges or refunds). Overall a good experience though.

Wonderful view, delicious seafood and the staff was great 👍! You must visit.

Me and my kids always enjoyed this restaurant. Service was excellent, food exquisite, and the views over the water and sunsets,awesome. Loved going here when we lived in Groton,CT.

We went to see the Lobster Trap Tree and lucked out with this restaurant. Rose was a great waitress - good service, good sense of humor and very helpful. Would definitely go again. All of us enjoyed the food and drink.

Wonderful dinner at a window table looking out on the water! Big festive crowd - be sure to make a reservation! A pre dinner Stonington Spritz and the Stonington scallops with truffle risotto made for a perfect dinner! Be sure to get a shirt and support the doggos!

Always the best! Food is phenomenal and the service is even better! A must visit!

Cozy atmosphere with great food and drink options. Super nice staff.

Always an awesome time and the best scallops

We loved this place; it is one of the coziest, most comfortable places we’ve eaten. We just relaxed immediately upon walking in the door. Awe are vegan, and Al though there are no vegan options offered, the friendly and helpful staff person “veganized” a pizza for us (left off the cheese and checked to make sure no dairy in the sauce), and we were very glad we ate here.

I loved it here the food was fantastic.

We had a lovely lunch on their dock because we had our 2 labs with us. The weather was nice for a November day and even better because each table has a heater which made it perfect. Great service, delicious food and nice atmosphere. We will definitely be back!

Really great place with incredibly delicious food and super friendly and skilled staff. Awesome spot.

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!

Came for my mother in law birthday on Halloween. Just a beautiful site when you walk up, outside fireplaces going and just a site at night. Very inviting. You come into a heated seating area, then you come into regular building. Clothing out front with their logo on it. Sat down and looked at specials. We ordered drinks and then food. Waitress was accommodating, and the food was good. Looks like the view during the day from our table would be picturesque. It was very rustic, and everyone was dressed up. Would recommend this pl.

Dog Watch was our favorite restaurant stop on our recent 2-week road trip. The location is perfect! The service was excellent, from the hostess to the server. Our server was friendly and eager to help us make the right selection and kept the refills coming. The food was amazing...cod and fish tacos. Couldn't recommend this establishment more highly!!

Love this place, hiden waterfront

We had a great time and food and service were very good! We stopped here by chance while traveling. We were looking for a park but the park across the street is very tiny. So we walked over to the cafe. It was fun for our kids because they got to look at the boats. The staff was accommodating when we asked for outdoor seating even though it was a cool October evening. They had outdoor heaters for each table which was really nice. In front of the restaurant was seating with fire pits which my son loved. Also, the food was very good. We got the chopped pasta salad and French onion soup.

Our favorite place! Food is great! Very friendly!! Location is beautiful!! Best scallops around!!

A wonderful hidden gem. Cute space with outdoor seating and delicious food.

OMG! We are late to this party! We discovered what a lot of people already know, this is the best restaurant in Stonington!

Apparently, on a Tuesday morning at opening, you need a reservation. Who knew?!?! We wanted to sit outside, as it was a nice day, but we’re told it would be a 3 hour minimum wait. So we sat inside. I do not recommend sitting inside, even at opening because there were at least a dozen flies in each window. They must have been in there from the day before because there’s no way that many flies could have come inside when they’d only been open for 15 minutes. The clam chowder was delicious. The fish and chips were good. My fries were cold, but the fish was hot, so I ate the fish. My husband had the stuffed flounder. The stuffing was flavorless and mushy. The fish was good and perfectly flaky. Service was great. If we go back, I will get a reservation to outside and only order clam chowder and a salad.

Fun spot with great food! Book a seat with John at the bar and enjoy a collegial meal with your new friends

Good food, pretty location and nice views.

This is the place to eat and drink in Stonington. A smaller pub like atmosphere and bar. We were only able to get a table at 19:45 (short notice) but the place was packed. The staff was very welcoming and our table was ready just about on time. We had the Winter Hill oysters that were okay, cocktail sauce could have a bit more kick. The fried scallops were delicious as were the broiled scallops. Try the ice cream chocolate pie for desert, no regrets!!! Shout out to Rose! She was most attentive and friendly! Keep in mind, it was very busy but she was great to all of her tables around us. She made us feel like we were regulars even though we literally just drove into town. That is something that you cannot buy. Hint: make reservations!

Be aware. We had reservations for a party of six and upon arrival was told that we had mistakenly made reservations at their other location. This is a flat-out lie and a ploy to send customers to their other location.