In this location's previous life as a different business, it was merely a walk up fish n chip window with a few seats inside and a handful of tables outside. Things have changed.
Dockside Fish and chips has been in business at this incredible location for over a year now. It's located floating in the Coast Marina, a small marina it shares with a few other businesses and a couple small docks. Right near the ferry terminal that services Quadra Island, Dockside has ample seating outside and quite a few tables inside as well. The newly renovated interior shares space with the compact, efficient kitchen separated by a counter.
I really love the feel of sitting outside, bobbing up and down with the waves. Dockside has table service and is licensed, which makes it a great little secret spot to have a beer from the limited selection that they offer and just enjoy the sea air on a warm day.
The food, however, is mediocre bordering on subpar even. Offering mostly deep fried fare (no complaint there, that is really just to be expected), we ordered fried mozza sticks and popcorn shrimp to start and fish and chips to follow. We both opted for the mix of halibut and cod in a two piece basket. The cheese sticks were from a package, and if you have ever had these bar treats, you know exactly what to expect. The popcorn shrimp, the same, although the portion of shrimp was really generous and was served with house-made cocktail sauce that was really quite good and had ample burn to it.
The fish and chips, the one item that any place like this really should be judged on was... well... disappointing. The fish itself, while tasting fresh enough and not objectionable (especially, not surprisingly the halibut), the batter was thick and soggy-ish. Not overly greasy by fish and chip joint standards, but unremarkable in almost every way. The fries were more of the same story, hand chipped potatoes, deep fried and soggy with little to no seasoning. The fish and chips are traditionally served with coleslaw and tartar sauce. The slaw was fresh and crisp with a decent dressing and seasoned well, the highlight of the plate despite me not generally getting to excited about slaw. The tartar sauce... oh the tartar sauce... this is something I consider myself to be somewhat of a connoisseur of. This particular tartar was completely unpalatable, nothing short of terrible. Thick with the taste of decaying onion it might be the worst tartar sauce that ever was!
The location, staff, and and atmosphere of this neat little secret fish and chip place completely save this review from being on the Vagrant Foodies wall of shame, because it really is that cool of a place. Maybe skip the fish and chips and have a small bite and some beers and enjoy the ocean breeze and relax to the sway of the tide if you ever decide to visit Dockside Fish and Chips.
Cheers and bon appetit
-D
5/10
(a couple points added for the cool locale and staff and cocktail sauce)
The atmosphere at this little fish and chip shack is enticing. If you are looking for a totally unique experience of sitting on a floating deck and watching for the resident seal then this place is one you want to try for sure.
The fully licensed restaurant offers cold beer and cider, fish and chips, burgers, deep fried appies and to finish off Gelato!
This was a perfect setting for a summer dinner. The day was running about 30 degrees Celsius and Chef D and I were ready to indulge in some summer atmosphere.
The food left something to be desired. It was not bad, it just was not really great. I had the special which was one piece of halibut and one piece of Cod with onion rings instead of fries. I had ordered some popcorn shrimp and mozza sticks as an appy and was all set to tuck in for deep fried happiness!
I have to say that the cocktail sauce for the shrimp was really good. I do have a bit of a love for cocktail sauce, but this one was particularly good, nice and tangy on the horseradish.
sadly I do not have much to say for the rest of the meal. Just OK, nothing to really make it stand out from any other fish and chips. The batter was a bit heavy and the fries were sadly under salted.
I will say that the food was not to heavy on the oil and I did not feel like I was covered in it after I was done.
Dockside fish and chips I think is a great place for some easy eats, not over priced and a great view.
Go for the atmosphere not the food.
Cheers and Bon Appetit ( 5/10)
Whiskey G
I really love the feel of sitting outside, bobbing up and down with the waves. Dockside has table service and is licensed, which makes it a great little secret spot to have a beer from the limited selection that they offer and just enjoy the sea air on a warm day.
The food, however, is mediocre bordering on subpar even. Offering mostly deep fried fare (no complaint there, that is really just to be expected), we ordered fried mozza sticks and popcorn shrimp to start and fish and chips to follow. We both opted for the mix of halibut and cod in a two piece basket. The cheese sticks were from a package, and if you have ever had these bar treats, you know exactly what to expect. The popcorn shrimp, the same, although the portion of shrimp was really generous and was served with house-made cocktail sauce that was really quite good and had ample burn to it.
The fish and chips, the one item that any place like this really should be judged on was... well... disappointing. The fish itself, while tasting fresh enough and not objectionable (especially, not surprisingly the halibut), the batter was thick and soggy-ish. Not overly greasy by fish and chip joint standards, but unremarkable in almost every way. The fries were more of the same story, hand chipped potatoes, deep fried and soggy with little to no seasoning. The fish and chips are traditionally served with coleslaw and tartar sauce. The slaw was fresh and crisp with a decent dressing and seasoned well, the highlight of the plate despite me not generally getting to excited about slaw. The tartar sauce... oh the tartar sauce... this is something I consider myself to be somewhat of a connoisseur of. This particular tartar was completely unpalatable, nothing short of terrible. Thick with the taste of decaying onion it might be the worst tartar sauce that ever was!
The location, staff, and and atmosphere of this neat little secret fish and chip place completely save this review from being on the Vagrant Foodies wall of shame, because it really is that cool of a place. Maybe skip the fish and chips and have a small bite and some beers and enjoy the ocean breeze and relax to the sway of the tide if you ever decide to visit Dockside Fish and Chips.
Cheers and bon appetit
-D
5/10
(a couple points added for the cool locale and staff and cocktail sauce)
The atmosphere at this little fish and chip shack is enticing. If you are looking for a totally unique experience of sitting on a floating deck and watching for the resident seal then this place is one you want to try for sure.
The fully licensed restaurant offers cold beer and cider, fish and chips, burgers, deep fried appies and to finish off Gelato!
This was a perfect setting for a summer dinner. The day was running about 30 degrees Celsius and Chef D and I were ready to indulge in some summer atmosphere.
The food left something to be desired. It was not bad, it just was not really great. I had the special which was one piece of halibut and one piece of Cod with onion rings instead of fries. I had ordered some popcorn shrimp and mozza sticks as an appy and was all set to tuck in for deep fried happiness!
I have to say that the cocktail sauce for the shrimp was really good. I do have a bit of a love for cocktail sauce, but this one was particularly good, nice and tangy on the horseradish.
sadly I do not have much to say for the rest of the meal. Just OK, nothing to really make it stand out from any other fish and chips. The batter was a bit heavy and the fries were sadly under salted.
I will say that the food was not to heavy on the oil and I did not feel like I was covered in it after I was done.
Dockside fish and chips I think is a great place for some easy eats, not over priced and a great view.
Go for the atmosphere not the food.
Cheers and Bon Appetit ( 5/10)
Whiskey G
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