Dockside Dave's

My husband and I are staying in Clearwater for a few days and kept seeing Dockside Dave’s all over TikTok, with countless people claiming it has the best grouper sandwich in Tampa Bay. We decided to see for ourselves and took a $40 Uber each way from Clearwater. I’m happy to report that it was absolutely worth the trip. The restaurant is located across a very busy street from the beach. We weren’t quite sure how the seating worked when we arrived, so we grabbed a couple of spots at the bar. We got there shortly after opening, and the place filled up surprisingly fast. The open-air atmosphere and Gulf breeze made for a really enjoyable dining experience. We started with a large order of onion rings, and they were fantastic. My husband said they’re some of the best onion rings he’s ever had. The horseradish dipping sauce took them to another level and paired perfectly with them. For the main course, we both ordered the famous grouper sandwich, hot and battered. The piece of fish was enormous—easily one of the largest fish sandwiches either of us has ever seen. The grouper was fresh, perfectly cooked, and packed with flavor. My husband declared it the best fish sandwich he’s ever had, and I honestly can’t argue with him. Our total before tax was right around $68, which felt very reasonable considering the quality and portion sizes. If you’re anywhere near Madeira Beach and love seafood, Dockside Dave’s is absolutely worth a visit. We came because of TikTok hype and left understanding exactly why it’s so highly recommended.

Went to the overflow building with the bar where they have a live band after 10pm. We didn't realize because it was our first time here. Let me say 2 different locals had recommended it, especially for the Grouper sandwich and after a few misses on the food front We came here and it did not disappoint. The bartender and a few regulars gave some amazing suggestions. Even got to chat with one of the owners while we waited. Will be back again for the food and great people. Flavorful, fresh and just down right delicious. Best thing we have ate since we arrived in FL. Portions are huge, we shared to try a variety and had plenty of leftovers.

Excellent service, excellent food! Had the smoked chicken wings here and they were in the top 3 wings I’ve ever had, and I’ve tried a lot of wings. Holy smokes! Coming back again tonight to get some more! The blue sauce was definitely different, not sure if I’ll get that again but the wings don’t need it. Even just dry rubbed they are phenomenal! The fried jumbo onion rings were also amazing!

I’ve been going to Dave’s for 24 years, used to take one of my daughters once a week, I’m extremely happy they reopened. Menu is limited but the burger is still there and amazing. I do prefer the old bbq sauce but the new one is ok. The old pickles were better, but everything else from the chicken tenders to the onion rings were on point. But the young lady named Sam was on point and didn’t fail to provide amazingly fast and friendly service. Even though the place was packed.

So happy to see Dockside Dave’s back after 1.5 years+ of hurricane recovery. As locals who were also impacted, this visit was an easy 5⭐ just to celebrate their return. The new upstairs deck is fantastic—umbrellas were literally being installed while we were there. I joked with my husband that we arrived about an hour too early! And the onion rings? They’re a 5⭐ item on their own and worth the trip. A little constructive feedback, with full recognition they’re just getting back up and running (and why this is still a 5⭐ overall): it would have been nice to have a drink menu on arrival, and I’m hoping the return to serving wine in glass instead of plastic cups is coming. Food-wise, the grouper sandwich and buffalo shrimp were good, not great—the grouper could use a bit more seasoning/blackening, and the shrimp still had shell and legs on from the fryer, which was a bit disappointing. All that said: absolutely go support this local spot. We’re thrilled they’re back, and confident things will only keep improving day by day.