The Docks Restaurant + Raw Bar

January 8, 2026

This place is truly a hidden gem and an absolute must-visit for anyone looking to experience authentic Key West seafood and atmosphere. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this spot is all about quality food, a relaxed vibe, and genuine island charm. The food was exceptional from start to finish. We ordered the Key West pink peel-and-eat shrimp served hot, the seafood chowder, and the wahoo ceviche, and every dish exceeded our expectations. The shrimp were perfectly cooked—fresh, flavorful, and seasoned just right. The seafood chowder was rich, hearty, and packed with fresh seafood, making it both comforting and satisfying. The wahoo ceviche was a standout: incredibly fresh, light, and well-balanced, with bright citrus notes that complemented the fish beautifully without overpowering it. You can truly taste the freshness of the local seafood, and everything was prepared with care and attention to detail. Presentation was another highlight. Each dish arrived looking just as good as it tasted, thoughtfully plated without feeling overly fancy. It struck the perfect balance between casual and refined—exactly what you’d hope for at a waterfront seafood spot in Key West. The setting adds so much to the experience. With both indoor and outdoor seating available, you can choose to relax inside or enjoy the marina views outside. We opted for the outdoor seating, which offered a laid-back, breezy atmosphere that perfectly matched the Key West vibe. Watching the boats come and go while enjoying great food and drinks made the experience even more memorable. The full bar is another plus, making it an excellent place to unwind with a cocktail after a day on the water. Speaking of which, we stopped in after a charter fishing trip out at the Western Dry Rocks, and it was the perfect place to relax and refuel. While some restaurants in the area offer to cook your fresh catch, this location does not—but honestly, the quality of their menu makes up for it entirely. The restaurant was clean and well maintained, including the restrooms, which is always appreciated. Parking isn’t the easiest, but that’s part of the charm—and maybe best kept quiet so this special spot doesn’t get too crowded. They serve both lunch and dinner, making it a great option no matter what time you’re craving outstanding seafood. Overall, this place delivers on every level: fresh, authentic Key West flavors, a relaxed marina atmosphere, friendly service, and a genuine local feel. If you’re looking for real Key West seafood and vibe, this is the place to go.

December 16, 2025

I really liked everything about this restaurant: food, scenery, vibe. The food was excellent albeit on the pricey side. It’s a little bit inconvenient location to go to IMHO, and there was almost nobody here, definitely the quiet part of town. We were the only people in the restaurant (12pm on Friday) which kind of makes sense cause it’s on the complete opposite side from the busy side of the island. But we had swordfish bites appetizer - They were awesome. They were blackened And extremely tasty. The tartar sauce that they serve with it was like legendary, upscale tartar sauce we actually asked to keep it so we could eat some with our meal. It was so good. And then for entrées, we got the snapper “philly” sandwich and then I got a snapper sandwich which was just happened to be a lunch special of the day. All very excellent food and like I said the tartar sauce that was served on those sandwiches as well as on the side, absolute bomb tartar sauce. Another thing appealing about this place is its location - it’s right on the docks in a marina. So you get to watch fisherman come in and do stuff with their fresh caught fish loading up bins of ice, forklifts running around with big loads of fish. You have people fishing off the dock around the area plus there are massive barracudas and other fish that are swimming below the dock, absolutely enormous fish down there really cool to watch and just sit there right on the Dock to check out the boats and everything else that’s happening in the Marina. If I ever come back to Key West, I would definitely go out of my way to go to this place. It’s nice and quiet and really tasty food. It’s definitely worth the relatively high (typical key west) prices.

January 11, 2026

We love this place and come in several times every time we come down. Friendly familiar staff, fresh seafood cooked to perfection and top tier cocktails from the bar. You cannot go wrong with enjoy dockside or inside with a nice view especially around sunset time.

October 17, 2025

This place was recommended by our hotel. We stopped by here on our first night and... hands down the food was incredible! My husband and I got the figs in a blanket (it was like getting a warm hug... that cheese sauce in the side 😍☺️). My husband got the fish special (it came with a Cauliflower sauce that was divine ✨️), and I got the swordfish which was topped with maple butter 🤤. The fish was fresh and all accompaniments were delicious! Who is the chef? This food was art. Thank you!

January 1, 2026

For the price of food, I expected more of this location. Food was good, but not mind blowing imo. Our waiter was wonderful, but the hostess was awful. She was a little irritated and it showed, impatient to our questions, hurriedly seated us and didn't bother to bring us the high chair we requested, among other things. We ordered... Bottle of white wine was good, small selection but enough choices. "Grilled" Calamari Carpaccio, maybe 6/10. Looked good, definitely no grilling or cooking of any kind noticed on my order so the name might be misleading. Not a fan of their kalamata aioli that's drizzled over it. To me it didn't taste good together. Grouper special was not worth $45+! It came with fingerling potatoes and I also didn't like them together but separately they tasted really good. Fish was cooked perfectly 👌🏽 Fish and chips for my husband and toddler. This tasted delicious and fries were perfect. But again, and again, everything is overpriced and does it really need to be? Probably not.