Tognazzini’s Dockside

Excellent food and service (Tonya was the best). Fresh, fresh, fresh fish dishes are delish.
Their fresh fish market is reasonably priced for fresh caught fish — not the fresh frozen garbage you get in stores.

Bbq oysters are a must try! Absolutely delicious! Place was crowded and there was a line but it didn’t take too long before being able to order. Also ordered oysters on the half shell, calamari and clam chowder which all were excellent.

Best clam chowder I’ve ever had! I was in heaven. Definitely a must next time I visit Morro Bay. Service was amazing. Everyone’s so friendly. Everything was just amazing. You have to check this place out!

The service was nice, and the staff were extremely accommodating. Overall, though, the food was relatively okay, but there are better options nearby. We tried a few main courses and an appetizer of steamed clams.
The appetizer was good, but not necessarily worth the 25 minute wait. The fish and chips looked okay, but being 20 feet from the ocean I thought it would be a nicer cut of cod. The seafood pasta had plenty of fresh scallop and cod, but was very light on the shrimp (3 pieces in the whole bowl). The calamari piccata has a good flavor, but it came absolutely covered in tomatoes, green onions, capers and garlic. I like piccatas and am used to it having capers, but have never seen it with what looked like italian pico de gallo. I don’t like tomatoes and they were very friendly about remaking it, but even when it came back with just capers and green onion it was excessive. I had to use a spoon to scoop ¾ of it onto another plate just so I had access to the calamari steaks.
The S’mores dessert was a lot of fun. Basic S’mores with packaged ingredients you unwrap and roast over a sterno flame in a small dish. Tasted as good as you would hope your S’mores to be and let the table feel like kids playing around and making a mess.
Just based on my personal experience you may want to ask what comes on your order to verify since it may come out different than what the menu describes.

The fish and chips I ordered were very good. My fiancé says his burger was just OK. Our waitress was friendly. The ambiance is lacking, but somehow the place still had a comfortable feel about it. The seagulls were entertaining to watch from our seat, as were the fisherman.

This restaurant offers excellent seafood dishes. What I love the most is their oyster chowder. It was so good that we order it twice. Our server was also very nice and polite. They are located near the ocean so you can have a good view while enjoyong your meal. A perfect place for a perfect meal.
My husband and I will always stop by here when we head north.

This must be the place to eat in the bay, as the wait was over an hour on a Monday night after 7 pm. Once we were seated service was good and the atmosphere was comfy and casual. We did love the bbq oyters and indeed portions are generous. Unfortunately the scalloped potatoes were flavorless and had a rock hard top. I debated on taking another star off though because the menu prices and the check did not match, by as much as $ 4 per item. In fact, a week later, I am still irked by that and that my husband did not catch the discrepancy. Otherwise, phenomenal swordfish in garlic butter sauce and the fish and chips were top notch. Call ahead for reservations though to avoid a wait.

Our party of three arrived for lunch at about 11:40 and were seated right away in a nearly empty restaurant. Glasses of water were brought. Our order was taken fairly quickly by a perky waitress. We ordered a cup of clam chowder, a diet coke, a burger with fries, and a tuna melt with fries; a pretty easy order.
We noticed the restaurant was filling up rapidly. Half an hour later, no food had arrived (not even the cup of soup or the diet coke.)
Our waitress had not stopped by the table. Not even once.
We flagged her down and asked where our food was. She said the kitchen had been «slammed» by a huge influx of customers and that our order would be out «soon.» She said she would go check on our order and disappeared into the kitchen.
She did not return. Another waitress came over a few minutes later and apologized for the delay, repeating the same excuse about the sudden deluge of customers.
Meanwhile, plates of food were coming out of the kitchen and being carried past us, to tables that had been seated after we came in. The party at the table next to us, who had ordered after us, were being served their meal. This was the last straw! We got up and left.
I have deduced, although we were not told, that the waitress probably never submitted our order to the kitchen. By the time she realized it, there was indeed a deluge of orders ahead of us, and the chances were slim-​to-​none that we would be served any time «soon.»
We were never informed that there would be a delay. We were never offered so much as a cup of chowder to appease our appetites while waiting. Our waitress avoided us and hid in the kitchen rather than face up to her mistake and try to make things right with her customers.
We are deeply disappointed by this experience of rudeness and disregard for even the basics of good restaurant service. This is not what we expect from a local icon we have been coming to for years.
Never again.

Went here for lunch today. I had the fish and chips with cod fish a beer and wine. Others in the party had popcorn shrimp and the halibut fish and chips. We also had a crab cocktail which was very large and very good. I would eat here again when in the area.

Definitely!!! Fresh seafood with a decent price. The oysters Rockefeller are a heart attack on a plate and the BBQ oysters in butter amazing.

SO and I ate lunch here a few days ago.
First, upon entering, it looked a bit rundown and old. This has been a mainstay place to eat for over 45 years here. Initially walking in, it actually reeked/​smelled of «garbage». Not a very good beginning or 1^st impression. I was surprised it smelled so badly but we ventured forward and ordered anyway.
Waitress/​service was attentive and made some recommendations of what to order (which was nice). SO had the albacore tuna sandwich (which she said was OK) and a salad. I had a cup of clam-​chowder which was very tasty but made overly thick (almost like gravy). I can’t fault the chef because this is how most clam-​chowders’ are, in CA. Clam chowder is supposed to be a soup (texture), not a gravy texture (I’m originally from Boston, MA and home of white clam chowder), so I know what its’ supposed to look and taste like. It was followed by (one) of their house specials «fish & chips». Fish (local cod) was good, fries were «OK». Coleslaw (which you get «free») was excellent. Tartar sauce was very good, too. The ice tea was weak and lacked flavor (even though I could taste a very slight «mango backing» — which was more annoying than tasty).
Service was much better than the food. Our waitress was excellent (we left a 22% tip). Unfortunately, the food was (still) just OK. While it was not a bargain (pricing), it also wasn’t over the top expensive either. My recommendation is to visit the back-​end Tognazzis (nearest the fish market, in the back of this restaraunt — closest to the pier). Prices there are about $ 2-​$ 4, per dish, cheaper than the restaurant but you order (at the fish market counter) and pick it up when ready and seat yourself. This is the only way I would return and eat at this establishment again.
Sadly, it still smelled of garbage when we exited this establishment too. I think if we hadn’t smelled garbage, I might have liked the food a bit better?
Someone made a comment about the mermaid character on the wall (and on the menus). Great art-​work and had no issues with this depiction of a mermaid. It’s the food that I had issues with (and the smell).

Stopped by Dockside’s outdoor wood BBQ today during the harbor fest. Ordered 2 dozen «BBQ» oysters. These aren’t what you might picture when one thinks of BBQ oysters. These are oysters on the half shell, generally 4 – 6 inches long, cooked (today) over an outside, open, wood-​generated BBQ. Generously served with garlic, melted butter & fresh lemon. I must admit. I’m a glutton for these! I ate a dozen & didn’t blink an eye. It is quite a messy undertaking, but well-​worth any accidents that might result from engaging in such messy decadence.

Décor is dated and tacky… and the overly sexualized «mermaid» logo and art on the wall is horrid. I didn’t know mermaids showed their … private areas. Food was okay, but dinner definitely overpriced for the type of place it is. Seems like a typical touristy fish & chips joint that wants to be more but isn’t.
I will give the wait staff credit for being exceptionally friendly. I DO feel sorry for them since they have to wear the tacky mermaid logo on their shirts.

Subtracting one star because of the wall of flies that is always there as you exit the shop and the deadly seagulls that will literally camp out next to you and glare at you while you eat while daring you to drop some delicious morsels.
The seafood here is so and honest to god FRESH. There was a billboard outside that actually listed name of the captains that had brought in today’s catch. I was able to sample oysters, halibut, and multiple other fish that I can’t remember. Everything was cooked well and served fast. The clam chowder was so good we ordered out (3) extra containers on ice to bring back to Los Angeles!
Definitely a recommend for those who like fresh seafood! I would come back for sure!

So yummy!!! My husband and I went for a date night while visiting Morro Bay over Labor Day Weekend!
Got to dinner on a Friday night around 6ish, no wait! Seated right away. Started with Cup of clam chowder, so thick and creamy! Then had fried calamari appetizer it was the bomb, so crisp and spiced just right! My husband had shrimp scampi, it was prob the best scampi I’ve ever had, the white wine stood out in the sauce and it was very good! I had. Halibut taco, it was ok. Not the best but everything else was very good!!!
Server was friendly and nice!

Honestly, food was a whatever experience. Like someone before me said, prices are more expensive than they should be for food that’s really mediocre.
I tried the salmon bisque, calamari appetizer, and seafood pasta. The bisque was pretty good and the calamari was okay as well. But my pasta was crappy for $ ²²⁄₂₃. My fiancé had the chicken pasta and was expecting it to be a bigger portion. It was really small and he said it sucked. Lastly, our friend had a burger and he liked it– but really, who can screw up a burger?
Service was good but not great due to it being so busy. And the restaurant itself is really stuffy and crowded with not a lot of ventilation.
So much hype for a restaurant that was really so-​so.

This place was Ok. It is a 3 star restaurant that charges 4 star prices.
The chef if difficult. Wanted to charge me extra for more sauce for my fish and there was a battle that ensued over it between the chef and manager that took so long that my fish grew cold. :-(. The Manager was really nice about it and didn’t charge me for the meal. I wasn’t even able to eat it by the time I got the sauce but the whole experience made it somewhat unpleasant. Such a shame too because the fish was really a piece nice fish.
My mom’s pork chops were OK but very expensive. Another person in our party got chicken strips and they seemed like they were frozen as were the fries it seemed.

You must get the Garlic Butter BBQ Oysters! They were huge, fresh, and delicious. Definitely the highlight of the meal. We also got the Captain’s Combo that came with fried fish, calamari, fries, oysters, shrimp, and scallop. All were yummy. Lots of seating outside, although there were quite some flies, but they didn’t really bother us that much. Fish tacos were just a-​okay.
Will be back for the BBQ Oysters for sure!

One thing you MUST try here is the Garlic Butter BBQ’d oysters. They’re about $ 1.95 per oyster but these things are huge and delicious. I’m someone who cannot stand or eat oysters raw or cooked because of the briny taste to them. Tognazzini’s does them right and BBQ’s them over a grill and they’re marinated with garlic butter. You squeeze some lemon on top of those bad boys and sprinkle a little tobasco sauce, and you got yourself a masterpiece!
I also ordered a fish taco and it was tasty. I just kind of wished they had some salsa or hot sauce to accompany the tacos. The fried calamari was excellent as well, but the portions were on the smaller side.
One of the best things about this establishment is the fact that you eat right on the docks, with the ocean breeze, a great view of Morro Rock, and the live musicians there playing music just right for the scenery.
Also, if you’re a dog lover, this is the place to see the cutest dogs and puppies because it’s a pet friendly restaurant and a lot of guests bring their four legged friends to join them as they dine. They even provide a free tray of doggy biscuits for your K9 companion.
There are also quite a few little shops you can walk to, to get yourself some sweets or even some ice cream.
The cozy and small town feel to this place are amazing. You hear the ocean, gulls cawing, and the sounds of the bells clanking by the docked ships right out on the pier, with the fresh ocean air, you just can’t beat it for the excellent food and ambiance.

Version rapide du Tognazzini’s à deux pas qui était complet quand nous avons voulu y manger.
Ici on commande au comptoir, spécialité de fruits de mer avec huitres, crevettes, pêche du jour.
J’ai mangé une très bonne salade de crevette, personnel aimable, un comptoir pour manger sur place ou une terrasse chauffée dehors.

Damn you! I hate feeling rushed. I hate being rushed. I hate it when other people rush.
And that’s one thing I hate about California: there are so many people here in this state till everything is overcrowded and rushed… therefore causing servers, chefs, everyone to move at a fast, careless pace which lacks attention to detail. They rush and mess shit up. Welcome.
And that’s exactly what they did to my fish and chips. I mean bruh… you couldn’t let the fish cook just a little bit longer? I know it was packed today, but my shit tasted gamey. Undercooked. I almost barfed and had to cover up the taste with ketchup.
Really? Really though? Thank you for ruining the fantasy. SLOW DOWN AND COOK PEOPLE’S SHIT.
Thanks for letting me vent. G’day.