Como Dockside

Visited this restaurant for the first time with a groupon and my expectations were exceeded. The bar was set a bit low based on other reviews, but after my experience, I’d highly recommend this restaurant. The hush puppy appetizer was my partner’s favorite course, but the pimento gnocchi and gumbo that followed were exceptional. The gnocchi was homemade and had the appropriate, slightly sweet taste and slightly chewy texture. The gumbo was delicious and smoky flavored with bits of sausage, pulled pork, beef and shrimp. A side of cheesy grits was very good. The ending was a pecan– banana bread pudding that was very moist and served with a vanilla sauce. Overall, the food was very much above average and the decent wine selection that was included as part of the groupon was excellent. Additionally, the service was genuinely friendly and efficient — even with a full restaurant. I’ll definitely plan to go back.

If you are going to tell people GF items are clearly marked on the menu.
Well maybe you should offer something GF
Whole menu — 2 side salads and one side dish, one desert.
no GF entrees
Bean salad is a couple lettuce leafs, with a can of beans dumped on top, and shredded cheese.
Oh Yummy… pfft… pfft
I’d rather you just said… «If want GF then just go away»

Sunday breakfast was savory. We like space and a quieter crowd for breakfast so we can eat and enjoy the Sunday Times. Farmers breakfast was awesome. Po boy good too. Beignets were New Orleans perfect. Great coffee.

Service was great, the food was amazing and very flavorful! Loved this place and I can’t wait to come and try other dishes here!

We took my 84-​year-​old dad here tonight (Sunday evening in December) to celebrate his birthday. I was a bit wary after reading the reviews. You read enough about lukewarm food and long waits… you start to worry. We were seated up on the second floor because we had a larger group – 4 grownups, 2 kids. We were led to one end of a beautiful, long wooden dining table. There was another family at the other end. The host was a very engaging gentleman. I thought, «This might turn out to be pretty good.» To save time, I think I’ll just list everything that wasn’t so great: 1. No napkins/​flatware, even after I asked. 2 Wrong beverage for my dad. (And our ice water was served in hot glasses straight out of the dishwasher.) 3. Big confusion about our Groupon – waitress was unfamiliar with the deal we’d signed up for. 4. Decent hush puppies served without appetizer plates, flatware. (We made due with 2 napkins. We ended up double-​dipping because of the lack of plates and utensils, but at least I was sharing germs with family.) 5. When the food came, it wasn’t professionally served. I was a waitress when I was a kid. I expect people to know which dish I ordered. Instead my family had to say, «That’s mine,» and trade dishes which had been placed in the wrong spots. 6. Dad’s gumbo was unusual – and not in a good way. No andouille sausage. Just 3 little shrimps. Lots of pulled pork and chicken, but Dad was hoping for some seafood and sausage. The menu was very vague about what was in the gumbo. 7. The spicy smashed sweet potato and creamed spinach that came beneath my pecan smoked chicken was barely warm. I immediately asked the host if it could be warmed in the microwave. He came back with a newly-​prepped plate and told me they don’t have a microwave. Maybe they should. It’s one way to warm up food that’s gone cold. My chicken was hot, not the stuff beneath it. Not one bit. 8. Daughter’s kid meal came with 3 yummy hush puppies (that’s half of what you get in the appetizer) but none of the yummy dipping sauce. 9. Smashed sweet potato seemed more like a purée that was combined with the spinach. My son, a pretty adventurous eater for a 12-​year-​old, had been excited to try it. Took one look and passed. 9. Prices seemed high for such lackluster food.
On the good side, we eventually were the only group on the second floor, so we were able to have a nice visit. Not always so easy to do with parents who use hearing aids. No overpowering music. I imagine the space is quite beautiful in nicer weather and on sunny days. The downstairs bar had a lot of character. I could see coming here for Happy Hour. The pulled pork po boy was pretty good. Red beans and rice had an appropriate kick. My Bloody Mary was good, though I wished it came with a beer chaser. It’s worth nothing they no longer make people wait in line at the bar to order their food. Our server was nice enough, but she was not a polished professional.
I wonder if they’ve got the wrong idea trying to keep a place like Dockside open all winter. It might fare better if it were seasonal like Sandcastle, Tin Fish and Bread and Pickle. I even wonder if the New Orleans concept is a mistake. Maybe a bistro menu would be a better match for this cozy space. This restaurant is a good-​enough place, but the service and food leave so much to be desired. I know my dad was disappointed in the food. Just hope the company of his wife, daughter and her family made up for it. I’m not sure I’ll ever come here again. Y’know what they say? Fool me twice, shame on me.

I really wanted to love this place. As I walked in, I was taken by the smoky smell of the restaurant. We were greeted by a host that could have been from New Orleans. It was so promising. The starter, smoked trout was wonderful. But then the entrees came. I had the pecan smoked chicken and my boyfriend had the bouillabaisse. The chicken breast on my plate was way too big and clunky. I was intimidated by what the inside of the chicken would taste… I wasn’t impressed. While the skin had great flavor, the inside was lacking.
The whipped mashed potatoes had a great texture, but a very strong aftertaste I did not like.
I also had the Big Train Chai, which tasted really watered down and missing the spicy chai taste.
I am sad and disappointed. I really wanted to like this place.

I highly recommend this restaurant and wish I would have come here sooner! I will be back in the summer to enjoy the patio!
To the food: my husband and I were here on a Saturday and were able to enjoy the breakfast. The Beignets were light and warm. The perfect delicate sweetness that one would expect when biting into them. I had the red beans and rice with andouille sausage with eggs. The sausage had some heat and when mixed with the beans and rice it was perfectly balanced. Serving size was perfect and my eggs were perfectly cooked. My husband had the creole hash with eggs and a biscuit. The biscuit was flaky and layered. Perfect color and texture. Very delicious!
I did not mind ordering from the counter and would like to come back soon to try he dinner menu. Staff is very friendly and makes the rounds frequently. The atmosphere makes you feel as if you
Are back in the Victorian era and having a picnic in the lawn. I will definitely be back soon for more!!!

LONGEST WAIT EVER.
We came here for lunch, and it wasn’t really that crowded. Dropped the order at 12:42, and it’s now 1:14 pm. The waitress said our meals haven’t even been made. At this moment, they still have three other orders to make before they can get to ours. This is the longest I’ve ever waited at a restaurant for food, in my entire life.
NO KIDDING.

Como Dockside is an elegant and comfy bar/​restaurant overlooking Lake Como.
I spent a night visiting my family for a wedding meet & greet. The interior was classy and great for the occasion!
I would definitely recommend this spot for a visit!

Dockside has kept their great fresh opening vibe and now the wait isn’t bad. Still working on getting the kitchen to live up to the quality of the space they have created. Still so much better than what was there. Bartenders are friendly and local. Food is improving. Love the variety of things that the Pavillion hosts. Upstairs space seems like an after thought or that they weren’t sure what to do with it. Also curious about the building has another floor, what it is being used for? Could this space be utilized in an even greater capacity. Can Como Lake be made to be swimable? Love that Dockside has made me excited for my neighborhood.

This place was filled with contradictions and pros /​cons– so I’ll just break it into sections:
Pros:
* Staff were very friendly, sweet people.
* The most «true-​to-​the-​south» hush puppies I’ve had outside of Alabama, where my family is from. I’ve seen some people complain about blandness. Have you ever had a hush puppy in the south? Cornmeal, maybe some onion (if you’re fancy), baking soda, salt, buttermilk, oil. Done! I was very happy to find authentic hush puppies in MN.
* Pretty decent fried green tomatoes.
* Big beer selection– reasonable prices (for their beer).
* Good atmosphere, right on the lake. I used to live in S. Mpls, and was used to an easy jaunt to good food. I was happy to find a place with pretty good food in Como Park, a quick bike ride from my house.
Cons:
* Not enough staff. There were two people taking all of the orders, getting all of the drinks, and one young man serving as an expo. They need a bar-​back helping the front staff out, getting drinks while customers are completing their food order and paying. I think restaurants can serve using this model easily– as long as enough support staff are provided for front end staff. The line was unnecessarily long, and unnecessarily slow.
* The food is overly priced. If I want to pay $ 15-​$ 20 for a sandwich, i’ll go to Stella’s Fish Café (oh wait, I don’t go to Stella’s Fish Café… because I don’t want to pay that much for a sandwich). I think they’ll make more friends in the Como neighborhood if they bring their prices down– or perhaps offer some cheaper entres, while keeping the pricey ones. They’ll cater to a larger group of people.
* I don’t know if they have control over this– or if it’s the city’s concern– but it’d be nice to have some tables (other than picnic tables) out on the dock-​side patio.

This might be my new summer drinking spot after the doors shut on Pracna. The «patio» includes a grassy area in front of the park building as well as a small concrete area right next to the lake. There’s even a place to rent paddleboats and those little bike cars back there! The interior of the restaurant is well designed and feels sleek while sticking to its comfort food menu. But I’m all about the exterior.
I am convinced that some part of my being is deeply satiated by drinking by a body of water with the summer sun warming my skin. This place is prime for that. The tap list is pretty standard with nice Minnesota craft beers like Baushaus and Surly and your general public pleasers like Bud. I won’t claim to know the food too well. I’ve only ever eaten the gumbo and an appetizer. The gumbo was spicy and rich. It came with crawfish — which was a lovely touch. It was served over basmati rice, which wouldn’t be my go-​to but it didn’t distract from the dish.
I think I need to give their menu a little bit more love during the colder months and flesh out what they have to offer besides gorgeous views and nice beer prices. During the summer, the biggest setback was the terrible parking. It seems like every day of the week some sort of play or show was taking place in the back of the building so the closest lot stayed packed. I also hope that will die down.

Most of the menu options were heavy and unappealing for a light summer lunch, so I went with a salad. I think they are still working out the kinks, because my salad was literally 4 pieces of lettuce and ½ a tomato. I was surprised they didn’t have more healthy menu options.
That atmosphere was great with the outdoor seating, but this isn’t the place for a salad-​loving vegetarian.

I dint understand the hype. The food is really underseasoned and bland. I like the menu variety it they need to up the flavor.
Restaurant remodel looks really nice and eating in the pavilion overlooking the lake is a good experience. If you are just looking for experience this place is fine.

A friend of ours asked Island Boy and I to dinner the other night and requested we go somewhere not Downtown (Mpls), outside (but in the shade since it was hot + humid), and preferably by the water. I have never heard such a specific request without a particular place in mind, but luckily for our friend Como Dockside fit the bill!
THE SPACE:
Tall ceilings inside with lots of wood features and natural light beaming in from all around, and a giant covered veranda out back facing the lake with picnic tables and a stage for live performances. While the music being performed when we arrived isn’t going to win a Grammy anytime soon, I can see how it might be a fun place to catch a show while grabbing some grub.
THE FOOD:
For a place that advertises NOLA-​inspired Cajun + Creole dishes, they fall a little short when it comes to flavor. Perhaps they’re making food for stereotypically sensitive Midwestern palates, but this native Minnesotan was left wanting more… but not really more of the food, unfortunately.
We shared the following:
Apps: Catfish + Sweet Corn Cakes, Hush Puppies and a Beignet Dog
Entrees: Andouille Sausage w/​White Cheddar Grits + Collards and Chicken Fried Steak w/​Mashed Potatoes, White Gravy + Green Beans
Dessert: Beignets
It hurt my eyes looking for the catfish in our overcooked corn cakes, the hush puppies were dry and bland, and the beignet dog was a mild tasting sausage wrapped in flavorless dough that was so undercooked on the inside that it was still gooey. The andouille was also very mild and was served on top of an extremely tasteless pile of grits. The collards were alright (although I’ve definitely had better), but the best thing on that plate was actually a small wedge of cornbread… I was kinda sad I had to share it. The chicken fried steak was the best plate as a whole, even if the breading was a little greasy. The mash and gravy had more flavor than the other dishes, and the beans were still crunchy, which I appreciated. I’m not sure how, but we managed to save a little room for dessert. I’ve been told how amazing beignets are (especially in New Orleans), but I had never actually tried one before. That probably works in Como Dockside’s favor because I don’t have anything else for comparison, but I still expected them to be a little more pillowy than they were. They have a pretty killer craft beer list though, so perhaps the secret is to have a couple pints before you dive in to the food :)
THE SERVICE:
There isn’t normal table service, so you have to order at the counter (although they will deliver your order and clear your plates). What limited service we did receive was spot on, and the food came out quickly as well, so they do have that going for them.
I’m not sure if I’ll return, but if I do it will be for the atmosphere, a good beer, and maybe a side of cornbread.

Ok for a quick bite. Great extensive beer list and full bar. Asked staff what they recommended outside of PoBoys. They recommended gumbo and chicken. Gumbo had some mystery meat (not the sausage which was decent) and roux base needed something. Chicken was a bit dry and also needed more seasoning. Could barely taste smoke flavor. If kitchen does not have enough smoke time, try Liquid Smoke to intensify flavor.
Likely will be back for beer, but not dinner again.

Looking for a local spot to «getaway» in the Twin Cities for a few hours this summer? Como dockside could be the perfect spot. It’s an ideal destination for adventurous wanderers. You can chart your course by foot, bike or car. You can also rent kayaks, paddle boards, and pendal cars upon your arrival.
Como Dockside provides a HUGE, open and covered patio area where you can often see high-​quality live music most weekday evenings and weekend afternoons. The venue is managed by the same owners as the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St Paul. They’re skilled at attracting talented local musicians.
The Como Dockside restaurant offers a handful of upscale Cajun-​inspired food and drink options. We found the food options we sampled ($ 5 hush puppies, $ 7 Butter Lettuce Salad, and $ 15 Country Fried Steak) to be over priced and underwhelming when compared to the reasonably-​priced and flavorful food options we were accustomed to at their sister location (the Amsterdam). The Shrimp Po Boy sandwich was ALMOST worth the $ 15 price tag.
Overall? Como Dockside need to crank up the flavors or dial down the prices. The restaurant isn’t priced well for families. A better choice for the family is the shoreside snack bar. Despite restaurant pricing, the Como Park dockside pavillion is one of the nicest locations in the Twin Cities to chill.

I’m a Saint Paul guy, and wanted this place to live up to the owner’s other restaurants, especially the Amsterdam XXX — a great establishment. The Dockside was a disappointment. The servers and staff were pleasant enough, but we waited 45 minutes for appetizers (regular old hush puppies) and another 45 minutes for the virtually inedible fish boil for two. I was there with my son — a peace-​loving man if one ever lived. Even he could not finish the meal or think of a positive thing to say about the food. The potatoes were mush, and the mussles were overcooked, rubbery and tasteless. But the crawfish, oh the poor innocent crayfish. Vile is the only word to describe the taste. Its inaccurate to say the food was over-​priced as I would not have eaten this meal if it were free. But even if the food had been perfect, the price was too high.
Most disconcerting? A lack of leadership and floor management. The staff were obviously placed in specific stations, and could see (and hear) that bottlenecks were occurring, but they seemed helpless to, well, help.
Great space — lovely on a warm summer evening. But I wont be back until the owners and the city get a chance to re-​group.

Just what the Dock-​tor ordered! Magnificent food — try the Beignent dog. My husband ordered it and it was dynamite. It was perfectly spiced sausage surrounded by buttery, wonderful fried dough. I had the butter lettuce salad which sounds ordinary but the bacon in the salad made it perfect.
We were there during a show so we waited an hour for our food, which is the only reason I didn’t give 5 stars. Service is slow but the food is worth the wait :)

Deliciousness!
Beer and wine were delicious.
I had the smoked gnocchi with sour cream fondue. Not as smoked as I thought which I appreciated. Gnocchi were super tender.
My man had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and was very happy!
Service was great even though you have to order at the bar. People were very friendly.
Prices are a bit high.
Like the dark interior and the upstairs cozy arm chair area.
A bit on the spendy side