Dock Cafe in Stillwater: Fine food at reasonable prices

By Yael Grauer Wed., Feb. 15 2012 at 1:18 PM

Take a drive right to the border on the edge of the St. Croix, and you'll find Dock Cafe, a beautiful Stillwater staple. Although it's too early in the year to appreciate the fine view of the river while dining on the patio or glancing through the large row of panoramic glass windows, you can enjoy tasty food in a contemporary setting year-round.
We ventured to Stillwater recently, and here's what we found.

Entrees run $13-$15 for lunch and $15-$28 for dinner. I opted for seafood, since this is a dockside restaurant. I'd heard mixed reviews about Dock Cafe's food but was very pleased with the blackened yellowfish tuna, served with a blue cheese cream sauce and sides of mashed potatoes and asparagus. And the salad was incredible; crisp fresh greens, sunflower seeds, and a smattering of fresh ground pepper. The restaurant had excellent service, speedy and cordial.

The wine selection is extensive, and dessert options included key lime pie, creme brulee, and a flourless chocolate raspberry torte.

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Location Info

Venue

Map

The Dock Cafe

425 Nelson St., Stillwater, MN

Category: Restaurant

1 user reviews	Write A Review
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Tags:

Dock Cafe, Road Trip, Stillwater

We Recommend

Akashs

Thank You..... Your blog is very informative and I will keep updated with the same. Restaurants in Delhi

Confused

What border does one need to cross to get to Stillwater?

Also confused

???

Annoyed

I've eaten many times at the Dock Cafe over the decades. It is not terrible, but it also is not even close to deserving the unblinking praise in this article. The article sounds like it was copied from the restaurant's website. We expect more of the CP.

Betty

Big Dock Cafe fan here, and I actually appreciate the fact that CP doesn't have any unnecessary snark. Besides, isn't he the same writer who absolutely hated Social House?

Dave

I remember when City Pages did a better job of hiding the influence of their paid advertisers.

Richard

Dock Cafe advertises in City Pages? Why would a Stillwater restaurant do that? Where is this ad, I haven't seen it anywhere?

jassylaura

Hmm. . .Looks delicious. I should check this, Cause this is the right time to taste it. I will go Dock Cafe's within few days. Thanks!

Isaac Anthony

The picture makes the food look like an oldschooler chef trying to imitate fancy places he's seen in magazines. Probably much better than most places in Stillwater.

Christine

I think I read about them in Mpls St. Paul Magazine. Sounds like a fun day trip.

Chris

I went to Stillwater. I ordered something, it was good. The End.

Can I start getting paid for freelance work too? I think my writing makes the cut.

James

Probably not, since your 30-word comment has an unnecessary capital letter, a run-on sentence, and a missing comma.

Galamaria

CP doesn't seem to have any editors left on the payroll anyway, so who the hell cares about grammar and punctuation? Chris' post seems to be to be on par with the CP's general reporting quality. (As a side note, I still refuse to set foot in the Dock Cafe ever since I attended a wedding-related dinner there years ago. A table was reserved for 20 people, clearly marked - and they wouldn't seat us until the entire party showed up. Making older people with canes stand in the vestibule for no purpose whatsoever is the exact opposite of hospitality. The Dock Cafe can go suck it.)

Confused

CP doesn't have editors? I didn't realize they'd let any editors go?

Trolls R Us

What a bunch of whiners. I, for one, appreciate learning whether nearby restaurants live up to the hype and hope the feature doesn't get ruined due to internet trolls who have nothing better to do. Besides, its not like the reviews on here are always wholy positive. If you don't like CP, then don't read it.

Then don't eat there

That's a really long time to hold a grudge.

Dickerson Don't Care

Why would I go to Stillwater? Is this the Pioneer Press? There are hundreds of restaurants in the metro. Try reviewing one that isn't beat to death already and please don't review shit in Stillwater. I don't even know where that is.

Get A Map

Some people like going on day trips to check out different places to eat, or find themselves in other parts of the state for work or other reasons. I may not instantly rush out to Stillwater for lunch, but I *do* know where it is and would like to be familiar with what's around in various areas outside of my own bubble.