Donnelly's Dockside - Seafood restaurant in Arnold - 1050 Deep Creek Ave, USA

Very nice place on the water. Get there via road or water. We came by road due to the snow and frozen water today (January 21, 2024). Staff are friendly and efficient. All our food was good. Tried to get a picture of the crab pizza, but it got snatched up pretty quickly! Age range of our group was 9 to 70 years and they had something for each of us. Accessible to all with upstairs and downstairs sections. The deck looks nice for better weather.

Date of visit: Wed Aug 23, 2023 Driving from Baltimore to Washington, we were looking for a nice, cozy, local spot for lunch that was on the water, and we came upon Donnelly’s Dockside Bar & Grille. This was a bit ‘out of the way’ from our destination, but we weren’t in a hurry, so we decided to check it out. After driving 15 minutes through the area we came up the restaurant located right on the water, with several boats perched on the water along the docks. It was a lovely spot, which seemed to be exactly what we looked for. We were seated on the Patio – which faces the water and were quickly attended to by a friendly and attentive waitress. They had a special on Oysters so we ordered some for an appetizer. Then we ordered a caprese salad with crab (which could use a touch more crab) and a soft shell crab sandwich (which could have used a touch more seasoning). The food was perfectly cooked, and nicely presented. The oysters were very fresh and tasty. The salad was very nice and a light summery meal. The crab sandwich was very tasty as well. The service was great, prices were good, and the view was absolutely lovely and overall the experience was just what we were looking for.

A little gem of a restaurant off the beaten path. Waterside dining on the dock or on the deck, it was not too crowded when we went at lunchtime on a Wednesday. I had the 1/2 lb of Old Bay jumbo shrimp. It came with a couple fingerling potatoes and a few onions. The spicy jalapeno margarita was excellent. Hubby had fried green tomatoes with crab. Waitress was excellent, especially since we were seated at the table at the very end of the dock. Several boats docked while we were there. A great little location.

What did we like? The best part of our experience was our server, Steph! Why? She made excellent recommendations after asking questions about what we had a taste for, she made recommendations based on our budget to enable us to taste some of the flavors we were interested in, and she made a custom ‘Crush’ for us! Crush is an alcoholic drink they serve in a variety of flavors. Because we could not decide on flavors, Steph made a special ‘Crush’ drink for our table. We loved it. If had berries, citrus and coconut flavors. Very refreshing drink! What do we wish we had known before we went? Price for seasonal items. Even though we weren’t on a ‘budget’, next time we will check the prices for Maryland crab dishes before going…just so we don’t have sticker shock. We had no budget so we ordered the crab cakes ($57 for two cakes and two sides). While the price can be shocking at first, the crab cakes were huge so two of us split the dish (Steph had recommended that - great suggestion). Highly recommend the crab cakes. All crab, no filler! Lightly seasoned so an excellent choice for those who like the natural taste of crab. Would we dine there again? Yes! And would come during the day so we can enjoy the view and outside seating.

Donnelly's was a pleasant surprise! My brother loves LOVES Maryland crab, and he came into town from Washington State that evening, so we went at my daughter's recommendation. Our waitress was very familiar with the menu and was very attentive. The food was absolutely delicious, and my brother got to have crab soup and crab for dinner. The last time I was there, I believe it was Deep Creek Restaurant. The interior has been painted a light color and it was very bright and cheerful. There are waterside tables on the dock for those who want to amp up the water experience! We ate inside as it was pretty hot. All the outdoor lights made it look very festive. I highly recommend. Oh, the prices were reasonable, too.

We came here for an early Sunday dinner. There's nothing like a MD crabhouse on the water and Donnelly's didn't disappoint. We sat inside with a gorgeous view of the Deep Creek. The crab cake sandwich was top notch and the half n half crab soup was delicious! We'll be coming back!

Being from Colorado, this was a new experience for us. Eating on a pier, on the water, with boats pulling up, was all amazing!The food was absolutely delicious. I've taken one star off of service just because I think it was difficult for the waiters to service 6 tables with only 2 staff (not a reflection of the staff - its a comment management planning for more staff.) Regardless, we will definitely be back! (Hopefully with my own boat! Haha)

The fried pickles and calamari were great. My sweet potato fries were extra crispy and cold. Had to reorder. The crab imperial was a 2 out of 10. It had too much mayo and egg, and 😔. The server didn't even acknowledge that I didn't touch my food and wasn't happy. For $50, I have to go home and fix it. Will visit again, but that imperial is not a choice.