Gator’s Dockside St. Johns is a welcoming American restaurant in Fruit Cove, FL, where families, friends, and sports fans come together for great food, relaxed service, and a casual dining experience that feels easy from the moment you arrive.
Known as a family-friendly sports-bar chain, it serves classic American fare with a standout reputation for its signature grilled chicken wings, along with comfort food favorites that make lunch, dinner, and even solo meals feel satisfying and effortless.
Whether you’re stopping in for a quick bite or settling in for a full meal, this is a place built around good food, plenty of seating, and the kind of atmosphere that keeps guests coming back.
What makes Gator’s Dockside St. Johns especially appealing is the variety it offers. Guests can enjoy dine-in service, outdoor seating, kerbside pickup, takeaway, delivery, and on-site service, making it a flexible choice for nearly any occasion. It’s also a strong option for catering and dessert, with table service and reservations available for added convenience.
Popular highlights include fast service, a great beer selection, cocktails, and a lively sports-friendly setting, while the bar on site, Wi-Fi, and free Wi-Fi add even more comfort for those who want to stay awhile.
From happy-hour drinks and happy-hour food to all-you-can-eat options, beer, coffee, and a full selection of alcohol and cocktails, the menu and experience are designed to suit a wide range of tastes and plans.
Accessibility and guest comfort are clearly a priority here as well. The restaurant includes wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, seating, and restroom facilities, helping ensure a more inclusive experience for all visitors. With credit and debit card payments accepted, the process is simple and convenient from start to finish.
Customers have rated Gator’s Dockside St. Johns 3.90 out of 5 based on 1,114 reviews, reflecting a steady stream of local diners who appreciate its casual style, dependable service, and broad appeal.
Located at 485 FL-13 in Fruit Cove, FL, and reachable at +1 904-230-4353, it’s a dependable destination for anyone looking for a relaxed American restaurant that combines comfort, flexibility, and a welcoming community feel.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Gator's Dockside St. Johns
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
All white-meat chicken tossed in Buffalo sauce, blended with American and blue cheeses, and wrapped in a crispy egg roll shell. Served with homemade ranch.
Crinkle-cut fries smothered in white cheddar cheese sauce, melted shredded cheddar, bacon bits, and hand-breaded chicken tenders tossed in your choice of wing sauce, then topped with chopped green onion.
Hand-breaded and fried golden brown. Served with a side of homemade ranch dressing.
Perfect for sharing! A generous plate of fresh tortilla chips topped with Gator's homemade chili, melted mixed cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sliced jalapeños. Served with sour cream on the side.
Served with a side of Cajun Bayou sauce.
Topped with Parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes. Gator's homemade dip served with your choice of tortilla chips or toasted pita points.
Served with a side of homemade ranch dressing.
Mozzarella cheese sticks, chicken tenders tossed in your choice of wing sauce, and Buffalo chicken egg rolls.
Golden fried potatoes smothered in our homemade ranch dressing, covered with melted mixed cheese, and chopped bacon.
Hand-breaded and fried golden brown. Served with a side of our signature Gator sauce.
Served with a side of warm marinara sauce.
Crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside. These authentic bites are crafted with a distinctive crust and served with your choice of warm white cheddar cheese sauce or homemade honey mustard.
Hand-breaded shrimp, fried to a golden crisp, then tossed in a bold blend of Sweet Thai Chili and Cajun Bayou sauce, placed on shredded lettuce and topped with green onion.
Bone-in grilled, buffalo, or hand-breaded
Fresh chicken tenders hand-breaded and deep fried. Tossed in your choice of wing sauce.
Grilled Caribbean jerk seasoned grouper fingers with coleslaw and mandarin oranges. Finished with Caribbean jerk sauce and served on two warm flour tortillas.
Hand-breaded cod, lightly fried and topped with yellow American cheese and shredded lettuce. Served on a toasted bun with a side of tartar sauce.
Gator's most popular sandwich, featuring steak and white American cheese on a toasted hoagie roll. Sautéed onions, peppers, and mushrooms are available upon request. Substitute chicken at no additional cost.
Sliced turkey, ham, and yellow and white American cheese stacked between three slices of bread, then hand-battered and fried to a perfect golden brown. Sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with raspberry preserves.
Slow-cooked pork, grilled ham, Swiss cheese, sliced pickles, and Gator sauce make this the pressed sandwich you crave.
A classic sandwich with a twist. Iceberg lettuce, sliced tomato, crispy bacon, and fried pickles, built on Texas toast and finished with a spread of homemade steakhouse sauce.
Crispy, hand-breaded chicken tossed in your favorite wing sauce and wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla with shredded lettuce and your choice of homemade ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Sliced, grilled beef and lamb stuffed into a grilled pita and layered with tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomato, and red onion.
Fresh ground beef, seasoned with Gator's own house seasoning and char-grilled to order. Served on a toasted bun.
Gator's classic burger topped with melted blue cheese crumbles and sautéed mushrooms. Served on a toasted bun with a side of homemade steakhouse sauce.
Fresh, seasoned burger topped with bacon, white American cheese, Gator's own Chipotle Honey BBQ sauce, hand-breaded jalapeños, and onion tanglers, piled high on a toasted bun.
Three fresh, all-beef slider patties topped with American cheese, lettuce, pickle, and Thousand Island dressing. Served on toasted slider buns.
Grilled, all-white-meat turkey burger featuring Gator's own hot sauce, blue cheese crumbles, and chopped celery, all served on a toasted bun.
Grilled Cajun-spiced chicken breast and crispy bacon, topped with Cajun Bayou sauce, fresh tomato slices, and melted Monterey Jack cheese, all sandwiched between golden brown, garlic-buttered Texas toast.
A grilled flour tortilla filled with Monterey Jack cheese, grilled chicken, crispy bacon, and sautéed onions. Served with seasoned rice, sour cream, and salsa.
Served with fries, coleslaw, and cocktail sauce.
Hand-breaded chicken tossed in your favorite wing sauce. Served with fries, coleslaw, and homemade ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Hand-battered cod, fried to a golden brown. Served with fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce.
Creamy mac and cheese with chopped bacon and jalapeños, topped with smoked pulled pork, Gator's own Sweet BBQ sauce, diced tomatoes, green onion, and crispy, hand-breaded onion tanglers.
Cajun-grilled chicken breast and fresh broccoli served over creamy Alfredo pasta. Topped with shredded Parmesan cheese and served with a slice of homemade garlic bread.
A seasoned half rack of ribs, slowly cooked for that fall-off-the-bone style you'll love. Grilled to order in your favorite sauce or dry rub. Served with fries, coleslaw, and a slice of homemade garlic bread.
A seasoned half rack of ribs, slowly cooked for that fall-off-the-bone style you'll love. Grilled to order in your favorite sauce or dry rub. Served with five grilled wings tossed in your choice of wing sauce, with a side of homemade ranch or blue...
Homemade soup topped with croutons and melted provolone cheese.
Gator's famous chili topped with cheddar cheese, diced onions, and jalapeños.
Cajun-grilled shrimp tossed in a sweet Thai chili and Cajun Bayou sauce, served in a crispy taco shell bowl with shredded lettuce, diced tomato and red onion, sweet corn kernels, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced jalapeños. Served with a side of...
Mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, candied pecans, blue cheese crumbles, and chilled, char-grilled chicken over fresh salad greens. Served with low-fat Zinfandel vinaigrette on the side.
Mixed greens topped with chilled, char-grilled diced chicken, blue cheese crumbles, tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, red onion, and bacon. Served with your choice of dressing on the side.
Romaine lettuce topped with shredded cheddar cheese, tomatoes, chopped celery, and hand-breaded chicken tossed in your choice of wing sauce. Finished with blue cheese crumbles and served with your choice of dressing on the side.
Fresh-cut romaine lettuce tossed in Caesar dressing and topped with croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese.
Mixed greens topped with tomatoes, sliced red onions, shredded carrots, and croutons. Served with your choice of dressing on the side. Choice of small or large.
A warm apple tartlet and scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel syrup.
Giant chocolate chip cookie with a warm chocolate center, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A scoop of vanilla ice cream and bottle of root beer. Just as delicious as it sounds!
A warm brownie, topped with vanilla ice cream, drizzled with caramel syrup and then finished with chopped pralines.
6 pieces. Deep fried golden brown and served with your choice of one side.
5 pieces of bone-in or boneless wings
Yellow american cheese melted between wheat toast. Served with your choice of side.
All beef hot dog served with your choice of one side.
Hand breaded in house and deep fried golden brown. Served with your choice of one side.
Classic yellow Kraft mac and cheese. Served with one side
Served with yellow American cheese and your choice of one side.
With marinara or alfredo sauce
Hear from our valued guests
Even though I'm not a Gator fan, the food has been very good. Every time that we have gone there, the service is always great and it has a really good atmosphere. At least they cater to all the college teams which is good. Go Dawgs
I was pleased with how clean it was and how delicious the food was. The service is always good, efficient and friendly. They also have a nice outside area.
Early dinner/late lunch - Buffalo shrimp, gators bites, and of course, wings. We haven't been in a while since we moved, but still our favorite wings. Add a cold draft and plenty of napkins. It's fantastic. This trip, the gator bites were a little off, but still a delicious dinner.
This has become a local favorite for me, whether it be for a drink or a meal - and with some entertaining nights thrown in for fun! Friendly family environment. Roomy space with booths, a bunch of high tops and a covered patio too. Comfortablr bar food - don't come here on a diet :-)
Fantastic food! Wings were perfect as always.
A great place to eat with a more lively atmosphere! We showed up during trivia night and enjoyed a good evening with food and fun! Thank you to all!
Gators Dockside is always a great time! The food is really good, the atmosphere is fun, and the service makes it even better. Madi is hands down the best bartender in the world — incredibly polite, super quick, and absolutely amazing at what they do. Drinks were perfect every time, and the attention to customers was outstanding. Highly recommend stopping by Gators Dockside if you want great food, great drinks, and top-tier service!
Just left gators, having the best time. The bartender Madi was truly the best. Recommended great food and drinks. Made great shots and was very accommodating for this picky eater. Told us all about the specials and what is happening at gators. Definitely coming back for a music bingo. Will absolutely come back again just to see her!
Great food and great atmosphere! The wings are some of the best around. Also have to mention that the fried pickles here are some of the best I’ve had and I’ve ate a lot of fried pickles. This visit I had the Nashville hot chicken sandwich with Mac on it. Just a heads up that this sauce they put on it is very very hot.
We started out selling Girl Scout cookies and finished with dinner. The buffalo chicken salad with the suicide sauce was amazing. The fried pickles were crispy and the perfect size. The buffalo chicken wrap my husband had, was good and he enjoyed the steamed broccoli. Our daughter enjoyed the BLT and said the sweet potato fries were great! The staff is friendly and it was a good atmosphere for a Friday night cookie booth and dinner out!
Common questions about Gator's Dockside St. Johns
Gator's Dockside St. Johns is located at 485 FL-13, Fruit Cove, FL 32259, United States, Fruit Cove, FL, United States.
You can reach Gator's Dockside St. Johns by calling +1 904-230-4353.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 based on 1114 customer reviews.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Kerbside pickup, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Sport.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following offerings: Alcohol, All you can eat, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Late-night food, Quick bite, Small plates, Spirits, Wine.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Free Wi-Fi.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following atmosphere: Casual.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, University students.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following children: Good for kids, Has changing table(s), High chairs, Kids' menu.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Plenty of parking.
Gator's Dockside St. Johns features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
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