GATORS DOCKSIDE
GATORS DOCKSIDE is among the lower-graded kitchens we track. Its most recent inspection on March 2, 2026 put it at 68/100 — a D on our A–F scale.
Inspectors cited 1 high-priority, 3 intermediate, and 15 basic violations. That leaves it safer than 7% of Orange County restaurants we grade. Safer, higher-graded options nearby are listed below.
D grade · 68/100 · safer than 7% of Orange County restaurants we grade
Get directions Call (407) 869-4222
Safer options nearby
Higher-graded restaurants close to GATORS DOCKSIDE, by Florida DBPR grade:
- TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ
- TACO BELL 036232
Restaurant details
- Health grade
- D (68/100)
- Violations
- 19 total — 1 high-priority, 3 intermediate, 15 basic
- Address
- 3030 E SEMORAN BLVD STE 180, Apopka, FL
- Cuisine
- American
- Categories
- American restaurant, Bar & grill, Caterer, Chicken wings restaurant, Family restaurant, Hamburger restaurant
- Price
- $10–20
- Rating
- 4 stars (1617 reviews)
- Seats
- 208
- Phone
- (407) 869-4222
- Website
- Official website
Community Rating
Reviews via GoogleWhat diners say — our read
Cleanliness comes up in 15% of the 20 reviews here, and the inspection record backs the worry up. Service is the sore point: those reviews average 2.8. Pacing is the next most common subject, in 30% of reviews (averaging 2.5).
If you had to pick one number to represent this corpus it would be 5, the most frequently given rating (8 reviews). Older reviews score better than newer ones (3.0 recent against 4.0 earlier), so direction is worth weighing alongside the average. How clean the place looks shows up in 15% of reviews as well, averaging 1.3.
Set against that, the state's own inspection graded the kitchen a D (68/100), with 1 high-priority, 3 intermediate, and 15 basic violations recorded. Reviews describe the meal; the grade describes the conditions it was made in. DBPR last walked in on March 2, 2026. That puts it ahead of 7% of graded kitchens in Orange County. The citations behind that grade include potentially hazardous foods properly thawed and cross-contamination.
Both halves of this page point the same unflattering way, which at least makes it simple. The individual reviews are below, newest first, if you want the raw material.
Our own analysis of 20 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →
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Came to lunch with husband and son, food was low quality cafeteria style. Ordered the rib and wing combo, wings and ribs were just okay, son ordered the gator smash burger and he also thought it was just okay-he said tasted more like a breakfast patty, and I ordered the bourbon bacon scallops. Those were terrible, super hard to cut, and tasted like of they had gone bad. Only took one bite and left the dish. Asked for our check, the waitress was very nice but didn’t ask how we liked the food. We’re not the type of people to complain and or like to send food back so we didn’t say anything. Just know I will never return. It was pretty gross. I rarely leave reviews but felt that I needed to say something about our experience. If you are around that area, do not recommend this place. Unfortunately, left with a tummy ache hoping the small bite I took of scallop didn’t make me sick.
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Music bingo on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Great food Great service. Great for families as well
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Service is the absolute worst ever just left there will never go back. The girl didn't even come back ask if we wanted to refill on our beer or our water or if our food was okay. I can see why nobody is in there.
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I miss this place becoming here since I was a little kid best place ever
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Nope. Sat here AN HOUR. No one came back to refunding and they honestly weren’t busy. We were really hungry too. Lots of servers wandering w dirty tables. Won’t ever go back.
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Jesse was the best she deserves 1 million dollars
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I’ve had better wings in 3rd world countries, honestly. Service: My server, Erin, was a bit slow, but to be fair she was juggling multiple issues at other tables and did apologize for the delay. Food: I ordered 8 wings—4 hot buffalo and 4 honey garlic. The wings were small and oddly shaped, not the traditional style you’d expect. Flavor: The buffalo sauce was just okay. The honey garlic, though, had no real garlic flavor—it tasted like plain honey poured straight on top. Premium Side: I paid extra for sweet potato fries, and they came out completely cold. Not sure what qualifies as “premium” here, but this definitely wasn’t it. The only reason I’m giving 2 stars is because the place was clean, the staff was polite, and the updated lighting made the space feel brighter and more inviting.
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Went for lunch, only a few tables were seated and it says please wait to be seated. Took awhile for someone to greet us with 2 employees standing right there doing nothing. Then our waitress/bar tender greeted us and asked us to wait just a minute. Then proceeded to go to the other side of the dining room to talk with another employee for a few minutes before she came back and seated us. From there everything was fine. Just a few touches, but nice. My coworker had to go to the bar to ask for a refill. 5 stars but you can do better lol always enjoy the place 👍
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Waste of Time — Terrible Service Left on hold for over 6 minutes just trying to order. Came in person and no one even acknowledged me at the door. Finally got seated and still waited another 10 minutes just to order. A waitress said she’d be right back and never came back. I walked out. This place clearly does not value people’s time. Food might be good, but the service is unacceptable.
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Honestly the food was like.. really pitiful. But the staff was friendly, and drinks are inexpensive. Lots of Tvs with various games..
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Order a burger and recieved it with no toppings . Waste of money
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We’re here every week for Bingo on Thursday. Ordered a double Tullamore dew, ginger beer, and lime. They brought a glass of ginger beer with no alcohol. I informed the server then the manager came over and tried to gaslight me into telling me there was whiskey in it, but the color is different because it was in a pint glass. She then went and remade it and it came out an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT COLOR and tried to tell me it was just a different color because of 6 more oz of ginger beer. I’ve drank highballs my whole adult life… I would know if a drink doesn’t have alcohol in it. Quite honestly the management at gators has gone way downhill. Why come over and argue with a customer who’s here weekly, spending hundreds of dollars a month, over one wrong drink order. It’s honestly sad and pathetic and a terrible way to treat customers. Do better.
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Great food and staff
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Went here for dinner while on a work trip, place seemed like a sports bar type place. Sat down waiter came over very polite asked what we wanted. My other two co-works ordered there drinks, I ask for a drink menu which took 15 mins to obtain. I ordered a pitcher which came with a broken glass to pour it into. When I pointed it out to the waiter he said "opps" but never came with a new one. When I pointed it out again he replied with "im working on it". The place was dead, so its not like he was slammed with tables. I ended up dumping my co-works water cup and using it.
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Very good food and good service
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They have a lot of activities and event throughout the week but the last time we visited, we were disappointed in the quality of food. The pasta sauce for my son’s pasta tasted like chemicals. The fries were so saturated in grease my cup had grease marks from my fingers (super greasy fries but undercooked). The buffalo chicken wrap was soggy and my sister said it was the worse ceaser salad she’s ever had. We haven’t had a poor experience with food here so it was very disappointing. Sadly, I think this was a turn off and we probably won’t be back for a long time…
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My Son won the Gator!! And everyone was shock and excited! Cooks and wait staff said they tried to get for 6 months haha. It made the night fun.
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Great, but unfortunately they increased the price of the "All you can eat wings" to a price that is no longer acceptable and i will no longer be going for this.
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Had my first taste of Alligator bites. Yummy !!!
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Best wings ever
Overall Score
43 / 100
Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.
Opening hours
- Monday
- 11 AM to 11 PM
- Tuesday
- 11 AM to 11 PM
- Wednesday
- 11 AM to 11 PM
- Thursday
- 11 AM to 11 PM
- Friday
- 11 AM to 12 AM
- Saturday
- 11 AM to 12 AM
- Sunday
- 11 AM to 11 PM
Inspection history
The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.
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March 2, 2026 · Routine - Food
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
1 high-priority · 3 intermediate · 15 basic
- 06 — Potentially hazardous foods properly thawed
- 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage
- 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
- 16 — Dishwashing facilities; sanitizer test kits; gauges (×4)
- 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized (×3)
- 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided
- 35 — Insects/rodents/pests; outer openings protected against pests
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×5)
- 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
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September 2, 2025 · Routine - Food
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
0 high-priority · 3 intermediate · 16 basic
- 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage
- 10 — In-use food dispensing utensils properly stored (×2)
- 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained (×6)
- 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized (×2)
- 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
- 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided
- 35 — Insects/rodents/pests; outer openings protected against pests
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×3)
- 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →
Data last updated: March 2, 2026