Knechtel's on the Public Beach in Port Dover

Amazing staff all around. Great food!! We go quite a few times a year - worth the drive!!

Service was pretty good, great beach atmosphere but, their Pickerel sandwich might be the greatest thing Ive ever eaten. Absolutely fantastic

Excellent fish and chips. Great friendly service. Reasonable pricing. Beach atmosphere is awesome!

super cute restaurant on the beach with tables outside. great perch fresh from lake erie. always yummy. been coming here for literally years. Parking: parking in front of restaurant. or park on the wharf

We travel at least twice a month from the falls to get there perch and chips mmmmmm

Good food including the fried perch, along with their delicious tar tar sauce that they make. The rest of the food is good too, hot dog, burger and fries. Service was a bit slower but still ok. Lots of outdoor places to sit.

Perch dinner is delicious. Burgers were also good. You cant go wrong here for food and views.

Love the place!

Eating at the beach is always great. Had the paddock. It was overcooked and dry. I remember it being better last time. A friendly patron said I should have had the perch. Next time!

The perch dinner is solid, ordered it many times and it s always great :)

Always enjoyed the perch and the seasonal staff work hard.

Very good food, pricey, for the average person

Good considering it is a tourist area

Sorry we went there. The burger not good. The fries were ok but they water down their ketchup with too much vinegar. Never again. Wont recommend

Was fun eating perch. Good sized portions.

I recently visited Knetchels and had a mixed experience that left me with conflicting feelings. The food, unfortunately, did not live up to my expectations. The dishes I tried were notably oily and lacked flavor, leaving me feeling underwhelmed by the taste. On the bright side, the service at Knetchels was excellent. The staff members were attentive, friendly, and made me feel welcome throughout my visit. Additionally, the beach-like atmosphere of the restaurant created a relaxed and pleasant dining environment. The decor and ambiance added a nice touch to the overall experience. While the food fell short of what I had hoped for, the top-notch service and enjoyable atmosphere at Knetchels helped to salvage the experience. If the kitchen can improve the quality and flavor of their dishes, this place has the potential to be a standout dining destination.

The combo platter was delicious and the fish and chips hot

Knechtels is an institution for a reason. The food is always delicious, staff friendly and the location is perfect

Great fast food, fries are quite nice and fresh! Parking: Street parking only. Kid-friendliness: Great kid options. Outdoor seating. Wheelchair accessibility: Windows to order and take food are at a low height. Located directly on a street with a sidewalk.

Best perch dinner hands down. Well organized kitchen. Great staff. Love the beach seating

Love their sitting area! Clean, spacious, and cozy. Its surprisingly cheap! Food : 5/5

My friends favourite place for fish and chips in Port Dover. Good portion size for me. Im a fan of the coleslaw.

Delicious

Best fish n chips in the town. It is a must every time we visit Port Dover!

Best perch

I was not impressed with their fries (which is all that I had) my Nieces hot dog did not look anything special, far more bun than dog, which tells me that its a generic hot dog that banks on you overloading it with toppings, like pickles, which they had as self serve with the Ket/Mus/Rel. Wife had the chicken tenders, I took a nibble to compare with Port Ryerses Forks inbthe Road and while they had a good blend of seasoning, they were slightly overcooked and were absolutely pale in comparison. The gravy was tasty, though it was very gelatiny, but in fairness, we did get there slightly before they were closing, not that I understand why places start shutting down equipment before their designated hours of operation end Overall, Ill probably go back one day hoping for change and be disappointed. Parking: Unless youve never been to Dover than you know everything about the complete lack of close parking options in the beach/pier area

Tasty perch !!

Excellent food

Fine dining? Wow! The inflated prices are ridiculous. This was our summer place for years. But is it worth it? 3 pieces of fish some fries & a roast beef sandwich... Hardly value. Nostalgia great!

Their fish tacos are delicious!

Delicious food, big portions!

Cant say enough,great meal reasonable price for portions. Great view.

Great place to grab a bite and look out onto the beach

Ive been coming here for about 40 years. Ive never had a bad meal.

Always a great delight of perch and pickerel. Dealing with takeout only now, plenty of picnic tables setup outside. Still great portions, keep up the great food & service!!!

Fantastic place I had my usual chili dog and fries when I go down there. I was down there last Thursday and the girl you got working at the front is a huge benefit to the business very personable and friendly.

The food is average and you are not allowed to eat in the restaurant . It is windy and cold outside and the food gets cold very quickly. I advise everyone to ask if they can eat in the store before purchasing. You can get sick if you eat outside.

I got a mushroom burger and it was a bit salty for me but overall it was good! The topping stand had sliced tomatoes and banana peppers which was nice

I come here for a perch snack every time Im anywhere close to port dover.

A classic place...famous for fresh water fish: perch and pickerel! Yum. View of the beach!

Best Perch ever! Can never go wrong eating here Food

We had wonderful pickerel tacos. Delicious!

Ive been visiting Knechtels since the late 1970s. The perch is so good, its worth the drive from Buffalo. Ive never had perch the way they prepare it anywhere else. Knechtels is a must every time I go to Port Dover.

Great food! Would 100% recommend perch, very juicy and tender, goes well with their tartar sauce. Pickerel was not bad but compared to perch a little bland. The bun was pretty good, served with butter. The fries and coleslaws were, well, fries and coleslaws. They did take-out only when I visited, but they had a reserved patio for their customers. Parking was easy and free on the street. It was a great experience enjoying dinner while appreciating the beautiful beach, lake, and sunset!

Consistent fast food on the beach in Port Dover, including locally caught perch and pickerel. You cant go to Dover and not eat on the beach.

Awesome fries

High quality fish and chips ,fast service, take out only

One of the best fish and chips (perch dinner) that I have ever had. Amazing location and service with a great view of the lake!

Sad the hours are wrong, we just drove an hour and closed

Staff was incredibly unwelcoming. Came in with a group of young, alternative looking adults and was treated much differently than other customers by a man who I assume is the owner. Upon entering and during our 10 minute wait, we were told three times that we could not stay upon receiving our food. Several of us noted that they had caught him staring and giving us dirty looks during our visit. Not once did we hear him repeat this to the other customers who entered during our wait, and when interacting with others there was a visible shift in his demeanor. During our visit, we sat quietly and talked amongst ourselves but were by no means disruptive. Food was okay for what it was, and they had a pretty good topping selection but definitely will not be returning.

very very rude man and made the whole experience unwelcoming

Best deep fried perch

If the fries were fresh cut, theyd get 5 stars. Everything Ive eaten there has been good except the breaded shrimp was meh. Attentive service. Those kids work hard.

Simply the Best Fast Food Ive Had

Cannot beat this perch dinner. 11/10 always consistent.

Pleasantly surprised to find this place opened on a cold, wintry day. Service was fast, food was warm and it tasted delicious. In a way, glad we didnt have to wait in a long queue

This perch is always my go to!

What can you say, an iconic staple on the beach. Ive not been to Dover in a couple of years, I went straight to Knechtels

Good fish and chips!

Excellent perch dinners on the go.

Great perch

Great homey place with salad bar included. Pickerel and perch were fantastic. Price very fair. Open year round for take out. Parking: Parking all along the front Kid-friendliness: Family restaurant.

Absolutely the best perch dinner!!

Amazing doesnt get any better! Parking: Any bad day this makes me happy Food : 5/5 |

great place to eat the perch is 10 times better then other restaurants in town. eat here not at the erie beach. Food : 5/5

Be nicer inside

Great food as always

We had the Lake Erie Combo (Lake Erie Perch and Pickerel, fries, coleslaw, and tartare sauce). Quality and taste were very good. Service was very friendly. 100% recommended!

What a beautiful setting for a delicious fish fry. This place has the best fish Ive ever had. Sitting on the beach front. We drive 30 minutes to get ours on Fridays. Home of Friday the 13th as well.

It was vel worth ed the almost two hours of driving, we will be back.

Great food, lots of free parking..friendly staff Parking: Lots Food : 5/5 |

Cant beat Port Dover maybe Im sentimental perch is the best but it does not hold a candle to what it used to be. People are friendly and service is good very clean.

Best perch platter!

The Perch platter is just amazing. Awesomeness.

So good

Food is great

They are not on a public beach it is privately own and cant be on unless you have food from the restaurant

They have a great location but wish theyd put a little more effort into the place and food. $90 for perch and a hot dog to go is a little much. seems like its be cheaper to go to the beach house (same owner) and have a sit down meal

Whats there not to love about Knechtels!? They have the best perch dinners in Norfolk. They cater so many events in the area and you know the food will be amazing when you hear its them. They also hire younger students and really work with them to give them a good head start in the work field.

Honestly the BEST fish & chips in the area. Love the perch & pickerel dinner and the breaded shrimps. They have a really tasty tartar sauce that pairs well with the fish. Worth the drive every time.

Always come here for perch when in Port Dover. Its the best!

Walked away feeling like I got a bit scammed. Been coming here for almost two decades, always order the Perch Dinner, which comes with fish, fries, and a bun. Decided to order a Perch Platter today, which I assumed was just a Perch Dinner but a large portion, only to find out it doesnt come with fries or a bun. And it cost $42 after tax... Wont be coming back again. Its far too pricey now.

First time back here since 2019. The food was terrific as always. Service was prompt and friendly and I really felt like their decor and condiment stations had a really nice uplift since the last time we visited. Kid-friendliness: Lots of great options here for kids who might be picky about seafood. My son loved the burgers.

Quick and efficient

Fantastic! First three beer selections were sold out - not a problem - this place has a wide selection of beers - the Wishbone Hazy IPA was Perf! Food was great - pickerel, sweet potato fries - summer kale salad! The setting is awesome - on the beach!

Quick, friendly and efficient service. Conveniently located close to the beach. The food was fresh and tasted good. The outside seating area was clean and well kept. Food

Great fish n chips, great seating/view and the price was also good

Order the Perch! It is super delicious.

Delicious food, friendly service, fun atmosphere. Picnic tables available to eat, just off the beach. Would definitely return.

Great perch

Great place to grab a bite and enjoy it at the beach. Highly recommend getting the platter and a fry to split.

Very generous fish portions. Batter isnt the most well seasoned but it is far better than most places and nice and crispy.

Its not summer until you make the trek to Knechtels!

No real atmosphere as you order at the stand. That being said the fish is absolutely fantastic and is a great choice for a family dinner pickup. Will be back again for sure.

Awsome

Shrimp was OK , fries were fresh and tasty

Beautiful fish n chips literally on the beach. Fish battery not too greasy and chips delicious. Price is normal for fish n chips too.

Food is expensive and average in taste. I could get better food at tons of locations back in Mississauga. Fries were above average, burger is pretty average. Only selling point is the location. Vegetarian options: Few options Kid-friendliness: Customize order

Its okay.

If you want good fried perch, you need to visit Port Dover. Right on the beach of Lake Erie where perch is abundant. Cant be any fresher. The fish was tender and perfectly cooked. The fries were hand cut and crispy. Even the coleslaw was great, not too sour not too sweet. Definitely a must when visiting!

Had the pickeral dinner from Knechtels today, and it was the best fish and chip Ive ever had. 10/10 wpuld reccomend and would order again

Best lake erie perch around! Love eating on beach with the water in view

BEST FISH AND CHIPS I EVER HAD

I m not usually a fish person, but their fried perch was delicious! Service and food were both great. This is definitely a must-try for anyone visiting the area. Parking: Street parking available out front, but I imagine the busier the beach, the further the parking.

The Best Perch dinner in Ontario, great town to visit and enjoy; Beach and Dinner .

Some of the best fish I ever had.

The service was great!! The fish was PERFECT! The perch was AMAZING!!

Went on a weekday when the place wasnt busy. Had the fish n chips. Good value for money.

I didnt have any negative experience at this place the food was great. I just picked up fish and fries to go. Food

It was ok, typical food, service was not very good. Staff yelling at each other..

Great food, good service and close to the beach.

Best place for perch and pickerel (w chips) near the beach. Picnic tables w umbrellas steps from the takeout counter virtually on the beach. Less than $20 for 1 piece pickerel/2 pieces of perch. Come slaw, tartar sauce, and a fresh roll w butter included. White and malt vinegar on the tables. A great takeout experience. Staff are super friendly too. Wheelchair accessibility: Access for all

We went to Knetchels for their famous perch but upon arrival we found eat in was not available since covid. We were very disappointed as we have been going there over many years. Only service was at the window so we left!

we dined on the beach in the sunshine!

By far some of the best fish and chips Ive had. Amazing fresh water Perch and Mackerel. Dishes are more pricey but you get what you pay for. Delicious fish and chips. And might I add their home made coleslaw is amazing!

To put this in context, Port Dover is one of 3 public beaches in Norfolk County and the least rated on Google reviews. (For the beach quality and ambience refer to reviews) Realizing we couldnt get into Long Point or Turkey Point that Labour Day weekend we decided to drive to Port Dover. We got there around 5, drove around town to find a parking spot. Food truck style for people looking for Lake Erie perch, looks like a favourite among locals. The line moves relatively fast. Price is what youd expect in these small beach towns along Lake Erie. Imo its a bit pricey, but these towns need to make the most out of summer time tourism. Decent portions, the perch dinner came with a side of coleslaw and fries. Fed 3 of us who are on a budget and did not need a lot of food. The alternative, $35 for a dozen battered perch pieces and not much else seems like a highway robbery but I guess regulars think thats a deal. The homemade tartar is watery - kinda gross, so is the milkshake at $4.45 for a small. If your standards are McDonalds and Wendys milkshakes then you wont be disappointed. The better quality is London Ice Cream around the corner.

Take out perch & poutine excellent as always

Ive been to Knechtels a few times before. This visit was another Friday 13th. Even as busy as it was, the service was still great. These guys and gals who work to serve us bikers on our favourite holiday deserve some recognition for a job well done.

Ate outdoor during Friday the 13th, the perch and pickerel were tasty

Fries were terrible frozen fries jot fresh

First time in a long while that I had been there. Waitress was all smiles and very courteous. I feel guilty I didnt tip her. Never even occured to me. I will definitely be back.

We were there in the middle of November. I love Port Dover. We had the classic fish and chips, and the fish was perfect. We sat in the car as it was cold outside. Thanks for being open for takeout...we greatly appreciate it

Always love some perch by the beach no matter what time of year!

Had their fish n chips for the first time. Its probably some of the best Ive ever had. Good value for the money and the personal notes on the packaging is a nice touch. Its definitely a great place to stop and eat.

I ordered fish on a bun and it was delicious.

Best fish and chips

Always a beach front delight. Simple local food at the beach cant be better.

Had the pickerel and perch combo. The batter wasnt crispy which I wasnt expecting but perhaps that is how it is suppose to be. Fries and coleslaw were standard The food looks just like the pictures. Fast service.

We always get the perch or pickerel dinner but I went for the tacos this time. Fabulous!

Good fresh food! Must try the pickeral tacos!

My favourite fish n chips place of all time. Get the Lake Erie Perch dinner. You wont be disappointed!

Great food, tried their chili fries and loved them! Also love the location righhhht of the beach

Met the girls for Lunch on the patio. Fish Tacos. DELICIOUS

Ive been coming here for longer than I remember. Growing up in the general area it was always exciting to come for perch and/or pickerel and chips and to this day it is still my favourite fish n chip place even though the visits are far less frequent. Its makes for a perfect day to enjoy you lunch on a beach picnic table in the sun. Everything is always perfectly cooked and the portions are quite good. Its always tempting to go with just the perch for the naturally sweet taste, but you cant beat the combo which gives you 2 good sizes pieces of perch, a large piece of delicious pickerel as well plus the always tasty coleslaw, tartar sauce and a fluffy roll.

Soo goood. Poutine, Fish, burgers, great for after a hard swim. Kid-friendliness: Kid Friendly menu and items! Wheelchair accessibility: Lots of flat land!

Great place for Perch lots of picnic tables right on the beach Parking: Pay for parking after the first hour Kid-friendliness: Beach and water Wheelchair accessibility: They have a walk way right down to the beach

If youre in the area you gotta stop for perch here. A perch snack comes with fries, bun, tartar sauce and coleslaw. Dont worry if there is a big line because they move through it QUICK. There were about 5 people in line ahead of us and maybe just as many waiting and our 2 snacks and 1 dinner came out in minutes and it was piping hot and fresh.

I had the Perch dinner and its not what it it used to be when I was a kid, let me tell you. The pieces you get are like the size of chicken nuggets, fries and coleslaw the only thing tasty out of the whole meal was the tartar sauce unbelievably dissatisfied 99% dont waste your money here.

Pleasant staff, decent food for a quick beach lunch. Kid-friendliness: Kids options were sensible size and variety

Our fav spot in Port Dover for fish and chips . Delicious and fresh . Lake Erie Combo - Perch and Pickerel .

We rushed from Kingston just to eat at Knechtels. We arrived 15 minutes before they closed. The Perch and Pickerel was so good as usual.

Parking: Friendly staff

best fish in the province

Reliable take out on the beach. Reasonable prices. Kid-friendliness: Beach front take out. Picnic tables available.

I have been coming here since I was a kid and this place still delivers. I had the 2 pc perch « snack » with fries. Everything was delicious, especially the fish, coleslaw and the big fluffy roll. Great location right on the beach and plenty of seating including some picnic tables in the shade.

Always worth the drive to Knechtels on the Beach, Port Dover. Great perch dinner and fries. Friendly service & fast take-out.

Excellent fresh perch served with poutine (house made proper gravy and cheese curds) along with a fresh bun and delicious cole slaw.

Always a must when in Port Dover.

Great fish speedy service.... prices have gone up Parking: Pay parking

The food was wonderful along with the service. We will return!

Fish was delicious, lovely spot on the beach

Great foof

Always great perch! Whether its the booth or one of their restaurants, never disappoints. Menue for land lubbers too!

Would of liked to dine in but that option isnt available.

Always love their perch and pickerel since I was a kid.

Comforting to see this place year after year serving great food you can carry over to a table right on the beach. Prices are more than fair fornthe great portion sizes you get.

Awesome fish every time. Fish tacos were enormous and very good!

Big portions.

Perch and ordinary grocery store fries under heat light .

Love the food

Love coming home and coming here. Best perch ever.

They only had take out. Eating outside your food gets cold and cold fries arent very appetizing. The price has gone up and you get less,( no salad bar).

Used to go here all the time, ever since I was a little girl; a go to location for locals and not so locals for perch and chips and other goodies (Im not sure if its still there or not but LOVED the salad bar). Overdue for a visit there!

Always a nice little restaurant...good fries today! Friendly service! A nice treat!!

Was taking a friend tonight for their fish and chips, due to Covid they have resorted to strictly takeout! We were very disappointed and will probably not go back.