Having gone back once more, this time in casual clothes (I wore jeans, a T-shirt and a Carhartt coat; my date was in jeans, boots, Harley shirt/cap and a similar jacket), I can say conclusively that Dockside Bistro has fixed whatever the hell their original problem/s might have been.
We were treated courteously, seated promptly, served wine, appetizer and soda pop without any request for ID, and brought the full amount of change (once again, promptly when we were ready to pay).
Whatever their issue was (staff? management?), it's no longer a problem and I can heartily recommend their calimari with sauce assortment as an appetizer.