Monday, December 20, 2010

Whale's Rib, Deerfield Beach - Captain Ahab would gladly dine here


Whale’s Rib
2031 NE 2nd Street
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441
954-421-8880
Open Monday through Thursday and Sunday: 11 a.m.-11 pm
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.



By Jane Feehan

It’s not gourmet but Whale’s Rib dishes up some basic seafood at reasonable prices – and it’s fresh.

Shrimp, scallops, fish, fried seafood platters, sandwiches, and raw bar selections highlight a large menu priced from about $10 to $25. A combo seafood platter ($25) with lobster, a clam Casino, an oyster Rockefeller, shrimp and scallops is large enough a meal to be shared. Popular sides are black beans and rice. Fries here, resembling homemade potato chips and served with honey mustard, are excellent.  One caveat: stay away from the shrimp po-boys. Made with a few shrimp cooked tempura style (yikes) and thrown on a soft roll similar to a hotdog’s (oh dear) is as far away from the traditional Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans variety as one can get. They should take it off the menu; it’s tasteless.

Whale’s Ribs hosts a loyal and spirited bar crowd but it’s also family friendly and ultra casual.  A raw bar (away from the drinking area) seats four or five. Food Network's Guy Fieri stopped in a couple of years ago to do an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It was a well-deserved media hit for the restaurant.
Service: good. Parking: tight.
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Tags: Deerfield Beach seafood restaurants, South Florida seafood, South Florida dining