Kelly’s Landing
1305 SE 17th Street
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
Open Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday, Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday Brunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
954-760-7009
By Jane Feehan
Kelly’s Landing, serving New England seafood, is proof that good food can overcome a not-so-good location. This eatery opened nearly 25 years ago at the west end of a shopping center on SE 17th Street. It remains when other businesses, including restaurants, have closed or moved. If you didn’t know it was there, facing Cordova Road, you'd miss it.
Kelly’s has built a huge following serving up Maine lobster, chowders, Ipswich clams, scrod dishes and, well, all things Boston, including Boston sports TV.
Kelly’s has built a huge following serving up Maine lobster, chowders, Ipswich clams, scrod dishes and, well, all things Boston, including Boston sports TV.
I lunched on a lobster roll ($16), served with piping hot fries and a generous helping of excellent cole slaw. The scoop of lobster was fresh, ice cold and tossed with a minimum of dressing, a good thing. Dining companion ordered a fresh and tasty mahi mahi sandwich (about $10) with the same sides.
The caveat for dinner is to stick with the lobster and fried seafood dishes. A broiled Kelly's medley of scrod, shrimp and scallops was watery (once frozen) and fairly tasteless. They also don't know much about blackened fish or scallops--clearly not their specialty.
The caveat for dinner is to stick with the lobster and fried seafood dishes. A broiled Kelly's medley of scrod, shrimp and scallops was watery (once frozen) and fairly tasteless. They also don't know much about blackened fish or scallops--clearly not their specialty.
Kelly’s also entices repeat customers with beef, chicken and pasta dishes. When I visited, daily specials included a prime rib hoagie. Neighboring diner, a regular, was pleased with a comfort meal of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
Other specialties, averaging $20, include fried seafood platters, sea scallop scampi, chicken scampi, and clam bake. Prices range to fit different budgets; there are lunch specials and appetizers under $10 to lobster scampi at $25 and Maine lobster at market prices.
Wait staff told me Kelly’s is a great place to work; it shows in their friendly, excellent service. It’s not surprising, then, that both customers and staff know each other by first name here … where Boston accents run thick.
Bar serves wine and beer.
Tags: Maine lobster in Fort Lauderdale, New England seafood in Fort Lauderdale, Boston sports bar in Fort Lauderdale
