JBs on the Beach in Deerfield - where dining is like a vacation day

JBs on the Beach

300 N. Ocean Way, Deerfield 33441

954-571-5220

www.jbsonthebeach.com

Reservations taken for any size of party

Open Mon-Fri 11 a.m.

Sat/Sun at 10 a.m.

By Jane Feehan

The covered patio at JBs on the Beach stays busy most days, even when it rains. The view during daylight is fabulous. It’s the place to be for live music, and it lies just steps away from the sand. JBs claims one of the few beachfront dining addresses in Broward County.

View aside, the food here is consistently good – breakfast brunch during weekends, lunch or dinner. I’ve never had a bad meal including lobster.  Salads and fresh seafood headline the menu but JBs also serves up some tasty ribs, steaks, chicken, burgers and plenty-for-a-meal appetizers.

JBs also features a great lineup of live music – perhaps some of the best anywhere on the beach – which makes this a great place to relax on weekend days and a spot to crank it up at night (check their website for lineup and full schedule).

If  summer humidity discourages some from sitting on the patio, there’s plenty of room inside, including a large bar, where the view is much the same. When locals have out-of-town-visitors, many head for JBs for a taste and view of Florida; it’s a good one. 

The tab for parking is $5. Public parking is available nearby but tough to get on weekends. There is lots of traffic during the season along Deerfield Beach so patience is a plus. The fishing pier, a short walk from JBs, was recently revamped (signage now says “Deerfield International Pier”), making the beach here one of the most pleasant in the county. Stroll after dining.  A visit to JBs is like taking a vacation day ...

Tags: Deerfield Beach restaurants, live music on Deerfield Beach, seafood in Deerfield Beach, restaurants on the beach in Deerfield

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

Whale’s Rib

2031 NE 2^nd 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