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    Herbie's Bar and Chowder House

    4.4 (677 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Seafood, American
    Closed • Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Herbie's Bar and Chowder House Takeout or Delivery

    Herbie's Bar and Chowder House Photos

    Business Info

    HERBIE'S BAR AND CHOWDER HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Herbie's Bar and Chowder House

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jason P.

    Herbie's Bar & Chowder House in Marathon has been operating under that name since 1963, with roots going back to the 1940s as Maggie's Chowder House and later Fishnet's. It's legitimately one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the Florida Keys, which gives it a lot of built-in credibility before you even sit down. Walking up to it, you feel that history. The exterior, the gravel lot, the signage--it's pure roadside Keys. Inside, it leans into that "local bar meets tourist stop" vibe: long wooden bar, TVs, stickers everywhere, taps lined up. Then you open the menu and it pivots in every direction--New England chowder house, BBQ joint, burger shack, seafood spot. It's not clear what it wants to be, and that lack of focus carries straight through to the food. We started with both chowders. The clam chowder looks right at first glance, but the texture tells you everything--thick, almost gluey, clearly roux-heavy. The flavor leans aggressively fatty, closer to margarine than butter, with very little clam presence. No briny backbone, no pepper, no lift. We ended up dumping in black pepper and hot sauce just to make it remotely acceptable--but even then, that heavy fat note kept pushing through. Nothing about it reads as New England. The conch chowder fares a bit better. You can actually see a decent amount of conch, and there's a peppery edge that helps. But the broth is thin and lacks the chunky, stewed tomato depth you expect from a proper Keys-style conch chowder. After having it done right earlier at Key Largo Fisheries, the difference was obvious. Then there are the Texas Twinkies--and the photo really says it all. On paper, this should work: jalapeños wrapped in bacon, stuffed with brisket, pulled pork, cheeses, and sauce. In execution, it's just too much. Too much cream cheese, too many competing sauces, meats chopped into a soft, indistinct filling. It collapses into a heavy, muddy bite that feels more overwhelming than satisfying. Looking back at the menu, the simpler move--burger, ribs, even wings--probably would have been the right call. Instead, we ordered straight into the identity crisis. And that theory held up. We went back and grabbed a burger later--cooked a proper medium rare, with well-done, crispy fries--and it was easily the best thing we had from them. I wanted to like Herbie's. There's history, personality, and clearly a loyal following. But between the confused concept and uneven execution, the move here is simple: stick to the basics.

    Pretzels were amazing
    Michael S.

    This was the perfect lunch! The set up is a bit confusing-- there are two indoor seating areas (each with their own bar) and a third outdoor patio, though each is accessed from separate doors. Door #2 had a host who told us we could sit on the patio behind door #1, but when we got there, someone was standing and waiting for the table to be cleaned. We ended up choosing door #3 that had an open table by a window. As far as food, they should really highlight the chicken and smashed potatoes on the menu as a signature item! Guy Fieri featured it on his show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives." I learned this tidbit after seeing the signed steel sheet pan hanging above the bar and googling the episode to see what he ate. It was good luck on my part, as almost ordered the brisket, but I saw mixed reviews and went with the chicken instead. In short, it was awesome -- a colossal mountain of chicken on a smashed baked potato and green beans, then covered in gravy. I loved every bite! My wife had a Mahi reuben (delicious) and my kids each had a grilled chicken sandwich with fries (both approved). And I can't forget... we also had an order of pretzels. They were soft, buttery delicious-ness and the pub cheese was incredible too. Thanks for a great lunch!

    Jake F.

    Such a cool spot. Lots of character and the food was great. Good prices and the service was fast. Got the grouper po' boy and it was so much food in the best way. The seasoned fries were also fantastic!

    Conch Chowder
    Adam R.

    This place was great! We started with the conch chowder and normally I don't like red chowder, but this one was really good! It was recommended over the fritters especially if you're trying Kong with the first time like we were. They have a great selection of beers on tap as well as sites as their sign claims! They even offer small taster sizes, which I was excited and did because I wanted to try several different kinds! Normally, with this weather, I'd want a light beer, but a couple of the dark beers sounded delicious and it turns out they were, but I was still able to finish the light beer and not be too crazy. For our mains, I had the fish and chips and their special for the day was Moco Loco, which I think is kind of funny because it's actually loco Moco, and since it's not actual traditional loco Moco from Hawaii, I wonder if that's their way of softening appropriation. Either way, both dishes were delicious! The fries are great, the fish flaky and loved the tartar sauce! To finish I had to try the Keylime pie since they make it in the house! It's certainly tart, but I loved it. They have three different options for seating. You can sit in the backyard, a fenced in patio and inside in the air conditioning yourself choose. Service was fast and friendly, no complaints at all and highly recommend.

    Sana S.

    Everywhere in the Keys tends to serve up a similar style of food, but Herbie's really stands out by adding their own twist. The poutine brisket fries were exceptional, rich, hearty, and packed with flavor. The shrimp tacos were fresh and flavorful, and the shrimp themselves were absolutely massive (definitely not your average taco shrimp!). Even the kids' sliders were juicy and cooked to perfection... no cutting corners here. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, and the food feels both unique and comforting at the same time. If you're looking for something beyond the standard Keys fare, Herbie's is definitely worth a stop.

    Special
    Madelyn A.

    Herbie's is always a must stop in the Keys. We tried the hot honey shrimp app and it was really crispy and flavorful. The chicken and smashed potato is always sooo good. I tried the Asian tacos and they were ok. Last time I came they had a Cobia special w coconut rice and green beans and it was one of the best fish dishes I've had, hope that comes back one day!

    Shaeerahzon M.

    Booked a weekend trip to the Keys and saw Herbie's on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives had to stop. I sat outside under the covered patio and ordered the mahi Reuben and conch chowder. The bartender was super welcoming and said the Reuben's been so popular, they're adding it to the regular menu. I love a classic Reuben, but this mahi version? Absolutely hit. Chowder was meaty and flavorful, and the fries were crispy and seasoned just right. So glad I made the stop!

    Spicy chicken sandwich and redneck sandwhich
    Tina C.

    Amazing customer service from Sacha, very professional and friendly. Food was fresh, flavorful, and all around amazing! Would recommend giving this place a go!

    Dolphin sandwich (or mahi mahi if you prefer)
    Dave T.

    If this is not the best fish sandwich I've ever had, it sure is tied with only a couple for top spot. Absolutely delicious. A big hunk of dolphin (which people have now co-opted as mahi mahi so as. It to get confused) excellently prepared , fresh, hot, perfect. Tap room, friendly, casual (It's Marathon) lots of other options too for seafood, I want to go back.

    Poutine

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    Page 1 of 17

    Herbie's Bar and Chowder House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Herbie's Bar and Chowder House

    Do they have TVs? Wanting to watch the final 4 bball?

    Yes, they sure do.

    Is this place "well-behaved-dog" friendly?

    Yes, I believe so. Outdoor seating behind the building has plenty of space and tables.

    12/25/2020: Is this biz still open? When I called it went to a VM saying the # is not in service.

    Yes they are.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    We came here for a late dinner and to hopefully catch the sunset. We timed it fairly spot on. They…read moresaid it would be about a 20-25 minute wait but it actually took less than 15 minutes. We got seated inside just as the sun was starting to set. Sadly all the guests that had finished eating right before us decided to walk over to the dock outside the restaurant which just so happened to be the exact viewing location for the sunset so we didn't get any really good photos of it bc there were so many people over there videoing it and taking photos. It was still nice scenery while we waited for our food though. I ordered ceviche to start us off as our appetizer and it was really good. My dinner was a pasta dish with shrimp and scallops. The sauce was supposed to be a white cream sauce but it was really runny. Even adding extra Parmesan cheese to it didn't help thicken it. It tasted ok. Not my best pick. I had a choice of soup or salad with it. I chose their she crab soup and I'm glad I did. It was great. Almost reminded me of homemade chicken and dumplings soup just with crab. I really liked it. I should have stopped with that and the ceviche. My husband got a grouper fish sandwich. He thought it was good but the prices were a bit high for what it was. His fish sandwich was $29. Although good, not worth $29. My pasta definitely not worth the $31. May be a bit of a tourist trap but the food was decent.

    When my dad and I came here last year this place was great. A lot has changed. Our server was…read morehorrible, she only came to check on us once, and to give us the bill. we were seated around the bar around 1pm today. I ordered the calamari and ordered it plain without all the extras. It was so greasy and chewy. There was oil all over the plate. I sent it back. Mahi sandwich was good, but you get such a small amount of fish. It was very thin, and then I had to wait an extra five minutes after the food got there to get my side.

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    Women's restroom decor

    Island Fish - Blackened grouper with seasoned rice and veggies.

    Blackened grouper with seasoned rice and veggies.

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    Frank's Grill

    4.5(375 reviews)
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    If you love authentic Italian and are looking for the BEST Alfredo you've ever tasted, you gotta go…read moreto Frank's. Modest looking from the outside in the strip mall. Trust me-delish! Atmosphere: Laid back. 12 tables. Good service. We had a great waitress with a good sense of humor. After taking our order, she disappeared for less than 2 minutes and returned with our salads. She apologized for the long wait (hahaha). Menu: Extensive! Great selection of wine, pastas, meats, and seafood platters. All exceptionally fresh! The homemade blue cheese dressing was exceptional too! The linguine was the default, but they are happy to change out the pasta type upon request. Food for thought: If you have a party of 8+ call in advance by a couple of days. They really only accommodate a party this large one table at a time. The restaurant is small. After an amazing first meal, we tried to return. I called the same day (Friday afternoon), the lady was rather rude and told me "We only got one table, Hun, shoulda thought ahead." I asked about coming in and waiting and she provided another disrespectful response. We tried again on Saturday and the gentleman tried to accommodate us better (ie/ 2 tables). Unfortunately, the timing still didn't work out, so they lost our sale. Tried to get sympathy for working past 9pm (staying open just for the current customers). Note they are closed on Sundays and for most of August for a vacation. Worth the visit overall though! We will try again next time we're in town.

    Loved our waitress!! She was funny and attentive. Thoroughly explained the specials and any…read morequestions my party had. The food was so fresh and flavorful. We got lucky with being seated right away - it was very popular for weekday dinner. Would definitely come back.

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    Frank's Grill - Chocolate marquise dessert

    Chocolate marquise dessert

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    Herbie's Bar and Chowder House - bars - Updated September 2026

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