Food is great, love visiting while I'm at the beach. The bartender Coleen,; however, is very rude and has been in multiple occasions. My first encounter with her was while dining with a friend and she seemed like she couldn't be bothered mind you the bar was empty. I've popped in for soda water in the past and never had there been a charge but on a different day I happened to pop in and ask her and it was 2$ ok no biggie but odd. Today was final straw she asked what my friend wanted after checking ID and immediately walked away as if she's not capable of taking two orders at once then as she checked my id after checking my friends she studied it as if I had a fake and questioned some of the numbers. I'm 25 with a Florida ID..Considering her attitude in the past we left cause that's not someone I want to give my money to. I'm in the industry and I know better read more

Deerfield Beach casual beach bar and grill, with a Key West vibe, plus good food and friendly service Terrific beach ambience with laidback surfer ambiance. Sit outside if nice weather Service was terrific, prompt and friendly. Everyone here from the front check in to the server was smiling and helpful Food was also very good. Hawaiian chicken breast sandwich combined with homemade coleslaw really hit the spot. read more

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I've eaten at The Whale's Rib for over 35 years and never wrote a review. At this point, it feels less like procrastination and more like a character flaw. Thirty. Five. Years. I've had friendships that didn't last as long as my loyalty to this place... jobs have come and gone... and somehow those still got more documentation. Let's get this out of the way early, because it matters. It's a dive. Not "we hired a designer to make it look like a dive" trendy. I mean a real one. A beautiful, glorious, perfectly worn-in dive. The kind of place where the wood paneling has seen things, the license plates on the wall have outlasted relationships, and absolutely nothing is trying too hard. Because it doesn't have to. And then the food shows up... and gently reminds you why this place has been packed since before people were arguing about reviews online. The move? Always has been, always will be. The Dolphin Key West sandwich. Blackened dolphin, seasoned like someone actually respects the fish, sitting on a dark pumpernickel roll with Swiss and their homemade slaw. Hot, fresh, consistent to a level that feels almost suspicious. "Consistency like this isn't luck... it's legacy." Every bite tastes like the last time you had it... even if that last time was five, ten, or yes... thirty-five years ago. Whale chips on the side. Extra whale sauce. This is not a suggestion. This is a life choice. If you skip it, I can't help you. Start with the conch chowder. Finish with the key lime pie. Congratulations, you've just unlocked the full experience. There's always a wait. There's always a crowd. And somehow, nobody's mad about it. You stand around, you talk, you smell the food coming out of the kitchen like it's teasing you a little... and then you sit down and forget you ever waited. That's how this place works. Yeah, they've been featured on the Food Network. Cool. Good for them. But let's be honest, that feels less like a discovery and more like someone finally catching up to what locals have known forever. Five stars. No hesitation. And yeah... I'm a little annoyed it took me 35 years to make that official. If South Florida had a Hall of Fame, The Whale's Rib isn't just in it... it's first ballot, unanimous, and they stop counting votes early. read more

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Back here again with friends on a Saturday night. We arrived around 6:30 pm, had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated. Parking is a big issue here. We were lucky that there was one spot at their parking lot available when we arrived. I had a garden salad with blackened shrimp this time. There were 6 shrimps, the portion of salad is a lot, I finished the shrimps of course but I couldn't finish all of the salad, I had to take it home to enjoy it. Hubby had tuna salad and crab cake, he liked it. read more

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Let me cut to the chase, it's crab legs on crab legs on crab legs for a great price. They're so tasty and sweet that you don't even need the butter they provide. The clam chowder is done to perfection and the crab cake is a great way to start your meal. Not pictured are the delicious whale chips which are must when dining here. The service is always efficient and the restaurant is large with plenty of seating. They don't take reservations but they usually get guys in and out quickly to where you won't wait too long on busy nights. The parking onsite is free as long as it's not too busy which is clutch since you are right on the beach and have to pay for other restaurants around the beach. read more

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This isn't my first time here, but I had a friend visiting and I knew this was a must-stop. There's so much history in this place, and my friend absolutely fell in love with it. We enjoyed the fried shrimp with home fries . she was obsessed with the homemade spicy garlic red sauce. The dolphin sandwich was also delicious, super fresh and flavorful. Our server was friendly and really helped us choose, which made the experience even better. No complaints at all. If you're in the area, definitely come here. The beach is nearby, the vibe is great, and it's one of those spots you just keep coming back to. Love this place. read more

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This place was so neat! The long wait was well worth it! Rumy, our waitress was friendly and attentive. The chips with "whale juice" are so good. We shared lots of apps - all delicious. They were out of a lot of things in their raw bar, so I ended up getting the lobster salad sandwich. It did not disappoint! read more

The Whale's Rib - Individual Soda Pitcher - Seafood Near Me - Deerfield Beach, Florida

It has been years since I had been to the Whale's Rib and happy we went. We all enjoyed our food. You MUST get the whale chips! Sooooo good! Everyone enjoyed their food. The only downside is parking. Managers don't just stand around. When they saw my husband's drink empty it was immediately refilled by the manager. Our server was super friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back. read more

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A chill restaurant in walking distance from the beach. Outside seating was the best as it was sunny and warm on this particular day. My friend and I enjoyed cups of soup. I had lobster bisque and he had clam chowder. We also ordered oysters, Rock Shrimp and a Blackened Dolphin Sandwich (fries not needed). A very filling and quite delicious meal that would definitely have again on another warm beach day. The server was fine. Not great but not terrible. Our food came out the way it was supposed to and he was always around when necessary so great on that front. read more

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This is my third time to this restaurant. The staff is really good at your job. It's a very popular place, especially due to the location to the pier. Their specialty is seafood and there's a couple of different fish that are awesome. We really like the fried potato chips as in an appetizer. And the crab cakes I had today were very good. I'd recommend it. read more

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Great rock shrimps the whale fries are a must. The fish sandwich is excellent . What ever u order it's great.

Finally writing a review after years of coming to Whale's Rib, because they deserve the love! Popped in over Memorial Day Weekend and despite the crowds, the wait was surprisingly short...maybe 15 minutes tops. Not bad at all for a holiday weekend. We feasted like we meant it. Standouts were definitely the escargot and steamed clams, absolutely fav's on the menu. Seriously, don't sleep on the escargot, it's buttery, garlicky perfection! MUST HAVE! I went with the blackened dolphin for my main. It was a little overcooked this time around, but still tasty and full of flavor. Nothing a little lemon and some dipping sauce couldn't fix. Whale's Rib has been a go-to spot for years, and it never disappoints. Solid seafood, laid-back beachy vibe, and always a few great daily specials. If you know, you know. read more

The Whale's Rib - Seafood Near Me - Deerfield Beach, Florida

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Great food! Services was good. With the beach down the block, this place is a great vibe.

Service was exceptional! Our server was on it! Even the manager came around to check on everything. Food was fresh and delicious! I recommend the conch fritters with whale fries. Ambiance is casual beach vibes. The place was very nice inside and out. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Just a short walk from the beach! Highly recommend. read more

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The last time we tried to eat here this place had just been on Dinners Drive Inns and Dives and it was next to impossible to get in. Here we are a few years later and we around the corner and decide to try again. This time success! It's Busy but not crazy busy and we get seated immediately. First the brought us drinks, the largest glass of soda I've ever gotten in a restaurant, served in a 32 ounces pitcher with a straw. We started out a couple of soups. My daughter had a cup of lobster biquisk and I had a cup of clam chowder. Both were very good. Afre that we shared a basket of whale fries, a thick cut potato chip, but not fried to a crisp, served with their whale juice "honny mustard" It was different but really good and we all seemed to enjoy it. For lunch we all had different things my daughter got chicken wings. I didn't get to take a photo but they looked really good! Now my wife had a grouper wrap with a baked potato. The wrap must have been really good since she ate the whole thing. The baked potato, she it was one of the best potatoes she has ever had. She said it was cooked perfect!! As for me I had the California chicken sandwich, I got it blackened. The blackened seasoning was very good, it also had cheese, sprouts, avocado, tomatoes and onions. It was an enormous sandwich, the chicken was cooked perfect and it was really good. The service, it was just as good, not only our server, but everyone we encountered. Even the manager, we were at the table next to his office and evertime he walked by he did something for us. Drink refills ect. The only negative thing I have to say is the parking. It sucks, I think they have some valet parking but if you need park in another place they charge you. What suck is you have to pay for four hour when you need only two hours. Not the restaurant s fault. read more

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I devoured my lobster bisque! Would order again , highly recommend. Service was outstanding as always. Ambiance laid back and relaxing.

Our first visit here and was seated right away on a Saturday night. The ambiance is just a chill, comfortable place. We ordered: 1) Yellowfin Tuna Sandwich $15 - tuna was small, buns were huge; would probably be better off with chicken or bigger fish size to match the proportion 2) Snow crab legs with two sides $25 - 2 clusters and we got the baked potato and Caesar salad; good and simple 3) Dozen Steamed Clams $14 - 1/3 of them were sandy *** please don't forget to soak them several more times *** aside from that, they were good picks 3) Conch fritters included with whale fries $14 - thinly sliced fried potatoes were addicting and comes with a small side of whale juice, which is their homemade honey mustard. You normally wouldn't hear someone say gimme that whale juice but ey... gimme a jug of that whale juice, please Food came out quick and service was amazing. I have to compliment this: Every single one of their staff were very efficient and consistently attentive to all the customers. I saw such great teamwork, it's impressive. Great job guys and def recommend! read more

This is your Deerfield Beach stop for seafood! Everything is fresh and prepared quickly. We split the fried rock shrimp, each had a bowl of lobster bisque, and then split the blackened wahoo sandwich. The rock shrimp was served with spicy mayo with a light batter, the bisque was creamy with some lobster chunks, and the sandwich was fresh and had a great sauce too. A local gem, don't miss it! read more

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Always a great meal with good service. We're seafood lovers and every time we eat here, it does not disappoint. Consistent food quality and friendly service. read more

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Such a great restaurant! Would recommend to anyone. The whale chips are delicious, they're a must. When I went, we got the sampler of oysters and loved the Parmesan ones the most. Wasn't too big of a fan of the Rockefeller oysters because of the tomato but still good. The mussels appetizer is delicious and worth getting as well. Inside is also cool and staff is lovely. read more

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Great atmosphere with that old, dive bar type feel. Enjoyed looking at the decor on the walls. We made it a point to try The Whale's Rib due to its appearance on Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives. Glad we could say we tried it for that reason, and the soup was fabulous, but didn't love anything else we ate. read more

The Whale's Rib - Seafood Near Me - Deerfield Beach, Florida

This is definitely a fun little spot on the beach if you're in the mood for seafood. The vibe is cute, the location is great, and it's one of those places that feels like part of the "beach day" experience. That said... I'm not totally convinced I'd come back. It's not bad by any means, but there are definitely better options in the area if you're really craving good seafood. This one is more of a "nice to try once" kind of place rather than a new favorite. Fun? Yes. Memorable enough to return? Ehh... debatable. read more

The Whale's Rib - Rock Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Deerfield Beach, Florida

Went tonight after seeing all the good recommendations. I ordered a shrimp poor boy, my parents ordered coconut shrimp and crab cakes, while my wife got the Polynesian chicken sandwich. Everything was very good and we ordered a big bowl of "Whale Chips". They were homemade potato chips with a side of some kind of honey mustard. It was very good but totally filled me up before dinner came out, lol. Good little bar/pub type atmosphere. The service was good and the server was pretty good. Recommended! read more

Came here over the weekend after hearing that it was featured on Diners, Drive In and Dives and it definitely did not disappoint! First off our server was so nice and super attentive. We felt so welcomed and it was such a great start to an ever better dinner. The restaurant itself is also nice and cozy. We decided to order a round of the homemade whale fries and they were delicious! And the portion was huge! Definitely order them either as an appetizer or as a side because they are so good! Some of our table ordered the lobster bisque and they all raved about it. For my entree I went with the blackened dolphin sandwich and I can honestly say it was one of the best mahi sandwiches I've ever had. It was fresh, flavorful, and BIG! I also got a baked potato as a side and it was perfect. Others at the table ordered the famous Dolphin key west sandwich that was featured on the show and they could not stop talking about how delicious and different it was. I cannot say enough good things about the Whales Rib. If you're in Deerfield and wondering where to eat, definitely come here! read more

Great food and beach atmosphere. Yeah you got to bring some $$$ and parking can be interesting. Hillsboro Beach pier is next door. read more

My fresh seafood craving was satisfied! I was staying at a hotel in the area and was looking for somewhere to have fresh fish. On Yelp, the Whale's Rib came up. Due to the amount of good reviews and proximity, I chose to dine here. Table for 1. Service was very quick. Waitlist process was very easy. Once inside, it was very cute to see how they decorate the place. Different state license plates took up the walls. I found out prior to arriving this restaurant was featured on Diners Dine-Ins and Drives with Guy Fieri. I got the fresh dolphin, which comes with choice of salad and 1 side. I got a house salad with a side of whale chips. They are famous for their whale chips. I also ordered an additional side of beans and rice. The fresh dolphin was amazing. I asked for extra lemons. The whale chips were okay. Mine felt like they were not fully cooked/crispy but the accompanying sauce was really good. The house salad was nothing special. But was refreshing to have prior to my meal. The beans and rice were a great addition to the meal. I really enjoyed my experience here and would come back next time I am in the area. read more

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Have been going here for a long time , just never put review in. I always go here when I'm in Florida on vacation, soon to be living there, lol. The place looks like it's from the 80's , but the service and seafood are great. Been here multiple times and always satisfied when I leave. I'd recommend this place for sure and I'll be going there at least once a month now. read more

the food is fantastic don't get me wrong... the bartender Colleen on the other had had been nasty on several occasions and makes it a problem that you want to be served unless you are a regular. i would highly avoid sitting at the bar. I am 25 with a florida ID as is my friend and every time she look at the id for 2-3 minutes trying to say there fake. such a turn off. as a bartender myself this is just terrible services when you're running the bar solo who is going to tip or pay when you act like that you read more

Put our names on the list and they sat 5 parties before us even a table of 12 :( we were standing right in front of the desk too the entire time Don't care how good the food is, service is important and if you're hungry don't even bother, you'll be waiting forever. OVER AN HOUR for 3 people...... Unfortunate. I'm not one to be rude either or give bad reviews, I almost always give good reviews but this is sad - I'll actually never come back and never recommend. read more

Great restaurant and bar. The food is excellent and at moderate prices. The Manager, Trevor, goes out of his way to make sure that you have a positive experience. He genuinely seemed to value me as a customer and appreciated my business. Andy M. read more

Our first time at the Whale's Rib was a positive experience. We were very lucky to have found a spot in their tiny parking lot! Hubby and I sat at the bar. It seemed like it was filled with regulars, but they were all friendly. The bar staff, especially Amanda, were excellent and very helpful. We started with the clams casino which was good, but had too much bacon for my taste. We both ordered side caesars which were tasty and fresh. I had the Dolphin Key West sandwich and it was the best mahi sammich I've ever had. I can't wait to either have that again or try the Key West Reuben. My husband ordered the Dolphin stuffed with crabmeat and Ritz crackers with a baked potato on the side. He enjoyed his meal. Overall a great night out and I would definitely return and recommend. read more

The Whale's Rib - Key west dolphin - Seafood Near Me - Deerfield Beach, Florida

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DDD brought me here! I had to try the whale fries and whale sauce. I loved the sauce and the chips were good, too. Some were really crispy and some were really soggy but I honestly liked having the variety! I got a dolphin (mahi mahi) wrap and while I thought the fish was really good, the wrap was missing something. They brought tartar sauce to the table, but I actually opted to use whale sauce on the wrap which helped give it a little something extra. My only issue with the ambiance is the music was super loud. Otherwise, I loved all the license plate decor and the whole vibe of the place! read more

The Whale's Rib - Whale Fries - Seafood Near Me - Deerfield Beach, Florida

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This is one of the best seafood restaurant in Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach. I highly recommend this old Florida(1970's atmosphere) with well prepared reasonably priced entrees, soups and sandwiches . read more

Stopped in for dinner while on a business trip in Florida. Sat outside and people watched the tourists and the karaoke from the bar across the street. I am vegan and had my sandwich come out with mayo on it but the staff was super quick to fix it for me. The potato chips (whale fries) were house made and delicious. read more

The grouper wrap was delicious. I got it blackened and the spices were tasty. Comes with a side so I got the baked potato. The lemonade was massive and super refreshing. The service was kind and timely. Highly recommend. read more

2 words... Whale Fries!! Sooo good, the whale sauce is off the hook and the Key West Turkey sandwich is so good! read more

The Whale's Rib - Whale fries - Seafood Near Me - Deerfield Beach, Florida

A grouper sandwich is a very basic sandwich throughout South Florida it was not fresh and it was dried up like a hockey puck the oysters were okay, I'm a South Florida fisherman and know how fish should be prepared disappointed read more

Came here yesterday as we were driving down the coast... it was my dad's birthday and he loves funky spots so I'm glad I stumbled upon this one. For appetizers - We ordered the whale fries, which are just their house chips with a honey mustard dipping sauce. These were phenomenal! We could not stop eating them! We also ordered the oysters which were very yummy. For mains - I ordered the baked stuffed shrimp, it comes with a choice of salad and a choice of side. They came sooo hot out of the oven. It was fun to try...but next time I'll stick with regular shrimp. The beans and rice side however was delicious, I would definitely recommend getting that side option. Ambience - This is a really cool spot, serving dive bar energy. The inside is packed with decorations all over the wall. It is dimly lit inside. Lots of people working here, all were super friendly. Parking - No issues here, they have specific parking spots for customers dining in. read more

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A timeless staple in South Florida. Whale's rib never fails to deliver fresh, delicious, seafood. My tried and true is the Key West dolphin sandwich and whale chips. I've been coming here for years and years, and the quality has always been the best. My boyfriend and I started with the rock shrimp and garlic rolls and he got the fried grouper sandwich. We both left stuffed wishing we could eat more. When in Deerfield Beach do yourself a favor and go to the read more

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Great food and excellent friendly service. Loved the wahoo fish fingers and whale fries.