Rustic Inn never disappoints! The restaurant is right on the water so you have a scenic view if you are in the back of the restaurant. The staff was very friendly from the hostess to the waitress. It can get loud when they announce birthdays because everyone bangs their crab hammers on the table to show you love lol The food is great! The portions are very large which is to be expected because as you know seafood can be pricey. The claim strips are very meaty so if you like claims you can't go wrong. The steamed shrimp is plentiful! The garlic crabs are top notch and you can share one order with someone else and be full. The king crab legs are seasoned really well.

Miami's famous stone crab! This old seafood restaurant opened in 1913, and it has been a hundred years old. It is very famous and popular in the local area~ Stone Crab Legs 93.95 A must-order signature dish with high-quality and fresh ingredients. The crab meat is tender and every bite is a pure ocean taste, very sweet. The crab leg meat is paired with their special mustard dip, which is perfect! The Large order we ordered for two people has 5 large crab legs, which is enough to satisfy the taste buds. Crab Soup 12.95 The soup has a rich and dense taste, and you can taste that it is made with rich crab meat. Every spoonful of it can taste the deliciousness of the crab meat and the delicate soup base; the soup is rich but not greasy, and it is also very good to dip in bread. Lemon Pie 12.95 For dessert, I recommend their homemade Key Lime Pie, which is sour and sweet and very refreshing. Fried Chicken / Half a chicken is only 8.95, the portion is huge, and I didn't finish it in the end. The skin is crispy, and it is a stable fried chicken level, which is cost-effective. The restaurant is noble and old money style, classical and elegant, and there is a small fountain in the garden, which is very beautiful. The waiters are all in suits and leather shoes, very gentlemanly and friendly, and the overall style is very stylish. The service is really good, and they will help you tie the bib personally.

We haven't been to this place in a few years & quite frankly we're never disappointed. The wait was only about 15min & mind you this was on Father's Day. Service was fast, our server was fantastic & although it was packed, people were mindful of each other. Some places get very loud & annoying. For 2 queen crab meals, gator bites, side of French fries & sparkling water, I paid $214 (this includes the tip). You can taste the freshness of the seafood & all the spices used were on point.

From the moment we stepped into Rustic Inn Crabhouse, the ambiance whisked us away to a seaside retreat. Our culinary journey began with a shared platter of oysters, each one a fresh taste of the ocean. But the stars of the evening were undoubtedly the crabs. An array of crab dishes graced our table, each more delicious than the last, their flavors as rich and inviting as the rustic decor surrounding us. The food was so exquisite that not a morsel could be wasted. As we prepared to board our flight to Atlanta, we made sure to take our leftovers with us, a savory reminder of our delightful meal. Rustic Inn Crabhouse isn't just a restaurant; it's a destination that promises a repeat visit. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this place is a must-visit for any seafood aficionado.

It's been a few years since I did a review and it's time to update this! Rustic Inn is a class crab place is Ft Lauderdale and has been here since 1955! This is a place my family has been visiting for quite some time and it is wonderful my husband gets to now enjoy it as well. They are located sort of off the beaten path, it's not on the main road but down a side road. It's not hard to get to, and they have a pretty large parking lot. On really busy days, especially during the height of the season, parking could get tricky at night. They are open for lunch and dinner. We usually go for lunch since they offer specials, and it is less crowded. They have a few dining rooms, but they are not all open at lunch time. This restaurant is also located on a waterway. When it is not really hot aka summer, its actually nice to sit out here along the water. Sometimes boats will go by as well. If you are like my family and prefer AC, you can also ask for a table along the windows. They are floor length windows so you can still get a nice view. They are known for their crabs. They have almost every single crab if not all of them available, and they are always really good. The crab is a little on the higher side in my opinion, but they are cooking it for you, seasoning it and all you need to do is crack it. They do everyone crackers or mallets and on busy nights you will hear everyone hammering away on their tables. It's actually really funny. Their food is really good as well. This is a place we actually really enjoy. If you do not want crab, they offer other options including shrimp, seafood and a few non fish items. We usually like to start with their soup, the Manhattan or clam chowder actually. Both are delicious and always served hot. The Manhattan is spicier, so if this is not your taste, then order the clam chowder. Last time we tried the conch fritters which are also something we really enjoy. They were delicious, had great flavor, were served hot and had pieces of conch in them. They were served with two sauces, but I always prefer ketchup with them. As I said we usually go for lunch because their specials for seafood are awesome price. My mom and husband ordered the grilled dolphin platter which is mahi mahi. He ordered it blackened and my mom just grilled. It is served with rice and potatoes which is a lot of carbs, so you are able to substitute the sides for no additional charge. It also comes with a fountain drink or ice tea. This special is available daily. I chose the Friday special which is the shrimp. This special comes with 3 different styles of shrimp: peel and eat which were steamed, key west shrimp which were steamed as well but with a different seasoning and grilled shrimp. All of these you need to peel, so this is a messy dish and takes a while to eat. There are probably over 30 shrimp on this platter. This is one of my favorite dishes here. The shrimp are so good, so tasty and fresh and it comes with 2 sides as well. I usually order the fries since they are crispy and seasoned. I tried the coleslaw which normally I enjoy but it had a unique flavor this time, more vinegar than creamy. And it comes with a drink as well. My dad ordered the shrimp plate which just had grilled shrimp. We all always enjoy our food, the view is beautiful, and this is just a great place. This has been around so long, I remember when ever family visited, when I was younger, this is where we went. This is for sure a place you should check out when in South Florida. You will not be disappointed. The hostesses can be a little sassy at times, but the servers are always super nice! Definitely check it out!

Ate here with a large group. Lisa was our server, and she did a great job. The fried shrimp was good and had about ten shrimp. The shrimp scampi had at least ten shrimp, tons of noodles, and pieces of bell pepper. Finished the meal with some key lime pie.

Wow the prices went up - then again, it's been 15 years since my last visit. Back then, the crab sampler was $29.99 - now it's $72.95! Everything else like ambience and service hadn't changed at all - our server was very friendly. You have the option to eat outside next to the water or indoors. Convenient sinks in the dining area to wash your hands after handling the crabs. CRAB SAMPLER - $72.95 World famous garlic crab clusters, Alaskan queen crab legs, Dungeness garlic crab clusters, served w/ parsley buttered potatoes. The Alaskan queen crab legs was the best - the other crab was just ok. SIDE LORAINE'S FAMOUS LINGUINI - $10.95 Red crab sauce, topped w/ crab. Very good. Our server said the portion was good for sharing and he was spot on - this is a great filler dish :) It was plenty for our party of 3. REGULAR GARDEN SALAD - $5.95 Good salad. Overall still a fun but now very pricey experience. I might skip the Crab Sampler next time and instead indulge in the Lobster Fra Diavolo ($47.95) and other seafood dishes.

I admit, returning to the Rustic Inn after some 10-15 years left me a bit nostalgic. I wondered if the restaurant still had a following. Those facts were confirmed immediately. The place was hopping. Every Birthday was greeted by the sound of banging wooden mallets by all customers. How fun! I must admit that I am not a crab lover so I had to rely on my friends for that review, and it was Five Stars. I myself enjoyed what the server recommended to me as two Minis. A half of a broiled stuffed lobster along with wood grilled barbeque shrimp. The portions were generous and I was quite content at the end. One of my dining mates had flounder, another had grouper. All portions were delicious and large portions. My buddy ordered mussels over spaghetti bolongese. There must have been two pounds of pasta in his dish! He raced over the juicy plump mussels. We skipped dessert but I can promise, it won't be a long time until I go back.