The Whale's Rib

This place has great food. The fried grouper fis sandwich was FABULOUS. It was seasoned nicely, a big piece of fish, and the bun was soft. What a great sandwich. The fried clams..delicious. Their potato chips are thin and seasoned just right. You get a lot of them, so eat up! This place is a hidden gem for good food! I'll definitely go again!

it's a spot which gives you an old timey beach town restaurant vibe. food was surprisingly good. oysters were clean taste. fish sandwich was a hit. whale fries is just a basket of home made chips. some of chips were a little bit too oily for me. over all, a good place to eat if you are in the neighborhood

The food was ok. The service was alright. Unfortunately, the server stated she could not change any sides, not even for an additional charge. Hmm, as a server with a computer, you have that option to enter anything that you need. ( I know). But if that’s the policy I’d suggest that you change it to acquire more customers. Food was nothing special. Bread was burnt. Sides were minimal. This seemed to be more of a bar type food. For the area , the atmosphere needs improvement. People were friendly.

Great place to have a seafood meal paired together with their specialty drink Bloody Mary with Shrimp ( mine was spicy as requested) . Tess was my server, great personality and very accommodating. I started with the Lobster Bisque, delicious and Caesar salad, then enjoyed the Seafood Combo…half stuffed lobster, scallops, oyster , dolphin with Whale Fries & tasty honey mustard sauce. Yum! Finished off with Key Lime Pie ! The owner even stopped by to ask if everything was ok! Fantastic Birthday meal. Thank you so much! Definitely plan on coming back!! PS: the parking attendant was very polite as well. A gem of a place !!

Good chips in the fish and chips (not fries but homemade chips). The fish in the wrap was kinda overcooked though - think it was the blackened grouper. Honestly I would’ve given this a 3/5 but I liked the chips. Bloody Mary wasn’t great. It was missing a lot of spices. I’m really disappointed in that because it is described as “world famous”. It barely had any celery salt on the rim and it was watered down - looked light red instead of red. Def a dive good for a casual lunch. Cute divey sea themed decor.

My wife and I stopped here for dinner. We had the Peel and Eat Shrimp for an appetizer. I had the Blackened Mahi Mahi with homemade chips and my wife had the Lobster Salad Sandwich. The Peel and Eat Shrimp was excellent. The Blackened Mahi Mahi was good however the filet was too thin. My wife said the Lobster Salad Sandwich was just okay. Service was great.

Unfortunately my favorite for all our family and friends here for 30+ years has gone down hill big time. From the moment we sat at our famous wooden bench seating/booth we are greeted with the nasty French’s (disgusting) ketchup bottle on the table …realized the Rib has begun to cheapen out and cut corners. Oh boy. The wahoo fish sandwich was equivalent to a catchers glove - frozen dry and awful. I gave it a shot normally getting my mahi or dolphin sandwich which my son had and was great. Dolphin fingers appetizer was good on the fish however there signature “Whale fries” that come with this basket of normal goodness, was disappointing as those whale fries which are like sliced potatoes were soggy stale tasting and tasted like plastic, and were cold - almost like eating plastic artificial food, clearly not the same potato and some different type of funky oil… ? Not good and clearly a big changes made. Again, no Heinz Ketchup to make it even worse not available to even attempt to experience these well fries like I used to dip with The service was very good (Jessica)… fast friendly ; the manager Chase was also awesome, and apologized explained all the changes they’ve had since moving to a new distributor/order guide . Just way too many food changes….place was fairly empty - Flanigans next door was packed. Their Signature “whale juice” (honey mustard) fortunately was the same for now though given out sparingly to save $ of course. This once exciting beach legend destination was a very disappointing food experience and not worth it for the $59 ($72 including a tip) wed eve dinner for 2 - no drinks or dessert. Bummer.

Went here with my girlfriend Saturday night, and it was an amazing experience! The service was fire, and the vibes were perfect. We ordered the fried grouper sandwich, whale fries, shell sampler, chocolate cake, and margaritas everything was absolutely outstanding. The food was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. It’s definitely a great spot for a fun date night. We’ll absolutely be back!

If you want a solid fish sandwich, don't pass up the Whales Rib. The nostalgic ambiance matches the local vibes of Deerfield beach. The key west dolphin sandwich is served with Russian dressing, slaw & cheese. Don't forget a side of their homemade whale chips and whale juice!

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.

Awesome rock shrimps a must try with the turbo sauce. Great ambiance Make a reservation if you can

Had a delicious shrimp appetizer and the Key West Group grilled - highly recommend both. It's slightly odd that the sandwich doesn't come with sides given the price, but I couldn't even eat the whole thing so it didn't matter much to me. Our server was bubbly and attentive and since it was nice out, we took advantage of eating outside. Great beach spot to grab seafood, that's for sure.

The whales rib is a must try dive bar. I have been going my whole life and experience amazing and eh service but they always make it right. The food has always been good and I HIGHLY recommend the whale fries and dolphin key west. Yes their other options are also good like the you turkey and many other meals but I love the fish sandwiches. The atmosphere is really cool with writing and license plates all over the walls and fish. Hanging from all the corners as well. This is where you go if you want to experience a true Florida dive bar that has been around for years and is full of history. I highly recommend going. The food is amazing and the restaurant is all around really cool to be in there's always something new to find hanging on the walls.

Good experience, the service was great and the food was very pleasant. Full of people and a very good beach vibe!!

First time there. Delilah was an absolute legend. Answered all our questions even the funny ones. She's absolutely stunning and amazing at her job.

The food was amazing, the service excellent, and the environment was fun. Highly recommend the oysters!

This is a really cool restaurant! It's very laid back and both the food and service were excellent. We shared the conch fritters with chips and they were delicious. We shared the blackened grouper wrap with a baked potato and it was delicious. For dessert we had the key lime pie and it was really good. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant!

I miss living within walking distance of this place! But now we get to make a special motorcycle trip every so often and the Rib is as good as it always was. Our go-to order is a double Stoli Bloody Mary (outstanding), shell combo and rock shrimp to start, and lobsters. Their baked stuffed dolphin is phenomenal and their blackened dolphin Caesar is my favorite salad anywhere. The service is always fast and friendly and the parking attendant always makes sure our bike gets into a safe spot. Whether you sit inside and enjoy the variety of licenses plates covering the walls, or outside to enjoy the salty air and people watching, you can't go wrong. My only complaint about the Rib is that rock shrimp is not always available, but that's because they're seasonal and no reflection on the restaurant. Still loving this place going on 30 years.

A great place for seafood in Deerfield Beach. I have visited several times and always enjoyed my meal. Parking is mostly easy in front of the restaurant during the week. This is a great area to explore with beach access and a fishing pier so it can get very crowded on weekends and during season so arrive early. The hostesses greet you out front where there is also some outdoor seating but the indoor atmosphere is rustic and fun with license plates on the walls and a lively bar. We ordered the world famous Lobster Bisque and Conch Chowder to start. We normally get the chowder which was a bit spicier than usual but the Lobster Bisque is always the winner, creamy and so good tasting. My clam strips came with plenty-to-share homemade chips and served with a great mustard sauce. We also ordered the grilled Dolphin sandwich which was as good as we hoped for! The prices are fair for this beach location and fresh seafood. If you enjoy all types of seafood, a fun, casual atmosphere and good service try this restaurant. You wont be disappointed.

We got the grouper bites-yum. The fish dip was really good. Parking is valet or paid lot across the street which was 30.00. Do the valet and tip the staff. Huge place.

So I have been going to the Whales Rib for over 20 years. Always good service and fresh clams and oysters. I don't eat them anywhere else. They are always ice cold because they are iced down in the kitchen. Most restaurants just take them out of the walk in box and serve them on ice. That is not ice cold just because it is served on ice. My wife and I went the other day and had the terrific oysters and clams. Lunch was kind of marred by the waitress Delilah. She was gruff,semi rude and inelegant --to be polite. Saying inappropriate things. For example. She asked "did you like it? We said yes and she responded: "you better". I think you can extrapolate from that how the other verbal interactions went. She needs some customer service training or perhaps make her a food runner.

The Whale's Rib is a cute spot along the main strip in Deerfield Beach. A friend and I stopped in for dinner on a Sunday night, and we easily snagged a table outside. They were out of the fresh catch fish at that point, which I always try to order when possible, so I ordered the Grouper wrap, and my friend had the dolphin sandwich. The meals were okay. After our first glass of wine, the waiter took our glasses away, rather than asking if we wanted a second round. A bit odd. Overall, I'd come back if I was in the area and they had the fresh catch available.

Great freaking service is the only thing I can say. But the food was for anyone without a taste big in their mouth!! The worst oysters rocketfeller I have ever had in my Life . Drinks had zero alcohol and even after asking to have another one still had zero . The clam Chowder was empty like 2 cla in it and flavor was basic And anything guy fieri goes to is always. Complete garbage because it seems as though they pay him To come out only Because they suck ?

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.

Our friend took us here. She was raving about their Rock Shrimp appetizer but it was sold out. Tried the popular item on the menu that was featured on Guy Fieri's DDD - Dolphin Sandwich (blackened). Also ordered their Grilled Sea Scallops which came with a side of Caesar salad . Both mains were of generous portions and cooked perfectly. We sat outside and the lighting is bluish purple so am sorry for how the pictures turned out. I forgot to take pics of the scallops. But I guarantee you, they were simply grilled but amazing. Great food and service. Could be quite a wait when you come after work. We walked here from our house a block away but for those who drive, valet parking is $7. Depending on what day and time you go, you might luck out finding street parking or at a parking structure nearby. Would definitely come back next time we're in DFB again.

The food was on point and fresh...The service was amazing with our waitress, Lauren. She was very friendly and knowledgeable of the food. I definitely enjoyed and recommend checking out this restaurant if you're in the area.

Loved eating here, the whale chips and sauce are great- would recommend; there were a ton of them. The sauce was very tasty. The server was super nice. Helpful and told us about some karaoke places. My only complaint was the inside was so hot I was sweating at the table. It is hot outside but I did not expect it to be so warm inside. Other than the heat, I would highly recommend.

Recommended by Scott from the Marriott we were staying at and as seen on Diners, Drive Ins, & Dives this place is very touristy in Ambiance. Outdoor and indoor seating. We sat outdoors it was a beautiful evening and we were right on the main street, I perfect entertainment for People Watching. Service was cool. Conley was attentive and helpful. The fresh fish was phenomenal.

If you are looking for fried oysters in Deerfield beach, this is your place! They offer inside and patio seating (great people watching). The oysters were lightly battered and were served with their famous whale fries. The server was attentive and pleasant and check in was quick. They also offer parking in their attaches lot as parking is a commodity in the area.

Geeat food! All fresh fish. Was definitely a good idea for guy fieri to come here Whale fries not to be missed, and mu frandson whale juice. Soups were tasty

My friend has been going here for years and loves it so we tried it for dinner one night. I definitely get the hype. The whale chips (not actual whale thankfully lol) were really good and well seasoned. They come with a house made honey mustard sauce for dipping. I got the Cesar salad with crab cakes and it was delicious. Our server Ashley was great and chatted with us about the license plates you see all around the restaurant as decor. We finished the night off with a Reesie's peanut butter cheesecake that was pretty good too.

Whale's Rib is the best way to introduce newcomers to South Florida -- starting with a few bars, the beach, and Whale's Rib to finish it off with the LEGENDARY Key West Dolphin sandwich, a few beers, and a dozen raw oysters. If I was absent from Florida for a year, this would be the first place I'd want to visit after a return! Deerfield Beach and Whale's Rib have the old Florida beach vibe preserved -- which is becoming a rarity. The crew member was in training and she was a blast! She had us try some of the secret whale sauce which go great with the whale fries!

Great little spot. We got the smoked fish dip, that was amazing. Husband got the prime rib and I got the scallops. It was all so good! The wait staff was nice and everyone was helping each other, managers going around checking on guest, etc. Haven't seen a work ethic like this in a restaurant in a very long time.

A person at a bar mentioned this place to us. I had the Tuesday special prime rib sandwich and wife had coconut shrimp. My prime rib was excellent and maybe the best of ever had and it was huge. I should not have eaten the whole sandwich buy I couldn't put it down. My wife said her shrimp was excellent as well and the whale fries were great as well. We will be back. Bartender super as well great place!!

I completely "failed" as a Yelp viewer last night because I did not take any photos. So for anyone reading, I am sorry! My husband and I have visited The Whale's Rib several times over the last two decades we've lived in South Florida. We haven't been here since before Covid, and when I recommended going here for dinner, the debate of where to go eat quickly ended. There is parking here, but the lot can be pretty tight to park in. Fortunately, there's an attendant who can help direct you to squeeze you into a spot. Over the years, this restaurant has improved its outdoor eating area, but due to the summer heat, we decided to eat inside. I would describe the restaurant's decor as classic, old-school, and lived in. There are pictures of fisherman with their catch, antique signs, and lots of old license plates on the walls. The booths are made of dark wood. It's that kind of decor that comes with age and is hard to re-create for a brand new restaurant. Our server was attentive, and the manager came by several times to check in with us. If you get soft drinks, they will come in mini pitchers. I had the stuffed dolphin which came with a choice of a side and either a garden or Caesar salad. My husband had the blackened prime rib. I'm happy to say the food quality has not gone south after all these years. In fact, I think it was even better than I last remembered. The fish was very fresh and the breading and stuffing was delicious. I was happy my husband got the whales rib fries as his side. They are more like freshly made potato chips and are delicious with some blue cheese dressing. Now that I think of it, if you go and order these, see if they have a balsamic glaze. That would be delicious on these chips with a side of blue cheese dressing. If the owners are looking at this review that would be an awesome way to serve these chips. If you're in the mood for a classic ol' Florida seafood restaurant, of which there are not many places like this anymore in the area, then this is the place for you!

First time here. Outstanding food. Probably the best clam chowder I've ever had. Definitely made fresh here. I also had the steamed clams are amazing. It comes with melted butter. I asked for garlic butter, so good. My wife had the pile and eat shrimp. She loved it. The place is small but the outside seating ambiance is great and fun. The service is outstanding, they act like they love their jobs. If you come and their is a wait, it's worth it. Enjoy

This place is authentic Florida Shore bar and restaurant, they have excellent service, very attentive staff and management everyone is out there available to help! They have tasty unique food options and drinks. The look is really cool to me, I believe they are one of the original license plate decorations places with pictures of fishing trips and local flare you feel like you're getting an authentic experience the ambiance is very authentic, but the food portions are unfortunately not very big, and the prices are a little bit high I'm sure they are just dealing with inflation issues like everyone else.

Beautiful place! Right off the beach on A1A next to Flanigan's. The food was incredible. The drinks were good too, and cheap! The service was okay. It took them about 15 minutes to finally come and take our order. I really don't mind because they are busy and it was a weekend. Gotta give them some grace. When they did serve us, they were absolutely very nice I would 100% come back here again! We got the clam strips and mahi mahi fingers (funny name)! Conch fritters for appetizer--those were freaking AWESOME!!

I find myself sometimes dreaming about Whales Rib's Dolphin Sandwich Key West Style and their famous Whale fries! If your looking for causal night with delicious food The Whale's Rib is the place. I always start with a Bloody Mary...it includes a shrimp. My sister and I enjoyed a dozen oysters which were fresh and meaty. I then had my 2 favorites...the Dolphin Key West sandwich came to the table hot and like I remember very tasty. And, we always have some Whale Fries (chips) to take home.

What a great place to eat!! The entire staff here are amazing!! Everyone supports one another and the place runs like a well oiled machine!! The recommendation from Ashley for the famous Key west sandwich was perfect!!! I do not like Ruben's but this was so so so good!! I got the fish blackened as she suggested for added flavor!! I could only eat 1/2, as I also got a great side cesar salad, and had to have the Whale fries with their great sauce!! Such an enjoyable experience all around!! I can't recommend this high enough!!

Wales Ribs is a place that we been coming for over 10 years. The staff is really friendly. This is the place for great seafood in Deerfield / Boca Raton area. They have the best fried claims and whales chips. They have this amazing sauce - wales sauce which is great on everything especially the wales fries. The shrimps and oysters were fresh and clean . The food is always fresh. They do not take reservations so prepares to wait. The meal was amazing once again. The service was great. We will be back

Perfect beach front quality dive bar !!! I loved my food and those whale chips !! The service was impeccable she was very attentive and got everything right I will definitely be back here

Windy night and wanted to head to the beach for a bite to eat. The patio was great. Sat quickly and service from Peter was friendly and fast. Wednesday is wing night if you get a drink by the pitcher. Ordered up a pitcher of Arnold Palmer and hot 10 wings for free. A great deal with sauces on the side. The wings were fantastic. My girl ordered a Pasta Salad and I opted for old school American Cheese Burger. The meal was awesome. I had a loaded baked potato on the side and the 8iz burger proved too much after my fill of wings. This is a staple for Deerfield beach locals and guests to the area. I must go.

Wonderful server! Food was good! Will visit again when in the area. Whale fries are actually chips and whale juice is actually a tartar mixture

Haven't been here in years but this place is still great. The fish is very fresh and the service is friendly and accommodating. They have a pretty big space but there can definitely be a wait in season. The parking lot is tiny, so parking might be tough to find but worth it to grab a bite.

Want to give a shout out to our server Delilah for always giving us excellent service and making our daughter feel so special as her regular customers. Service here is always great and food is delicious and fresh. We always get fish wraps or sandwiches and they never disappoint. Kids meals are great too and they are so kid friendly here.

I adore this little beach gem, it's smack dab in the center of a little clutch of shops and restaurants steps from sand and water , there is a large pay per hour beach parking lot. The whales chips are what draws me back to be honest, and yes guy fierie was there and gave it the old thumbs up

Service was great with And food was very good. We had oysters rockerfeller and mani maki and scallops. All very good. Whale chips were very good. Want to go back. Very interesting place and the only good bar and restaurant on the beach

Just tried to place an order for pick up. Extremely rude and dismissive. Not at all concerned about getting the order right. I have ordered many, many times from here. I usually order for 8 people or so for office lunch. Will never go back. A shame. The food is a little over priced but usually good. Looking for a new place in Deerfield.

Weak happy hour. Only a dollar off inflated wine/beer prices. Underwhelming dinner entree portions. Poor value. Not on the beach. Flanigans next door has bigger menu and lots more customers.

Best bartender. Def go back bc she was super nice. Lori (maybe) red head. Def get the clams casino & seafood pasta

Went for a night out with the family and was a little skeptical of the place they chose but wow it for sure exceeded my expectations by far. There food was really amazing!!! It was a great vibe inside and the service was amazing!! I wish I would have gotten her name she was really good!!! I got the shrimp scampi it was so delicious!!!! Would definitely go again!

The food was very good and incredibly reasonable, our waitress provided excellent service and guided us through the menu to the perfect order. We truly appreciate her honesty and recommendations. You could not beat the outdoor seating and weather, it was casual but fun.

Great wahoo. Bun was average. Parking was a grind but it's near the beach so about what you'd expect

We were recommended this place and decided to stop in for dinner. We weren't terribly hungry so we got a few things to share. 2 side Caesar salads, the whale fries, and the shell combo. Total for all was $45. The fries were the star of the show. I wouldn't get the other things again. The samplers oysters didn't have much meat to them and the Caesars weren't the best either. Those things aside the service and ambiance of the place was super good! Our server Coley was super nice and knowledgeable and got our food out to us rather quickly.

Came here because my stepson wanted to come here. My first time here but I always wanted to try it because of triple D! Love that show!!! Upon arriving we got greeting and seated really quick. Our waitress (can't remember her name) was very friendly and fast! She was very helpful with recommendations and explained to us the menu and any questions we asked. We had three adults and four kids with us. Ordered two king crab meals, wings, chicken tender, salad with ahi tuna, shrimp linguine and the blackened dolphin meal. Everything was delicious. It was a bit pricey but it is seafood so it was expected! Our bill with tip included was $324. The place was a bit loud but it was busy. And my table was loud with all these kids! lol nice small outside seating but inside was bigger than I thought.

The is a gem in the wall restaurant, had a lot of feel to it with the old fashion decor inside of the restaurant, the bar tenders where excellent, the crowd at the bar was good , service was great, food was great and I had a fun time.