Rustic Inn Crabhouse
4331 Ravenswood Rd
Cuisines: Seafood
About
A Fort Lauderdale rough-and-tumble landmark for more than 50 years, Rustic Inn isn't the place for a romantic, intimate, quiet dinner. The minute you walk in, you're assaulted by a cacophonous banging -- a symphony from a packed house of happy diners cracking their crabs with wooden mallets. Although you don't have to crack your own crabs -- diva Barbra Streisand didn't when she dined here (she requested them already cracked -- heaven forbid she should break a nail!) -- it's all part of the experience. Newspaper lines the tables, so prepare to get your hands dirty. Although the restaurant is known for its "world-famous garlic crabs" (and we think they are totally deserving of that lofty tagline), you can also order lobster, pasta, and all sorts of fried fish -- even fried alligator (it's chewier than chicken!). The fried clams are especially good, but if you want to gorge yourself, try the Reef Raft, a basket of fried oysters, fried scallops, and fried fish. Dress very casual and prepare to wait awhile for a table, but trust me, it's worth it.
