Rustic Inn Crabhouse — Restaurant in Dania Beach

On Saturday night July 5 we gathered for a birthday party at the Rustic Inn Crab house,my first impression of this eatery was tainted by the objectionable service and the poor quality of food. Our wait person Maggie was rude and dismissive to say the least, she made no less than six mistakes with the orders and became somewhat hostile when one of the guests made a suggestion that would have expedited the orders going in and coming out without the mix ups we experienced throughout the dinner service. I do realize that she was the only person taking care of our large group,but it was up to her to ask for the assistance she needed.We were a party of thirty plus of which the majority were on time at 6:30pm and seven didn't show. The table were not dressed with water nor were drink and appetizer orders taken while we were waiting for the late comers to arrive. After waiting a half hour(7:00) Maggie and some other staff approached and asked to rearrange the set-up to remove unused tables. After this is done still no wait staff to take orders and no water offered. 7:30 still no water on the table , no has come to take orders and patrons who arrived after us are seated at the tables removed from our area and are now being serviced. Finally Maggie introduces herself as the person who will be waiting on us tonight. In her effort to get this derailed train back on track she was rushing , orders were taken and placed for all the drinks, appetizers and entrees at the same time leading to some of the mixups. She curtly told one of the ladies at the table "I have handled large parties before,you talking to me about service is delaying it even more." Several people had asked for switches in side dishes which were not made. There were long waits for condiments requested, even drinks were delayed. Maggie's short rather rude responses at the table to the guest made me angry I would have left without eating dinner, if I had driven myself there.

The calamari was listed as an appetizer but I told her that I wanted it to be served with the clam platter as part of my entree she said ok writing it up.When it came with the appetizers she got aggravated that I wouldn't have it and stormed off with it in her hand. The food presentation was great,but the overall flavor was not good. The fried clams and calamari the color on them was dark not golden and they smelled like they were fried in old oil. There were complaints about the crabs lacking flavor, one person even said the blue crabs were bad and she didn't eat them. Someone else said the crabs tasted like that had been cooked in the marina water outside the restaurant. I eat out often but this was one of my worst experiences. I am disappointed because the reviews for your establishment are so good. Perhaps it was because of the pressure on Maggie to handle the large group solo that she didn't accommodate us with a courteous attitude, and we know that the environment does have an effect on the dining experience. So perhaps she will ask for help the next time she encounters this kind of situation in an effort to make the dining experience a pleasant one. Please step up your food prep check and...

Living in South Florida, discovering a standout seafood spot can be quite the challenge, but this gem effortlessly rises to the top as the reigning champion of flavor! Let's dive in, starting with parking. While there's ample space available, be prepared for the weekends when this place truly shines and draws a crowd. Nonetheless, snagging a parking spot is usually a breeze.

Alongside a serene canal, this establishment exudes rustic charm, perfectly reflecting its name. A unique addition to the setting is a small boat utilized during peak times when both indoor and outdoor seating is full. While the initial cleanliness may not be pristine, they're prompt in tidying up, ensuring a cozy atmosphere prevails. Upon entry, expect a warm welcome at the hostess table, where your name echoes over the mic, ensuring you won't miss your turn, even if waiting outside.

Get ready for something... unique: the infamous crab mallet tradition. Brace yourself for the thunderous applause of celebratory bangs, especially during birthdays. While some seem to enjoy the raucous atmosphere, others might find it, well, a bit too much. It's a tradition that definitely divides opinions--personally, it's not my thing, but I suppose it adds a certain... charm to the place.

When it comes to service, it's a bit unpredictable, varying depending on the day and the server you're assigned. While our server was undeniably friendly, they had a habit of disappearing at inconvenient times. Nevertheless, they were quick to assist us once we managed to flag them down. Dealing with a larger group, getting our orders right was essential, and they managed it quite well. A subtle reminder for a bit more attentiveness could certainly elevate the dining experience even further.

Now, onto the main event--the food! Our culinary journey commenced with the Caesar salad, setting the bar high right from the start. The dressing was downright addictive, leaving even non-salad enthusiasts like myself craving more. As for the main course, the blackened and broiled mahi-mahi stole the spotlight, boasting an explosion of flavors with each bite. While the accompanying sides failed to impress, a stroke of brilliance from a friend prompted me to pair it with another Caesar salad, transforming the dish into a culinary masterpiece. And let's not overlook their off-menu potato wedges--a delightful surprise that shouldn't be missed. Last but not least, dessert--a slice of carrot cake that transcended mere sweetness, offering a divine conclusion to an unforgettable...

I come here approximately two times a week. I ordered the king crab I spent lots of money at this restaurant. I went there last night and I ordered a Tito‘s lemonade with my swordfish. When I was almost done eating my dinner I had noticed I hadn’t gotten my Tito‘s lemonade yet, so I asked the waitress you never brought me my Tito‘s lemonade And she says the manager told me I can’t give you no alcohol and I said why she goes I don’t know why I said let me talk to the manager. The manager came up to me and said how are you? Good evening, sir how are you doing, sir? How’s everything going sir? Yeah and then he told me well. Some people told me some things and I can’t give you alcohol and I said why who said what what are you talking about? He said well I’m just letting you know that well OK I can give you alcohol now. I don’t know if they had me mistaken with another person or what happened but I never wanna go to this place again this was the nastiest experience I’ve ever had going to any restaurant my whole life. I’m 61 years old. I go out to dinner every night. I cannot believe and I don’t even drink alcohol. I just wanted to drink with my seafood and I just can’t believe that he took. I don’t know who is he? I don’t know who’s word he took But he decided not to give a customer that’s longtime customer that spends a lot of money there that promotes that business and he decide to go along with whoever said whatever it was they said because I don’t even know because I really don’t even drink alcohol, so I don’t know what they were talking about and then instead of coming to me first and talking to me they just decide not to give me the drinks so it was very rude. I left half my dinner. I still left the $20 tip for a $40 bill, but I could care less about the money. It’s those people that were there. It was the bottom of the barrel really was. It was very sad. It was the saddest night ever of 61 year-old. They’re telling me that I can’t have liquor. It was incredible. Look at the film. Look at the footage I wasn’t drunk or anything. I don’t even drink liquor. I was gonna have one drink and they Said something about something that they somethingwouldn’t even give me that I talked to a manager with a big beard who was very sarcastic with me, and then I talked to a manager that was an older woman in a white and black dress and she couldn’t believe what I was telling her and she wanted to figure it out and explain to me and figure out exactly what happened, but I was so...