The Whale's Rib

Since being showcased on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, homey seafood shack the Whale's Rib has enjoyed a renaissance as Deerfield Beach's premier spot for ultrafresh seafood and cold brews. And for good reason. It's the kind of place where you can sit at the worn bar-top and watch your oysters shucked right in front of you. From that seat, amid kitschy, vintage signs and framed photos of fishermen, you can look on as fresh mahi, soft-shelled crab, scallops, and rock shrimp are prepared on the nearby chef's line. And you can enjoy it all in the company of people who feel just a bit more down to Earth than the rest of us. Platters of broiled and fried seafood are trucked out with incredible expediency, as are bowls of medium or large stone crab claws with spicy mustard sauce. The fish sandwiches -- including the Key West dolphin served blackened or fried on a whole wheat bun -- are topnotch.