Catfish Deweys

A must-visit spot if you’re in the area—especially during stone crab season! 🦀✨ This family-owned gem treats you like one of their own, with a warmth that makes the experience even better. The service? Top-notch 💯—friendly, attentive, and genuinely caring. The seafood steals the show, and the unlimited stone crabs are absolutely the main event. 🥳 Keep in mind, the size of the claws can vary depending on when you go in the season, but they’re always fresh and flavorful. 😋 If you’re not into crabs, don’t worry—there are hearty, generously portioned dishes that’ll hit the spot. 🍽️ The vibe is laid-back yet lively, perfect for a casual night out or a celebratory meal. 🎉 Parking is so-so with a small lot behind the restaurant, so plan accordingly. 🚗 Still, it’s 100% worth the visit. I left full, happy, and already planning my next trip. 🗓️❤️

Our waitress was absolutely fabulous. I’d been having a rough day and she had me laughing and in such a better place after. The food was fabulous. Crabs legs rocked. The gumbo was so good. Can’t wait to come back.

We always enjoy the food between the all you can specials and the fried shrimp always delicious our family insists on going when they come from Arizona! Nikki provided great service our last visit we highly recommend Catfish Deweys and can’t wait to go again

Food was excellent! Had fried shrimp and boiled shrimp came with hush puppies and slaw and rice. Shrimp was cooked perfectly! Excellent flavor. Slaw was kinda ok. Hush puppies were good. So service was not that great tho. I originally ordered all you can eat fried shrimp with collard greens. They brought me catfish and rice which I said was not correct. They took it to the back and brought me the catfish again and the different shrimp and rice no collards at this point I was hungry and ate. The catfish I took a couple of bites and it was great but not what I was in the mood for so left the rest and ate the shrimp and got a extra order of fried shrimp since it was so delicious. Then had to wait awhile before the server returned and got my check. I would still go back as the food was so good.

THE BEST OF THE BEST! If you want southern fried catfish and other delicious sea food, THIS IS THE PLACE! If you want a classic, well-kept, upbeat, and fantastic classic hospitality, THIS IS THE PLACE! Sweet tea that will give your unborn cavity. You'll find all types of folk in here. Enjoy the food pictures.

If you’re looking for some of the best stone claw and snow crab with all you can eat this is the place to go. The hush puppies were really good as well. Server was very attentive. While the place may be a bit on the older side from an interior perspective it was very clean and the food extremely flavorful. A friend recommended we go here and I’m so glad we did. It’s a good find off the beaten path.

It was my first time there and it was amazing the food was so good and fresh. The service was fast and fantastic. Can’t wait to go back.

Martha was absolutely wonderful. She endured we always had our drinks full, our all you can eat crab was constantly replenished, and she was extremely professional and sweet with how she handled our table-being almost a 20 party table. She also is quick to grab anything we need and was able to have all our drinks out to us immediately after ordering! Martha is AMAZING! Definitely will be coming back and recommending this place to many!

This was Billy and my first time eating here with a couple of friends recommendation (they were there with us and had been coming here for years)! Our server named Joy was Great! The food was Delicious... Todd ordered: Shrimp and Grits, Jimmy ordered: Fried Catfish, Billy ordered: Scallops/Baked Potato, I ordered: Fish Tacos/Sweet Baked Potato and Fudge Chocolate cake. We were all given a complimentary bowl of Cole Slaw and I believe the Hush Puppies were also complimentary (I'm not sure on that though). We will definitely be back.

An true Florida experience. The atmosphere is a bit divey, but that just adds to the adventure. Our server was very polite, friendly and attentive. Our food did not try to pretend to be anything else than your basic, plentiful and wholesome plates of crab legs, lobster tails and fried catfish and shrimp. Each a separate meal for our table, but we all ended up sharing and enjoying them all. Definitely worth the visit!

This is a gem and I almost don't want to let people discover this place because every aspect about this restaurant is pristine and it surpasses the other restaurants in the area and the popular restaurant, Joe's Stone Crab. First of all, the service is always on point despite the different servers we got each time we were there. And who doesn't like free hush puppies? The moment you get seated at the table, they give you hush puppies and coleslaw on the house. We come here when stone crab is in season, but they have a lot of other seafood options as well. My next favorite item to order is the blackened scallops. It usually gets pretty busy on the weekends, but you can make a reservation so you don't have to wait for a table. You definitely southern hospitality here.

The perfect fish fry for you and the family to enjoy wholesome soul food. Recommended a must visit for satisfying service and clean old school environment.

Back again for snow crabs! This time they were smaller and a little overcooked but still good. Our server was very slow or we would have given a 5.

UPDATE: Here again, not to eat the All U Can Eat Stonecrabs, but to grab a fried catfish platter. Got the last parking space and ordered the three big pieces of catfish for $17.99 and its well worth the money. Three big fluffy tender catfish with tarter sauce and french fries. Waited about ten minutes for my packaged catfish and chatted with the bartender. The bathroom is actually modernized for the age of the building and very clean. Just updated to a 5 star rating.

This is a place I come a few times per year. I have been for years. It is a casual, and family-owned business. The service is good and they treat you nicely. It is dark and brown inside just like the outside paint. It is an easy restaurant to find. It is located at corner and it's brown. The parking is a little limited. It is a busy place and a favorite place for the locals. They had daily specials. I ended with the snapper filet. It was very good. I got a side of onion rings which they make good here. I recommend the fish. It was good. The stone crab's claws were excellent and a good size. One nice thing about this place is the hush puppies. They are served with every meal. They are tasty and good. I have always had a good food experience here. The atmosphere is pleasant and the food is always good.

I enjoy coming here every time we visit Ft Lauderdale . Every night has a different special so be sure to check those out on their website before you go. The service is quick and the food is always fresh and made well.

First time here on a Sunday night to celebrate my birthday and it did not disappoint. 4.5 stars. We came late evening so I think we beat the rush. Luckily, there was parking towards the back, otherwise, it would have been much less pleasant or an experience. Got seated right away at a table. I had a lemon blueberry martini and my wife had a beer. There was so much to try and I wanted so bad to have AYCE anything but wasn't trying to make it a long dinner. I went with a pound of medium stone crab claws. My first time having stone crab actually, so I don't have anything to compare to, but it was delicious to me! It is different than other crabs for better or worse. I would say it's the easiest crab to eat out of shell. I got side of fries with it. They were just very plain unsalted fries. Nothing amazing but nothing ketchup couldn't fix. My wife had the ribeye medium well. She's used to leaner steak (i.e. filet mignon) but it was this or ribeye. It was a bit fatty for her still and it was more medium so she didn't get very far into it. The mashed potatoes and added mushrooms were good. The service was topnotch. An employee accidentally bumped our table when delivering food to another table and it spilled some of my drink. He very kindly and without hesitation ensured I got another on him. Also, got a piece of their key lime pie to go. I admittedly was already passed out on the couch as my wife brought it over with a candle. It tasted like great memories! Will be back for more crab soon!

I'm back after a bunch of years and I'm happy to report that this restaurant is still here..: and it's still awesome! They have all you can eat options and my friend got the endless crawfish of which he had 5 BOWLS! And they kept coming to ask if he wanted more!! That was a show The rest of the table got to have each our plate and enjoy the endless show of food that he got! Anyway I got a blackened 1/2 mahi mahi and 1/2 shrimp platter- came with a small Baked potato- and we also got a breaded fish and another blackened full portion so we ate and ate... oh did I mention that they put down some delicious hush puppies and Cole slaw before even taking our orders... and we had to get some extras because those warm hush puppies were just that good!! Anyway: the restaurant has a very casual family vibe, it's super busy, and yet the waiters keep it going, checking on your food and drinks constantly, moving all over the place! Go early so you won't catch the line that can form down the door. They do have extra parking on the other side of the street, in case the places by the restaurant are full- so hurry and catch your spot. Enjoy!!

From the outside, this place isn't much to look at the the inside definitely could use some renovations, but the food was better than expected. Right off the bat, you're served hush puppies and Cole slaw. Both are ok. The value of the food menu cannot be argued, but I wouldn't say the quality was anything the write home about. All in all, a very casual, decent lunch.

More breading than catfish, Not that it was bad tasting but the breading overshadowed the fish. Very thin over breaded. Service was fine and they were busy lots of people eating but will never order the catfish if we go back

We were there in the middle of the afternoon, so the place was not crowded. My husband and I both ordered the All You Can Eat Crab Legs, and they did not disappoint! They were cooked perfectly and so easy to crack and peel! They quite possibly were the best we've ever had! Our server, Melanie, was just as awesome... and we certainly kept her on her toes. We really liked that she brought the crab to the table, vs everyone hovering around a food bar. We may, or may not, have topped the meal off with the most decadent key lime pie, ever.... We'll never tell! Only complaint is that when we left we were miserable from eating so much!

To be sure the era of all you can eat restaurants almost no longer exists except for Catfish Dewey's which features one all you can eat dish each night. And the featured dish is good although I had to find my catfish meat within its fried outside. For this, loyal followers line-up and you likely will not find parking. On certain nights the all you can eat may be catfish, ribs or crab legs. Deweys obviously does what it does well. The ambiance is what you might expect from an all you can eat restaurant. To go to an all you can eat joint can feel like a guilty pleasure, a craving you need to satisfy occasionally.

I had the blackened catfish during the lunch hours and the green tomatoes. The catfish was so good and tasty. The green tomatoes were fried well. Will Forsure be back for more -------- Came back for the all you can eat catfish and it didn't disappoint. What a great value for good fish! Would highly recommend to all the catfish lovers out there

Recently visited Catfish Deweys with my family while visiting home and I'm so glad that I did. We were looking for an afternoon lunch that offered seafood as my sister is a pescatarian, but in Broward county, there are so many wonderful options. It's difficult to choose! The Yelp reviews and pictures sealed the deal for Catfish Deweys along with my sister's personal sign-off. Being born and raised in the area I have eaten their food in the past as a kid, but my palate wasn't as refined as it is now (lol) so I was so excited to check it out as an adult. We visited on a weekday afternoon during lunch and it wasn't super packed. There are a few parking spaces outside and we easily found a spot due to the time. You really can't miss it with that Marlin on the roof! Upon entry, we were quickly greeted and taken to our table. There's a full bar and over a dozen tables available for guests in the dining room. Lots of space! The vibe is very 1996 like it's been frozen in time, lol, but I love that. Shows longevity and if it ain't broke, don't fix it! When we were seated we were given a basket of hushpuppies and, phew! They were SO good. Fresh, flavorful, really delicious. For my lunch, I opted to be boring for a bit and go with the steamed shrimp and a baked potato. I'm trying to stay away from fried foods but man, if I wasn't! There were some great lunch options and pricing, and the main menu is just as extensive and filled with all of the seafood you'd want. For folks looking for beef or chicken, they also have those on the menu. My steamed shrimp were perfectly cooked, BUT - they didn't devine one side of some of them. :-( Normally I don't mind speaking up about an issue, but I didn't for whatever reason, so I can't fault them too much. I just didn't expect that I'd be sitting at the table making each of my shrimp were clean enough to eat or quickly clean up. Sigh. But that was the only issue with food. I should have told my awesome server! :@ I'm so upset at myself because I don't remember our waitresses name and I didn't pay the check, so I can't even confirm. But wow - my girl holding down that lunch shift, you deserve to be the manager. What a joy! She was incredibly patient with us as my step-mom and I took our sweet time figuring out our choices while chatting and made the experience even better. I was interested in possibly getting some crabs and was curious at the size difference between the medium and large - she brought me back one of each so I could see them up close! I so appreciated that. We chatted for a bit and she was just lovely. Give her a raise! Really a great experience and a legendary spot in the city, I'll always come back!

Back again for my catfish fix. I always get whole catfish regular coating. Today I tried Cajun Spicy Fried. I was looking for a little kick to the coating but I didn't get any. They were darker in color but no kick. Kind of flat. In the future I will stick to original recipe. My friend had the frog legs "Cajun" and liked them. Don't know until you try. Service was very good as usual. Be back for sure.

Thank you for a delicious meal! My chicken was incredible, the catfish was awesome and the mahi mahi was flavorful! Amazing service for New Year's Eve!

I had t been here in years. They've cleaned up the place and the food is amazing. Our meal started with complimentary hush puppies and Cole slaw. We ordered the all you can eat crab legs for $54.99 which came with a baked potato (you could have rice, French fries, or a sweet potato or other). This all you can eat is $49.99 on Thursdays and Sundays, BTW. I had the 1 Lb of large stone crabs for $49 that also can with a side. You cannot leave without having their in-house made key lime pie. It was AMAZING and a great end to our meal. They also have all you can eat shrimp specials and more. Our server, Marta, was also very sweet, attentive and quick like lightning. We will definitely be back!

Catfish Dewey's (N Andrews Ave in Oakland Park) for the win. Started with a 2 lb order of medium claws and upgraded to AYCE. Leah provided excellent service. The hush puppies & cole slaw are great too. If you order by the lb the prices are comparable to other stone crab restaurants but AYCE is a good deal If you can stomach it (pun intended)

First time and first time having catfish! I'm in love! Delicious flaky fish fried to perfection - so this is a must try.Definitely will come back and try it grilled and blackened too. My Dad hadn't been in a very long time and his favorite, the frog legs, were still on the menu! He finished his plate though he said some of the legs could have been a little more tender, but still delicious! The complimentary coleslaw is amazing - crunchy, sweet but not too sweet, and dressed - and the hush puppies too- try them with the Texas pepper sauce or the cocktail sauce. 10/10. And the key lime pie is legit - truly tart key lime!!! Old school vibe with awesome friendly service! I can see why they are a true old Florida gem!!!

I was so excited to return and totally forgot about photos. As always, the hush puppies and coleslaw were great. I limited myself to 2 because they are too easy to gobble up. My Mom ordered the 1lb stone crabs and she was in heaven and enjoyed every bite. I had the grilled catfish and it was so delicious. Marta, our server, was attentive and even the owner came over to ensure everything was great. We will be back as my Mom wants catfish when the stone crabs are out of season.

We've been going to this restaurant for snow crabs for 20 years it's always been awesome. Not this time. I gave it two stars because the shrimp we had were good. The snow crabs came out steaming hot. They were small and mushy. The kids meals were speggetti and none of them ate them. We sent one back for the kids ribs and they too were terrible. It was so disappointing as it was my son in laws birthday. I would have sent the crabs back but I felt sorry for the waitress she had already taken two of the kids meals back and charged me for stone crabs instead of snow crabs which she had to adjust the bill. I'm so disappointed in the quality of the food. It used to be so good. I won't be back. However the waitress was awesome.

We eat here on a regular basis. The snow crab legs are good and priced right. I love the complimentary hush puppies. Hubby had stone crab claws. They were really good . The servers are friendly and helpful.

We came here for all you can eat snow crab legs for $50. We ate and ate crabs. Nonstop. The crab legs kept coming out with little delay. The status of the crab legs: Some were piping hot, other batches were luke warm. The legs were not the freshest, on occasion I would just not eat the leg bc I questioned the freshness. BUT we came for quantity rather than quality. However the hush puppies were dangerously good. I am usually not a fan of them. The all you can eat comes with a side. We did not eat our green beans. It looked like it was out of a can. And unnecessary filler for when I try to get my moneys worth in crab.

The good: Hot hushpuppies with real butter to start with was very good. Good iced tea. Coleslaw was fresh. Shrimp was a little over cooked but huge. Grits on side were decent. My son loved his kids Mach and cheese. The catfish I had was overcooked, not what I'm used to. 2 adults. 2 kids, no alcohol or apps and bill was 115.00 with a 20% tip, so about normal for this area.

Fantastic! Food was fresh, hot and hands down delicious! They have all you can eat snow crab legs- very reasonably priced. The catfish is delicious. The waitresses Michelle and Katie were extremely nice and helpful. We will definitely go back!

Catfish Deweys was one of my very favorite places to eat catfish and stone crabs when I was living in Fort Lauderdale and in Plantation Florida. The sides are great and I leave stuffed. Like my friend Karen from Pembroke Pines Florida said I suggest you make an early reservation. I eat early anyway! If you live nearby or you are just visiting you gotta go!! I highly recommend! I'm glad this family owned business is still open!!

I highly recommend making reservations! We had date night with friends and our reservation was for 5pm. By the time we left, the restaurant was packed. We shared an appetizer of Breaded Mushrooms that were plump and not greasy. Each day has a different all you can eat special. Today's special was shrimp. The shrimp was plentiful and well worth the cost. Max, my husband is a sucker for stone crabs and they did not disappoint. I can't remember what our friends had because my mind was clouded by the delicious Blueberry Lemon Martini which was followed by the happy hour Mango Martini. However, I do remember smelling my girlfriend's Gumbo Soup and commenting that it smelled like the real deal. This not a fine dining experience. It's more like a Florida institution experience.

My family and I have been coming to Catfish Dewey's for years, and it is amazing every time we come. When we walked in, we were greeted by the friendly hostess who took us to our table. You can call in or use OpenTable to make reservations. We called ahead to make our reservation because had a party of 15. Then we met our amazing waitress who handled our large party very well, and was very efficient. We ordered a plethora of food such as the gator bites, conch fritters, coconut shrimp, grilled shrimp, fried catfish, and seafood boil. Everything tasted great! This was my first time trying gator tail bites, and it taste like fried pork chops. The fried catfish has always been my favorite. It's huge pieces of catfish, fried to a golden brown, and flaky. If you are looking for an amazing and affordable seafood, come to Catfish Dewey's.

Not a fancy place at all but our experience was great and our server was super nice . Check their menu and see all the specials they have. We went there for stone crabs and they were really good. Price was great ! They have a lot all you eat options in different days you can choose from .

The crab was good and the cole skaw and hush puppies were outstanding. The server was excellent. The ambiance left something to be desired but in light of the food/ staff it was ok.

We made a reservation at 8 and were seated immediately, but our server was so busy. She stopped by and let us know that she would be with us shortly, which we really appreciated. Lloyd (?), our server, knew her menu in and out. When our guests asked for locally brewed beer, she recommended the Funky Buddha, which was unique. We started with the Shrimp Gumbo, which was perfectly seasoned, then a Seafood Combo with red snapper as the choice of fish. Of course, we came for Stonecrab claws and Snow crabs Sunday. Well, Lloyd let my guests from CA pick up the tab vice teamming up with me, a Floridian,but that's ok. Just kidding. Thank you for your great dining room service, Lloyd.

I couldn't believe the last time I wrote a review for Catfish Deweys was 14 years ago. Everything I said then in my original review, remains the same. It is not fancy, it is not modern, but it is consistent, it is friendly, and it is still the best deal for stone crabs anywhere. I'd love for the medium all you could eats to come down about $20, but again, the way I eat them, I'm getting my money's worth. Just ate there the other night, again. Keep it up.

The bartender was kind and helpful, it was a nice place to sit down for a meal, and the food was exactly what I would hope for from a place named Catfish Dewey's. It was delicious! I tried a local beer which was also yummy. 10/10, wish I was here for longer so I could go again!

I used to dine here all the time when I lived in Fort Lauderdale, but hadn't been here in years. Recently got back and was glad to see nothing had changed. Same great food, lots of all you can eat specials and very fast & friendly service. I was there on a Tuesday night and it was all you can eat shrimp. You could get them several ways (fried grilled or broiled) so I had a sampling of all...plus fish. It was absolutely delicious! Highly recommended!

This place is amazing!!! We had a party of 5 and our waitress was Katie and man did she do an amazing job!! She made recommendations and turned us away from stuff that might have not been to our liking. Brutally honest and so funny! The food was amazing. I wish we would have taken pictures but after a day at the beach, we were starved and the food didn't disappoint. I want to come back to Florida just to come back and eat here and hang out with Katie!! Thank you for a great evening.

It's rare to find a seafood "joint" that has it all, great food, friendly service, amazing portion sizes, and prices that don't make you feel like you've been fleeced. This my friends is a rare exception. The proverbial hole in the wall with the nicest people, a menu complete with something literally for everyone, a plate full of food that isn't cheesecake factory gross and priced to the point where you say, wow, thank you. Stone Crab, fish, shrimp, crawfish, ribs salads and pasta. Fantastic! A meal that would be north of $600 at Joe's is reasonable here with no wait! Highly recommended and I will be back

We have been eating at Catfish Dewey's for many years, and it is just as good now as it was years ago. The whole catfish are the best we have ever had and we eat a lot of catfish! Our sides were fried okra and cole slaw. The coke slaw was fresh and the okra was freshly rolled in corn meal fried perfectly. The hushpuppies were also made in house--yum! The interior had been updated and looked very nice, and our waitress, Lea P, was very personable and prompt. We will defiantly go back the next time we are in FLL. Hushpuppies Lea P waitress

Catfish Dewey's was recommended to me by a friend who couldn't say enough good things about their stone crab claws. It's a big rustic space. People are very friendly with low-key vibe. Darcy, our waitress was very nice. She started us off with some hush puppies. We ordered a shared appetizer of large stone claw crabs. They are excellent and quite reasonably priced. in retrospect, we should've quit while we were ahead. My brother ordered the fried seafood combination and I ordered the blackened seafood combination and they were OK at best. The portions are enormous and there are a number of all you can eat specials here. Unfortunately, at least for us the quantity outweighed the quality. If I went back, it would only be to eat stone crab claws. If you are a local or budget minded, add a star.

This is probably cheapest place in town by far for Florida Stone Crab. I called around several places in the Fort Lauderdale area for availability and pricing of Florida Stone Crab. Most places quoted 60 dollars plus for a pound. Catfish Deweys came in at 38 dollars a pound for medium sized. They also have an AYCE (all you can eat) offer at 99 dollars which is a steal deal. The interior of the restaurant needs a major update. The current outdated and drab looks is a major turn off. Despite good pricing of Florida Stone Crab, this is one restaurant that I would never take dates too. Parking is also very limited. Our waitress provided slow service. We had a hard time finding her or waving her down. She rarely came to check if we needed anything. We just had Florida Stone Crab on this occasion and it tasted on point. The medium sized claws were quite large in size. The shell was pre-cracked so it was easy to peel off the shell.

"They" said to go...so I went..Sunday around noon...place was not packed...lots of empty tables...great service...we decided to do the lunch specials and appetizers...hush puppies are good - served with butter??? Fried green tomatoes were okay Stone crab - Star of the meal - Catfish - I didn't try...not a fan.. BUT my date really enjoyed Fried shrimp were delicious - first plate was not hot..asked for plate of hot fried shrimp and server delivered! Fish taco- get these but ask for all of the topping to go on the side...they use the coleslaw as a topping.. covering very tasty grilled mahi! And do not get the gumbo...it's just not gumbo-ing and I had to send that back Dessert - Keylime pie - edible but not great So..I would not make a special trip but if I was in the area..I would get crabs, shrimp and a drink..

Very good place to eat. Fresh food and great service and atmosphere. The catfish is great. I always have the blackened scallops. Never a long wait. I love it

Went on a Friday night with some friends and I know it's old Florida style but at least get the food right I ordered the catfish and scallops special the catfish was delicious a little thin but tasty the scallops were rubbery and cold in the middle sad.

This is a true hidden gem. We were looking for a nice place to enjoy seafood and a good drink. Well, Captain Dewey's met and exceeded our expectations. We were greeted and seated. Our server was super friendly and took really good care of us. We ordered the fried catfish and mac n cheese. We were served a basket of hushpuppies and bowl of cole slaw. The hushpuppies were some of the best I've ever eaten. The slaw was moist and had a good taste. The catfish was cooked perfectly and was delicious.

I've been going to catfish Dewey for around 30 years and I've never been disappointed. Recently went for Stone crab claws. I ate about 30 mediums. They are expensive, but it was so worth for all you can eat. If you haven't been to catfish Dewey, do yourself a favor and go get some real seafood. Don't be cheap and get the good shit!

Great food service combo plate's awesome hush puppies safe parking real family style Unlimited crab legs

Still have the best AUCE snow crab legs! During the summer they serve them every night, while in the winter it's specific days. Good service (drinks filled consistently) , GREAT crab legs (they are hot - not cold), and their hush puppies and cole slaw are really good. It's not fancy or elegant, but peole come and stay for hours. Try it!

Visiting again after about 25 years. This place is unique and a must try adventure. Make sure you order the catfish extra crispy the way I remember they did it so many years ago (if you order the catfish). I guess a lot of people like the fried batter with soft catfish meat inside but not me. Many many seafood things to try. I like their coleslaw. I Enjoy their all you can eat various deals even though now I cant eat my monies worth and shouldnt do the all you can eat deals. They have baby back ribs wed all you can eat and you can get the fried catfish with that if you want. I had a delicious non alchoholic frozen pineapple drink.Was $8 but for a special occassion worth it. They have mango and strawberry too. Long drive for me since I live in Boca but will be back. Hope sooner than 25 years this time. The one thing I dont like is the dim lighting but thats just me and therefore the ambience which most people like is just not my taste. Service was excellent!