Rickenbacker Fish Company

So I’m a GroupON fan and I decided to get the deal $ 25 for $ 50
I looked at the address and seemed like it was by Rusty Pelican.
When we drove in I realized this was the place the use to call «MADHOUSE»!!! Back in the day this was a club, foam parties… crazy parties to say the least!!! Good memories!!! Miami Locals… youll remember!!! Circa 2002!!!
Anyways… there is free valet!!! Perk!
We came in and there was a beachy laid back vibe
Decided to sit in the back patio looking at the bay, the best option. right?!
There, Was pretty nice views of the yacht club and all the boats.
We ordered calamari… was pretty good breaded just right… give it 3 ½ to 4 stars
I ordered the seafood paella… was good the clams and shrimp were very fresh… the rice was kinda too salty if they put less salt would of been better.
The margaritas were the best part! Def a must try… This is a laid back experience… i kind of felt like I was around the Tiki Bar area in the keys…
If I come back it will prob be for those darn good margaritas!!!

Here’s a word of advice: if you’re in a rush to go somewhere, don’t come here. It’s counterproductive. This is the place to go if you want to chillax. Service may not be incredibly fast so like I said, you may want to think twice if you have something else going on in an hour. You come here to relax, not to watch the time on your watch or cellphone. That being said, this is probably the most relaxing place I have been to. Everything is casual, from the service, the servers’ attire and the setting, to the patrons.
There’s self-​parking for guests if you immediately turn right after pulling in, and that is what I decided to do. It was a Friday night, nice and chilly, in the 60s with a nice ocean breeze, the perfect setting for an outdoor dinner. The place looks formal from the outside, with a fountain, some palms and stairs, but inside, it’s pretty casual, especially if you head outdoors. I decided to sit outside as I wanted to experience the view. Bob Marley was playing and everyone looked relaxed and having a good time.
You walk into a huge tiki-​hut setting with a bar in the middle and tables all around. It took a while to get a server, but I think it was due to confusion as to whom would take care of us. The view of the skyline was beautiful, and the Bob Marley soundtrack put you in a good, casual mood. We had a LivingSocial deal and decided to get a good amount of food but not so much that we would be stuck paying $ 100 or more, even with the discount. We settled on the conch fritters, the Caribbean Mahi, and the Crispy Whole Yellowtail Snapper for a true Bahamian/​Caribbean experience.
The conch fritters — tasty but unfortunately, more breading than meat. I have had conch fritters that had strips of conch, so this can be improved. The Caribbean Mahi was delicious, it had a pineapple mango sauce, julienned vegetables and the rice had this unique flavor. It was something like vanilla, although maybe it was butter (I haven’t had butter in god knows how long). The Crispy Whole Yellowtail Snapper was quite unique. I was expecting to get my hands dirty pulling apart the fish, the bones, etc., but somehow, they manage to get 99% of the bones out, not requiring any cleanup. It sits in a red garlic sauce and they make a bowl out of the fish to put rice in the middle. It’s hard to explain, but if you look at my pictures, you will see what I mean. Very unusual and unique. The fish was fresh and tender, and our waitress, Melissa, was quite friendly.
Soon after finishing our meal, the manager, Clancy came by and told us a bit about the place. Surprisingly, it’s quite new. He told us of the brunch as well, and the fact they have free boat slips in case you come on a boat. He was a very friendly person and we assured him we loved our meal and would be back soon. Since it was a bit chilly, they brought out a heat lamp towards the end of the meal to keep patrons warm.
For dessert, we had the key lime pie which was nice and light. The bill came out to about $ 100, including gratuity, and with the LivingSocial deal, we only paid about $ 50 (drinks were $ 9 a piece and we got 2). After dinner, we strolled by the dock to look at the boats. I’m sure this would be a great place to come eat lunch or even to have an early dinner, so you can watch the sun go down, the clouds and sky turning shades of pink and orange, and enjoy the breeze. I’m glad I tried this place because I was hoping to find a place like this in Miami since they have so many in the Keys and never thought I would find a place with an ambiance that is so casual, fun and relaxing. I’m glad they’re here and look forward to coming back and tasting some new dishes soon.

We were hesitant about buying a living social for this restaurant because of the mixed reviews, but we had a great experience. We sat outside, and while it’s not your traditional beach-​front view, I liked that it was a different kind of waterfront view. It’s basically situated in a marina, so you sit among the boats and dock. The outside area is very nice, and there was live music that gave everything a relaxed, island feel.
Our server was really nice and attentive — we were especially impressed with the service when we discovered at the end that the tip was already added into the bill. We started with the conch fritters, which I didn’t love, but it was more about the conch than the way it was prepared (it was my first time trying it). When we ordered the Key Biscayne chicken sandwich and the Caribbean Mahi, our server cheerfully informed us those were two of the best menu items. We agreed! The chicken sandwich was very moist and flavorful, and the fries were nice and crispy. The mahi itself was fine, but what I really enjoyed was the side of julienned vegetables — so flavorful! Veggie sides are very hit or miss, but these were a very big hit! The rice pilaf was also yummy, and the combo of the fish, veggies and rice made for a perfectly balanced plate.
I would definitely go back!

Alright so let me first start off by saying I went to this place because I bought a Living Social/​Groupon voucher. I had done my research, of course, before I purchased and was interested mainly because 1) I LOVE Fish and 2) I LOVE restaurants with water views. So, when we got there, I noticed the parking situation was a little awkward… there is complimentary valet. The entrance and inside is very nice and I immediately suggested sitting outside… :-/ (that’s my sideface)
I have to say I was VERY disappointed in the view. Why, you ask? Because there is no view!!! There’s boats and bushes everywhere! I was so mad I sat outside and got ate up by mosquitoes for nothing! GROWL! Something else weird happened… cats. :-/​Yes CATS! A cat found his way on to the patio… I mean, I know cats like fish. But really? Somebody must have been feeding the heifer for it to feel comfortable enough to just waltz up there and chill.
I will say the high point of this outing was the actual food. DELICIOUS! Oh gosh, I am salivating just thinking about it. I had the pecan crusted trout (?)… or maybe it was tilapia? Blah! Can’t remember but I remember it had pecans in it and it was GOOD. The bartender suggested the frozen mojito… :-/​It tasted more like frozen lemon juice. Too girly of a drink for me, I like my drinks on the rocks. I did not finish this fool drink and opted for a bacardi limon/​sprite (no lime, please). My friend on the other hand slurped it down. To each his own…
Our server was great. He stayed on top of us and when I mentioned the mosquito problem, he gave me some OFF that actually worked. That was super nice of him. I would definitely return here. In fact they had a Groupon recently and I purchased another! But next time, I will definitely sit inside!

So, I know this is going to make me sound like a Debbie Downer but, I don’t think the view here is all that spectacular. It’s kind of hard to see the ocean over a bunch of overgrown bushes, so you kind of only see a tiny puddle of sea. But otherwise this place has a really nice ambiance if there’s no steel drum/​DJ-​type there mucking up your ear-​holes.
What is spectacular though is their smoked salmon. Oh my. I think I could easily inhale about twenty plates of it alone. I also tried their mussels which were good but nothing special which is pretty much the same sentiment I have for their frozen mojito everyone seems to be humping all over. It’s just a mojito with a lot of ice, blended. Ta. Da.
I didn’t try any of their main dishes but from the smell and sight of them flying by towards other tables, I wouldn’t mind coming back and sampling a few.
And this place gets like a billion bonus points for having a cool bartender with a sick ass mustache straight out of a 70s porn that looks like it was shot by a canal in a Florida suburb.

Rickenbacker Fish Company is nothing to write home about. the setting is nice, but service is sloppy.
We ordered the bacon wrapped shrimp and they were good, the fried calamari was just average.
The entrees were not good, we had the Scampi Linguini and the Deep Fried Yellowtail Snapper, and the Mahi Mahi. All of them were lacking flavor.
All in all, for the price you pay, the food is simply not to par.

FEELS LIKE THE KEYS. Water view? Check. Flip flops? Check. Cold drinks? Check. Steel drum? Check. Chillaxing vibe? Double check.
We showed up on the boat at about 1:00 in the afternoon to try out the brunch. We were seated right away at a table by the bar, and within minutes we had our first cocktails. The brunch includes AYD mimosas. I’m not sure how many I drank, but I can assure you, I was NEVER thirsty.
The brunch buffet is generous and expansive. It includes omelet and carving stations, raw bar with shellfish, all sorts of breakfast meats and breads and lunch salads as well as some tasty dessert treats. My companion and I each had 3 courses. He started with shrimp and oysters, then roast beef, and he finished with fruit and cheese. I had a plate of salads: Greek, Caesar and Capresse, then a veggie omelet, then coconut flan.
We stayed for at least 3 hours, drinking, eating, chatting, eating, reading the Times, eating, drinking coffee, and eating. A really nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We also enjoyed the live music– a steel drum player, and the view of the boats in the marina.
The crowd was eclectic in true Keys style. There were apres-​church families, a couple who were in full road-​racing bicycle gear, people who just got off boats (like us), post-​golfing guys, and salty bar-​fly types. The manager was very friendly. He introduced himself and gave us his card and told us if we ever wanted to come in after fishing, they’d be happy to prepare our catch.

I decided this palce is great when you are heading out of the marina on a boat, or returning from the boat, and even then, you should limit yourself to drinks. We had lunch there recently (met some friends who had gone out on boat from the marina) & I realized it’s super overpriced, sub-​par bar food! I have an inherent problem paying over $ 30 for 1 drink & 2 mini appetizers as my «lunch.» The coconut shrimp & wings were good, but not that good. My friends had few good things to say about the different fishy items they ordered (i.e. fish dip, ceviche, crab salad didn’t really hit a high note).
Our waiter was nice & did the best he could with a party of 7, but paying also turned into a disaster. We’ll stick tp frozen, fruity drinks at the bar after our next outing.

The view here is amazing. But that is about all they have going for them.
The restaurant is such a weird design, but we sat outside of course for the Miami skyline view.
The lobster tasted a little overcooked, but the Filet Mignon was super super tasty, I heartily recommend that.
The waiter was great, very attentive.

Interesting find!
Was pretty excited to check this place out and glad I did. Huge outdoor patio with incredible views of the Miami skyline. I’d have to say the views are some of the best in Miami.
The food was pretty good too. Ordered the Mahi entrée which was cooked perfectly and filling. However, there are some negatives with this place.
First of which, they don’t have draft beer. Big disappointment! This the perfect outdoor bar/​restaurant for enjoying the outdoors, but only serve bottled beer? Huh???
Second: the place seemed dead. Saturday night prime time and the only activity was around the bar outside. The restaurant is HUGE, although I was expecting more of a lively scene. Not the case.
Third: Prices. They’re a little on the steep side; however, I’m willing to pay for it to enjoy the view
Service: Adequate. Nothing great, nothing bad either…
Overall, a nice place to check out. Great place to drink a beer, grab a late lunch or early dinner and watch the sunset over the bay and Miami skyline.

I went two days ago with a few friends from out of town. The view was spectacular and the service has gotten much better! The chef even came out and greeted us and asked us how the food tasted.
We ordered a variety of items off the menu, from clams to group to the ribs… everyone was satisfied with their meal. Def. a place to go back to, especially in the cooler months of the year!

This place was really great… makes you feel like you’re in Key West. Great tunes, great views and great food.
Smoked fish dip: Served on crunchy crostini. They smoke all their fish on site!
Bacon wrapped shrimp: With a a lot of bbq sauce on the top
Wings: really good!
I’ll be back.

The outdoor seating is great with beautiful views. The service is good and attentive. The menu has decent options. But, for being a «Fish Company» — the selection of seafood is not as vast as I had imagined. The food is good and most of our group liked their meal.
The indoor and welcome areas seem to need to work… feels cold and rundown. Outside feels great and more alive!

Great view, (outside only) nice ambiance, really good fresh seafood! We went relatively early, around 6:00 pm on a friday night. Beautiful view of the water and marina, relaxing atmosphere. It was a little chilly, but they have heat lamps that make it seem warm. We weren’t offered the option of sitting inside, which was ok, as it didn’t look that inviting to me.
Server was pleasant and took our order quickly (there were about 8 people at the bar and maybe 4 other tables outside occupied, so I would not have expected less). He quickly brought rolls, which were covered in sunflower seeds. Not a personal preference, but the roll itself wasn’t very good. Watching the sun go down while having a glass of wine was really nice and relaxing, and it was nice to just watch as people slowly filled the bar and restaurant. Varied group of patrons.
I liked the menu– good mix of seafood options. Good assortment of appetizers, and we had the fresh oysters, which were great.
I had the surf and turf, and I have to say that the lobster tail was really good. Not normally a warm lobster tail fan, it had been broiled perfectly and the remoulade sauce and melted butter made for a really nice flavorful sause. The filet was really small, but good and cooked perfectly
.
BF had the paella, which he liked, but said it had too much chorizo in it and it overpowered the seafood. The server did disappear once it got busier, and we had to flag him down to get the bill, but I would definitely go back and try other dishes.
When we left, it was packed, and people were waiting. But I enjoyed it and would probably try back at lunch.
Love the free valet!

We were on the key and decided to check this place out. I still remember this place as a nightclub when I was in high school, and over the past couple of years there have been several restaurant iterations in this location.
The location is pretty good, right on the water next to the marina. The restaurant definitely has a «Monty’s» feel to it with similar décor for the interior restaurant and wooden deck seating out back. We ate outside, which is nicely shaded with some canvas covers. The better views are on the left side of the bar, but they are all high top seating.
The food was actually pretty good. We started with the bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer which was in a mango sauce and was very very tasty. A couple of shrimp were a tad bit undercooked, but passable. For entrees we had a mahi salad and a mahi sandwich — both blackened. Both featured nice thick cuts of fish which were cooked very nicely. At the suggestion of the server I had some remoulade sauce on the side which was awesome! The bloody marys were pretty good, and not too thick.
However, the good quality of the food was definitely offset by the poor service at RFC. It seemed as if the staff were pretty disorganized and even confused at times. I was served a pretty warm Key West ale, and when I asked for a gin and tonic next, they did not bring the drink until we had finished our meals and the table had been cleared and wiped down.
We were lucky that we arrived before a rush of people as when we were leaving there were multiple tables of people who had been waiting for their food for a LONG time or were sitting down for a while and had not ordered yet. It is not as if there was a shortage of staff, as there were TONS running around, they just looked very confused. There were 2 managers walking around and I am not even sure what they were doing to help. The server and bus boys were extremely friendly though — hopefully they work the service kinks out.
So this place is just OK for me, you can get a much better view at Monty’s, Scotty’s Landing, or Shuckers. The food is good, but hopefully they get their act together and improve the service.

Great Views and Great food.
Atmosphere and Décor– A group of us decided to go eat at this restaurant on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. we choose to sit outside and enjoy the ocean breeze and Miami sky line. The restaurant reminds me alot of Monty’s or Garcias Sea food grill. Very laid back and tropical. Great music playing.
Appetizers– 6 Blue point Oysters, Lobster bisque, New England Clam Chowder. Every plate was extremely fresh and delicious.
Main Course– Husband and I split the Mahi Mahi Cesar Salad and the Mahi Mahi Sandwich. The Mahi Mahi Sandwich resembles a Reuben, it has coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing, the plate comes with French fries. This sandwich was absolutely fantastic and the fries were amazing. In fact next time I return to the resturant, I will be sure to get my own sandwich and not share, I could not get enough. Another dish that I tried was the Crab cake sandwich, this plate also comes with French fries and was very good as well.
Dessert– Key Lime pie. Very good as well.
Service– The only issue I can foresee being a negative is that the service was a little slow. We were not in a hurry, we were enjoying the company and the beautiful day so it was not an issue for us at all.
Tip– Free Valet Parking!

I really want to give this place a better rating because this place has decent food, good drinks, a nice ambiance, and an amazing view, but the service; oh the service.
The food is solid, but no spectacular. The drinks were really good. The chambord piña colada was tasty, but pricey. I have had other drinks here, but quite frankly just do not remember the name.
So you look at the above paragraph and think «oh that is a good start maybe I will come here». However, getting the food is a chore. The service is horrendous. I have dealt with a few servers at this place and every single one, but the cute girl has treated us with inadequate service. It is if my friends and I have the bubonic plague
What sets this place apart is the ambiance and the view. The ambiance has that relaxing island vacation feel. It is very soothing. The view is gorgeous. You have the Miami skyline, the water, beautiful boats… wait for it… a man moving stored boats. You think stored boats what is amazing about that. I will tell you. The precision to move boats on a forklift and store them away without damaging them is amazing.
Overall, the place is what you want for a nice drink for happy hour, but the service makes me want to bring a replica uniform and just serve myself.

If the Rusty Pelican was Manhattan, then RFC would be like the Village. This cool and bohemian counterpart to it’s neighbor offers a splendid and laid back view of the Miami skyline through a lush mangrove, under a tiki hut. Add drinks, and you got heaven. It’s got a varied group of patrons, and if you decide to go inside to eat, the atmosphere changes into a more elegant and romantic ambiance. We were given a few samplers to try, and my favorite hands down was the shrimp. Very fresh, and had the authentic taste of a real bbq grill. Very hard to grill shrimp w/​o having them dry out! The drinks were strong, evident by my hangover the next day, and the servers all seemed to be pleasant and expedient.
Oh — and the dock!!! How could I forget the dock! Excellent! This place is a perfect pit stop on a sunny drunken day to get some seafood on! Going on my list!!!
On a funny note (sometime after a few drinks that night) I went to the bathroom. Now I don’t know if you guys noticed the horse next to the stairs… anyways — I like to climb things when I drink — and the nice hostess let me climb and ride the horsey :) Giddy up :)

The night we had dinner here was unseasonably cool so we were forced to eat inside. Once seated, we were disappointed to learn that the amazing views were only from outside.
We ordered calamari and coconut shrimp for appetizers — both were incredibly fresh and well seasoned. The calamari was served with a fantastic homemade marinara sauce. I wanted to lick the little bowl clean once the calamari was gone!
Dinner was mahi mahi and a shrimp scampi. Again, the fish/​shellfish were really fresh and cooked perfectly. My only gripe was the pasta/​sauce in the scampi. The pasta was overcooked to the point of being gummy and rather than the traditional garlic wine sauce usually served in scampi, the sauce was thick and had a flavor reminiscent of Ramen.
Service was very good with attentive staff and a manager cruising the dining room to oversee operations and chat with customers. They seemed genuinely concerned with their guests’ experience.

Scenic views of downtown, especially at sunset, friendly service and fresh seafood. My piña colada was enjoyed in the outdoor covered patio. The crabcake and clam chowder soup were also good. Highly recommend the butterflied pan seared snapper dish which came with rice pilaf, asparagus in a lemon butter sauce. For dessert, you must try their delicious, light key lime pie. Service was a tad slow, but no complaints as light reggae music and fantastic views will distract you.