Even Keel Fish Shack

Katya Scott

A-a-amazing food!!!! We came for the happy hour oysters (which were delicious and fresh). Then we decided to eat. Ordered bang-bang shrimp and charred octopus- both dishes knocked my socks off- so good!!!!!! Then we decided to go all the way IN and ordered desserts: Key Lime pie - the best I ever had in my life!!!!! Definitely will be back for more! The menu is impressive and asking us to return and try more!

Jenni Sosnow, Realtor

Love the happy hour specials! I got the grilled oysters, french fries, and I think the Sunshine state slushie (really excellent). They have misting fans to help cool you off. Service was quick and friendly. Can’t wait to try more of the menu!

Grace Roessler

We have come to LBTS for years but had never been to Even Keel. So happy we did! Best crab guac ever, excellent drinks, and very friendly service! We will return!

Oliver F

Everything was exceptional! Especially the Oysters, Lobster, Wahoo and Lena's service! Thank you so much for such a wonderful evening!

myrtle lee

This restaurant is located at a busy intersection, but it’s surprisingly quiet and peaceful. During sunset, you can enjoy the sunlight gently shining on you—it’s such a relaxing experience. Miami has been a bit chilly these past few days, but sitting here felt incredibly cozy. The staff were amazing, super attentive and welcoming, even though I came alone. The food was absolutely delicious! I ordered the chilled oysters and the lobster roll, and both were incredibly flavorful. 😋 I really loved everything about this place! Next time, I’ll definitely bring my friends along to share this wonderful experience.

Ken Miyakawa

I had a great experience at Even Keel Fish Shack—not only was the seafood fresh and delicious, but I was also able to dock my kayak, enjoy my meal, and continue my journey with ease. It was the perfect spot for a quick and enjoyable stop while out on the water. I tried to do the same at Casa Sensei, but unfortunately, they have a private dock and don’t allow kayakers to dock there, even if you’re dining at the restaurant. It was disappointing since waterfront dining should be accessible to those arriving by boat or kayak. If you’re looking for a kayak-friendly dining experience, I’d definitely recommend Even Keel!

shalesDC

Out of all the places in this district, Even Keel was my favorite restaurant by far. They have homemade, fresh piña coladas that kept me coming back for more! The hot lobster roll was so meaty and good- best I've ever had. The chef (or owner?) special made me a veggie medley for my side. The service was friendly and attentive. This was the only place in the South East Florida area that I've been to that doesn't use plastic straws and that is so appreciated. Indoor seating and plenty of outdoor seating right on the busy strip. I highly recommend this restaurant and bar.

Chris Petrik

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Even Keel Fish Club in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, and let me tell you, it was nothing short of amazing. The seafood was top-notch, and the live music was the icing on the cake. The atmosphere was lively and energetic, creating the perfect backdrop for my dining experience. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by friendly and welcoming staff. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, and he helped guide us through the options to ensure we had an unforgettable meal. The seafood was incredibly fresh and cooked to perfection - it was clear that the chefs really knew what they're doing in the kitchen. I particularly enjoyed the live music that was playing during our meal. It added a fun and festive element to the experience and really elevated the overall ambiance of the restaurant. It was clear that the musicians were not only talented but passionate about their craft as well. All in all, Even Keel Fish Club was an outstanding dining experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for great seafood, live music, and a fun night out. The service was exemplary, and the rest of the staff was warm and friendly, making the entire experience that much better. I will definitely be back when I am in town again!

Leah Arluk

Even keel fish shack is wonderful! While I had tried their oysters before at an even last year, I had not had an opportunity to go to their actual location in Lauderdale by the sea. We got there a little after 8pm on a Sunday. Knowing they had amazing oysters I was so excited to try what the had fresh on the menu! We started with a dozen of their pink moon oysters. They were so fresh and the flavor of the sea was so mild. They were paired with a housemade tarragon mignonette, fresh horseradish, cocktail sauce and we got their house made Hot sauce as well. We also sipped on their froze tequila calls "salt and the sea" which was absolutely perfect accompaniment to the oysters! Next we got the adult grilled cheese and sweet corn and clam chowder. With the entrees we had the even keel old fashioned & The floor is Guava Lava drinks. We perched up by the street corner at their outdoor high tops! The night was beautiful and we could still have nice conversation with surrounding noise. There was live music inside the restaurant which was chill. Our sever was really cool. We had great banter and he gave us awesome recommendations for what to get. I believe his name was Spence I am looking forward to going again with a more robust appetite but this experiment was FANTASTIC!!

We arrived on a very busy evening 03/08/2026. There was self seating. We were greeted by a very friendly server Tony. The entire evening was a really great experience. Pineapple spicy margherita was very tasty. Avocado crab guacamole was very good and fresh Seared scallops and fish of the day Cobia were awesome. Perfectly cooked and very flavorful. Even Keel LBTS is highly recommended!

When the menu has octopus and chicken liver pate, you know the place is worth checking out. We weren't disappointed. Tony, our server, took great care of us and made some good recommendations. Food was excellent. We had the pate, shrimp ceviche, conch salad, and the star of the evening - charred octopus. Everything was great, and we'd definitely come back.

As always, the food, service, and atmosphere was amazing. Our waitress Natalie was so sweet and attentive. The shrimp and grits were amazing, and everything we had, from the poke to the lobster roll were delicious and perfectly delivered. Thank you for a wonderful date night with my husband.

During a weekend stay in LBTS, we were introduced to David and his amazing establishment, Even Keel. We returned more than a few times, even though we had many local choices. Where do I begin? THE PLACE.. You can’t see it from outside, but whether you sit in, out, or bar side, you immediately feel welcome and comfortable and our servers Gregorio and Lina had us. All the way thru each meal we got lots of attention and excellent service. THE DRINKS.. Creatively designed and absolutely enjoyable. We chose some interesting cocktails over our long weekend, and all of them were impressive. THE FOOD.. Some of the freshest and tastiest sea food we have ever had. The preparation, the attention to detail on flavors and combinations, amazing recipes, all top notch. From the salads, to the apps, dinners, desserts. I just can’t say enough here. We are going home tomorrow, but we will be crossing the bridge at Commercial Blvd very soon to come back here. Thank you and see you soon, David!

First time visiting and our server Natalie was so sweet and provided amazing service, such a great time! The food was amazing, great happy hour, and the live music accentuated the ambiance! Would definitely come back!

Me

Everything was amazing and Natalie was absolutely wonderful! It was so busy but we were seated before the 10 minutes that was quoted to us when we arrived. The hostess who sat us was on point! We will be back the next time we're in town. Thank you all for a wonderful dinner and perfect service!

Pryncess

Lina was awesome! She's very attentive and very welcoming! Highly recommend her to be your waitress! The food ànd drinks she recommended was 10/10!

Zéyad masoud

first time here- wont be the last oysters very fresh and presentation 10/10 they had a wings special on Wednesday- so had to try them- very nice jerk dry rub- super tasty but most of all the highlight was service- Andrew(who is sicilian and had cool sunglasses) handled our order effortlessly while juggling the bar and the other tables on his own. an absolute example of a true restaurateur- I’m surprised Even Keel doesn’t belong to him with this level of attention to detail, excellence, and devotion to his craft! The owners should be very proud to have him on their team if they already aren’t. see you again!

Remek Kocz

When the menu has octopus and chicken liver pate, you know the place is worth checking out. We weren't disappointed. Tony, our server, took great care of us and made some good recommendations. Food was excellent. We had the pate, shrimp ceviche, conch salad, and the star of the evening - charred octopus. Everything was great, and we'd definitely come back.

Susan Mitchell

During a weekend stay in LBTS, we were introduced to David and his amazing establishment, Even Keel. We returned more than a few times, even though we had many local choices. Where do I begin? THE PLACE.. You can’t see it from outside, but whether you sit in, out, or bar side, you immediately feel welcome and comfortable and our servers Gregorio and Lina had us. All the way thru each meal we got lots of attention and excellent service. THE DRINKS.. Creatively designed and absolutely enjoyable. We chose some interesting cocktails over our long weekend, and all of them were impressive. THE FOOD.. Some of the freshest and tastiest sea food we have ever had. The preparation, the attention to detail on flavors and combinations, amazing recipes, all top notch. From the salads, to the apps, dinners, desserts. I just can’t say enough here. We are going home tomorrow, but we will be crossing the bridge at Commercial Blvd very soon to come back here. Thank you and see you soon, David!

The food was spectacular, really delicious and filling, some orders a bit pricey, but extremely flavourful. Fish and chips, lobster roll, and octopus were superb! The yellowfin is a full fish and quite messy, but beautifully plated. Small side note, we had to wait quite a while, but it was a busy night in peak tourist season. Overall great spot for a large group, very friendly staff!

Nathaniel Saad

The food was spectacular, really delicious and filling, some orders a bit pricey, but extremely flavourful. Fish and chips, lobster roll, and octopus were superb! The yellowfin is a full fish and quite messy, but beautifully plated. Small side note, we had to wait quite a while, but it was a busy night in peak tourist season. Overall great spot for a large group, very friendly staff!

I wanted to love this place but it just fell short. The service was excellent but the food just so so. I had the crab melt and it didn't have much flavor despite the mango topping. My partner got the fish sandwich and fries. The fries looked to be made on site but they had a burned flavor that was not good. It is quite noisy with the corner doors open to the street on 2 sides. They have indoor and outdoor tables

Service was amazing! Our server Julie was super attentive and warm. The location and atmosphere was great, however we found the food to be a miss. The Crab beignets were very cakey, thick and dense with a flavorless sauce. We tried the charred octopus which was a tad sweet and otherwise flavorless, the Brussels were good as were the fresh raw oysters! The clam carbonara was a little strange with the flavors being just okay, the pasta was cooked perfectly aldente. We also Tried the biscuits which my husband liked. Overall we wouldn’t go back because to food just didn’t do it for us.

Dawn Fitzgerald

I wanted to love this place but it just fell short. The service was excellent but the food just so so. I had the crab melt and it didn't have much flavor despite the mango topping. My partner got the fish sandwich and fries. The fries looked to be made on site but they had a burned flavor that was not good. It is quite noisy with the corner doors open to the street on 2 sides. They have indoor and outdoor tables

Nicole Roig

Service was amazing! Our server Julie was super attentive and warm. The location and atmosphere was great, however we found the food to be a miss. The Crab beignets were very cakey, thick and dense with a flavorless sauce. We tried the charred octopus which was a tad sweet and otherwise flavorless, the Brussels were good as were the fresh raw oysters! The clam carbonara was a little strange with the flavors being just okay, the pasta was cooked perfectly aldente. We also Tried the biscuits which my husband liked. Overall we wouldn’t go back because to food just didn’t do it for us.

I went to Even Keel twice during my stay in Florida. The first time my food took a very long time to come out. The fish and chips, mussels, and blackened fish were good, but everything else was average/below average. The second time, I came in on all you can eat mussel Monday. Even Keel was very understaffed, with only one waitress. I ordered the all you can eat mussels for $19. The food took about 30-40 minutes to come out. Many of the mussels contained small, hard pearls that made them very unpleasant to eat. I understand that mussels contain small bits of sand and other things, but other seafood restaurants do a much better job of cleaning them out. Furthermore, on my second round of mussels, sesame was added on top even I am allergic to it. On the positive side, the vibe was good, and our server was very nice. However, the negatives outweigh the positives at this restaurant. Hopefully I just caught them on a bad day.

cool person

I went to Even Keel twice during my stay in Florida. The first time my food took a very long time to come out. The fish and chips, mussels, and blackened fish were good, but everything else was average/below average. The second time, I came in on all you can eat mussel Monday. Even Keel was very understaffed, with only one waitress. I ordered the all you can eat mussels for $19. The food took about 30-40 minutes to come out. Many of the mussels contained small, hard pearls that made them very unpleasant to eat. I understand that mussels contain small bits of sand and other things, but other seafood restaurants do a much better job of cleaning them out. Furthermore, on my second round of mussels, sesame was added on top even I am allergic to it. On the positive side, the vibe was good, and our server was very nice. However, the negatives outweigh the positives at this restaurant. Hopefully I just caught them on a bad day.

CHECK YOUR BANK STATEMENTS OR PAY CASH!!! I am a local and I visited Even Keel for a quick bite. I enjoyed their oysters, which were fresh and well-prepared. However, my experience was marred by a serious issue: I was double-charged after leaving. My check was $29.96 for happy hour. Then I was charged $50 after I left. I was only at the restaurant for 20 minutes. When I contacted them about the erroneous charge, they dismissed my concern and tried to blame my bank. I contacted them in person. Chase Bank confirmed the charge was illegitimate and originated from the restaurant. THE RESTAURANT CLAIMS CHASE BANK PUT A $50 HOLD WITH THEIR ESTABLISHMENT FOR MY $29.96 CHECK AFTER I LEFT. This lack of accountability and poor customer service was disappointing. While the oysters were good, I can’t recommend a place that mishandles billing and gaslights customers. Proceed with caution.

Monica A

CHECK YOUR BANK STATEMENTS OR PAY CASH!!! I am a local and I visited Even Keel for a quick bite. I enjoyed their oysters, which were fresh and well-prepared. However, my experience was marred by a serious issue: I was double-charged after leaving. My check was $29.96 for happy hour. Then I was charged $50 after I left. I was only at the restaurant for 20 minutes. When I contacted them about the erroneous charge, they dismissed my concern and tried to blame my bank. I contacted them in person. Chase Bank confirmed the charge was illegitimate and originated from the restaurant. THE RESTAURANT CLAIMS CHASE BANK PUT A $50 HOLD WITH THEIR ESTABLISHMENT FOR MY $29.96 CHECK AFTER I LEFT. This lack of accountability and poor customer service was disappointing. While the oysters were good, I can’t recommend a place that mishandles billing and gaslights customers. Proceed with caution.

The place has great potential in a prime location. I stopped by on my walk downtown to a different bar to try it out. After ordering one drink, the bartender took the happy hour menu away from me and put an ice water on the counter (I had 2 seltzers and a meal prior to arriving). The woman sitting next to me and myself were quite confused. Overall thought it was rude and the bartender was quite dismissive. My Moscow mule on happy hour was listed at $7 or $8 yet I was charged close to $13. Just sad considering how great the service is elsewhere in the area. If you're in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, go to Aruba's, Billy Jack's Shack, or the Beach Cafe. Much nicer service and better prices.