Kelly’s Landing

by South Florida Eats · June 13, 2021

Kelly’s Landing: 1305 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Kelly’s Landing specializes in fresh New England and local seafood as well as a variety of popular dishes and desserts that are prepared fresh daily. They have been in business since 1987 and are one of the local favorites for fresh seafood and a true Boston-themed dining experience. I had heard about this place for years but never been. So when my friends Mike, Steve, and Chris asked me about going there for dinner, I jumped at the opportunity. This trio is always a blast to be with, and their stories are fun to listen to.

The restaurant:

Kelly’s Landing is located at the end of a strip mall, just off of 17th Street. If you don’t know where it is located, you can easily miss it. You will want to turn left on Cordova from 17th as that will be the easiest way to get into the restaurant. There is plenty of parking in the area, but since this place is popular, be prepared to wait for a bit to get a table. They do not take reservations, except for special events.

The interior is a bit rustic, with tables and chairs throughout. This makes it easy for them to combine for larger settings or keep smaller for two or four people. There are all kinds of memorabilia from Boston and other parts of New England throughout. The staff is very friendly and fast. Many have been working at Kelly’s Landing for years.

There is a small tent out front that has a few tables for outdoor dining, but there is also additional outdoor seating on the side of the building. Inside, you can probably fit about 30 people roughly. At the back of the restaurant is a small bar that seats probably five or six.

The food:

Now it goes without saying that Kelly’s Landing is known for its seafood. There is a large selection on the menu, and they usually have a few specials as well. Come early as the specials will run out fast. You can choose from a selection of appetizers, sandwiches and rolls, entrees, and even a little bit of Italian from the North End. And for the health-conscious, you can even get something from the “Gahden.”

Our group started with the fried calamari that is served with a house marinara sauce. The plate did not last long, and I had to snap a picture quickly before I missed it. The breading is just right with basic seasoning to it, and the portion is huge. If I was alone, this might have been my entire meal.

Chris opted to go with the Connecticut-style “Lobstah” roll. They serve you chunks of lobster sauteed in butter on a New England-style roll. This is served hot with your choice of sides, of which he chose the fries. Chris loved the amount of lobster that was provided, and it was cooked to perfection. This is the real thing, just like you would get up in New England.

Mike went for the traditional fish and chips. The Scrod was fried perfectly to a nice flake. The coating was crisp and crunchy when you bit into it. Mike loved the flavor and said it is one of his favorite dishes on the menu. It’s not like the ones you will find over in England, but you can’t go wrong with a seafood tradition.

Steve and I decided to go with the same thing after the special he wanted were sold out. Being a land lover when it comes to food, I thought I would go all out and try the Fenway frank. An all-beef hot dog topped with cheese and served on a bread roll. As a side, we got the french fries. The dog was cooked perfectly with a nice crisp to it when you bit into the meat. I have always loved my dogs cooked a little more on the well-done side, and this one was perfect. Their fries are delicious as well and have a nice flavor to them.

As a treat, we all decided to share the special bread pudding that they had with some vanilla ice cream. Each night is a different type of bread pudding, so it’s a surprise every time you go in. It did not disappoint.