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Perched elegantly on the Intracoastal Waterway, Billy’s Stone Crab Restaurant is more than just a dining destination—it is a vertically integrated seafood empire. While most restaurants rely on third-party suppliers, Billy’s operates its own fleet of over 40 boats and two fish houses in the Florida Keys. This "sea-to-table" philosophy ensures that the stone crab on your plate was likely swimming in the Atlantic less than 24 hours prior.
Located at 400 N Ocean Dr, Billy’s offers a sophisticated "Old Florida" charm that balances white-glove service with the breezy, sun-drenched atmosphere of Hollywood Beach.
The Billy’s "Fishery-to-Fork" Experience
The Vertical Edge: Because they own BSC Fisheries, Billy's cuts out the middleman. They harvest their own stone crabs, Florida lobster, and yellowtail snapper, ensuring a level of freshness that is practically unmatched in the region.
The "All-You-Can-Eat" Legend: During the peak of the season (typically October through May), Billy’s becomes a pilgrimage site for crustacean lovers. Their famous All-You-Can-Eat Stone Crab or King Crab specials are a bucket-list experience for locals and tourists alike.
A View for Every Level:
Downstairs: A casual seafood market and dockside dining area where you can watch the yachts glide by.
Upstairs: A formal, two-story dining room featuring floor-to-ceiling glass windows that offer panoramic views of the water and the illuminated Hollywood Boulevard drawbridge.
The Tuxedo Touch: Despite the waterfront setting, the service is remarkably refined. Servers in formal attire wheel out meat and seafood carts, allowing you to hand-select your cut of Prime beef or your specific lobster tail before it hits the grill.
Signature Flavors of the Intracoastal
"We don't just serve seafood; we catch it, crack it, and celebrate it."
Billy’s Stone Crab Restaurant is known far and wide nationally and internationally as one of THE best seafood restaurant & market in the Ft. Lauderdale area. And for a good reason. Billy’s two story fine dining seafood restaurant, is accessible both by elevator and stairs and has floor to ceiling captivating views of the Intracoastal Water Way in the main elegant dining room.
The bodies of these crabs are relatively small and are rarely eaten, but the crab claws, which are large and strong enough to break an oyster’s shell, are considered the famous Florida delicacy. BSC Fisheries, our proprietary fisheries in the Florida keys, uses stone crab traps to harvest the stone crabs. Harvesting is accomplished by removing one or both claws from the live animal and returning it to the ocean where it can regrow the lost limb(s) .
This process does not harm the species making it a renewable source of delicious delicacy of our region. To be kept, claws must be 2 7/8" (73.025 mm) long as of 2020, measured from the tips of the immovable finger to the first joint. The largest male claws are about 140 millimeters (mm), or roughly 5½ inches long. The largest female claws are about 120 mm (4¾ inches). The largest stone crab claw collected by the FWRI researchers was 148.9 mm (5 3/4 inches). Regeneration in adult crabs takes one year due to the seasonal molting of adult females in fall and adult males in winter.
The regenerated claws start out smaller than the original and will continue to grow through subsequent molts.
The most interesting reviews
- Craving some Stone Crabs, but didn't want to go down to Miami Beach and found Billy's Stone Crabs. Food was beyond amazing, the service was great fast and courteous, we sat outdoors next to the water. We ordered several plates to share, the medium Stone Crabs were so fresh and had so much meat, the lobster ravioli and conch fritters were so good, and the shrimp scampi pasta was very tasty. This has become one of my new favorite places, will be back for sure!
- Always love Billy's. It was Mid July, so it's hot. We sat out on the deck for dinner around 7p. The flies were quite a problem.
The food was good and the service was spot on. The kids enjoyed feeding the fish off the dock. Although I can't say there was one thing that really just didn't click with me but it wasn't the best experience.
- I had the best time last evening for my birthday. Billy’s exceeded my expectations. First of all the location is absolutely gorgeous. The views and the restaurant are stunning. The Staff were more than kind and accommodating . Our waiter Ritchie was the best. We enjoyed the seafood tower and conch fritters. We sat outside and enjoyed seeing the tarpons and watching the boats pass by. I’m a local girl who grew up in Miami. I’ve always heard about Billy’s restaurant growing up and how lavish and fabulous it was. Last night I was able to experience Billy’s myself and it over exceeded my expectations. Food amazing. Staff wonderful and location fabulous. Loved my birthday and every minute of my time.
4.0
