I heard a lot about Scotty's and I had to make an effort to stop in before it closed for good. I must say, I really enjoyed it. I went on a Sunday afternoon while they had a live band playing some old covers. Scotty's is a very casual spot right along the Atlantic. You can tell its been there a while with the old rusted fans (that at any moment will fall on someone) keeping everyone cool. I was a little bit disappointed about the tent being old and stained, but I can understand why they wouldn't replace it since I hear they'll be closing soon. Nice place to sit down and enjoy a cold one. Food was about as good as I thought it would be. The menu is nothing fancy, just your classic burger joint menu. The food came out super fast, making me wonder a little bit about the quality, but it was actually pretty good. Service was good too, considering how busy it was.
Sad to hear Scotty's won't be with us for much longer. I would certainly recommend this place to anyone. I see why Coconut Grove calls this a staple in their community.
I want to love this place because it has a great view but to be frank the ingredients  are of low-quality so the food is terrible. I think you can have a casual, simple menu without sacrificing quality. Hey, If you want a beer - and only a beer - this is a great spot but anything else - even their mixed drinks - is meh.
Review Source:This place was pretty disappointing. The food was completely mediocre and extremely overpriced, and the service was AWFUL. The place was mostly empty when I arrived, but all of the tables along the water were filled except for one that hadn't yet been cleared. I wanted the water view, so I sat down and waited. And waited. And waited.
Everyone around me ordered and received food. *FINALLY* I was able to flag down a waitress (she'd definitely noticed me but I apparently wasn't in her section so she made an extremely conscious effort to avoid eye contact and pretend she didn't see me), and she got my waiter. Even though I hadn't seen him wait on a single table in the area -- apparently his job was just my one table -- and he said something along the lines of he thought I'd already finished eating. HUNH?? Uh, did you bring me any food? No? Then yea, I haven't eaten yet. UGH.
I had the steamers, calamari, and mojito, which were all meh. The dolphin sandwich had no taste at all. Skip.
So  far so good...of course I haven't eaten yet! ..........(to be continued)
NOW I've eaten.. Frankly, I read beaucoup reviews and was prepared not to enjoy dinner noms. Â BUT.. and I was pleasantly surprised, that I really liked the dish I had; the Caesar salad with cracked conch on top. Â It was very very good!...and I'm surprised at myself that I've lived in Miami lo the many years and I've never gone there before but I'm gonna remedy that .. Â
Went with the Passion for Life meetup group and really had a terrific time. Met new friends and way enjoyed the laid back camaraderie  of our group, many of whom I've met before and look forward too seeing again....as well as the cool breezes,  sailboats and motor boats drifting by,  Good smells from the bay  circling around my head Even when it started to rain  lightly, it was refreshing Totally relaxing.. Nice.
Gotta learn not to second guess myself...
It got better!!! I stopped going for a while after I had a very bad culinary experience when I ordered a turkey club, haven't had it again and wouldn't want to. The other items have gotten better and I am happy about this place because I love the location and look forward to going a lot more. The crappy plastic seating is in need of an update.
Review Source:me: Where is Scotty's Landing?
someone else: Park here in this circle and walk towards those trees and pass them, you'll find it there
me thinking: Really???? walk towards the trees... hmmm... a bit awkward on the directions.. but oh well...
Passed those trees, and see a Marina, and in some distance you will see some people having a great time. Â Yep, that's how you get to Scotty's Landing!! Â Very low key place, overlooking the water - although all you will see are boats, but it is so nice... it's relaxing!
There is not much light, but it's fine for a nice place to relax with your friends, have a drink and have a great time!
A pretty venue during the day as it sits on Biscayne Bay. Â Loud music at night and extremely slow service. Â They are always understaffed. Â Someone correctly told me to order ALL your food and drinks at the same time because it takes so long to get anything brought to you. Â I'm talking 30-40 minutes for a drink or beer. Â Then, if you want to order your food you have to wait again.
The food is your average Florida fried seafood type fair. Everything has always been okay. Â At least it's not outrageously priced like some restaurants.
My candle burns at both ends;
 It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends--
 It gives a lovely light!
Yes, Scotty's will not last the night. Â It lives now only on a month to month lease from the city, a city salivating over a lucrative real estate deal to create another plasticized waterfront restaurant, where the hedge fund and real estate moguls can sip $20 martinis and pick at designer food they will never finish.
For now, Scotty's is still here. Â It is for those of us who bear the brunt of the day, who seek nothing more than an honest beer, a burger, and good music with friends watching the sun set over paradise. Â
If you can, and the evening is gentle, enjoy it. Â It will be memory soon enough.
It's time to let go. By no means am I against preserving tradition, but only when there's something worth preserving. I didn't feel that Jimbo's was worth keeping, and I have a similar feeling about Scotty's Landing. Sorry. Rarely do I deviate from the consensus to this extent.
Service - Even in its heyday, the service was mediocre, and it hasn't since improved.
Food - Not much worthwhile to speak of here. The dolphin sandwich still hits the spot on the return leg of a long bike ride, but beyond that, why bother? It's all plain fish, chips, and side salads that aren't very good. Plain is fine if you're offering high quality, but this isn't that. It's white bread, frozen fries and conch fritters with a lot of breading and very little conch.
The View - Granted, there is a nice view of Biscayne Bay, something all too rare given this city's obsession with "private waterfront property" and pleasing rich foreigners at everyone else's expense. Do I feel that the public should ALWAYS have access to this view, even when/if Scotty's gives up the ghost? Absolutely! I just think that there should be something more worthwhile to go along with that view. I appreciate the Old Florida feel, but to me, Old Florida should mean ultra-fresh seafood prepared simply and well, not frozen fries and soggy school cafeteria salad.
I've lived in Miami for most of my life and how is it that I hadn't been to this place before? Shame on me!
This spot is great for those Summer Days or afternoons, good food, awesome views of the bay, cheap drinks...what else can you ask for?
and of course, since we live in Miami...even "winter" days will do...this place is good...all year round! check it out!
Sunsets, beer, fresh air...why the hell not! This little place is right in the back of the marina hidden away from the main street and city hall. If you have a boat then you can easily dock and eat. We were a group of 12 and they handled us great. The place was packed and the food did take a little longer than expected but we didnt mind because its that kinda place. You just sit and relax as you wait for the food. We ordered a fried grouper sandwhich with fries and it was dam good! No complaints here from the peanut gallery.
Review Source:A nice restaurant to go to if you are looking for something that is not ridiculously expensive and on the water. But it is by no means cheap. They have beer specials but the rest of the drinks are pretty expensive. 2 rum and cokes came out to $15! The food is not bad...It is not the best seafood in the world, but not the worst either. The fries were great and so was the service. The bathrooms left much to desire in terms of cleanliness. Parking is not nearby the actual restaurant. I enjoyed the live music on Sunday night.
Review Source:I came to Scotty's for lunch to enjoy a beautiful day by the water. Although the day was perfect, Scotty's Landing was NOT. To start, the service was terrible. Our server did not come check on our table once and we waited an hour to get our food. Now, if I'm going to wait an hour for my food I would hope it would atleast be delicious. It was not. My food was cold and I'm pretty sure it had a slight taste of freezer burn (I ordered fish by the way).
Its unfortunate that a restaurant with such an amazing location and such potential is such a disappointment. With the ocean being just a few feet away, there is no excuse for my seafood to not be fresh.
The food is "meh" the service is not that great, but that is not why you go to Scotty's. You go for the atmosphere and the view, which more than make up for anything else this place is lacking.
Scotty's is a Coconut Grove institution. They serve the typical South Florida bar food - calamari, conch, dolphin, grouper, burgers, fries and the like. They are also very dog friendly and have live music on weekends. If you go with realistic expectations you are in for a real treat.
Scotty's Landing is a Miami staple that has been around for quite some time. One of the few places in Miami where you can actually eat right by the water, Scotty's is a true Miami Gem. Scotty's is truly unique located behind a marina in the Coconut Grove. This little wooden shack as some might call it has one of the best water views in Miami.
Not only is the view and vibe amazing, but the food is pretty great as well. Sit back and order the fish tacos with a cold Kalik and you'll thank me later. The dolphin is really good too. Not into fish? That's OK they also have burgers and chicken.
On Sundays they have a live band playing some chill music. Live music, great food, beautiful view how can this get any better? The service for the most part is fast. It can be a little slow if it's really busy. If you haven't been to Scotty's then you are missing out!
I found this place a few months back when it was featured on a weekly Yelp! newsletter and I'm glad I pressed the save button on this place.
Typically I don't have a craving for seafood but I did last night and this place totally hit the spot. It's super close to where I live and was fairly easy to find/get to.
-I'll admit the service isn't anything to write home about, but I didn't come here expecting anything out of the ordinary; the servers were personable enough and were very quick with the orders :)
-Food was really good. We ordered a steamer appetizer and the blackened dolphin/shrimp combo. Granted, they were heavily seasoned in Old Bay, I really didn't care, they tasted really freekin good! They even had a few craft beers to select from so I indulged in a Harpoon IPA.
-Pricing I felt was very fair for the quality of food I received (about 8 -15 for an entree)
I'm glad this place was featured a few months ago on the Weekly newsletter or I wouldn't have known about it, I'll definitely come back next time I've got a hankerin' for some seafood!
I love this place! The atmosphere is great and the view is beautiful! It's known to be a local spot, since it is hard to find for people that don't know the area. It's unpretentious and real, and that's what I love about it.
Good Food, Good Beer, can't complain. It's perfect for a Sunday Lunch.
Right on the water. Â You cannot beat the environment. Â YOU CAN SMOKE HERE and it won't bother the non-smokers (didn't bother me at all) because there's about 100 fans blowing the air around.
Food was good, fish tacos were a little different but very good; service was OK, but who cares.
I saw there was a petition circulating to "Save Scotty's" and I doubt that it will do much good. Â The eminent domain police seem to have their sites on the land, and I expect this place won't be here when they say it's time to go. Â My only thought on that is this: you need places like this on the water, that a hurricane can come in and completely wipe out, and can be rebuilt in a week, rather than high-rises that will be mold damaged and abandoned for years when one comes in. Â How can you even get insurance on a waterfront property?
Location, location, location... This place is proof that a great view can make crap food slightly better. Come for some beers and to hang out with friends... do not come expecting good food.
The best thing about Scotty's is it's location right on the bay. The nautical theme is played up even more due to the fact you have to walk through a boat yard/marina to get there. The laid back vibe is played up by the fact that there is no hostess to seat you, you get there and have to play table hover if it's busy (annoying).
Once seated the atmosphere starts to soak in. The restaurant is no frills, plastic tables, plastic chairs and laminated card board. The place is pet friendly too and a lot of locals come by with their pets. It's a laid back grove scene. This is Scotty's charm, the reason to come here... The only reason to come here.
Food is absolutely unspectacular, everything seems to be frozen. I have been here at least half a dozen times and have never eaten anything worth noting. That's fine, this place is best enjoyed with a buzz so skipping the food will speed up the process.
I would definitely check out Scotty's, it's a Miami landmark. Just come in with the expectation to hang out, have a few beers, and go eat somewhere else.
I know people who love this place, but I can't stand it. It's like sneaking onto someone's back porch and getting caught, but instead of them calling the cops, they charge outrageously for everything. The food is all frozen or fried, they serve it with packets of sauce, they don't "make" anything. the beers are expensive and you're sitting in plastic patio furniture at a plastic table with a plastic menu connected to the table.
The view of the water is nice.
One of the greatest views for a bar - and the owners treat it like its a dive somewhere west of Doral. This place has the potential to be magical - and yet, it falls flat every time. Beer selection is poor, the worst mixed/frozen drinks i have ever had and the food was mediocre. The worst is the service (servers have attitudes, and it shows - BIG TIME) and the bathrooms (i would have rather hung it over the side of the bulkhead than use that bathroom again) were the most disgusting i have ever experienced. Parking is also a nightmare of epic proportions.
I can see why they are going to be closing this place - its horrible - hopefully someone with vision and customer service will take it over! If the food and service matched the view - i would be here every weekend!
The service always is poor or slow or both.
Went here on Thursday night with the in-laws. The service was turtle speed. I mean more than 30 minutes to get drinks and more than an hour to get food from ordering time. The waitress was working hard and did acknowledge the slow speed from the start, but still....this place does not have anything on the menu that should more than 15 minutes to prepare.
The seafood is fresh, well prepared and fairly priced.
Bottomline: be prepared to wait to be served.
This place is truly a gem.. You won't find it if unless you already know where it is. There's no sign out on the street to guide you in because it's hidden behind the marina. A great place for locals.
If you want a place you can drive to - Scotty's is it
If you want a place you can park your boat at and get off and eat - Scotty's is it
If you want a place where you want to take your dog to - Scotty's is it
Please don't go expecting some fancy dinner/lunch - Â you go to scotty's to sit down, enjoy some good simple food, a frosty beer and the amazing view. It's a great place to sit back and unwind and also on friday's saturday and sundays there is live music from 5 to close.
There is no hostess so its a seat your place type of place, but please dont be THAT person and sit on a dirty table while the restaurant has a bunch of empty tables.
Also remember it does get packed so food might take up to 45 mins to come out but appetizers DO come out quicker.. Servers sometimes have up to 6 tables (maybe more) to take care of at a time so please be understanding as theyre sweating and running around.
WHAT I RECOMMEND TO EAT:
***The blackened Dolphin sandwich with fries
The New England clam chowder
Salmon Ceaser
The guacamole pepperack bacon chicken sandwich - blackened
Fish Tacos
Chicken Tacos - blackened
FISH DIP - mmm mmm mm
My thoughts are simple...if you're in a rush and want great food DON'T go to Scotty's. I only go here because of the location. It's a perfect place to just chill and enjoy a few beers. I wish the menu would be revamped so they could add some flavor. Everything is so plain - just add some extras and things could be fixed in no time.
And don't get me started on the service. My last experience took the cake. I'm going to have to be convinced big time to go here again.
Because I'm a vegetarian, and this is clearly a seafood and meat place, there was not much for me to choose from to eat. Â Actually, one thing -- a veggie burger (and a few salads). Â I got the veggie burger with fries and it was delicious. Â My friend had some kind of fish sandwich that came with a Caesar salad that he said was delicious. Â I would like it if they offered more for a vegetarian.
This is a super-casual, no-frills, outdoor (covered) place. Â It's right on the water at the marina and your view is BEAUTIFUL. Â You look out on the water and the beautiful boats. Â A view like this is worth a visit to Scottys. Â Even though it was a hot day, it was very cool with the breeze coming off the water.
Service was very good and prices were reasonable (for 2 people the bill was $21).
Parking is an issue. Â There are "towing" signs all over at the marina. Â And, you can't park at Fresh Market either. Â I ended up parking next to Fresh Market at a 2-hour place. Â They say you can park at Chart House at lunchtime because Chart House doesn't open till 5, but I don't know how true that is. Â You can always find a metered place somewhere and hoof it to the restaurant. Â But, a private parking lot would be nice.
I might also suggest to Scottys that they place signs along the main street. Â It is difficult to find if you don't know where you are going. Â To anyone going there, turn into the Chart House and it's right behind it.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Scotty's Landing yet!!!
This was one of the first places I went to when I first moved to Miami 15 years ago! I loved it then and I love it now. To me, Scotty's just screams "old Florida" - it's Miami before the supermodels and douchbags moved in!
You don't really go for the food, although it's good enough, or the service, also good enough, but for the laid back vibe. I love the lazy feeling of sipping a beer while the fans circulate the humid air and the sunlight sparkles on the water. Nothing else says "livin' the dream" to me like that does!
I would eat here every day if I could...but then it wouldn't be special anymore.
There isn't very much I don't like about Scotty's, and that is trivial. Â
1. It gets too busy, and you have to wait for your food. Â Big deal - it's such a nice place to wait! Â
2. If it rains, and you're next to the edge of the patio, you're gonna get wet. Â Oh well - it's pretty warm here most of the time. Â Try to sit near the middle if it's going to rain.
3. Most of the servers we've had have been unfriendly. Â Too bad - didn't come to be coddled anyway. Â
4. The parking sucks. Â We have without fail had to park in the convention center parking lot, then cross the boat storage lot to get here. Â In our book, that's actually a bonus - the convention center is the main shooting location for the USA series "Burn Notice," which we love, and the last time we were at Scotty's, the parking lot was full of cars for the show, including Michael Westin's Charger (alas, under a car cover). We made fools of ourselves taking pictures.
But for the good stuff actually about Scotty's. Â The atmosphere is just great. Â So casual and comfortable, and what a view. Â I could sit there all day.
The food is terrific. Â I haven't had the same thing twice (oh wait; had the shrimp cocktail twice) and liked everything I've had. Â I love their mojitos. Â I'm not much of a drinker, so the less it tastes like alcohol, the better. Their mojito is sweet and minty and lime-y with just a hint of rum. Â Yummy. Â My son and I actually had room for dessert once, too - the key lime pie is really good.
So come to Scotty's. Â Bring your dog if you want to. Â Just please don't let word get around, or the tourists will start turning up and ruin it.
I have to start this off by saying that I spent seven years in Mindlessami, FloriDUH, and absolutely despised it. Â Between the third world opportunists, the uber-Bourgeoisie screaming 'look at ME, look at ME, look at ME!!!' and the abject nauseating trend whores - there was very little that made me smile about this city. Â It was a constant struggle to try to find something 'normal' by human standards. Â In the land where bistroids with $30 art-projects-on-a-plate catered to the passing fad 'foodies', or slop houses with the attitude of 'here's your food, and your hat' - there were very few places to go for good food, a comfortable non-tourist trap atmosphere, a reasonable price, and a place where you could hang out and have non-snooty conversations with real friends.
Scotty's Landing is one of the few businesses in Miami where all of that can be accomplished. Â For those complaining about 'food quality' or 'service' not being up to par, get back in your cars and return to South Beach. Â
Scotty's is pretty much a wooden shack next to the Chart House, tucked rather hidden behind the marina and the stacks of boats, less than a block from City Hall.
You may have issues with parking, since the oh-so-exclusive Chart House pretty much strong arms and hogs the parking lot closest. Â But once you get your car parked, and find your way to Scotty's, you're in for a very relaxing and pleasant experience.
The 'shack' that is Scotty's base, houses the kitchen and the bar, with bathrooms out back. Â The rest of Scotty's is a giant wooden patio covered by a canopy - totally open air, overlooking the bay and the docks. Â People will actually pull up in their boats and walk into Scotty's. Â The tables and chairs are equally no frills. Â Plastic patio furniture. Â But the great thing is, it doesn't matter. Â This is a cool local neighborhood joint - it is NOT another one of those 'places to be SEEN' in Miami.
The food is basic seafood goodies, mostly fried, some broiled, served no-frills. Â You're not pretending to eat while being seen, and you're not paying for that atmosphere either. Â The prices are very reasonable, especially for seafood, and it is good. Â I guarantee it's better (and more real) than Red Lobster, but it's not going to be all high brow and snooty like the Chart House. Â It's going to be something better...it's going to be real, down to Earth and comfortable. But like my profile says - I'm NOT a 'foodie' - I like FOOD.
The service was always fine any time I was there. Â Mostly college kids, and they all spoke English. Â Sometimes it took a little while, but the place does get packed. Â Trust me when I say, the atmosphere is comfortable enough that you can have a nice chat with your friends while you wait. Â It's a place to 'hang out' and relax for an evening. Â
Frequently, they will have a blues band, pleasant but not too overpowering, playing near the entrance on a little wooden plank 'stage', that adds even more to the atmosphere.
Personally, I loved the fried seafood platter, and the fish and chips. Â Filled me up, was flavorful, and didn't rip me off totally when the check came.
Smoking is allowed, but it IS open air, not a confined room. Â Sometimes, people even come in with their pets...and you can tell how cool the clientele is by those pets. Nothing like a good ol' Golden Retriever sleeping under the next chair to give you that homey feeling.
If I had unlimited budget, I would spend lavishly one ONE thing in regard to all of South Florida - I would buy a season subscription to Joe Adler's Gablestage at the Biltmore hotel, and I would fly down for ONE day during the run of any of his shows - have lunch at Scotty's and see Joe's amazing theater. Â
But alas....
So, here's the thing.
When I was a kid (yeah yeah yeah, dinosaurs, uphill in the snow both ways, there was no TV, etc, etc).... Grove Key Marina was called Dinner Key Marina.
It was shady and shoddy. Â Falling-down buildings, boats teetering precariously atop boatlifts whose last OSHA inspection was probably... never, as they find their way from the 5-Boat-Tall stacks over to be "dropped" in the water. Â Then you'd hobble on the rotting wooden dock that was hardly wide enough for a toddler, hop in your boat, load the beer and Publix Fried Chicken, and go.
I was terrified of those docks.
"Scotty's" didn't exist. Â Scotty's was a hallway-wide dark, damp wood room with a bar along one wall, and a sit-down Cocktail Table Donkey Kong Machine on the other. Â The crochety old men patrons of the "bar" were, by today's standards, terrifying. Â I cannot believe my parents let me alone in that place to feed Donkey Kong quarters.
Times, though, have changed.
You see Dinner Key and Scotty's Landing on Burn Notice all the time.
They are settings for a movie. Â Literally.
Scotty's bar is a bit brighter, cleaner, and safer than it's humble beginnings.  The caesar salads and fresh dolphin are great, the views of the marina and Biscayne Bay beyond are tremendous.  Here you will cross paths with marina workers and regulars, city civil suits from the city hall building just up the way, boaters and boatresses  (You can tell the Boatresses by their huge gold sunglasses and Prada beach totes.) Â
Scotty's is a great place to grab some local grub and a beer, settle into the (cool? Â okay, well, non-still) Bay breezes, and watch. Â Listen to the chatter. Â It'll run from where the dolphin or marlin are biting to the latest scandal downtown to which shrimper was hauled off last night to the tank. Â It's old Miami meets new Miami at it's finest.
Some things never really change.
It's October 17th and stone crabs are in season! My San Francisco friend made his way to Miami this weekend and I simply couldn't give him a proper experience without some bay-side cold ones and a plate of famous claws.
If you're trying to feel like Jimmy Buffet, Ernest Hemingway or just a lone-lost pirate, Scotty's Landing is well worth the visit. Tucked away behind a shipyard, this is as authentic as it comes to a true outdoor wooden alcoholic outpost. The bar's ready to serve you a rum runner or a Presidente and the menu's filled with sea lover's fare. If you're lucky, there may be a steel drum band playing to really set the mood right.
So go on, throw on that Tommy Bahama buttondown, lace up your Topsiders, and bring your sloppy self over to Scotty's. I'm there permanently.
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