Description: As the Sun Cruz Casino Boat was docking along the Canaveral Barge Canal, we noticed
Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar. Their outdoor patio had big colorful umbrellas shading the newly painted tables, and the wall-to-wall windows, along the waterfront side of the building, made it look like an inviting place to dine. It definitely had atmosphere, dark knotty pine walls with post and beam construction opened the whole dining hall to a view of the activity on the canal, and huge mounted fish on the walls and fishnets hanging from the ceiling gave the room nautical charm. We found a window seat, and while we waited for the waitress to take our order, we could see a proud fisherman, standing outside on the wharf having his picture taken, holding up his prize tuna.
A pretty young waitress, wearing a Rusty’s T-shirt and red shorts, came over to take our order. First she informed us, "Raw and steamed oysters are 35 cents apiece during happy hour and a glass of draft beer is 94 cents." We decided to try the steamed oysters and Bob ordered a beer. From the menu, the fried seafood platter looked good, so we both ordered it and chose French fries out of a choice of four sides.
As we waited for our dinners, we noticed the Orlando Princess docking nearby and the exhausted fishermen leaving the boat. As they waited on the wharf, the crew skinned and cleaned their load of strawberry grouper, and the pelicans waited patiently for leftovers. A dolphin entertained us out in the canal flipping up and down in the water.
The steamed oysters were perfect and attractively served with three dips, melted herb butter, horseradish, and ketchup. Our entree included large batter dip shrimp, oysters, scallops and flounder. We got a generous portion of each. It was good but we both agreed we would try some of the other entrees next time we go there.
Rusty’s has a great bar right in the center of the dining room, and if you want to buy some fish and cook it your self, they also have a fish market. A few days later we went back for lunch. They have a great buffet for only $5.95, including roast beef, chicken and of course fish and a very good salmon salad, as well.
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