About This Restaurant
The Rudder is a bayfront restaurant and bar that's famous for two things: its huge all-you-can-eat seafood buffets, and its massive bayfront deck with live music. Having a sunset dinner of crabs and shrimp on the Rudder's deck is a Dewey tradition for many families. And at night, especially in summer, the Rudder's outdoor stage features bands 7 days a week.
It's not unusual for the Rudder deck to turn into a dance party under the stars. You'll see folks in flip-flops grabbing Painkiller cocktails at the Tiki bar, kids dancing with glow sticks, and maybe even some people arriving by boat (they have docks for patrons).
If you're here mid-week, the Rudder often hosts beach music or reggae nights to keep the party going even on a Tuesday. If you like oysters and crushes with a view, the Rudder's outdoor raw bar (when open) is fantastic at happy hour. It's the kind of place you can start at for dinner and still be there 4 hours later grooving to a band, with the moon reflecting off the bay.
Insider Tip: Sunday afternoons on the Rudder deck often feature popular local bands - it's a great way to end the weekend.