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Seafood rules in the Keys, which is full of chef-owned restaurants with not-too-fancy food. Many restaurants serve cuisine that reflects the proximity of the Bahamas and Caribbean (you’ll see the term "Floribbean" on many menus). Tropical fruits figure prominently—especially on the beverage side of the menu. Florida spiny lobste
Seafood rules in the Keys, which is full of chef-owned restaurants with not-too-fancy food. Many restaurants serve cuisine that reflects the proximity of the Bahamas and Caribbean (you’ll see the term "Floribbean" on many menus). Tropical fruits figure prominently—espec
Seafood rules in the Keys, which is full of chef-owned restaurants with not-too-fancy food. Many restaurants serve cuisi
Seafood rules in the Keys, which is full of chef-owned restaurants with not-too-fancy food. Many restaurants serve cuisine that reflects the proximity of the Bahamas and Caribbean (you’ll see the term "Floribbean" on many menus). Tropical fruits figure prominently—especially on the beverage side of the menu. Florida spiny lobster should be local and fresh from August to March, and stone crabs from mid-October to mid-May. And don't dare leave the islands without sampling conch, be it in a fritter or in ceviche. Keep an eye out for authentic key lime pie—yellow custard in a graham-cracker crust. If it's green, just say "no." Note: Particularly in Key West and particularly during spring break, the more affordable and casual restaurants can get loud and downright rowdy, with young visitors often more interested in drinking than eating. Live music contributes to the decibel levels. If you're more of the quiet, intimate-dining type, avoid such overly exuberant scenes by eating early or choosing a restaurant where the bar isn’t the main focus.
Tucked into Marathon Marina, ½ mile north of the Seven Mile Bridge, this restaurant offers views just as spectacular as its highly lauded food. The offerings at this spinoff of an Islamorada favorite range from fried or sautéed conch and a coconut-fried fish du jour sandwich to seafood pastas and beef tips over rice. Choose a table on the outdoor deck, or inside underneath paddle fans and surrounded by local art.
This could be the prototype for a Keys restaurant, given its shanty appearance, lattice trim, and roving sort of indoor-outdoor floor plan. Then there's the seafood, from the ubiquitous fish sandwich (fried, grilled, broiled, or blackened) to the lobster Reubens, crab cakes, and coconut shrimp. Burgers, steaks, and ribs round out the menu. Hidden in a grove of banana and palm trees, the place opens for breakfast, lunch, Sunday brunch, and dinner.
A few yards from Florida Bay, this popular seafood restaurant, completely renovated in 2023, has large picture windows that offer great sunset views, though most patrons dine outside on the sand. The menu includes such irresistible entrées as lobster linguini and a prime rib eye. In addition, there are sandwiches, a burger, and sushi. And you can't miss the restaurant's famous Key lime pie and seasonal fruit crisp. The extensive property has two tiki bars and a boutique.
Locals pack the counters and booths at this tiny eatery, where license plates decorate the walls, to dine on everything from blackened prime rib to crab cakes. Every night is themed, including Meatloaf Monday, Italian Wednesday, and Seafood Sensation (offered Friday and Saturday). There are also tasty Angus beef burgers, sandwiches, a famous chili, and key lime freeze (a tangy concoction somewhere between a shake and a float). In season, ask about the hogfish special du jour.
Whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Ocean Grill serves up fresh Key West seafood in good portions at fair prices. The "Scalouper" is just of one the unique offerings: jumbo diver scallops sliced on the diagonal and served atop pan-seared, local black grouper with a mint puree—sounds odd, but it tastes delightfully fresh. Bring your dog and sit on the patio as roosters play in the courtyard, or dine inside amid cloud-painted trim and white brick walls painted with giant words of cooking wisdom.
Occupying a 1930s conch house with outdoor seating right alongside U.S. 1 under the sea-grape trees, this local favorite is all about the fish: yellowtail snapper, tuna, and mahimahi. Choose your favorite, then choose your preparation, such as the Hemingway, with a Parmesan crust, crabmeat, and key lime butter. A handful of vegan and vegetarian options also make this a good bet for those with dietary restrictions.
This local hot spot has a casual Key West vibe and an eclectic menu. The specialty is the local fish of the day (like snapper with creamy Thai curry), but you might also try the tropical shrimp salsa, wild-mushroom quesadilla, or old-fashioned meat loaf with real mashed potatoes. For dessert, the strawberry pie provides an added measure of down-home comfort.
In a lively waterfront setting, Snappers has live music, Sunday brunch (including a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar), killer rum drinks, and seating alongside the fishing dock. The crab cakes are famous, as is the Bahamian cocktail sauce that accompanies them. Catch of the day might include yellowtail snapper or seared yellowfin tuna steak with mojo aioli; the options change every day. Don't miss the raw bar or wahoo ceviche.
Treat yourself to a seafood lunch or dinner at this vaulted tiki hut at the foot of the Seven Mile Bridge. For lunch, try the Voodoo grouper sandwich topped with mango-guava mayo (and wear your swimsuit if you want to take a dip in the pool afterward); dinner specialties include a Brie-stuffed filet mignon and coconut curry lobster. This is a popular place to catch the sunset, hence the name.
Restaurants not on the water have to produce the highest-quality food to survive in the Keys. Try fish Matecumbe style—baked with tomatoes, capers, olive oil, and lemon juice—or the buttery pan-sautéed preparation. The side dishes can be bland: boiled red potatoes, a hunk of corn on the cob, or black beans and rice.
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