Hi, all - thanks for all the good info. and helping me plan a Key West trip. I'd love to know your favorite recommendations for restaurants. Mostly looking for causal, but one upscale place would be nice. I was thinking the Marquesa or Louie's Backyard maybe for the upscale spot? What do you think? What are your favorite casual restaurants or places with nice views? Any favorite dishes or drinks? Thanks for any recommendations you can give me!

Upscale-Micheal's or Seven Fish.

If you don't go to Louie's to eat, at least go there for a pre-dinner drink. Nothing is more delightful than ending a sun-soaked day sipping a cold beverage on their back deck, looking at the sea.

We had a great meal at Pisces; not inexpensive, but still relaxed and very good food.

http://www.pisceskeywest.com/

Also had a good breakfast at Sarabeths. Outside dining looks good.

http://www.sarabethskeywest.com/

We especially enjoyed the meals we ate at Banana Cafe: http://www.bananacafekw.com/

HTtY

Whoa. Nobody recommended Blue Heaven yet.

I think you just did.

Louie's, of course.
LaTiDa.
Lunch sandwiches from Five Brothers or one of the other Cuban groceries.

We had a great Cuban meal at El Meson de Pepe-- ate outside and enjoyed a live band.
Wonderful vibes.
http://elmesondepepe.com/index.htm

This is relatively new ---> http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...s_Florida.html

Pjk

For upscale, check out Latitudes at the Westin Resort on Sunset Key http://www.westinsunsetkeycottages.com/key-west-dining You take a 10 minute boat ride out to Senset Key - the restaurant is right on the beach and the food was very good when we were there.

Hogfish bar & grill, stock island (hogfish sandwich)
Fish sandwich, schooner wharf bar
Oyster shooter, half shell raw bar
Brunch, lunch or dinner at blue heaven

Dessert and a chocolate dipped glass of cab @ better than sex

Blue Heaven for good food and great atmosphere. Not pretentious. Just laid back dining.

Thanks for all these great suggestions. I'm having fun exploring them. They actually all look pretty great. I think I'll need a longer trip!

Just for the heck of it, here are some menus. For fine dining, Louie's Backyard (I like them better at lunch because you get good food with a great view) is great. So is Michael's for dinner (sit outside by the fountain). We haven't eaten at Latitudes in a long time, but loved it when we did.

In my opinion, 7 Fish is nowhere near fine dining, but the food is good! Santiago's Bodago is wonderful.

Other options

http://keywestmenu.com/

El Siboney for really tasty, home-style Cuban in a no-atmosphere space. Beer and wine only, and take my word on this: Stick to the beer.

La Te Da has great food, and I liked dining on their patio. Even if it was August and there was some 350,000% humidity. And they have a full bar-- always a plus.

DJ's Clam Shack for good cheap seafood. Not GREAT, but just fine for lunch.

Azur for upscale dining. Great food, good wine list.

Abbondanza for gut-buster Italian. It helps that it's actually quite good.

I'm drawing a bit of a blank on other places. Then again, we liked the restaurant at La Te Da quite a bit (we were staying there), so we had no great need to go anywhere else.

I enjoyed Mangia Mangia. Went for my birthday & waited 45 minutes for a table since they didn't take reservations at that time (February 2012).

http://www.mangia-mangia.com/

Thanks for continuing to add to this thread. I love all your recommendations. It will be hard to choose!

For your fine dining....We really enjoyed Nine One Five on a visit last year. We always love Blue Heaven, been eating there for 10 years, but last time just wasn't that great. I think the word got out and they can't handle the crowds. Service was pretty poor, food so-so.

Latitudes on Sunset Key looks beautiful. I've never heard of that one.

I remember we wanted to go to Louie's on a trip a few years ago and never made it there.