Key West Restaurants :-)
 

My wife and I will be visiting Key West for the first time next week. <BR><BR>Can someone please make some restaurant recommendations? We love all kinds of food.<BR><BR>Thank you.<BR>

Alice's at La-Te-Da (great seafood) and Mangoes (which is my favorite for lunch)

Thanks, Don.<BR><BR>What makes Mango's so special? <BR><BR>Anyone else out there have anything else for me?<BR>

As far as Alice's goes, though the atmosphere may not be what you have at Louie's Backyard (no oceanview), it has a nice atmosphere all it's own. Plus I found the food better and at a much better value. As far as Mangoes, it is the outdoor patio dining (so is Alice's)that Key West seems to be famous for. But what has impressed me most is the food. It has been really great every time I have been there and can be very unique in the combinations that they come up with for their dishes and sandwiches (they also serve traditional fare also). Add some great, as well as great-looking, desserts and tropical drinks, and you have the reason I have gone back every time I have returned to Key West.

Don - <BR><BR>Thank you for the detailed description.<BR>Both of the places mentioned will surely make "the list".<BR><BR>Anyone else out there have some suggestions for my growing list of restaurants to visit while in Key West?<BR><BR>Thank you.<BR><BR>

You could also try chowhound.com

Two of my favorites have been El Siboney on Catherine Street and Blue Heaven on Thomas Street...El Siboney serves delicious authentic Cuban food...I recommend the picadillo or ropa vieja if you eat beef, a cuban sandwich if you eat pork...the entrees come with rice, beans, and maduros (sweet fried plantains) or tostones (green fried plantains)...they also serve chicken and seafood...the paella Valenciana requires a one hour wait...finish your meal with flan or natilla and a cafe con leche...Blue Heaven is in an old building with lots of history and character...it dates back about 100 years...cock fights, gambling, and booze were regular activities and the 2nd floor once housed a dance hall and a bordello...Ernest Hemingway used to referee boxing matches there also...anyway, the ambience is great indoors or outdoors and so is the food such as grouper with a key lime glaze.

Thanks for all responses.<BR><BR>DKA - What is chowhound.com?<BR><BR>Do you have any recommendations from there?<BR>

Mark: Though suspecting you might be a troll, I'll try to help. Go to www.chowhound.com . You'll find information for people who eat. It's arranged geographically. Go to the Florida board, do a search on KEY WEST, and read through the posts.