n-reply-to: [email removed]'s message of Mon, 23 Jan 1995 10:04:56 Walter M. wrote: | My wife and I are going to Key West in 10 days. We're looking for an | assortment of restaurants for 4 days. They can run the gamut from dives to | expensive, but we'd like them to have character and local flair. --- Our favorite place is Louie's Backyard, which is somewhat expensive and has a wonderful deck overlooking the ocean. Nowhere I'd rather be. My parents current "local" (they spend the winter in KW) is South Beach, which is down at the bottom of the old town area, on the beach; good food, reasonable prices, and the water to watch. Brunch at Casa Marina is wonderful (big, old-fashined hotel, outdoor patio with umbrellas and trees, the occasional cat cleaning up scraps, expansive view of the sea); Sunday morning-early afternoon; pricey, but I've never regretted it. Turtle Kraals is mostly sandwiches, has cats wandering around the tables and some rescued animals to watch, as well as a tank full of fish and a view of the marina, with lots of fancy boats to admire. There's a restaurant in a Victorian house at the north end of Duval Street, (just south of Reef Raiders dive shop) whose name momentarily escapes me; you can eat on the porch and watch the crowds go by on Duval. Treetops has a dining room upstairs with outdoor seating facing the sponge market; my parents eat there a lot; moderate prices (and more cats!). There's a Japanese restaurant halfway down Duval that my uncle and aunt love; its name also escapes me (one word, beginning, I think, with K); not teppan cooking. I haven't been there, but my father, who spent a lot of time in Japan, says it's good. My uncle likes the Crab Shack, which I thought was OK. Note that a lot of the fancier places have lower rates for locals, if you have friends there; I believe some of the churches also give out coupons (aimed at locals).
Florida
Key West Restaurants
Walter M. wrote: | My wife and I are going to Key West in 10 days. We're looking for an | assortment of restaurants for 4 days. They can run the gamut from dives to | expensive, but we'd like them to have character and local flair. I like the Half Shell Raw Bar and Rest. It's right next to Turtle Kraals. The Crab Shack (or is it the place next to the Crab Shack - Name?) (kind of in front of Half Shell) has great Jerk Wings. Also, the Schooner Marina bar(?) It is just a little bar underneath a bunch of trees. A bit out of the way. But much better than the Devuall strret tourist traps. Cool "Dog" Tshirts. Kind of between the end of Duvall and Half Shell Bar.
I was in KW in Dec. last year and had a fantastic dining experience a Ricky's Blue Heaven on Thomas St.(two streets off Duval.) Realistically priced, casual, outstanding,creative food and Exceptional service. Also of note in KW are Antonias (fine Italian cusine) on Duval, and Louis' BackYard (way expensive, but a wine list from Heaven.). For lunch go to the Half Shell Raw Bar (cheap eats, very cool atmsphere). Breakfast places to try include Croissants d'France and Banana Cafe (the best crepes htis side of the Eiffel Tower.I lived inb KW for two years and I eat out a lot, If you would like more info. send me a line.
Someone wrote: >4 of us are heading to the Keys in mid-April, any reccomendations? > > >Thanks in advance. > > >Jim T I highly recommend Bacchanale (this is probably spelled wrong -- but it's close) on Duvall Street. It's reasonably casual (as are most places in Key West), has a great atmosphere, and the food is divine. Try to sit on the terrace if you can; Duvall Street offers some of the best people watching in the country. :) Another suggestion is to head toward the docks near the south end of the island and check out the seafood restaurants. I can't remember any names specifically (sorry!), but be sure to ask around when you get there. The restaurant that we enjoyed was recommended to us by the owner of the inn that we stayed at. Definitely the best seafood I've ever had. Enjoy your trip! ...Rebecca
The restaurant on Duval Street is spelled Bagatelle and it's delicious fare. They also have super and potent margaritas.
On Mon, 23 Nov 1998 17:58:43 -0600, [email removed] (Bob Bulthuis) wrote: >I plan to visit Key West and I am looking for recommendations for >authentic caribbean restaurants and excellent seafood restaurants. I have >done the expensive gourmet circuit in Key West, now I am planning for a >different experience. Please post or email me your recommendations. Rusty Anchor, on Stock Island. The real thing, fishermen eat there, great cracked conch. Half Shell Raw Bar. Touristy, but nice atmosphere right on the docks. Great oysters and broiled and fried local seafood. Pepes. Oldest restaurant in KW. Real fruit juice margaritas, baked oysters to die for, local catch cooked to order, real KW atmosphere, very friendly folk. Blue Heaven. The best food in KW IMO. Breakfast is a must, amazing pancakes, omelets, and my favorite shrimp and grits. Dinner is equally great barbeque, scallops. Completely open air, roosters and cats have the run of the place, charming. KW is my 2nd home, so if you want to hear more feel free to e-mail. LL
NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 18:25:09 CST Xref: pale-rider.INS.CWRU.Edu rec.food.restaurants:48090 The Must List; Louie's Backyard(for the best food and sunset on the island) Pepe's (for breakfast) Turtle Kraals (for atmosphere) Meteor Island Smokehouse (new, but next the the best bar Green Parrot) Sam O. wrote: > My wife and I will be in Key West for a few days early December. > Any suggestions for restaurants we shouldn't miss? Or perhaps > ones that we should? > > Sam
On Fri, 19 Nov 1999 18:24:44 -0600, "tnidetz" wrote: >The Must List; > >Louie's Backyard(for the best food and sunset on the island) I second that, the best! >Pepe's (for breakfast) And for Sunday night barbeque, and terrific baked oysters. >Turtle Kraals (for atmosphere) >Meteor Island Smokehouse (new, but next the the best bar Green Parrot) > Also, don't miss breakfast at Blue Heaven. Outdoors, chickens, roosters and cats running around. Great bloody Marys, french toast, omelets, shrimp and grits, you name it. >> My wife and I will be in Key West for a few days early December. >> Any suggestions for restaurants we shouldn't miss? Or perhaps >> ones that we should? >> >> Sam >
We were in Key West last February. Here's a list of some of the fabulous restaurants that we tried. We were thrilled with all of them. Mangoes, Bagatuelles, Rooftop Cafe, Turtle Kraals, The Pier House(fine dining restaurant). Hope this helps you out, have a great time in the Keys. Sam O. wrote: > My wife and I will be in Key West for a few days early December. > Any suggestions for restaurants we shouldn't miss? Or perhaps > ones that we should? > > Sam >
Sam O. wrote: > We're very flexible in tastes. I guess what I was mostly > looking for was food that would, in some aspect, characterize > Key West. I've never been there before, and there's a good > chance I won't again, and was looking for something authentic; > we're not looking for the typical "tourist traps". > > Thanks > Excellent start! I've been surprised at the number of people who come to Key West and do the things they could do in Omaha or Atlanta just as well as here. There is an awful lot of seafood around, and some of the best and freshest (imho) is at the HalfShell Raw Bar (on the water) and at the Rusty Anchor (out on Stock Island). Up-scale (i.e. expensive, but good) dining is fine at the A & B Lobster House (front street at the harbor). Nice atmosphere with all the boats out the window. Perhaps my favorite among traditional places is one called Pepe's, on Caroline street. Try the steak smothered in pork chops (it divides between two people very nicely). Howzat for a start?