Our Picks

This may be the best we ever had. A must try dinner suggestion would be, one of the fantastic selection of daily soups, Pan seared yellow tail snapper over sauteed swiss chard with jumbo pink shrimp and extra virgin olive oil (to die for), and a lavender infused creme brulee with fresh berries that is tremendous. And it's located right on the property. They are open for breakfast lunch and dinner so come with an appetite.
website

Be sure to get the guacamole!
website

Great fish sandwich and the fries are REAL, get them CRISP! Try the Key Limeade. Head east to the Key West Key Lime Company for your dessert (read on.)
(Corner of William and Caroline) 294-9272. website

The biggest and the best key lime pie on the Island. They bake their pies like the Conchs did in the old days, and they are made with a dough crust.
(1209 Truman Ave) 1-888-432-mate
website

Caribbean style café. The food's great and like no place you've ever eaten. Join the chickens for breakfast and cats for dinner. The bakery is great.
(the corner of Thomas and Petronia Streets) 296-8666
website

Vegetarian place. Very good stuff, and I mean stuff. Bar-B-Q tofus, "veggie" veggie burgers, stir fry, soups, and salads to name a few of the choices. Then wash it all down with an herbal tea, a beer, or chilled Sake. Very good stuff. Open from 11 AM to 10 PM, closed on Sunday. (509 Southard Street) 296-5515 they deliver. website

Mexican Food. Try the portabella mushroom enchilada or the asparagus enchilada with the green chili sauce. Great salsa and Guacamole.
(5230 Highway 1, 2 lights north of Key West on Stock Island) 296-4714
website

Design your own sandwich. Everything you need for that picnic at Nancy 's Secret Garden. It's all good stuff. (The northern end of William St, behind B.O.'s Fish Wagon) 296-0778 website

Ambrosia is back and they are better than ever. You might remember them when they were on Virginia St many years ago. They call themselves a sushi restaurant – sake bar. I think they are much more. Patricia will greet you and tell her I said hi. 1401 Simonton St (south) lunch 11:30-2 M-F Dinner 6-10 daily 293-0304 website

Homemade ice cream, yogurt, sorbet, and Italian ices. No additives or preservatives. Get a single scoop in waffle cone with two flavors, but don't even think about a double scoop. (Corner of Duval and Virginia Streets) 296-6124 website

One of the best beer on tap selections on the island and the food is DAMN good. My favorite is the pizza, the best on the island (now that Coco 's has closed), have it made your way and get the slightly sweet raspberry tea. Bill's favorite is the Shepard's pie. A very good "low-carb" menu for you baby boomers (like myself) that also includes pizza. Give your waitress a 15-minute lead time for Hot Banana dessert, flambéd banana baked in a puff pastry covered with caramel & cream. Need I say more? Open 7 days a week 11 AM until 3 or 4 AM? (On the corner of Grinnell & James Streets) 293-0222 website

Where the locals get their cheese toast and con leche in the morning. The Cuban mix is the best on the island. Don't tell me you've never had a mix. (The corner of Southard and Grinnell Streets) 296-5205 website

An old friend, Don Sayers (called "down stairs" in school) used to say back in the '70s, "All Key west needs to be perfect, is a Coney island and a Jewish Deli." At lease we got the Jewish Deli, Goldman's. "Boiled & Baked" bagels fresh daily. "Corned beef on rye with Dr. Brown's soda is a must," Ira says. Nancy said, "You can tell a good Jewish deli by it's chopped liver. Goldman's ain't chopped liver." Open 7 days a week. (Overseas market/ 2769 N. Roosevelt Blvd) 294-DELI website

Owners Sylvie & Yolande have been selling their wares from a small cart around town for years and now their new location on the corner of Thomas & Petronia Streets (Bahama Village). Tell the ladies I send my love. 7 days a week - 7:30 til 5 PM 300 Petronia 305-517-6799 (Cash Only-ATM coming soon)
website

I have recently rediscovered the Half Shell Raw Bar. Some of my favorites are grilled tuna caesar salad and shrimp steamed in beer. My daughter thinks the Conch fritters are the best on the island. Great cold beer and plenty of funk. (321 Margaret St) 294-7496
website

Everything is great and a fresh smoothie is a block away.
website

El Siboney is the place for Cuban food. The garlic chicken is my choice. Dump the entire bowl of black beans over the yellow (saffron) rice and wave the basket when you want/need more hot overly buttered Cuban bread (baked fresh daily on the island). In season you better get there early but it is worth wait if you are late. Daily 11 til 9:30 PM 900 Catherine Street 305-296-8850 website

Even the toilet paper is Key Lime at Kermit's. They've got cookies, they've got wines, they've got it all. Corner of Elizabeth and Greene. (800) 376-0806
website

One of my favorite Italian Restaurants on the island. The place to take that special someone. To quote Rebecca, "Ohhhh Baaaaaaby." It's all great and don't miss the cr?me brulee. Carmelo is owner and has been for the past 15 years. Jeff is the main man in the kitchen. Opens at 5:30 PM closes at 10:30 except Fri. & Sat. at 11 PM. (524 Duval St. & Applerouth Lane) 296-1075
website

Grab a 'WRAP' from Lobo's! (A sandwich wrapped in a large tortilla.) I like the #1, the Monster Veggie, of course. Sasha likes the #11, the Delhi Chicken. Colleen's #27, the Chicken Caesar and Bill's #14, the Thai Tuna. There are a total of 30 wraps in all. Lobo's only uses Romaine and Leaf lettuce (no iceberg) in their wraps and salads. Great food/great value. Have it delivered. 296-5602
website

Island and German food at it's best. The blackened shrimp and chicken salads are great. The best eggs benedict on this side of the ocean. My favorite dessert is the strawberry crepe. If Martin is not cooking, he'll be at the bar with a mineral water. He's shy, so stop by and tell him Mike says, "howdy." (917 Duval St.) 296-1183
website

Known for their steaks and the chocolate volcano dessert. I highly recommend the fondue-great price, great fun. If weather permits, sit outside. (532 Margaret Street) 295-1300
website

The best Japanese food on the island. Sushi, tempura or teriyaki, it's all good. My favorites are the mixed tempura, the vegetable rolls and the seaweed salad. Sit at the bar, the show is worth the price of the admission. (In Duval Square. On South Duval St) 294-0092
website

One of the best Key Lime Pie on the island. At least since Perez's bakery closed. Back in the late 70's you could get an entire Key Lime pie at Perez's for 75 cents or for a buck and a quarter with meringue. Elizabeth believes they have a crabcake Benedict to die for and the best salad on the island made with herb-dusted goat cheese. (Front St. one block off Duval St) 294-2042
website

This is Mexican we go crazy for. Fresh and tasty! We order staff lunch from here frequently, but go have a margarita or sangria on the tropical garden patio out back of their restaurant right on Duval. Their menu is so expansive (awesome vegetarian options), it's pretty hard to decide, but one thing's for sure: even though the portions are large, we never have leftovers. (918 Duval) 292-1865
website

Open faced tuna salad sandwich with chopped tomatoes and homemade french-fries; the fried chicken special on Friday; lemon ricotta pancakes; pumpkin waffles with sour cream, raisins, pumpkin seeds, and honey (but I get the orange apricot marmalade) these are few of the must tries. But an absolute must is the orange-apricot bread pudding. The restaurant-which was the original and only synagogue on the island for half a century-and garden dining make this "neighborhood restaurant" a perfect backdrop for a perfect meal. (530 Simonton Street) 293-8181
website

One of our new favorites. It's up the keys on Cudjoe at MM 22.5 (on US 1) So it's good if you're already up there, or on your way. I like the fish dip. The desserts are always good. Maggie likes the bar-b-q bacon wrapped shrimp, steaks, grouper sandwich . . . well, she likes everything , but says the Specials board is always a good guide. Lunch and Dinner-11 AM to 10 PM. Closed Sundays and Mondays. 745-8880
website

Wow! Anne Rodamer's goodies are out of this world. My favorite is the desserts. Best cookies, cakes and pies you will find in the Keys. Hands down. Her salads and sandwichs ain't bad either. If it where me, I would stop on my way down or up the Keys and stock up. Tell her Mike sends his love. 24171 US1 - Summerland Key - between MM 24 & MM25, small yellow building on the bayside, hard to find but worth the search, Open 6:30 - 3pm everyday, Closed on Sundays Phone: 744-0631
website

Greek, Greek, Greek.....the Greeks are coming! Need I say more? Authentic Greek food. Great pizza, gyros, salads and baklava. Haven't tried the soup yet. If you do, let me know what you think. Taste Of Greece Bakery & Deli 1101 Truman Ave 293-6694 11 AM - 10 PM 'cept Sundays then 4PM til 10 PM
website

Vegetarian. My favorite is the FLT (BLT made with tofu instead of bacon) and the organic carrot and orange juice. It's a health food store, too. (Simonton ST. just north of Truman St) open 11 AM to 4 PM- closed Sundays. 292-0043
website

Cole's Peace is back and they are better than ever. They are the 'real deal'. I dare you to find a better quality sandwich on the island.

By quality I mean - DELICIOUS sandwich on freshly baked artisan bread, Boar's Head meats and cheeses and only the finest tomatoes and lettuce. So get off that pool lounger and shuffle two short blocks to 1111 Eaton Street (next to the Restaurant Store). Don't even think of leaving without at least one of those sweet treats. My favorite is the almond square. You can eat their bread like candy and it is much better for you. They are open from 8 AM til 2 PM Monday thru Saturday. Call ahead and the order will be waiting for you. 292-0703 Tell Richard and Kathy that Mike says hi.
website