Keys Table Spring 2023

Page 1

THE

THE

RESTAURANTS YOU KNOW AND LOVE

RESTAURANTS YOU KNOW AND LOVE

NEW TO THE SCENE

TASTE WHAT’S FRESH

STANDARD Listen Up

GOLD STANDARD Listen Up

SOUNDTRACK FOR YOUR KEYS ROAD TRIP

SOUNDTRACK FOR YOUR KEYS ROAD TRIP

TROPICAL
LIVING IN THE FLORIDA KEYS | SPRING 2023
GOLD
FOOD, FUSION & FLAVOR OF THE FLORIDA KEYS
KEYS

the beach bar

FOUR FABULOUS DINING OPTIONS IN THE HEART OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

PULL UP A CHAIR

THERE’S ROOM FOR EVERYONE AT OUR EXPANDED TABLE

Welcome to the Florida Keys Table magazine, the Keys Weekly's first-ever guide informing your culinary explorations from Key Largo to Key West all in one place.

Although the eateries of the Keys are as diverse as its communities, the islands are all connected by one historic road and thousands of hospitable people.

Recognizing the memorable road trips that lead travelers from one end of the island chain to the other, we decided to combine our individual Table magazines — Upper Keys, Marathon and Key West — into one inclusive collection of food, drinks and good times. Because as we all know, a good bite is always worth the drive.

From fresh, local seafood and sizzling steaks to delicate sushi, piled-high sandwiches, wood-fired pizza and Italian specialties, the Florida Keys taste as good as they look.

We’ve also included a convenient directory with QR codes that’ll take you straight to any menu that makes your mouth water.

Welcome to the kitchens of the Florida Keys. Dig in and enjoy!

ON THE COVER

Alonzo's Oyster Bar in Key West offers a Caribbean lobster tail over island rice with vegetables and drawn butter. Maison Sellers/ Overseas Media Group

4 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
LOCALSEAFOOD •
80939 OVERSEAS HWY | MM80 | ISLAMORADA 3054402829 | CHEFROLFSTUNA.COM Indoor fine dining & outdoor patio dining with live music Open Mondays, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 4 p.m. Bloody Mary Jam Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
STEAKS & CHOPS
HUGHʼS VIEW The rooftop terrace at The Studios of Key West _______________________ Now booking private events and parties. Iris
Call 305-296-0458 or visit tskw.org for details Feast your eyes on the most spectacular views of the island.
Moore Photography in partnership with Great Events Catering

FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP PLAYLIST

Few sights are more stunning than a road trip through our island chain, however often you drive it, whichever direction you travel.

Starting in Florida City, the road stretches for 127 miles, offering hours of uninterrupted views of blue-green water, boats and beaches on both sides of the road that links our Keys communities.

Sure, traffic tends to move more slowly than in the real world, but with views like those, really, what’s the rush?

Drivers, when you leave the mainland, leave the speedy Florida Turnpike in your rearview mirror.

Settle in, smell the salt air and slow down. Acclimate. You’re on island time now, and your speedometer may not top 50 mph for the foreseeable future.

Sit back and enjoy your sun-drenched surroundings — until you get hungry. That’s where we come in.

Our first-ever, combined edition of Keys Table introduces the food, flavors (and adult refreshments) from the top to the bottom of the Florida Keys.

And to accompany your culinary excursions and island explorations, we’ve assembled a soundtrack as satisfying as our fresh seafood and frozen drinks.

So sit back, slap on some sunscreen, put the top down and enjoy our ultimate Keys road trip playlist.

6 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
SCAN QR CODE TO GET YOUR GROOVE ON!
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 7 TRUNK MA L 4 TENNESSEE WILLIAMS’ J.B. Priestley’s From Jimmy Buffett’s Island Anthems to Rock-Out Legends , Chr istmas for Adults , Dramas , Comedies and even Char lotte! Details , Tickets , Sponsor ships & Member ships: 305.294.5015 • WaterfrontPlayhouse.org Located on Histor ic Mallor y Square in Old Town Key West OUR AMAZING 82nd SEASON is packed with captivating performances for ever y one... we hope you will join us for all the fun! Don’t miss a single show!Memberships and Season Subscriptions are Navailable OW! OCT. 20 - NOV. 12 O U R 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 S E A S O N FEB. 16 - MAR. 18 MARCH 5 DEC. 11 & 12 JANUARY 12 - 28 MARCH 12 & 13 MAY 11 - 27 JUNE 6 - 10 JUNE 16 & 17 APRIL 6 - 22
UPCOMING EVENTS OLD DOMINION COFFEE BUTLER AMPHITHEATER MARCH 31ST - APRIL 2ND LITTLE FEAT COFFEE BUTLER AMPHITHEATER MARCH 10TH & 11TH ENJOY 10% OFF AT RAMS HEAD SOUTHERNMOST BEFORE A CONCERT OR AT BRUNCH THE FOLLOWING DAY! *MUST PRESENT PROOF OF PURCHASE OF CONCERT TICKET. THE DEVON ALLMAN PROJECT W. DONAVON FRANKENREITER KEY WEST THEATER FEBRUARY 23RD GUNHILD CARLING KEY WEST THEATER FEBRUARY 19TH MAGGIE ROSE KEY WEST THEATER MARCH 11TH MARTIN SEXTON KEY WEST THEATER MARCH 19TH PAUL REISER (STRANGER THINGS) KEY WEST THEATER FEBRUARY 25TH THEKEYWESTAMP.COM | THEKEYWESTTHEATER.COM
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 9 ROAD TRIP WITH US SETTLE IN & SING ALONG YOU’VE ARRIVED WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS | 12 6 16 68 DOUBLE THE YUM MRS. MAC’S, A KEY LARGO STAPLE | 30 NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN SQUARE GROUPER SERVES PLENTY OF DOUBLE ENTENDRES | 74 THE LAYS CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE PAST WHILE EMBRACING THE FUTURE | 82 Published MMXXIII Keys Weekly Newspapers 9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL. 33050 305.743.0844 Key West office 5450 MacDonald Ave. No. 5 Key West, FL. 33040 305.453.6928 Tavernier office 91760 Overseas Hwy. Tavernier, FL 33070 305.363.2957 keysweekly.com MADE FROM SCRATCH AND IT’S A TABLE FULL OF LOVE SAME LOCATION NEW & DELICIOUS VIBE 42 Publisher Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com Managing Partner Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com Creative Director Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com Art/Design Irene de Bruijn irene@keysweekly.com Editors Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com Director of Sales Manuela Carrillo Mobley manuela@keysweekly.com Account Executives Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com Patti Childress patti@keysweekly.com Jill Miranda Baker jill@keysweekly.com Production Manager Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com Art/Design Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com Travis
travis@keysweekly.com Executive Administrator Char
char@keysweekly.com Contributors Annie Briening Kellie Butler Farrell Doug Finger Maison Sellers Digital Support Overseas Media Group CHE BELLO! FULL OF ITALIAN FLAVOR YOUR GUIDE TO DINING IN THE UPPER KEYS | 11 THE END OF THE ROAD DINING IN KEY WEST | 63 YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST IN MARATHON | 37 FRANK’S WINNING RECIPE FOR YEARS OF SUCCESS | 56
Cready
Hruska
MANGROVE MIKES CAFE SERVING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH DAILY 6 A.M.-2 P.M. DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS AVAILABLE: BOX LUNCHES TO GO. CALL AHEAD! MM 82, ISLAMORADA | SUNSET INN PLAZA 305.664.8022

WELCOME TO

THE UPPER KEYS

Are you driving off the 18-Mile Stretch and finally entering the Florida Keys? Are you ready for some sunsets, fishing trips and adventures of a lifetime? Don’t forget about that appetite. The many restaurants and bars that make up the Upper Keys have you covered.

Spanning more than 40 miles, restaurants situated along the ocean shore and the bayside looking out at the Everglades offer a little something for guests. Are you seeking some yellowtail snapper as you dip your toes in the sand and look out at a sunset? Perhaps you’re seeking some filet mignon with a glass of red wine. Maybe you want to take a break from the seafood to enjoy a juicy burger, a cheesy pizza with pepperoni or some barbecue ribs.

The Florida Keys’ upper island chain is also known for having some of the best breakfast joints, unique watering holes that have a bit of history and diverse eating options. And don’t forget about the many food trucks that are situated along the highway.

As you take a seat at the table, enjoy the friendly service from our local servers, the delicious Conch fritters and lobster bites for appetizers, a frozen margarita and some Key lime pie for dessert. And welcome to the Upper Keys table.

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 11
News Bureau
Andy Newman/Florida Keys

Keys Table has expanded to include the whole island chain, from the Upper Keys to Key West.

Starting in the Upper Keys (green), going south to Marathon (blue) and ending up in the Lower Keys and Key West (red).

A DINNER IN PARADISE

adinnerinparadise@gmail.com

305.905.7732

adinnerinparadise.com

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

BAD BOY BURRITO/ SUSHI

81868 Overseas Hwy. Islamorada | 305.509.7782

badboyburritoislamorada.com badboysushiislamorada.com

CAPT. CRAIG’S

90154 Overseas Hwy. Tavernier

305.852.9424

BAYSIDE GOURMET

82758 Overseas Hwy. Islamorada 305.735.4471

C&C WOOD FIRED EATS

99201 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo | 305.451.0995

candcwoodfiredeats.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

ARTHUR’S ISLAND KITCHEN

102255 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo 305.952.2332

BIG DADDY’S GRUB

200 Florida Ave. Tavernier 901.661.5888

CHEF MICHAEL’S

81671 Overseas Hwy. Islamorada 305.664.0640

AVENUE SUBS

98900 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo 305.741.7461

CACTUS JACK’S

103900 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo 305.453.0249

CHEF ROLF’S TUNA’S 80939 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.440.2829

tunasseafoodrestaurant.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

12 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

Enjoy a perfectly crafted cocktail, an American wheat ale known as the Sandbar Sunday or the Channel Marker IPA with some food truck eats at Islamorada Brewery & Distillery.

FRESH DRINK AND GRUB

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 13
Doug Finger/Keys Weekly

NEVER TOO FAR FOR GREAT FOOD, WELL WORTH THE DRIVE

HOUSEMADE MEATBALLS | PORK BELLY | STEAKS EXTENSIVE WINE LIST | SELECTION OF CRAFT BEERS SPECIALTY IMPORTED/DOMESTIC CHEESE AND MEATS A LOCAL FAVORITE FOR NEAPOLITAN WOOD FIRE COOKING AND SO MUCH MORE THAN PIZZA HAPPY HOUR SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 4-6 P.M. $10 PIZZA & PITCHER $10 PITCHER AND CHICKEN THIGHS $4 HOUSE WINE, DRAFTS, HIGH NOONS 99201 Overseas Highway (Northbound at Flashing Yellow Light) 305.451.0995 www.candcwoodfiredeats.com SUNDAY – THURSDAY 4-10 P.M. FRIDAY & SATURDAY 4-11 P.M.

Hung r y for easy conversations in

If you’re ex periencing even mild hearing loss, conversations in restaurants can feel exhausting and dif ficult. T hat ’s why Dr. Michelle is here to help A s F lorida’s leading hearing care ex per t, Dr. Michelle will help you get back into the conversation no mat ter where life takes you — f rom the q uiet moments at home to the noisy sounds of a crowded restaurant or a day out on the town . Don’t st r uggle to keep up with the conversation; call us today and let us help you hear clearly and comfor tably!

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 15 Scan this on your phone to connect directly with Hear the way you were meant to. Call Dr. Michelle today. hear4uaudiolog y.com heardr michelle.com W ith additional locations in Miami and Homestead Hear ing care close to home: KEY WEST 513 F leming St , Suite 11 (2nd floor accessible via elevator) (305) 809 - 6041 M AR ATHON 1140 0 Ov erseas Highw ay, Suite 209 Town Sq uare Mall (305) 747-7 750 TAVE RNIE R 93911 Ov erseas Hwy Suite 5 (2nd F loor) (305) 247-8227
restaurants?

A TASTE

ITALIAN FOOD COMPANY EMERGES ONTO UPPER KEYS DINING SCENE

OF ITALY

A taste of Italy has taken the Upper Keys by storm ever since Italian Food Company’s arrival in 2020. With a country full of natural beauty, people revel in the colors, the sounds and the fare of Italy. They’re drawn to the aromas of classic Italian ingredients with fresh herbs and some of the best pasta.

Ask Italian Food Company owners Tony and Isis Wright about their Upper Keys restaurants, and they’ll tell you they never dreamed of such an endeavor. The Wrights couldn’t let an opportunity slip by — an admiration for Italy and inspirations from yearly sojourns propelled them to a new business.

Today, patrons stopping by the bar-trattoria style restaurant in Key Largo and the vibrant trattoria in Islamorada are indulging in authentic southern Italian cuisine. Diners frequenting both restaurants take a step away from typical Keys dining and enter a vibrant Italian experience with sensational smells coming from the kitchen.

Freshly-made Neapolitan (Naples-style) pizza comes with delicious boccas overflowing with toppings, a selection of pastas, desserts, wines and more. Ingredients are imported from Italy, with the wine and Sicilian lava tables coming straight from the Mt. Etna region. Visiting Italian Food Company is a sensory experience, said co-owner Isis Wright.

16 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

“Visually, there are so many beautiful things from Italy,” she said. “Then you eat the food and all these flavors burst into your mouth. Italian cooking is very simple, but flavorful, because they take their time. By the time you finish your whole dining experience you feel something.”

Fresh, classic Neapolitan pizza dough, sauce from ripe, bright tomatoes, fresh Italian mozzarella and seasonal extra virgin olive oil are among the staples sourced from Italy. The Neapolitan pizza’s classic style, flash-cooked in an oven, is marked by its fresh seasoned tomato sauce. The expert Pizzaioli tosses and twirls the dough, emulating an art form that dates back to the 1800s.

Co-owner Tony Wright said all the ingredients are fresh and moist.

“It has a beautiful history when we’re talking about hundreds of years making the same style pizza the same way forever,” Isis Wright said. “It’s going to be much lighter and thinner in the center. It’s a Neapolitan, juicy pizza that’s eaten with a knife and fork.”

Isis said patrons visiting the Islamorada restaurant view a menu that’s been expanded from the Key Largo location to include seafood, regional pasta dishes and grilled and sauteed meats, to name a few. The pizza, of course, remains the same — as the traditional Neapolitan.

“The vibe is classic and fun, transcending generational expectations,” Isis Wright said. “I sat in a restaurant a few years back with Tony and dear friends in Sorrento, Italy, while an Italian server serenaded us. That experience stayed with me. We've tried to incorporate that authentic Italian personality into the dining experience by having welcoming servers, a few of them native Italians, with a little singing and dancing on some nights to favorite Italian songs. The unique factor is a combination of food, art, people and fun that brings to life our dinner in Sorrento.”

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the course for the Wrights’ next venture. The year before, Tony said the property, formerly home to Papa Johns at MM 98 in the median, caught his eye. He wasn’t sure what he’d do with the place if he decided to buy it. But he knew it had potential.

Thinking back to their trips to Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily and Taormina, the Wrights wanted to share the authenticity and warmth of traditional Italian cuisine. The couple revels in the blue sea and vibrant flowers. They’re drawn to classic Italian ingredients, from hearty garden tomatoes and fresh local herbs, to local olive oils and fresh sauce.

Talented chefs, led by master pizzaiolo Leopoldo Figlioli, are complemented by friendly, knowledgeable staff. With exciting performances by violinist and singer Lidice Oran and other musicians, Italian Food Company is a must-visit while staying in or traversing through the Upper Keys.

“I feel like we have an extended 'famiglia' in Islamorada with so many great friends,” Isis said.

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 17
At Italian Food Company, all products are sourced from Italy. Fresh, classic Neapolitan pizza dough, sauce from ripe, bright tomatoes, fresh Italian mozzarella and seasonal extra virgin olive oil are among the staples. Doug Finger/Keys Weekly

Patrons entering through the doors of Square Grouper Islamorada are finding their way upstairs to the new hot spot — Sunset Lounge. With comfy couches, a long bar and an eclectic menu, enjoy crafty concoctions such as Mary Jane’s Cooler, left, which blends Don Julio Blanco, lime, watermelon cubes and orange bitters. There’s also the Hot Flash that infuses Don Julio Blanco, blood orange, habanero simple and black lava salt around the rim. Or, have a sip at Morada Sunset crafted with Empress 1908 gin, chai tea and aqua faba.

SWEET SIPS

18 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Marathon & Key West
Upper Keys,
Doug Finger/Keys Weekly
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 19 FLORIDA KEYS PERSONAL CHEF SERVICE OCEAN TO TABLE CUSTOMIZED MENU OPTIONS PREPARED, COOKED AND SERVED IN YOUR HOME BOOK TODAY! 305.905.7732 adinnerinparadise@gmail.com www.adinnerinparadise.com

ENRICO’S PIZZA

20 High Point Road

Tavernier | 305.852.2200

enricospizza.com

HABANOS ON THE CREEK

90800 Overseas Hwy.

Tavernier 305.916.5350

ISLAMORADA

BREWERY & DISTILLERY

82229 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.508.9093

islamoradabeerco.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

THE FISH HOUSE

102401 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo | 305.451.4665

fishhouse.com

HARBOR CAFE 90

90311 Old Hwy.

Tavernier 305.767.3210

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

ISLAMORADA WINE CO.

80925 Overseas Hwy., Unit 3

Islamorada 305.923.1317

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

ITALIAN FOOD COMPANY

FLORIDA KEYS BREWING CO.

81611 Old Highway

Islamorada

305.916.5206

HOG HEAVEN SPORTS BAR & GRILL

85361 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.664.9669

hogheavensportsbar.com

98070 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo | 305.440.2700

82779 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.780.7127

italianfoodcompany.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

GREEN TURTLE INN

81219 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.664.2006

greenturtleinn.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

HUNGRY TARPON RESTAURANT AT ROBBIE’S

77522 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.664.0535

robbies.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

JIMMY JOHNSON’S BIG CHILL

104000 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo | 305.453.9066

jjsbigchill.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

20 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 21 LET US FIND YOU YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE Barbara Eads Realty, Inc is about being helpful and working hard to help all of our clients. My challenge is to help everyone I can to reach their goals. Whether purchasing the house of their dreams, or selling their property for the highest price we can get. WWW.KEYSFORSALE.COM 91770 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY | TAVERNIER 305-853-5982 OFFICE | 305-586-7326 CELL BARBARA@KEYSFORSALE.COM BEER GARDEN Food Truck On Site Cocktail & Beer Flights
22 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West FROM OUR FISHERMEN TO YOU! OPEN DAILY! LUNCH 11:30 A.M.-4 P.M. DINNER 4-10 P.M. SEAFOOD MARKET/GIFTS/SOUVENIRS 10 A.M.-10 P.M. A KEY LARGO DINING TRADITION SINCE 1982! PIE SHOP AND SWEET TREATS SQUARE CRISPY CHEESE "KRUST" PIZZA APPETIZERS & SALADS 91865 Overseas Hwy. Tavernier 305.396.7240 @ilovekrust MRS. MAC'S KITCHEN ORIGINAL BREAKFAST & LUNCH MONDAY - SATURDAY 7 A.M.-3 P.M. 99336 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY 305-451-3722 www.mrsmacskitchen.com | Key Largo MRS. MAC'S KITCHEN II MONDAY - SATURDAY 11 A.M.-10 P.M. 99020 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY (IN THE MEDIAN) 305-451-6227 EAT
LAUGH OFTEN LIVE LONG
WELL

KRUST PIZZA & PIES

91865 Overseas Hwy.

Tavernier | 305.396.7240

LORELEI RESTAURANT & CABANA BAR

96 Madeira Road

Islamorada | 305.664.2692

loreleicabanabar.com

SCAN FOR INSTAGRAM PAGE

KEY LARGO FISHERIES BACKYARD CAFE

1313 Ocean Bay Drive

Key Largo | 305.451.3782

keylargofisheries.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

MANGROVE MIKE’S CAFE

82200 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.664.8022

mangrovemikes.com

MORADA BAY BEACH CAFE

81600 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada

305.644.0604

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

MRS. MAC’S KITCHEN

99336 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo | 305.451.3722

MRS. MAC’S KITCHEN II

99020 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo | 305.451.6227

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

LAZY LOBSTER

102770 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo

305.451.0565

MAR BAR

90775 Old Hwy.

Tavernier 305.853.6199

OLD TAVERNIER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

90311 Old Hwy., 2nd Floor

Tavernier 305.852.6012

LAZY DAYS ISLAMORADA

79867 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada

305.664.5256

MEAT SHOP OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

102900 Overseas Hwy., Unit 1

Key Largo 305.451.2002

OLIVE MORADA

82245 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.735.4375

olivemorada.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

24 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

WOOD FIRE DOES WONDERS

C&C Wood Fired Eats is known for its signature wood fired oven, a hopping daily happy hour and some of the best pizza in town (it was crowned best pizza by the Best of the Upper Keys). But did you know they offered some of the best steak? Stop by for steak night every Thursday.

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 25
Doug Finger/Keys Weekly
26 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West DELICIOUS SEAFOOD SNORKEL THE KEYS | PARASAIL KAYAK TOURS | TARPON FEEDING JET SKI & BOAT RENTAL 77522 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY | WWW.ROBBIES.COM SCAN ME VOTED THE NO. 1 PLACE TO VISIT IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
TROPICAL LIVING 305-852-2200 So Good It’ll Make Your Tongue Slap Your Brain 20 High Point Rd. Islamorada, Florida Keys MM 88.8 Visit us at enricospizza.com 305-852-2200 online ordering & Delivery Tavernie r /i s l am o ra da M M 97 - m m 8 2 INSIDE & O UT SID E DINING AV AI L ABL E E XPERIEN C E T H E P as tabilitie s HOTTEST PLACE IN THE KEYS TO COOL OFF! WATERFRONT DINING & TIKI POOL BAR ORIGINAL LOCATION: MM 104 BAY SIDE KEY LARGO | ENRICO'S LOCATION: MM 88.8

PILOT HOUSE RESTAURANT

13 Seagate Blvd. Key Largo

305.451.3142

SNOOK’S BAYSIDE RESTAURANT

99470 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo

305.453.5004

WAHOO’S BAR AND GRILL

83413 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.664.9888

wahoosbarandgrill.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

THE SANDBAR AT WHALE HARBOR

83413 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.664.4940

whaleharborrestaurant.com

SQUARE GROUPER SUNSET LOUNGE

80460 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 786.901.5678

squaregrouperislamorada.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

WHALE HARBOR SEAFOOD BUFFET

83413 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada | 305.664.4940

whaleharborrestaurant.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SAYLOR ASHTON’S SUNRISE GRILL

79851 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada

305.664.0166

SUNDOWNERS

103900 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo

305.451.4502

WHAT THE FISH ROLLS & MORE

90775 Old Highway, Unit 6

Tavernier 305.440.3650

SEÑOR FRIJOLES

103900 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo

305.451.1592

TWISTED SHRIMP

87745 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada 305.453.6377

ZIGGIE & MAD DOGS

83000 Overseas Hwy.

Islamorada

305.664.3391

28 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

ICONIC UPPER KEYS RESTAURANT HAS DELIGHTED DINERS SINCE 1976

DELICIOUS

HISTORY

The small, one-story bayside building in the heart of Key Largo may look unassuming from the outside, but inside, diners will find a history as delicious and rich as its awardwinning Key lime pies. "The building has been a restaurant and watering hole for the Upper Keys since it was built in 1947," explained Mrs. Mac's owner Paula Wittke. Seated in a table in the back of the restaurant, Wittke proudly described the signature dishes that have defined Mrs. Mac's for decades.

"We have some amazing breakfasts that are unique," said Wittke. "Our seafood, homemade chili, our famous house dressing, garlic and vinaigrette, it's not the same anywhere else. Homemade desserts, that's a huge part of it," she added. And the conch chowder is second to none.

And here's a fun fact: according to Wittke, Mrs. Mac's Kitchen is home to the first draft beer in the Upper Keys.

"The letters were on the building for a really long time that said draft beer," reminisced Wittke.

Inside the original Mrs. Mac's Kitchen, hundreds of license plates donated by satisfied customers line the walls. "It started with a very small collection, license plates and beer bottles, I believe my oldest one is 1919 from Ohio," said Wittke.

Wittke’s late sister Angela bought Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen in 1988. Angela was only 23 at the time. Paula Wittke joined her sister in the restaurant the following year.

30 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
Kellie Butler Farrell/Keys Weekly

"On any given day you might still see me doing everything," Wittke said with a chuckle. "That's what it takes, that's what it's about, not being afraid to push up your sleeves and get the job done."

Mrs. Mac's previous owner, Jeff McFarland, opened the restaurant in 1976 and named it after his mother, Mrs. Mac. The name stuck and to this day, Mrs. Mac's is a must stop for hungry visitors, locals, and even celebrities.

"Jimmy Buffett has stopped by here, signed an old three-fold menu, best cheeseburger in paradise," said Wittke.

Today, there are two Mrs. Mac's locations; the original restaurant located on the bayside at mile marker 99 and Mrs. Mac's II, in the median not even a mile down the road at the site of the old Pizza Hut.

"We didn't know. Would it work that close?" Wittke said of the decision to expand.

It did work. Mrs. Mac's II has been going strong for 10 years.

Now this iconic Key Largo restaurant chain is poised for a change. After 35 years, Paula Wittke has decided to sell Mrs. Mac's Kitchen and Mrs. Mac's II. She's looking forward to a more flexible schedule and more time to spend with her two children who are in high school.

Wittke and her husband Jeff also own a thriving beekeeping business.

Despite so much to look forward to, the decision to sell was not easy, nor was the last year and a half. An especially difficult year was 2021, when Wittke lost three family members, including her sister Angela, to COVID-19.

Now, Wittke says, it's time to hand the reins of Mrs. Mac's to someone else. Wittke and her sister Angela made an unstoppable team leading to Mrs. Mac's continued success and longevity.

Although Wittke is ready for the next chapter, she hopes to find a new owner who will continue Mrs. Mac's story.

"I would really like to find someone to carry on the traditions, to welcome people when they come in the door, to give them a unique experience in the Florida Keys," said Wittke.

"The best part is all of the friendships I've made over the years, with employees and customers."

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 31
Top: Donated license plates line the walls of Mrs. Mac's Kitchen. Even the lamps are made of bent license plates. Bottom: In this undated photo, Angela Wittke (left) and Paula Wittke (right) wait for orders to come out of the kitchen at their popular restaurant, Mrs. Mac's Kitchen.
Contributed
Kellie Butler Farrell/Keys Weekly
AUTHENTIC ITALIAN PIZZERIA AND MARKET KEY LARGO | MM98 | 98070 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY | 305.440.2700 ISLAMORADA | MM82 | 82779 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY | 305.780.7127 A SLICE OF ITALY IN THE FLORIDA KEYS !
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 33

BERRY GOOD

Known for having one of the better breakfasts in town, Mangrove Mike’s Cafe in Islamorada serves up a variety of hot cakes and Belgian waffles. Add fresh berries, powdered sugar and whip cream for a morning meal that’ll satisfy your appetite.

34 KEYS Table SPRING 2023
| Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
Doug Finger/Keys Weekly
81701 OLD HIGHWAY, ISLAMORADA | 305.664.5556 81219 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY ISLAMORADA | 305.664.2006
ONE ISLAND TWO ICONS

FRESH SEAFOOD, STEAKS, SUSHI AND CUISINE WITH A CARIBBEAN FLAIR POOLSIDE TIKI WITH TROPICAL LIBATIONS

OCEANSIDE BEACH WITH THE BEST SUNSET VIEWS

36 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Daily Spend the Weekend On Our Oceanfront Pool Deck & Have Fun at Our Poolside Tiki Bar! Come By Boat & Enjoy Our Dock is the Longest Running Pool & Beach Party with live music in the Keys! 7 KNIGHTS KEY BOULEVARD | MARATHON MM 47 (AT THE FOOT OF THE 7 MILE BRIDGE, OCEAN SUNSETGRILLE7MILEBRIDGE.COM 305.396.7235
YOU’VE FOUND PARADISE! AT THE FOOT OF THE
FAMOUS
FOUND
WORLD
SEVEN MILE BRIDGE

MARATHON WELCOME TO

Marathon’s population seems to double each night just before sunset as the dozens of fishing, diving and just-plain-fun boats return from the reefs and sandbars, ready for the perfect dinner and drinks with friends and family to cap the evening.

With a vibrant fishing community, premier waterfront dining options are ready to give the day’s catch the perfect preparation, but there are just as many hidden gems a little further inland.

Thankfully, through extensive “research,” we left no corner of Marathon unexplored in creating this comprehensive guide.

Welcome to the Marathon Table.

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 37
Florida Keys News Bureau

7 MILE CUBAN RESTAURANT

2211 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon

305.743.7700

BARRACUDA GRILL

4290 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon

305.743.3314

BRUTUS SEAFOOD

6950 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon

305.743.9181

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

BURDINES WATERFRONT

BAR & GRILL

1200 Oceanview Ave.

7 MILE GRILL

1240 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon

305.743.4481

BLU BISTRO

19 Sombrero Blvd.

Marathon

305.399.6667

(end of 15th St., Ocean)

Marathon | 305.743.9204

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

ANGLER & ALE

540 Duck Key Drive

Duck Key | MM 61, Ocean

305.209.9991

BONGO’S

BOTANICAL BEER GARDEN

59300 Overseas Highway

Marathon (Grassy Key)

305.414.8245

BUTTERFLY CAFÉ

2600 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon | 305.289.7177

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

BARNACLE BARNEY'S TIKI BAR

1688 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon | 305.289.6706

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

BRASS MONKEY

5561 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon

305.743.4028

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

CASTAWAY WATERFRONT

RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR

1406 Oceanview Ave.

(end of 15th St., Ocean)

Marathon | 305.743.6247

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

38 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

TOWERING TUNA

Even the most diehard sushi lovers might need a to-go box for this one. The Florida Keys Steak & Lobster House’s Tuna Poke Bowl offers a massive brimming cup of marinated diced tuna with sliced avocado. On the other end of the plate, a bed of sushi rice balances a tower of seaweed and kani salads with sauced sashimi slices twirling at the top.

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 39
Alex Rickert/Keys Weekly
40 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West We Deliver More Than Pizza! 305.743.8770 Online Ordering at dri woodpizzaandsub.com 10875 Overseas Highway, Suite 140 MM52.5 • Marathon Open 7 Days a Week 11 am - 9 pm Dine In • Carry Out • Delivery (7 Mile Bridge to Duck Key) Voted Best Pizza and Best Food Delivery
YOU
OPEN EVERY DAY 11:30AM–10PM 305.743.5516 | 3660 O/S HIGHWAY | MARATHON (MM49) SUSHI CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF FRESH SEAFOOD FULL BAR & HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 11:30AM-6:00PM FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS AT THE BAR EARLY BIRD SPECIALS EVERY DAY 3:30-5:30PM RESERVATIONS AT SUSHI CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF FRESH SEAFOOD FULL BAR & HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 11:30AM-6:00PM FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS AT THE BAR EARLY BIRD SPECIALS EVERY DAY 3:30-5:30PM
CAN’T GO WRONG WITH LOBSTER!

DINNER

WITH THE

MEDITERRANEAN IN MARATHON AT BLU BISTRO

Sitting down for an interview at Blu Bistro with Skipjack Resort operators Christian and Lydia Westdickenberg and head chef Paul Evloyias doesn’t feel like taking a seat at a restaurant. It’s more like having a huge lunch at home with family – and if you ask them, that’s the whole point.

“No one here is going to hand you a bill unless you ask for it,” Christian told the Weekly as six platters of sublime Mediterranean dishes filled the table. For the trio helming the new eatery at Skipjack Resort, the priority is filling a table with friends and relatives while enjoying what looks and tastes like your grandmother’s comfort food dishes – however long it takes.

Evloyias and the Westdickenbergs had a pre-pandemic plan to team up in Greece, where Paul and Lydia trace their roots. They’re distant cousins from the same island, Paros, proven as the latter proudly showed us a photo of Piso Livadi, a coastal town with her house, Paul’s, and the church where she and Christian were married.

With travel restricted, Paul’s American citizenship proved crucial as the Westdickenbergs searched for someone to run their resort’s restaurant, left as a revolving door of short-lived attempts since Hurricane Irma.

“When we had first spoken to Paul, I didn’t realize how well he cooked,” said Lydia. “In my head, I was like, how difficult could it be? We’ll do chicken wings, a few burgers.

42 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
Blu Bistro’s menu now includes sushi, thanks to a pop-up that debuted in late January.

FAMILY

"The first thing he does is he starts making dough and making pizzas because he does everything from scratch. Literally the burger buns and everything.”

Signature dishes on the menu’s current iteration include tender, slow-simmered octopus, meat skewers, a Greek lasagna topped with creamy bechamel sauce (Pastitsio) and baklava. But as Paul was quick to point out, “We’re not a specific type of restaurant,” and his experimentation never stops.

“Paul’s father was a pastry chef, and as good as he is as a cook, his pastry skills are triple that,” said Lydia, adding that resort guests who book a table for birthday celebrations may even receive a custom cake creation from the pastry pro.

Blu Bistro’s offerings include pizzas, steaks and burgers with the aforementioned buns made from scratch. A specials menu promises new dishes each week, and mere hours after our interview, the eatery debuted its new sushi pop-up.

After a year and a half of intentionally slow growth, relying mostly on word of mouth, Evloyias and the Westdickenbergs are eager to expand as they capitalize on a fitting partnership with a laid-back, familyfriendly resort. With a poolside tiki bar just outside the door, live music on several nights and a renovation in progress of a space that will more than double its capacity, one of Marathon’s finest new restaurants is ready to drop the “hidden” from its “hidden gem” title.

“Yesterday we filled every single chair we had anywhere on the resort,” said Paul.

To get in touch with Blu Bistro, located at 19 Sombrero Blvd. in Marathon, call 305-399-6667 or make a reservation on OpenTable.

Top: The team behind Blu Bistro includes, from left, Skipjack Resort operators Christian and Lydia Westdickenberg, Geanna Evloyias and head chef Paul Evloyias. Middle left: Flaky focaccia bread and marinara sauce. Middle right: Slow-simmered tender octopus leg served over Greek salad. Bottom: Herbs for Blu Bistro’s fresh recipes are grown in gardens just a step outside the door.
Keysweekly.com 43
Photos by Yanni Georgoulakis and Alex Rickert

COAST TO COAST PIZZA

61 53rd St., Ocean

Marathon | 305.414.8626

DOCKSIDE BOOT KEY

35 Sombrero Blvd. (on Boot Key Harbor)

Marathon | 305.735.4205

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

COCO’S General Store & Deli 50 Coco Plum Drive

Marathon 305.743.7743

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

DRIFTWOOD PIZZA

PASTA & SUBS

10875 Overseas Hwy., Ste 140

Marathon | 305.743.8770

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

FOOD FOR THOUGHT CAFÉ

5800 Overseas Hwy., Ste 23 (in Gulfside Village)

Marathon | 305.743.3297

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

FRANK'S GRILL

11400 Overseas Hwy. (Town Square Mall)

Marathon 305.289.7772

CONCH CUSTARD

11524 Overseas Hwy., Ste 4

Marathon 305.684.0022

FISH TALES MARKET AND EATERY

11711 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.743.9196

FRESH OFF THE HOOK

12240 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.204.3301

CRACKED CONCH CAFE

4999 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.743.2233

FLORIDA KEYS STEAK & LOBSTER HOUSE

3660 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon | 305.743.5516

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

HAVANA JACK'S OCEANSIDE RESTAURANT AND BAR

401 E. Ocean Drive

Key Colony Beach 305.743.4849

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

44 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper
& Key West
Keys, Marathon
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 45 BEERS ON TAP 32 BEST SUSHI 1406 OCEANVIEW AVE MARATHON | 305.743.6247 CASTAWAYFLORIDAKEYS.COM HAPPY HOUR 1 - 4PM $7 Menu • Chicken Wings, chicken livers and More! • 32 Beers on tap 1/2 off 2pm - 3pm • $2 pintes of Yuengling and Bud Light BREAKFAST UNTIL 2PM • Unique & interesting menu • $3 Mimosas • $5 Breakfast Shots LUNCH & DINNER • Lobster Enchiladas • Diver Speared Local Fish • Prime Rib • Local Lobster • Cook Your Own Catch • Great Seafood Selections SUSHI • Toro • Lionfish • Poke • Hamachi collar • Fresh Uni arrives on Thursday LOBSTER ENCHILADA AS FEATURED ON DINERS DRIVE-INS & DIVES MAKE RESERVATIONS AT CASTAWAYFLORIDAKEYS.COM OR FACEBOOK PAGE CASTAWAY WATERFRONT RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR V ET E RAN OWN ED & OP E R AT E D 724 Monday • Tuesday • Thursday • Friday 9am to close | S a t urday • Sunday 10am to close | Closed on Wednes

HERBIE'S BAR & CHOWDER HOUSE

6350 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon

305.743.6373

ISLAND FISH COMPANY

12648 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon | 305.743.4191

SCAN FOR INSTAGRAM PAGE

KING SEAFOOD MARKET & RESTAURANT

10925 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon

305.735.4132

HIDEAWAY CAFE

57784 Overseas Hwy.

Grassy Key | MM 57, Ocean

305.289.1554

JUICE PARADISE

Cuban Café

2603 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.735.4051

LA ISLA TACO GRILL

243 61st St., Gulf

Marathon 305.393.7059

ISLA LATTE

9625 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.741.7498

KEY COLONY INN

700 W. Ocean Drive

Key Colony Beach 305.743.0100

LA NIÑA RESTAURANT

1571 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.517.6226

IRIE ISLAND EATS

4540 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon | 305.509.9398

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

KEYS FISHERIES

3502 Gulfview Ave.

(end of 35th St., Gulf)

Marathon | 305.743.4353

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

LAZY DAYS SOUTH

725 11th St.

Marathon 305.289.0839

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

46 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 47 MAXIMIZE YOUR INCOME POTENTIAL ENJOY EXPERT PROPERTY MAINTENANCE OFFER YOUR GUESTS A VIP EXPERIENCE START EARNING KE YS P R O P E R T Y MAN AGEME N T KE YS REAL ES TAT E KEYRENTALSONLINE.COM 305-928-7354 770.314.2893 BROKER ASSOCIATE 786.546.6678 HANNAH FIELDS REALTOR STOP BY AND VISIT US AT OUR NEW LOCATION! 305.432.9754 MYMIDDLEKEYS.COM 11187 OVERSEAS HWY, MARATHON FL
48 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West 305-517-6484 | MILE MARKER 59, GRASSY KEY (next to the Dolphin Research Center) www.sswreck.com for online ordering & special events HOURS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK SUNDAY - THURSDAY 11AM-9PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11AM-10PM HAPPY HOUR MONDAY - FRIDAY 3PM-5PM $8 FOOD MENU $1 OFF BEER, WINE & WELL DRINKS WR E C K & LL E Y G R I L L YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE FOR FRIENDLY SERVICE, GREAT FOOD & DRINKS AND A KEYS VIBE. A L A N D V E TER A N OWN E D FRIDAY LIVE MUSIC Seasonal Hours - May Change NOW OPEN! 61 53rd Street, Ocean, Marathon 305-414-8626 coasttocoastpizzaco Open 7 Days 11AM - 9PM BEST PIZZA
Scan and connect with us on social media PL AZA GRILL STEAK & SEAFOOD Certified Black Angus Steaks Fresh Local Seafood Entrees starting at $24 Tue -Sat 5:30pm - 9:30pm Closed Sun & Mon For Reser vations call 305.743.7848 5101 Overseas Hwy. Marathon

LIGHTHOUSE GRILL AT FARO BLANCO RESORT & YACHT CLUB

1994 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.434.9039

MARATHON LIQUOR & DELI

5101 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.743-6350

PLAZA GRILL

5101 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.743.7874

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

MAHINA

1 Knights Key Blvd.

Marathon 786.638.8106

NINA’S EMPANADAS COLOMBIAN FOOD

2675 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.990.4725

PORKY'S BAYSIDE

RESTAURANT & MARINA

1410 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.289.2065

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SIXTY-ONE PRIME

MARATHON BAGEL CO.

11090 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.517.6393

OVERSEAS PUB AND GRILL

3574 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.290.4666

61 Hawks Cay Blvd. Duck Key | MM 61, Ocean 877.496.6023

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SPARKY'S LANDING

13205 Overseas Hwy.

MARATHON GRILL & ALE HOUSE

5800 Overseas Hwy.,#12

Marathon 305.743.5888

PARADISE FLAVORS

9601 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.879.4800

Marathon 305.363.2959

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

50 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

Time it right, and you may just catch the end of the Island Fish Company’s famed breakfast service (11 a.m.) and the start of its lunch in a single sitting. In a Keys twist on a breakfast staple, start out with a Conch Fritter Benedict – served with real Hollandaise sauce – and a mimosa before moving on to one of their lunch favorites like the seared ahi tuna carpaccio salad or the Caribbean special, a panseared grouper filet with pineapple salsa, black beans and chef’s rice.

TIME IT RIGHT

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 51
Alex Rickert/Keys Weekly Contributed
CASUAL DINING • RESERVATIONS NOT REQUIRED • PETS WELCOMED! • OPEN 11 A.M. - 9 P.M. 7 DAYS A WEEK 35TH STREET, ON THE BAY (BEHIND THE STUFFED PIG) • MARATHON • 305-743-4353 KEYS FISHERIES RESTAURANT MARKET & MARINA RETAIL STORE Fish, Soups and Chowders & Key Lime Pie! WATERFRONT RESTAURANT Enjoy our daily specials like Homemade Soup or Chowder, Fresh Fish Sandwich or One of our Daily Specials while overlooking Florida Bay! Open for Lunch & Dinner Every Day! THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST SEAFOOD! Don ’ t forget about our Fuel Dock, next to Restaurant. Great Pricing! 90 Octane Ethanol free Open 7am to Noon Every Day but Sunday. WILD CAUGHT KEY WEST PINK SHRIMP - ALL SIZES! JOIN US AT OUR UPSTAIRS RAW BAR FROM OUR BOATS TO YOUR PLATE! OYSTERS | CLAMS FULL BAR AND THE BEST SUNSETS sweetsavannahs.com 305.743.3131 8919 Overseas Hwy in the southwind plaza ICE CREAM | CUPCAKES+COOKIES CANDY | TOYS+GIFTS | BOOKS CUSTOM CAKES GLUTEN FREE OPEN Sun - Thurs 11am - 9pm Fri & Sat 10am - 10pm
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 53 SMOOTHIES • JUICE BREAKFAST • LUNCH GRAB-AND-GO WWW.FOODFORTHOUGHTFLKEYS.COM COME BY CAR, BIKE, FOOT OR BOAT 1200 Oceanview Avenue (end of 15th Street), MM 47.5 Ocean 305.743.9204 • Open 11:30AM to 8:30PM Daily FOOD SO GOOD IT’LL MAKE YOUR TONGUE SLAP YOUR BRAINS OUT! Friendly Service & Free Advice Overlooking The Boot Key Harbor Waterway Dockage • Bait • Tackle Ice Cold Beer • Snacks • Ice Clean, Pre-Filtered & Computer Monitored Marine Fuel 305.743.5317 Burdines KEYS-STYLE CUISINE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES ALL DAY EVERY DAY Marina Hours 7:30AM - 5:00PM We monitor Channel 16 per Gallon Diesel or 90-Octane Ethanol-Free Gas with this ad Not valid with any other discounts. Expires April 30th, 2023 BASKET OF FRESH CUT FRIES WITH THIS AD Expires April 30th, 2023 $4.25 10¢OFF

S.S. WRECK & GALLEY GRILL

58835 Overseas Hwy.

Grassy Key | MM 58, Gulf 305.517.6484

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SWEET CHILI

11524 Overseas Hwy., Ste #1 Marathon 305.204.4123

TITO'S STOP 10694 Overseas Hwy. 305.509.7277

STOUT'S RESTAURANT

8349 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.743.6437

SWEET SAVANNAH'S 8919 Overseas Hwy. Marathon 305.743.3131

TRITON SEAFOOD

11399 Overseas Hwy., #123 Marathon 305.998.4392

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

THE STUFFED PIG

3520 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.743.4059

TAKARA THAI HOUSE

3740 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.509.7183

UPPER CRUST PIZZA

3740 Overseas Hwy. Marathon 305.743.7100

SUNSET GRILLE & RAW BAR

7 Knights Key Blvd.

Marathon | 305.396.7235

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

TAKERIA LA PALAPA

4250 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.900.0937

WOODEN SPOON

7007 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon 305.743.8383

54 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

Lunch:

Captain’s

Hawks Cay Resort 540 Duck Key Drive • Duck Key, FL 33050
differently (305) 209-9991 | AnglerAndAle.com
Seafood
Head down to the docks of Hawks Cay Marina at MM61 for the coldest draft beer and freshest Key specialties in the lower latitudes. Order off our menu or, bring us your filets for some great hook and cook options.
11:30am - 3:30pm Daily
Hour - 3:30pm - 5:30pm Daily
Dinner: 5:30pm - 10pm Daily

MEET MARATHON’S ITALIAN MAINSTAY

THE FLAVOR

‘MECHANIC’

If you walk into Frank’s Grill past 6 p.m. without a reservation and score a table, consider yourself lucky. The 40-seat eatery nestled in the corner of Marathon’s Town Square Mall since 2006 is booked solid more often than not during season. Rightfully so, as owner Frank Farello and his staff offer what many regard as the best Italian cuisine in the Florida Keys.

Farello got his start learning from the man he still calls his “culinary hero”: his father Frank Sr., an executive chef in Virginia.

“I learned a lot of great tricks from a master,” he said. “He was a true artist; I’m more of a mechanic.”

After Frank Jr. graduated high school, he followed his father to New York City as Frank Sr. took command of his brother’s restaurant. Working for $40 a day repairing stoves with his uncle and waiting tables for his father by night, he jumped at the chance to move to the Florida Keys and open a pizzeria with his uncle when the latter “retired.”

Working in the space now occupied by the Marathon Grill & Ale House, he helped open the Village Cafe.

“We had pizza by the slice and everything, but we were all standing behind the counter waiting for everybody to walk in and order a slice of pizza,” he recalled. “Everybody walked in and sat down at the tables and started ordering cheesesteaks and fish sandwiches and stuff. So we ran out from behind

the counter and started waiting on them. And bang, we weren’t a pizzeria any more.”

The Village Cafe was home for Farello for 18 years before opening up his own location, and though his clientele frequently urge him to expand the wildly popular restaurant, he prefers to stay put. And his reasoning is one that should resonate with all Keys business owners in 2023.

“I had a chance to expand when my uncle sold the Village Cafe. … I passed it up, just because good help is so hard to find down here, and I’ve found some good people. At the Village, during season we’d have to hire extra people, and in the summer time we’d have to let them go. The way I’m at right now, I can keep everybody on and everybody still makes a living.”

Signature dishes at Frank’s include his grouper française – “people tell me I could française your tennis shoes and they’d come tasting good,” he tells us – and a roasted red pepper cream sauce. And if you’re short on guilty pleasures, try his penne with

56 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

pink vodka sauce, then finish it off with a slice of cheesecake made in-house by Frank’s wife, Joanna.

With creations loved by local adults, Frank’s dishes have passed the test with his toughest critics: kids. He recalled visits more than a decade ago from locals Catherine and Mike Dunn, who swore his marinara sauce was the only thing their nowteenage daughter, Ella, would eat at the time -and made a near-nightly pilgrimage to pick it up.

“Kids won’t lie to you,” he told the Weekly. “Adults will smile and tell you everything is good. If kids will eat it, that’s how I know.

“Whenever the Dunns come in, I still send them home with an extra container of sauce for Ella.”

Alex Rickert/Keys Weekly
Top: Frank’s grouper francaise takes firm, flaky filets in a light egg wash sautéed with a savory butter, lemon and white wine sauce. Right: Frank Farello is the mastermind behind Frank’s Grill as he shows off his pork osso buco.

Forget the average pizza toppings – although those are still available too – at Driftwood Pizza, Pasta & Subs in the heart of Marathon. As some of the pizza joint’s more experimental pies prove, the only thing better than comfort food favorites –spaghetti and meatballs or cheesy potatoes, to name a few – is comfort food favorites piled on top of a pizza.

BREAK FROM THE TYPICAL

58 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys,
& Key West
Marathon
Alex Rickert/Keys Weekl
60 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West B O W L S • W R A P S • S A L A D S T A C O S • A P P E T I ZE R S D A I L Y S P E C I A L S ! MEA T & SE A F O O D G R IL L E D O R SMOK E D O N P R E M I SE S V E G ETA R I A N A N D G L UT E N- F R E E O P T I O N S SE RVING L U NC H MO N- SAT 11- 4 D E LIV ERY A V A IL AB L E AS SEEN ON 454 0 OVERSEAS HWY. MARATHON 305.509.9398 LOCATED BEHIND PARADISE PRODUCE order online! www.irieislandeats.com tropical garden seating
305-743-68 www.AmericanCoastalRentals.com Keys@AmericanCoastalRentals.com View our fu www American on ou www.sparkyslanding.com 305.363.2959 MM 53.5 | Overseas Highway | Marathon Our docks are open! VOTED BEST HAPPY HOUR 13 YEARS IN A R OW! ALSO VOTED BEST MARGARITA! LUNCH, HAPPY HOUR & DINNER NIGHTLY SPECIALS MONDAY: Closed TUESDAY: Jumbo Gumbo Bowls Tacos and Tequila Live Music: Roger Jokela WEDNESDAY: Wine Time Wednesday ($15-$20 bottles) Live Music THURSDAY: Prime Rib Night Live Music: John Bartus FRIDAY: Live Music Abstract Radio SATURDAY: Mini Brunch, 11am-4pm BOGO Mimosas & Sparkling Wine Live Music: Roger Jokela SUNDAY: BRUNCH, LIVE MUSIC BOGO Mimosas & Sparkling Wine 11am to 2:30pm Saturday & Sunday *Regular menu available COME BY BOAT, BIKE, FOOT OR CAR! WE’LL COOK YOUR CATCH, FISH & LOBSTER! PLEASE BRING CLEANED AND LEGAL LIVE 4-6 PM HAPPY HOUR MUSIC Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, Guava French Toast, Crab Benedict BOGO Mimosas & Glasses of Sparkling Wine BRUNCH
62 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West BREAKFAST 8am - 11:30am SUNDAY BRUNCH 8am - 1pm DINNER 5:30pm - 9pm No visit to Key West is complete without a trip to Matt’s Stock Island, a local and tourist favorite. Enjoy an unforgettable culinary experience with unobstructed views of our state-of-the-art marina, outdoor fire pits, and your favorite cocktails. 7001 Shrimp Road | Key West | perrykeywest.com NEW MENU

KEY WEST WELCOME TO

Key West hangs like a pendant at the end of our island chain, dangling at the blue-green intersection of Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and just a stone's throw from the Caribbean.

Fiercely independent, and inviting, it's an island of history, humidity and humanity.

It may be at the end of the road, but Key West is just the start of some truly delicious dining experiences. It’s an island of inimitable flavor, influenced by everyone who has reached her shores.

From Cuban and Caribbean spices, to French bistros, Italian trattorias, decadent, dark-wood steakhouses, Irish pubs and waterfront seafood restaurants, Key West offers plenty for every palate.

And that’s just the food. Don’t forget the fine wine lists, frozen drinks, craft cocktails, cold beers and strong Cuban coffees.

Welcome to the Southernmost City. Enjoy all it has to offer.

Florida
News Bureau TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 63
Keys

22 & CO.

504 Angela St.

305.394.7244

22andco.com

AMIGOS TORTILLA BAR

425 Greene St. 305.292.2009

amigostortillabar.com

BAGATELLE

115 Duval St. 305.296.6609

430 DUVAL RESTAURANT & BAR

430 Duval St. 305.296.2991

laconchakeywest.com

bagatellekeywest.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

BENIHANA

3591 S. Roosevelt Blvd. 305.294.6400

benihana.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

BERLIN’S

COCKTAIL BAR & LOUNGE

700 Front St. 305.294.5880

berlinskeywest.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

A & B LOBSTER HOUSE

700 Front St. 305.294.5880

aandblobsterhouse.com

BEARDS & BREWS

5450 MacDonald Ave. unit 6 30.292.1460

beardsbrews.com

BETTER THAN SEX

926 Simonton St. 305.296.8102

betterthansexdesserts.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

ALONZO'S 700 Front St. 305.600.3405

alonzosoysterbar.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

BEL MARE

700 Front St. | 305.396.4040

belmarerestaurant.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

BISTRO 245

@ Opal Key Resort 245 Front St. 305.292.4312

opalkeywest.com

64 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

The Traditional Benedict at Rams Head Southernmost is made with poached eggs, Canadian bacon, English muffin and homemade hollandaise, served with islandstyle home fries. The lively downtown eatery also features an Annapolis Benedict with a crab cake and a Pulled Pork Benedict.

PERFECTLY POACHED

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 65
Contributed
66 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West 5950 Peninsular Ave, Stock Island oceansedgekeywest.com HAPPY HOUR DAILY 3PM- 6PM ALWAYS A LOCAL DISCOUNT WITH LOCAL ID POOL PARTY & LIVE MUSIC SATURDAYS 12-3PM 1029 SOUTHARD STREET (on the corner of Frances) Reservations recommended 305.294.0230 GOD MADE THE FISH… WE JUST COOK IT RIGHT! Café Solé has been voted best food in the Florida Keys by Zagat Magazine. Come visit us for a taste of France that you will never forget. FRENCH/CARIBBEAN CUISINE INDOOR & OUTDOOR DINING STAY IN TOUCH @ facebook.com/CafeSoleKeyWest Shrimp and Grits

IMPROVED&RENEWED

MATT’S STOCK ISLAND KITCHEN AT THE PERRY

HOTEL HITS REFRESH WITH NEW CHEF & MENU

The Perry Hotel has reinvented its three restaurants with new chefs, new menus and a renewed enthusiasm.

Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen, the waterfront resort’s fine-dining restaurant, recently buzzed with comfortable conversations, friendly greetings and familiar company. Everyone saw someone they knew. Diners from one table visited friends at another, sharing appetizers, recommending entrees and sending over a round of drinks. Key West locals met happy hotel guests as fishing boats and luxury yachts bobbed nearby.

68 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
Photos by Stephanie Mitchell and Mandy Miles

“That’s it. That’s exactly the atmosphere I wanted to create here. I couldn’t be happier,” said Chef Graham Dailey, executive chef at The Perry Hotel, which also includes The Salty Oyster and Sloppy Joe’s Dockside, two outdoor, casual eateries overlooking the water.

“I’m into busy dining rooms with fun, friendly chatter among both locals and visitors, and, of course, great food,” said Dailey, who’s lived in Key West for six years and came to The Perry from Cafe Marquesa in Old Town Key West.

“I’ve always been into the more boutique-ish hotels and their restaurants,” he said. “As soon as I stepped into The Perry and onto this property — with its marine industrial look, fishing boats out back, and a clear appreciation of our fishing and maritime heritage — I knew it was right up my alley.

“Refined coastal cuisine is what I do and it’s what I love,” said Dailey, who lived, learned and worked in Paris, New York City and the Caribbean before spending 14 years as executive chef at the renowned Peninsula Grill in Charleston, South Carolina.

“Nothing pretentious. My influences are as varied as French, Caribbean, Southern Low Country and redneck,” Dailey said, emphasizing that great food need not be formal, fussy or difficult to pronounce. “Our new menu floated in from what we see at the marina right behind us here, local fishermen cleaning fresh fish. We’re also about to open a raw bar.”

That menu includes mouth-watering descriptions of roasted black grouper, crispy yellowtail snapper, grilled Atlantic swordfish and butterpoached Maine lobster.

The taste of Charleston and the Low Country is undeniable in Dailey’s decadent she-crab soup. Knowing, as all chefs do, that someone in every party eschews seafood, Dailey offers an ultra-tender filet mignon as well a crispy pork osso buco.

And specials change daily at Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen, which is open for breakfast and dinner at The Perry.

Meanwhile, just down the pier, Chef Jon Mitchell, a longtime colleague of Dailey, is refreshing the menus at The Perry’s Salty Oyster and Sloppy Joe’s Dockside, both of which are casual, poolside restaurants and bars, open for lunch and dinner. The new raw bar also will ensure that oysters are finally on the menu at the Salty Oyster.

“It was time for a refresh, and we’re so excited by what Chef Graham and Chef Jon are doing,” said Lee Rekas, vice president of sales & marketing for The Perry Hotel. “We really want this property and our three restaurants to be a social place for locals again.”

The public is welcome at all three restaurants at The Perry Hotel and its surrounding Stock Island Marina Village, which features a marina, coffee shop, art galleries, boutiques, a ship store and more, all open to the public on Stock Island’s Shrimp Road.

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 69
At right, Matt's pimento cheese oysters and meltingly tender filet mignon with a mushroom gratin. Bottom: Matt's crispy pork osso buco and a dessert sampler that includes authentic beignets and Key lime pie.

CAFÉ SOLÉ

1029 Southard St. 305.294.0230

cafesole.com

THE DOCKS

6840 Front St. | Stock Island

305.396.7049

thedocksstockisland.com

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

CATERED AFFAIRS

305.296.2345

cateredaffairsofkeywest.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

FAUSTO’S FOOD PALACE

522 Fleming St. | 305.296.5663

1105 White St. | 305.294.5221

faustos.com

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

FIREFLY KEY WEST 223 Petronia St. 305.849.0104

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

DOLPHIN DELI

5600 Maloney Ave. 305.293.0707

fireflykeywest.com

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

CHICO’S CANTINA

5230 US-1

305.296.4714

chicoscantina.com

DUETTO PIZZA AND GELATO

540 Greene St. 305.848.4981

duettopizza.com

FIRST FLIGHT ISLAND RESTAURANT & BREWERY 301 Whitehead St. 305.293.8484

firstflightkw.com

DJ’S CLAM SHACK

629 Duval St. | 305.294.0102

djsclamshack.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

D’VINE WINE BAR @ THE GARDENS

526 Angela St. 305.294.2661

www.gardenshotel.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

FOUR MARLINS @ The Reach Resort 1435 Simonton St. 305.296.5000 ext. 6650

reachresort.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

70 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 71 SCAN THE QR CODE TO READ ALL ABOUT IT HAPPY HOUR MONDAY-SATURDAY 4PM-6PM $5 BAR FOOD $7 WINE BY THE GLASS $4 WELL LIQUOR $4 DRAFT BEER $3 DOMESTIC BOTTLES 5620 MACDONALD AVE, KEY WEST | 305.296.4999 1405 Duval Street Key West | 305 295 6550 southernmostbeachresort com | #somolife FRESH NEW MENU SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER WHERE DUVAL MEETS THE ATLANTIC! A KEY WEST FAMILY TRADITION IN FINE FOODS SINCE 1926 522 FLEMING STREET 1105 WHITE STREET WWW.FAUSTOS.COM DELIVERY & GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE

THE FUNKY ROOSTER

713 Caroline St. 305.741.7563

funkyroostercoffeehouse.com

GREAT EVENTS CATERING

925 Truman Ave. 305.294.2252

greateventscatering.com

HOGFISH BAR & GRILL

6810 Front St., Stock Island 305.293.4041 | hogfishbar.com

GARBO’S GRILL

409 Caroline St. 305.304.3004

garbosgrillkw.com

GREEN PINEAPPLE

1130 Duval St. | 305.509.7378

greenpineapplewellness.com

KENNEDY CAFÉ

924/A Kennedy Drive 305.809.9000

kennedycafekeywest.com

GEIGER KEY MARINA & SMOKEHOUSE

5 Geiger Road 305.296.3553

geigerkeymarina.com

HANK’S HAIR OF THE DOG SALOON 409 Caroline St. 305.509.7758

hankskeywest.com

KEY PLAZA CREPERIE 1105 Key Plaza 305.517.6023

keyplazacreperie.com

GOLDMAN’S DELI

2796 N Roosevelt Blvd. 305.294.3354

goldmansdeli.com

HARD ROCK CAFE KEY WEST 313 Duval St. 305.293.0230

hardrockcafe.com

KIM’S KUBAN

2302 N. Roosevelt Blvd. 305.296.2878

kimskubankeywest.com

72 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE SCAN FOR WEBSITE SCAN FOR WEBSITE SCAN FOR WEBSITE

Roostica's Eggplant

Stack is lightly fried with fresh mozzarella, tomato, grapes, walnuts, honey, basil & arugula and a balsamic glaze. It makes us wonder if vegetarians have been onto something this whole time.

EAT YOUR VEGGIES

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 73
Contributed

MM 22 NOW OFFERS MORE THAN EVER

don’t miss the back patio, where tables, chairs and swings hanging from trees welcome people, kids — and dogs.

Have you been to MM 22 recently? For something other than lunch, drinks or dinner at Square Grouper and My New Joint? There are now two new reasons to stop in that Lower Keys neighborhood, or even make a special trip. Nearly next door to the Square Grouper, Lynn Bell’s popular mainstay restaurant for the past 20 years, on the same side of the street now comes Morning Joint and Mary Jane’s Closet, 22864 Overseas Hwy.

(Editor's note: This article by Mandy Miles originally appeared in the Feb. 2, 2023 edition of the Key West Weekly newspaper.)

Morning Joint is equal parts delicious, welcoming and irreverent, playing as it does on Bell’s pot theme. (“Square grouper” is the term Keys boaters, fishermen and smugglers used to describe bales of mairjuana and kilos of cocaine that were found floating in the ocean.)

Bell bought the building that now houses Morning Joint, which is owned and operated by Austin and Miranda Gagnon.

The joint features Colombian coffee grown on a farm owned by the couple’s friend. It also offers some of the lightest and fluffiest gourmet waffles (one of which is topped with freshly made whipped cream and Fruity Pebbles breakfast cereal. Don’t knock it till you try it, as I did.)

The panini sandwiches are perfectly pressed and crispy on the outside, while the coffee and tea drinks come hot, iced or frozen.

“We really want to be a fun and inviting place for people in the Lower Keys community, because there really is no place in this neighborhood for people to gather, hold a small meeting, or just relax and hang out,” said Austin Gagnon, who also owns Elite Bartending and has likely trained more than half the bartenders in the Keys.

Morning Joint opens early for the commuters on U.S. 1 and is still playing with afternoon and evening hours. But whenever you do stop,

Mary Jane’s Closet — a “provisions and paraphernalia” shop (get it?) shares the building with Morning Joint. The two are accessible to each other inside, and have separate exterior entrances.

Mary Jane’s Closet is part gift shop, part local art gallery and part artisanal food shop, featuring authentic and upscale Vermont cheddar cheese as well as wine by the bottle and glass and charcuterie assemblies that can be eaten on the premises, taken home or packed for a day on the boat.

In addition to the Square Grouper merch, such as hats and shirts, the Closet also features glassware, dishes, jewelry, local artwork, books, photography and more.

“While Morning Joint just opened last Monday, it was important to me to get Mary Jane’s Closet open before Christmas, so we opened two weeks prior in December,” Bell said. “I have a vested interest in the coffee shop, but I really wanted Austin and Miranda to do it and be part of it. They’re great people with a great business sense.”

An official ribbon-cutting and grand opening will take place around 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 10.

Check out both places — and the original Square Grouper — you won’t be disappointed.

74 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
Miranda and Austin Gagnon opened Morning Joint coffee and sandwich shop on Jan. 23 with the support of Square Grouper Bar & Grill owner Lynn Bell at MM 22 on Cudjoe Key. Mandy Miles/Keys Weekly
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 75 WORLD
TOP RATED GLUTEN-FREE PIZZA AND VEGETARIAN MENU WE LOVE KIDS & DOGS COME FOR THE FOOD. STAY FOR THE VIEW. 1400 DUVAL ST, KEY WEST OPEN DAILY 11:30A - 8P | SEASIDECAFEKW.COM CASUAL WATERFRONT DINING
FAMOUS LOBSTER PIZZA

LITTLE WHITEHOUSE SUBS

218 Whitehead St. | 305.304.1470

littlewhitehousesubsfl.com

KOJIN NOODLE BAR

422 Eaton St. 305.296.2077

MY NEW JOINT 22858 Overseas Hwy., MM 22.5, Cudjoe Key, Oceanside | 305.745.8880

mynewjoint420lounge.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

LATITUDES

Ferry from 245 Front St. 305.292.5300

sunsetkeycottages.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

MANGOES

700 Duval St. 305.294.8002

mangoeskeywest.com

NINE ONE FIVE 915 Duval St. 305.296.0669 915duval.com

LA GRIGNOTE

1211 Duval St. 305.916.5445

lagrignotecafe.com

MARY ELLEN’S BAR & RESTAURANT 420 Appelrouth Lane 305.294.7750

maryellensbar.com

OFF THE HOOK BAR & GRILL 920 Caroline St. 305.741.7980

offthehookkeywest.com

LA TRATTORIA

3593 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Oceanside | 305.295.6789

524 Duval St., downtown 305.296.1075 | latrattoria.us

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

MATT’S STOCK ISLAND KITCHEN & BAR

7001 Shrimp Road 305.294.3939

mattsstockisland.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

OLD TOWN MEXICAN CAFÉ 609 Duval St. 305.296.7500

oldtownmexicancafe.com

76 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

The view from Bel Mare looks as good as the food tastes. Perched above the Key West Harbor, enjoy their classic and contemporary Italian food, including Linguine and Clams with shallots, garlic, white wine, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest with extra virgin olive oil & fresh parsley.

THAT’S AMORE

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 77
Overseas Media Group
78 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West MIND ALTERING LUBRICANTS FOR SOCIAL INTERCOURSE DINNER COCKTAILS MUSIC MONDAY - SATURDAY | 6P - LATE 524 DUVAL ST. | 305.296.1075 305-294-5880 305-600-3405 305-851-2388 305-396-4040 Classic Waterfront Dining at A&B Marina • Since 1947 KEY WEST HISTORIC SEAPORT • 700 FRONT STREET, KEY WEST, FLORIDA
LOCALS EAT? BEST OVERALL BUSINESS 2016 | 2020 BEST FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS 2014 | 2015 | 2016 BEST SEAFOOD 2016 | 2019 | 2022 BEST LUNCH 2014 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2021 BEST PIZZA 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 6810 FRONT STREET STOCK ISLAND 305-293-4041 WWW.HOGFISHBAR.COM 5620 MACDONALD AVE KEY WEST 305-296-4999 WWW.ROOSTICA.COM Ann

ONE DUVAL One Duval St. @ Pier House Resort 305.295.3255

pierhouse.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

POKÉ IN THE REAR

504 Angela St. 561.254.6798

facebook.com/pokeintherear

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

RAMS HEAD SOUTHERNMOST

SALTY OYSTER DOCKSIDE BAR & GRILL @ The Perry Hotel Key West 7001 Shrimp Road

305.296.1717 | perrykeywest.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

ONE LOVE FOOD TRUCK

5220 US-1 305.393.9169

onelovekeywest.com

804 Whitehead St. 305.440.3196

ramsheadsouthernmost.com

SANDY’S CAFE 1026 White St. 305.296.4747

theoriginalsandyscafe.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

PEPE’S CAFE

806 Caroline St. 305.294.7192

pepeskeywest.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

PEPPER POT ISLAND CAFE

730 Emma St. 305.741.7524

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

THE ROOST

508 Fleming St. 305.294.2600

theroostkw.com

SARABETH’S 530 Simonton St. 305.293.8181

sarabethskeywest.com

ROOSTICA 5620 MacDonald Ave. 305.296.4999 | roostica.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SEASIDE CAFÉ AT THE MANSION 1400 Duval St. 305.340.8167

seasidecafekw.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

80 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 |
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West
FOR ALL OF YOUR RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE NEEDS DEREK EPPERLY, P.A. PRINCIPAL BROKER Derek@KeysAtlanticRealty.com KeyWestRealEstate.info 305.923.4833 YOUR LOCAL REALTOR WHO IS FIGHTING FOR LOWER INSURANCE RATES AND WORKFORCE HOUSING AT THE STATE LEVEL 2023 PRESIDENT OF THE KEY WEST ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS 2023 LEADERSHIP ACADEMY | 15 selected each year DEREK EPPERLY is our 2023 representative for the Florida Keys STATE COMMITTEES Attainable Workforce Housing Committee Member-Elect 2023 State Insurance Committee Member-Elect 2023 Legislative + Regulatory Business Committee Member-Elect 2023

LA TRATTORIA

A 40-YEAR FAVORITE

Forty years. Think about that. How many people have you known for 40 years? How many items have you owned for 40 years? Above all, how many restaurants have not only survived, but thrived for 40 years under just two families of owners? Look no further than La Trattoria on Key West’s bustling Duval Street. When Virgilio Vitale opened La Trattoria restaurant and his namesake Virgilio’s nightclub in 1982, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album had just been released, the world cried as Elliott said goodbye to E.T. and the first episode of “Late Night with David Letterman” had just premiered on NBC.

The family-owned La Trattoria restaurant and attached Virgilio’s nightclub and martini bar aren’t antiques; they’re icons.

Owners Bill and Amy Lay, with business partner Darren Horan, later opened La Trattoria Oceanside on South Roosevelt Boulevard and Catered Affairs of Key West, but without drawing any quality or attention away from the original.

Known familiarly as “La Tratt,” the welcoming restaurant offers favorites for everyone, from homemade pasta, gnocchi, seafood ravioli, steaks, veal piccata, osso buco and more.

But don’t let the generous portions dissuade you from trying one of their appetizers — bruschetta, stuffed mushroom caps, carpaccio and antipasta.

Many people don’t realize, given the restaurant’s enduring popularity with locals, seasonal residents and annual visitors, that La Trattoria started as just a means to an end.

Virgilio’s, the attached nightclub with its entrance on Appelrouth Lane, was the star of the show, Lay said recently, in celebration of their 40th year.

82 KEYS Table SPRING 2023 | Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

At left, top to bottom: 524 Duval St., now La Trattoria, was the Key West Loan Co. in 1907. Photo from the De Leon Collection donated by Kirk and Gloria McDonald.

The same building, built in 1899, was House of Charm in 1965. The property was a restaurant called Charcoal in the 1970s. Photo by Don Pinder from the Monroe County Library collection

Before La Trattoria and Virgilio’s opened in 1982, the building at 524 Duval St., seen here in 1975, was a karate studio. Monroe County Library collection, from the archives of Edwin O.

“Virgilio Vitale wanted to open a gay nightclub in this space in the ‘80s,” Lay said. “But couldn’t afford a liquor license. So local attorney Michael Halpern advised him to open an attached eatery, which would enable him to get a liquor license more affordably.

“That’s how the restaurant actually came about. Virgilio’s mom, Mama Rose, and his brothers Carmelo and Dino came over from Italy to help. Carmelo and Mama Rose did the restaurant and Virgilio did the bar,” Lay recalled. “To this day, we still use several of Mama Rose’s recipes, including her sauce. That’ll never change.”

Sadly, Virgilio died of AIDS in the late ’80s, like so many of his friends in Key West, where the epidemic devastated the community, Lay said.

Virgilio’s brother, Carmelo Vitale and Carmelo’s wife, Carolyn Sullivan, operated the family’s restaurant and bar until 2006, when they started quietly making plans to sell it, said Lay, who had just opened Prime Steakhouse in 2005 and then moved on to a partnership in Irish Kevin’s on Duval Street.

“Another well-known, local restaurant guy and I were bidding on La Tratt. I couldn’t go above $1.5 million and he outbid me by $100,000. So I thought it was over, and that I’d lost the chance,” Lay said. “Then Carmelo called me and asked me about my plans for the restaurant if I owned it. I told him my intention was to keep the whole staff. Apparently, the other bidder planned to get rid of everyone. So Carmelo said he’d sell it to me. I bought it in 2006 with partner Shaun McConnell.

“I’ll never forget how Carmelo willingly left 100 grand on the table for the sake of their workers. So I made a commitment to them to do the same,” Lay said.

And he has. Several members of the La Tratt staff have worked there for more than 20 years.

Lay also made longtime bartender Pip Kean an offer she couldn’t refuse when she didn’t know what her next role might be in the company.

“But I knew,” Lay said. “In January 2020, I made her a 10% owner.”

Attorney Darren Horan later replaced McConnell as partner, but Lay remains the operator. In 2010, the restaurant company expanded and opened La Trattoria Oceanside on South Roosevelt Boulevard.

“The big building that was Martha’s Steakhouse had been vacant for years, and was just sitting there,” Lay said. “Plus, I always had an ulterior motive. I wanted to start a catering company, but needed more space than I had downtown.”

La Trattoria Oceanside then opened in the front of the building and Catered Affairs of Key West opened in the back and is thriving today.

“My wife, Amy, gets all the credit for taking Catered Affairs to the next level,” Bill Lay said. “We’re just proud and honored and grateful to celebrate 40 years. Now we’re trying to make it to 50.”

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 83
Swift III. Above: Bill and Amy Lay of La Trattoria, La Trattoria Oceanside, Benihana, Virgilio's and Catered Affairs of Key West. Left: Virgilio Vitale’s daughter, Cinzia, and his brother Carmelo Vitale.

SLOPPY JOE’S DOCKSIDE @ THE PERRY HOTEL

7011 Shrimp Rd. | 786.862.6644 perrykeywest.com/eat-and-drink

SUN SUN @ THE CASA MARINA a Waldorf Astoria Resort 1500 Reynolds St. | 305.296.3535 casamarinaresort.com

WAHLBURGERS

700 Front St. | 305.433.2020

wahlburgers.com/keywest

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SINZ BURRITOS

500 Truman Ave. | unit 1 305.916.5920

sinzburritos.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SOUTHERNMOST BEACH CAFÉ

1405 Duval St. | 305.295.6550 southernmostbeachcafe.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

TAVERN N’ TOWN @ Marriott Beachside Hotel 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. 305.296.8100 tavernntown.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

TWO FRIENDS PATIO RESTAURANT

512 Front St. | 305.296.3124 twofriendskeywest.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SQUARE GROUPER BAR & GRILL

22658 Overseas Hwy.

Cudjoe Key, MM 22.5

305.745.8880

squaregrouperbarandgrill.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

VIRGILIO’S MARTINI BAR

524 Duval St. | 305.296.8118 latrattoria.us

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SCAN FOR FACEBOOK PAGE

WINE-O BAR & LOUNGE 430 Duval St. 305.280.0208

laconchakeywest.com

WHITE TARPON

700 Front St. | 305.851.2388

whitetarponkeywest.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

YELLOWFIN BAR & KITCHEN @ OCEANS EDGE RESORT & MARINA

5950 Peninsular Ave. 786.862.6305

oceansedgekeywest.com

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

SCAN FOR WEBSITE

84 KEYS Table SPRING 2023
|
Upper Keys, Marathon & Key West

PEDIATRIC

AVAILABLE IN KEY WEST

AVOID THE LONG DRIVE TO MIAMI AND HAVE ALL YOUR CHILDREN’S NEEDS MET RIGHT HERE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

Dr. Christina Smith DDS is now accepting new patients and is thrilled to be part of the 7-time Bubba Award-winning Doc Guzman’s o ce.

TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 85 CHANGING
2758 N. Roosevelt Blvd. (in the Overseas Market) • Key West 305.294.9914 • doc@docguzman.com • www.docguzman.com From le to
D.D.S,
D.M.D
D.M.D
D.M.D 2758 N. Roosevelt Blvd. (in the Overseas Market) • Key West 305.294.9914 • doc@docguzman.com • www.docguzman.com
LIVES ONE SMILE AT A TIME!
right: Dr. Hector Guzman
Dr. David McDonald
Dr. Natalia Vazquez-Marrero
and Dr. Oscar Rodriguez
DENTISTRY
86 KEYS IS YOUR FAMILY COMPLETE? CALL US FOR YOUR VASECTOMY CONSULTATION • $1,000 CASH for consultation and procedure • No scalpel vasectomies • In of ce • 20 minutes • Safe and effective 3714 N. Roosevelt Bvld. | Key West | 305.296.0000 | oridakeysurology.com BRUCE L. FARISS, M.D. 305.296.0000 Diplomate-Board of Urology Urology and Urologic Surgery OPEN TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY! 218 WHITEHEAD STREET #4 | KEY WEST PRIVATE SHOPPING PARTIES BY RESERVATION KIRBYSCLOSET.COM FOR MORE INFO EXCELLENT CONDITION PRE-LOVED & NEW WOMEN’S CLOTHING NOW CARRYING RETAIL LINES NEVER FULLY DRESSED, FLYING TOMATO & MATISSE SHOES FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @KIRBYSCLOSETKW @FRANKIEKEYWEST DRESS FROM OUR RETAIL LINE
TROPICAL LIVING | keysweekly.com 87 526 ANGELA STREET | GARDENSHOTEL.COM | 305.294.2661 JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SUNDAYS 5-7:30PM CABARET MON-SAT 5-7PM 20% OFF WINE BOTTLE PURCHASES THE LARGEST & MOST TRUSTED PROFESSIONALLY CONDUCTED ESTATE & MOVING SALES IN THE FLORIDA KEYS SINCE 1997 SusiesKeyWestEstateSales.net We LOVE what we do it shows in our work! − Susie Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. (305) 294-0102 11:30 AM – 10 PM 629 Duval St, Key West Serving Ipswich Whole Bellied Clams & Maine Lobster When you’re on Long Island be sure to visit our new location in Wantagh. Call ahead for Daily Specials 516-900-1400.

FAMILY FOOD & FUN

LIVE MUSIC DAILY 5-8PM COME CHECK OUT THE FURY VR GAME! Join us daily 4-6pm for $3 small plates, domestic drafts, wine & liquor!

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.