Key West recommendations 2008?
Stopping here briefly in Feb 2008 (yes, a cruise), but I like great fresh local interesting well-prepared non-touristy food.
I was in Key West about 7 years ago (my impression was that its special character had been severely damaged by the cruise ships...ironic, yes I know)...
Can anyone recommend good eating spots? The latest posts on CH seem to be about 5 years old...
Thanks!
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I've been looking today as well and found this thread that is helpful
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/456517
Additional recent threads
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/467834http://www.chowhound.com/topics/347893
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/463857
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/456743
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/469816Composite link from threads if super lazy...
Dinner
http://www.latrattoria.us/key-west-restaurants-home.html
http://www.aliceskeywest.com/
http://www.squareonerestaurant.com/
http://www.michaelskeywest.com/
http://www.louiesbackyard.com/
http://www.antoniaskeywest.com/index.html
http://www.7fish.com/
http://www.915duval.com/
http://www.operarestaurant.com/
http://www.pisceskeywest.com/
http://www.azurkeywest.com/Breakfast
http://blueheavenkw.homestead.com/Blue_Heaven_Restaurant_Key_West.html
http://www.camilleskeywest.com/Lunch
http://www.hogfishbar.com/
http://www.schoonerwharf.com/Is there a must do from the dinner list? Did I miss any? I'm planning on trying Van Aken's Tavern N Town one night. 7Fish looks good.
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re: Suzie
"Van Aken's restaurant has two identities. Tavern opened late last year with a full menu that includes tapas. Town, scheduled to open about mid-February, will cater to guests seeking an exquisite culinary adventure in world-class fine dining. Tavern N Town's wine director is Bruno Leboucher, who garnered Wine Spectator's award of excellence in 2005 and 2006 for Norman's Coral Gables. "
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re: Suzie
Just returned from Key West and did not have one bad meal thanks to the recommendations made by the Hounds.
I highly recommend the following
Banana Cafe for breakfast (wife loved the crepes)
Hogfish Bar and Grill for lunch (great spot over on Stock Island with awesome hogfish sandwiches)
Alice's for dinner. What a great place. Creative upscale food in a casual Key West setting. Flavor combinations really worked. Wife loved the passion salad w/shrimp which was made with a passion fruit vinaigrette. She didn't want to share any of it but I was able to grab a couple of bites and it was tasty. The yellowtail with brown butter and capers was also excellent. The fish was super fresh, cooked perfectly and seasoned well. Really a great dish. The only negative was the length of dinner. Painfully long even for a vacation dinner in Key West. Close to 2.5 hours. We didn't complain at all but the waiter apologized a couple of times and gave us a complimentary dessert which was a classy move and appreciated.
Not sure why Tavern N Town is receiving bad reviews. **To date, no reviews on Chowhound. I read a couple of negative comments on Tripadvisor mostly about the service. They are unwarranted. The restaurant was packed and the service was perfect. Our waiter was polished and well trained.
The room is very sophisticated with an open kitchen and large bar area.
Food was excellent. Standout dish was the mixed roasted beet salad. I was looking forward to trying the conch salad but they had no conch (strange to hear when you are in the keys but I realize they ship it in) so I opted for the grilled shrimp, chorizo and grits. Combo worked well together. The yellowtail was also very good. Awesome key lime pie. Good selection of wines at various price points.On the way home we stopped off at Hungry Tarpon at MM 77.5. Great place. Outstanding dolphin sandwich.
Wish I had time to try B.O.'s Fish Wagon and 7Fish. Looking forward to returning.
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