Below is a roundup of other places in the Florida Keys where we enjoyed meals, and I'm going to include even places I’ve already presented in previous posts so that all the dining options we have visited are all in one post.
Sadly, I should report that several of these are no longer in operation. In all of those cases, Hurricane Irma in September 2017 made rebuilding and reopening prohibitive for the owners of the affected establishments.
When we weren’t dining in, we sampled seafood most of the time. But my favorite on the trips to the Keys was the smoked prime rib at Sunset Grille and Raw Bar, 7 Knights Key Boulevard, where we enjoyed two visits there in January 2017 and another in February 2018. When we arrived the first time, we learned that Tuesdays were barbecue night.
We stopped there twice, both during the second week in the Keys in 2017, and each time Lee Ann had a version of their blackened fish — even though she is not a fan of blackened/spicy foods. But she found the blackened mahi sandwich on one trip and blackened grilled mahi with grilled onions on another to her liking. The latter meal is pictured above right.
We’d also come across melon liqueur in a mixed cocktail I sampled at the tiki bar on the beach at the Hilton Key Largo. The drink had coconut rum, melon liqueur and pineapple juice and really hit the spot for us relaxing in the shaded semi-private cove along the beach there. Both times I ate at the Tarpon Creek eatery I tried a local craft beer, since the Tarpon had a nice selection of brews on tap. I really loved the IPA (pictured at left) that I had on my first visit, much more than the lager I drank on the second visit.
Our very first meal out during the 2017 trip to the Keys was at the Key Fisheries Market and Marina (above), 3502 Gulfview Ave., which is situated near 35th Street north/east of the Hammocks resort where we stayed. It was among several places recommended by other guests staying at the Hammocks.
Lee Ann raved about her lobster Reuben sandwich (right), whose recipe was true to a traditional Reuben except for substituting lobster for corned beef.
I was intrigued, too, by the novelty, but in the spirit of wanting to try something different, I had a fried mahi sandwich (left), which came with french fries (the Reuben did not). I drank a rum punch with my meal (pictured next to the sandwich and again two photos below), and we shared a slice of key lime pie for dessert (below).
When we got to Lazy Days South, 725 11th Street Ocean, after our sunset catamaran cruise on Jan. 18, the sun had set and total darkness was about 15 minutes away. That helps explain why the lights are on around the exterior in the photo above. Lazy Days South is adjacent to where our catamaran captain docks his vessel, Sirius, so it seemed a logical choice to check out the place when the cruise was over; it had been among the recommendations locals and fellow guests at the Hammocks resort gave us when we solicited ideas for dining out when we first arrived.
We were not hungry enough for a full dinner, so we munched on a few appetizers — a mixed plate of shrimp (above left) and scallops (below) and four potato skins (above right) and washed them down with drinks.
Another of the pleasant surprises we came upon during our trip to the Keys was Leigh Ann’s Coffee House, which Lee Ann felt we were compelled to check out ... if only because of the name of the cafe!
You can imagine her delight when we found the coffees there very good, and our breakfasts of eggs benedict (above left) excellent. On the first of two visits, we also ordered a raspberry croissant (above right). It, too, was tasty. That particular day, we also were entitled to a free mimosa (left) with out order.
Leigh Anne’s also served beer and wine, although the latter — from a quick look of the shop's inventory — clearly makes it apparent that wine is something they take more seriously than beer. Leigh Ann’s held wine tastings on certain nights, although we did not make it over there for any of those. You can get an idea of the eatery’s decor from the six photos of the interior below.
Barnacle Barney’s Tiki Bar and Gill is the poolside and shoreline hangout on the grounds of the Hammocks resort in Marathon, 1688 Overseas Highway, where we stayed for both visits (2017 and 2018) to the Keys.
The first place we dined at when we reached Key West was Sloppy Joe’s, at 201 Duval St. Sloppy Joe’s was the favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway during his nine years on the island. It was early afternoon Jan. 17, 2017, when we first visited it, and the eatery no doubt was in the throes of its heavy lunch-hour traffic. We felt fortunate to get a table at all, much less where we did. We had a nice view of Brian Roberts, the live entertainment for the day (as illustrated in the photo above).
Our server ended up being the guy working an auxiliary bar adjacent to our table. He was a busy man, so we got what we felt was minimum attention, but neither of us faulted him. We could see he had something to do at all times. We started with tropical mixed drinks (right), and I don't quite remember what they were. Mine was the one on the right, and I remember liking it more than the one Lee Ann ordered.
For food, Lee Ann felt adventuresome and tried the namesake Sloppy Joe’s sandwich (above left). She liked it a lot. I went with a blackened mahi sandwich on sourdough bread (right). It was so good that I’m sure it’s why I turned to it a lot during my visit to the Keys later on. Lee Ann and I shared a basket of french fries. During the meal, Brian Roberts, the entertainer, came over to our corner of the stage, and when he saw me lift my phone to take a picture, he kindly posed (first below). During a break later, he sat at the bar where our server was based, and a small puppy joined him on his lap (second below).
Above: A wall of various still images of “Papa” Hemingway on the wall behind and near our table.
A sign (above left) hanging from the ceiling of Sloppy Joe’s promoted the five mixed drink “Coolies,” a 16-ounce beverage it sells to customers for $12 (or $9.25 for refills) who are looking for something to carry out with them. The price includes the container. I decided to take one with me when we left, and at the recommendation of our server, I chose the Pain in the Ass option. It was delightful!
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Cafe and Store (above), 500 Duval St., are side by side along Duval Street. The decor was about what I was expecting — heavily on the “chill/relax” theme using a large amount of wood to visually sedate the soul. I was still in my seafood mode when we stopped in for lunch the afternoon of Jan. 19, so I had a blackened mahi sandwich with fries (left), while Lee Ann went with a Cuban sandwich (right), a mix of ham and pulled pork on sourdough bun that we first discovered a few months ago when we visited the Mug in Greenfield, Ind. We both liked our sandwiches.
We both also opted for large mixed drinks in plastic glasses that we could carry around with us when we left the restaurant (in Key West, our sever at Sloppy Joe’s had told us two days earlier that it’s legal to carry and consume alcoholic beverages outdoors anywhere in public places as long as the beverage is in a plastic container — and as long as the beverage drinker is clothed (I’m serious). I don’t recall what Lee Ann got in her plastic container (she thinks it was some version of a pina colada), but I got a margarita in mine (right). It seemed appropriate that a person ought to try a margarita the first time he/she visits a place called Margaritaville, and the one I ordered was made with real lime juice. I finished mine before we left the cafe, so I ordered one to go. Lee Ann did not.
MARATHON
SUNSET GRILLE AND RAW BAR
When we weren’t dining in, we sampled seafood most of the time. But my favorite on the trips to the Keys was the smoked prime rib at Sunset Grille and Raw Bar, 7 Knights Key Boulevard, where we enjoyed two visits there in January 2017 and another in February 2018. When we arrived the first time, we learned that Tuesdays were barbecue night. There were several traditional barbecue items on the barbecue specials menu, including ribs, pulled pork and chicken. By this time, into our second week in the Keys, I’d eaten a lot of fish, so I eagerly veered from the seafood menu and went with the prime rib because I’ve never had a smoked version of it before. And boy, it was out ... of ... this ... world ... delicious, perhaps the best prime rib I’ve ever had. Lee Ann had the grilled scallops (not among the barbecue specials), garlic smashed potatoes and vegetables, and she enjoyed her meal as well. Our plates are pictured above.
We visited the Sunset twice on our trip to the Keys in 2017. The first time was to dine and watch the sunset. After I finished my prime rib, Lee Ann left the table briefly, and while she was gone, I had an experience I won’t soon forget. Gulls flew over our unprotected table (unless most customers who were seated outdoors, we didn’t have an umbrella at our table, as shown in the pictures below, all of which were taken in or of the eatery’s outdoor seating area and pool). Apparently after doing appropriate surveillance, one gull finally had the nerve to swoop down and try to grab morsels from Lee Ann’s plate (she hadn’t finished her meal), knocking over her mixed drink in the process.
I didn’t see it actually make the dive, so when it did, I was very startled. I quickly looked around for a Sunset staffer to summon for help and couldn’t find one right away. The gull swept down again, and this time I got up and grabbed a staffer and asked them to put an umbrella on our table. They did, and that proved to put an end to the gull’s daring. All of this happened before Lee Ann returned; she missed all the drama.
We were at the Sunset for two sunsets, but the first was partially obscured by clouds, and the second — after a beautiful view of the early portion — was totally obscured by clouds for the last 10 minutes and through the disappearance. You can see an example of the obscured sphere in one of the pictures below.
TARPON CREEK BAR AND GRILL
The Tarpon Creek Bar and Grill in Marathon (above) was a pleasant surprise for us. Unfortunately for the eatery, it was hidden behind the Holiday Inn Express off U.S. 1 (the Overseas Highway), but we found it using our phone GPS applications.
We stopped there twice, both during the second week in the Keys in 2017, and each time Lee Ann had a version of their blackened fish — even though she is not a fan of blackened/spicy foods. But she found the blackened mahi sandwich on one trip and blackened grilled mahi with grilled onions on another to her liking. The latter meal is pictured above right. On both of my visits, I tried a mahi sandwich — the first time it was simple fried mahi, the second, which was listed as a special for the day, was a thicker, beer-battered mahi. Both were good, although I preferred the meatier one on the second visit.
Each time we dined at Tarpon Creek, Lee Ann had a tropical mixed drink that used a melon liqueur as a key ingredient (below right).
We’d also come across melon liqueur in a mixed cocktail I sampled at the tiki bar on the beach at the Hilton Key Largo. The drink had coconut rum, melon liqueur and pineapple juice and really hit the spot for us relaxing in the shaded semi-private cove along the beach there. Both times I ate at the Tarpon Creek eatery I tried a local craft beer, since the Tarpon had a nice selection of brews on tap. I really loved the IPA (pictured at left) that I had on my first visit, much more than the lager I drank on the second visit.Below is a shot of the Tarpon’s interior from our table along the water. Sadly, the eatery shut down after Hurricane Irma in September 2017. Currently occupying the building is Sparky’s Landing Fish n Cocktails.
KEY FISHERIES MARKET AND MARINA
Lee Ann raved about her lobster Reuben sandwich (right), whose recipe was true to a traditional Reuben except for substituting lobster for corned beef.I was intrigued, too, by the novelty, but in the spirit of wanting to try something different, I had a fried mahi sandwich (left), which came with french fries (the Reuben did not). I drank a rum punch with my meal (pictured next to the sandwich and again two photos below), and we shared a slice of key lime pie for dessert (below).
LAZY DAYS SOUTH
When we got to Lazy Days South, 725 11th Street Ocean, after our sunset catamaran cruise on Jan. 18, the sun had set and total darkness was about 15 minutes away. That helps explain why the lights are on around the exterior in the photo above. Lazy Days South is adjacent to where our catamaran captain docks his vessel, Sirius, so it seemed a logical choice to check out the place when the cruise was over; it had been among the recommendations locals and fellow guests at the Hammocks resort gave us when we solicited ideas for dining out when we first arrived.We were not hungry enough for a full dinner, so we munched on a few appetizers — a mixed plate of shrimp (above left) and scallops (below) and four potato skins (above right) and washed them down with drinks.
LEIGH ANN’S COFFEE HOUSE
Another of the pleasant surprises we came upon during our trip to the Keys was Leigh Ann’s Coffee House, which Lee Ann felt we were compelled to check out ... if only because of the name of the cafe!
You can imagine her delight when we found the coffees there very good, and our breakfasts of eggs benedict (above left) excellent. On the first of two visits, we also ordered a raspberry croissant (above right). It, too, was tasty. That particular day, we also were entitled to a free mimosa (left) with out order.Leigh Anne’s also served beer and wine, although the latter — from a quick look of the shop's inventory — clearly makes it apparent that wine is something they take more seriously than beer. Leigh Ann’s held wine tastings on certain nights, although we did not make it over there for any of those. You can get an idea of the eatery’s decor from the six photos of the interior below.
Sadly, Leigh Ann’s sustained so much damage from Hurricane Irma in September 2017 that it elected to shut down permanently. We really missed it on our return visit in February 2018.
The exterior of Leigh Ann's (above) post-Hurricane Irma in September 2017, which we came across on the return visit in February 2018. Below is a closeup of the roof damage.
BARNACLE BARNEY'S TIKI BAR AND GRILL
Barnacle Barney’s Tiki Bar and Gill is the poolside and shoreline hangout on the grounds of the Hammocks resort in Marathon, 1688 Overseas Highway, where we stayed for both visits (2017 and 2018) to the Keys. Barney’s is a cozy place (it has a bar and very modest seating area) with a decent food menu, although we never had a full meal there. It’s one huge drawback — and to me, it's a significant one — is that the operators do not hold a three-way liquor license; their alcoholic beverage license is for beer and wine only.
I don’t know for sure why that is, but guests told me that they made a formal inquiry and were told the operators — the same people who run the boat rental and charter business next door (which is no longer there today) — felt the full liquor license was too expensive.
I don’t know for sure why that is, but guests told me that they made a formal inquiry and were told the operators — the same people who run the boat rental and charter business next door (which is no longer there today) — felt the full liquor license was too expensive. Lee Ann and I patronized Barney’s a few times while we were there, but I think we would have spent more time and money there if there had been mixed tropical drinks to imbibe. I include two pictures of the french fries Lee Ann and I tried one afternoon when we spent the day relaxing after a long day in Key West. The french fries were strongly recommended by other guests, and it was a good recommendation. This came after our night at Barney’s two days previous, when we munched on some fried calamari (we did not care for it; it was too rubbery/chewy, which has been a common fault of calamari orders at many eateries we’ve experienced). But we did enjoy the live entertainment that evening by local performer Dan Sullivan (below). Barney’s has live entertainment five nights a week.
Each time I visited Barney’s, I ordered a draft of Islamadora IPA, the product of a local craft brewery named for Islamadora Village in the northern Keys. It was very good. On her first visit, during a happy hour, Lee Ann tried a Sangria spritzer and liked it. When she ordered Sangria the second time we went there — and thought she had ordered the spritzer again — they brought her a glass of Sangria (no spritzer). When she mentioned this to the server, the server graciously replaced her drink with a spritzer. Lee Ann stuck to ice tea for our few other visits.
Above and two below: Views of the gulf from Barnacle Barney’s Tiki Bar.
Each time I visited Barney’s, I ordered a draft of Islamadora IPA, the product of a local craft brewery named for Islamadora Village in the northern Keys. It was very good. On her first visit, during a happy hour, Lee Ann tried a Sangria spritzer and liked it. When she ordered Sangria the second time we went there — and thought she had ordered the spritzer again — they brought her a glass of Sangria (no spritzer). When she mentioned this to the server, the server graciously replaced her drink with a spritzer. Lee Ann stuck to ice tea for our few other visits.
KEY WEST
SLOPPY JOE’S
The first place we dined at when we reached Key West was Sloppy Joe’s, at 201 Duval St. Sloppy Joe’s was the favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway during his nine years on the island. It was early afternoon Jan. 17, 2017, when we first visited it, and the eatery no doubt was in the throes of its heavy lunch-hour traffic. We felt fortunate to get a table at all, much less where we did. We had a nice view of Brian Roberts, the live entertainment for the day (as illustrated in the photo above).
Our server ended up being the guy working an auxiliary bar adjacent to our table. He was a busy man, so we got what we felt was minimum attention, but neither of us faulted him. We could see he had something to do at all times. We started with tropical mixed drinks (right), and I don't quite remember what they were. Mine was the one on the right, and I remember liking it more than the one Lee Ann ordered. 
For food, Lee Ann felt adventuresome and tried the namesake Sloppy Joe’s sandwich (above left). She liked it a lot. I went with a blackened mahi sandwich on sourdough bread (right). It was so good that I’m sure it’s why I turned to it a lot during my visit to the Keys later on. Lee Ann and I shared a basket of french fries. During the meal, Brian Roberts, the entertainer, came over to our corner of the stage, and when he saw me lift my phone to take a picture, he kindly posed (first below). During a break later, he sat at the bar where our server was based, and a small puppy joined him on his lap (second below).
Above and below: More examples of decor in the restaurant.
MARGARITAVILLE CAFE
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Cafe and Store (above), 500 Duval St., are side by side along Duval Street. The decor was about what I was expecting — heavily on the “chill/relax” theme using a large amount of wood to visually sedate the soul. I was still in my seafood mode when we stopped in for lunch the afternoon of Jan. 19, so I had a blackened mahi sandwich with fries (left), while Lee Ann went with a Cuban sandwich (right), a mix of ham and pulled pork on sourdough bun that we first discovered a few months ago when we visited the Mug in Greenfield, Ind. We both liked our sandwiches. 
We both also opted for large mixed drinks in plastic glasses that we could carry around with us when we left the restaurant (in Key West, our sever at Sloppy Joe’s had told us two days earlier that it’s legal to carry and consume alcoholic beverages outdoors anywhere in public places as long as the beverage is in a plastic container — and as long as the beverage drinker is clothed (I’m serious). I don’t recall what Lee Ann got in her plastic container (she thinks it was some version of a pina colada), but I got a margarita in mine (right). It seemed appropriate that a person ought to try a margarita the first time he/she visits a place called Margaritaville, and the one I ordered was made with real lime juice. I finished mine before we left the cafe, so I ordered one to go. Lee Ann did not. 
KEY LARGO
TREETOPS GRILLE AND BAR
I presented this information and most of the photos for Treetops in the earlier post on Key Largo. But I decided to repeat it here so all of the dining places were together in one post.
Leading off the post are our meals from our only night of dinner at the Treetops Bar and Grille in the Hilton Hotel at Key Largo. And as I mentioned in that previous post, the Hilton has been extensively remodeled and renamed since we were there. Today it is the Baker’s Cay Resort, 97000 Overseas Highway, and the dining amenity there now is Calusa, specializing in Caribbean cuisine.
For our dinner at the hotel, I had the blackened mahi (left in the lead-ff photo), which I had several times in the Keys at different places. It came with asparagus and a rice chutney, and Lee Ann went with the grilled scallops with rice chutney and vegetables (right in the lead-off photo). We had an excellent server, who coaxed us into taking a slice of key lime pie (right) back to our room with us to enjoy later in the evening or even the next day.
The next morning, we took in the Treetops’ brunch buffet, and both of us had made-to-order omelets. Lee Ann’s had spinach, bacon, cheddar cheese and green and red peppers (below, right); I limited mine to ham, tomatoes and cheddar cheese (below, left). The two large photos immediately below those are our plates with other items from the buffet. My only regret is sampling the small, belgium-stylle waffle (in the first photo below). It was dry and unappetizing.
Not long after we stayed at the Key Largo Hilton, the resort was closed for a period of time while undergoing extensive renovation. It eventually reopened as the Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection of hotels.
The Treetops’ dining room is shown above. The first three shots below are interior shots elsewhere of the former Hilton Key Largo, followed by shots of the outdoor pool and waterfall separating the adults-only pool (pictured) from the general-use pool.
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