At the recommendation of my daughter, my wife and I had lunch at Caroline's during our recent Key West cruise stop. Caroline's it not fancy - it's pure Key West. And the food is decent. But, for my wife who is Gluten Free, they scored big points by going above and beyond. She ordered a dish that had plantains, and was disappointed to hear the plantains weren't gluten free. She has been GF for years, and has become accustomed to being disappointed with what she can't have. Imagine her delight (joy!) when they brought over plantains prepared GF - just for her!!! That made her so happy - service like that isn't common these days. VERY well done, Caroline's !!!! And thank you!!! read more

We ordered a variety from seared tin sesame ahi tuna-which was some perfectly, mahi sandwich -good amount of fish but just a little dry and the jambalaya which was the best I ever had! The service was timely and friendly. The ambiance was nice with an outside patio and shopping nearby. The negative was the pigeons that were over abundant and invasive. read more

Nice friendly place on Duval. Stopped for a snack... couple of appys and drinks. Good pour and hot and tasty starters. Fair pricing. Also, if you like front row seat to watch the people parade, there are seats facing Duval read more

I met up with a few friends at Caroline's for a pre-wedding brunch and was impressed with the food but there was a lot to be desired regarding service. I was running a bit behind and after I arrived I noticed that the people I joined were still waiting for service. We were seated on the patio on a quite lovely day so we weren't pressed. We were able to order a bit after I arrived and we had to remind the waitress of additional things we ordered when the items started to arrive. She was very nice and apologetic for the issues. Despite the service deficiencies, the food and drinks were quite nice and tasty. I would recommend this restaurant but pack your patience if you visit at a busy time. read more

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We always make it a point to stop at Caroline's and sit at the rail by the street for some lunch. Service is always fast and friendly and the food is good. The Cuban Sandwich was very good. The Lettuce Wraps were good as well (the noodles were just very spicy and not the crispy style we were used to). read more

Caroline's - Cuban Mix Sandwich - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

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We sat at the bar table facing Duval St and it could not have been more Key West! It was so much fun to people watch while having some drinks and apps. The drinks were small but tasty and the appetizers were delish! Conch fritters and bruschetta, YUM! The bartender tending the front bar was amazing and very attentive - I don't remember her name. It was a quick visit but definitely a great place to soak up the Key West vibe. read more

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First impressions are worth a thousand words, as we were walking around Duval street a nice lady asked hungry? The wife and I decided to stop in and give it a shot. First recommendation I can make is to try the crazy lady beer if that's your thing, it came as a recommended beer from the waitress and I thought it was delicious. Next, the food, we ordered a Cobb and the turkey club and both were extraordinary. Given the area we thought it would a run of the mill tourist quick eats place but we were pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and quality of the food. read more

Caroline's - Cobb Salad and Turkey Club Sandwhich - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

Had a quick lunch of a few appetizers and cold Surfsides. Matter of convenience; nothing special or memorable. Get a table near Duval to "people watch" read more

After riding our bikes all morning, we lunched at Caroline's. The service was attentive, the food was delicious! The hubby ordered a huge burger, which they cooked to perfection (medium) and I got the Cuban sandwich. It was tasty, but a little dry. Their golden margaritas were delicious! read more

We had a Cuban sandwich with a chicken Cobb salad. It was pretty good but not spectacular. The location is amazing, right on Duvall. Service was nice and ambience was casual. read more

Caroline's - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

Bartender provided amazing service. The food has gone down hill. Both my wings and my wife's fish were so overcooked. The wings were crispy all the way to the bone. The fish was so dry and hard. It wasnt busy at all. Only a few tables plus the bar. We used to love going there but we'll pass on the food next time. read more

Caroline's - Overcooked wings. Bartender was great - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

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**Pre hurricane 2024 season visit review. So, we were too tired to go anywhere for dinner after a day at the Dry Tortugas. We ended up ordering to-go food from here. My friend enjoyed her food for the most part. It had a little too much spice for her, but that is a personal preference. I chose a veggie quesadilla as my meal. Unfortunately, it was not good. The cheese was oozing out of my quesadilla and the pieces had ended up becoming stuck together because of it. It was also very soggy. After finally being able to separate one piece from the pile without taking too much of the tortilla shell off of another piece, that one piece was dripping like there was a lot of excess oil that they cooked it in with which was now leaking out of it. I only ate one piece before I gave up. 02.03.2025 read more

Caroline's - The idea of this was better than the execution. 28.07.2024 - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

Nice setting right on Duvall Street with chickens and roosters meandering around. We popped in for a snack around 4pm to have the peel and eat shrimp. I had no idea they would be ice cold...so if you are thinking they are served hot; they are not. The cocktail sauce was very cold, like I was thinking it would be possibly frozen in the center. After the initial surprise that they were ice cold, they tasted just fine. Our server was nice. Nothing extraordinary as he even said "it had been a long day". I had been here before on another trip and we had dinner in the evening and it was much better. read more

Caroline's - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Pretty good food here abut what really stood out was the service. Everyone was really friendly and just nice and attentive. The manager came over multiple times to check in and offer any assistance. Food selection was diverse and the options were worth the price! The chicken pasta was light and full of veggies which I loved, and the orange lemonade was refreshing! Would definitely come back there again! read more

The Fish Sandwich was the BEST sandwich I've ever eaten! It was tender and flakey and was amazing with the sauce. The service was great and it had very good ambiance. I would come every day if I could and HIGHLY recommend it. read more

The food was good, nice and casual ambiance, location is great, and our waitress was okay. Overall, it was a good experience but also nothing to rave about. read more

Caroline's - Blackened chicken sandwich - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

Stopped in for a lunch and easily seated at a fun table overlooking Duval St. Key line mojito was BOMB. However, beer sadly was not cold which was very disappointing. Cuban sandwich was solid and fries were good. Tuna salad was delicious, however my family was unimpressed with the southwestern chicken salad. Very bland dressing with cold chunks of plain chicken. Friendly service and fun atmosphere but definitely not the best food we've had in key west! read more

Caroline's - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

What fun to have dinner at Caroline's! After the previous times that we have been in Key West, we vowed to come back to eat here. Everyone was always having fun there. It's a lively place and we were in the mood to have fun. It's very trendy, casual, lively, and touristy with good food and drinks. They are a Carribean restaurant fusing flavors of Key West. I have met people from all over the world in Key West on Duval Street. Caroline's is located right in the heart of Duval St. We were hungry after the driving and sightseeing earlier. Our server was Lizzy, a very nice and friendly lady. I asked about the Cajun Jambalaya dish and she said it wasn't very spicy. I cannot eat spicy food! So, of course, I ordered it upon her say-so about it not bring spicy. Holy cow, I took one bite and it almost knocked me out from the hot spiciness! We called Lizzy over and told her. She took the order off the bill but I couldn't eat anything after that. My daughter ordered the Shrimp Quesadillas and she was very happy with her dish. I took a bite of hers and it was very good. We passed on dessert and drinks. I'm sorry to say that the service was very slow. Maybe because it was busier than usual, I don't know. Just be ready to spend a little extra time there. There is only street parking and that us hard to get. We walked from our hotel. There is so much to see that you don't even notice how far you've walked. We would definitely go back to Caroline's. read more

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Very good lunch spot. Outdoor seating, nice staff, good southern food. Shrimp po boy was excellent as was the chicken tender/ nugget salad. It's all pretty heavy but very well done. read more

Had a blast in the evening here. Great drinks, and love the outside seating. Waiter was fast and had great wit. The egg roll appetizer was my favorite and bone in wings were even better. Good stop along Duvall. read more

Caroline's - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

Unfortunately, our experience here for dinner was not very great. We were seated at a different table and asked to move to be closer to the street and in front of a fan, and the worker didn't seem pleased to accommodate. It was a pretty empty restaurant so not like we asked during a busy time! Eventually ordered and the blackened chicken pasta lacked the flavor we were hoping for, and the chicken wasn't blackened, more of a grilled chicken. We had the burger, which was definitely a huge amount of meat, but the fries were disappointing. Our waiter was fine, so no qualms about the service but the food just wasn't what we were hoping for. I think there's probably better places on Duvall Street. read more

Best service in long time. Had ice tea and it was kept full. We just had an appetizer snack to share - the Tex-Mex rolls. Loved them, great flavor and served with fresh salsa. read more

Caroline's - Tex mex rolls - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

Caroline's cafe is great spot right in the heart of Duval street. Relaxing outdoor lunch spot in the shade with the occasional rooster visit. The vibe is so fun after sundown too, definitely stop by for a drink and a laugh! The food was delicious and freshly prepared. We ordered the wings which were perfectly hot and crispy. The Cuban sandwich is a must try, very flavorful. The service is also impeccable. Gretchen is an absolute gem, and the managers check in regularly to be sure you have the best experience. read more

Caroline's - Caroline's Salad Chicken Wings - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

All the food was excellent! The atmosphere was great and the location to watch people excellent!

Shrimp Po boy and mojitos you can not go wrong . If you want something a little spicy try the blackened chicken sandwich.The service is quick the wait staff is great Natalie is amazing her recommendations were on point. Seating is out doors. The cool breeze at night in February is lovely. I would definitely come b read more

Caroline's - Shrimp Po Boy, fries and Mojitos - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

Service was great. Very attentive to the guests and what we needed. The place is very nice and clean. Well lit and just good vibes. We got the tex mex rolls which were delicious. To start and so cocktails. Rum Runners and the Key Lime Punch. The down part was they were overly sweet. Not much alcohol in them at all. More juice than what was needed. The food was excellent, the others ordered the pork bowl which looked good. I ordered the Blackened Chicken Pasta which was delicious. They said theirs was very good. The key lime pie was good, but not the best we had in Key West. read more

Caroline's - Key lime punch drink and the Blackened Chicken Pasta - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

First time here I was getting off cruise ship and stumbled across Caroline's. Now every time I come to Key West I visit Caroline's. It's outdoors but has lots of fans to keep you cool. The staff is so friendly and the food is fantastic. Get the fish sandwich, you won't be disappointed!! read more

Caroline's - Wings - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Another great visit on Duval! This spot never disappoints. Kelly was our server and he was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. We started with the dolphin fingers with key lime tartar ($15) -- crispy, fresh, and the tartar sauce had the perfect tang. For entrées, the fresh catch of the day, blackened triple tail snapper ($28), was excellent -- cooked just right and served with a fresh side salad and broccoli. The sesame tuna with wasabi ($17) was another standout, full of flavor and beautifully prepared. We grabbed a rail-side seat, our favorite spot, and soaked in the Duval Street energy while enjoying fresh seafood. We've been here many times, and it always delivers great food, great service, and that laid-back Key West vibe. Definitely one of our go-to spots! read more

We've been here a number of times for lunch and are never disappointed. Great spot for people watching right on the Duval strip. Drinks are great, the staff are very professional and the food is certainly good. You are seated promptly and there is never any major wait for a table. This last time we enjoyed the Rum Punch (yummy), the Southwestern Chicken Salad, the Dolphin Fingers and the Peel & Eat Shrimp - all were fantastic (check out the pics). If you are looking for a very good lunch spot in KW, please give them a try. read more

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This is a true Conch Fritter and salads type of outside Key West restaurant and a full liquor tiki bar with great rum runners which I had a delish one. Great chill relaxed vibe here. Ordered the Dolphin Fish Sandwich for $17.00 which was fresh and tasty. Bathrooms were clean too. read more

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We're just in Key West for the day and picked Caroline's for a Cuban sandwich for lunch. We got the fried fish sandwich and a Cuban sandwich. Both were delicious. Check out the picture of the fish sandwich-- huge! They came with fries. We each had a speciality cocktail. The service was excellent. Our food was delivered quickly and was piping hot. The seating is open air but covered and they have multiple fans and misters. read more

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Ambiance & service was good but food wasn't much to brag about. The bruschetta was the best part. I had a jambalaya and hubby had the pork bowl. read more

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We stopped by Caroline's with the intent of ordering just apps and drinks but the Broccolini chicken caught my husband's eye and we settled on an early dinner instead. My husband said his dish was probably the best chicken broccoli Alfredo he's ever had. I ordered the Macon and Bacon salad. I was stuffed halfway through but kept eating because it was so, so good! Service was great-we were seated quickly and perfectly positioned along the railing which makes for some interesting people watching! The Key Lime Punch is the best drink I've had so far this trip! Even my double Captain and Coke only husband said "damn, that's REALLY good!" and continued to steal sips the whole time we were there. I plan on grabbing another one tonight as we walk and enjoy the sights and sounds of the area. Definitely add Caroline's to your list! read more

Caroline's - Key Lime Punch - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

Stopped here after doing the Hemingway house tour. It started pouring and we got to enjoy our food after hop scotching to a table under the big tent. I ordered the fish sandwich and my wife had the shrimp blt. The food was amazing, well prepared, the fish not oily and well seasoned. Portion size was very generous. We ordered the key lime for desert and our waiter, Jaime very generously refilled our water bottles. This is a great place for food. read more

Caroline's - Caroline's Fish Sandwich. - American Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Fantastic lunch at Caroline's! Broad selection off sandwiches. I went with the Famous Fish sandwich - monster piece of fish, crunchy on outside while moist yet flaky on the inside.My wife had the Shrimp Club and loved it! Nice outdoor setting overlooking Duval St. Full bar, canned beer only. Service was great. read more

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Out of all the many food places to stop at when walking down the main drag of Key West this was the winning menu for us. I'd been searching for a Cuban sandwich all day and when this came up we went for it! It has a great vibe; A cute little raised patio area where you can watch all the street action. It's nice and covered from all the weather and just a great atmosphere with nice servers. The menu isn't too big but they have some really great standard items and some with their own special touch added like the famous fish sandwich that my husband had. The piece of breaded and fried fish between those buns was huge! It made for two meals which isn't common with my hubby. The fries were yummy too. I had the Cuban sandwich which was exactly how I like it: not overly stuffed and just the right amount of flavor from the mustard but not overpowering and just the right amount of pickles. Yum! It was a great meal and the atmosphere made it that much more enjoyable. Not to mention the water was really good hey, when all you drink is water when you go out, you become kind of an expert. read more

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Table overlooking duval. Nothing fancy, food was delicious, service was good. Recommended for lunch.

I'm not even joking when I say Caroline's might have the best fish sandwich I have EVER had in my life. The swai is light and flaky and perfectly breaded. I enjoyed it so much I dined here 2 days in a row just to have it again! read more

Came in for dinner and sat at the bar area facing the street and watched the people walk by. So fun. The cheesecake was so delicious and the drinks were pretty good. read more

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We stopped in after a few hours of exploring and we were starving. It was a busy day in Key West but we were able to get a great table and they quickly served us some ice cold water which we appreciated. Food: we ordered a fish sandwich, the shrimp poboy, and the pasta. The portions for the fish sandwich and shrimp poboy were huge! I got to try both and they were filling, perfectly crisp, and would pair well with a cold beer. The pasta was pretty good but I would opt for the shrimp or fish next time. We enjoyed our time here and it fueled the remainder of our stay. read more

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