Cancel

Open app

Search

Cracked Conch Cafe

3.6 (426 reviews)
ModerateSeafood
Open 7:00 am - 9:30 pm

Cracked Conch Cafe Photos

Business Info

CRACKED CONCH CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Cracked Conch Cafe

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Spanish omelette
Glenn R.

12/24/2024 you know how I feel about breakfast foods! The Cracked Conch Cafe did not disappoint! The servers greeted us and smiled when we walked in. We sat ourselves at the counter (my favorite!) and a server quickly took our drink orders. I ordered a Spanish omelette which was hot and tasty and chock-full of ingredients. Yummy! She had a BLT which was described as delightful and the toast it was served on was rich and buttery. There's a full bar too. Evidently they are known for the conch, which I did not try but they are one of few places that serve it other than a fritter. On my list to try next time. Decor and ambience aren't high on the list of my priorities. Is it a little dated? Sure. But it was clean and quiet and I appreciate that. Friendly staff and hot food made to order are the reasons I would recommend the Cracked Conch Cafe. The menu has enough variety to please everyone. Give it a try!

Broiled red snapper
Lisa H.

We stopped for lunch as soon as we arrived in Marathon for our quick get away to the Keys. Our mission was to find some good conch and Key Lime pie. The restaurant has been there forever so we figured it was worth a try. Indoors is a small very old restaurant setting with a large counter. Outdoors, a small covered wooden patio, quaint and typical of the Keys but too hot for this time of year. We seated ourselves and our server came quickly. We ordered the conch chowder, cracked conch and broiled snapper. I asked what type of snapper and she wasn't sure so she asked the cook who said local red snapper. Our chowder came out quickly. It had large pieces of conch so it was a hit. The breaded fried conch was prepared well and was pretty tender. I was not as excited with the sauce on the broiled fish but it was tender and flaky. The menu didn't mention any sauce but then again it didn't mention red snapper. We tried the key lime pie which was homemade. It was good but not the best I ever had. Parking was easy in the lot. Prices were a little high for this type of restaurant, the food and service but maybe not for the Keys as it was our first stop in a while and food prices have soared.

Honestly, I absolutely hate to do this, but we had such a terrible experience tonight, I just need to warn everyone else. I feel like zero stars and a call to the local police is what would be most appropriate. The service from the start was not great. We had a relatively small party, four adults and one child. I only saw a few other tables with anyone at them, so being busy was no excuse. Our server, I believe her name was Sheshi, I'm just assuming because that's the name on the ticket, but she never gave us her name. I asked for water three times, and my husband asked for me as well before I finally got a glass forty minutes later. We ordered an appetizer, the Conch Combo, and the conch balls were undercooked, and both the conch balls and the conch fingers were super greasy. When we got our dinners, mine was even worse than the appetizer. I got the special, which included shrimp, scallops, mahi, and a crab cake. I could barely cut the shrimp and Mahi with my knife they were so overcooked, the scallops had no sear on them whatsoever and they were still sandy, and the crab cake was barely edible. I didn't complain, as we were with friends and I just wanted to enjoy the short amount of time we had with them, but once the check came- or actually didn't come for that matter, I wanted to go through the roof. We had two separate checks at the table, yet we received no actual check. The server came over and told us what we owed without giving us a bill. My husband paid, and somehow two $30 entrees and a $17 appetizer turned into a $140 bill. We asked for a printed check, and never got it. She listed off the items verbally, and told us our bill was correct. I'm no Stephen Hawking, but even I know that math ain't mathing. We were caught up with saying our goodbyes to our friends, so we left without addressing the issue. But we got about a half mile down the street, and I told my husband we had to go back. He called and told the server that we were coming back and needed to have an itemized copy of our bill. She asked if we could just come back and take a picture of the receipt we signed. No dice. My husband went back in the restaurant and got her to print the actual bill. Turns out, 20% gratuity was already added to our check and Sheshi didn't bother letting us know. So she ended up with over $80 in tips from our table. My husband made her reverse the charge, and we will be going back in the morning to speak with the owners. Our friends that we had dinner with went back as well, and she did the same thing to them. She took an extra $22 in a cash tip, that she very hastily returned to our friends on the heels of our encounter. This is just disgraceful. A $40 tip for a table of 5 who aren't even drinking is pretty good for an hour's work when you can't even bring a glass of water. Bottom line, BEWARE!! Make sure you get an ITEMIZED RECEIPT! CHECK IF GRATUITY IS INCLUDED! And hopefully, after tomorrow morning, no one will have to worry about this again.

Key lime pie
Jill C.

Cute little local diner with fun menu full of conch items. Service was quick and pleasant. Fun to see locals that come there often - homey vibes. I got the conch melt - super cheesy with mushrooms, fried conch and on grilled rye bread. Items don't come with sides so portions can be lacking for some entrees - my kid ordered a grilled cheese and was hungry for more. We loved the key lime pie!

Anita M.

The food was incredible and so was the service. Very low key chill environment with friendly staff. Our server had like 10 tables at once and didn't miss a beat. She was very friendly. The deep fried key lime pie was out of this world! We will be back!

Tuna

See all

Photo of Jason P.
791
952
17957

1 month ago

Business owner information

Photo of Joseph D.

Joseph D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

30 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1
Photo of Roy H.
1
17
0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Alex B.
175
117
96

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Fantastic food! Superb service and amazing atmosphere! Very dog-friendly! Chef is phenomenal! Outstanding everything!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Very nice casual restaurant. Conch balls delicious. How do you get balls from a conch. Lol

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Leslie N.
138
62
47

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ashlyn W.
117
19
33

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Judith G.
1
125
38

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Ken Y.
26
12
9

2 years ago

We stopped for lunch and was surprised by the variety of food options. Great grouper sandwich and crab Benedict breakfast. Solid 5

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Food was great, however the service was the worst i have ever experienced. As service makes the experience will not be returning

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Amazing quality at what first appears to be a dive. We make a point to eat here every time we visit.

Business owner information

Photo of Joseph D.

Joseph D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of M. M.
4
71
119

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Joseph D.

Joseph D.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0
Photo of Don F.
163
27
3

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 11

Ask the Community - Cracked Conch Cafe

You might also consider

Burdines Waterfront Marina and Bar & Grill - Deep fried key lime pie !!

Burdines Waterfront Marina and Bar & Grill

(1.3k reviews)

$$

What a great place to eat and have a drink. Good food, friendly helpful waiter. It's upstairs most…read moreoutside seating. Beautiful view of the water. They allow dogs too. The Ahi poke bowl was fabulous. Highly recommend this place.

We only had a couple days left of our anniversary trip, and we have yet to find some great Key Lime…read morepie. Where we were staying, we met these lovely ladies out at the pool, and we got to talking quite a bit. They had mentioned this place and a deep fried key lime... so... it definitely piqued our interest and off we went. When we first arrived, I wasn't sure if we were going to the right place. It felt like it was off the beaten path, but we did eventually find our way to the parking lot. We walked upstairs to the terrace and took a look around at the view. It was just before sunset, and we watched a boat or two swing by and tie up on the dock below for some chow. That's pretty cool. The menu style is somewhat American traditional, where you would find a variety of burgers, fries, sandwiches, and some dinner plates. They served several types of meats from beef, chicken, fish, shrimp, you name it. We decided to go pub style and ordered the Fresh Cut Fries plate, with a Chicken Burger. We also ordered a Patty Melt Sandwich. The chicken burger had the perfect crunch, and it just hit right. The patty melt smothered in onion and sauce made it very tender and juicy. My wife and I split each other's meals to taste it all. As we enjoyed a couple of drinks, we were able to take advantage of the sunset and walked the dock for some pictures, although, I was staring at a beautiful view across from me all evening. We finished off the meal with one of their famous Deep fried Key Lime Pie... and I swear... that might have been the 2nd or 3rd most beautiful thing I've seen that evening. If you never had a KLP deep fried... oh my Goodness you are in for a treat!! We decided to split one, and it's every bit as good as you would think it to be!! Thank you for that experience, and for the whole evening. We are leaving FL with amazing memories! Absolutely recommend you try this place and for us, an easy return should we ever find ourselves back on the Keys again. As always, Enjoy & Happy Eating!

Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House - Broiled Seafood Platter

Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House

(1k reviews)

$$$

Great spot to escape the heat and enjoy fresh seafood. The atmosphere was fancier than we…read moreanticipated. Jorge, our waiter was welcoming, friendly, and patient - impressive given the size of our party. We did make a reservation in advance due to having a larger group. Our table was ready when we arrived. While snacking on the complimentary baguettes, we ordered a variety of appetizers and entrees from the happy hour and regular menus. They have numerous menu options sure to satisfy any group. Everyone in our party enjoyed what they ordered. We recommend this restaurant to others!

Great roadside restaurant in the keys! We were busy all day and didn't find time for lunch until…read moreabout 2pm. The parking lot at the steak and lobster house had several cars at this time, so we figured this was a good sign. Didn't try the cocktails, but did order 1/2 lb peel and eat shrimp from the happy hour menu, and they were delicious - 6 giant shrimp for a great happy hour price! We had the grilled brie; didn't care for the crackers and the berry compote was just okay, but the brie was lovely and the presentation was beautiful. Philly cheesesteak sandwich was loaded with steak and peppers, and the queso-style cheese was a nice variation from the "traditional" Philly. Blue crab burger was very tasty with a large crab cake and the sauce was really good. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, we did not have to wait for drink refills and she was helpful with menu questions. I generally don't eat at the same place twice while I'm on vacation, but may make an exception for the FL Keys Steak and Lobster house. Will definitely be recommending this place to all my traveling friends!

Herbie's Bar and Chowder House - BBQ RIB PLATE WITH FRIES

Herbie's Bar and Chowder House

(665 reviews)

$$

Keep it easy - this place is awesome. Very laid back and we always make sure to take a trip here…read moreevery Keys trip. Food, service, ambience - all fantastic.

Herbie's Bar & Chowder House in Marathon has been operating under that name since 1963, with roots…read moregoing back to the 1940s as Maggie's Chowder House and later Fishnet's. It's legitimately one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the Florida Keys, which gives it a lot of built-in credibility before you even sit down. Walking up to it, you feel that history. The exterior, the gravel lot, the signage--it's pure roadside Keys. Inside, it leans into that "local bar meets tourist stop" vibe: long wooden bar, TVs, stickers everywhere, taps lined up. Then you open the menu and it pivots in every direction--New England chowder house, BBQ joint, burger shack, seafood spot. It's not clear what it wants to be, and that lack of focus carries straight through to the food. We started with both chowders. The clam chowder looks right at first glance, but the texture tells you everything--thick, almost gluey, clearly roux-heavy. The flavor leans aggressively fatty, closer to margarine than butter, with very little clam presence. No briny backbone, no pepper, no lift. We ended up dumping in black pepper and hot sauce just to make it remotely acceptable--but even then, that heavy fat note kept pushing through. Nothing about it reads as New England. The conch chowder fares a bit better. You can actually see a decent amount of conch, and there's a peppery edge that helps. But the broth is thin and lacks the chunky, stewed tomato depth you expect from a proper Keys-style conch chowder. After having it done right earlier at Key Largo Fisheries, the difference was obvious. Then there are the Texas Twinkies--and the photo really says it all. On paper, this should work: jalapeños wrapped in bacon, stuffed with brisket, pulled pork, cheeses, and sauce. In execution, it's just too much. Too much cream cheese, too many competing sauces, meats chopped into a soft, indistinct filling. It collapses into a heavy, muddy bite that feels more overwhelming than satisfying. Looking back at the menu, the simpler move--burger, ribs, even wings--probably would have been the right call. Instead, we ordered straight into the identity crisis. And that theory held up. We went back and grabbed a burger later--cooked a proper medium rare, with well-done, crispy fries--and it was easily the best thing we had from them. I wanted to like Herbie's. There's history, personality, and clearly a loyal following. But between the confused concept and uneven execution, the move here is simple: stick to the basics.

7 Mile Grill

7 Mile Grill

(575 reviews)

$$

this place is 10000 percent a keys vibe. one single bartender/waiter working and the "manager"…read morehelping. a few chefs in the back. we called ahead because we were a larger party and they were all set up for us when we arrived. waiter was SO NICE (forgot his name) and was super transparent when they were out of something. the bar is zero frills. no bar menu just "these are the alcohols we have, we can kind of make anything within reason" food took forever because it got crazy busy fast. when the food came everything was fantastic. zero complaints even from the children! my daughter said the burger was amazing and the owner/manager even brought us a pre dinner key lime pie slice "because I cut it too small". super hospitable and lovely people. if you come on here and complain about a wait or lack of seating, you must be new to the keys. classic rock jams, bob marley, a fruity drink, and some relaxed service IS the keys. step outside the hustle and bustle and enjoy the meal!

Spring Break!! Oh yeah Floriduh! If you have ever stayed in Marathon Key then you know options are…read morelimited... especially for me. I am a picky seafood eater. Stopped in here for breakfast and ordered at the bar; seafood omelette. Eggs was done well incorporating spinach; mushrooms and smoked salmon. Unfortunately no other fish options were available. Waffles and grits to go with it, orange juice to keep it all down. Taste was not too bad. Portions were good. Services were quick and prices are little more than I expected.. it's spring break so it ok. Would I choose to return maybe.. especially if to order a mahi sandwich for lunch. Keep expectations low and you can have a good experience it's my new Floriduh moto.

Blue Waters Bar & Grill - Open air bar with tvs and water views

Blue Waters Bar & Grill

(21 reviews)

Gosh I was so disappointed with this place!! It's basically the pool side restaurant for the…read morecourtyard Faro Blanco. We stopped by for dinner yesterday. The place was basically dead at around 630 pm. That should have been our first red flag. Their menu actually looks a lot better than the lighthouse grill, but ugh everything really sucked. I had the plantains with pink salsa. The plantains were stale and not crispy. The pink salsa was really delicious though and that's the only reason this place got the extra star from me. For $10, the portion size sucked honestly. Ragz and I shared the fish tacos. I opted for fried fish. The whole thing was silly. The taco shells were almost inedible corn that was so hard and chewy that we ended up eating just the filling. The fish was unidentifiable given how thick the breading was. There was not enough fish in each taco. Similarly there was not enough slaw, which seemed decent to eat. Overall a total waste of money ($26). Service was iffy at best. The server seemed nice to chat with but also seemed very new/ spaced out. Kept asking my husband to get another beer though he repeatedly said no. Gave us menus that looked like a shark ate them ( they were wet and chewed out). Forgot to get us any silverware or napkins. I'd honestly stay away from here. Not worth the time, money or calories.

From indoor breakfast to outdoor lunch, everything we have for the most part what's good specially…read morethe drinks. Obviously the bar outside had a beautiful view and you can order to eat by the pool or have table service. The lavender pineapple drink was delicious and I had a few of those. I did enjoy the conch fritters. Kids enjoyed the pizza and tenders, burger was also pretty good. Just don't order the mariquitas (plantain chips) those were gross.

Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar - King of the Jungle Roll

Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar

(895 reviews)

$$

Been coming to the restaurant for years, really good food. Service is normally good just don't get…read moreMichelle R, she was really slow, kept forgetting to bring drinks, rang up the check completely wrong tons of extra stuff we didn't order. Even after reminding her she still wouldn't bring drinks out, just ask to not sit with her to get a better experience.

Great arrival into the keys. We stopped for dinner at Castaway prior to continuing to our hotel…read more The drive up was a bit confusing at night, but there was great signage, so just pay attention driving up. Upon walking in, we were immediately greeted and sat. The interior was surprisingly quaint, and how not to miss the Guy Fieri poster right up on the wall. Yes, he was here The food itself was really good. We enjoyed the raw Raspberry Point Oysters albeit there was 1 that was not good so that was disappointing (but it happens, right?). The baked oysters were totally worth it! My favorite were the ones with blue cheese and hot sauce, the small celery leaf was surprisingly pleasant! And the McKinnon Flagler with the spinach and cheese were good as well, just not my favorite. Of course, I HAD TO order Guy's featured dish, the lobster enchiladas. I wish it had a bit of a spice, but the flavor was great overall. It was like a green tomatillo or sorts, and absolutely filling. I do wish the lobster was more fresh and cooked for a shorter period of time, as it felt slightly overcooked. However, I definitely enjoyed it and finished the whole dish. We also tried the lumpia, which tbh was not as well fried, it felt a bit moist, and not as crunchy as I would prefer it. Lastly, the key lime martini and the drunken elephant martini were the perfect cocktail desserts to end the night with! Hope you try some of these. Truly enjoyable!

Cracked Conch Cafe - seafood - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...