While my husband and I were in town, we definitely had to try El Siboney! We have never been and as…read morea Cuban, I always like to try new places! And this place was GREAT! I was born and raised in Miami to a Cuban/Puerto Rican family so I am very familiar with this cuisine and how things should taste so I was super happy with this entire meal! When they brought over the toasted buttered cuban bread, I already knew we were going to do good haha. IYKYK. We ordered the Appetizer Sampler which came with tostones and sides of ropa vieja (shredded beef stew), avocado, pickled onion and pork, so you can build your own. It was delicious! Then for our entrees, my husband got the ropa vieja (SO good) and I got the palomilla. The steak I am used to is thinner and smaller, but I was not complaining! It was soooooooo good and I really really enjoyed it. It was pretty busy but our server did a great job of taking care of us. The restaurant is not that big so it can get a little loud in there. But if you're in a Cuban restaurant, it's never going to be quiet lol! It's part of the experience! Highly recommend for some legit Cuban food and will definitely be coming back next time we are in town!

This might have been our first meal in Key West. Drove over, parked in their lot, and ordered two…read morethings, but the most amount of food. Very generous portions. Our research told us that this would be a great meal and it truly was. I ordered the pork chunks, which were perfectly fried and so flavorful and tender on the inside. My wife ordered Ropa Vieja which was pulled beef, which wasn't as good, but still quite tasty. Had to bring food back home with us, which we ate for various snacks before we departed. Fast food and a nice hidden gem in the town. Glad we had this kick off our trip.

My Husband and I are now obsessed with Fritas. We stopped in for dinner one random night the place…read morewas empty and there was plenty of seating. But don't let that scare you away. The food was absolutely phenomenal. My husband said the Frita burger was the best burger he's had in his entire life. The burger patty was a mix of beef & chorizo, and topped with pulled pork that was so uniquely different. I had the pulled pork tacos, which was some of the best tacos I've ever eaten. Our server was awesome at suggesting his favorite items from the huge menu. We will be back very soon for sure!

FANTASTIC! I regularly visit Key West but this is my first time here. The service is outstanding,…read moreas is the food. My son is vegetarian and had an impossible burger with crispy julienne potatoes on a Cuban roll. He said it was delicious. I had tostone nachos which also were spectacular. I intend to come again before leaving this island. If you find yourself in Key West wanting Cuban food, this is the place to come to. Also, I've never seen a restaurant offer a "magic meal". This is for someone who cannot afford a meal, they feed you. No questions asked. Im so impressed by this.

El Meson de Pepe is probably my favorite Cuban restaurant in the Keys, and I've been coming here…read morefor over 15 years! It's one of those places I look forward to whenever I'm in Key West. The food is authentic, flavorful, and consistently delicious. My go-to is the vaca frita with rice, black beans, and fried plantains. Crispy, seasoned beef with all those classic Cuban sides--it's a combination that never disappoints. Service was quick! No wait on this visit but thats not always the case. But this place is about more than just the food. The atmosphere is absolutely awesome. The exposed brick, old photographs, Cuban flags, artwork, aviation pieces, historical documents, and memorabilia make the restaurant feel almost like a small Cuban history museum. There's something interesting everywhere you look, and it really adds to the experience. After eating here for more than 15 years, I can confidently say it has remained one of my must-stops in the Keys. Great Cuban food, tons of character, history everywhere, and an atmosphere that feels uniquely Key West. Come hungry, take your time looking around, and get the vaca frita!

Hi All!! First and foremost I want to say that usually it is…read morenot me leaving bad reviews but I really felt like I was taken advantage of. This is an area of tourism but we do live in Florida and have driven to the keys many times. This time we decided ti bring our family from out of town! What a disappointment this was! It was a party of 11 people. The majority Ordered the breaded fried chicken "Pollo empanisado" The chicken was overcooked but rubber like it seemed to me like when you take frozen chicken and try to defrost fast ... we left the chicken and ate the rice and black beans alone. The plantains were hard and cold . Just terrible! I love Cuban food and the "hole in the walls" are much better than this fancy all decorated beautifully!!! I take good tasty food cooked to perfection over the looks of a place. The manager said she took off two dinners off the bill but it was still over 300 dollars We will never come back here neither I can recommend this place to anyone at least the chicken and plantains. Not to mentioned I asked the food runner if he could pls bring us a few extra plates and an order of plantains on the side and this other rude man said" no!!! He can't do that he is the food runner tell the waitress " Really? It's that a good costumer service to you? You may go and judge this place for yourself and hoping this serves as a critique for them to focus on quality of food and good customer service. Thank you !

This was an accidental find - popped in our first night in Key West because it was right across the…read morestreet from our VRBO. It's a small cafe with personality - a few tables and a counter. Gabriela took great care of us (we went there THREE times while in Key West - once for dinner, twice for coffee and key lime pie!!). SOOOO good! Hubs had the beef tacos in corn tortillas with black beans and rice and salsa verde and pronounced it all delicious! (I tried the black beans and rice and loved it!). I had a chicken empanada which was great but I loved the arepa stuffed with shredded chicken the best - fabulous with their homemade salsa verde (I would put that on everything!!!). Let me tell you about that ginger mimosa - amazing! They make their own ginger syrup and I loved that it had a little ginger bite and was not overly sweet. While everyone CLAIMS to have "authentic" key lime pie, this one won our vote - no toxic green color and a smooth creamy tangy custard. And not cool whip either. Yum! Hubs said it was as good as his aunt's and that's high praise. The cafe con leche was also perfect.

I'm disappointed. Lettuce, tomatoes and onions have no place on a Cuban sandwich…read more I'm from Tampa were they know how to make a proper Cuban Sandwich.

Santiago's Bodega ended up being one of our favorite stops in Key West…read more It's an easy walk from Ridley House, and if we'd discovered it earlier in the trip, we definitely would have gone back more than once. In fact, happy hour is already on the list for our next visit. The sangria was so good that we may have lost track of how many glasses we had. The tapas format made it easy to try a variety of dishes, and everything we ordered was flavorful and well prepared. There wasn't a single plate that made us wish we'd ordered something else. What I liked most was how relaxed everything felt. We took our time, shared dishes, drank sangria, and enjoyed the afternoon without feeling rushed. Next time we're in Key West, Santiago's Bodega will absolutely be getting another visit.

Hands down favorite place we ate. We even went back again. And ate at little pearl and Louise's…read morebackyard and frenchies and moon dogs. Awesome seasoned service staff too. Cute shopping nearby as well.

On the last night of our Key West trip, we wanted to find somewhere new with a little something for…read moreeveryone. We were looking for a funky vibe, but something a bit more low-key and off the beaten path. After browsing Yelp, we landed on Flaming Buoy! I'll admit, when we first pulled up, we were a little hesitant. The exterior wasn't particularly inviting, and we wondered if we'd made the right choice. But once we stepped inside, we were pleasantly surprised! We loved the eclectic decor, dim lighting, and laid-back atmosphere. The menu had so many unique options, and everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! Our waiter was also tending bar, but he didn't miss a beat. He was quick-witted, friendly, attentive, and clearly knew how to keep things moving. Food came out quickly, and the entire experience was just what we were hoping for. Such a fun little hidden gem and the perfect meal to wrap up a wonderful Key West vacation. So glad we gave it a chance!

The Flaming Buoy Filet Co was a great place for dinner, with great food and an interesting…read moreatmosphere inside. We went on a Thursday night, mid October. We sat at the bar and started with the grilled marinated key west pink shrimp appetizer with a spicy lime chutney. The shrimp was cooked nice and plump and the chutney (served on the side in a little funky bowl) spread on top gave it a bit a of kick. The spinach salad was a nice contrast of "greens" to have as an appetizer. For mains, the Key Lime Pasta with (I think) local spiny lobster was great and the Filet Co. Chili Cheese Coney with small beef dogs on a little buns was also good. For dessert, we enjoyed the hot banana honey. The bistro is decorated with Star Wars paraphernalia on the shelves over the bar and you have to check out the bathroom, which was pretty awesome with Star Wars scene complete with flashing lights. The atmosphere is dimly lit and kinda cool and a bit like a speak easy. I'd give The Flaming Buoy a very strong 4 and highly recommend it as one of the Key's coolest better food oriented restaurants. Good service even after it got busy.

Blue Heaven is one of those rare places that feels less like a restaurant and more like a second…read morehome you somehow never knew you'd been missing. The food is excellent--flavorful, thoughtfully prepared, and consistently satisfying--but what truly sets this place apart is the service, especially when you're seated at the bar. As a bar guest, I experienced something far above exceptional. It felt like walking into a place I already loved and being shown the very best of it by people who genuinely care. To the bartenders and staff who made every visit feel that way: Dairy-ah (I'm almost certainly butchering the spelling, but the pronunciation stuck with me), thank you for the warmth, the skill, and the way you made the bar feel welcoming every time. Lucy--always with the hat on backwards--you became my spirit animal the moment I realized how perfectly that energy matched the whole vibe of the place. Thank you for being exactly who you are behind that bar. Brittney, the chillest of them all: your calm, easy presence made everything feel lighter and better. Chelsea, I only got to have you serve me once, but that one time was enough to know how good you are at this. And to the Servers, Paul and Lola: even in our brief interactions while I was at the bar, both of you brought such strong, genuine personalities that it elevated the whole experience. Thank you for that. Blue Heaven is an amazing restaurant with great food and even greater service. But more than that, it's the people who make it feel like coming home and being shown the best time in a place you love the most. Thank you--truly--to all of you for making it feel that way. And to Henry, a longtime regular at the bar, who passed away during my visit. "His" presence was clearly part of the fabric of this place, and I'm grateful I got to share that space, however briefly, with the people who knew and cared for him. Thank You All, and sorry if I didn't list your name in this review because there were far more of you than I've mentioned, just Know my early mornings sitting at the Blue Heavens Bar, was the highlight of everyday I spent in Key West. Sincerely, Brian.. (or as my friends call me, "Jonesie")...

Loved food & excellent service! Ate here at least two times on each trip to Key West! The Key Lime…read morePie is a must!

We had such a great experience at Kaya! We brought in our fresh-caught mahi mahi for their…read morehook-and-cook, and they turned it into an incredible three-course meal for only $20 per person. Everything was flavorful and beautifully prepared--a really fun way to enjoy our catch. William, our server, was fantastic and truly added to the experience. He was attentive and thorough, explained everything, answered all of our questions, and even brought us a magazine to show us a review featuring the dish we were having. That extra attention made the evening feel special. Great food, an awesome hook-and-cook experience, and exceptional service from William. We would absolutely recommend Kaya!

After a long drive from Orlando, we were looking for something quick and easy off the beaten path…read morewith great reviews, and Kaya Island seemed like the perfect spot! The restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived, so we anticipated a pretty quick experience. Unfortunately, a large group arrived shortly after we were seated, and with what appeared to be only one waitress covering the area, service was much slower than expected. Between placing our orders and waiting for drinks, we honestly came close to getting up and leaving. But WOW, am I glad we stayed! This ended up being one of my favorite meals of our entire Key West trip! The fish tacos were seasoned to perfection, my cocktail absolutely hit the spot, and everyone in our group loved their food. The atmosphere was wonderful, and despite the slow service, the hospitality was warm, friendly, and genuine. By the end of the meal, with full bellies and happy faces, the wait was a distant memory. Sometimes good things really are worth waiting for! We'd absolutely return!

As a local with high standards, this maybe the best kept secret in KW…read more The conch fritters have loads of conch. The coconut shrimp are cooked to perfection with an amazing dipping sauce. Let's talk mojitos: 10 out of 10. Sangria, 10 out of 10. This place reminds me of being in Costa Rica due to the music super friendly atmosphere, affordable prices and amazing authentic food. I wish I took pics of our apps, but we crushed them in a matter of minutes. Next time!

From the owner: Ven y prueba nuestros sabores caseros y únicos.read more

Great amazing food. Made fresh. Locals spot for sure. Friendly staff…read more No food pictures because it was all gone by the time I remembered to take photos. Highly recommend

Pros: Cuban sandwich was outstanding, fast service Cons:…read moreonly 6 stools for seating, fries were mushy, cheese quesadilla was undercooked cheese not melted, cashier wasn't super friendly Overall it was just okay