This was our very favorite restaurant during our week in the Keys. Palm-thatch roof over the…read morerestaurant is really cool. Outside seating area offers great views, but we took an inside table and the vibe was still awesome. Live music was great. Our server Zach was on the mark; checked on us frequently and took care of any requests quickly, and a very friendly dude. We tried: Sparky's Sunset and Coconut Margarita - both very good. Tuna tartare - the sesame sauce wasn't my favorite, but the tuna was fresh and tender. Coconut Shrimp - HUGE shrimp, nice toasty coconut crust, and the sweet chili sauce was a great compliment. 1/2 lb Peel and Eat Shrimp - these were served with butter, cocktail sauce, lemon, and a little cup of add-it-if-you-want cajun seasoning. I tried them all and loved the options. Bacon-wrapped Scallops - these were fantastic!! Super crunchy bacon on the outside, perfectly cooked scallops on the inside. Buffalo Chicken Wings - these had really good flavor, but the skins were a bit tough. Sparky's will be our very first stop on our next stay in the Keys.

Expected better. Read the reviews and checked the menu ahead of time. We liked the Bloody Marys,…read morehowever our meals were a little lackluster all around. I tasted each dish. The fish tacos had great flavor as did the chicken and waffles. The blackened grouper sandwich was a little bland and the crab cake Benedict could have done without the Canadian bacon. Eat inside - the heat on the deck may have impacted our appetites.

Popped in Friday for a late lunch at 1 p.m. No wait and a few customers doing the same. Nice to…read morefind a Guatemalan option here while out at Curry Hammock. We got the chicken/potato empanadas, breakfast quesadilla, the tacos suave de carne, and the garnachas (larger order of 5 to share). The empanadas are thin shelled and a treat to enjoy the filling inside. Don't forget to use the green sauce in a bottle provided. Same tortillas from the empanadas are also served soft in the tender steak tacos of the suave de carne. Staff were helpful to suggest enjoying the tacos without delay when they arrived at the table to not let tortillas get soggy. Restaurant has big windows letting in plenty of light while awning keeps out the direct sun.

Excellent customer care as I called to make a reservation, always amicable and when my group…read morechanged from 20 to 43 they took the necessary steps to sit all of us together and make our ride to the keys a success! The food is fresh and the portions are big... and the prices are great. everything that we order was delicious, made fresh and so flavorful. There is a feeling of being at home as the servers are so amicable and helpful. Thanks to Karina and everyone who made everything perfect... Totally recommend this amazing restaurant!

I always say mistakes happen -- what matters most is how a restaurant handles them…read more I ordered carryout from Driftwood in Marathon: chicken fingers from the grill, which are supposed to come with French fries. There's a separate appetizer version that doesn't include fries, and that's what I was given by mistake. When I called, the employee remembered my order and said she thought it was the appetizer. Then she said the simplest words many places forget: "I'm sorry for the inconvenience." She immediately offered options -- refund the fries or drop off a fresh order. I chose the fries. Within minutes, they delivered a full container of hot, delicious fries to my door -- even though I had chosen carryout. The driver apologized again and even included cookies. This is how you make it right for a customer. The food is really good, and the management is even better. Highly recommend giving this place a try.

Ordered Subs thru their Mobil app. One hot ham and cheese one meatball Parm. The order was ready…read morefor pick-up at the designated time. Both were excellent with loads of meats on both Subs. Their app. Is easy to use with being able to change how you'd like it made. We will be back.

Despite the overall rating this place has, the food was pretty good! Fresh seafood, we had 4…read moredifferent kinds of oysters, scallops on the half shell (small but good), some sushi rolls, some pulled pork, the crab cake sandwich, onion rings and more. All really good. Service was friendly but slow and plates arrived haphazardly, while we had to ask for plates and flatware. Nice scene with outdoor covered eatery and live music performer who entertained the crowd too! Mini golf next door was also fun and offered a 10% discount on the meal. All in all a nice way to spend a half day or so.

We kind of came here on a whim from good word of mouth. We were all thinking BBQ but we ended up…read moreordering seafood & sushi instead! I loved the vibe of this place - think tiki bar with a beachside vibe and setting but then also a BBQ joint thrown in for good measure. The menu is extensive - BBQ, seafood, sushi, bar food, tacos, etc. The menu is huge! The happy hour is pretty good too (speciality drinks for like $8 and decently priced app specials). One very cool thing, this place sits on a marina and my family saw manatees chilling out there. We literally were only a couple feet from them and watched them float around while we are out food. So cool. Live music is offered during most nights. Some advice, get here early because this place fills up fast! I think it is quite the haunt for locals and tourists alike. We would go here again in a heartbeat. The food was pretty good, portions were perfectly sized and prices were very reasonable, especially when compared to other places found in the Florida Keys.

We just went to the fish market and the fish was super fresh. The cashier was nice and helpful.read more

I bypassed the Lobster Ruben, had the conch ceviche and a fried hogfish sandwich, it was one of the…read morebest seafood meals of my life. Bonus points for the bar next door, and having the tartar/cocktail sauce readily available. Their prices are incredibly low for the freshness and quality they serve up. I can't wait to return to the Florida Keys again to eat here.

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!

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.

My wife and I had breakfast at Island Fish Co. this morning…read more She had the regular eggs benedict. I had the short rib benedict. The 2 plates looked as though they came from different kitchens. Hers was perfect. Large eggs, soft yolks, abundant meat. Mine was almost edible. Eggs the size of a golf ball. Hard yolks. Beef had the texture of shoe leather. Potato pancakes were tolerable. Service was par. Nothing special. Have eaten here many times before with no gripes. Not sure if I'll return. Grapefruit crush was excellent.

So good we came here twice on our trip for lunch. The vibe is tropical, fun tiki bar meets…read moredelicious fresh seafood with an awesome menu selection, fun drinks , friendly service & beautiful views. We started with the best coconut shrimp I think I've ever had. It's the famous pink shrimp of Florida & the coconut breading was divine ! light, delicate crispy, served with a tasty mango chutney, dipping sauce, just perfection. by the way, this went perfectly with a crisp, white wine and my husband's tropical drink. Next, we had to get an order of the delish oysters Rockefeller, smothered with creamy spinach, and tons of lemon juice. Wow those gulf oysters are wonderful ! So Tender. For our main, we got the Grouper Fish Sammie's with fries & coleslaw. I had mine blackened, and my husband went with classic. The fish was so fresh and seasoned perfectly. Don't miss this gem on your way down the keys.

Went for dinner on a Monday evening. Only a few tables were seated! Asked to sit outside. Server…read morewas lovely and attentive. We had the Brussel sprout in curry app. It was ok. No spice, but tasty. Husband had the grouper and said it was good. I had the lamb chops. I wanted to love them, but they were a bit tough. Overall a good experience though!

We were the last table on a drizzly Tuesday night. We got a late start and wanted local seafood…read moreand it was only one of a handful that was open later than 9 PM. Service was mid. Although there seemed to only be one server, there were only three other tables and they were finishing up their meals when we arrived. Not sure why it took so long to bring us water and take our drink order. Food was mostly good. It was a decent experience.

I loved this place! We stopped for lunch on the way to the beach after reading reviews on yelp. We…read morewere greeted by a fun, cheerful waiter who made our lunch experience all the better:) I had a goat cheese salad with jerk chicken. Was yum! We had street tacos that were delicious. Strawberry margarita was fresh and hit the spot! My boyfriend enjoyed his blackened grouper sandwich with jalapeño coslaw( says that could have been spicier) The view is awesome- keep an eye on small children to not fall over into the ocean. I hope we have to go back! Really loved this place!

Came for lunch at key west after a relaxing morning at sombrero beach. We ordered buffalo wings,…read morenachos, blackened fish sandwich, jerk chicken sandwich and chimichanga. The settings by the water gave a very lazy look and was quite perfect on a lazy day. The menu is quite compact and so there is not much choice. But the blackened fish was very well done and so was the chimichanga. Portions are sizable so think twice before ordering appetizers. It would be great to just ride a boat to the place. Park it there and have a relaxed time. They have a live band and also a dance area. Should be good also to come one for dinner. The chimichanga and buffalo wings are the best dishes!! The buffalo sauce has a carribean edge to it. Maybe they have a special ingredient for the sauce. Overall I would rate as - Ambience - 4/5 (the heat is certainly uncomfortable but then the lazy feel is great) Food taste - 3.5/5 Presentation - 3.5/5 Food quantity - 5/5 Service - 3.5/5 Price - 4/5 Recommended dish - chimichanga and buffalo wings