In the Florida Keys & Key West, fresh seafood is a must for just about every meal. And with the abundance of fish and seafood in Keys waters, most restaurants along the island chain make it a menu staple.

It’s easy to find just-off-the-boat snapper, grouper and mahi-mahi served grilled, blackened or fried. In addition, some chefs and restaurateurs enjoy showcasing “only in the Keys” dishes, unusual species or outside-the-box preparation techniques.

That’s certainly true at Blue Heaven, located in Key West’s Bahama Village neighborhood at 729 Thomas St. on the site of a boxing ring where Ernest Hemingway once refereed local matches (yes, really!). Today diners enjoy Caribbean and seafood specialties in a lively courtyard or indoors in a funky, colorful historic building.

Breakfast with the roosters (free-range Key West poultry roaming the courtyard) is so popular that waiting lines can stretch off the property and into the street. One of the most requested breakfast dishes is the BLT Benedict, but this is not a traditional BLT featuring bacon, lettuce and tomato.

The “L” in this case stands for lobster — fresh, sweet Florida lobster. The dish is composed of poached eggs, grilled tomato slices, chunks of Florida lobster tail and crisp bacon. These luscious ingredients sit atop a toasted English muffin covered with Blue Heaven’s yummy lime hollandaise sauce.

Just outside Key West, on Stock Island in the Lower Keys, stands a hideaway restaurant called Hogfish Bar & Grill. This proudly ramshackle watering hole — a true locals’ spot that’s also beloved by in-the-know visitors — can be found at 6810 Front St. alongside an authentic “old style” marina. Most diners sit outdoors at weathered picnic tables, overlooking picturesque houseboats and sailboats moored at the adjacent dock.

The restaurant’s signature dish, as its name implies, is hogfish — a primarily diver-caught fish with a light yet unparalleled flavor. A wide variety of other Keys seafood temptations are also served, including a lip-smacking smoked-fish dip that absolutely MUST be tried.

However, the undisputed menu star is the sizeable “killer” hogfish sandwich. Enough for two to share, it consists of a generous serving of fresh-caught hogfish topped with melted swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms and onions — all nestled on a chunk of fresh Cuban bread with a side of crispy fries.

Another unusual fish captured in Keys waters is the highly recognizable Indo-Pacific red lionfish. A voracious invader, non-native lionfish are known for outcompeting native species for food and territory.

Luckily, the lionfish’s light white meat has become a favorite of local restaurateurs and visiting diners — likened to hogfish or snapper in terms of flakiness, color and flavor. While the “lions” have venomous spines, they’re removed before preparation and the fish is completely safe to eat.

Middle Keys restaurateur John Mirabella, an avid diver and spearfisherman, helped pioneer the predator as a food fish. So, naturally, lionfish is one of the menu standouts at his Castaway Waterfront Restaurant and Sushi Bar at 1406 Ocean View Ave. in Marathon. Diners at the popular Castaway often enjoy it as a gorgeous (and unforgettably delicious) sushi specialty dubbed the “King of the Jungle Roll.”

As well as these culinary delights, there are scores of other tasty reasons to head for the Florida Keys. Click here for an overview of mouthwatering spots throughout the island chain — and then make plans for a subtropical vacation to savor Keys flavors.

If you’re a foodie seeking authentic casual dining experiences in the Upper Keys, you’re in luck. That’s because Upper Keys food trucks offer creatively crafted cuisine that provides a quick-serve, fun alternative to oh-so-boring fast-food joints.

Florida Keys food trucks — each with personalized freshly made specialty fare — are generally operated by hands-on locals who are owner-chefs.

For them, the outlets are a creative way to showcase culinary talent without the investment of a brick-and-mortar restaurant. And for foodies exploring Florida’s southernmost island chain, the venues are a convenient, inexpensive way to sample only-in-the-Keys cuisine.

Want to know more about favorite food trucks in the Upper Keys? Read on!

Craig’s Island Time Catering food trailer, currently found in Tavernier at the pool area of Ocean Pointe Suites at 500 Burton Drive, is operated by Craig Belcher — known as the creator of the Keys’ “World Famous Fish Sandwich.” Often stationed at multiday events and festivities, the roving trailer is known for its “famous super fish sandwich” with grilled or fried mahi-mahi on whole wheat bread, tomatoes, tartar sauce and melted cheese. Also popular are chicken sandwiches, cracked conch, seafood platters and hamburgers. Call 305-852-9424.

Seaside Eatery, located at 98275 Overseas Highway (mile marker 98) near Sal’s Ballyhoo’s restaurant, serves fresh all-vegan fare with house-grown herbs and fresh produce. Specialties are “sammies” including Lyndsay’s bahn mi created by owner Lyndsay Peterson — plus flavorful salads and wraps, breakfast items, Taiwanese boba oat milk teas and Key limeade. The truck is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Seaside fans will be glad to know that plans are in the works for a second truck, this one to serve vegan pizza. Visit seasideeateryflkeys.com or call 305-465-0999.

Nearby, One Grind, in the Florida Keys Overseas Highway median at mile marker 98, specializes in breakfasts and offers a caffeinated jolt along with burritos, bagels and avocado toast. Known for eye-opening coffees and espresso drinks, One Grind serves lattes, macchiatos or flat whites crafted from ground-to-order whole beans. Teas and iced raspberry, blue butterfly and coco mocha refreshers are also popular thirst-quenchers. And animal lovers have another great reason to favor One Grind: owners Rosemary Critelli and Christine Cooper donate tips to a local humane society. Additionally, part of each sale of their “Rescue Collab Coffee,” dubbed the “Foxy Brown,” is donated to Pawsitive Beginnings Fox Rescue in Key Largo. The truck is open daily (except Wednesdays) from 7 a.m. to noon and has outdoor seating. Visit onegrindkl.com 0r call 305-902-0534.

 In Islamorada, A Movable Feast — positioned on Sundays and during the wonderful monthly “third Thursday” Morada Way Art Walk at 151 Morada Way — offers European pastries and elegant sweets, pierogies, jumbo pretzels and artisan breads (yummm!). Other fare includes international tacos, gourmet grilled cheese, serious sliders, flatbreads and authentic Neapolitan pizzas. Owners Tony and Maryna Corallo established the “Original Upper Keys Food Truck” in 2017 and also cater events. Plus the couple is opening a new Key Largo retail outlet, called A Movable Feast’s Bakehouse and Provisions, later this year for order-ahead, take-out specialties. Visit a-movable-feast.com/food-truck or call 305-304-0556.

Other well-regarded Islamorada food trucks include the Jalisco Taco Truck, serving tacos and burritos at Florida Keys Brewing Co.’s outdoor beer garden at mile marker 81.6; and Green Turtle Roadside BBQ, with barbecue specialties at mile marker 81.2.

Hungry yet? When you’re in Key Largo and Islamorada, sample the offerings from one (or all!) of these popular trucks — and start creating your own list of favorites to revisit.

I’m often asked by visitors vacationing in the Florida Keys, “Where do the locals eat?” Honestly, we eat at the same restaurants visitors do — and it would be pretty unusual to experience a less-than-stellar meal in the island chain.

In addition to having some of the best restaurants and world-class chefs, the Florida Keys & Key West also offer a variety of quintessential “only in the Keys” dishes.

The Keys’ location and heritage played a big part in developing our islands’ signature cuisine. Our remoteness and saltwater surroundings meant residents historically relied on the ocean’s bounty for food, and the multicultural settlers brought the recipes and flavors of their homelands with them.

When dining at our restaurants, you’ll notice that many choose fish and seafood for inspiration and menu staples. Did you know commercial fishing is the second-largest industry in the Keys? The incredibly fresh fish you’re served at night was probably unloaded at the docks that morning!

Our menus often include fish caught in local waters, including yellowtail, grouper and mahi-mahi. The most recent “fish addition” to some menus is an invasive species called lionfish, which has no natural reef predators except spearfishing humans. Luckily its light white meat is delicious, with a flavor often compared to that of snapper.

Lionfish is a menu staple at the Castaway Restaurant & Sushi Bar located in Marathon (some 50 miles from Key West near the famed Seven Mile Bridge). The Castaway’s owner sometimes dives for the lionfish he serves — and it’s prepared several different ways, with one customer favorite being “wrecker style” that features a savory sauce of capers, garlic, butter and diced tomato.

The fish served at Keys restaurants might be sautéed, blackened, fried, broiled and sometimes served with a sauce containing mango or other tropical fruit that adds a tasty island twist.

You may be wondering, “What about shellfish?” Well, we’ve got you covered with our very popular specialty, Key West pink shrimp. “Pinks” are generally considered sweeter than other types of shrimp, and local chefs have dishes to die for! One of my favorite restaurants, Azur, located at 425 Grinnell St., has a mouthwatering Key West pink shrimp starter served with lemon, butter, garlic and parsley.

Keys locals and visitors also love their Florida stone crab claws, which are known for their sweet and succulent meat and are harvested in the Keys from around mid-October to May 1. Because nearly all the crab’s meat is contained in its claws, they are the only parts of the crustacean that are harvested.

Once the claws are removed, the crab is returned to the sea where its claws regenerate over two years. For that reason, stone crabs are considered a renewable resource — and the Florida Keys are responsible for a good percentage of the state’s overall harvest.

During our lobster season, which runs from Aug. 6 to March 31 each year, you’re in for a real treat! Unlike stone crabs, lobsters found in the Keys are clawless. Known as spiny lobsters, they offer delectably tender meat (especially with LOTS of butter).

The mollusk conch (which is pronounced “konk,” B.T.W.) is no longer harvested in the Keys, but it’s imported and still trendy among discerning diners. Conch can be found in chowders, deep-fried fritters, salads and even breaded and fried as conch steak.

Many of our local chefs have their own unique recipes. Mangoes restaurant, located at 700 Duval St., offers really yummy conch fritters served with a Key lime aioli and lime sauce. D.J.’s Clam Shack, located at 629 Duval St., is another one of my favorites for delightful, golden deep-fried fritters.

The most popular ethnic food in the Keys is Cuban, brought to Key West by the cigarmakers and their families who fled their homeland in the 1800s. If you’re craving authentic Cuban food, this is the place. El Siboney, located at 900 Catherine St., has one of the best roasted pork (puerco asado) dishes I’ve ever tasted.

The old saying about “leaving room for dessert” is particularly apropos when you’re in the Keys — because everyone should experience our signature dessert, Key lime pie.

I’ve personally sampled at least 10 versions of the luscious treat at restaurants from Key Largo to Key West. All were different — and equally delicious. For example, Blue Heaven offers its pie topped with a mile-high meringue and Kermit’s has a fluffy whipped cream topping.

From fresh-off-the-boat seafood to traditional Cuban food to Key lime pie, the Florida Keys have a wealth of unique culinary treats for you to sample. What will be your favorite Keys dish?

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Florida Keys cuisine typically means fresh fish and seafood harvested from local waters, and you’ll find it on nearly every restaurant menu. For a delicious bite to tempt your taste buds, check out some small, off-the-grid and new-location eateries that Keys locals favor for their flavors.

In Key Largo, you can kick off your shoes, dip your toes in Florida Bay and have front-row seats for stunning sunsets while enjoying locally caught seafood for dinner at Playa Largo Resort & Spa (an Autograph Collection Hotel located at 97450 Overseas Highway). Offered at the luxury resort’s signature restaurant, Sol by the Sea, the Water Table is an immersive and exclusive experience. Visit playalargoresort.com or call 305-853-1001 for reservations (and please note that seating is limited).

Adventure lovers and casual diners are enjoying a bit of a renaissance along Grassy Key in the Middle Keys, with local-centric eateries to satisfy any taste. Not only is the new Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club adding more rooms, but inside its neighboring The Lagoon on Grassy Key, foodies can seek out the 2,000-square-foot Bongos Café & Tropical Beer Garden and Lagoon Saloon at 59300 Overseas Highway.

Bongos Cafe’s’ weekend brunch, available Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is getting really popular with go-to menu items like lobster truffle mac-n-cheese and eggs Benedict — but try the “Pappy Van Waffle,” a buckwheat waffle with crispy Kentucky fried quail and bourbon syrup.

Breakfast with uber-fresh items and cage-free eggs is served 7-11 a.m. on weekdays. And don’t miss the all-day menu from noon to 7 p.m. with a yummy French onion grilled cheese, full-flavored sandwiches, burgers, vegetarian and vegan bites — washed down with one of the Saloon’s craft brews on tap. Visit RideTheLagoon.com/bongos-cafe.

Unpretentious island cuisine with a Latin flair defines the adult dining experience at Milagro Restaurant and Bar, now located at 1402 Simonton St. at the Santa Maria Suites Resort in Key West. (Milagro, FYI, means “miracle” in Spanish.)

Owner-chef Kevin Montoya and his wife Maggie both have backgrounds in food service and cooking, and Kevin is a four-time winner of Key West’s renowned annual Master Chefs Classic.

Milagro is open 5-9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, featuring a menu rich in fresh local fish and seafood items with intriguing bites like grilled octopus over Applewood-smoked bacon polenta (yummy!). Pork, beef and chicken dishes are prepared on a wood grill, and signature items such as blue corn enchiladas are a real treat. Visit milagrorestaurant.net or call 305-440-3534.

And although Islamorada Coffee Roasters isn’t an eatery, its new outlet is becoming a magnet for coffee fans and lovers of sweet treats. Known in the Upper Keys for its roving coffee van with air-roasted organic coffee, the company now has a retail location at 80925 Overseas Highway, just south of Islamorada’s Morada Way Arts District.

Snacks to be purchased include scones, Key lime macaroons, coffee brownies, cinnamon streusel cake, granola and hot oatmeal. The roaster features its custom I.CARE Blend, a mix of small-batch beans from dive destinations Bali, Costa Rica and Honduras. For each $25 1-pound bag of I.CARE Blend beans, $10 is donated to the nonprofit I.CARE for coral restoration efforts in Islamorada.

You’ll also find coffee classes, coffee-scented soy candles, Pirate Hat exfoliating soap made with ground coffee, and house-made masala chai and hot cocoa. Visit islamoradacoffeeroasters.com or call 305-572-3001.

Hungry for information about more restaurant options around the Keys? Just click here.

In the Florida Keys & Key West, fresh seafood is a must for just about every meal — and with the abundance of fish and seafood in Keys waters, it’s no wonder the island chain’s indigenous cuisine relies on it. Keys restaurants range from gourmet hotspots to dockside seafood “shacks” and trendy food trucks where you can choose from a wide variety of options.

Many terrific restaurants along the historic Florida Keys Overseas Highway provide tasty temptations. But if you venture into less-explored areas, the possibilities become virtually endless.

Local fisherman offloading their catches, boats creaking along the dock, pelicans looking for treats, lobster traps neatly stacked and fishing nets being prepared all set the scene for a delicious meal at The Backyard Café at Key Largo Fisheries. This 50-year-old spot remains family-operated, with the third generation working the business. Key Largo Fisheries was opened in 1972 and has blossomed into the full-fledged wholesale, retail and cafe emporium it is today.

Fresh locally caught seafood is on the menu at this working waterfront eatery. Diners can enjoy stone crab claws (when in season of course), Florida lobster, shrimp, snapper and more. Whether it’s lightly grilled in a delicious sandwich or battered and fried on a platter, the freshness of Florida seafood comes through — and you might even run into the fisherman who caught your meal.

Continuing south to Islamorada, you’ll find another local favorite: Bad Boy Burrito. Located off the highway, it’s a worthwhile excursion for people seeking authentic Mexican food combined with fresh local seafood.

Standouts include Cayo Hueso Fish Tacos, grilled local fresh fish served on handmade corn tortillas with special verde sauce and a choice of toppings, and Baja Fish Tacos, fried local fish served on flour tortillas with freshly made pico de gallo and chipotle mayonnaise. Meat lovers can sample one of Bad Boy’s signature burritos with either pork carnitas, ground Kobe beef or skirt steak complete with a choice of toppings. Plus, you can pair your meal with a refreshing watermelon agua fresca or limeade.

The emporium has been featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” — and, as show host Guy Fieri can attest, a visit to Bad Boy is well worth it.

Hidden away on the Boot Key Harbor Waterway in Marathon stands the Chiki Tiki Bar & Grille at Burdines Waterfront. Locals who frequent the restaurant just call it “Burdines,” and its reasonable prices and delicious food make it a popular stop.

The Chiki Tiki is up a flight of stairs, which means you can enjoy a lovely breeze and a great view of the Florida Keys’ famous sunsets. Delectable offerings include fresh dolphin (mahi-mahi) sandwiches, certified Angus beef burgers and the signature tower of fries.

And while Key lime pie can be found on almost every menu, the Chiki Tiki’s version is fried! Rolled in a tortilla and then deep fried, this unexpected take on Key lime pie will keep you coming back for more.

Journey farther south into the Big Pine and Lower Keys region and discover an oasis tucked away just off the highway. Kiki’s Sandbar Bar & Grille is an easygoing beachfront eatery doling out pub grub and seafood dishes. Attractions include a patio, boat dock and beachside seating.

A locals’ hangout (and popular wedding locale), Kiki’s serves up blackened shrimp tacos, a grilled snapper filet sandwich and other down-home Keys fare. Anglers coming in from a day of fishing can have the chef cook their catch and grab an ice-cold refreshment. Kiki’s also offers nightly live music in a relaxed, pet-friendly and laid-back atmosphere.

Rounding out the list of foodie favorites is Pepe’s Café in Key West. The oldest restaurant on the island (a Cuban fisherman opened the place in 1909), Pepe’s is worth a visit for the history alone — though it’s the food that keeps people coming back again and again.

The restaurant serves everything from mouthwatering classic breakfasts that include hearty omelets, pancakes and homemade granola to burgers and blackened fish sandwiches at lunch and juicy pork chops and steaks for dinner. The eatery’s motto is “a fairly good place, for quite a long while” — but that’s far too unassuming to describe a visit to Pepe’s.

With a range of options for even the most discerning diner, it’s easy to see why taking the road less traveled in the Florida Keys can lead to some truly outstanding culinary experiences. So why not indulge yourself and do just that?

Recently I started daydreaming about my marathon family get-togethers with endless mouthwatering food during the Thanksgiving holidays. Then hunger pangs quickly ensued and motivated me to get together with my dinner cohort and “bestie” Mike for a decadent dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.

With so many incredible eateries in Key West, choosing a restaurant can be quite the conundrum. I decided on a gay owned and operated restaurant, the Flaming Buoy Filet Co.

Partners and co-owners Fred Isch and Richard Scot Forste have delighted dinners in Key West for over 10 years and have always received rave reviews — including one from the New York Times.

The “new American” restaurant serves up scrumptious dishes inspired by the owners’ mothers’ and grandmothers’ favorite recipes featuring local seafood, meats, tropical fruits and Cuban flavors.

The restaurant’s interior space is just as pleasing as the food, with its beautiful artwork, table decor and an elegant bar area. All the tables are socially distanced and they do a great job of adhering to the CDC’s COVID guidelines for indoor dining.

Mike and I chose to go with an outdoor table for two just in case we had any juicy stories to catch up on in private.

The restaurant, located only two doors down from the Tropic Cinema, is the perfect spot for a dinner-and-movie night out (FYI, show your movie ticket receipt and receive a 10 percent discount on food).

You can also get special values at over a dozen Key West restaurants by joining Tropic’s premium membership program.

In perfect “bestie” fashion, Mike and I decided to share appetizers, a main course and even dessert this time around.

Our fantastic server Kyle helped us choose a bottle of wine that we could both agree on by providing a few sample sips of select wines. We selected a Macedonian white Jordanov Rkaciteli, which had a delightful crisp citrus flavor.

We started out with two appetizers: the tomato basil bisque and the caprese flatbread.

“OMG,” Mike commented. “This is the best bisque I’ve ever had!”

The flatbread was melt-in-your-mouth delicious and even better when dipped in the creamy goodness of the tomato basil masterpiece.

After much back-and-forth banter, we decided on the Filet Co. Three-Way for our main course. The dish consisted of a ground beef chili with dark chocolate and delightfully unique spices over an al dente spaghetti with cheddar cheese and sour cream.

The piping hot dish was the perfect choice for the gorgeous cool evening with pleasant island breezes.

Then after I loosened my belt a notch, we both agreed not to let the culinary experience end quite yet — and ordered the avocado Key lime cheesecake.

I let Mike have first dibs and watched as his eyes seemed to pop out of his head and he appeared to be slipping into a happy food coma after his first bite (so yummy!).

The Flaming Buoy, located at 424 Eaton St., is open daily from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.   Please note only beer and wine are served, and reservations are recommended.

If this blog whets your appetite for exploring Key West’s dining scene on your next island getaway, start by checking out some of these tasty spots.

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