Key West is not lacking on bar to check out. One important stop is to the Green Parrot. This is one of the oldest bars, dating back to 1890. I had to go visit and be a part of history.
I was excited when I walked in and smelt popcorn. They had a machine all set up and I was able to help myself. I love popcorn and it is a great snack while enjoying a drink and fun conversation with locals. Even the roosters walked in to enjoy the popcorn that fell on the floor.
They had a couple of unique cocktails on their menu. I chose the Parrot Punch. They used Sailor Jerry spiced rum, orange and pineapple juice, and a splash of grenadine. They even served it in a souvenir cup. The drink was sweet with just a slight tang because of the acid in the fruit juices.
This was a fun place to hang out. I was able to meet several
locals who gave me even more suggestions of places to check out on my visit to
Key West. This should definitely be a place to stop by if you are looking for a
cold drink.
At this point on my trip to Key West, I had hit most of the
hot spots in the main areas, like Duval Street. Now it was time for me to venture
down to the marina area. There were several shops and restaurants around that
area that I wanted to check out.
Waterfront Brewery was one of those stops. The open walls and windows created a wonderful cross breeze through the restaurant that really helped remind me that I was on vacation.
This restaurant was perfect for the whole family. They had a large arcade in the back that was perfect for kids and the adults who are kids at heart.
They had a large selection of beers to chose from. It is a great place to try something local. I went for the Crazy Lady!
Now I had been trying conch all over the island. Waterfront Brewery offered something a little different from what I had been seeing. They created a Bahamian Red Conch chowder. This chowder reminded me of a Manhattan clam chowder with a savory broth and loaded with fresh vegetables. The chowder packed a bold taste from the cracked black pepper they added. The conch was cut up into small tender pieces.
This was a great stop for a quick bite to eat and some cold refreshments. The view is also spectacular. I would definitely go back to try something else.
I headed back to Key West because I had such a blast the last time. I made sure to hit some places I missed last time. Sandbar was one of those places. I absolutely loved this place. I ended up visiting them three separate times during my trip.
My first visit I was just getting the lay of the land. They were a sports bar first and foremost. They had so many TVs throughout the restaurant, you would never miss a minute of any game.
They also had huge open doors. It let in such a wonderful coastal cross breeze. Those open doors also allowed for the local roosters to roam around. I never got use to that, especially when they crowed in the morning.
For this first visit I started off with a local Key Lime cider. I expected it to be full of lime flavor, but it really did not. But it was still refreshing.
For food, I had to try their Stone Crab chowder. I went for it because I was not conch. I had eaten so much conch it was nice to try something different.
I loved the chunky potatoes, carrots, and sweet corn they
put in the creamy broth. The crab meat was sweet. I really wish there was more
of it in the chowder. The garlic bread they served on the side went well with
the flavor of the broth.
Since this was a sports bar, ordering some wings was a must. I went for the Joey Style wings. These wings were fried and coated with a hot buffalo sauce and bbq sauce. Then they chargrilled the wings for extra crispiness.
These wings were amazing. The skin of the wing was extra
crispy just the way I like it. The meat was juicy. Creativity in the spice
department came from blending buffalo sauce and bbq sauce. The heat and sweet
had extraordinary taste.
These wings were so good I ordered them again when I went back for another visit. They were just as good the second time. The kitchen is very consistent with hoe they prepare these.
During this second visit I also tried their queso dip with French fries. The fries were hot out of the fryer, so they were nice and crispy. The queso came out in a tortilla shell bowl. The cheese was extremely creamy. There was a slight amount of heat from the jalapenos, which created a tango across my tongue. I really enjoyed eating the queso with fries verses tortilla chips.
My third visit was because of a recommendation from my previous bartender. She was explaining that each day they had a different food special. This day was the mac and cheese with bbq pilled pork.
The mac and cheese extraordinarily creamy. The pulled pork
was loaded on top. I did not mix the pork into the mac and cheese. I just
combined the two when I took a bite. It created the perfect smoky, smooth bbq
flavor.
In addition to all the great food I ate at Sandbar, I also
enjoyed some cocktails. They have a fun assortment of Hurricanes, all at
different category strengths. It’s a fun play on the storms in Florida.
I did not make it all the way to a category 5 but I did
enjoy categories 1,2 and 3.
Category 1 – This was a blend of light rum, triple sec, and the homemade Sandbar hurricane mix.
Category 2 – This one was slightly stronger. It was the same mix as the category 1 but with a shot of Spiced rum on top.
Category 3 – Once again this was even stronger. This one combined both light and spiced rum, triple sec, and it was topped off with a dark rum floater.
All the hurricanes were fun to drink. They were nice ad
cold on a hot Florida day. They were definitely sweet so be prepared for that.
I cannot recommend Sandbar Sports Grill enough. I enjoyed every visit. The next time I visit Key West I am heading there first.
If there was one place I needed to visit when I was in Key West, it was Sloppy Joe’s.
This place is an institution on Duval Street since 1937. They say Ernest Hemingway use to frequent this establishment. The place was packed with people. It was hard to get a spot at their bar. They had some great bands entertaining the crowds.
Since I had been eating all day at other places I just ordered a cocktail. I went for the Hemingway Mojito. What makes this mojito special is that they use Papa’s Pilar Rum. Pilar rum is made right there in Key West. You can go on a tour and do a tasting of the rums. It is just a few blocks away from the restaurant.
This mojito was sweet and full of fresh mint. Plus, I got a
souvenir cup.
While I was enjoying the live music, I ordered another cocktail. This time I went for the Sloppy Rita. This was tequila, Gran Gala, sour mix, orange juice, and a splash of club soda. This was not as sweet as the last drink. It had a nice kick to it because of the tart taste.
This was a fun, lively place. I would want to come back on
an empty stomach so that I could try their actual sloppy joe.
Check them out at www.sloppyjoes.com They have live cameras at the bar so you can check out what is going on.
Key lime pie is synonymous with Key West. When I was walking the streets, I counted at least three key lime pie shops. Plus, every restaurant has the pie on their dessert menus. However, I was on a mission to find a specific shop, the Key Lime Pie Co. I had seen this shop on the television show, The Profit.
When I walked in I was greeted by a huge glass window that allowed me to watch them prepare the pies. It all started with them filling the pie pans with the graham cracker crust. They moved so fast. They clearly go through dozens of pies each day.
They offered two kinds of key lime pies – regular or extra tangy. The friendly woman behind the counter allowed me to taste a sample of each. I was planning on buying an entire pie to take home, so I wanted to make sure I got the perfect flavor. I really liked the extra tangy one. It had a great tart kick that made my lips pucker up. It was then calmed down with the fresh, smooth whipped cream that they put on top.
Since I was taking the pie home and was not going to eat it
right away, I was able to get a frozen pie. This way it could stay fresh till I
got home and could share it with my friends. The bad part is I forgot to take a
picture of the pie before we dove into it.
So you need to check them out for yourself. Visit their website at www.keylimepieco.com
Located on Duval Street is a small little place called The Conch Shack. A friend of mine recommended that I check them out because they have awesome conch fritters.
There was a long line when I got there. I waited my turn
patiently, smelling the fresh fritters being cooked. When I finally got to the
window I quickly ordered my conch fritters so that they could be made quickly
too. I was hungry!
It would take a few minutes to get my order because they
make them once you order; this allows them to be nice and hot. Luckily, I was
able to grab a seat at their little bar. There are not many seats. While I waited I was able to do some great
people watching on Duval Street.
When I got my fritters, they were piping hot. I could not touch them for a while. Once they cooled off I was able to open them up and see all the pieces of fresh conch. They were very generous with the amount. The seasoning they used in the batter was subtle and did not overpower the briny flavor of the conch.
They served a fresh made tarter sauce on the side. I tired a few bites with the sauce, but I preferred the fritters plain.
This was a fun little place. It’s perfect to get a quick bite to eat. Make sure you have cash because that is all they take. Check them out at www.myconchshack.com
Walking around Duval Street in Key West really worked up my appetite and made me thirsty. I passed a bar called Island Dog that looked popular, so I stopped in.
What better way to celebrate being in Key West than with a cocktail called a Key Lime Colada. They blended a Pina Colada mix with Don Q coconut rum and Keke’s key lime liqueur. They “salted” the rim of the glass with crushed cookies to be reminiscent of the graham cracker crust of a key lime pie. It was extremely clever. I could taste the coconut flavor from the Pina Colada with a hint of the key lime. It was almost like a dessert.
One of the things that the Key’s are known for in conch. Conch is a mollusk that live in those beautiful seashells you find at souvenir shops. I wanted to make sure that I tried a few conch items that were on the menu.
I started with their white conch “chowdah”. They had tons of conch in the creamy white broth that was loaded with potatoes, bacon, and fresh herbs. It reminded me of a clam chowder.
The conch was tender and cut into small pieces which made it easy to eat. They used a ton of fresh potatoes that were tender as well. The bacon added a little crunch and smoky flavor. It was a great creamy soup.
I also wanted to try the conch fritters. These are most certainly a Key West tradition. Tender pieces of conch were mixed with a batter that reminded me of hush puppies. They deep fried the fritters until they were extra crispy on the outside.
When I opened the fritter, steam just poured out. The seasoning they added to the batter was savory and sweet. It paired well with the conch that was slightly salty. The fritters were also really good when dipped in the fresh cocktail sauce. It added a little zip to each bite.
I did make a second visit to Island Dogs Bar during my trip
to Key West. When I went back I ordered the chargrilled oysters. I was excited
to see these on the menu which is why I went back.
These delicious oysters came out sizzling on the tray. I could not wait to dig in, but I needed to wait a few minutes to allow them to cool down. They were too hot to pick up.
The oyster meat was extremely tender. The garlic butter that they were cooked in was full of flavor. The parmesan cheese that was sprinkled on top added a great salty taste that accented the briny taste of the oyster.
I was so glad that I went to Island Dogs Bar twice. It
allowed me to really experience what they had to offer. I highly recommend
checking them out in Key West. Check out their website at www.islanddogsbar.com
