Friday, July 15, 2011

WHERE TO EAT IN BIG PINE & THE LOWER KEYS


BAGEL ISLAND CAFÉ
205 Key Deer Blvd
Big Pine Shopping Center
Big Pine Key
(305) 872-9912
www.bagelislandcoffee.com
Open Mon, Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tues., Weds. & Thurs. 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sun 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

You can’t go wrong with good coffee and fresh bagels and you’ll find both right here along with huge freshly baked muffins and pastries, full breakfasts and an array of subs and sandwiches including an excellent Cuban Sandwich.  Delivery available within 5 miles. $

BIG PINE RESTAURANT
MM 30, Bayside
Big Pine Key
305-872-2790
Open Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
It may not be fancy but this neat little roadside restaurant is really a great place to eat.  Large portions, l2ots of choices and reasonable prices aren’t the only reason locals flock here.  The food is also seriously good and includes standouts like the huge skillet-style breakfast dishes, crispy Corned Beef Hash, BBQ Ribs, Pot Stickers and Yellow Fin Tuna with wasabi and fresh ginger.  FYI: Save room for the Fried Cheesecake and Chocolate Volcano.  Major credit cards. $

BOONDOCKS GRILLE & DRAFT HOUSE
MM 27.5, Bayside
Ramrod Key
(305) 872-4094
www.boondocksus.comwww.boondocksus.com
Open Daily 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
This fun, roadside Tiki Bar is always bustling and even has its own a miniature golf course right outside  The food is nothing out of the ordinary but topping the list is the Crab-Asparagus Soup, Seared Wasabi Tuna and Bang-Bang Shrimp.  Full bar with Weekday Happy Hour from 4 – 6 p.m.
Live entertainment. MC/VISA. $
China Garden
09 Key Deer Blvd
Big Pine Shopping Center
Big Pine Key
(305) 872-8861
Strip Mall Chinese never tasted so good.  You’ll find all the usual selections here but the Moo Shu, Roast Pork and Eggplant in Garlic Sauce are particularly good.  Eat in, take out or get delivery.  Major credit cards. $
CRACKED EGG CAFÉ
MM 30, Bayside
Big Pine Key
(305) 872-7030
Open Daily 6 a.m. – 2 p.m.
This cozy breakfast diner is a true locals joint known for its really good comfort food, big portions, and easy prices.   The Biscuits and Sausage Gravy are really terrific but stick with a 1/2 order unless you have a huge appetite. The Breakfast Enchiladas, Crab Cake Eggs Benedict and Country Fried Steak are also very tasty and you can’t go wrong with the Blackened Mahi-Mahi, Philly Cheesesteak or Crabcake Sandwich. Major Credit Cards.  $
COCO’S KITCHEN
283 Key Deer Blvd
Big Pine Shopping Center,
Big Pine
(305) 872-4495
www.cocoskitchen.com
Open Tues. – Sat.
Breakfast/Lunch: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dinner: 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
One of the best eats in the Lower Keys where generous portions of Cuban dishes are all made from scratch.  You’ll find everything from Breakfast Burritos, Huervos Rancheros, Sandwiches, and Burgers to Taco Platters, Cuban-Style Roast Pork, Churrasco Steak, Ropa Vieja, and Chicken Fricassee. Daily dinner specials, too.  Great coffee and Café Con Leche. Visa/MC.  $
GALLEY GRILL
MM 25.5, Oceanside
Summerland Key
(305) 745-3446
Open Daily for Breakfast & Lunch
This quaint, family-owned restaurant is popular with locals who come here for the big breakfasts  and down home cookin’.  Daily specials like the Meatloaf  are always really good. Indoor & outdoor seating. Beer & Wine.  Major credit cards. $
GEIGER KEY MARINA & SMOKEHOUSE
MM 11, Oceanside
5 Geiger Rd.
Geiger Key
(305) 296-3553
Open Daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Tucked off the beaten path and surrounded by mangroves, this rustic waterfront hideaway retains that
old Florida Keys charm and is a great place to stop for home style BBQ  and local seafood. The Sunday Barbeque Dinner, which starts at 4 p.m., is a real feast and includes Smoked Ribs, BBQ Chicken, Grilled Shrimp Skewers, Grilled Mahi along with lots of yummy sides.. Live music every weekend. Beer and wine. Major credit cards. $
LOOE KEY TIKI BAR
MM 27.5. Oceanside
Ramrod Key
(305) 872-2215
Open 11 a.m. –‘Till
This roadside Tiki draws throngs of locals who appreciate the generous drinks, friendly prices and good casual fare which includes island favorites like the Fried Conch Sandwich, Fried Shrimp Sandwich, Cuban Mix, Fresh Seafood Baskets In addition to the live entertainment, the bartenders here always put on one helluva show.  Full bar with daily Happy Hour from 4 – 7 p.m.   $
MANGROVE MAMA’S
MM 20, Bayside
Surgarloaf Key
(305) 745-3030
Open Daily 11:30 – 10 p.m.
Originally built in the early 1900s as a rail stop, this little local hangout is tucked under banana trees and coconut palms Classic Key's food, indoor/outdoor seating, music in the evenings and weekends.  Every Friday is the All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry and Saturday is Hog Roast night. Indoor and outdoor seating. Full Bar.  Major credit cards.  $

MI CASA MEXICAN BAR & GRILL
MM 31, Bayside
Big Pine Key
(3050 872-8818
www.micasabigpinekey.comwww.micasabigpinekey.com
Open Daily 11 a.m. – 10 p.m
The bar here is always lively  and has great Happy Hour specials from 4 – 6 p.m. and also from 9 – 10 p.m. with dollar Tacos, $2 Drafts, specially priced Wings, Chili Dogs and Classic Margaritas. Live entertainment on Mon & Thurs. nights. Full bar.  Major credit cards. $
NEW ISLAND GRILL
MM 31.2, Bayside
Big Pine Key
(305) 872-3022
Open Daily For Lunch & Dinner
This sports bar and grill is a regular local’s hangout that serves up good casual fare.  Huge sandwiches, fresh pizza and lite bites.  Wide screen TV’s and two coin-op pool tables. Full bar. MC/VISA $

PARROTDISE BAR & GRILLE
MM 28.5, Bayside  at 183 Barry Ave.
Little Torch Key, FL 33042
(305) 872-9989
www.ParrotdiseWaterfront.com
Open Daily 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Birthplace of Big Pecker Wines” and the only waterfront front dining between Marathon and Key West where you can park your boat at the 300' dock and eat right on the beach or dine inside with gorgeous open water views. Owner Keb Leeman's diverse menu focuses on great appetizers, salads, sandwiches on fresh baked breads, Angus Select Burgers and seriously good dinner entrees.  Package store on site.  Full bar with killer daily Happy Hour.  Major credit cards. $
PIZZAWORKS
275 KEY DEER BLVD.
BIG PINE SHOPPING CENTER
BIG PINE KEY
(305) 872-1119
Thin hand-thrown crust, a crispy bottom and very good sauce set the stage for some really good New York-style  pizza which you can get by the slice, whole pie or for just five bucks, the lunch special which includes two slices and a fountain drink. Wine & beer.  Major credit cards. $

SUGARLOAF FOOD COMPANY
MM 17, Bayside
Summerland Key
(305) 744-0631
www.sugarloaffood.comwww.sugarloaffood.com
Open Tues. – Sat. 6:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Chef/Owner, Anne Rodamer, has a passion for delicious food and it shows. You can stop by her little roadside café and grab one of her fabulous Breakfast Wraps with fresh avocado, bacon, lettuce and tomato, home-made baked goods or boxed lunch for a day on the water.  Top Lunch Picks: the Curry Pistachio Chicken Salad and Classic Meatloaf Sandwich -- both are first rate.  BTW: you can’t  leave without trying one of Anne's Key Lime Pistachio Cookies. $

 SQUARE GROUPER BAR & GRILLE
MM 22.5, Oceanside
Cudjoe Key
(305) 745-8880
www.squaregrouperbarandgrill.com
Open Tues. – Sun 11a.m –10 p.m.

A well-executed, inventive menu makes this unassuming roadside spot one of the Keys' top picks.
Two cozy dining rooms, deliciously splashed with apple green and mandarin orange walls, set the stage for wonderful dishes like the Yellow fin Tuna and Avocado Egg rolls, Flash Fried Conch,
Seafood Pasta with key lime butter sauce and other heavenly delights. Excellent boutique wines and small batch brews.  Major credit cards.  $$

THE WHARF BAR & GRILLE
MM 25, Bayside
Summerland Key
(305) 745-3322
www.wharfbarandgrill.com
Open Daily for lunch & Dinner
Sunday Brunch
This small waterfront “Green” restaurant” wins big kudos for the Mussels Diablo, Oyster Baskets, Lobster BLT and Triple Fries – a special combination of seasoned sweet potato, steak and crinkle fries with three different dipping sauces.  Full bar with great flavored margaritas, organic beers and wines.  Indoor and outdoor seating. Fish market on premises. Major credit cards.











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