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Restaurants in Upper and Middle Keys
Although not known as a culinary hot spot (though always improving), the Upper and Middle Keys do have some excellent restaurants, most of which specialize in seafood. The landmark Green Turtle Inn is alive and well, featuring classic and contemporary Florida cuisine by star chef Andy Niedenthal, a full bar and tasting station, custom catering, gourmet to go, and a Green Turtle product line, all in a beautiful, laid-back rustic environment. The restaurant is flanked by an art gallery and sport-fishing outfitter, making it a one-stop shop for locals and fun-loving tourists who have put Islamorada on the map.
Often, visitors (especially those who fish) take advantage of accommodations that have kitchen facilities and cook their own meals. Some restaurants will even clean and cook your catch, for a fee.
- Seafood
Butterfly Café
With water views and a menu of fresh local seafood, this is an excellent special occasion place. Among the dishes not to miss: mahi mahi grilled or blackened with Key Lime butter; the yellowtail snapper with tropical coulis, and roasted red pepper brandy cream sauce; and a marvelous…$$$Marathon - Seafood
Chef Michael’s
A fine dining, white tablecloth experience with a small indoor dining room and a charming outdoor patio, here the food, not the views, is paramount. Though the fresh seafood selection changes daily, signature dishes typically star hogfish or lionfish, prepared in a multitude of ways,…$$$Islamadora - Seafood
Green Turtle Inn
The iconic Keys restaurant got its name when it started serving green turtle steaks along with gas back in 1947. While the name has stuck, owners have changed, the original building was demolished and revamped for the 21st century (much to the dismay of locals), but the place is…$$$Islamorada - Seafood
Islamorada Fish Company
Pick up a cooler of stone crab claws in season (mid-Oct to Apr), or try the fried-fish sandwiches. It’s a bit of a tourist trap, but it’s a very Keys-y place to stop if even if it’s just for a drink. Lunch is served until 4pm and dinner until 9pm. Keep your eyes open while dining…$Islamorada - Seafood
Island Grill
If you zip too fast over Snake Creek Bridge, you may miss one of the coolest Keys dining experiences around. On the bay just below the bridge, Island Grill is a local favorite, with an good-size outdoor deck and bar and cozy waterfront dining room serving some fresh fare, including…$$Islamorada - American
Key Largo Conch House
A funky, pet friendly spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Key Largo Conch House is exactly that: a gingerbread Victorian set amid lush foliage, complete with resident dog, parrot, wraparound veranda for outdoor dining, and a grandma-core indoor dining room. Food is fresh and…$$Key Largo - Seafood
Keys Fisheries
For many visitors, it’s not a trip to the Keys until you grab a plate of coconut shrimp (or a lobster Reuben) at the counter of this beloved seafood market, plop down at a picnic table overlooking the water, and open up a cold one. Food here is among the freshest in the region, the…$$Marathon - Seafood
Lazy Days
True to its name, this laid-back oceanfront eatery is the quintessence of Keys lifestyle. The chefs here, however, are far from lazy, preparing excellent fresh seafood, seafood pastas, vegetarian pastas, sandwiches, steaks, and chicken. They’ll also cook your catch. Choose from…$$Islamorada - Seafood
Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar
Follow the siren call of the enormous roadside mermaid—you won’t be dashed onto the rocks. This big ol’ fish house and bar with great bay views is a fine spot for a snack, a beer, or breakfast/ lunch/dinner. A good-value menu focuses mainly on seafood; in season, lobster is the way…$$Islamorada - Seafood
Marker 88
Upper Keys institution Marker 88 has been the spot for sunset dinners since the 1970s. That’s still the case, but today new chefs and owners are aiming to make the food equal to the views. They’re doing that by serving fish caught in the Keys’ waters, perhaps in a homemade curry…$$Islamorada - French Fusion
Pierre’s
Set in a two-story British West Indies-style plantation home, candlelit inside, with Tiki torches are outside, and bursting with Moroccan, Indian, and African artifacts, Pierre’s may well be one of the most romantic restaurants in Florida. Especially on the second-floor veranda…$$$Islamadora - BBQ & Seafood
Porky’s Bayside Restaurant & Marina
Our favorite breakfast (served 8-11am) and lunch stop on the way to and from Key West, Porky’s is a waterfront tiki-hut serving down home BBQ (smoked daily on site); fried, raw and taco-ed seafood dishes; and Bloody Marys. Food is served speedily and is reasonably priced, and the…$Key Largo - Seafood/Southern
Sal’s Ballyhoo’s
If you’re driving a bit too fast down south, you may miss this unassuming gem of a restaurant that has been serving fresh seafood for over three decades. A casual space with indoor and outdoor seating, Ballyhoo’s serves fish with a southern twist. The whole fried snapper, for…$Key Largo - Seafood
Snapper’s
A locals’ waterfront favorite, Snapper’s serves fresh seafood caught by local fishermen—or by you (they’ll cook it for you at $16 for 8 ounces a person)! The blackened mahimahi is exceptional and a bargain, complete with salad, vegetable, and choice of starch. There are also three…$Key Largo - Steakhouse
Ziggie and Mad Dog’s
]When former Miami Dolphins player Jim Mandich, aka Mad Dog, bought Ziggie’s Crab Shack from Sigmund “Ziggie” Stockie, he decided to keep the ex-owner’s name up there with his own. Mandich passed away in 2011, but his carnivorous (and football) legacy lives on at this Keys landmark.…$$$Islamorada



