Good restaurant for evening meal

Hi everyone. My wife and I are excited, first trip to the Keys and will be leaving in about 1 week for a 1 week trip.

We would like to get some dinner recommendations in advance from the locals....we will be staying in Key Largo for one night and would like to hear about your favorite restaurants so we can compile a short list. We are not looking for chains, would like a local, perhaps %26#39;hidden%26#39; gem. We are willing to pay for good food and experience, but do not want $40 a plate snooty. Our tastes are wide open - just no sushi (regular seafood ok:)

What would you all recommend, I have my pen handy.

Thanks

Good restaurant for evening meal

Snooks Bayside Grill, heard just today of a group of 3 that all had excellent dinners, while watching the sunset.

Sundowners is well known, but I think overpriced for the food.

Hobo%26#39;s is a local favorite, much more casual.

The Fish House has a great reputation, but again I think overpriced.

The Conch house also has a good reputation, but I have not eaten anything but breakfast there.

Good restaurant for evening meal

I have lived in Key Largo my whole life, graduated from high school and now work in a tourist related field. I always recommend these restaurants and get excellent feedback - Key Largo Conch House, Encore, Mandalay,and Buzzard%26#39;s Roost. They are all locally owned, have excellent food and prices.

Thanks!

I will look for these establishment%26#39;s names when we are visiting in about a week:)

I very much appreciate your input.

I also live in Key Largo and eat out nearly everyday. Snooks at MM99 is great for happy hour drinks and to watch the sunset, since they are on the bay. I do not eat there.

Sundowners is also on the bay and a pleasant setting at MM104. The food is good as is service. They keep increasing their prices and the last time my boyfriend and I went there by boat for burgers for lunch (1 beer, 1 ice tea), the bill was $35. We think they are overpriced.

Fish House%26#39;s Encore restaurant is absolutely my favorite. The have a garden patio (no water view) and absolutely superb food %26amp; service. Dinner for 2 (1 wine, 1 ice tea) runs $60+.

Mandalay restaurant has reopened about a week ago as they were part of Cay Clubs bankruptcy process. Chef Lupe from Lazy Days is now there. Should make a difference in their food, though I have not had a chance to go.

Buzzard%26#39;s Roost at MM106 has a view of the ocean and is on a canal. You can sit inside or outside. The service is excellent and the food can vary depending on the day. I have had superb food and average food. They only serve beer %26amp; wine (and non alcoholic drinks). They are probably considered one of several %26#39;best kept secrets%26#39; locals restaurants.

Our newest place in Key Largo, just open 2 weeks, is the Big Chill at MM104. They have a beautiful big tiki bar on the water with happy hour $1 beer from 4-6. It%26#39;s a good place to hang out and enjoy being in Key Largo. I have eaten here twice and found the food average and very overpriced (6 oysters, small salad %26amp; ice tea $18). Good place for drinks only.

Hope this helps.

Where are you staying the other 6 nights?

First thing we did when we got to town was ask at the Bank and the Post Office where to eat. They both recommended Key Largo Conch House. It has a great location in a tropical garden and excellent food. We also were told about the newly reopened Mandalay, also excellent. We had a great Conch appetizer there and loved being on the water.

We also visited Key Largo and visited MANY places. For a ';Hidden Gem';, go to Ballyhoo%26#39;s. It was across form our hotel, Kon Kai and it was by far the BEST meal we had. It was not too pricey, food was excellent and our server~Karen~was the best. one recommendation: Call For A Reservation. The place gets filled quickly. We ate there 3 nights and waited for a table, about 25 min the first night, but made reservations at our servers request the remaining nights. PERFECT!

We ate at Snappers and it was scrumptious! Great atmosphere too, as it is right on the water with a dock and some feeding fish. I ordered Salmon and it was the best Salmon I%26#39;ve ever had. Another in my party ordered a lobster tail appetizer and I took a picture of it, it looked so good.

My garden salad was GREAT! I want it right now!

There was also live music.

I second Ballyhoo%26#39;s.

Snappers, Fish House/Fish House Encore, %26amp; Ballyhoo are our fav%26#39;s. There is also a small breakfast resturant on the North side of 1 that is great! (The name is on the tip of my tounge... Can anyone help?)