AmericanPressTravelNews–April 28th, Bob and Barb Epstein’s New book: “Florida Keys Best Restaurants” also includes best marinas, dive shop, water boards, gift shops, museums including a great dive museum. 141-pages in color plus cover and back of book of the images & descriptions of the best of the best restaurants from Key Largo to Key West. Historical images of fishing Presidents, early travel in the Keys, railroad, old cars, image of the old toll booth, the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Keys, Pennecamp Park underwater State Park, Robbies Marina and great, really great seafood restaurant, really worthwhile crafts and giftshops, and so much more, including best and juiciest Key Lime Pies. Book is being sold for 19.95 personalized if you like and that price includes postage anywhere USA. Go: bobandbarb@aptravelnews.com
A platter that still brings salivation! Crab cake, coconut shrimp, cracked conch, ceviche of lobster and conch, conch fritters and mango sauces as well as other tropical dips.At Sharkey’s in Key Largo-we had a blast and our taste-buds did too!
Shrimp fritters, moist and extremely tasty. The Cracked Conch-a favorite of mine and about a million other Keys visitors!
AmericanPressTravelNews-Sat January 14th, Islamorada, FL. Bob and Barb just invaded the Shrimp Shack for their seafood fixes.
Nautical all the way! Comfort food, and beverages that will please any palate!Shrimp and Grits was so tasty, we are spoiled again! The sauce is king with this dish-combined with the correct grit flavors and consistency, as well as, naturally super-fresh shrimp and voila!Chicken loaded with an incredible sauce and veggie melange! Called the Continental Chicken dish!
I love Conch, no not just the Conch Republic, but the big Sea Cow browser called the Conch, a gentle delicious snail that lives in a mini palace people from around the world collect at shell shops, and road-side gift displays, to sit on their do-dad tables. At the Shrimp Shack the critter is fried and served with a pungent sauce that is about the best slice of seafood possible. The Shrimp Shack is a family owned business that opened in Dec. 2011. Since that time they have been serving delicious food to their customers and have become a “go-to-place” for Islamorada, FL. Keys locals. The restaurant is run by the mother, daughter team of Jill and Morgan who bring out their family recipes from their kitchen and onto the plate. They were discovered by Guy Fieri and were featured on Diners Drive-in’s and Dives! Guy who has eaten his way across America loved the shrimp Fritters as we did and the “Senator” style local catch of the day. The episode is named “Smoke and Seafood.” They are closed Wednesday’s and are located at 81901 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL just down from The Guy Harvey Outpost Resort. Phone: 305-664-8443 email: islamoradashrimpshack@aol.com
Key Lime Pie, original recipe, but with lemon meringue “high top.” So good you can finish off a quart of milk with this honey of a pie! This omelette is made with real blue crab an asparagus. Topped with a sauce that came down from heaven! Loved it! Definitely large enough for two! Regular Mango Mike’s Special breakfast that comes with pancakes, two eggs, bacon, grits, sausages and hot Maple Syrup.
AmericanPresstravelNews-January 5th,–Islamorada, FL., Keys-Bob and Barb, “On the Road Again” and Stopping to Smell the Roses” & Key Lime pie. We love mom and pops breakfast and lunch spots. They have a special kind of character, and they also produce very custom dishes that the big box guys just cannot do based on logistics, and corporate structure. Mangrove Mikes caters, offers “killer” breakfasts and lunches and is a favorite meeting place over coffee and hot cakes, in Islamorada. Over 40-years ago, I had breakfast here with many of the old “salts” and charter captains that fished out of this fishing and diving town.Check out their menu on-line at www.mangrovemikes.com Indoors they have those old fashioned counters, booths and tables too. They also do Island parties out back, on the Gulf of Mex. for from 10-1,000 guests. Weddings, picnics, reunions or whatever kind of group. Mike said “bring it on and we’ll set it up!” Flip flops, no problem, that’s part of their dress code! M.Mikes is next door to the Sunset Inn and Seafood Market, MM 82.2 Bayside, Islamorada phone 305-664-8022
Bayside Gourmet is much more than a great restaurant. It offers a Bakery, Deli, Pizzeria (WOW Pizza, just like Brooklyn of old) and the muffins we took home to try were stuffed-delicious with or without coffee or tea.
AmericanPressTravelNews-December 26th, Islamorada, FL. Keys. Today we are profiling “Bayside Gourmet of Islamorada.” Barb and I have been dining our way up and down the Keys in our pursuit of the best restaurants in the Keys. “Our new, updated book titled: “The Best Restaurants in the Florida Keys” is well on its way towards completion, and the publishers editors, for final once over, before printing.
We enjoyed the service, the aromas from the grill and bakery and generally and particularly the dishes we tasted and ate.
So what were some of the more than 34-daily offerings and specials that are “to live for”: Well, we tried the pizza, so well created and tasty, almost exactly like we remembered as kids living in New York, from the best pizza throwers ever! Moist and absolutely done to perfection! So we also tried one of the 5-gourmet sandwiches-the Tavernier, best cheese and gourmet meat sandwich in the Keys, and we tried Ahi (tuna filet) flown in from Hawaii-spectacular fat content and flavor was amazing. We finished off our sojourn in this gourmet; at down to earth prices, with true Jersey Shore Cheesecake topped with fresh strawberry slices. Sure they have Key Lime and Choco Mousse pie, but come on now, would we pass on “real” Cheesecake? Eat in or take out and even delivery 305-735-4471 82758 Overseas Hywy. MM 82.7 Islamorada, FL. Keys 3036
Full of bakery, deli and some of the greatest tasting muffins, but most of all nice and friendly staff!Ahi Tuna dish was extremely delicious!!Ahi Tuna tartar dish was unbelievable. The tuna is flown in from Hawaii a few times per week. I had vowed never to eat anything that’s raw or nearly raw. But, after tasting and enjoying this dish, I’ve changed my mind to in the affirmative, but only if I trust the restaurant as I did Bayside Gourmet. Also on the table was the Tavernier Sandwich. Fresh mozzarella, imported proscuitto, tomato and fresh basil, drizzled with virgin olive oil and warmed on a fresh focaccia bread. Pizza, ah the pizza, best we have had in the Keys!!!!!!!Local, regional and national favorites too!Tavernier Key sandwich, couldn’t put it down!Plenty of comfy counter and tables and chairs. Lots of great sociality at Bayside Gourmet as we witnessed later on when counter filled for lunch!
