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OUR TOP 10 FAVORITE KEY WEST RESTAURANTS

Posted by Dean in Dining Out, Key West's Top 10's

We are not foodies—we are professional diners. Our kitchen is certainly more decorative than utilitarian. Much to the amusement of our friends, we eat out every night of the week. Luckily, we live in a small town that offers big city choices when it comes to dining out.

Compiling this list of Our Top 10 Favorite Key West Restaurants was a lot of fun! Some of our top pics are casual and some are fancy. Some of them are reasonably priced and some are a bit pricey. Some require a reservation and some don’t. All of our favorites keep us coming back with terrific food, smiling faces, and great value.

Keith & Dean

OUR TOP 10 FAVORITE KEY WEST RESTAURANTS

10. Roostica Wood-Fire Pizzeria, 5620 Macdonald Avenue, Key West, Florida
305-296-4999, www.roostica.com
The best place for pizza in Key West! We love the Mixed Green Garden Salad, Margherita Pizza, and Chicken Parmesan.

9. El Meson de Pepe, 410 Wall Street, Key West, Florida
305-295-2620, www.elmesondepepe.com
Our favorite place for Cuban food on the island. We love the live music, Cuban bread, and ordering by the numbers. We can’t get away from ordering #61 Picadillo Habanero and #92 Mahi Mahi con Salsa de Camarones!

8. Mangia Mangia Pasta Cafe, 900 Southard Street, Key West, Florida
305-294-2469, www.mangia-mangia.com
Great homemade pasta keeps us coming back! We love the Lobster Linguine, Spaghettini Schmappellini, and Grilled Fresh Atlantic Salmon.

7. Nine One Five, 915 Duval Street, Key West, Florida
305-296-0669, www.915duval.com
Fabulous food and great people watching from the front porch! We love the Caesar Salad, Grass Fed 8oz Burger, and the Soul Mama Seafood Soup. Whatever you choose, order the Cone of Fries!

6. Chico’s Cantina, 5230 Highway 1, Key West, Florida
305-296-4714, www.chicoscantina.com
Key West’s best Mexican food! We are always treated like family at Chico’s. We love the Chips and Salsa, Cheese Crisp, Taco Salad, and Chicken Enchiladas.

5. Latitudes, 245 Front Street, Key West, Florida
305-292-5394, www.westinsunsetkeycottages.com/latitudes
Our favorite place to celebrate a special occasion. We love the boat ride to Sunset Key, dining on the porch, and the gorgeous sunset views. The Pan Seared Snapper and the Honey & Ancho Chile Crusted Waygu Beef Skirt Steak cannot be beat.

4. Salute! On The Beach, 1000 Atlantic Boulevard, Key West, Florida
305-292-1117, www.saluteonthebeach.com
The best lunch spot on the island. We love the Old Key West feel, beautiful ocean views, and entertaining people watching on Higgs Beach! The Green Salad, Shrimp Salad Sandwich, and Carrie’s Gazpacho keeps us coming back.

3. The Café, 509 Southard Street, Key West, Florida
305-296-5515, www.thecafekw.com
Delicious and healthy options galore! The Café has the best Spinach Artichoke Dip on the planet. We love the Cream of Tomato Soup, Truffled French Fries, Falafel Sandwich, Grilled Portobella Mushroom Salad, and Café ‘Veggie’ Veggie Burger.

2. Santiago’s Bodega, 207 Petronia Street, Key West, Florida
305-296-7691, www.santiagosbodega.com
Our favorite place to meet friends for dinner. We love the large selection of tapas to share. The Spinach Salad, Dates, Croquettas, Camembert Wedge, and Miniature Quesadillas are always on our list. Save room for the amazing Bread Pudding!

★1. The Flaming Buoy Filet Company, 1100 Packer Street, Key West, Florida,
305-295-7970, www.theflamingbuoy.com
We love The Flaming Buoy Filet Company! Many happy memories have been made at this charming and acclaimed, off the beaten path, Key West treasure. Scott, Fred, and their amazing staff always welcome us with open arms. We love the Lobster Macaroni & Cheese, Iceberg Lettuce Wedge, Seafood Marinara, The Filet Co. Three Way, and Spicy Chocolate Quesadilla. The Flaming Buoy Filet Company was an easy pick for our absolute favorite Key West restaurant.

The Flaming Buoy Filet Company. Our top pick! — The Flaming Buoy Filet Company. Our top restaurant pick!

2026 Seidenberg Avenue, Key West, Florida—SOLD $925,000.

Posted by Dean in Homes We Love

We first fell in love with 2026 Seidenberg Avenue when the midcentury modern gem captured our attention in Leslie Linsley’s gorgeous coffee table book, Key West: A Tropical Lifestyle.

Our friends Guillermo Orozco and Kent Ducote not only renovated the 1950’s home, they created a one-of-a-kind Key West masterpiece. Architect, Guillermo Orozco saw past the original construction’s small rooms, lack of charm, and dark kitchen to envision a modern, light-filled home that would suit a contemporary lifestyle.

Rick Worth's custom mural is enchanting. — Rick Worth’s custom mural is enchanting!

Style abounds throughout the three bedroom/2 bath home. We love the neutral, off-white, and earthy tones that bathe the home in serenity. The inviting living/dining room is perfect for visiting with friends and family. Painted by Key West artist, Rick Worth, a beautiful wall mural of a mangrove forest turns the sitting room into a magical retreat. The modern kitchen features custom cherry wood cabinetry, honed-slate countertops, stainless steel appliances, a wine cooler, and a reverse osmosis water purifier. Overlooking the pool and garden, the upstairs master bedroom opens to an intimate balcony.

Paradise clearly exists in the garden of the home. The stunning black lagoon pool, coral stone waterfall, and tropical plantings are enchanting. The alluring outdoor pavilion is the perfect embodiment of outdoor island living at its best.

We wish we were moving into 2026 Seidenberg Avenue. What a gem!

Keith & Dean

Square 1: Key West’s Best New Restaurant

Posted by Dean in Dining Out

We love Square 1's stylish décor! — We love Square 1’s stylish décor!

The spinach-ricotta gundi is devine! — The spinach-ricotta gundi is divine!

We love the latest incarnation of Square 1—now open in the legendary restaurant’s familiar location at 1075 Duval Street. Just down from our office in Duval Square, the new Square 1 premiered to rave reviews just a few weeks ago. With the culinary talents behind Banana Café and The Café joining forces to reopen the Key West favorite, Square 1 will undoubtedly continue to be a go-to dining destination for locals and visitors alike.

The seafood bouillabaisse special is a hit!

On Saturday evening, we joined our friends Jack and Kevin for another visit to the new Square 1. We were delighted once again with the wonderful service, creative cuisine, and stylish décor. Danielle, a familiar face from Banana Café, greeted us fondly. As soon as the cordial hostess showed us to our cozy table by the window, we were introduced to our attentive waiter, who kept us wanting for nothing during our lengthy stay. With a wide array of small plates, entrees, and specials to choose from, it was hard to decide what to order. For starters, we selected the devils on horseback, the café cream of tomato soup, and the chef was kind enough to create a special green salad just for Dean. For our entrees, Jack chose a wonderful seafood bouillabaisse special, Kevin and Dean were very pleased with their grilled hanger steaks, and I was thrilled with my spinach-ricotta gundi. We could not say enough about the delicious food, generous table, comfortable chairs, fashionable surroundings, and wonderful artistic touches. Without being rushed to turnover our table, we were free to enjoy desserts, after dinner drinks, and a special night out with friends.

Square 1 gets our vote for the best new restaurant on the island!

Keith & Dean

Click here to take a look at Square 1’s exquisite menu.

TOP 10 PAST KEY WEST FANTASY FEST THEMES

Posted by Dean in Key West's Top 10's

To follow, or not to follow the Fantasy Fest theme? That is the question. Well, it is totally up to you. If the theme turns you on, then go for it. If you are not feeling it, then anything goes. We rarely embrace the 10-day festival’s theme, but it always gets our creative wheels turning.

We just heard that the theme for Key West’s Fantasy Fest 2015 will be All Hallows Eve Intergalactic Freak Show ™. It got us to thinking about our favorite Fantasy Fest themes from years gone by. We came up with our top ten favorites. Perhaps one will ignite a spark of costume creativity for you.

Dean as Neptune for 2011's Aquatic Afrolic! — Dean as Neptune for 2011’s Aquatic Afrolic!

TOP 10 PAST KEY WEST FANTASY FEST THEMES

10. 1988’s Fantasy Fest B.C. ™
9. 1985’s Broadway Fantasies ™
8. 2008’s Pirates, Pundits and Political Party Animals ™
7. 1992’s Halloween in the Devil’s Triangle ™
6. 1983’s Plays of Tennessee Williams
5. 2001’s Secrets of the Zodiac Revealed ™
4. 1984’s 50 Years of Film Fantasy ™
3. 2009’s Villains, Vixens, and Vampires ™
2. 2000’s Circuses and Sideshows ™
★1. 2011’s Aquatic Afrolic ™

Keith & Dean

Click here to visit Fantasy Fest’s website.

Key West’s Fantasy Fest 2014

Posted by Dean in Entertainment

We love Key West’s annual Fantasy Fest! Although we go all out for our Christmas celebration, Fantasy Fest takes the cake. We often refer to it—tongue-in-cheek of course— as our High Holy Days. Every year before the 10-day celebration comes to an end, we are already planning our costumes for the next year and looking forward to enjoying the revelry with houseguests and friends.

Our festivities kicked off on Friday, October 17th with the Royal Coronation Ball on the water at the Southernmost Beach Café. We always love the camaraderie as Key West Locals turnout to thank and support the candidates for King and Queen of Fantasy Fest that have worked so diligently raising money for AIDS Help. As usual, the homespun stage show did not disappoint; leaving us with a year’s worth of stories to tell.

One of our favorite Fantasy Fest events is the relatively new We Cycle Bike Shop’s Zombie Bike Ride. Created by Marky Pierson, Evan Haskell, and Chris Needham in 2009, the Zombie Bike Ride has quickly grown from a couple hundred people to an epic 10,000 undead riders this year! We were thrilled with the new starting location at the East Martello Fort where we could not get enough of the incredibly creative costumes. The amazingly high number of spectators lining the parade route, the perfect October weather, and the memorable time spent with friends, made for a perfect Sunday evening.

The best people watching of the week could be found at Kelly’s Kinky Karnival at Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery on Monday night. We love that this annual event is a true costume party. Everyone must have on a “kinky costume” in order to enter. No doubt, we spied Water and Mary Jo for Omaha working their best Dominatrix and Leather Man gear.

The Masquerade March on Friday was undoubtedly the highlight of our week. Friends gathered at our home on Olivia Street to gear up for the annual people’s parade. We were knocked out by the extraordinary costumes on display. Starting at the far end of the Key West Cemetery, we joined thousands and thousands of costumed revelers strolling through the heart of Old Town. Stopping countless time to get our picture snapped, we could not help but feel like Britney Spears walking a rock and roll red carpet!

The Masquerade March is our favorite Fantasy Fest event!

With “The Fat Lady Sings” Tea Dance on Sunday evening at the new and improved La Te Da, our amazing week of fun and frolic came to a close. Knowing we would soon wave goodbye to our out-of-town friends, our tinge of sadness was overshadowed by our happy memories of Fantasy Fest 2014.

Keith & Dean

Click here to visit Fantasy Fest’s website.

Click here to visit the Zombie Bike Ride’s website.