FullThrottle
Contributor
Anyone staying in Key Largo, I read an old trip report and regarding Shipwrecks I have to agree. They do have cheap PBR but it's not worth the overall low quality of the food and ambiance. However the servers were trying their best to take care of their guests when I've gone there. And it's right by the Garden Cove dive ops.
I'm surprised that the OP, staying at the Marriot by RR, didn't mention Skipper's. The hotel staff tried to send us that way when we stayed there 6 years ago. I've been to Skipper's twice, and I've never had more indifferent service in any restaurant anywhere. The food is not good either.
Sadly there aren't a lot of great restaurants in KL, because they don't have to be great to get by in the tourist rich environment.
Short list of meh places:
Gilberts. Ok, they have a really nice setting and a nice tiki bar, but they served me calamari that tasted like old bait. You might want to go there for beers, but not for a meal.
Snooks. I like the setting a lot. If ambiance is everything, go to snooks. But the service has been very inconsistent and I always got the feeling that they're just taking advantage of the tourists. Lunch fish tacos are decent, but their unexceptional food makes the prices seem mostly unwarranted.
Fish House. Taking advantage of the tourists with high prices and unexceptional food, and right on the highway. No ambiance.
Lazy Lobster. Ambiance in the big tiki out back is ok, considering it's right on the highway. Food is expensive.
Places I like, not because they're great, but because I at least didn't feel ripped off.
Bayside. Awesome setting for happy hour, decent prices, good service, adequate apps. Wouldn't go for dinner, unless it's beer and apps. And they have live music.
Big Chill. Great happy hour setting, decent prices including happy hour food, decent service. I've made their apps into dinner more than once. And they have live music.
Pilot House. Good setting, nice dockside ambiance, right by Island Ventures. Decent food, good happy hour, dog friendly and has live music. Two thumbs up.
Sharky's. Food's ok. Service mostly ok. Location right by RR and they have live music, so fun.
Num Thai. Ambiance, uh, none. Food is good though. But you have to like sushi. Honestly a bargain for good sushi.
Blackwater Siren. Feels like time travel back to the 80s. When I found this place after two years of living right nearby I thought I'd stepped into a time warp. I was completely unaware they existed. Very "rustic", but cool setting and decent food for the money.
Alabama Jacks. Another time warp. Really unique place, cool setting, good conch salad (which is hard to find these days). But don't go on a weekend, too busy and they go "cash only". It's a cool spot to go by boat.
Hobos. I've heard a lot of positive reviews for them. They do have good conch salad, so thumbs up just for serving it. But they're right on the highway so forget ambiance. They do serve good food though and my wife likes it.
C&C. They're on the highway, but they're not even trying to sell a Keys vibe. It's an upscale bar with good food and quality apps, including wood fired pizza. I always enjoy eating there.
I'm sure there are other spots that deserve mention, but overall Key Largo is not known for its dining. It's apparently not competitive enough to weed out the poor restaurants. Even mediocre spots make enough to stay in business. And sadly Covid pushed out a lot of owners who were not well funded enough to survive, allowing corporate owners to swoop in and buy up some places that were struggling. Generally that has not improved the offerings.
I'm surprised that the OP, staying at the Marriot by RR, didn't mention Skipper's. The hotel staff tried to send us that way when we stayed there 6 years ago. I've been to Skipper's twice, and I've never had more indifferent service in any restaurant anywhere. The food is not good either.
Sadly there aren't a lot of great restaurants in KL, because they don't have to be great to get by in the tourist rich environment.
Short list of meh places:
Gilberts. Ok, they have a really nice setting and a nice tiki bar, but they served me calamari that tasted like old bait. You might want to go there for beers, but not for a meal.
Snooks. I like the setting a lot. If ambiance is everything, go to snooks. But the service has been very inconsistent and I always got the feeling that they're just taking advantage of the tourists. Lunch fish tacos are decent, but their unexceptional food makes the prices seem mostly unwarranted.
Fish House. Taking advantage of the tourists with high prices and unexceptional food, and right on the highway. No ambiance.
Lazy Lobster. Ambiance in the big tiki out back is ok, considering it's right on the highway. Food is expensive.
Places I like, not because they're great, but because I at least didn't feel ripped off.
Bayside. Awesome setting for happy hour, decent prices, good service, adequate apps. Wouldn't go for dinner, unless it's beer and apps. And they have live music.
Big Chill. Great happy hour setting, decent prices including happy hour food, decent service. I've made their apps into dinner more than once. And they have live music.
Pilot House. Good setting, nice dockside ambiance, right by Island Ventures. Decent food, good happy hour, dog friendly and has live music. Two thumbs up.
Sharky's. Food's ok. Service mostly ok. Location right by RR and they have live music, so fun.
Num Thai. Ambiance, uh, none. Food is good though. But you have to like sushi. Honestly a bargain for good sushi.
Blackwater Siren. Feels like time travel back to the 80s. When I found this place after two years of living right nearby I thought I'd stepped into a time warp. I was completely unaware they existed. Very "rustic", but cool setting and decent food for the money.
Alabama Jacks. Another time warp. Really unique place, cool setting, good conch salad (which is hard to find these days). But don't go on a weekend, too busy and they go "cash only". It's a cool spot to go by boat.
Hobos. I've heard a lot of positive reviews for them. They do have good conch salad, so thumbs up just for serving it. But they're right on the highway so forget ambiance. They do serve good food though and my wife likes it.
C&C. They're on the highway, but they're not even trying to sell a Keys vibe. It's an upscale bar with good food and quality apps, including wood fired pizza. I always enjoy eating there.
I'm sure there are other spots that deserve mention, but overall Key Largo is not known for its dining. It's apparently not competitive enough to weed out the poor restaurants. Even mediocre spots make enough to stay in business. And sadly Covid pushed out a lot of owners who were not well funded enough to survive, allowing corporate owners to swoop in and buy up some places that were struggling. Generally that has not improved the offerings.
