Yearly Archives: 2012

La Trattoria Oceanside | Updated Review

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Our friends Amy and Kevin are in town this week celebrating their anniversary and they invited us out to dinner with them and their son Kyle last night.  Amy is an avid reader of my reviews and so she asked, “where would Island Genn go to have a nice dinner?” She decided on La Trattoria Oceanside because of my last review but also because it has a nice view, it is not downtown, it is a classy place, and has good food and service.

We had reservations for 7pm but we arrived a few minutes early. We decided to sit at the bar and have a drink before being seated at our table. La Trat, as the locals call it, is known for their martinis. But I had to be difficult and asked the bartender for a mojito which is not something he normally makes. He ran to the kitchen, got some mint, and made me a refreshing mojito even though he did not have to.  (more…)

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ZaZa Pizzeria | Updated Review

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I know that I said that I would probably not be going back here due to the service I experienced last time I was there, but ZaZa Pizzeria is across the street from my house and since we were going out of town the next day we went there to get an overpriced pizza. The inside dining area is still way too loud, so we once again sat outside.

This time our waiter was really good. Yay! He kept on top of everything and was really nice. We ordered salads and pizza. Initially when ZaZa’s opened they did not have pepperoni or other traditional pizza toppings as they were not “traditional Italian” foods. But I guess due to high demand they have added pepperoni to their list of pizza toppings much to my husband’s delight. The salads were good like last time and the pizza was much better than our last experience.  (more…)

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My Dining Pet Peeves: From Point Barrow, Alaska to Key West, Florida

I love going to a good restaurant, and I don’t care if it is fancy or not. Sometimes casual places are just what is called for. But certain things should not happen at any restaurant.

  1. Children screaming
  2. Children running around the dining area
  3. People yelling at each other, especially in a foreign language
  4. Rude and/or absent staff
  5. Bad food

Some of these things are obviously not the fault of the restaurant, but there are things that they can do to fix the problem.

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Chico’s Cantina | Review

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Chico’s Cantina, located at 5230 US HWY 1 on Stock Island serves traditional Mexican fare at reasonable rates. It is a regular spot for Key West locals to gather for lunch or dinner. The casual setting offers both indoor and outdoor seating. I myself eat here often, usually for a quick and delicious lunch.

By far, Chico’s has the best chips and salsa anywhere, and it is prepared fresh each day. But there is a danger with filling up on these before your food arrives. You can choose from steaks, seafood specials, tacos, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, chimichangas, quesadillas, eggs, soups, and salads. Fillings include bean, ground beef, shredded beef, chicken, shredded pork, and cheese. You can choose from several sauces as well, like Verde, chili, melted cheese, and several others. They also have gringo foods like hamburgers and hotdogs (two of the few items that I’ve never eaten here).

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Amigo’s Tortilla Bar | Review

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Amigo’s Tortilla Bar is a fairly new restaurant located on Green Street, directly across the street from Captain Tony’s Saloon. I LOVE Mexican food so I was really excited to try this place. Amigo’s has a great location, a nice website, and a neat menu. The place is very small and seating is mostly bar style which is fine. You are not coming here for a fancy meal. We took up a few bar stools looking out at Captain Tony’s so we had a great view. The waitress came over and was friendly enough. She took our drink orders, and since I ordered the sangria she carded me. She then brought out water for us all and Cokes for those who ordered them. I asked her about the sangria then and she said it was coming. I never saw it so I cannot attest to the taste. But the Coke’s were good.

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Hideaway Cafe | Review

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Seafood Wellington | Hideaway Cafe
Seafood Wellington | Hideaway Cafe

The Hideaway Cafe is located at the Rainbow Bend Resort on Grassy Key. It is seriously hidden away. Unless you knew it was there or you were staying at the resort you would never find it. The resort is an older, but it is right on the beach which is nice, and the view from the restaurant is great. We watched a kiteboarder all throughout dinner.

The Hideaway Cafe’s menu is interesting, mainly seafood with a french flare. All entrees come with a caesar salad, garlic bread, potato, and vegetables. Items include escargot, filet mignon, duck, and several other options. They also serve beer and wine, but no hard alcohol.

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Michael’s | Review

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1/1/20 UPDATE – Michael’s has been permanently closed. 

Michael’s Restaurant is fine dining Key West style, with indoor and outdoor seating available and a romantic atmosphere. I have reviewed Michael’s in the past but it has been quite awhile. And I am happy to report that not much has changed (that is definitely a good thing!). If I was made out of money I would eat here everyday. The food is superb; everything from the appetizers to the desserts were prepared perfectly and presentation was lovely.

Michael’s is best known for its steaks, but they also have a wonderful selection of delicious salads, hors devours, and local seafood. They are also the only place on the island that does fondue (although it is only available at the outdoor bar due to fire precautions).

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