Most recently I experienced a nice lunch at Blue Heaven. First off I really enjoy the over the top “Keys-ey” feel to this Key West restaurant. They have certainly captured the tropical vibe in all the seating areas both inside and out. We opted to sit inside for the air conditioning, but it was pleasant outside as well under the canopy of trees. The inside seating area is small, and the bartender waited on us. She was to the point, but still friendly. And considering she was acting as waitress and bartender, the service was really good. 

My husband chose the cheeseburger with bacon. The burger itself looked amazing and tasted great too. The burger was slightly overdone, but still juicy, and the bacon perfectly crisp. It was served with slices of pickles, shredded lettuce, onion and tomato. Ketchup was on the table and if you want mustard or mayo they will bring it to you. The only downside to his meal was that it didn’t come with the usual fries that accompany a burger because the restaurant does not have a fryer. Instead, it came with mushy breakfast potatoes which did not look appealing nor did they taste that great. Perhaps another option like potato salad would be a more appropriate pairing.

I decided to go with the Southern classic, shrimp and grits which is also what I got the last time I was here for lunch. Presentation was still lovely and it was a decent amount of food. The fruit that accompanied it both tasted great and brightened up the plate. The homemade banana bread was yummy, moist and not overly sweet.  The shrimp, there were 5 or 6 on the plate, did not taste local and their flavor was just okay. I gave one to my husband to try and he declined a second which is unheard of for him. The grits were bland and slightly watery and I had to dress them up with plenty of salt and pepper to make the dish taste better. There was some shredded cheese on top, but more as a garnish and not enough to add to the flavor of the dish. I did enjoy the addition of the scallions which not only acted as a garnish but added some flavor and freshness to the plate. I have to say that this dish was a disappointment and after two attempts years apart, I would not get it here again.

For dessert, we decided to share a piece of the famous Blue Heaven Key Lime Pie. This was the highlight of the meal. It is just the right amount of sweet and tart. And while I know it is not traditional, I prefer whipped cream to meringue, but this one is very tasty and looks amazing to boot. It is a real show stopper and a must try to Key Like Pie aficionados or those looking to try the best Key Lime Pies on the island, as this would certainly be one of them.