Fishwife Restaurant and Raw Bar - Review
Fishwife Restaurant and Raw Bar offers Bahamian-inspired seafood as well as options for the non-seafood eater and a full bar in Key West's Bahamas Village.
Fishwife Restaurant and Raw Bar is located right in the heart of downtown Key West in old town on Petronia Street, aka restaurant row. This Key West restaurant is very easy to find and well within walking distance from Duval Street. Open seven days, this restaurant takes reservations. They offer inside and outside seating, although in the summer months it will be warm outside in both locations. Parking is always a bit challenging when near Duval Street but there is some off street paid parking nearby.
Pricing
$ $ $ $ $
Service
8/10
Atmosphere
9/10
The Food
8/10
223 Petronia St, Key West, FL 33040
Fishwife Restaurant and Raw Bar Cuisine
Fishwife, as we call it, offers fresh fish, crab, lobster, and other seafood that comes directly off the boats of local fishermen. Plus, the seafood selection is supplemented by oysters brought in from up north. While the menu is seafood-forward, a smash burger, steak and vegetarian options are also on offer.
Fishwife - Review
Our first experience was June 18, 2026. Two friends joined us to check out Fishwife. We opted to site inside, and we went upstairs as downstairs seemed a bit crowded. The decor was clean and warm and well done…a very welcoming feel. It was a little loud inside, but not enough to be annoying.
We shared a bottle of wine and a few appetizers which we all enjoyed. I think that the figs in a blanket was the winner, but tough call as they were all so different. Everything was very creative on the appetizer front and there is truly something for any type of palate to try.
The entrees were a mix of familiar options since we all are regulars at The Docks and inventive dishes that you won’t see at any other seafood restaurant.
I ordered the lobster omelet because I wanted to try something that I was unfamiliar with. Everything in this dish was prepared perfectly, and it actually went together better than I would have imagined.
The sautéed snapper dish was a bit of a disappointment. It just had too much going on to enjoy the fish.
The other things that we ordered were the peel and eat shrimp and the snapper Philly. Both were familiar to us from the Docks, and equally as good.
Like the Docks, we were not impressed with the dessert options; there were only two and neither appealed to us so we didn’t try either of them. At a minimum, I think that they should have a Key Lime Pie on the menu as it is Key West after all.
Our waitress did a fine job, even in the warm conditions. We never had to ask for water which we appreciated.
About The Food
Appetizers
- Lobster Rangoon Dip – This is a creamy dip with scallions, corn and chilis served with crispy won ton chips. Delicious!
- Curly Disco Fries – If you are from Jersey, then you likely know what disco fries are. This version is quite different though. Crispy curly fries are covered with oyster gravy, pickled serrano, wasabi tobiko, and turmeric aioli. This is very tasty, although I personally would have liked it better without the tobiko.
- Figs in a Blanket – These puff pastries were filled with brie, honey and sage and placed atop fig preserves. Very delicious!
While all of the appetizers that we tried were delicious, there are still quite a few that we did not try. The Barbecue Ahi Tuna Bites and the Garlic Naan Bread Service are on my list for next time.
Raw Bar
On our latest visit, we only ordered the peel and eat royal red shrimp, which were fresh, perfectly cooked, and delicious. But, the oysters are top notch if we go by the selection and experience at the Docks. Here is a comprehensive list of their offerings:
- Ceviche of the Day
- Conch Salad
- Petite Oysters
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Peel & Eat Royal Red Shrimp – If you have never had royal red shrimp, or if you just love shrimp, these are a must. Sweet, perfectly steamed shrimp from the deep. 🙂
- Oyster Shooter
- Fishwife Seafood Platter (Ceviche of the Day, Dozen Oysters, Shrimp Cocktail)
- Vegetarian “Raw Bar” (Melon Crudo, Mushroom Oysters, Pickled Carrot Carpaccio, Pickled Cauliflower Ceviche)
Entrées
- Dave’s Chopped Cob
- The Dock’s Caesar - I get this at The Docks quite often. I love that they have real anchovies on it, if you want them. Refreshing and delicious salad.
- Kale & Roasted Cauliflower
- Smoked Oyster Corn Chowder
- Roasted Beet Gazpacho
- Snapper “Philly” – My absolute favorite dish at The Docks, this is the perfect fish sandwich in my opinion! a blackened snapper filet topped with sautéed peppers and onions and melted provolone sauce.
- Waygu Smashburger
- Fish Sandwich of the Day
- Local Sauteed Snapper – While the snapper was perfectly cooked, the beet gazpacho risotto, swiss chard, and guava beurre blanc made the dish look a bit unappetizing. It also overpowered the delicate fish.
- Lobster Omelet – The fried coconut lobster which was slightly sweet and not overcooked was very tasty. It was covered with a coconut serrano sauce and placed atop an omelette with two asparagus spears inside. This was accompanied by roasted sweet potato bites. An interesting meal idea.
- Seafood Pot Pie – Filled with fresh catch, shrimp, and spiny lobster, this looked amazing and I will have to try it next time we visit.
- Fish & Chips – Beer battered fresh catch, served with fries and tarter sauce is one of my favorite meals at The Docks, so I know it is fabulous here as well.
- Ribeye & Fries
- Nori Encrusted Tuna
- Red Miso Tofu
- Fishwife Curry
Fun Note: Owners Ryan Shapiro, his wife Emma, and Matthew Cohen, also own The Docks on Stock Island. So, some of the menu items will be very familiar as will the bar selection to their sister restaurant. This restaurant name, “Fishwife,” was derived for Emma who has always been a huge support to her fisherman husband.
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