The Waterfront Brewery opened last fall in the building that had been the longtime home of the Waterfront Market. Currently, you can go there to enjoy food, spirits, and an ever-changing beer menu as well as games and a view. And soon the rooftop will be open for musical performances and other events.
My husband and I had dinner with friends here this past weekend for the first time. None of us really drink much, so I was a bit skeptical about coming here for food. I imagined us eating in a loud and crowded bar, but it was not at all like that. The building is quite expansive, so it is very open and uncrowded. You can enter from the boardwalk at the Seaport or from the parking lot on Caroline Street. We used the Caroline Street entrance and walked through a huge game room to get to the dining area located on the seaport side of the building.
To start we ordered pretzel rolls, Front Street shrimp, and fish dip. And even though the beer list was extensive, including several in house and local brews, we all opted out. (Sorry to disappoint on that count!) Our waiter who was really good (great personality and on top of things during our visit) had our appetizers out to us pretty quickly. Since we were hungry, I didn’t get a picture of the apps before we had torn into them, but they were all outstanding.
The pretzel rolls were huge, so I split one with my friend Pam. They were soft and delicious and the cheese beer dipping sauce was heaven in my mouth and probably hell on my hips. But it was definitely worth the calories. By the way, this sauce also proved to be amazing for dipping our fries in as well. Sinful!
The fish dip was tasty, served with some really good tortilla chips and sides of celery and carrot sticks. I would have liked to see some jalapeños or diced red onions served on the side as well because I like that extra punch of heat with my fish dip, but it was good all the same.
The Front Street shrimp appetizer was perfect. The fried shrimp were tossed with a thai chili remoulade which gave the dish a little heat without overpowering the flavor of the shrimp. And they were cooked just right, and even covered in the sauce, the shrimp retained their crispness.
The chicken avocado salad is huge, made up of a pile of romaine lettuce and topped with chicken, avocado, roasted corn, tomatoes, green onions, and tortilla strips, tossed in a citrus honey and peanut vinaigrette. The dressing was tasty and not overpowering, making this a really great salad.
The fish and chips and the fried shrimp and scallops were both delicious. Both came with a small side of cole slaw and a heaping serving of fries. When ordering fried seafood I am typically disappointed because restaurants tend to use frozen seafood that just isn’t as good as fresh. But this was all definitely fresh. The beer batter was tasty, but I peeled most of mine off just because it was a lot of extra on top of delicious seafood. And, the scallops, shrimp, and fish were all cooked to perfection. Nothing overdone or underdone. The cole slaw was good, but nothing standout. The fries were great, all of us being french fry connoisseurs in our own minds!
The peel and eat shrimp were awesome! Again, very fresh, perfectly cooked, and prepared with just the right amount of seasoning. Only wish some wet naps were also provided when they brought these to the table.
After an amazing meal we went to the game room where we played one another in pool, fooz ball, air hockey and skeet ball. We had a blast here as the room was uncrowded and we pretty much had our pick of games to play.
Portions were huge, so next time (yes, there will be a next time for sure!) we will probably not go with any appetizers, or we would at least cut down on the number of appetizers! And there are so many other things to try on the menu that we are all looking forward to our next dining experience at our new favorite low-key waterfront restaurant in Key West.
Before deciding where you are going to eat while visiting Key West or the rest of the Florida Keys, be sure to read my other restaurant reviews too; check out our restaurant review section of this blog as well as our previous restaurant reviews.
And to see what is happening on Key West during your visit, check out our Key West Events Calendar to see other upcoming special events. For more information about the fun side of Key West… things to do and see in our island city, go to our Key West Web Site.
Feel free to Email Me if you have any questions about Key West!!
