Fishing the Florida Keys - Marathon's Fine Dining

Many visitors to Marathon and the rest of the Florida Keys don’t realize that most restaurants will cook your catch. While I am all for catch and release fishing, fresh caught fish is just too good to pass up all the time. There is just something special about the flavor of freshly caught yellowtail snapper. So I’m going to give you a quick review of my opinion of Marathon’s fine dining.

First on my list has to be The Castaway. They offer a well stock salad bar and mounds of fresh honey buns with each meal. Evening diners will have their catch cooked three or more ways and served family style. The Castaway has a full bar, live entertainment on the weekends and a quiet waterfront dining area. The alligator tail appetizer is the finest I’ve ever tasted.

Tied for second:

Cabot’s, a bit pricey but worth it. Full bar, great food, waterfront dining with a great sunset view.

Annette’s Steak and Lobster, great food, a great salad bar, a full bar and a nice atmosphere. Inside dining only and no water front but still a Marathon favorite.

Key’s Fisheries, Some of the finest seafood in the Keys. Waterfront dining, a very casual atmosphere and a full bar. While they have only been open for four years, they are all ready a Keys tradition.

The Island Tiki Bar. The, happening place in Marathon, great food, full bar, waterfront dining in a true native tiki hut. Winter sunsets can be gorgeous! And the wait staff is pretty gorgeous too!

Tied for third (they don’t have a full bar)

Burdine’s Cheeki Tiki, Excellent food with a fantastic waterfront view. If they had a full bar they would be pushing The Castaway for number one.

Porky’s Bayside, known for their barbeque but their seafood is excellent. Family style cook your catch, waterfront dining, nightly live entertainment in season and cold beer.

The Seven Mile Grill, not the keys icon that it once was due to Wilma renovation but still a great spot to cook your catch. The fried yellow tail sandwich is reasonable priced and delicious.

Herbies, another Marathon classic, great food served in a casual atmosphere. All of their seafood is great, but fresh cook your catch just makes it better.

The Village Café, while they have a full bar they didn’t score higher on my list because of their location. Located in a strip mall they just don’t have a Keys atmosphere. The food though is outstanding! So if you get a little home sick, this will remind you of a New York neighborhood café. Upper Eastside New York that is.

I’m starting to get caught up with my local flavor stuff so pretty soon I can get back to fishing. Just bear with me gang.

Tight Lines

Capt. Dallas