PrintEl Meson De Pepe's - Key West...
BF and I are enjoying some R&R in Key West. Loving the crazy chickens that have the run of the place and will do some touristy things over the next 10 days or so.
With the dazzling array of restaurants in Key West, we certainly weren't hurting for choices. A bit of serendipity brought us to El Meson De Pepe. For an appetizer, we enjoyed Calamares a la Criolla with the absolute best creole sauce I have ever put in my mouth.
I had Pan con Lechon - Pressed pork sandwich. The pork was marinated in mojo and we asked the waitress for extra mojo. She brought us not only the mojo but a wonderful hot sauce that tasted like "home-made" tabasco - kicked into high gear. BF had the Pan con Bistek (steak) and we both had a side of the plantains.
You can hardly judge a restaurant on three dishes but I'd recommend this cavernous, historic restaurant for its delicious food, excellent atmosphere and local Key West flavor (a chicken walked right past our table!). Patrons at the next table had dessert (which looked divine) but we're pacing ourselves... :D
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11 Comments:
Never tried it when I was there but I did have an excellent Cuban meal at crazy cheap prices at El Siboney. It's about 1/2 mile north of Duval Street - away from the crush of other businesses. We also tried Mangia Mangia - a neighborhood fresh pasta joint that's about five blocks north of Truman - moderate prices and decent food.
I gave up on finding good espresso but did find one place with excellent coffee - there's a local coffee roaster just off Duval - about one door south. Instead of espresso I went for Cafe Cubano and got mine at the 24 hour Cuban food stand - again I can't recall the name but it's about one or two blocks north of the cemetery on the corner of a main drag - next to a laundromat. I was less impressed by their Cuban sandwich than I thought I would be but the cafe Cubano was sweet, strong and good.
phaelon56 at 9:00AM on 04/30/08
El Siboney is one of my top 5 restaurants in the country. I love the place and the food. For a good Media Noce (pressed cuban sandwich) there is a small grocery called something like cinco hermanos/hermanas they also have good Cuban coffee (una colada)
coolname at 10:14AM on 04/30/08
Thanks for the tip, we are still down here and want some recommendations! Really enjoyed Meson and Scottie's Meteor for a "rib" sandwich and their infamous baked beans. I was wondering what a "rib" sandwich was because I had visions of a "McRib" squished together meat with goopy sauce. The sandwich was a beautiful roll filled to capacity with meat cut off spare ribs. It was out of this world (as were the beans).
chiff0nade at 6:01PM on 04/30/08
Some may blast me for making this suggestion but if you want an upscale romantic dinner it's worth considering the Latitudes beach cafe on Sunset Key. I know there's better food in KW and it is pricey but with the water taxi ride over and back and making sure you reserve an outside table... it is romantic. I've been there three times and on this last visit (January 2008) I think the food was a bit better - perhaps because it's now owned by Westin instead of Hilton.
I had "beef two ways" - a hunk of truly excellent short rib alongside a small filet (a cut I never order on its own) . The green beans were perfect and the trio of creme brulee of desert was much better than average (I am very particular about creme brulee - my favorite dessert IF it's done right).
If you haven't already done breakfast at Blue Heaven then it's a must. Yeah... I know... everyone says that. But the made from scratch pancakes are a revelation (as pancakes go) and the Gulf shrimp with grits and Vermont white cheddar is sublime - trust me on that. Skip the cafe con leche and any other espresso type drink at Blue Heaven - those are mediocre and overpriced.
If you have not already visited the Waterfront market over at the Bight - by all means do so. Surprisingly good selection of upscale food items and plenty of prepared foods that can make a really good packed lunch.
By the way - there's a little side street from Blue heaven - I think it's called Johnson's. Nothing to write home about.
We had a surprisingly good Italian meal at a place that's up in a big courtyard off Duval with outdoor tables and twinkly little white lights in the trees. It's a classic North jersey / NY suburbs kid of Italian joint. I had a decent pasta entree but the pizza I saw being served looked like good classic Staten island style (Neopolitan type - not too thick and not to thin). I think it's called NY pasta Company or something of that sort and it's further down towards the Southernmost point end of Duval vs. the Mallory Square end. Portions were large and price moderate for key West.
Conch fritters: rumor has it that the ones served at the outdoor stand by the entrance to the aquarium are the best in town. I have few reference points but I liked them very much. he closes at about 5 PM so stop by during the day.
phaelon56 at 9:40AM on 05/01/08
@phaelon - I think we found the place where you got the good coffee! Was it called Cafe Sole? (Accent mark over the e.) We also saw Mangia Mangia! We will be stopping at both places - we're here another week.
Tonight we had Upper Crust Pizza. I had the artichoke, pesto and asiago; BF wanted the Roosevelt and added sausage. Both were sublime but they could have baked the Roosevelt a little longer. No matter, both really tasted good (the pesto pizza's crust cooperated a little more).
Blue Heaven! We passed that today! I want to have breakfast there - maybe tomorrow? BF wants to go to Camille's for b'fast so it'll be a tossup of those two. (Definitely having Upper Crust Pizza for lunch tomorrow! Reheated...LOL.)
Thanks for all the recommendations and keep them coming!
PS - We ran up and down the Key West Lighthouse this morning - what a beautiful little lighthouse. Also did Hemingway house which I enjoyed immensely. Petted lots of those polydactyl cats. They love to take a love! (As long as you don't pick them up which is not allowed.)
chiff0nade at 9:21PM on 05/01/08
DOH! Forgot to mention that we did go to the Waterfront Market. I was a complete tourist and got the little wooden mallot by the seafood section that says "Waterfront Market." (Go ahead, groan...And if that didn't make you groan, BF got me two chickens on spring legs...ROFLMAO.)
I fell just short of purchasing one of those Key Lime Pie wedges on a stick because I really don't want it covered in chocolate.
Sunset at Mallory Square is like a nightly miracle. I know how utterly lame that sounds but it's so breathtaking.
chiff0nade at 9:29PM on 05/01/08
Just got back from Blue Heaven.
Oh
My
God.
The Shrimp/Cheese Grits was a special and we indulged. Ordered the yogurt/fruit/granola and one single pecan pancake, opting for the maple syrup vs. house syrup.
The Shrimp Grits = Out of this world. We were brainstorming on how to reproduce it for a family reunion coming up this July. The pecan pancake - you don't need more than one! One's a meal! The yogurt/granola was refreshing and the fruit served with it...Beautiful, pristine and fresh.
I had a regular cuppa joe (following phaelon's advice) and it was really good (for plain "American" coffee). Blue Heaven had the biggest concentration of signature Key West chickens and roosters running around of anyplace I've been so far. (They know where their toast is buttered!)
Definitely not cheap - but worth every penny.
chiff0nade at 9:39AM on 05/02/08
FYI - Went to Camille's for breakfast today. What a great place! BF had Eggs Benedict with the best homemade hollandaise I've had since the last time I made it myself. I had the buckwheat cakes with TONS of berries. Asked for the real maple syrup.
I also had a cafe con leche. I've never really understood the appeal of this drink as I could barely taste the espresso but it was SCREAMING hot and I like my coffee served that way.
All in all, a wonderful experience :D
chiff0nade at 10:19AM on 05/03/08
We are cooking at home tonight but did have a surprisingly good Thai lunch at Thai Island. The food was fresh and delicious. The atmosphere... Not so much LOL. It's right next to a boat repair and storage place and the guests who were eating outside were having a great time watching the boats get stacked.
Had to have a Thai coffee afterward - need fuel for the night life. (I'm such a morning person...It takes a truckload of caffeine to keep me up and partying.)
chiff0nade at 5:48PM on 05/03/08
Wow...What a jewel in the ...haystack?
We had walked through an alley adjoining a lot where BF likes to park. (He knows all the important stuff about Key West...LOL.) In this "alley" was a restaurant called Opera. We stopped to read the menu because the cuisine was described as "Interpretive Italian." I'm thinking, "WTF is Interpretive Italian? God, I hope it's not one of those places that puts blueberry sauce on calamari because I'm going to hurt someone if it is."
It's not.
The "interpretation" operates in a safe zone and explores such appropriate embellishments on classic Italian dishes. i.e. Gnocchi stuffed with Goat Cheese. And that calamari about which I was so concerned? Dusted with polenta and deep fried, served with banana peppers scattered about - and a cup of marinara. (A deep fried selection - I rarely indulge.)
In any case, we were very pleased with the primi dishes and the secondi offerings. BF ordered the duck breast served on cranberry bread pudding and I ordered the Pork shank "osso buco" on a bed of orzo. As though we needed anything more, BF ordered broccoli rabe because he knows how much I love it.
Everything was wonderful, from the hole-riddled, crusty peasant bread dipped liberally into the hummus, tomato doused olives and olive oil with toasted garlic - to the Tiramisu we enjoyed at the end of the meal - I'd recommend this place to any who ask.
chiff0nade at 10:03PM on 05/04/08
Well I guess it had to happen - we encountered our first dud. Breakfast at Two Friends Patio.
BF was in the mood for cereal and I was not in the market for a big heavy breakfast so I ordered yogurt and granola with fruit. I ordered coffee.
The coffee was old. I took one sip and put it aside. I didn't want to make a federal case out of it.
There is no reason whatsoever that two dishes which require no cooking should take 15 minutes to deliver in a not-packed restaurant.
The coup de grace was when someone at the next table lit a cigarette in close proximity to my nose. True, Two Friends is actually a "bar" that added a morning meal but how many people are drinking Jack and Coke at 9:00 a.m.??
With unredeeming food, coffee that could take the paint off a Buick and smokey joe at the next table, I'd say limit your friendship with Two Friends Patio to a friendly wave - then walk 3 blocks and have breakfast at Blue Heaven. (We swore we would go back to Blue Heaven, if only to wipe away any lasting effects of this experience!)
chiff0nade at 4:26PM on 05/05/08