Stashed in a quiet corner of the sleepy Bahamian quarter, Blue Heaven is a
true Key West original. Most of the tables are outdoors, in a dirt yard
where Hemingway once refereed boxing matches and that's now home to dozens
of free-wandering chickens. The pool table slate on the floor was repurposed from the eatery's stint as billiard hall,
and the gallery above the kitchen was once a bordello. But the eccentric surroundings are
unexpectedly paired with stunning Caribbean food (with prices to match).
Breakfast is a specialty, with impeccable lobster Benedict and luscious homemade banana bread.
At dinner, try the seared grouper with Caribbean spices and a lime-honey glaze. � ME
Recently reopened in a huge new location, Camille's won't win any design
Well off Key West's main tourist track, this sprawling restaurant serves
cheap, deliciously authentic Cuban food in a raucous atmosphere.
Canteen-style tables are covered with red-and-white checkered plastic cloths, and the
service is casual and friendly (be sure to ask for recommendations).
Portions of staples like black bean soup and pork tenderloin are huge, succulent, and delicious;
each comes with sticky fried plantains, buttery Cuban bread, and two other sides.
N.B.: It's just changed owners, but the new powers-that-be promise not to meddle too much. � ME
Named for a nearby deserted island where the government once trained troops
pre-Bay of Pigs, the No Name Pub is hard to find, but worth the effort.
If you track it down in a residential neighborhood in Big Pine,
you'll be rewarded with terrific pub grub that's cheaper than most in the overpriced Keys.
Try one of the crispy, unusual pizzas, such as Key shrimp with cheese and tomato
sauce, or a basket of lightly breaded fried grouper.
And of course, you can't miss the famous decor:
Every inch of wall and ceiling is covered with dollar bills, stapled there by diners to the value of $60,000.
(Management promises never to remove a single bill, however tight times may be.) � ME
Just east of the Seven Mile Bridge, this classic Keys roadside restaurant isn't much to look at,
with bare wooden walls and nothing else in the way of decor except a huge collection of beer cans.
And the friendly, chatty staff, mostly fiftysomething women, seem to have come from another era.
But the food is outstanding: succulent beer-steamed shrimp and foot-long hot dogs,
crispy conch fritters, gooey peanut butter pie.
In fact, the Grill has a reputation among locals for the best Key lime pie in the entire archipelago � an
astounding accolade for such a humble establishment, but absolutely deserved. � ME