Marathon, FL 33050
(305) 743-4353
Website
After a morning of fishing on the salt flats, I was ready for something hearty, and was pointed in the direction of the Keys Fisheries.
The Keys Fisheries has a walk-up-and-order window and a market. They also happen to supply the world famous Joe's Stone Crab with their crabs, and make a Keys' version of the classic Reuben, using...lobster. Now this isn't Maine lobster that they are stuffing in this sandwich, but rather the spiny lobster, which is a native of the tropics and has no claws. The meat is not quite as tender as its cousin from up North, but it is incredibly sweet, and a bit more affordable. The Keys Fisheries is a shanty, where you walk up, order, find a picnic table, and sit until your order is called. One of the quirky aspects is that they will designate a different object for the day as your order number. For example we had trees. You say a tree, and they call your tree when your order is up. Just a little something to keep things interesting. This is the Keys, after all.
There is an area with a sushi bar, drinks and condiments around the corner.
While I obviously went for the lobster Reuben, I also tried the stone crab chowder, and the lobster mac and cheese.
The chowder was good. A solid seafood chowder, New England style, with chunks of crab on occasion. The lobster mac was also good, but not the best of its kind I have ever laid taste buds upon. I was there, after all, for something entirely different. The Reuben is not cheap at $14.99, but you certainly get your money's worth. The sandwich is HUGE, I mean two average people could certainly split it. Especially due to the fact that they pile the basket high with delicious battered fries, a side of slaw, and some pickles. Perfect. The lobster is battered and fried, smothered in thousand island, covered with Swiss cheese and piled high with sauerkraut. It was a fun, island-style play on the traditional meat monster served up North. The lobster was ample and mostly pretty tender. I would definitely say this was one of my favorite meals in the Middle Keys. I highly recommend stopping by to check it out, if you are anywhere near Marathon.
