Keys Fisheries Market and Marina

3390 Gulfview Avenue
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.

 

Castaway Restaurant

1406 Oceanview Ave
Marathon, FL 33050
(305) 743-6247
Website

Castaway came highly recommended by the locals, as an off-the-beaten-path, solid dinner spot. Well, it certainly was off the beaten path, and the sushi was a welcome reprieve from days and days of eating grilled and sauteed fish. That being said, there was nothing too crazy here, but I would recommend it for some decent sushi in Marathon. It's tucked away down a dark back alley, and looks like you could get into some trouble if you aren't careful. However, this being the middle keys and all, it is a perfectly safe place to tuck into to satisfy your sushi craving.

I started with a green salad, nothing to write home about. Reminiscent of a mediocre iceberg salad from any regular old sushi bar, it did the trick. Keep in mind, Castaway has way more than just sushi, I am only commenting on the sushi because that's what I felt like eating.

Below is a spicy tuna and spicy conch roll. Doesn't matter much which is which. They had the same spicy red sauce that made them nearly indistinguishable. The only difference was that the conch was rather fishy. I don't know if it was old, or if that is the nature of raw conch, as it was my first time dabbling in the raw varietal.

Below is a specialty roll, the name of which escapes me. It included raw tuna, shrimp tempura, spicy mayo, a vegetable, etc. You get the picture. Specialty rolls are generally about the same, good, but too much of a mash-up of ingredients to really tell them apart.

Now on to my favorite, and the most "exotic" roll of the night. The fried chicken roll. That's right, fried chicken in a sushi roll. Be still my heart. They took crispy fried chicken, thinly sliced it, skin and all, added some coleslaw and rolled it up. Topped with some wasabi mayo the results were...good. I ordered it based on the novelty of the idea, but finished it based on the delicious contrast of textures. The crispy chicken and the snap of the nori was complemented by the cool coleslaw playing off of the heat of the wasabi. I was a big fan. I am always excited when I get to see something new in an unexpected place. Fried chicken sushi in the keys is just what I am talking about.

Ma's Fish Camp

105 Palm Ave
Islamorada, FL 33036
(305) 517-9611
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Stumbled on this place on my way from Islamorada to Marathon. Fried fish tacos were insanely good, and a steal at 3 for $8. Fried Mahi, with a chipotle sour cream sauce that hit the spot. Also tried the grilled fish tacos, still good, but go for the Baja style. Trust me.