On any coast, I’m a sucker for fresh fish and a casual attitude. Give me a picnic table, a roll of paper towels, today’s catch, local beer on tap, and I’ve got all the atmosphere I want.
Locals in Key West sent me to the Hogfish Bar & Grill, a great restaurant, they said, if you can find it.
Hogfish is a trip. It’s not walking distance from downtown. It’s not even on the same land mass, but only a short drive to a quiet road off U.S. 1 on nearby Stock Island. If you’re driving, set your GPS for 6810 Front St., Safe Harbor Marina, Stock Island.
After dinner, take a walk on the Stock Island waterfront, which looks a lot like Key West used to be, before the upscale lifestyle began to intrude.
BTW, on the same island, the same owners -- Bobby and Michelle Mongelli -- recently opened Roostica Wood Fired Pizzeria, at 5620 MacDonald Ave. Terrific thin-crusted, Neopolitan pizza choices. From one of the high stools, you can watch your pizza cook fast, at maybe 1,000 degrees, “hotter than Vesuvius,” say the owners.
If visiting and looking for a place to stay, check out Condo Rentals in Key West, FL.
More from the Keys: