We’re usually very wary of tourist area restaurants. In the off-season, it can be particularly precarious. Our friends recommended Schooners as they were offering 50% off between 3 and 5 every day during February (I don’t know the exact conditions, but our bill was half off all but the onion rings).

We got there at 2:30 and although a line was quickly forming, we got a table fairly quickly. Our wonderful server, Melany, didn’t mind that we just drank water until 3:00 either. She has been serving at Schooners for 6 years, and as I looked around, everyone was waiting for the 3p start time.

Everything we ordered was quickly prepared and very tasty. The onion rings were humongous, and although I still need to exhaustively validate their claim to having the best key lime pie anywhere, the pie was the best I’ve had so far. I ordered the Surf & Surf - redfish and shrimp - expecting a filet and maybe 4 or 5 shrimp. Instead, I got a large filet of flakey, well prepared redfish and 16 decent-sized, butterflied shrimp! Cyndi ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with fries. She really liked their fries. Our friends had gumbo, Greek salad and crab cake dinner. No one had any complaints.

If I had any criticism it would be that the coffee for dessert took too long to arrive; I had finished my pie before the coffee came, but that’s really digging for a dig.

What impressed us all the most is that between 2:30 and 3:00 all 100 tables (our rough estimate) were filled and the kitchen still managed to adroitly prepare and serve everyone quickly and with a smile. From the hostess to the bartender, everyone working at Schooners was nice and happy.

Maybe it’s in the water.