Sal's Ballyhoo's Seafood Restaurant — Restaurant in Key Largo

You know those south Florida restaurants that seem to care more about Instagram decorated restaurants and don’t care about food? Well THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!!! It’s amazing! I’m not the best a karaoke but if I was (and god forbid people would be subjected to hear that mess) I would sing songs of the food here. It has a nice neighborhood vibe and not pretentious whatsoever. They clearly let the food do the talking. Finally a restaurant in south Florida that cares. This speaks volumes. I moved to this area by chance sailing and have spent years talking about how restaurants clearly don’t care about serving food with heart here. Sals Ballyhoo is a breath of fresh air. After years living in New Orleans and being spoiled with incredible food from everything from gas stations to high end restaurants (as a chef and patron) and To ya mamas cooking I felt as though south Florida was where care for food went to die. Sals Ballyhoo….

They start with complimentary house pretzel bread and herb bread with a sauce that tasted like steens and chili sauce. Both breads were house made and I could get fat and happy on just this. I asked if they sold it by bulk because carbs are life. It’s a kitchen that care from the beginning.

I had the conch and my god… the sauce was insane. Delicate, more tender than your dramatic sisters feelings. It was delicious. Who doesn’t like a nice tender conch…

There was a hogfish special. I love hogfish. It’s something I personally spearfish for and one of my personal fav texture and taste fish. They did this fish honors. It deserves a medal. Like maybe hold a parade. A hogfish parade…. Just imagine the possibilities…. Cooked with care in a very delicate breading, light and delicate. Fantastic bright lemon sauce that didn’t drown the fish but complimented it. A wedding of textures that was beyond what you would expect from anything less than the best.

This was, by far, the best meal I’ve had in south Florida in the years I’ve been subjected to the pretentious bs that has become most restaurants.

Moving on to service. I hate to end on a bad note but the service was lackluster at best. It was a 40th birthday for my wife. We absolutely don’t expect special treatment but the service on a Tuesday night was not touching tables and was clearly more interested in going home than doing their job. Look, Ive worked in the industry for years as well and there are hard days, it’s a hard job. That said, care for your patrons. The only reason I’m knocking one star down is the distant and careless service.

Summary to this Ted talk…. Come for the food and don’t expect great service. Believe me the food is worth it. Thank you back of the house! Yall...

I've been coming to the keys for decades and this is my go-to spot.

This is not just a restaurant; it's a haven for seafood lovers. The menu is a parade of fresh catches like the Cast Iron Mahi, which arrives perfectly blackened and smothered with a smoky shrimp blend, and the Whole Fried Snapper that showcases the kitchen’s ability to elevate simple ingredients to gastronomic art. The Captain’s Platter offers a tour de force of the sea’s offerings, with a generous assortment of lobster tail, mahi-mahi, jumbo shrimp, and scallops, all broiled to perfection.

The creativity extends beyond the entrees to a variety of specially prepared seafood options. Whether you opt for the Lemon Caper Yellowtail—sautéed with garlic butter and capers—or the Hemingway Mahi, crusted with parmesan and drenched in crab meat and key lime butter, your palate will thank you.

Value is evident with the casual fare; the Ballyhoo’s Fish & Fried Tomato Sandwich is a delightful twist on the classic BLT, and the Pimento Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup combo is a gourmet upgrade to a comforting classic.

Sweet endings are not forgotten, with housemade desserts like the Key Lime Pie, voted best in Key Largo, promising a perfect finish to a rich dining experience.

Sal's Ballyhoos is a gem where the quality of the ingredients speaks volumes and the prices are as appealing as the dishes. It's a feast for the senses and the wallet, proving that great seafood can be both accessible and...

My wife and I dined here on New Years night. Being a holiday, the restaurant was busy and the kitchen was backed up. We arrived at 8:00 pm and were told that there would be a 30 minute wait. We asked to be added to the waiting list and gave our phone number so that they could call us when they were ready to seat us. After 30 minutes, we still had not received a call, so we went back and were seated outside quickly. My wife ordered the "all-you-can-eat" snow crab legs and I ordered the Captain's Feast. She ordered the conch bisque and fries as sides. The bowl of bisque she received had very little conch in it and had a very heavy tomato base. She wasn't impressed with it. I ordered the Captains' Platter. The lobster was fresh and tasty, the scallops were fresh, but not very well seasoned. The mahi filets were dry and tasted like they had been previously frozen. I was disappointed. I ordered mac & cheese for my side and it was rather bland. Overall, the food was acceptable. The service was slow. I sat for over 15 minutes with an empty drink before someone came by so that I could order another. I believe that the fact that we arrived on a holiday without a reservation may have impacted our experience, so I would recommend giving...