The Fish House — Restaurant in Key Largo

My second visit to the Fish House in Key Largo, Florida, has certainly solidified it as one of the premier seafood restaurants is all of South Florida.

It all starts with its unprepossessing and rustic exterior, charmingly representative of the laid-back nature of the Keys. This extends to the interior as well, which is cozy and close. A loudly decorated interior only adds to this. It can get very narrow at the entry and bar areas as primetime dinner service begins, but this is just further witness to the Fish House's overwhelming popularity and reputation.

We started in the bar while waiting for our table to be set (party of 8), in my case with a tasty rum punch (blending dark and light rums with orange, cranberry and pineapple juices).

The wait for our table wasn't long at all, and service was very quick in getting our orders. Hugh and Jose were simply superb, witty yet highly knowledgeable in their suggestions and more. All kudos to them, and thanks for their part in making this such a pleasant visit and meal!

One thing to be immediately aware of is the Fish House's VERY extensive menu, with many options on each page presented. If you have the opportunity to preview it at all before sitting to table, it's worth the effort to cut time in getting food to your table (because once ordered, it's swift in appearing even during very busy periods).

I started with a 'cup' of their highly regarded Lobster Bisque and was not at all disappointed. Thick, creamy with abundant chunks of lobster throughout, that sizeable cup was a perfect tone-setter. (I should note I've had their conch chowder as well, on a previous visit; and it is just as excellent if in different ways, and just as good a starter.)

I followed that with Angels on Horseback - a baked dish of large, bacon-wrapped scallops. The plate came hot from the oven with four of these delightfully sizeable jewels, perfectly cooked - tender and flavorful. If you're a fan of scallops, this a great appetizer offering.

Finally, the entree itself. It is always worthwhile to hear what the 'catch of the day' is, because at the Fish House it's liable to actually be just off the boat. Just in this night were grouper, swordfish, cobia and yellowtail, a very premium selection. As I'd had cobia - a rather unusual option - on that previous visit, I went for the yellowtail this time, with their "Matecumbe" preparation. This paired the two large yellowtail filets with fresh chopped tomatoes, basil, shallots and capers, baked in olive oil. The result is a superb dish, the amazingly tender fish - arguably one of the best you can get - complimented perfectly by the "Matecumbe" salsa generously layered on it. Each bite is one to savor.

I had no room for a slice of the homemade Key Lime pie or other of their wonderful desserts; but I have no regrets - it was certainly 'mission-accomplished' to have an amazing 5-star meal with close family in an establishment with great atmosphere.

If you are a fan of seafood and ever in Key Largo, visiting the Fish House is an...

So my family and I visited the fish house during Father’s Day weekend which was a very busy weekend and I understand that the restaurant was absolutely packed. There wasn’t an empty table in the restaurant. However, the restaurant is very small and cramped. It was like aSo my family and I visited the fish house during Father’s Day weekend which was a very busy weekend and I understand that the restaurant was absolutely packed. There wasn’t a empty table in the restaurant. However, the restaurant is very small and cramped. It was like you were sitting on top of people there was barely any walking space. The servers were very rushed they didn’t spend. Any time at the table at all? They didn’t do very well on explaining the menu we were first time gas, so they were very rushed, and the whole ordering process was very rushed the one thing that I enjoyed about the restaurant most with the Keylime pie I think they have the best original Keylime pie recipe for all of the keys. I’ve visited a lot of restaurants from Key Largo all the way to Key West. They did have the best Keylime pie. However, I ordered the fried grouper with french fries. It was a very very small piece of grouper so you are up charged nine dollars additional for the grouper, which to me was not worth it because the grouper that they gave was very small. I paid all in all $35 for a piece of grouper and some french fries. That was a rip off so I had a family of three myself and two children. My bill was $100 for three people and I wasn’t even full. The taste of the grouper was it wasn’t to die for but it wasn’t the best french fries or french fries there wasn’t anything special about the french fries. Also, they charged an 18% gratuity on our bill without anything being posted on the New about an added gratuity and like I said, there was only three people in my party. Usually when maturity is added, there’s a party of six or more are it stated on the menu that gratuity is added to your bill and that’s absolutely fine but there was nothing stated here and I had a small party so I did inquire about it. The server took off the 18% gratuity without any questions being asked and I think that’s just because they just put it on there just to put it on there, which is not good and usually in that case when that happens, it upsets me it makes my experience not good because the service like I said already wasn’t the best and you can’t just make me pay you 18% when I had to flag you down every time for you to come to my table so all I know I give this restaurant at three out of five because it wasn’t terrible but the experience could’ve been...

Stepping into the Fish House in Key Largo, our party of 15 was embraced by an air of warm hospitality that can only be rivaled by the balmy Key Largo breeze. With no reservations, the establishment not only accommodated us seamlessly but did so with an affable grace that set the tone for an extraordinary dining experience.

The service here goes beyond professional; it's an embodiment of the word 'hospitable'. Servers, who were as fun and friendly as they were skilled, made our large group feel like a gathering of old friends. Their engagement with our table was a delightful dance of helpfulness and charm, turning a simple dinner into an engaging experience. This was exemplified when a mishap occurred with a spilled water glass; a trio of servers swooped in with such efficiency and discretion, the incident was almost a magic trick—now you see it, now you don't.

As for the libations, the creamsicle cocktail was a standout—a perfect fusion of nostalgia and tropical refreshment. Turning our attention to the culinary delights, the stone crabs served two ways became an instant table favorite. Whether indulging in the chilled delicacy or its warm counterpart, both versions were so savory they justified their premium status.

The hogfish matacumbe won over our palates with its savory depths, and while the lobster in the Lobster Mac and Cheese played a bit of hide and seek in its creamy, decadent cheese sauce, the dish itself was a rich, comforting triumph. The Caesar salad and crab and asparagus salad were fresh, crisp counterparts to the indulgent mains, and the sweet potato fries were a unanimous hit, their sweetness and crunch creating the perfect side dish symphony.

The atmosphere buzzed with an infectious vivacity that only heightened our experience. To cap off the evening, the birthday celebration was made all the more special with a visually spectacular "birthday cake" and a thoughtful birthday card that displayed a level of personalized attention one rarely finds.

In summary, the Fish House in Key Largo is not just a restaurant; it's a destination where the food is as memorable as the moments you’ll share. Whether it's for a casual dinner or a special occasion, you’re not just a customer here—you’re part of the Fish House's extended family, even if just...