South of the Seven

Firstly, I should say that I’m British. I know some American folk think that all British food is dreadful (and so take this opportunity to disregard my opinion should you be so inclined) but we know our onions too and American food can actually be pretty exhausting. Don’t get me wrong, the sugary, greasy heaped plates are fun at first, but while sitting out in a dusky Keys evening with a gang of twilight mosquitoes for company, I set my belt into a hitherto unused notch and dreamed of food that was bold and flavourful that didn't also send a push notification to my Doctor back home. Staying with family nearby, we all decided to try the new(ish) South of the Seven restaurant at the Sugarloaf Lodge. The retro signage of the Lodge is wonderful, and as you step up to the front door of the SoS you can see the sun bounce off the water behind the restaurant and smile through the glass amid the hustle inside. The place was busy, but not uncomfortably so and we were sat with no fuss and a warm welcome. The décor is fitfully local, with portraits of local boat captains, colourful landscapes and rods and reels everywhere. Clearly this place is owned by someone who really understands the area and loves it deeply. Looking around from our table, we could see that each table was different too, apparently painted by a different local artist and epoxied by the owners themselves, a DIY refrain we would hear again. The horseshoe bar behind us looked like a great spot to nurse a drink or to grab a quick bite too. I mentioned American food earlier, but when it comes to service, you chaps have us beat hands down, no arguments. And the service at SoS is top class. My water was constantly refilled without me noticing, the people were lovely and happy to talk through every element of the restaurant, so much so that we began to feel a connection to it. By the end of the night I knew half the waitstaff, the bar manager, some kitchen staff and both owners by name. To give you an idea of the food, it’s a well-travelled menu. The Saganaki was fantastic and the beautiful, sweet local shrimp was put to use in a gentler nod to Greek food with butter, garlic white wine and a touch of feta to make two fantastic starters. The chef also made incredible use of the tuna we brought with us and delivered it back to us three ways, each delicious. I had a slick and rich lobster mac and cheese for my main, skillfully made so that each mouthful let me identify the different cheeses rather than tolerate the industrial gush of plastic you often taste. The Caesar my wife ate was genuinely one of the best I’ve had and, in stark contrast to most salads I have in the US, had just the right amount of dressing. The group also ran through some terrific steak that had people closing their eyes and looking at the ceiling, When Harry Met Sally style, and some Mahi Mahi that absolutely SUNG. The desserts were delicious and we then relaxed into the plush whiskey selection to finish. This place is fantastic. The food is fantastic. The people are fantastic. To find somewhere this warm and fulfilling is a pleasure but to have such a great evening that I stepped out into the buzzing heat and felt a new connection to the Keys, a tourist no more but a visitor with a community to revisit? Remarkable, really.

(copied to Trip...

We have driven past so many times and always wonder if this odd little property circa 1970 is even open. It always makes me think of the Brady Bunch in Hawaii episodes. I read on one of the Keys FB pages that there was a fantastic new restaurant inside. We made reservations and arrived a little early but were seated right away. We were shocked at the interior of the restaurant as it is very well done. Don't let the 70's exterior fool you! We asked about the tiki bar out back and were told it was part of the lodge and no longer used. What a shame, this entire property could be so amazing. We were seated with a view of the water and the sunset. Our server Jessica was phenomenal and explained everything on the menu to us. We were very excited to see they had a grouper flight and started with that, and a french martini. The grouper flight was 4 pieces of red, black, yellow, and snowy grouper. Each one tasted different, it was a heavenly grouper experience. The red grouper tasted light and sweet, the black was a little more firm with a stronger taste than the red. The yellow and the snowy were delicate and buttery. I really couldn't pick a favorite. It's like comparing Maine Lobster to Florida Lobster, it's all my favorite! The chef sent us little cups of potato leek soup which was so creamy and delicious. We both ordered the Crab Stuffed Grouper for our dinner. You can never have too much grouper! And wow, was it mind-blowingly awesome! My mouth is watering as I write this review. We ate every bit of it while watching the sunset, and walked away from this meal saying that was incredible. We never made it to dessert but we will definitely be...

I was a little to early for dinner service but they were kind enough to let me sit at the bar until the kitchen opened up. The bartender was one of the best I've ever had in Florida. His customer service and attention to drink preparation could not have been better.

I didn't bother getting a table and had a nice quiet corner at the bar to enjoy a little people watching and wondering who the locals were. The food came before I even had a chance to think I wanted something different. For starters the Bisque was a great choice and not to filling. As per his recommendation I got the Hambone Snapper Stuffed with Blue Crab and it was an excellent choice as well. He also suggested the Pumpkin Swordfish with Lemon Caper Sauce but I totally misunderstood and thought the dish had pumpkin in it for some reason. My mistake but I'm sure that dish would have been great too. The black and blue cobbler for dessert was a perfect end to my meal with its cold scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

Service, atmosphere, drinks, food and the portions and dessert was all top notch. This place is really nice and far enough away from the cool kids in Key West that someone who doesn't like crowded places can fully enjoy. Highly...