Florida Keys in mid January!!!

My wife an I will be staying in Key Largo for a week in the middle of January and I have a couple of questions:
1. Where can we find the BEST key lime pie?
2. Who has the best breakfast?
3. What are the best lunch / diner possibilities?
Thanks in Advance for your input!

I was just going to recommend the Crack'd Conch in Key Largo - for the best key lime pie I ever had - and now find that - they have gone out of business.
 
Just pulling up my notes from a trip three years ago - all the other places are in Key West.   Here were the outstanding dishes from our meals.
 
 
Louie's Back Yard (a splurge - yellowtail snapper and mojitos!)
 
Half Shell Raw Bar (Conch Ceviche)
 
Conch Cupboard Luncheonette - which I believe has moved (cheeseburgers)
 
El Siboney (Yuca appetizer, cripsy garlic half chicken w/plantains, red beans and rice, best sangria ever) 
 
Blue Heaven (banana pancakes)
 
Alonzos/A & B Lobster (steamed clams in a garlic sherry broth)
 
Wow!  Can't wait to go back myself.  Have fun!
 
 

ok... there is a place YOU HAVE TO GO TO... it's called and don't even let her know about this...because you my friend will be thought of like a god .... Lilttle Palm Island... very exclusive.. check it out online... BUT... this is where us commoners can mingle with the rich and famous and not feel out of place at all...
They aren't far from the 7 mile bridge and you can experience a dinner on a private island and if need be, set you up at a table on, no, in the sand where key deer will come to your table and watch you eat... I took my girlfriend there, told them this is all I have to spend (which wasn't much) and they made us feel so welcome... it was her birthday and they actually went out of their way and made a  menu with her name on it and all the dishes had something to do with her...it was a moment I will never forget....simply magical...two times a day the boat takes you from the mainland to the island for dinners ONLY... there are some exclusive decked out huts for the rich but the dinners can be had by anyone... the look on your wifes face will be all you need to feast on...the foods not bad either...lol...I do hope you try and make it there...the sun sets right at eye level
 
You also need to stop at Holiday Isle ...at the tiki bar..and get a rum runner, then people watch...cause ya can't drive after that drink...
 
The Green Turtle is another place that has been around for years and years...
 
Remember, you are in key largo which is the upper keys and just 15 minutes from hometsead, florida city... ya godda go further to experience the keys and all it has to offer...and louie's is all the way down in key west...another 2.5 to 3 hours drive... but that "is" the farthest most southern point in america and a fantastic place to eat.
 
Have fun
Bobby G.
 

 
For Key Largo, the Fish House restaurant is very good.  It is at about mile marker 102.3 on the ocean (south) side of the Overseas Highway (US 1).   Our favorite dinner dish  there is the YellowTail snapper prepared "Matecumbe style".  
 
As for "best" key lime pie, that will depend on your taste.   Janet and I like them very tart and no meringue.  Many others, and those not used to the very tart key limes, tend to like them less tart, and usually with merigue....basically a lime version of lemon meringue.   We don't like it that way.  Give us tart and no meringue in the way.     I honestly can't recall if we had key lime pie at the Fish House,  so can't comment on the style.   However, Manny and Isa's, located near the Hurricane Memorial in Islamorada made a good tart one.   Manny and Isa were an older Cuban couple who grew their own key limes.  They have retired, and the restaurant closed, .... then it re-opened under new owners.... then it closed again.  I don't know thw current status. 
 
Glenn

Since you asked for Key Largo, I will restrict my recommendations to Key Largo or close by, not hours away.
 
Alabama Jack's Card Sound Road  http://www.alabamajacks.com/
This is a very casual place built on a barge (which I swear is sunk).  Renowned for their Conch Fritters and Lima Bean Soup.  Occasional live music.
 
Rib Daddy's 102570 Overseas Hwy http://www.ribdaddysrestaurant.com/
They have a lot of fish on the menu, including local favorites.  If you have someone in the group that won't eat fish, this is a good choice (check the menu).  I tasted a rib here, and it was pretty good.  We enjoyed the grouper and dolphin.
 
Buzzard's Roost MM 102.5  http://www.buzzardsroostkeylargo.com/
 Burgers; Fish Sandwiches - casual lunch spot.  I had a good dolphin sandwich here.
 

I don't know if it's still in existance but my favorite Key Lime Pie came from a place called The Quay.
 
I've searched for years for the recipe.
 
When in the Keys many years ago my purpose was to have KLP at every place I ate, lunch or dinner.  The Quay's stood out by leaps and bounds.  It was different in ways I can't explain.  Great ways!
 
Edited because I just Googled it:
 
Address: Mile Marker 102.5 Bayside
Key Largo, FL 33037
Telephone: 305-451-0943
Open/Close: MON-SUN
 
I hope that they haven't changed the recipe.

Wow,  I said almost the exact same thing in 2005!  At least then I remembered why I liked the Quay's.
 
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/Where-can-I-find-the-best-Key-Lime-Pie-m67659.aspx

I remember the quay in Marathon...it closed down a few years ago but I had the best rib eye steak there... to this day, I haven't had a rib eye with the flavor that particular steak had...thanks for that memory mar...

MiamiDon


Since you asked for Key Largo, I will restrict my recommendations to Key Largo or close by, not hours away.
 
Alabama Jack's Card Sound Road  http://www.alabamajacks.com/
This is a very casual place built on a barge (which I swear is sunk).  Renowned for their Conch Fritters and Lima Bean Soup.  Occasional live music.

Rib Daddy's 102570 Overseas Hwy http://www.ribdaddysrestaurant.com/
They have a lot of fish on the menu, including local favorites.  If you have someone in the group that won't eat fish, this is a good choice (check the menu).  I tasted a rib here, and it was pretty good.  We enjoyed the grouper and dolphin.

Buzzard's Roost MM 102.5  http://www.buzzardsroostkeylargo.com/
Burgers; Fish Sandwiches - casual lunch spot.  I had a good dolphin sandwich here.

I second Buzzard's Roost.  My BF and I sailed from Miami to The Keys January, 2 years ago.  This was the only place we sailed up to(wait, there was one more place, don't recall the name, it's on here somewhere)going down and coming back.  We really enjoyed it.  And that's what we had, burgers and fish sandwiches.  If you don't care for the very friendly cats dine inside.

I have to second two recommendations, which were the best places we ate in the Keys. #1 Blue Heaven in Key West had quite possibly one of the best breakfasts we've ever enjoyed.  I had the lobster benedict and the husband the lobster and cheddar omelet.  The atmosphere is fabulous.  We would've returned for dinner, had we known the other places we visited weren't going to be so great.  #2 The Fish House in Key Largo for dinner.  This is the kind of place that you just know has been there forever, because everyone was happy, everything was wonderful and again....the atmosphere just makes you happy.   Have a great time.

Weavo


I have to second two recommendations, which were the best places we ate in the Keys. #1 Blue Heaven in Key West had quite possibly one of the best breakfasts we've ever enjoyed.  I had the lobster benedict and the husband the lobster and cheddar omelet.  The atmosphere is fabulous.  We would've returned for dinner, had we known the other places we visited weren't going to be so great.  #2 The Fish House in Key Largo for dinner.  This is the kind of place that you just know has been there forever, because everyone was happy, everything was wonderful and again....the atmosphere just makes you happy.   Have a great time.

I agree, breakfast with the chickens at Blue Heaven, Lobster Benedict will not disappoint....Bill

stop & pick me up on the way down. I could use a vacation where its warmer.

Love the keys!

Blue Heaven in Key West was the best meal of our last trip to south Florida and the Keys.  On a Monday evening, we had a 45 minute wait for a table.  My wife had yellow fin tuna and I had grouper.  The vegetables were every bit as impressive as the main course.  Definitely worth a visit.