Blue Heaven

729 Thomas St., Key West, FL - (305) 296-8666

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Posted By Randolph Becker on 12/12/2008 2:14:00 PM

Blue Heaven is about 300 feet from my front porch. It has taken me 61 years to get to this position, but the wait has been worth it! OK, why?

First of all there's the ambiance: the canopy of trees, the floor of recycled pool table slates on which Hemingway probably lost a few bucks, the chickens, the cats, the amazing tables. You are always on vacation in (Blue) Heaven.

Second, the food: I was going to write that breakfast is my favorite meal here (I can smell it each morning from home) with the pancakes and the lobster benedict, but then I considered the other meals of the day. Fresh fish without any deep-frying in sight! So fresh! Never been disappointed.

Third, there are the owners, Ricky and Suanne, who are the greatest people in the community (yes, I am speaking of community here). I joined Ricky in the march with kids around the neighborhood for the next president of the USA. I meet Suanne at the city commission meetings every two weeks. They give back way, way more to the community (of Key West, of Florida, of the US, of humanity) than they take in.

And here is a quick tip to the wise: they recently became the operators of Salute, the only real, genuine, Euro-style on-the-beach ristorante in Key West. So, watch out for fresh, local ingredients in a setting with sand-between-the-toes. The other night (OK, election night) my wife ordered the yellowtail there (done up in a neo-Med setting in a bowl with broth and olives and . . .) and I saw her finish an entree for the first time in years. Yep, she licked the bowl.

It is all good!

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"House-made granola, topped with bananas and blueberries: a sweet way to start the day"
Michael Stern

"One of the many "cheeky" signs about."
Pam Mason

"Hoping for crumbs..."
Pam Mason

"A delightful dish with a curried sauce that complements the pork beautifully."
Jeanne Smiczek

"Banana pancakes, pre-syrup"
Michael Stern

"Snapper dinner with all its accutrements."
Jeanne Smiczek

"One of the nicest places to eat in Key West: the open-air dining room at Blue Heaven. This picture was taken at breakfast time."
Michael Stern

"When you look at the walkway into the dining room at Blue Heaven, it's little wonder that natives of Key West consider their community to be paradise."
Michael Stern

"To the side of the dining area at Blue Heaven is this rooster cemetery, a tribute to the many brave cocks who did battle here in Key West's wilder days."
Michael Stern

"When you dine at Blue Heaven, your companions will include a flock of chickens, large and small. This bird was wandering a roof near our table. When she hopped to the ground, we gave her a piece of banana pancake."
Michael Stern

"If Jimmy Buffett was a restaurant, he would be Blue Heaven. It is said this place was the inspiration for the song Blue Heaven Rendezvous."
Michael Stern