Want to go?
WHAT: The Keys
WHERE: 227 Bay View Ave., Put-in-Bay
HOURS: Vary; serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night
INFO: 419-285-5397 or thekeyspib.com
It was a beautiful week to visit Put-in-Bay for our first trip over this year. I was surprised and amazed to see a new waterfront food complex located right next to the Jet Express dock – none of which was here on my last visit in October.
You won't believe you're at PIB when you wander through this Key West-like place (it's obvious why there are so many comparisons). The incredible landscaping, brightly colored tables, chairs and umbrellas welcome you in, and the addition of misting fans keep the area cool and tropical. There's a fire pit that's perfect for evenings, inviting you to relax at the end of the day. The artwork throughout is also stunning.
There are several food places in the complex, and I'll give you some information about each one. The one closest to the road is the Crazy Chicken, which serves jerk chicken, smoked half chicken, smoked brisket, St. Louis ribs and many Caribbean-style side dishes. The Tortuga Rum Republic serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, featuring a combination of dishes from South Florida and the Caribbean. This place has daily entertainment and the best frozen cocktails I've tasted. Lola's Key has an ourside bar and outside seating. They serve gourmet appetizers, sandwiches and salads. Fresh fruit cocktails are the way to go here (we hear that the passionfruit rum cocktail is especially amazing). You can order from any of these places and sit outside to watch the boats come in. Last but not least, you can head up top at Nagoya for freshly prepared sushi, while enjoying the view of Perry's Monument – what a pretty sight.
We decided to have an early dinner at about 5 p.m., before it got too busy, as we knew it would. I ordered the sweet heat chicken, which was two halves of hand-breaded chicken, covered in melted swiss cheese, a toasted whole-wheat bun topped with tomato, onion and avocado with sweet habanero sauce. It came with a pile of thin fresh fries and a garnish of pineapple — it was so good. My daughter ordered the grouper basket, which is a real Florida delight: about seven large hand-breaded grouper fingers, lots of fries, cold crisp coleslaw and a delicious coconut dipping sauce.
Of course, I was nosy and looked at some of the other diners' plates, and didn't see a single thing that didn't look completely appetizing. The staff was helpful, attentive and efficient. When you come to PIB this summer, I'm sure you'll enjoy this beautiful addition to the island. We sure did.
There are several food places in the complex, and I'll give you some information about each one. The one closest to the road is the Crazy Chicken, which serves jerk chicken, smoked half chicken, smoked brisket, St. Louis ribs and many Caribbean-style side dishes. The Tortuga Rum Republic serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, featuring a combination of dishes from South Florida and the Caribbean. This place has daily entertainment and the best frozen cocktails I've tasted. Lola's Key has an ourside bar and outside seating. They serve gourmet appetizers, sandwiches and salads. Fresh fruit cocktails are the way to go here (we hear that the passionfruit rum cocktail is especially amazing). You can order from any of these places and sit outside to watch the boats come in. Last but not least, you can head up top at Nagoya for freshly prepared sushi, while enjoying the view of Perry's Monument – what a pretty sight.
We decided to have an early dinner at about 5 p.m., before it got too busy, as we knew it would. I ordered the sweet heat chicken, which was two halves of hand-breaded chicken, covered in melted swiss cheese, a toasted whole-wheat bun topped with tomato, onion and avocado with sweet habanero sauce. It came with a pile of thin fresh fries and a garnish of pineapple — it was so good. My daughter ordered the grouper basket, which is a real Florida delight: about seven large hand-breaded grouper fingers, lots of fries, cold crisp coleslaw and a delicious coconut dipping sauce.
Of course, I was nosy and looked at some of the other diners' plates, and didn't see a single thing that didn't look completely appetizing. The staff was helpful, attentive and efficient. When you come to PIB this summer, I'm sure you'll enjoy this beautiful addition to the island. We sure did.
