On our first full day in the Keys (12/20), it was time from some fresh seafood!
This is actually my second trip to Buzzard’s Roost. Chris and I went last year when I came down for my first Christmas with his family. I can’t remember what I had last year except that the more I think about it, the more I suspect I ordered the same thing this year.
Buzzard’s Roost has two seating options: a screened enclosure or an open-air section right next to the boat lift. We sat in the screened in area as the service is usually a little better. Buzzard’s Roost is on the ocean side of Key Largo but in a little cove for the marina so the view is mostly boats with a little water in the distance.
While I was washing my hands, Chris ordered drinks (coke products) and an appetizer of Blue Crab Cake for us. The crab cake here is made with local crab and corn then served with a housemade remoulade sauce. I liked the corn addition but I felt like this crab cake was a little heavy on the fillers and not enough on the crab meat. Overall, we agreed that the crab cake from Regatta’s in Lexington was better, thanks in part to the marmalade and also the fried-green tomato.
Chris is a big fan of the chicken salad (on a croissant) here but they also have tuna salad on croissant so he ordered that this time, with potato salad. I, opting to fill my seafood quota, went for the Lobster Reuben. Also satisfies my opulence at lunch quota probably: lobster meat in housemade mango spiked thousand island plus coleslaw on grilled rye. Yum Yum Yum.The Lobster Reuben isn’t on the regular menu but I still keep thinking its what I had last year too. Anyhow, its delicious. I would advise getting a little extra dressing just so you can taste it without the lobster and coleslaw mixed in.
Like most restaurants in the Keys, Buzzards Roost has a catch or catches of the day which can be prepared in a number of ways. They also have an assortment of other typical sandwiches like the chicken wrap. Besides the crab cake, they offer conch fritters and alligator bites on the appetizer menu. There is also a more extensive dinner menu but I’ve only been for lunch so I can’t speak to that.
Service can be a little spotty, especially on drink refills. But, any special requests are always taken care of happily.
Details
Address: 21 Garden Cove Dr, Key Largo, FL
Reviews: Via Google
Website: With menus This site worked last week when I looked at the menu but as of 1/2/09, it was listed as “parked” at GoDaddy.
Good Food Hunting 