Mangrove Mama’s Restaurant Review

This review is for all of my south Florida friends and anyone that might be visiting the Florida Keys. Mangrove Mama’s is located at 19991 Overseas Highway in Sugarloaf Key, Florida. We were staying in Key West but visiting Bahia Honda National Park in Big Pine Key Florida for some swimming and snorkeling and stopped here for lunch on our way back to Key West.
I was with my good friend Rosalie, who has been to this restaurant and area many times. She knew just how much I would love about this restaurant but what she did not expect is…I would love it so much I wanted to go back a second time during our trip!  Mangrove Mama’s is a funky little roadside place that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and is well know by the locals.  It is a hopping place no matter what time you go!
I loved that they have live music in the evenings, and  inside and outside seating under banana trees and palm trees!  There is a great banana tree inside the restaurant that had an huge amazing flower on it. This place has been open for over thirty years and let me tell you they are going strong!
If you follow the blog you know Rosalie is just as much of a foodie as I am. When we are together we always order lots of food and share! I know there are many people who hate to share food so if you are one of them, I apologize in advance!  So for starters we ordered Conch Fritters ($9.99). These were absolutely fried to perfection and served with a sauce that had a little spice to it that we really loved! They were crispy and crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside with a little kick from the sauce. Darn good way to start the meal!

Did I mention how we spent all morning and early afternoon touring, swimming and snorkeling? Well, we were more than  ready for a couple beverages! I had the rum punch and Rosalie had a key lime Mojito. Both were done very well and there was no skimping!

For the main course I ordered the Fried Spiny Lobster Reuben and Rosalie had the Seafood Quesadilla. Well we each really had half of both but anyway, I’ll start with Rosalie’s choice.  The quesadilla ($11.99)  was served with salsa and a mayo sauce. This was really tasty and filled with plenty of seafood. You did not wonder one bit what kind of quesadilla this was…lots of shrimp, crab and lobster!  The theory of not putting cheese with seafood goes out the window with this dish as it was excellent and we would both order this again anytime!

The star of the day and the dish that brought us back the second time was the Fried Spiny Lobster Reuben ($14.99)…OMG…words do not do this sandwich justice. Rosalie and I each took a bite and we were silent, no words….not one! My mouth is watering just thinking about this dish. So freaking delicious! The lobster was perfectly fried in a very light batter, crisp, tender and sweet coleslaw, fresh and crisp, layer of Swiss and Thousand Island dressing brings it all together on toasted bread!  YES, PLEASE!  I would love to re-create this at home with Maine lobster.  As much as I hate to fry this sandwich will take me there! Absolutely mouth watering. One of the best sandwiches I have ever had.

The menu does not stop there.  They have everything for both seafood lovers as well as the meat eaters. They also have fantastic unique pizza choices that they deliver to the locals.  I’m wishing I was a local right now! They really know how to feature the local seafood in many different ways as well as keep those familiar items on the menu for those not as adventurous. We went for a late lunch on both days but you can choose everything from salad, soup, appetizers to some amazing lunch and dinner items.  From the Lobster Ruben to Spicy Mahi tacos, burgers, seafood baskets, pasta primavera or maybe a grilled tuna steak or plantain encrusted hogfish!

I mentioned the pizza earlier although we did not try any of them,  the choices were fantastic.  Everything from a Maui Wowie, Funky Chicken, taco pizza and a veggie delight…and a shrimp Alfredo pizza!  I’m pretty sure I would enjoy any of these! The prices are excellent, the food was beyond anything I would have expected and the service was outstanding both times!  This is a must visit for anyone in the area and I know I can’t wait to get back!

Enjoy!