Saturday, May 4, 2013

Charlie Mac's



Charlie Mac's, located just beyond the Green Parrot in Key West, is a fabulous barbecue find in Key West. The meat is moist, the sauce delicious and the sides actually worth eating (unlike some other BBQ joints).

We ordered the pulled pork and the brisket, both were very good. I also appreciated the large draft menu with included many craft and local brews.

Friday, May 3, 2013

The Island Fish Co.



Grab a seat out on the deck and enjoy some sun while dining at The Island Fish Co., in Marathon, FL. While not the best thing we ate on our trip to the Florida Keys, the wait staff was attentive, remembered my picky order, and refilled drinks in a timely matter - nothing terribly much to complain about.

That said, nothing terribly much to commend either. The place was average, the quesadillas the same as late night bar quesadillas. I ordered fish tacos, made with fried mahi mahi, and while they were good, I felt like there was more toppings on the tacos than fish.

With so many other restaurants dotting the drive between Key Largo and Key West, I suggest passing over The Island Fish Co., with its very chain restaurant style food.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Better Than Sex



With a name like 'Better Than Sex,' the dessert restaurant in Key West is setting itself up for either failure or your in for a fantastic night.

We ordered the special, a chocolate stout cake and irish coffee ice cream. The cake, while only one slice, was big enough for more than two people. The cake was moist and dense, with a very thick, sweet and delicious fudge-like ice cream.

The irish coffee ice cream was sweet and still had that boozy taste underneath, while not tasting like alcohol. The two items went together very well and were absolutely delicious.

The atmosphere at Better Than Sex is very, well, sexy. The lights are very dim and each table is lit by candles and tables are given small flashlights to read the menu and play the card games at the table.

While walk ins are welcome, get seated faster by making a reservation.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Rum Barrel





Just off the main drag in Key West is the Rum Barrel, is a fantastic find. There's indoor seating downstairs and outside seating on the roof, with a second bar.

We ordered the restaurant's signature drink, the Rum Barrel, which is made with Bacardi Select, Bacardi Gold, Bacardi 151 with cranberry, pineapple and orange juices, and splash of grenadine. It's like drinking a very alcoholic fruit punch, and very good. We also ordered a key lime pie martini, which was made fresh, not from a mix (yay!) and was absolutely delicious.

For lunch, we ordered a chicken cheese steak (the place is owned by the former Philadelphia 76ers President and the chef cooked for Chef Jose Garces in Philly, too) and the Mahi BLT with fried mahi mahi. The food was very good and the staff friendly and attentive.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Michael's Pizzeria


Located in Ranchco Mirage, tucked between more chain places, Michael's Pizzeria is a nice find for a lovely lunch.

The lunch menu focuses heavily on pizzas, which are big enough for two people to share, and take some time to prepare as they are all made fresh (definitely not your typical chain pizzeria!).

We ordered the Carbonara, made with pancetta, provolone, mozzarella and eggs. The pizza was delicious and the perfect light lunch. The pancetta was crispy and the eggs "sunny side up" so when you cut into them the yolks run into the rest of the pizza, which, if you ask me, is perfect.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Austin State Capitol



The Texas State Capitol building in Austin is quite an impressive building on both the inside, as well as the outside.  For visitors, upon entering the grounds, you'll see it is well-maintained and has a separate visitor's center to start your visit.  Here, there are some interesting exhibits about the capitol, as well as helpful personnel to give you tips on your visit to the Capitol complex as well as to Austin and Texas as a whole.

In the building, you have the option of walking through on your own to explore, along with a pamphlet giving you information about the building as you go.  You can also take a tour that leaves every 20 minutes or so.  When visiting Austin, this is definitely a recommended activity that will take about 1 hour of your time.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Bullock Texas State History Museum


Located just off of the University of Texas's campus in Austin, the Bullock Texas State History Museum gives visitors a view into the history of the state.  You'll learn about the inception of Texas becoming an independent republic, about it being admitted into the United States, as well as life since then including the oil boom.  If you have any interest in Texas's history, this is definitely a good place to visit.  In addition, there are various IMAX movies you can watch.