Recently, we vacationed with some friends on Islamorada in the beautiful Florida Keys. What did we do during our vacation? Absolutely nothing that required any form of energy. This was truly a lazy, relaxation vacation. We did little more than eat, and lounge by the pools. With such a limited agenda, we had plenty of time to plan our meals, as we wanted to make sure each one was perfect. So imagine our delight to discover that one of the island's most talked-about restaurants is called Lazy Days! With a name like that, we had to try it out, and fell immediately in love with it. In fact, it was so good, we went back just a few days later.

Like most restaurants on Islamorada, Lazy Days features both indoor and outdoor seating, with a perfect view of the ocean, if you're lucky enough to be seated on the South side of the restaurant. We sat outdoors both nights, enjoying the sights and sounds of the ocean waves as we dined.

So What's The Food Like?

In a word, "spectacular". Seafood is their main specialty, as you might guess by their location. Like most restaurants on this island, the restaurant will be happy to prepare your catch any way you like it for a per person, per pound fee. We don't fish but the people next to us enjoyed platter after platter of their own catch, prepared several different ways. Our mouths were watering watching them enjoy their feast. But if seafood's not really your thing they have plenty of steak, chicken, and pasta entrees as well.

Appetizers

There are many appetizers from $4 to $14. Most are seafood. They have fried calamari, buffalo style shrimp, peel and eat shrimp, raw oysters, clams, steamers, and crab cakes. For you land-lubbers, they have stuffed mushrooms, cheese sticks, chicken fingers, and potato skins. They also have a Brie Cheese with fruit and toast platter, which I ordered, and enjoyed immensely.

Entrees

Their menu features pretty much every kind of seafood, prepared every different way. What we found intriguing was the unique way they can prepare whole lobster. Besides the normal broiled, steamed, and stuffed methods, they offer it crispy fried. My friend could not resist and ordered this the first night. Basically, they take all of the meat out of the lobster, cut it into small pieces, and deep fry the pieces in a cornflake mixture. They then pile all the meat back into the shell for serving. This was truly a treat! Of course the whole lobsters are listed as "market price" which turned out to be around $30. Not to worry if lobster's not your favorite. There are scallops, shrimp, and the catch of the day, prepared many different ways for around $20.

Steak and chicken entrees are $11 - $20, and include beef tips sautéed with mushrooms, Chicken Marsala, and "Lazy Days Chicken" which is a plate of chicken pieces sautéed with bread crumbs and topped with tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and key lime butter.

For you vegetarians, there are two kinds of vegetarian pasta.

Everything we ate was truly delicious.

If you're not too hungry, there are burgers and fish sandwiches available for $6-$9. You can add a cup of soup (their specialty is chowder, of course!) or a salad to any entrée for $2-$5

There's also a kids menu where for $4-$7 your kids can order a cheeseburger, fish sticks, PB&J, a hot dog, or fried shrimp. All kids meals come with French fries, a beverage, and an ice cream dessert.

Speaking of desserts, they offer Key Lime pie and Baked Apple pie.

Service

Both nights that we were there, we had superb service. The waiters were attentive, drinks were refilled without asking, and they were happy to answer our questions, and take our special requests. In keeping with their name, and our vacation theme, we were not rushed at all.

Recommended?

Absolutely! We never planned to visit the same restaurant twice during our short stay on Islamorada, but the food, service, and atmosphere of Lazy Days brought us back. If I should ever return to the island, I'll be sure to visit again. I recommend you give this place a try, next time you find yourself on Islamorada.

Location
Mile Marker 79.9 (Ocean Side)
Islamorada, Florida Keys
(305) 664-5256

Oh - One last thought - like most restaurants on this island, reservations are encouraged. Go without, and you're likely to find yourself in for a long wait.

Recommended: Yes

Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes