Key West

Bad Boy Taqueria

On our first night, after everyone had arrived, we decided to stop for a quick bite to eat.  Although the restaurant did not appear on the FindMe gluten-free app, I had searched for “tacos near me” to find an easy option.  When I saw that the tacos were served in corn tortillas, I figured there was a good chance we could find something suitable for everyone.  It was lightly staffed with only the bartender and kitchen staff working, so the service was a little slow.  However, the bartender was knowledgeable about the menu and able to recommend gluten-free options.  We started with guac and chips, followed by a variety of tacos.  The drinks were outstanding and the guac was excellent, though the tacos did not quite meet our expectations.  Terry did not experience any adverse reactions and there was more than enough food, so we considered it a win.

Kermit’s Key Lime

If you can guess, they serve key lime pie here.  Lucky for us, they even had gluten-free pie available.  Usually, Terry is the dessert lover, eager to sample every option presented to him.  However, this time, I persuaded him to try it.  Since I don’t typically eat pie and he prefers more chocolate or caramel desserts, I figured it would be nice to share a dessert together.  We both agreed that the pie was fantastic.  In addition to the pie, they offered key lime flavored salt water taffy.  We sampled the taffy and bought a bag to take home with us.  The flavor was delicious, and I wish there was a place back in Wisconsin that made treats like these.

Southernmost Pint BrewPub

I touched on this restaurant above when I was talking about sampling gluten-free beer.  Here I just want touch a little bit on the food.  We only did a few snacks to tie us over to dinner, but they were really good.  We both tried the bacon skewer, and let’s be honest who can wrong with a bacon skewer and beer?!?  They have a dedicated gluten-free kitchen and almost everything could be made gluten-free when we were there.  Again, it was lightly staffed resulting in slower service.

Amigos Tortilla Bar

This was a lucky find.  The food was really good and plentiful.  When we were first ordering, no gluten-free menu was available and our waitress seemed very unsure what was gluten-free.  She brought over a more seasoned waitress and together they were able to tell us what could be made gluten-free.  We were able to get some tacos, Mexican corn and Mexican potatoes. If you don’t have significant sensitivities to gluten, you may consume the nachos.  Please note that they are currently prepared in a shared fryer.

Mangia Mangia

If you are in the mood for pasta this is the place to go.  It was nice to find a place so accommodating to the gluten-free diet.  Their pasta is homemade, even the gluten-free options, so almost anything on the menu can be subbed with gluten-free noodles.  The waitress was extremely knowledgeable about gluten-free dietary needs and willing to make any accommodations she could.  The restaurant is somewhat isolated from the main stretch, so you’ll likely need a car or comfortable walking shoes to reach it.  The slight location inconveince was worth it in the food quality.

Kiki’s Sandbar Bar and Grille

We didn’t have high expectations for this restaurant and the waitress made sure not to exceed our already low expectations.  The only reason we went here was because it was within walking distance of our Airbnb and no one felt like driving anywhere.  While it isn’t the most satisfying meal, we have eaten at bars before and made it work.  Our group of seven sat down and ordered some drinks while we perused the menu.

When we asked what the gluten-free options could be she rolled her eyes and said the only thing she could recommend was the salad, but really not even that because it has croutons.  Terry had found a grilled fish plate and asked if that was safe, she said no because everything is cross-contaminated.  When we asked if any of the sides were gluten-free she said no and told us she would give us a minute and promptly walked away. Terry and I talked about it and decided he could try the seafood plate anticipating the skin is still on the fish and that would be the part that touched the grill.

Then the Disastrous Ordering Debacle

Upon ordering, Terry said he would have the local mixed fish basket.  When the food was brought out, it was completely breaded.  We asked if this was grilled and she said no he ordered the basket and not the plate.  We informed her that he can’t eat this, it needs to be grilled then she got angry, grabbed the plate, and stormed off.  If you have two things that close on the menu with the exact same fish and you knew he was gluten-free why not clarify?  Yes, Terry is also at fault because he said the wrong thing.  He didn’t realize there was a basket that consisted of the exact same fish just fried.  She brought his new food out and threw it in front of him.

This was the worst dining experience we have ever had, especially with the attitude from the waitress. She gave the rest of the group attitude as well if they asked for additional sauce or a refill.  Normally I won’t say don’t go to a place, but I strongly recommend not dining here.

Galley Grill

On our last morning, we decided to try a restaurant that had been recommended to us by a local.  There was a gluten-free menu with plenty of options, making it easy for Terry to find something.  The selection was larger than we anticipated it would be when we pulled up; it included options ranging from pancakes to eggs to bagels and parfaits.  Although Terry typically opts for gluten-free pancakes when they are available, he surprised me by selecting an omelet with a bagel on the side instead.  Noticing my surprised face, he mentioned he wasn’t in the mood for plain pancakes, and since he doesn’t like fruit on his pancakes, he decided an omelet was the way to go.  He reported both the omelet and bagel were good and plentiful.