Snappers Oceanfront Restaurant & Bar – Restaurant Review | Condé Nast Traveler
Since 1989, Snappers has been serving up some of Key Largo’s freshest seafood in a picturesque waterfront location but with a flip-flop friendly vibe. Though the restaurant suffered severe damage from Hurricane Irma it also became a symbol of the resiliency of business owners in the Keys when the restaurant reopened using coolers and a food truck, albeit in a limited way. Since then, Snappers has been rebuilt, now stronger and better than ever.
What’s the crowd like?
While Snappers has long been a Key Largo icon, it’s also a popular stopping point for travelers making their way from How are the drinks?
Like so many other oceanfront eateries, tropical drinks are a standard part of the order for many diners. (If you’re extra thirsty or with a larger group, the rum punch bucket is a fun order). But the drink menu also has a great selection of wines and a surprisingly well-curated wine list—so don’t feel like you have to order an electric pink cocktail.
And the food? What does the kitchen specialize in?
The food at Snappers leans Caribbean, and the menu changes slightly each day based on what’s fresh—the hallmark of any great seafood joint. If you’re just stopping in for a quick bite and a drink, and are feeling adventurous, try the Gator Bites (lightly fried strips of alligator meat marinated in Frank’s Red Hot and served with bleu cheese dressing). For something a bit heavier, the fish sandwich (fresh mahi, which can be fried, grilled, or blackened, then served with tomato and cheddar cheese on toasted whole wheat bread) and the seafood tacos (choose between mahi or shrimp, grilled, fried, or blackened, then served with shredded cabbage, cilantro, Key lime sauce with guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream) are two of the more popular options. If you’ve spent the day doing some fishing of your own, they’ll also cook up your personal catch of the day.
How’s the service?
Though it took a few extra minutes for our server to take our drink order, and for those drinks to arrive, she was apologetic about that (it was busy). But it was all smooth-sailing from there on out, with our waitress telling us about a few of the house specialties (like those aforementioned gator bites). She led us in a great direction.
Anything else we should know before planning a meal?
Snappers can be loud and crowded, which means it might not be the ideal choice for a date or business meeting (at least, not if you don’t want to spend half the time shouting across the table at each other). It’s a nice spot for couples, families, and groups of friend to stop and grab a drink and a bite as they’re making their way to or from the Lower Keys.
Since 1989, Snappers has been serving up some of Key Largo’s freshest seafood in a picturesque waterfront location but with a flip-flop friendly vibe. Though the restaurant suffered severe damage from Hurricane Irma it also became a symbol of the resiliency of business owners in the Keys when the restaurant reopened using coolers and a food truck, albeit in a limited way. Since then, Snappers has been rebuilt, now stronger and better than ever.While Snappers has long been a Key Largo icon, it’s also a popular stopping point for travelers making their way from Miami to Key West (it’s about a 90-minute drive from South Beach), so prepare for a crowd and plan your trip accordingly. The waterfront setting, old-school décor, and history of the place make it rather boisterous regardless of whether you stop in for lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch (which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features live jazz plus, a build-your-own-Bloody Mary bar).Like so many other oceanfront eateries, tropical drinks are a standard part of the order for many diners. (If you’re extra thirsty or with a larger group, the rum punch bucket is a fun order). But the drink menu also has a great selection of wines and a surprisingly well-curated wine list—so don’t feel like you have to order an electric pink cocktail.The food at Snappers leans Caribbean, and the menu changes slightly each day based on what’s fresh—the hallmark of any great seafood joint. If you’re just stopping in for a quick bite and a drink, and are feeling adventurous, try the Gator Bites (lightly fried strips of alligator meat marinated in Frank’s Red Hot and served with bleu cheese dressing). For something a bit heavier, the fish sandwich (fresh mahi, which can be fried, grilled, or blackened, then served with tomato and cheddar cheese on toasted whole wheat bread) and the seafood tacos (choose between mahi or shrimp, grilled, fried, or blackened, then served with shredded cabbage, cilantro, Key lime sauce with guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream) are two of the more popular options. If you’ve spent the day doing some fishing of your own, they’ll also cook up your personal catch of the day.Though it took a few extra minutes for our server to take our drink order, and for those drinks to arrive, she was apologetic about that (it was busy). But it was all smooth-sailing from there on out, with our waitress telling us about a few of the house specialties (like those aforementioned gator bites). She led us in a great direction.Snappers can be loud and crowded, which means it might not be the ideal choice for a date or business meeting (at least, not if you don’t want to spend half the time shouting across the table at each other). It’s a nice spot for couples, families, and groups of friend to stop and grab a drink and a bite as they’re making their way to or from the Lower Keys.