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    Bobalu's Southern Cafe

    3.8 (118 reviews)
    ModerateSouthern, Seafood, Pizza
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

    Bobalu's Southern Cafe Photos

    BOBALU'S SOUTHERN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Bobalu's Southern Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jamaican jerk chicken sandwich
    Hope K.

    The service and food was great! We came in the late afternoon (June 18,2024), and the place was empty, however the service was friendly, quick, and personable. I wish I had caught her name. Some people came in and were not overly friendly to the staff, but she handled them with grace and even apologized to us for their behavior. We told her that she was very professional and to not be worried about what other people had done. The food was delicious! Our appetizers were fried ravioli and conch fritters, and both were really good. My daughters shared the pizza, my husband had the whole fish, and I had the chicken sandwich and each dish was well made and flavorful. The crust on the pizza was so good, and we even watched the cook stretch the dough before cooking, which is impressive for a place we thought might just be a roadside dive. And it is, but in the BEST kind of way! If we ever make it back to the area, we will definitely stop back here!

    Front
    Susan P.

    I have been coming to this place for a super long time. It used to be better in the 90s but it is still pretty good. I miss the days when there was old record albums stapled to the ceiling. The Decor is eclectic Florida Keys. On my way out of the keys a couple weeks ago we ordered takeout to pick up as we drove past. Interestingly although there was two cars in the parking lot only, they told us it would be 40 minutes before our food was ready. Well we got there earlier and it was ready earlier because there was literally no other business other than one table. So my go to is conch fritters and Conch strips. We had to ask them for sauce. They had our stuff packed up in boxes and there were no sauces in there and we had to ask for them. After we got in the car we discovered there was not a napkin to be found in the entire pile. Two sandwiches and an appetizer conch strips and an order of conch fritters was about $70. The breading on the conch strips tasted like unseasoned flour. I don't know what's going on there I don't know if it's Covid or what but the food quality has just been deteriorating over the last few years. This was a regular staple for me in the 90s and in the 2000s but maybe there was a change of ownership I don't know. At this point in time nostalgia brings me back not the food quality. The certainly is a quintessential piece of old Key West so it's worth a stop.

    Mark P.

    Bobalu's is an easy solid three or four from me. This long standing quirky fun bar/restaurant 's beloved by locals and tourists alike so they're often very busy. People seem to Love this place! It's fun and everyone's friendly without all that Conch customer service you sometimes get down here. The food's good and the prices are refreshingly reasonable. You'll not often see that down here either. Pizza was pretty good. $3.00 beer!!! Happy, friendly, fun hospitality.

    Melissa N.

    I have been wanting to visit Bobalu's for the longest. It took me a long time to finally visit because it is always busy. Luckily, I popped in when it was much quieter. It is a place frequent by locals. The outdoor décor and colors really caught my attention. It is quirky, casual, and very Keys. Our server was great and friendly. We ordered a few drinks and they came out quickly. We shared the Key West Flare Pizza - Ham, pineapple, bell peppers, and onions. I thought the prices were really reasonable. Also, the pizza was actually pretty good. It is a laidback beachy theme bar/restaurant. They serve your typical Key West seafood items, but it is fun and relaxing.

    Veronica P.

    Great outdoor venue. Have dinner under the stars and twice a month a live band performs. Bars equiped with some roof in the even a rain cloud shows up. We ordered the kitchrn sink pizza, family style ceaser salad and a garden salad. All 3 items were delicous, ample for 4 hungy adults. Ceasar was delicious and i like my dressing in my green which this salad came in with majority of my leaves were tiuched. Garden was good served with yum yumbranch on the side. And the pizza was really good. Good friday night crowd, all seats were Taken, but you definitely can belly up to the bar and get your drinks on! A must try

    Checkout the entertainment on the backyard patio. Gets very crowded.

    Great local restaurant. Very nice staff and all food is freshly made. Yummy pizza. Cakes are made on premise daily. When it's gone it's gone. Don't miss it. Save room they are large portions.

    Fried green tomatoes
    Octaivia B.

    Bobalu's has great food choices! Amazing outdoor seats! Service was good and also very energetic and lively. will be back!

    We are waiting to experience some good food.

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    28 days ago

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    4 months ago

    Go to keys a lot. This place is the best food around. Good comfort food never had a bad meal.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Service is great, food is good. Locals spot with a locals feel. Inside there is a bunch of stuff and quirks on the walls and ceilings.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    I can't tell you if the food is good. We waited 90 minutes and never got our food. Wait staff was not attentive.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Good food. Relaxed ambiance. Friendly service. I will stop by next time I get up that way.

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Good food nice music . Always a good vibe . The food is delicious too . I like to come often

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Friend green tomatoes are delicious, and the Cuban is equally as good. Can't wait to try more of the food from this little place!

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    3 years ago

    Waited over an hour and 20 min. for two hog fish rubeans sandwiches on a Thur. Night.

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food and service were exceptional. We want to come back and try the pizza since we saw a lot of take out pizza being served

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    Page 1 of 3

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    Roostica - Margherita

    Roostica

    4.1(619 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    Excellent food, prices and cocktails! My husband is an Old Fashion snob and Relu the bartender…read moredelivered! The cheese sticks, the chicken Parm and the Bolognese was the best we've had in a long time!

    A nice Italian restaurant on Stock Island just off Key West…read more Big dining room upon entry and an abandoned patio on a Saturday night. There were things that caught my eye. As an Italian American, when you see t-shirts with "legalize marinara" you get excited. You feel like they get you! For me, the food and service for the price was just okay. Now when I'm back in Florida, you bet your ass I'm ordering a Yuengling. Colorado, when are we going to get Yuengling already?! And $4 during happy hour, this was the deal of the night. We shared some apps that got the party started. For my main, I went with one of their Saturday specials, Mahi Piccata. You're in Florida, fresh fish is the name of the game. I sure miss eating fresh mahi, so naturally I had to order it. If this was a plate of mahi only, my rating would be higher, because the fish was fresh and the sauce had nice flavor. The rest of the plate killed it for me. Overcooked angel hair pasta and vegetables that tasted frozen. Both with zero seasoning whatsoever. I expected a lot more TLC for a $35 plate. Maybe we should've went with the woodfired pizzas that seem to be their claim to fame. Service was just okay and we all walked away wanting a more satisfying experience.

    Photos
    Roostica - Looks like a typical Italian trattoria.

    Looks like a typical Italian trattoria.

    Roostica - Margherita & hipo

    Margherita & hipo

    Roostica - Happy hour pizza with one topping $10

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    Happy hour pizza with one topping $10

    South Of The Seven - Caesar

    South Of The Seven

    4.3(85 reviews)
    7.0 mi

    Sometimes you have to do a double take when something captures you. Greatness sometimes is hard to…read morefind. So I circled back to South of the Seven was still delivering the goods. Well, the answer is Hell yeah! (Steve Austin voice). The down home charm feeling from the staff is true warmth. What I think Keys hospitality should be! We had cocktails that were beautifully crafted. To start there was an amuse bouche of a smooth creamy bisque. Followed by duck wings and crispy fish collars! Yes I came back to them for a 2nd look. For awhile I kept seeing a special offering on the menu. When I would call to inquire, it was no longer available. Well, guess what was on the men? The Kan Kan Chop!!! Let me tell you. This beautifully sculpted cut of pork includes the rib, the chop and the belly!!!! 2 people carried it out on a board! I admired it in amazement. They asked if I was sharing it? Uh, no. Accompanied by super soft bao buns, Jasmine rice and hoisin it was worth the wait. Chloe was excellent at helping to select items to make for a wonderful dining experience! The steaks were seasoned and cooked perfectly. Do not be fooled by the looks of this place! Pull up, pull in and enjoy. You'll thank me later

    South of the Seven is hands down one of my favorite spots! The food is absolutely amazing--fresh,…read moreflavorful, and consistently top-notch every single time. You can truly taste the care and quality that goes into every dish. But what really makes this place special is the owners and customer service. They are incredibly friendly, welcoming, and genuinely care about their customers. You feel appreciated from the moment you walk in, and that kind of hospitality is hard to find. Amazing food, great vibes, and even better people. If you have not been yet, you are seriously missing out. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    South Of The Seven - Lanier, my amazing server! Make sure to ask for her.

    Lanier, my amazing server! Make sure to ask for her.

    South Of The Seven - Red eyed snapper.

    Red eyed snapper.

    South Of The Seven - Front signage

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    Front signage

    The Docks Restaurant + Raw Bar

    The Docks Restaurant + Raw Bar

    4.4(285 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$$

    Fun atmosphere right in the harbor. Watch the boats come in and the tarpon jumping while you enjoy…read moreamazing bites and the yummiest beverages. We stopped by the market to snag some fish for dinner and stopped into the Dock restaurant for an appetizer. We had 4 kids and 4 adults, it's a small spot but we enjoyed the outdoor space even though it was rainy. Our bartender/server was great. He had good recommendations for menu items and gave us some great information about the area and things to see and do. Ended up staying a few hours even though we planned for only a quick stop. Such an amazing hidden spot. An absolute gem. Get the lobster rangoons!

    Went to dinner at the Docks with a friend recently and was really disappointed. The restaurant has…read morea neat atmosphere right on the water and at the time of our arrival, it was semi busy. Overall, the food quality was okay. Portion sizes were average however, the Fish & Chips came with 2 small strips of fish buried under a thick layer of oily breading on top of a huge mound of fries. Once I unburied the fish it was tasty & fresh but not much of it. My husband enjoyed his shrimp scampi but it was seemed to be lacking something. Unfortunately, the service does not measure up to the type of restaurant they portray themselves to be. The server was not particularly friendly nor attentive. (No follow-up on drinks or service) We were asked by another friend to go to dinner last night and he suggested The Docks. We politely declined.

    Photos
    The Docks Restaurant + Raw Bar - Indoor and outdoor dining available

    Indoor and outdoor dining available

    The Docks Restaurant + Raw Bar - Snapper Philly

    Snapper Philly

    The Docks Restaurant + Raw Bar - Sunset view

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    Sunset view

    Subway

    Subway

    2.5(14 reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $

    So I ordered the chicken honey mustard wrap and when I told this woman I wanted lettuce she was…read moregoing to give me the lettuce that she had to scrape off the side of the container. I told her that it looked disgusting and she says oh I'll see if I can find more lettuce. It was at noon on a Saturday, I'm sure she had more lettuce in the back. The help was rude and not good customer service very unprofessional. Will not come here again!

    Wow! I just got a call from the owner of this store in regards to my prior bad experience at her…read morestore. I thought wow how nice of her to follow up. But instead of addressing the issues of her extremely rude employee, who would not even give me her name, she lays into me!!! About how I didn't place my order correctly on the app and how they don't want you to tell them what you want on your sandwich if you order was placed online. She totally ignored the reason for my posting. Maybe she needs to read some of these prior reviews about her staff and how rude and unprofessional they are to her customers. However, that was not even addressed. Only how I ordered wrong. What a slap in the face. I was not asking for anything in return and was merely hoping that by informing her wonderful employees rudeness she perhaps could talk to them so she wouldn't keep getting negative posts. Never though she would feel a need to attack me. I have only posted negative posts 2 times on this app. I am the customer and I don't need to get chewed out for merely stating what happened to me and so many others who have posted prior to me. Too bad, I have other choices for lunch that don't raise my blood pressure.

    Photos
    Subway
    Subway
    Subway

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    Bobalu's Southern Cafe - southern - Updated September 2026

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