Great restaurant for special occasions. Food is always top notch. Pretty extensive selection of wines. Has a tiki bar by the water for after dinner drinks. read more

Butterfly Café - View from the butterfly cafe terrace. - Seafood Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Beautiful setting, friendly hostess, we loved sitting outside, it's a beautiful setting, our server Dayanara was charming and provided great service. We had thecrancakes, delicious with crispy crust,my husband enjoyed the Mahi sandwich, I had thescallops and risotto. Everything was pipinghot, well seasoned and delicious. The risotto was slightly undercooked with some rice still crunchy which was disappointing as Everything else was perfect. Overall good experience. read more

This restaurant is located at tranquility bay resort. There was plenty of easy access parking. The atmosphere is elegant, upscale and just beautiful. But The food!Genuinely the best food I can remember having at any restaurant. We started waiting at the Tiki Bar as there was a short wait for an outside table so we figured it was worth checking out.. There's a short walk through the resort, passing the pool opening to a gorgeous, white sand beach area with all kinds of fun activities for families and adults. There was live music as well that was the perfect touch to the tropical beach atmosphere. We were greeted immediately and provided a menu at the bar. We only had a beer, but certainly, we'll be visiting again for a casual lunch. When we were seated outside on the terrace it was getting dark. The only negative thing I can really say about our experience was that we had to use our phones as flashlights to see the menu. Some candle light would have been welcomed, but not a big deal at all. We had the warm goat cheese appetizer with bread service. Both were delicious and not too much- we ate it all and still had room for our outstanding main course. I had grilled mahi and substituted the potatoes for the risotto (excellent decision omg, the best risotto ever!), my husband had the grouper as it comes on the menu. Every bite was a fabulous treat! It was really, really, really good! I will definitely be back. I will say the service at the tiki bar and in the restaurant was a little slow. It was clearly obvious the servers were doing the best they could with the tables they had. It seems to be an issue throughout the keys, I assume they are all having difficulty getting enough staff. I only mention this to remind customers to be patient and kind. Just kind of expect this no matter where you are dining and don't take that out on the wait staff with their tips. It's certainly not their fault and it's so expensive to live here, tip them generously! read more

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FABULOUS from start to finish! We started our celebration at the Tiki Bar watching the sun go down, a cocktail and live music followed by a wonderful dinner at the Butterfly Cafe! Crab cakes were our starter, Butterfly Salad, Mahi entree and the toffee sauce on the date cake was omg! Our server, Michelle, made the evening 5-Stars with her attentiveness and attention to detail. Thank you ALL for a wonderful evening!! read more

Service is awful. They have over 20 tables empty and all the employees are standing around the bar. They turned us away because they are apparently booked. The people in front of us only made a reservation 10 mins before and got in but they wouldn't take us. read more

I don't normally leave reviews but this time I don't have a choice. Although the restaurant is nicely appointed, the food was a complete disappointment. The waiter recommended the snapper and it was definitely not fresh and did not taste good. There were 2 sauces that accompanied the fish and one was a very sweet sauce that did not add any flavor. Jose was a good waiter and we would have tipped him well and he did let us know that an 18 percent gratuity was automatically added to the tab. So unfortunately and as has been previously mentioned, the prices are quite high which is not merited by the low quality of the food. read more

The place is beautiful and very comfortable. While I do not mind paying top prices for excellent meals, I am afraid that I have to say the food here was really not worth the cost. First, for the prices they charge for entrees they could at least have included a salad. Everything is a la carte. I ordered the seafood bake for $52. The waitress said it included mahi with shrimp. What arrived were small pieces of mahi and rather small shrimp in a very thin cream sauce that was not particularly tasty. We also ordered a caesar salad appetizer which was not at all noteworthy and tuna tartar with seaweed which was quite good. The drinks were very good. Overall, not a place I would plan to frequent again nor recommend. read more

Loved the food here! The 5 of us cruised in around 8:00 and were immediately seated and served! The one of the best Ribeyes we have e er tasted and the scallops were definitely worth coming back for! read more

Butterfly Café - Seafood Near Me - Marathon, Florida

Way way way over priced. Our service was great. But food for the price was average. Average. Should have gone to one of the local much less expensive places. Actually switching it from 3 stars to 1 stars more I think about it. The high ratings need to stop. This place is WAAAAAAAYYY overpriced. Not good for the price at all. Other local places that are MUCh cheaper with good if not better food. read more

Wow! The yellow snapper was perfect! The lime martini was amazing! I would return to the Keys just to eat this meal again. The service was also wonderful. The restaurant was clean and charming. read more

Small little cafe but really cute. Looks over the hotel pool and I enjoyed the music I got the fish tacos and my boyfriend got the BBQ pork sandwich. The fish tacos were really good! I liked the blackened mahi and the sauce they use- not a big coleslaw fan but it was good. usually fish tacos don't fill you up but these were very filling. Chips and salsa with the tacos - meh. Not enough salsa for the chips and I ate my boyfriends fries that came with his sandwich. would've paired better with the tacos in my opinion. BBQ pulled sandwich had the curly fries which we both loved (LOL) and it was a good size however very sweet and too much sauce. it took away from the pork. He liked the coleslaw because it wasn't full of mayo. Pickle was good. Anywho I'd definitely recommend the fish tacos and depending how you prefer your bbq- I'd keep that in mind! read more

we have a house nearby and visit frequently. The service has always been friendly. Our last visit was not as friendly. They had our reservation wrong and asked us to wait 30mins to be seated. the restaurant was 80% empty. I asked if we could sit at our table while we waited rather than stand at the hostess station, they declined. The more I politely pleaded the less the hostess wanted to help. We opted to leave and with us hundreds of dollars of reliable business. It is a shame as we visit often and always bring friends. We will not be back until whenever she moves on from there. read more

Had dinner there last night the food was wonderful the service was poor. martini drinks were served in water glasses, had to wait to be waited on , wait for drinks . The food came out in reasonable time. But had to wait for wait staff to check back on us. Wait for the bill and had to wait for the bill to be pick up. All i can tell you is Wait and think about coming here... read more

The place Has beautiful ambiance and ample outside seating. I loved their sweet and sour Butterfly martini. read more

Food was outstanding! Took my husband for his birthday and he had the pork chop and loved it! I had the Mahi Magi with the cilantro cream spice is to die for! 100% recommend this restaurant. A bit pricey but worth every dime! Our waitress was a sweetheart read more

I'm not one to write poor reviews these days, with all that restaurants and hotels have endured during COVID. This meal however, we very disappointing - especially based on the reviews here and word of mouth around Marathon. The setting is quite nice and unique from other area restaurants. You should know - this is the hotel restaurant for Tranquility Bay resort but the seating is not near the water. The indoor space is elegant formal. The outdoor seating is on the porch, overlooking the areas outside the rooms and hotel pool. You cannot see the ocean from the porch. The air was quite still and stuffy. Not their fault and restaurants that are on the water benefit from the ocean breeze. The outdoor seating was on wicker chairs that were a bit uncomfortable and table (for 2) we were at was oddly high making the feel awkward. The menu sounds very nice and prices match - it's an expensive place. We ordered two drinks. A lime daiquiri - not frozen and had to describe how to make it. We also ordered the key lime martini that was over bitter and not cold enough. We started with the conch chowder. This is a menu item you see all over the keys and was on my list of things to try in our week in Marathon. Unfortunately, the chowder was a salt bomb. I couldn't get past the salt flavor and the chowder ate like a beef chili. It was also very acidic. I couldn't get it down. The waitress was attentive and noticed I left most of it uneaten and took it off the bill. Well done. Entrees - we ordered the coconut shrimp. Now, I didn't ask but they sure looked frozen. They were the exact same shape and size - breading was too perfect. You just don't see that in fresh shrimp preparation. It ate fine - just not what you expect eating seafood in the Florida Keys. We had SO much better seafood throughout our entire week. We also ordered the double bone in pork chop dish. Came with a plantain cream, black beans, rice and veggies. Waitress asked how I wanted the pork cooked - I suggested to go with the chef recommendation. She said that would be medium well. The pork on the dish came in two pieces. The piece off the bone was perfect with a nice sear and good flavor. The double bone piece was raw in the middle. The rice was overcooked and dry. The veggies were simply buttered with no seasoning and the beans were just....black beans on a plate. Other than raw pork, it was fine but not a $40 dollar entree. We decided to cut our losses and skip dessert. The waitress did a nice job but overall we were not happy with our meal. One appetizer, two entrees, two drinks - $120 plus the automatic 18% tip added. Just no bang for the buck in any category. Glad others have enjoyed this restaurant - just not for us. read more

Staff was incredibly rude, our month old reservation for an outdoor table was not honored. Definitely not worth it. Don't bother. I'd rather eat fast food. read more

Amazing staff and delicious food! This place deserves more stars. The ambiance is relaxing and it has a nice family feeling, just like the wonderful Tranquility resort. I had the butterfly salad and it was very good. The crab cakes, sea bass and pastas are also delicious. No complaints! Everything so worth trying. Don't skip dessert! The Key Lime pie is phenomenal and the flourless chocolate cake is to die for, so rich and delicious. This is worth the drive! read more

Soooo gooooddddd!!! Can't believe i drive all the way to Marathon Fl, just for there scallops risotto !!! They are sooo good in service , the food is always fresh always has that waooo taste. The outdoor feels like vacationing all the summer !! Beautiful place. The menu is very easy to read and understand. Im always seated as soon i arrive. The bread is nice and hot! The staff always has a great friendly actitud. dress code up to beach night or elegant . Its does not matter this place makes you feel like home. Love it love it. The chef especial of the day are always so good . Beginning with lobster tale to pasta. I have to say . Every time i go to Tranquility Bay . The Butterfly Cafe is a must go!!! read more

Butterfly Café - Seafood Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Since we first discovered Tranquility Bay five years ago, we make an effort to return with our family at least twice a year. The Butterfly Café is always part of our trip. During this visit, it was my daughter's 12th birthday and we were looking forward to celebrating at the Butterfly Café. We were immediately seated for our 6:00pm reservation. Rachel, our waitress, greeted us with a smile and a suggestion that I try the Butterfly martini. I was happy I took her suggestion, I was looking for something new to drink. The service and ambiance was great. Our family thoroughly enjoyed the shrimp cocktail, fish dip and the goat cheese with cherries...delicious. My daughters both enjoyed the Filet of Beef, cooked to a perfect medium (not always easy to get at a restaurant). My husband and I enjoyed the grouper and coconut shrimp. If you have an opportunity to see the sunset before or after you dine, take the time to walk to the beach. It is spectacular!! We will continue to return to the Butterfly Cafe, it is one of our favorite stops in the Keys! A hidden gem! read more

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Calling this a "cafe" is a bit of a disservice, at least to the dinner experience. Exceptional food, intimate atmosphere...probably the finest dining available on Marathon. The food was prepared to perfection and the menu had some truly unique things on it. Service was wonderful and friendly. If you're looking to treat yourself or have a romantic dinner on Marathon, this is the place to do it. read more

Delicious!! It's a bit pricey but the portion sizes are big!! I got the pork chop was delicious! My husband got the grouper and he loved it. Drinks are very good! read more

Great place for dinner. The hours are short. 6 to 9 pm. It is located in the tranquility bay resort. The decorating and decor is nice. It looks and feels like a fancy place but it is quaint and cozy. We sat on the porch. It was quiet and intimate. Great place to take a date. They have fresh seafood options. They do have gluten free choices as well. It is expensive but it is worth it. Both our meals were excellent. The key lime pie is awesome. They have a full bar. read more

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AMAZING! Flabia (our server) was the nicest and such an attentive server, her attitude made us came back a second time in the week we stayed in florida! The food was perfect, full off taste and moist. The dessert... omg tastiest chocolate cake ever. I had a cappuccino with it and it felt like I was in Italy. Highly recommend coming here, one of the best dinner spots in the keys. read more

Butterfly Café - flourless chocolate cake - Seafood Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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The food was great. Service was excellent. Location and ambiance was amazing. Can't wait to come back. read more

Butterfly Café - The cowboy was amazing. The truffle fries were delish. Great portion. If you like steak, you will love this bone-in beauty - Seafood Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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The place that you never expect at the Keys Impecable service, delicious food and peaceful atmosphere! read more

Okay - so we're staying at the Tranquility Bay Resort so it's a few steps from our apartment and since it's our last evening of our vacation, we decided to splurge for a nice hopefully memorable meal. And, I didn't have to drive so I can get really loaded. The atmosphere is very classy, but down-home at the same time. Linen was nice and the tables spaced far enough to be really comfortable. Service is really friendly, like being in your aunt's house where you know she's really gonna take good care of you. - totally opposite of what you'd feel in a NYC Steakhouse. Then there's the food - excellently prepared in every way. I started with the house specialty drink Butterfly Martini, i think it's called - with a really cute orange/cherry ornament (see pics), which tasted really good. Wine selection is good, with a wide range of prices and variety. Smoked Fish dip and Lump crab cakes were very tasty, good portions. My daughter had the Hand Harvested Baja Scallops ~ Piquillo Pepper Cream, (lifted directly from the menu), which was fresh, perfectly prepared, my wife had the Mahi-Mahi with Mango Salsa, I had the Grouper with Panko crust - which everyone on the table thought was the best main course, my son had the Yellowtail Snapper, which he liked and my little one had Filet Mignon (really?) - which was good quality. Washed it down with a good bottle of Chardonnay. Dessert was, of course, Key Lime pie which everyone agreed was the best. All in all, $325 well spent. read more

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Great spot for dining on Marathon! Definitely more upscale and expensive than other spots on the island, but well worth the money. Before dinner, I recommend having a drink at the tiki bar (behind the restaurant) while watching the sunset. There's a lovely little man-made beach there. The scallop risotto was incredibly good, as was the pork! Strongly recommend going here if you find yourself on Marathon! read more

Butterfly Café - Scallop risotto - Seafood Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Food is amazing!! After a weekend of greasy fried food...it felt good to come and taste the best food!! Filet was amazing and the waitress suggested to replace the potatoes with the risotto! Amazing idea because it was the best risotto! Kids ordered dessert - raspberry sorbet and brownie sundae. They loved it! Love this resort. It is a pricey meal but we went to Lighthouse restaurant and I would choose this place hands down! read more

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This restaurant is a hidden gem. Connected to a beautiful keys hotel, is this fabulous little restaurant with outstanding food. My boyfriend took me here for my 27th birthday. This is the best seafood I've ever had. We sat outside and watched the sunset fade behind the palm trees. Quiet and romantic. Our waitress Cheryl was a treat. Super welcoming and friendly. We started by ordering the butterfly martinis and classic mojito. Both delicious. Then we were given bread from heaven. Soft and fluffy bread with creamy delicious butter was almost too good to handle. Saving room for dinner was hard but worth it. I ordered the Mahi with mango chutney and my bf ordered the hog fish with pineapple chutney with cherry tomatoes. Both outstanding. Best seafood we've had. For desert we split an espresso martini and surprised with a key west key lime pie fur my birthday. I have to say, so far this is the best seafood dinner I've ever had. read more

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My 6 year old son and I had 8pm reservations and we were seated after a very short wait (we arrived early). Reception was kind enough to take a photo for us while we waited. We had a bumpy start with finding a dish with no egg, as he has food allergies. Typically in a high end restaurant, the chef works with us. After a few trips back and forth to the kitchen, we settled on a hot dog. I had scallop risotto and conch soup. Both were excellent. We were too full for dessert. Our server was attentive. I'm giving 3 stars because while waiting for our dinner, a rat was scurrying around empty tables. I assume there probably isn't a whole lot anyone can do, when eating outside but we became preoccupied with the possibility it might touch our feet. But for $100 a person, I'd rather not worry about rats. read more

Butterfly Café - Scallops Risotto- excellent - Seafood Near Me - Marathon, Florida

Went here 8 years ago and still dream about the scallop risotto. It's a regular topic of conversation in our house. My family went back, and we decided to see if it could stand the test of time. We learned it was a new chef, there about 2 years now. We wondered if it would be as good. Let me tell you - it was DELICIOUS. Just as we remembered. Whatever you do, get the scallop risotto and their classic butterfly martini while you're at it. You can't go wrong! read more

Most expensive place to eat in the Keys. We had three dinners, no apps or cocktails, and our bill was almost $200 with tip. I had chicken, wife had yellow tail, daughter had scallops. Food was good, just priced three times more than it was worth. Their food cost percentage has got to be about 10%. Service was good. Use to go for the food and the view but vegetation has grown to the point that you really can't see the bay anymore. read more

We had a great dinner at the Butterfly Cafe. The Keys restaurants that we have been to have been great, casual Keys type places on the water. Great food and views, Butterfly is different. Butterfly is fine dining - so very different for the Keys, but worth the trip! Service was great! Nice evening! read more

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It's always a bonus to have a great restaurant where you're staying, and in this case, we were thankful for Butterfly Cafe! It had a great, atmosphere, a more upscale vibe than most of the restaurants on the key. We had the smoked fish dip, which was very good, the tuna ceviche with avocado (quite tasty!), and the crab cakes. We had to cut it at apps for our first visit given that our 1.5 year old was cantankerous and in no mood for a leisurely dinner. The staff was accommodating and gracious, and the food excellently prepared. read more

Butterfly Café - Seafood Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Beautiful restaurant and lovely staff. Food was very good. Would definitely go back. A bit pricey tho

I was really excited to try this place out because of all the great reviews but I just felt like it was ok. Nothing to write home about. I had the tomato and mozzarella salad and the tomatoes were terrible. Crab cakes were ok but very small. For the price, I think you can get better elsewhere. read more

Read great reviews about the Caribbean inspired Butterfly Cafe and thought we give it a try (family of five with three young children). Overall we were very pleased with the experience. Service was excellent: good recommendations, attentive and very nice. Appetizers: enjoyed the Samba Salad and the Tomato/Mozzarella salad, as well as their excellent fresh bread. Entrees: scallop risotto was excellent as was the Caribbean Jerk Chicken. Pasta Primadoro was very good as well...kids enjoyed the pasta and the pizza. Overall great ambiance, service and food...worth a visit while in Marathon, FL. read more

The four is us went to the Butterfly Cafe on a Thursday night. The name is misleading as the place is a high end restaurant. The place was full and I am glad that we had reservations. The menu is not extensive, but it's all very good. I had the "Cowboy" which is a 22 oz ribeye. It was fantastic and with a price of $49 wasn't cheap, but worth every penny. Two of our party had the filet mignon, which was equally fantastic. We also had the Penne Pomodero. For appetizers we had the Ahi with Avocado and the caprese salad. Both were outstanding as well. Conch Chowder was good, but not outstanding. There needed to be more Conch and less potatoes. For desert we had the flourless chocolate cake and the key lime pie. The chocolate cake was fantastic, but their variation of the key lime pie was ordinary. The key Lime part was wonderful, but the white chocolate and chocolate pie crust detracted from the overall flavor. There are better Key Lime pies elsewhere in the Keys. The service was good and our server, Genevieve, was great. But she seemed a little overwhelmed as they had only two servers and no bussers. They needed more staff. I also didn't like the mandatory 18% tip on all orders. I always tip 20% when I get good service. I would have given her more, but forcing me to give a required amount irritated me to the point that I didn't feel like doing the math to determine what 20% would be. Overall, I still gave this place 5 stars as the food was so good that I could overlook the other minor issues. If you are in the Keys, it's worth the trip to the Butterfly Cafe. read more

We had a lovely dinner at Butterfly Cafe. We ate outside and it was perfect! I got the mahi mahi and it was AMAZING! Everything was cooked to perfection I highly recommend! My sister got the penne pomodoro and was quite disappointed. Noodles were overcooked & the whole dish lacked flavor. The table bread was also delish! read more