Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar

Hot, sunny, not a cloud in the sky... That's my kind of Labor Day weekend! Sundress, sunglasses and sunscreen... check! Islamorada, here we come! Traffic was a bit slow at times as I expected on a long holiday weekend, but we didn't care. The drive South toward the Florida Keys is always magical for me. It always feels like a bona fide vacation even if it only takes an hour from my home.

   

     At Lorelei, you can sit on their deck overlooking the inlet or you can sit right on the sand, next to the docks where small boats are hitched just like horses in front of a Western movie 'cantina'. I suspect the pretty acqua umbrellas and white Adirondack chairs and tables could even brighten up days not as splendid as today.

     My appetizer was a creamy Mango Margarita. I had a hard time not slurping it right up like chocolate milk. John, who has now become quite the beer connoisseur but in a good way, ordered and enjoyed a LandShark Lager.

For lunch, I had the Mahi-Mahi tacos with sweet potato fries, and John ordered the half rack of BBQ ribs, with fries and coleslaw. My tacos were a feast of crunchiness and flavor, the Mahi fresh and moist and perfectly breaded. John was satisfied but not impressed with his ribs. As much as I love sweet potato fries, I must say John's regular fries were crispier and better fried than mine.

     Their coleslaw is interesting, for lack of a better word. The flavor is right, but they include black pepper in their spices which adds a whole new layer that is impossible to ignore. I think if I liked spicy food, I would like this version, but I just couldn't get past the pepper taste.

     We were intrigued by the frozen Key lime pie dessert option on the menu and just as fascinated while we were sharing it. After a few analytical bites, we concluded that it could be described as frozen Key lime custard. We were not disappointed, especially Hubby, who is an avid consumer of just about anything frozen and sweet.

     All in all, a pleasant experience in a pleasant environment. Good start to our Labor Day holiday.

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