Key West - BO'S FISH WAGON

We used to depend on Air Tran airline to get us out of the Midwest and into the Keys before noon, but that early morning flight no longer flies out of our airport, so we had to catch a noon Delta flight. Because of all that, our first meal in Key West was supper. We hit BO's Fish Wagon. It was only a couple of blocks from where we were staying and one of our favorite places anyway. (I know I did an entry on this place last time, but I got better pictures and it is such a funky place)

The fist few times we were in Key West we did not eat at BO's because we couldn't find it. We went past it lots of times on the way to the harbor market (now closed, there is talk of making it into a bowling ally) and never saw it because it looks pretty much like an old truck covered with trash. That is called Key West rustic. It is mostly outdoors with rocky dirt floors, mismatched tables and chairs, decor that could be called driftwood deluxe, and rattling fans all around. It doesn’t look much better inside than out.

The last time I wrote on these pages I think I mentioned BO's shrimp on a stick. Yes, in heaven all shrimp will come on a stick either grilled plain, barbequed, or blackened. There will be six big juicy sea critters so fresh you can taste the sea with every bite, just like you get at BO's.

I like a side of homemade fries or coleslaw with mine, but Nancy, being not so finicky as I and of German descent as well, got black beans and rice with her's that she said were quite good. Oh, yea, you gotta have a cold beer with that. ( Landshark in the bottle works just fine).

We ate at BO's several times while we were in Key West. We always do. Usually ate pretty much the same thing every time. The price for two suppers for two as described was $32 and $29 with the tip. That is with beers. Lunch can be had for less that $20 if you drink pop and share some fries. Fresh seafood for not much more than a trip to the golden arches.

Speaking of fresh seafood, watch out for the sand crab that lives under the table by the door.

We tried to feed it but the little guy did not seem to like seafood. (unlike the chickens who wander around aimlessly and grabbed anything we dropped) The waitress said the crab's favorite food was toes. That is why I never wear sandals.

Bon Ton Roulett   Y'All  
Gene and Nancy

“Chew a little Juicy Fruit
Wash away the night” --- JB

Shrimp...On A Stiiiick! / Key West 12

EATING DOWN HIGHWAY ONE

With Gene Morgan and his favorite traveling companion Nancy

Within an hour from getting off our flight in the Key West airport we were eating shrimp on a stick at BO’s fish wagon.

It is not really a wagon, but a crazy building that looks like it was put together with pieces of junk found on the beach after the last hurricane. This is Key West fancy. How it looks doesn’t matter, they got shrimp on a stick for 5 bucks a hit. Believe me folks, it’s a drug.

We ate here more times than anywhere else in the Keys. Every Friday night they would have a jam session featuring the coolest band on the island, and good music always makes us hungry.

Shrimp on a stick is shrimp grilled on a stick. (skewers for you elegant folks.) Wow, who would have guessed? It can be either barbeque, teriyaki, or plain. (that is the way I like it, I want to taste my seafood!) Their french fries taste just like the one mom used to make. That and an import beer, and you got a feast made in paradise.

We ate so much shrimp on a stick that one time we came in and they told us they weren’t gonna have it on the menu anymore. They gave us some kind of rap about how they had too many kinds of grilled shrimp on their menu and the boss wanted to cut back. I think they just wanted to sell more of their more expensive dinners and grouper sandwiches. Boy did we complain. The next time we came in the shrimp was back where it belonged, on a stick. These shrimp on a stick pictures are probably the worse we took. We were new to the island and too hungry to take great photos.

We did have one of their grilled shrimp dinners one time. It was big and juicy and came with a simple lettuce salad. You notice the usual cocktail sauce, but we never dipped in it. They had their own homemade key lime mayonnaise sauce. It was tangy and sweet.

Man, writing all this really makes me hungry. Have I said that before?