Square Grouper Bar and Grill

At Mile Marker 22.5 Oceanside on Cudjoe Key, Square Grouper Bar and Grill is a true staple of the community — a popular destination known for high-quality, fresh, local seafood and meticulous attention to detail. It also keeps an environmentally friendly “green” policy, using sustainable products like corn-based straws and paper goods. One of the best-kept secrets that keeps locals coming back is the daily Blue Plate special, and the kitchens here are impeccable.

Start with the Flash Fried Conch with a ponzu and wasabi drizzle — the most tender conch we’ve ever tasted, thin and delicate like a cutlet, and a signature dish since day one. The House Smoked Fish Dip is made with in-house smoked mahi-mahi and served with jalapeños, red onion, and tomatoes — we simply could not get enough of it. For lunch, the most popular plate is the Pan Sautéed Fish topped with house onion rings and a Key lime tartar sauce: fresh, moist, seasoned with precision. Doris’s Blackened Fish Reuben Wrap, with blackened wahoo, sauerkraut, and Swiss, was a delicious surprise. Everything is prepared in-house, down to the desserts — and the famous Key lime pie, with its perfect proportion of sweet to tart, is why locals rave.

Featured in our Florida Keys locals’ guide — We actually eat there.