Old Town Marathon is alive!

This past weekend, westside Marathonites celebrated the Grand Opening of new restaurant and the re-naming of a popular, elevated sunset bar. With Frosty’s hosting waterfront parties every weekend, the Castaway shelling out sushi and steaks in air conditioned comfort and the grandiose prospect of “Chappy’s” inching closer to a reality, the arrival of another ‘keysy’ establishment near MM47 is breathing new life into the historic Marathon district.

Fishermen’s Wharf
Perched on the basin of the 7 Mile Marina is Marathon’s newest eatery, Fishermen’s Wharf  – a coral colored, tri-level building with spectacular views of the ocean and bay.

At dock level, patrons have their choice of dozens of ice cold brews as they watch the fishermen return to port.
The second floor contains a semi-enclosed kitchen surrounded by barstools where the hungry masses can sample a variety of seafood and land lubber dishes ranging from crab cakes packed with lump crab meat to giant, puffy conch fritters. A tender Prime Rib Filet and a Seafood Celebration are just two of the masterpieces created by Chef Bill Hunt. The steak, 2 inches thick and covered in blue cheese, is perfect with the warm tomato caprese salad. The Seafood Celebration is like nothing in town. Steamed clams, mussels, shrimp, and grill fish basted in a saffron broth with carrots and tomatoes is a savory, flavorful dish. The menu says to order extra bread and suggestions at the Wharf should not be taken lightly. Months of tasting and countless wine corks were sacrificed so customers would be able to easily pair a number of hand picked wines with each dish.

For more information, please call (305) 587-9468, but the proprietors prefer casual, unannounced “drop-ins.”
Photo and wine menu courtesy: Bill Scott/Scott Design

We’re doing it for the kids!

Gary Graves is a pretty smart feller. First, he opened a restaurant and retail store right next to his fish house. He then introduced the world to a sandwich that is now more popular than  – the Lobster Rueben. Last summer, construction of his elevated sunset bar was completed and to celebrate the achievement he threw a party and “name the bar” contest to benefit the Grace Jones Daycare Center. Graves most recent accomplishment was luring Trey Wager, a new GM to run the restaurant after the old GM (name long forgotten) moved north.

“That’s right. I am the best thing that ever happened to Gary, besides his wife, Cathy,” Wager said. “And I’m not going to lie to you, the Lobster Rueben is really, really good,” he added. “Probably better than me.”

This past Saturday, Wager survived his first disaster in the Keys when he abruptly closed “The Upper Deck,” only to reopen it seconds later as “The Fish Tank.” $300 was raised for the Marathon daycare center and Graves said he plans to rename the bar every year.