FoodReference.com Logo

KEY WEST RESTAURANTS

Florida Keys & Key West Restaurant Reviews, Information, Photos and Listings

Home       Food Articles       Food Trivia       Today in Food History       Recipes       Cooking Tips       Videos       Food Quotes       Who's Who       Trivia Quizzes       Crosswords       Food Poems       Food Posters       Cookbooks       Cooking Schools       Gourmet Tours       Key West Restaurants       Food Festivals

 You are here > Home >  

Key West Restaurants: 'A' to 'J' >  * El Siboney

Next

 

 

Tell them you found their Restaurant on Foodreference.com !
* indicates my choices for Best of Key West   -  Chef James

 

 

CULINARY SCHOOLS & COOKING CLASSES
From Amateur & Basic Cooking Classes to Professional Chef Training - Over 1,000 schools & classes listed for all 50 States, Online & Worldwide

El Siboney (Cuban Cuisine)

900 Catherine Street, Key West, Florida
Phone: (305) 296-4184
Website: http://www.ElSiboneyRestaurant.com
A Chef James Best of Key West Restaurant

Hours: 7 days a week -  11am - 9:30pm
Reservations: not taken
Parking: Street parking, small lot parking.
Payment: Major credit cards accepted.
Price Range: Low to Moderate
 

REVIEW

     Cuban influence on the island of Key West is around you everywhere you go from the hand made cigars on Duval St., to the art work, to hearing Spanish spoken everywhere to, of course, the food. I myself and many others have chosen to embrace the merging of Cuban and American cultures here and enjoy its fruits. To make the most of this combination I go to only one place for Cuban food; El Siboney.

     First and foremost this is a family owned and operated business which makes it both rich and, on occasion, frustrating. You get the comfort food you expect from such a spot, but you’ll have to bring cash because they don’t take credit cards (credit cards are now accepted) and they can and will close when they feel like it. You can look at these aspects as negative or just part of its personality that makes it unique. If you gotta have pulled pork with zesty sauce, black beans, rice and plantains then you deal with the downside because it’s worth it.

     You will find it interesting when you ask directions how to get to El Siboney because your concierge will send you into a residential neighborhood through narrow streets filled with small “conch” houses and lots of local flavor. You’ll build on that flavor once you sit at the diner-esque table and look through the long opening into the kitchen and smell the rich aromas it generates. You can expect that if an ethnic restaurant is any good at all that people of that ethnicity will be eating there, so expect to hear lots of people habla’ing espanol and drinking cafĂ© con leche.

     You came to Key West to find out why it’s so different and what makes it tick. If you step out of your comfort zone and try El Siboney you will be hard pressed to find another Cuban meal that will compare. I believe this is a must go for one of your outings when you visit or a regular spot if you’re a local.

Doug Heyman for the Food Reference website
 

email October

Just got back from Key West and wanted to thank you again for your suggestions. We tried several of them. Loved the Key Lime Pie at Pepe's, as well as the enchilado marisco at El Siboney. Mangia Mangia and Turtle Kralls were also quite good. We opted not to go to Blue Heaven because we learned two different sets of guests at our B&B got food poisoning there. We didn't want to take a chance and spoil our vacation. We would have liked to visit Annie's and Bagatelle but simply ran out of time. Hopefully we can try them the next time we visit.   Jeffree
 

Previous Review

The finest array of Cuban cuisine available on Key West. This family owned cornerstone of Key West is the leader in its field. Go, GO, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Everything is fantastic!  There is even a homemade sangria! It happens to be perfect! Though not fine-dining according to decor, the food is of the highest order.  This is simply the best Cuban food available. bar none!  An outrageous paella and an amazing touch with seafood. They are the favorite of islanders for SEVEN YEARS!
Specials daily and take out available.

BOTTOM LINE: It is one of the places that people expect to have visited when they come here! Be prepared for a wait.  But it is COMPLETELY worth it!!!!!!!!
Marc for FoodReference.com
 

 

Home       About Us & Contact Us       Festivals & Shows       World Cuisine & Travle Articles       Other Links

 

Please feel free to link to any pages of FoodReference.com from your website.

For permission to use any of this content please E-mail: james@foodreference.com
All contents are copyright © 1990 - 2016 James T. Ehler and www.FoodReference.com unless otherwise noted.
All rights reserved.
You may copy and use portions of this website for non-commercial, personal use only.
Any other use of these materials without prior written authorization is not very nice and violates the copyright.

Please take the time to request permission.
 

 

 

 

Order Free Food & Kitchen Catalogs

 

 

 

 

 

RELATED PAGES

Key West Florida Links
Florida Food Festivals
Other Food Festivals
Food & Wine Tours
Recipe Contests