Last week, my bud, Marvin aka "Mr. Miami" and I, took a small road trip to my second home down south in the Florida Keys. We made our way past Key Largo and Tavernier until we reached this small gem located in a small strip mall in Islamorada called MEAT Eatery & Tap Room. Ever heard the term, “good things come in small packages?” Well that’s exactly what you’ll find here. The decor, a laid back atmosphere, and especially the food and staff are fantastic.
After receiving a warm welcome, we sat at the bar and quickly started going over the menu. I took us a while to figure out what we wanted, everything sounded amazing. They offer a dozen draft beers, organic wines, micro brewed sodas,"milkshakes" (for adults only) and the bacon takes two weeks to make and it’s also made in house. Not to mention, they make their own homemade sauces.
We started our meal with the housemade pork rinds, served with chimichurri aioli. Mind you, these aren't the ones you buy in a plastic bag in Sedano's. These puppies came to the table fresh from the fryer still crackling! They are a bit spicy but nothing too serious. When it was time for the main course we were in burger heaven. I went with the "Inside Out, Juicy-Lucy" burger. It comes stuffed with bacon and pimento cheese, topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and I added their housemade bacon, and house pickled jalapenos. I decided to get a little fancy and upgrade to the duck fat truffled bistro fries on the side. On the other hand, Marvin went with the American Wagyu burger with cheese, bacon, and beer braised onions. Both burgers were truly gourmet, unlike anything I've ate before in the Keys.
With little to no room for dessert, I was compelled to try the bread pudding. Boy was I happy I did. Amazing and delicious! Covered with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, it didn't disappoint.
Are you tired of fish sandwiches or so called “world famous” tuna nachos? In the mood for a cold beer and the best burger in the Keys? Well get yourself on to the overseas HWY and head to MM 88. There, you’ll find MEAT! Sure, it's not upscale, doesn't have a view of the water, or a traditional gastropub, but it’s a great addition to the Keys dinning scene. Do yourself a favor, stop on by… trust me.
