Eco Eats offers wraps, pitas and more

Eco Eats offers wraps, pitas and more - A plate of food with a sandwich and a salad - Vegetarian cuisine

Those looking for some healthy, fresh food in Key Largo have a prime destination nearby.

The shop known as Eco Eats has been operating at MM 99.6 oceanside for the past 10 years. Owners Matt and Lisa Boatman have owned the shop since June 1, 2012. 

Eco Eats strives to serve natural food as opposed to processed food, and its owners believe that you are what you eat. Lisa said the restaurant has plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Food made fresh is mainly ordered for takeout, according to Lisa. 

“We have everything from tofu to gyros,” Lisa said. “We’ve got it all for vegan, vegetarian and meat lovers.”

Patrons entering Eco Eats will see Matt and Lisa busy at work taking orders and preparing food of a wide variety. On the menu, individuals have the option to order all sorts of salads such as the Waldorf chicken salad. All salads include romaine, onion, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber and alfalfa and come with dressing of either balsamic vinaigrette, sweet Asian ginger, spicy Thai Peanut, 1000 Island, Caesar, Chipotle Ranch, golden Italian or Ranch.

As for sandwiches, wraps and pitas, Eco Eats offers quite a selection that’ll make you come back for more. Patrons can find the delicious Thai chicken wrap, which includes chicken breast, romaine lettuce, vine-ripe tomatoes and alfalfa sprouts. Patrons have the option of sweet-Asian ginger or spicy Thai peanut dressing in a whole wheat wrap. 

“Our food is very fresh. We buy veggies every day at the farm stand,” Lisa said. “We make some stuff homemade. The tzatziki is homemade. The hummus and spicy chipotle ranch are homemade as well.”

Eco Eats also offers shakes, smoothies, yogurt and Eco treats to satisfy that sweet tooth. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit ecoeats.net or call 305-451-3902.

Jim McCarthy is one of the many Western New Yorkers who escaped the snow and frigid temperatures for warm living by the water. A former crime & court reporter and city editor for two Western New York newspapers, Jim has been honing his craft since he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2014. In his 4-plus years in the Keys, Jim has enjoyed connecting with the community. “One of my college professors would always preach to be curious,” he said. “Behind every person is a story that’s unique to them, and one worth telling. As writers, we are the ones who paint the pictures in the readers minds of the emotions, the struggles and the triumphs.” Jim is past president of the Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club, which is composed of energetic members who serve the community’s youth and older populations. Jim is a sports fanatic who loves to watch football, hockey, mixed martial arts and golf. He also enjoys time with family and his new baby boy, Lucas, who arrived Oct. 4, 2022.