Et 2 Brutus?

Brutus Seafood coming up on second anniversary.

Et 2 Brutus? - A plate full of food - Waldorf salad
Pick shrimp or fish grilled, blackened or fried, stuffed into soft flour tortillas and covered in lettuce, shredded cheese, pico de gallo and a creamy garlic cilantro sauce. KATIE ATKINS/Keys Weekly

It seems like just yesterday Elise Mucha bought Brutus Seafood in Marathon, but in July it will have been two years since the Chicago native bought the seafood restaurant at MM 50.5 bayside from Bruce and Letty Irwin.

In the two years since Mucha said goodbye to her medical sales business, Brutus has maintained its reputation as one of the most popular spots for fresh, local seafood in the heart of the Florida Keys. It’s also a great lunch spot. 

The retail seafood case inside the shop is small and doesn’t hold much, so fresh fish is constantly being brought in, and sold out. Fresh hunks of tuna and filets of yellowtail snapper and black grouper were on display Tuesday morning.

On the menu, the most popular sellers are the fish tacos, shrimp tacos and The Brutus, which was on the original menu created by the Irwins. It’s fried mahi mahi with roasted jalapeño cilantro sauce, lettuce, tomato and onion on a toasted sub roll. Locals swear by it.

Tacos are served with lettuce, shredded cheese, pico de gallo and a creamy garlic cilantro sauce with the fish or shrimp either grilled, blackened or fried. 

Sides served include cole slaw, black bean salad or potato salad. Add French fries, spicy fries or sweet potato fries for a dollar more. 

Mucha said Brutus baskets are popular too. Pick from fried conch, the fish of the day, shrimp, or bring your own catch and have it fried, blackened or grilled with fries and black bean salad, cole slaw or a side salad.

There are subs and salads too, like the Vaca Key salad: artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, tomato, red onion, cucumber and asiago cheese over spring greens. It’s served with a sweet soy vinaigrette, which adds the perfect kick. 

Brutus Seafood is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is at 6950 Overseas Highway in Marathon. 

Katie Atkins is a western New York native who, when not working, can probably be found on the beach with her nose in a book. Sweets are her weakness (10 fillings this year), along with pizza and her adopted senior cat, Buddy.