There’s a fresh new restaurant in Old Town Key West.
Southernmost FreshCo. just opened Feb. 8, but is already welcoming back regulars who are making their way through the menu, a few dishes at a time.
There’s the most popular Hogfish, Snapper and Lobster Oscar that are topped with a mound of lump crab meat. There’s three types of ceviche with flavors brighter than the new white paint on the building’s exterior; and there’s a seafood paella that overflows with flavor, homemade sauce and seafood in every bite, including local fish, jumbo shrimp, jumbo New Zealand mussels, and calamari cooked in a homemade Junkanoo island spice sauce served with sweet maduros.
There are also plenty of options for the meat-and-potatoes crowd. Southernmost FreshCo. takes great pride in its scratch-made burgers, grilled steaks and West Indian stir fry with or without chicken.
Open for lunch and dinner, the new restaurant is a homecoming of sorts for chef and co-owner Marko Palazon, who started his cooking career in the same building — 532 Margaret St.— 20 years ago, when it was Michaels restaurant, which closed more than two years ago.
But don’t call Southernmost FreshCo. “the old Michaels,” because everything about the place is new and different, from the inside dining room and the tile-topped tables, to the outdoor bar, the menu and yes, the prices.
“You won’t leave here hungry and we’ve really tried to keep the prices accessible to both locals and visitors,” said Mario Palazon, co-owner and father of chef Marko Palazon. “We know if we can get the locals in here and keep them happy, then they’ll recommend it to our visitors.” Dinner entrees typically range from $17 to $27, with a $42 surf and turf.
Some members of the Michaels staff have also returned, including bartender Ricky Quezada, who brought his own loyal customers back to the bar.
Father and son Mario and Marko Palazon were born and raised in Key West before moving to Miami. They opened the original FreshCo. Market & Grill on the mainland nearly two years ago after owning previous restaurants and a seafood wholesale company. Mario Palazon’s niece, Lissette Cuervo Carey, is a manager at Southernmost FreshCo., along with Helena Waterbury, “who practically lives here,” and Vanessa King, who makes drinks, serves tables and keeps the ship running smoothly, Carey said.
Chef Marko has cooked in kitchens throughout the United States and Caribbean, including New York City.
“My cuisine concept comes from the different restaurants and cultures I’ve worked in for the past 18 years,” Chef Marko Palazon said. “You’ll find South American, Caribbean and French flavors in our dishes. It’s not necessarily fusion, but it’s a combination of all the things I’ve cooked in New York, Miami and elsewhere.”
“He cooks with such a passion, it’s magnificent to watch him create something,” said proud father Mario Palazon. “Our menu features flavors from Jamaica, Cuba, Peru and the Dominican Republic.”
Southernmost FreshCo. is currently open weekdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends until 10 p.m. Happy hour starts next week, featuring drink specials, ceviche shots and Key lime peppered fish wings,Mario Palazon said.
Southernmost FreshCo. offers online ordering for takeout and will soon begin delivery. A private dining room is available for special occasions and indoor and outdoor dining is available. The restaurant is on Facebook at Southernmost FreshCo., online at freshcofish.com or call the Key West location at 532 Margaret St. at 305-973-7374.
