For almost a decade, Craig Zabransky has been sharing Islamorada’s culinary delights and quirky history with visitors and locals alike.
Now the owner of Florida Keys Food Tours is taking his tasting excursions one step further, offering a three-hour evening food tour by boat, with stops at four waterfront restaurants.
“People have always said, ‘Man, I’d love to go by boat,’” said Zabransky.
“We’ve been wanting to do this for a while, but today is the day we’re starting it.”
This tour is about more than just great food and libations from well-known Islamorada restaurants; it also comes complete with history and environmental lessons. Those include information about Lignumvitae Key and Indian Key Historic State Park, Alligator Reef Lighthouse and the vital role mangroves play in the Keys’ delicate ecosystem. To top it off, guests are also given a front row seat to take in a breathtaking sunset.
“Everybody wants to get on the water,” said Zabransky’s wife and business partner, Maggie Mistal. “To be able to be on the water and then hit all of these great restaurants – it’s a hit.”
The maiden voyage for this food tour by boat began at Wahoo’s Seafood Bar and Grill where guests were treated to their popular appetizer specialty, wahoo bites, served with fried pickles and house-made Key lime mustard aioli. The bites were packed up in a to-go container, and the group jumped back on the luxury pontoon boat owned by local charter company, Poppa Wahoo Collective.
The next stop took the group bayside to the Ocean View Pub, or OV as the locals call it.
“The entrance into the OV through the mangroves is so beautiful, it’s really worthwhile just going there for that alone,” said Zabransky, adding that local knowledge is key to getting into the shallow dock.
“If you’re coming here and you’re not with a captain, you’re probably not going to try it on your first time.”
At the OV, as the group waited for homemade sliders, bartender and events coordinator Stephanie Benseman gave some history of the popular sports bar, including the reason it’s called the Ocean View even though it’s on the bayside.
It all has to do with a nasty hurricane named Donna that blew through the Upper Keys in 1960.
“It did blow us across the street to our current location, and the owners decided, you know what, we’re going to rebuild here on this current location,” explained Benseman. “That’s how we are now on the bayside, but called the ocean view, and it’s a beautiful view.”
To get to the third restaurant on the tour, the pontoon boat, operated by boat captain Brian Epstein, glided through the mangroves and into Snake Creek. Along the way, Mistal was quick to point out the story behind a unique creekfront home that has life-sized pirates dangling from the roof.
“Apparently, the pirates were created by a gentleman who was in the carousel business,” explained Mistal. “He’s the one who created these pirates climbing the house; it’s a very famous house in the Keys, a landmark we all look for when we’re out boating.”
Just past the Snake Creek drawbridge, the group motored up to the dock at Island Grill. Here, guests, while seated in an outdoor beach area overlooking the turquoise waters, were treated to Island Grill’s signature dish, their original tuna nachos.
“It’s delicious; it’s been amazing,” said Kaela Butler. She came on the tour with her mother, Anna, who is a concierge at Cheeca Lodge.
As the sun was setting, it was time to visit the fourth and final stop, Papa Joe’s Waterfront restaurant. Here, the culinary samples included fresh homemade Peruvian-style ceviche served with crispy plantain chips, Caribbean conch fritters and Florida gator bites.
Islamorada fishing legend Skip Bradeen was along for the maiden voyage and gave it a glowing review.
“It’s magnificent, really,” said Bradeen. “If anyone comes down here, I certainly hope you don’t miss this because this is worth the time and effort.”
The tour ended where it began, at Wahoo’s. The golden-hour sky made for a stunning end to a lovely evening on the water, enjoying wonderful company, cuisine and culture.
Florida Keys Food Tours also offers tours on foot or by golf cart. With the addition of food tours by boat, Zabransky feels there is something for everyone to enjoy.
A maximum of six guests can go on the boat food tours, and the restaurants are subject to change. More information is at flkeysfoodtour.com.
