RESTAURANT REVIEW

Muddy Waters

I must’ve driven by a good 1,000 times and never knew it existed. Eight minutes from 441 and you feel like you’ve been beamed to the Conch Republic. Key West is the only place more Key West than Muddy Waters and you save the 4-hour commute. And the food? It’s better here. If you’d have told me the food was this good, I would’ve bet the house it wasn’t.

It might be hard to articulate just what Muddy Waters is exactly; but here goes. It’s a place where people feel like they matter. Where the staff feel more family and treat you that way too. Where the drinks are stupendous and the food, even better. The atmosphere? Laid back Buffetville with a side of sea-captain kitsch, and where every artifact (and there are hundreds) has a warm story, and owner J. Byrd is happy to share it. Muddy Waters is a restaurant with outrageous food at some of the most affordable prices in SoFla, and is a rare, authentic respite from the outside world. Who would-a thunk it?

Muddy Waters Dining Room

Set back off Hillsboro in a non-descript plaza (where a 5-Plex movie theater sits east of Powerline) is where this gem has been “hiding” for 18 YEARS! Step onto their sizeable veranda (which you have no idea even exists until you are standing on it) and your mouth falls open. Before you are parrot cages, palm trees, flowers and patio furniture that beckons you to RELAX!! Hang, sit, kick your feet up — and take a deep, cleansing breath. A veritable oasis from our normal concrete jungle, you and your friends (4-legged and two) can unwind, share a drink at “Havoc Hour” (their version of Happy Hour from 4-7pm seven days a week), meet a friend for a meal or hold court at a business power lunch. You see shorts and suits, and everyone gets along just fine. You come for a meal, you leave having enjoyed a “day-cation.” It’s really THAT cool. This place even boasts outrageous private parties. Says manager Jillian “Jilly,” a six year MW vet, “we’ve had bridal showers, corporate parties, seminars, rehearsal dinners, and holiday events and pretty much anything in between.” You can see why their slogan is “once you come here, you’re hooked.” Besides serving some of the best and freshest seafood (and raw bar fare) we’ve had anywhere, it’s a warm place where they’re genuinely happy you came.

The portions are huge and so is the menu. If you’re one who can’t make up your mind, you in twouble Butwheat. NINE pages of everything and anything you can imagine that hits the spot. Comfort food with a capital C.

First surprise: You can get a 2 ½ pound lobster (a steal at $34.95) or a HUGE 5 lb-er ($89.95)!! (Market price subject to change.) Complete with corn from the grill and an ample cup of their homemade fresh daily coleslaw (sans mayo), the meal was outrageous. The lobster was wonderfully sweet and meaty and beautifully served. Their oysters on the raw bar were FANTASTIC! Cold and FRESH, with cocktail sauce that’s equally great. Excellent steamers come in Muddy Water’s own clam broth (with chopped tomato and basil). Both a bargain at ONLY 50 cents each! Conch fritters ($7) are just about the best we ever tasted sans for a lone Bahamian cooking them on the street in Nassau. At Muddy Waters you get 7 lightly fried bites loaded with detectable conch, sweet peppers, onions and seasonings. Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes ($11) served with their own Mango Salsa and drizzled with Cilantro Lime Aioli; a Surf & Turf “appeteezer” ($13), generous skewers of Grilled Beef Filet & Shrimp served atop rice with a gorgeous honey/orange marmalade dipping sauce AND Mango Salsa. Dolphin Fingers ($9), Loaded Potato Skins ($8), Colossal Chicken Fingers ($10). Gigantic, really meaty wings with one of the best homemade blue cheese dressings I ever tasted. (5 for $6, 10 for $9 or 20 for $15.) It’s the ideal place to pop by when you’re not