You know while on vacation and the locals tell you their favorite places—you have to go.  After arriving you discover a nook of a restaurant so welcoming, warm, and friendly that you want to tell everyone.  Well, on Duval Street in Key West they have Flamingo’s Café, a place so unique and homey that you feel like in an eccentric family member’s Florida Room and can’t help but tell everyone about it. 

There are many places that, as a Tourist Destination, they feel the need to raise prices but at Flamingo’s Café, you can enjoy the Tropics and still get a good meal at an affordable price.  When they call it Flamingo’s, they really mean Flamingos.  There are flamingo cups, plates, a clock with a flamingo on it—everything has something.  What is unique about this café is that they have been around for years, an almost staple within the business community of Duval Street.  Through sheer good natured Customer Service, they have survived and thrived through our nation’s economic uncertainty.  Sure they know the Locals and Regulars, but they also have a way connecting to Vacationers each in their own way.  Honest and sincere, and that’s what comes across within their café. 

We were told about how absolutely magnificent their Breakfasts are, served all day long.  Now keep in mind, they are only open from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM so you have to show up with plenty of time to eat and enjoy yourself.  Unfortunately, when we showed up it was near closing and they were not doing Breakfast anymore that day.  However, on their Daily Specials Board the Philly Cheesesteak sounded good as well as on the regular menu the Mike’s Chicken Sandwich.  It had grilled chicken, onions, pineapple, and Provolone cheese that came with an Orange Marmalade Horseradish Sauce to die for.  After returning to our Locals they shared how much they in fact love the sauce.  The Philly was a unique café styled sandwich, much smaller than usual, but quite lovely and still a two-hander, but you can truly taste the freshness of the onions and green peppers.  Naturally, we were given the side options of Cole Slaw, Pasta Salad but their Potato Salad was actually legendary by Locals.   

At Flamingo’s Café they have a wide variety to staple sandwiches like the Tuna Melt, Egg Salad Sandwich, and the BLT but they also have a wide variety of Specialty Sandwiches like a Maryland Eastern Shore Crabcake Sandwich and a Vegetarian Wrap.  However, next time in Key West Breakfast will be the destination with Buttermilk Pancakes, Traditional Texas French Toast or a Popeye Omelet with spinach, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, onions, and Swiss.  However, we were told about how great their Benedicts are with the Crabcake being the one to choose.   

If in Key West and you are a morning person, Flamingo’s Café is the place to go whether you want Breakfast or Lunch, but definitely don’t be late—they lock the doors!  With gray sweats and big honest and sincere smiles let them take care of you.  All you have to do is sit back, relax, and be sure to get a table facing Duval Street and people watch with some great home cooked food.