Sloppy Joe's, Key West

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Walking around Duval Street looking for a place to have lunch, we walked past Sloppy Joe's Bar. Live music came from the inside, and with the windows/doors all open and a crowd of people inside, it looked like just the place! It took just a minute to find a table, but the waitress was on the spot to take our drink orders. The service was fast, but not rushed. We enjoyed the atmosphere very much, and the food was good and reasonably priced.

Favorite Dish: I enjoyed my sloppy joe sandwich, although I had to eat it with a knife and fork (hello - it was sloppy!) We split an order of french fries, and even then could not finish them. It was a fun place to rest and refuel!

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Well, the answer is - its the modern Sloppy Joe's - but the original was located in what is now Captain Tony's on Greene Street. But still, its got a great ambience and does great Sloppy Joe sandwiches!

Favorite Dish: It may not be the Sloppy Joe's of Heminway's days, but the Sloppy Joe's sandwich is still delicious!! And well worth a visit.

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Sloppy Joe's is one of the most famous spots in Key West and for good reason... the food is good, but the entertainment is better. We stopped in for a bite to eat, but we stayed for a few drinks while we watched the hilarious singers perform. For food we enjoyed the roast beef sandwich with fries, which was basically a French dip sandwich (an expensive $9.75 for the sandwich) plus $3.50 for the fries. Definitely overpriced, but perhaps worth it to watch the band. Our drinks were $2 for the Coke and $4.75 for a Yuengling.

Sure the singers are rude and obnoxious, but that is much of the fun. They might rip on gays, but they also rip on men, women, blacks, whites, straights, and everyone else, so don't get your panties in a bunch.

The servers are friendly.

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Sloppy Joe's could very well serve up stale bread and bathwater...it's a landmark. The suggestions I just made are not incredibly far off. Not to say the drinks are bad...they are on par with something you would expect at a small watering hole to serve. Some good, some bad. The food is right on par with an Applebee's, nothing special, just more of the same. Bottom line, you are paying for the name on the front and the street sign of where it's located. This said, the live music is great! Especially when Kenny Chesney and Peyton Manning get on stage and start singing! This is a rare occurrance that also happened at Hog's Breath...but it is really cool nonetheless!

Favorite Dish: Gotta say...if you are at Sloppy Joe's...order a sloppy joe! Not to be obvious but when in the tropics I love to indulge in the fresh seafood. Sloppy Joe's is not the best food on Key West...but a must go to it is!

Sure its a forever landmark and they could serve pelican urine only and remain crowded, but why let the food quality and drink strengths decline so much? We've been visiting there for years and sadly watch this slide downwards...and what? No more popcorn shrimp? Is everything here from pre-packaged, big-box, major food vendors?

I have only had two things here: the Sloppy Joe and a side of French Fries. Their fries are just right, and their Sloppy Joes are incredible. I typically go in at lunchtime and there are plenty of available tables, live music, and sometimes a few chickens running around.

Favorite Dish: I'm sure their other food is good, but I will never get past the Sloppy Joe - they're much better than you remember as a kid. Just be sure to give it a minute or two to cool down, it's seriously hot and you want it to be cool enough to taste how good it is.

In the mid to late 1930s, the famous writer, Ernest Hemingway, called Key West his home. During the better portion of these years, Hemingway was exceptionately productive as an author. One of his favorite places was the bar at "Sloppy Joe's Saloon." Today, "Capt. Tony's Saloon" stands on the spot of the ORIGINAL "Sloppy Joe's." The present day "Sloppy Joe's" is only connected to Hemingway by the name.

The owner of "Sloppy Joe's" (now "Capt. Tony's Saloon") was Josie Russell, who cashed a $1,000 check for Hemingway when the banks would not. This was on Hemingway's first visit to Key West and from then on Josie and "Papa" Hemingway were fast friends. They took fishing trips to Cuba and Hemingway incorporated Russell into his book, "To Have and Have Not" as Capt. Freddie. Hemingway met a cadre of people during his stay in Key West which eventually became characters in his many books. It was also at "Sloppy Joe's/Capt. Tony's" where Hemingway met his 3rd wife, Martha. Hemingway eventually moved to Cuba with her.

Favorite Dish: It's said that Hemingway's favorite drink was "Teachers", a cheap scotch and soda drink, but bartenders also like to make "Papa Dobles" for him though his favorite remained scotch and soda.

Hemingway's barstool remains today at Capt. Tony's!

To tell you the truth I never ate a thing here. I didn't even know they served food. But this is under the restaurant heading so I guess they do. This is an almost famous bar in Key West, and the drinks are good as is the atmosphere, its a must stop on your way around the key

Favorite Dish: If the food as good as the drinks, its all good!