Cafe Sole

We came here for a Valentine’s dinner and upon arriving, we advised the gentleman at the host stand that we had reservations, when he couldn’t find them, we checked our cell phone app to learn that we inadvertently made reservations at the wrong “Café Sole” as the one we selected was in Jupiter, FL, not Key West… Oops! They were packed and had a long line waiting as well, so we thought we were out of luck, then he suggested it would be an hour wait, but he could fit us in, which we would willingly accept. Or, he said we could sit at their bar! Yes, they have a very small, two-person bar, but it was beautiful, quaint and perfect for our V-Day dinner!

From the moment we sat down, all the staff who engaged us were very friendly and helpful! They have a very nice winelist, so we selected a nice bottle and then I noticed they were pouring a lot of Caymus and when I asked, I learned that it was only $25/glass, so I opted for one of those too!

We started our dinner with the stone crab claws, which are a fair deal at $50 for 2 medium size claws. The meat was buttery and tasty! I got a bowl of their gazpacho, which was very enjoyable and slightly on the chunky side, but I enjoyed the texture. Their bread and spread for the bread was very nice and that spread is like a bold, herbed garlic with EVOO – really tasty. The gazpacho also has a heavy presence of garlic, again something I enjoyed. The wife got their beet salad and she loved every bite of it!

For our entrées, we both got fish; I got the Grouper and she got the Hog Fish and both were prepared perfectly! The lima beans and mashed potatoes that came with both dishes were very flavorful! These entrées were huge, I had a tough time finishing mine, which is probably the first time I’ve not eaten all my fish!

Overall, this was a very enjoyable experience and an excellent dinner… Highly recommend stopping in, but make reservations!

A must visit place in Key West for dinner. Most delicious and amazingly cooked food I have ever tasted. Great service and wonderful atmosphere. Will come for the food on our next visit, for sure. The portobello soup was delicious, the conch carpaccio was wonderful, scallops were cooked to perfection, never have I had scallops cooked so well. The triple tail fish was so flaky and delicious. Topped it off with a slice of their key lime pie, who’s was to die for. They also have a vast wine list to choose from. All and all an amazing experience at this wonderful establishment.

Lobster bisque for starters. Hog Snapper sole is their signature dish. It was wonderful. The sides on this plate were as good as the main. My wife had the gazpacho soup and Yellow tail snapper w pineapple mango salsa. She raved about it. For dessert we had the chocolate pecan pie w vanilla ice cream and crème brûlée. A perfect finish to an amazing dinner.

Best restaurant experience I've ever had in Key West. This place is a little pricey, but not that much more than some of the touristy places on the waterfront. The food is thoughtfully prepared and delivered by knowledgeable servers in a delightful environment. We were fortunate to be seated outside in perfect temps. Appetizers were Conch Carpaccio (mega-awesome, super unique dish: sort of a more delicate version of ceviche, but not exactly) and the bacon wrapped dates stuffed with garlic in a honey glaze (extraordinary - the heat and bacon fat softens the date and intensifies the sweet flavor). Fish entrees were well-prepared, and served super hot: Grouper Romanesque had a satisfying tomato flavor that nicely compliments the Grouper taste profile; Salmon Oscar sounds kind of boring, but the fish was perfectly prepared and the crab hollandaise was light and fresh tasting. Great wine options - if you're a foodie, this place is a real step up from most of the Key West dining scene.

Exquisite food! Conch carpaccio an intelligent texture and flavour that awakens the appetite! The hog fish sole takes center stage on the plate, its delicate and flaky texture a testament to its freshness and careful preparation. It's beautifully complemented by the rich and creamy French bake sauce, which adds a velvety touch of indulgence to every bite. Served alongside are tender lima beans, their vibrant green color and natural sweetness providing a refreshing contrast to the richness of the fish and sauce. The mashed potatoes, whipped to perfection, offer a comforting and creamy side dish that pairs harmoniously with the rest of the meal. Completing the ensemble is the carrot shredded puree, a vibrant and colorful addition that not only adds a pop of orange to the plate but also brings a subtle hint of sweetness to balance the savory elements of the dish. Together, these carefully selected components create a symphony of flavors and textures, making each bite a culinary delight that's sure to satisfy even the most discerning palates. Magnificent!

We managed to get last-minute reservations and ordered the Bacon wrapped dates, Saganaki, Lobster Bisque, as well as the Diving Scallops. They were so sweet to split our entree for us & suprised us with an extra scallop. So thoughtful and appreciated. For desert, we shared Creme Brule. Everything was incredible, including all of the staff. My best friend and I both live here and will be recommending this place to everyone.

The food here is outstanding! Every plate from appetizers to dessert were very well plated a feast for the eyes and soul. Max our waiter was excellent. They are famous for their fish dishes for a reason! Definitely a fine dining experience!

Food, atmosphere, and service were all great. I got the Fruit of the Sea and the seafood portions were very generous!

Charming and romantic setting. Many unique dishes, as well as some traditional French dishes. Definitely try the Haddock Snapper, it's one of their signature dishes and well worth a try. Full bar not available but they have a great wine selection. Friendly staff.

What an amazing dinner experience. To start, the staff was all welcoming and seemed happy to be there. Our waiter, Allen, was nothing short of amazing. He was very helpful and checked in us the perfect amount. Let us have our time to ourselves, but also was perfectly available if a need arose. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the perfect setting for a nice romantic date. I’m not a huge wine guy, but if you are you will love this place. They have an extensive wine menu. The food was phenomenal, possible one of the best fine dining experiences I’ve had so far. The hogfish was so unbelievably good, perfectly salty and buttery it was just perfect. My significant other had the spicy skirt steak, and she loved it! I tried a bite and it was again perfectly seasoned and tender. This is high quality food, the chef does not mess around. Incredible.

EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE!!

It was nice to go to a nice, intimate restaurant and relax! Cafe Sole definitely exceeded expectations. It's a small place so definitely make reservations in advance. But don't be fooled by how small it is, everything we had was outstanding from the bread and hummus to our main courses. Our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive, the other servers kept our drinks full and cleared plates quickly.

We heard on a food tour that while we were visiting we needed to try hogfish and they had it on their menu! I ordered hogfish and my husband ordered the rack of lamb. The hogfish was like nothing I'd ever tasted before. I'm from Louisiana so no stranger to seafood or fish but it tasted amazing. It was lightly breaded and so buttery. It was worth every cent! The lab was tender and seasoned to perfection.

The portion sizes were larger than I expected for this type of restaurant, especially the dessert which was bananas foster!

If you're looking for a nice experience and want to get away from the bars and party crowds, this is where you need to be! It was pricey but I don't regret one ounce!

The hogfish is superb and not to be missed, under any circumstances. We went with another couple for a celebration meal and had a wonderful time!

Wow this restaurant is so delicious. French Caribbean fusion in Key West. The French bread was amazing. The Hogfish was as great as the reviews say it is. Unlike anything we have ever had (in a great way).

Service was great. An unbelievable wine selection.

Super cosy environment. Love the ambiance.

Outstanding!! The grilled artichoke was spectacular! Seared sea scallops with Hollandaise equally so.. The desserts were over the top great, the key lime pie with a fresh cup of coffee was the perfect finish. The chocolate pecan pie was superb, the perfect blend and not over the top sweet.. Service and the setting likewise perfect, a great experience!

Food was indeed amazing.

The service was generally great, except the one Asian usher lady gave me a weird look even with my reservation, and tried to put me in the corner of the inside dining space when there were plenty of good spots on the nicer patio space. I don't like her.

My server Jason was great though, made good recommendation and very attentive.

If you are looking for good cuisine, and not just a fancy looking place on Duval Street, this is the place to be.

An elderly couple sitting two tables away who owns home at Key West visits this restaurant very often and ranked Cafe Sole number one among all. I won't say number one but was indeed very worthy.

This restaurant was highly recommended by a local and it did not dissapoint!!! They have an amazing beer and wine list, but the food was exceptional. Their signature dish of Hogfish Snapper Sole was one of the best dishes I have ever had!

First of all I do very few reviews but today I was moved to take the time to properly represent our experience tonight at Cafe Sole. This may have been the best dinner I’ve had in years. Many years. Husband and I both heard so much about the hogfish snapper and that Cafe Sole had the best so fish in town so that’s that’s why we chose it. Started off with a bowl of mushroom soup that was full of flavor, and and order of $50 stone crabs which were “just eh nothing special”. But the fish!!! the HOGFISH SNAPPER was buttery soft and melts in your mouth with a delicate cream béarnaise puddle under the fish. But then we were treated to a side by side medley of taste Explosions neatly arranged in rows alongside the hogfish…a candy or spiced minced orange squash, mashed new potatoes with a hint of citrusy creamy zest, the lima beans had a mild garlic buttery sauce, the tomato was grilled with a dark crust of Asiago, garlic or dill on it…even the lemon was broiled with a sauce that you squeeze over the fish, as we finally made our way to the asparagus the rich chargrilled salty crispy burnt bits in a line down the whole stalk was just yet another new flavor surprise to add to the mix. Just Whoa!!! The whole experience was Iike no other. It was unreal. I’ve honestly never had a dinner experience like it. It was clear the chef took the time and thought to carefully plan the coordinating blends of palate pleasing surprises with each new bite. You could literally taste his passion for his craft. Well Done chef. Well done.

Excellent food, outstanding service. We loved our evening here.

One of the best places to eat in the Keys. We started with the escargot and it was splendid. For dinner I had the hogfish and it was the best I've ever had. For dessert I had the pecan pie and she had the key lime pie both were solid. Highly recommend this place.

Had a excellent meal here- finally gave it a try after I saw it recommended in the Guide du Routard. Was very grateful that they have two vegetarian dishes on the menu, which is two more than most of the restaurants in Key West. The atmosphere at the table inside was wonderful for a group of 6. From the food to the wine to the service to the ambiance - it was all top. Highly recommend!