Louie's Backyard

Been to Key West many times over the years, but just learned about Louie’s Backyard on this most recent trip and based on all the excellent reviews, we made plans to stop in for lunch. We walked a mile to get there (and a mile back after lunch) and it was WELL WORTH THE WALK!!

The staff was very helpful and friendly. The menu is a slightly elevated version of the typical Key West menu, but with some incredible items added and all items perfectly executed. If you have the ability to sit at their beach front bar, do it! It’s beautiful, as you’re right next to the beach with water breaking beside you. The views are stunning! Drinks are all made fresh with fresh ingredients.

Overall, we absolutely loved everything about this lunch! The fish tacos were incredible, but that fish sandwich was amazing! Both very fresh and accompanied by some amazingly seasoned side dishes! We started with their bacon-wrapped Key West shrimp, which was perfectly grilled and beautifully plated and tasted GREAT!

Highly recommend stopping in… We’ll definitely be back!

Got here around 7:30pm with a group of ten, only spots available was the patio which is oceanfront views. Not bad at all. Only downside was no food on the patio only if sitting at the bar. Waitress told us the upstairs is a different restaurant with different menu and Chef. The waitress “Blondie” was amazing. Got us a 10 top in 10 minutes. The food was amazing. I had the wedge salad and steak tacos 🔥🔥 Blondie suggestion was 10/10. Definitely will stop in again. Amazing food, service and atmosphere.

Lovely little spot with great views and impeccable service! Had been disappointed to get inside reservations (made weeks in advance) but with the turn in weather, worked out well. Honestly, all seating pretty much enjoys the views. Would’ve loved a chance to sit on the back patio with drinks for sunset…but maybe next time?! 😉

The restaurant is in a converted house with huge back deck. Patti G. Our server was very, down to earth and told us like it is. The food was very good. Shrimp, Mushroom, & Bacon Gritts where some of the best I have ever had.

Excellent view, atmosphere and food. Plenty of space, the service was a little slow but the place is amazing. Bar sounded lively overseeing the waves. Restaurant has good food with vegetarian option 🌱✅ the food tasted good, service was mixed with one server being very nice and the other being very rude.

White table cloths and a menu that matches. Had lunch with my wife and we shared two dishes - Salade Salmon Nicoise - the perfect amount of dressing, fresh vegetables, and salmon was cooked perfect.
Flat bread was great - rustic, authentic.

Key Lime Pie for dessert- gooey graham cracker crust, punching key lime flavor.

We are so glad we came to this restaurant. The service was impeccable, the food fresh and delicious and the location was just lovely.

I would give Louie's Backyard 10 stars if I could!
We arrived a little after 9pm, (they were closing at 9:30).
The ambiance was elegant and relaxed.
Since we arrived so late we sat at the bar as we were still able to order food and drinks.
Gage was our bartender. What a phenomenal human being he is?! He is a true representative of the Keywest "We are One Human Family" mantra. We left feeling like we gained a family member. He was warm and welcoming. The restaurant feeds their employees. He had something that was layered in stacks. I was curious about what it was so I asked...not only did Gage tell us what it was in detail, he even offered to let us have a taste. This was the first time my husband and I ever tried marinated tuna. (It tasted amazing as it melted in our mouths)
We ordered
Filet Mignon
Grouper
Shrimp and Grits
Grill Shrimp and Octopus Appetizer
Chocolate Brownie Crème Brûlée

Now, we arrived close to closing so I would imagine the grill was shut down and was turned back on to cook the filet mignon. When we received our filet mignon we can taste the chemical on it and it tasted a bit burnt. so we exchanged it for the shrimp and grits. Side note, we heard about Louie's Backyard from people we were vacationing with, they ordered the filet magnon and could not stop talking about how amazing it was.
The grouper was excellent and was devoured before the shrimp and grits were served.
Now, the shrimp and grits were an entire experience on their own. The dish was amazing! The grits were creamy with a little heat, everything on the plate was full of flavor.
Grilled shrimp and Octopus was pretty good.
Chocolate Brownie Crème Brûlée was delightful, you certainly want to experience this dessert if it is on the menu.
We will visit this restaurant every time we visit Keywest.
You should not leave Keywest without visiting this restaurant!

Louie’s Backyard is the best restaurant in Key West in my mind. Been there twice now and it doesn’t disappoint. The setting on the water and the decking with cover and a beautiful old tree with lights makes it an attractive setting with very good food. We mostly had the catch of the day which was a snapper and all enjoyed. The wine list could be larger but we found some nice wines on it including an excellent Sancerre

excellent food and service. really nice view of the ocean if sitting out back as well. I tried the snapper sandwich for lunch and it was terrific. One of our best stops for lunch during our vacation in Key West. would go here again!

Bobby and I had a great time, it was our last night here in the Keys. So we decided to leave with a good meal and this place did just that. Thx.

Maria was such a great waitress. The food was better than top notch. The 5 o'clock seating had a most spectacular sunset. Shrimp, mushrooms, bacon and stoneground grits, chicken breast stuffed with spinach and artichokes, key lime pie. Everything was delicious!

My wife and I came here for dinner in late January. The location is amazing. It’s right on the water and there really isn’t a bad seat in the place. The service was perfect and the food was even better. We started with the lobster braised in truffle butter. My wife had the filet and I had the yellowtail snapper, which was a special that night. For dessert we had the chocolate crème brûlée. Every dish was top notch! Would definitely go again and highly recommend!

What a magical birthday I had here at Louise backyard although I did not have a reservation and the reservations were booked we sat at the bar and enjoyed the cocktail, and before I knew it magically, a place was available for me and my two friends, not only that I was taking to the magical corner to make a big wish for the year Everyone goes above and beyond and they all do it with a smile. I know this new year for me is gonna be the greatest ever as I got to start down in the keys at this magical restaurant.

Lovely dinner with great service by our server Maria. Stunning view of the ocean. I had the special of the chef shrimp over grits, very delicious! Husband had the conch chowder and they provided a liquid pepper sauce to spice to your own liking, he said it was excellent! Also the pre meal bread was so yummy served nice and hot melt in your mouth!! Thank you for a great meal!

Had a nice backyard dining experience at this place! Everything tasted very well— and the portions were decently sized but not too huge allowing you to try a plethora of items

This is definitely one of my favorite dinner spots in Key West! It is a great combination of upscale and relaxed with a water view. We went during the sunset and loved watching the sky change over dinner. The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. They did a great job answering questions about the menu and providing recommendations.

This time we tried a few different dishes so we could each try a bite of each others. We ordered:
Appetizers: Bacon wrapped scallops - Scallop tasted fresh and the bacon was crispy. We are not mayo fans so the sauce on the side was a bit much for us but others might like it. My husband said that that the bacon overpowers the scallops a bit but this app was still enjoyable. The appetizers comes with 2 bacon wrapped scallops and split that between 4 people.
Now for the really good stuff - The buttery Lobster app - INCREDIBLE. Apparently it has been on the menu for 30 years or so. It is not just hype - highly recommend it.

Did I mention the bread? Hot and crispy - smells a bit like a bakery at the restaurant in the best way possible.

The entrees were out really quickly. My Swordfish was about 7oz and was both moist and meaty. The fried risotto that came with it could have used a more subtle cheese. I also loved the broccolini! My husband and father-in-law got the catch of the day (Grouper) and the fish itself was well prepared but the rum butter sauce was a tad sweet.
My mother in law got the shrimp and grits - the shrimp had a smoky taste and they were plump. The grits were creamy and not overpowering for the dish. The mushrooms were a nice touch and complemented the other ingredients really well.

Overall we loved it and we highly recommend a sunset dinner to anyone that wants high quality dishes with great service and a view.

Beautiful setting whether you are inside or out. Sitting at the bar overlooking the gorgeous ocean provides a certain calmness hard to match anywhere. Marcy was attentive and cheerful. The coconut crusted grouper could not have been cooked more perfect. Kudos to the chef for the flavorful bok choy: tender with just enough crisp. Conch fritters were nice and moist and not over cooked. Pretty special key lime pie with a beautiful presentation.

Charming restaurant. We didn’t have reservations and they were still able to squeeze our party of 5 in for dinner. We were in south Florida for 10 days, hands down best meal we had the entire trip. Our server, Stacey, was very attentive to our needs and answered any question we had about the menu even down to listing every ingredient in the sweet potato mash, excellent by the way. We will definitely return on our next trip.

This was an amazing little spot to be on a beautiful day! We took our poodle, Jolie Fleur, to the dog beach and was told that the beach bar next to it was excellent and boy did we get some great information. We had cocktails on the deck and our Jolie Fleur was welcome as well. We weren't dressed to stay for dinner but the next time we are in Key West this us where we will have our dinner! Wonderful place!