Green Turtle Inn in Islamorada, FL

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Telephone:	+1 305-664-2006
Website:	www.greenturtleinn.com
Address:	81219 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL, 33036
Categories:	Seafood Breakfast & Brunch American (Traditional)

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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations	Yes
Delivery	Yes
Take-out	Yes
Accepts Credit Cards	Yes
Accepts Apple Pay	No
Good For	Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner
Parking	Private Lot
Bike Parking	Yes
Wheelchair Accessible	Yes
Good for Kids	Yes

Good for Groups	Yes
Attire	Casual
Ambience	Casual
Noise Level	Average
Alcohol	Full Bar
Outdoor Seating	Yes
Wi-Fi	Free
Has TV	Yes
Waiter Service	Yes
Caters	Yes

Today

Today	7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Local time (Islamorada)	–

Business hours

Monday	–
Tuesday	7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Wednesday	7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thursday	7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday	7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Saturday	7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday	7:00 am – 10:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Green Turtle Inn is an acclaimed local dining icon serving exceptional FL Keys cuisine that seamlessly fuses classic regional cooking traditions with innovative gourmet flair. Seafood arrives fresh daily from local fisherman as well as some exotic catches from locations such as the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas or we will cook your catch — so the anglers who’ve had a great day of Islamorada fishing can now dine on the ones that didn’t get away!

Green Turtle Inn stands out among locals and visitors who appreciate the culinary and cultural history that this that Islamorada restaurant has been long-known for. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, our generous hospitality maintains the reputation as one of the all-time most popular dining spots in Islamorada.

«The Turtle» perfects authentic FL Keys style by combining the charm of our «laid back» way of life with warm, friendly service, great food and a full liquor bar — featuring a connoisseurs’ wine list.

History

Established in 1947.

Established in 1947 by Sid and Roxie Siderious, you can still experience the famed Islamorada restaurant’s spirit of the good ‘olé days by dining on the very best in authentic Florida Keys cooking and cocktails. The original roadside café and inn is casual still, but more sophisticated. One of the few Islamorada restaurants open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it still is host to inspired fare including still our famous Turtle chowder, fresh salads, steaks and seafood. The full menu is designed by Executive Chef Daniel Harris and composed of modern Keys classics and Southern staples all prepared and served to the highest standards.

One of the few Islamorada restaurants open for breakfast, lunch & dinner, we personify the casual, laid back comfort of the Keys. The welcoming interior is infused with tranquil colors and warm woods with old local memorabilia decorating the walls. Islamorada restaurants are known for Keys charm, but nowhere is it more evident than here at «The Turtle’.

Meet the Manager

Chef Chris V.

Manager

The Turtle’s Executive Chef Chris Visger was born in Alabama and raised in Richmond Virginia. Growing up he enjoyed competitive soccer and swimming. He began cooking at home with his mom at an early age. The hobby quickly led way to a profession and Chris worked in restaurants throughout high school. He attended Virginia Tech where he completed a degree in history and made a concentrated study in hospitality.

Following graduation Chris headed west to the Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Arizona. Chris returned to Richmond and earned the position of Sous Chef at Lemaire, the award winning restaurant at The Jefferson Hotel. It was there in Richmond he met Daphne and fell in love. Together they moved to the Florida Keys and were married in 2011. The couple welcomed their son Teddy in 2012 and are proud to be a part of their new Florida Keys island community.

In the restaurant he explores creative presentations featuring local seafood and seasonal produce which can be experience

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Chef Chris V. says,

«This is our Sister restaurant with food and service comparable only to our own.»

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22 reviews of Green Turtle Inn

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Jenny T.

Place rating: 4
Rapid City, SD

This is a tradition for us in Islamorada. We LOVE the lobster mac and cheese. We usually get it to go and bring it back to the house to enjoy. The drinks are great and the bartender is super friendly. It’s one of those «been around a long time» kind of places and it’s nice to support that.

Rachelle H.

Place rating: 5
Deerfield Beach, FL

First time there last night and loved it. Our bartender, Barbara, was wonderful and the food was delicious. Had the wedge salad and shrimp and grits, with key lime pie to go. Definitely will come back.

John G.

Place rating: 3
Oreland, PA

My wife and I decided to make a stope here for lunch on our way from Marathon to Key Largo for some lunch. After seeing all the hype of this place coming from locals, the Food Network, and high rating on both Tripadvisor and here on Unilocal,my wife and I were expecting a stellar meal. My wife ordered the Barney’s Fish Sandwich, and I ordered the Turtle Chowder for a starter and the Meatloaf Sandwich for my meal.
The Turtle Chowder was good. The pepper Sherry they serve with it really enhances the soup, but overall the tomato base of this soup overpowers the delicate taste of the turtle. My Meatloaf Sandwich was tasty and different. It was like eating a juicy hamburger with bacon, cheese, and mushrooms on top. My wife’s sandwich was just okay. She said the fish didn’t taste as fresh as some of the fisheries we had eaten at in the area.
Overall I would say this place has good service and good food, I think my biggest problem was I was expecting a mind blowing experience from all the hype and my wife and I left just wanting more.

Jen B.

Place rating: 2
Minneapolis, MN

Not what I was expecting. The sign outside gave me high hopes as it mentioned ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’ but once inside. I realized that it was mostly overpriced basic food with quality ingredients.
The hostess looked like a Fly Girl, and wouldn’t seat us at a table so we had to eat dinner at the bar… hate that. There were plenty of open tables but the server was in the weeds. The bartender was nice, but bothered when we didn’t order alcohol.
The food had potential. We ordered the $ 20 burger medium well, and it arrived rare/mid rare. The kitchen was backed up so we decided not to send it back. We also ordered the lobster mac n cheese. It was yummy and goey in a really satisfying way. The portion was small for an $ 18 pasta dish. I might suggest that you skip the lobster and just get a bowl of mac n cheese. Actually I would probably recommend asking the server what they would suggest. If I were to eat here again I would want to try their signature dishes.

Chanel H.

Place rating: 4
Miami, FL

The food was great the only slight downside was the service. We asked to be seated on the patio thinking it would be outside seating but instead we were secluded in the back section of the restaurant that was very cold. The server was friendly but did not pay very much attention to us because we were the only table sitting in that section. The food was delicious and came out in a timely manner. Also they do not give out straws unless requested.

Amy B.

Place rating: 3
Miami, FL

I give this place 3 stars as we have been several times and it is either 5 stars or 1. When they are good they are very good, when they are bad they are very bad. Place is always busy especially since it was featured on dinners drive ins and dives. I almost feel the staff has gotten snootier since they were featured on the show. Since the service has been off the last few times we have decided not to go back, too many good places in the keys to eat at where you can count on getting great service.

Kathy P.

Place rating: 5
Valrico, FL

Thank you so much Barbara for the great service and thank you for the awesome meal. Maria, I also want to thank you for wrapping my key lime pie for travel. You guys are an asset to this restaurant. We will be back.

Tammy B.

Place rating: 1
Cocoa, FL

Got here at about 8 pm on a Friday. More than 6 tables empty. The hostess said a 20 min wait. It’s been 35 mins, apparently, they don’t have enough help. 45 mins still not seated. This is ridiculous ! No communication.

Mitch K.

Place rating: 3
Seekonk, MA

It could have been a 4 – 5 star experience (nice atmosphere, delicious food), but our server wasn’t exactly the friendliest. Our original server took our drink order and a couple of minutes later another server asks what we want to drink. We told her that someone had already been by and we got a terrible puss look followed by «Well that server is busy so just tell me what drinks you ordered.» Seriously? Don’t take it out on us! For the rest of the meal she was a little off with her personality, and we have no idea if they offer dessert as she couldn’t wait to toss the check on our table after we were done with our sandwiches. Would I come again? Maybe, but I’ll cross my fingers that I don’t get this cranky pants as our server as it negatively affected our experience.

Tim D.

Place rating: 2
Orlando, FL

The experience depends on the quality of your server. The waiter who handled the tables around us was excellent. We watched and listened as he took time with his tables, explained the specials in great detail, and checked numerous times with his diners. The waitress we had was terrible. She was very brief explaining specials, constantly rushed (it was not crowded at all) never refilled water (the other waiter actually did it and she didn’t like that). The steak was underdone and had to be sent back (not her fault, but no apology) and she never checked with us after serving the entrée. We felt as if it were a huge imposition for her to serve us. Footnote: She should take a section at least 4 sections away from the good waiter, because he makes her look even worse. I would give fewer stars except the steak was very good. Ate there on 5÷17÷16 5:30 — 6:00pm.

Marjorie W.

Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY

Everything about Green Turtle Inn is awesome. We had a great waitress who went above and beyond. I have never had turtle before and was curious about the turtle soup… So she went and got us a small cup with two spoons for us to sample before ordering. Wow. Pretty awesome! We ordered a bowl of it to share and again she had it brought out in two cups so we could each have our own. Turtle soup is definitely hearty with a bit of a kick to it (spicy) — the dry sherry goes well with it and tones down the kick just right. BTW if you never had turtle before it is meaty– it really tastes like beef. We had a late lunch today so we ordered small plates. Both were so delicious. We split the scallops (two large ones in a yummy creamy sauce with vegetables) and the pork belly. That pork belly was absolutely heaven. It was crispy and smoky on the outside and perfect on the inside– the accompaniments were also superb– cornbread made to perfect as well as fennel with carrots. I mean just perfect. My husband had been here before and had raved about these two dishes– now I understand why! Even the water was deliciously refreshing (citrus infused). Even though we got the small plates, we left the restaurant happy with full bellies.
If you are staying locally the Great Locations area guidebook has a 10% off coupon.
I will definitely return on our next trip down to the keys.

Lee B.

Place rating: 4
Fort Lauderdale, FL

My family was in town for our wedding and i came here a couple of times to eat. Once as a big group of 12 and once by myself. I had a turkey club for lunch that was delicious and for dinner I had prime rib. The prime rib was good not great but lobster mac was awesome. Everyone enjoyed their meals and service was some of the best I’ve seen in the keys. Their bottle shop next door was great and had an awesome selection of craft beer too.

Netty D.

Place rating: 1
Miami, FL

Do NOT eat here. DO NOT eat here. We had dinner here on 4÷2÷16, the food was terrible. The restaurant itself has a nice ambiance and a pretty central bar. We were seated in a back room which was more quiet than the larger dining hall. To start off, we ordered the lobster mac and cheese — I noticed on other Unilocal reviews, that the photos of this dish included a substantial piece of lobster. Ours did not have any detectable sized pieces of lobster. The flavor was good, but it was $ 18.
Our waitress seemed very overworked and busy. As she took our order she mentioned that the kitchen kept paging her to go and get meals to bring out to other patrons. She rushed away. She was a nice woman but could not make up for the managerial disaster that was to come.
We ordered a ribeye cooked medium rare temp, the edges were fine, it had good flavor, but we soon realized it was completely, 100% raw in all areas other than the edges of the steak. NEXT — onto the snapper. Red Snapper was one of fish on special. It was ordered with crispy onions on the outside, and baked. When this dish came out it was rubber. I am not exaggerating. Cutting a piece with a knife was difficult. It could not be eaten. TWO meals sent back, during one dining experience!
Our waitress was apologetic and mentioned that this was not what the restaurant was known for. A manager came by and asked us if we wanted replacement meals and a round of drinks. He was equally apologetic, also mentioning he had «poked the snapper with a fork» and could not believe the texture of the fish and how poor a quality it was.
Out replacement meals were the prime rib (special of the evening) and the pork chop with a bacon crust.
The prime rib was served, and almost unbelievably so, yet again, the middle was raw. We are not averse to rare temps but do not want to be ingesting live animals. This was moo’ing. .
The pork chop was lackluster. The crust was flavorful and so was the actual chop, but this was no big deal.
The kicker was that when the bill came our waitress advised that they could only take 10% off the bill. The total bill was $ 88. It was the most poorly spent $ 88 we have dished out in a long, long time.
If you’re going to come by and seem genuinely sincere about the terrible food you put out, could you at least comp one meal? The overall experience was awful. The restaurant is very overpriced, with sub-par food that purports to be of a higher caliber than other comparable places. It’s not. It’s just bad. Don’t eat here.

Jeff R.

Place rating: 5
Great Kills, Staten Island, NY

This place was recommended by a friend. Had breakfast… lobster Benedict with a side of grits… WOW…then shared an order of shrimp and grits… Double WOW… BEST BREAKFAST

Su I.

Place rating: 5
Pinellas Park, FL

Get the turtle soup, wow it was hearty, spicy, robust taste. I would go back just for the soup. I also had hogfish for the first time and it was well prepared. Nice ambiance, super friendly and playful bartender, yeah sit at the bar.

Meena R.

Place rating: 4
London, United Kingdom

Again, we landed here based on reviews from fellow Unilocalers. Since they have specific menu for different times of the day, we did not get to sample the Turtle stew (unfortunately). We went here for a late lunch, but the staff are good therefore good service. Though it is on the highway, there were lot of local guys who were catching up with colleagues /friends. I had a lobster panini for $ 20 and thought it was expensive, but when I actually got it, it was completely worth it. My husband had a burger which was good.
Would recommend this place to fellow travellers.

Brian R.

Place rating: 5
Boca Raton, FL

This is a great restaurant morning, noon, and night. They have a diverse and always satisfying menu, and when they lose a few of my favorites they always seem to find something new to delight. It’s a bistro ambience with great service that has responded well to the upped game of Islamorada’s dining scene. If you come at night and are looking for ambience and a touch more romance, try the back patio. It’s one of the best bruncheries in the area. The pecan sticky bun is decadence and their lighter fare like salads pop with nice flavors and great compositions.

Mario N.

Place rating: 4
Wenonah, NJ

I got the fish sandwich and the wife got a lobster grilled cheese and both were excellent. The waitress was super. she went out of her way to let us taste all of the beers on tap before we picked Teripin.
The liquor store staff was also really nice recommending wine.
Great Service all around.

Rita W.

Place rating: 5
Montclair, Vereinigte Staaten

Wir waren an Thanksgiving hier und hatten dort das typische Thanksgiving-Menu mit Truthahn und allem was dazu gehört. Essen war sehr gut und die Bedienung auch sehr zuvorkommend. Absolut zu empfehlen

Julia A.

Place rating: 4
Miami, FL

Cute brunch, breakfast and lunch spot in Islamorada. Was established in 1947!
Reasonably priced with good service. Would definitely come back

Anays S.

Place rating: 5
Miami, FL

I had breakfast with my husband and 21old month baby. The food was delicious, fresh fruits, amazing omelettes and very good service. They have a menu for children.
Nice environment, also the restaurant is adjacent to a store which can be very uanddybif you forget something at home.

Norbert W.

Place rating: 4
Hattersheim am Main, Hessen

Sehr gutes Restaurant mit hervorragenden Speisen. Wir hatten Dill poached Salmon, es war einfach ein Gedicht, auch der Salat schmeckte als käme er gerade aus dem Garten. Das Lokal hat eine sehr angenehme und tolle Einrichtung, das Personal ist in jeder weise immer freundlich und hilfsbereit.
Wir können diese Location nur Empfehlen. Wer auf dem Weg von Key West nach z.b.Miami hier vorbeikommt sollte hier Station machen, Es lohnt sich.

Green Turtle Inn

Islamorada, United States