My friend Bob and I ventured up the Key West last night to MM22.5 for dinner at Square Grouper.

It's was very difficult to find because of the signage regulations. It's just past Cudjoe Sales and very easy to miss. I drove past it so many times I was determined to find it, and finally I did. What ever you do don't give up.

I have to tell everyone it was well worth the effort and a complete delight from the moment we entered the front door.
The decor is very warm and inviting and obviously created by an interior designer who knew what they were doing. It's definitely one of the more well planned layouts of local restaurants. It feels very spacious, the tables are nicely separated from each other with a very cozy conversation area in the back dining room consisting of a sofa and two comfy arm chairs for after dinner schmoozing with that last glass of wine from their very extensive and varied wine selection.

There is a very nice bar at the front of the restaurant where people can have a drink and dinner and it was obvious the bar tender has a local following because it looked like everyone was having a great time. The bar is situated far enough from the diners so that it is seperate and non interfering with an intimate dinner but still close enough to be part of the ambience

The menu is loaded with fabulous local seafood dishes and the presentation is just about as perfect as perfect can be and it looks like the seafood dishes are cooked to perfection. Our meals were very delicious. I had the veal and pork meatloaf which was just about the best meatloaf I've ever tasted. It was very interestingly seasoned but not overly seasoned and the meal was accompanied by sugar snaps which were cooked ever so right which isn't so easy to do even at home, and yummy mashed potatoes. Bob had the chicken and he was equally impressed. Bob is a retired restauranteur from San Fransisco and we mentioned more than a few times that the chef, staff and management really know what they're doing at Square Grouper.

Our server Leslie was just as efficeint as she was good humored and adorable. Towards the end of our meal the owner of Square Grouper, Doug Bell came over to our table to introduce himself and asked us how we enjoyed our meal. Bob told him the chicken could have been cooked just a touch more and Doug was very responsive to the feedback. He told us that they had a new chef from Louie's Backyard in Key West and this was his third night on the job in a new kitchen with new staff. The restaurant was packed with only happy looking people so I'm betting this chef is going to be a real winner for Square Grouper. Up until this change the chef was Doug's wife Lynn who also has a reputation that precedes her for her culinary expertise.

The evening was a most pleasant experience and we're both looking forward to our next trip up the Keys to Square Grouper. For out of towners this is such a pleasant drive. It goes by too quickly because the scenery is beautiful. It's a great opportunity to really get a taste of the local coutryside, flora and wildlife while the sun is setting just behind you. Life is good.