Cedar Key by boat..... Don't do it!!!!!

ANUMBER1

I like Annie's in CK, never had a bad meal there.

BTW, most of the old locals have fled due to the influx of libatard nawtherners.


I don't agree with yak much but Robinsons is good.

majorgator

ANUMBER1 wrote: »

I like Annie's in CK, never had a bad meal there.

BTW, most of the old locals have fled due to the influx of libatard nawtherners.


I don't agree with yak much but Robinsons is good.

I actually kinda like Robinson's also, but I've never heard a true local say anything good about them. I don't know what that's all about...
I go to Cedar Key only when absolutely necessary. It's the closest coast to us, but I'll cheerfuly avoid that ridiculous place every chance I get.

Cyclist

I kinda like the Neptune bar. Why do all the restaurants on the water suck so bad?

majorgator

Cyclist wrote: »

I kinda like the Neptune bar. Why do all the restaurants on the water suck so bad?

It's because of your/our perception of expectation vs. actuality. In my mind, a small-town island waterside seafood joint will have a dock out back where the local fisherman come sell their catch, and some crusty old salt is in the kitchen breading the fish and hand-mixing the coleslaw. Instead, on the way to the front door of the restaurant, we have to walk around the Sysco truck that's bringing in frozen "white fish" and giant bags of some sort of egg-like substance. Kinda turns you off before you even go inside. Welcome to Cedar Key, where today's "fresh catch" is salmon and farm-raised tilapia.

m9000

If you want to eat grouper caught by somebody affiliated with the restaurant in the Cedar Key area, you have to eat at Robinson's restaurant, about 9 miles east of Cedar Key. I have eaten at every Cedar Key restaurant multiple times and without a doubt, Robinsons is the best value in the grouper is grouper. There is nothing fancy about that the core or the food, but the servings are generous and the fish are fresh. You can also buy fresh fish from the fish market attached to the restaurant The grouper piccata at the dining room in the island hotel and the island place restaurant on the ground for the condos next to the city park has been consistently good and the grouper is real grouper.

Flash

Luv2Yak wrote: »

I love Cedar Key. Have spent many hours and days there over the past 30 years.
Never once have had any problem with theft or vandalism (regretfully, I can't say the same for Yankeetown). Have nothing negative to say about the "locals". Don't do much restaurant dining in CK anymore (I do miss Brown's/The Captain's Table), however, clam chowder at Tony's (albeit "pricey" with its notoriety) is very good and on the way out of Cedar Key Robinson's Seafood is not only very good but it's generous portions are reasonably priced (no alcohol served but it's okay to bring in your own).

Good to know about Robinson's, have not ate there is a long time. Probably new owners by now. I have heard rumors that Captains Table may be in the works to open again. Would be nice. Tony's have only been there twice. 2nd time they were too busy smoking out back to provide service so we left. Need to try 83º again for a meal, not just drinks. No complaints about Steamers really.

Flash

Was a lot better when Old Mountain Man was there.

hihater36

Yeah I didn't have any issue with the food at steamers, though the fried flounder on the tacos I don't think I'd do again. The fish was good but it didn't really go with the taco like fried mahi would. But that's personal preference and everything was good to very good that we had at the table. We got there early and there were only about 4-5 tables with people at them so service was good. The city clerk of cedar key just left me a voicemail as I'm in a meeting right now and couldn't take it. I'll see what that was about and report back.

KeatonBchFisher

If I go to Cedar Key I eat clams wherever I go because I can assume they are fresh. I like Tony's chowder, but honestly following the directions on his can gets the same result as going into the place. Steamers has a view, cold beer, and good clams. I can get fresh grouper in a couple of other places that I trust.

tankard

Also, the 20 dollar sack of clams, that one can find pretty much anywhere in CK, is one of the Best Deals Ever.

xmuskyguide

X

Cyclist

majorgator wrote: »

It's because of your/our perception of expectation vs. actuality. In my mind, a small-town island waterside seafood joint will have a dock out back where the local fisherman come sell their catch, and some crusty old salt is in the kitchen breading the fish and hand-mixing the coleslaw. Instead, on the way to the front door of the restaurant, we have to walk around the Sysco truck that's bringing in frozen "white fish" and giant bags of some sort of egg-like substance. Kinda turns you off before you even go inside. Welcome to Cedar Key, where today's "fresh catch" is salmon and farm-raised tilapia.

Spot on. What was the place on the water that was famous for their swamp cabbage salad? I remember that place fondly. An old family friend that taught me how to fish at the age of 10 when my dad died would always take me there after a long day on the water. Sounds like the restaurants are getting better, good news. The stupidest thing I have ever done was Not buy a house on the canal by the school way back when....

capt louie

Captains table had the swamp cabbage salad. With sherbert I believe ?

Grady-lady

capt louie wrote: »

Captains table had the swamp cabbage salad. With sherbert I believe ?

Yep. A scoop of sherbet in the middle was the traditional way as I remember. Was a common dish a long time ago...went the way of turtle soup, I guess.

Luv2Yak

Many, many years ago...I took my date (the woman I would marry several years later, the wonderful lady to whom I remain married to this day) to The Captain's Table on the recommendation of my boss. "Gee, is it expensive?", I asked my boss (as at that time I barely had a pot to pee in let alone a window to throw it out). My boss replied, "Not cheap, but not too expensive."

Excited as I was that the girl accepted my offer for the date, I remained nervous about the cost. I told my boss I made a reservation for 2.

We arrived at The Captain's Table early for our reservation so we sat outside on its pier and enjoyed a Bloody Mary (or 2 or 3), the sea breezes and the dolphins and the setting sun before a table was available. As busy as it was I was pleased we were seated at a table that to me had the best view of the sunset and the water in the whole restaurant. What luck!

When the waitress arrived with the menus I swallowed hard when I looked at the prices but told my date to feel free to order whatever she wanted (uh-oh). "Not too expensive, eh?" I grumbled to myself.

When the waitress returned to take our orders my date joked, "everything looks so good I wish I could just have a little bit of everything." The waitress smiled, then said, "Wait a minute I'll be right back." A few minutes later a man approached our table and introduced himself as Ray Brown, telling us he ran The Captain's Table. With that said, he took our menus from us while saying, "I'll take care of you." Huh?

Not too long after he left the waitress brought us a variety of appetizers. Then HUGE platters of fish, oysters and shrimp prepared in different ways. "More drinks?", the waitress asked. We declined but the waitress brought the refreshed drinks anyway.

The food was delicious the service and the view was great, but...I could hardly enjoy any of it wondering what in the world was going on and more importantly, how was I going to pay for all of this? Mr. Brown returned to our table a few times to ask if all was okay.

And THEN dessert - out came flaming Bananas Foster with coffee - that we didn't order.

When we were through I was relieved when my date excused herself to the restroom - my chance to make a mad dash to the cash register to find out what the devil was going on, plead my case, offer to return to wash dishes, whatever.

When I started to babble at the hostess she politely said, "One moment I'll have to get Mr. Brown." I waited impatiently hoping he would come before my date returned from the restroom. When he arrived I began to babble again when he interrupted me, smiled and said, "Don't worry, its been taken care of. Hope you enjoyed it. Come back and see us again." The off he went.

As we left, my date said, "Thank you that was wonderful but it must have cost you a fortune. I replied, "not cheap, but not too expensive." (In truth I paid not one dime and had not a clue how, what or why that which just occurred.)

Now, as Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of the story":

At work Monday morning I told my boss thanks for recommending The Captain's Table. He smiled then told me he and Ray Brown had been friends for many years. Once married me and my wife and my boss and his wife went to The Captain's Table on many occasions. Neither my boss or Mr. Brown ever admitted to "setting me up", but all laughed heartily many times asking me to re-tell the story of "the date at The Captain's Table."

Grady-lady

Cool story yak! Memories!

Sadly by the time I took this photo it hadn't been a good place to eat in a long while.

florida_dorksman

Sounds like you probably needed to plan ahead before driving somewhere 40 minutes in your boat.

KeatonBchFisher

I remember going to the Captain's Table in the late 70's with my parents. It was a big deal to get to go over and eat and feed the seagulls.

hihater36

Well if you go back and look here I did. Got some advice from some people, that you could tie up on the outside dock by the ramp.... That my boat was too tall for the basin.... That I could get bait at the hardware store etc... I felt I did my due diligence, just didn't work out. I just posted to help someone else that may be thinking of doing the same day trip.

navigator2

Cyclist wrote: »

I kinda like the Neptune bar. Why do all the restaurants on the water suck so bad?

because they can. :grin

There was one (might still be there) in St Augustine whose name I won't mention. It was out on a pier. :puke

Almost Perfect

Captains Table.......ahhhh the memories. Dad and I would fly in to eat there pretty regularly. Edna the taxi lady would pick us up and take us into town and then back to the air port.

KeatonBchFisher

navigator2 wrote: »

because they can. :grin

There was one (might still be there) in St Augustine whose name I won't mention. It was out on a pier. :puke

Just FYI the Santa Maria sold last year and they are rebuilding it. The people who bought it should do a decent job with the restaurant if they hold true to their other venue.

navigator2

KeatonBchFisher wrote: »

Just FYI the Santa Maria sold last year and they are rebuilding it. The people who bought it should do a decent job with the restaurant if they hold true to their other venue.

****.........you busted me. I ate there once. Never again. :grin

navigator2

Luv2Yak wrote: »

Many, many years ago...I took my date (the woman I would marry several years later, the wonderful lady to whom I remain married to this day) to The Captain's Table on the recommendation of my boss. "Gee, is it expensive?", I asked my boss (as at that time I barely had a pot to pee in let alone a window to throw it out). My boss replied, "Not cheap, but not too expensive."

Excited as I was that the girl accepted my offer for the date, I remained nervous about the cost. I told my boss I made a reservation for 2.

We arrived at The Captain's Table early for our reservation so we sat outside on its pier and enjoyed a Bloody Mary (or 2 or 3), the sea breezes and the dolphins and the setting sun before a table was available. As busy as it was I was pleased we were seated at a table that to me had the best view of the sunset and the water in the whole restaurant. What luck!

When the waitress arrived with the menus I swallowed hard when I looked at the prices but told my date to feel free to order whatever she wanted (uh-oh). "Not too expensive, eh?" I grumbled to myself.

When the waitress returned to take our orders my date joked, "everything looks so good I wish I could just have a little bit of everything." The waitress smiled, then said, "Wait a minute I'll be right back." A few minutes later a man approached our table and introduced himself as Ray Brown, telling us he ran The Captain's Table. With that said, he took our menus from us while saying, "I'll take care of you." Huh?

Not too long after he left the waitress brought us a variety of appetizers. Then HUGE platters of fish, oysters and shrimp prepared in different ways. "More drinks?", the waitress asked. We declined but the waitress brought the refreshed drinks anyway.

The food was delicious the service and the view was great, but...I could hardly enjoy any of it wondering what in the world was going on and more importantly, how was I going to pay for all of this? Mr. Brown returned to our table a few times to ask if all was okay.

And THEN dessert - out came flaming Bananas Foster with coffee - that we didn't order.

When we were through I was relieved when my date excused herself to the restroom - my chance to make a mad dash to the cash register to find out what the devil was going on, plead my case, offer to return to wash dishes, whatever.

When I started to babble at the hostess she politely said, "One moment I'll have to get Mr. Brown." I waited impatiently hoping he would come before my date returned from the restroom. When he arrived I began to babble again when he interrupted me, smiled and said, "Don't worry, its been taken care of. Hope you enjoyed it. Come back and see us again." The off he went.

As we left, my date said, "Thank you that was wonderful but it must have cost you a fortune. I replied, "not cheap, but not too expensive." (In truth I paid not one dime and had not a clue how, what or why that which just occurred.)

Now, as Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of the story":

At work Monday morning I told my boss thanks for recommending The Captain's Table. He smiled then told me he and Ray Brown had been friends for many years. Once married me and my wife and my boss and his wife went to The Captain's Table on many occasions. Neither my boss or Mr. Brown ever admitted to "setting me up", but all laughed heartily many times asking me to re-tell the story of "the date at The Captain's Table."

Nice post! :beer

capt louie

navigator2 wrote: »

Nice post! :beer

:Agree

capt louie

KeatonBchFisher wrote: »

Just FYI the Santa Maria sold last year and they are rebuilding it. The people who bought it should do a decent job with the restaurant if they hold true to their other venue.

Did they have a drink called a "Shark tooth" and you could feed the fish out the window ?

KeatonBchFisher

Not sure about the drink, but you could feed the birds and fish out the window. There was a time it was good food, but that was long ago. Hopefully it will be good again.

navigator2

KeatonBchFisher wrote: »

Not sure about the drink, but you could feed the birds and fish out the window. There was a time it was good food, but that was long ago. Hopefully it will be good again.

It was a great place to cast net mullet and pinfish. They didn't cotton to that very well. :devil

rice

**** Yak! That was one of the finest posts I've ever seen on this site that didn't include a pic of a fish.
Well done.

outlaw III

I have to say, My wife and i love Cedar Key. We recently moved from the other side and have a place in Bronson. We go to Cedar Key often, and enjoy the town. It reminds me so much of Chincoteague Island, Virginia that i spent much of my life growing up. Unfortunately, this area has no decent boat ramps, with the exception of Cedar Key. I will pay the ramp fee, even though its outrageous. I cant put in at the end of 40 in Yankeetown, because my wife isn't comfortable with doing the trailering thing yet. And honestly witht the police presence in Cedar Key, i feel a lot safer leaving my belongings behind. If you havent tried Robinsons, its a must. I am not to high on fried food, but its delicious, and cheap. Oysters on the platter were 6+ and good size. Everything cooked to perfection. Bring a few nice beers or wine, and enjoy yourself. Steamers fish sandwiches, and clams were good as well.