where to eat between miami and key west?

It's my friend's 40th and we're headed to Key West (her choice, not mine) we fly into Miami just at about lunchtime and we're renting a car and driving to Key West. We are going to be an, um, interesting group of 4 women with wildly varying tastes and ideas of what is appropriate food to eat on the road. I am hoping to show a few of them that eating regionally and locally is so much more gratifying than doing the golden arches thing. I am thinking Cuban sandwich joints or easy to get to seafood places, pr even mom and pop diners, anything. I don't think we want anything that's too far out of the way but I realize in order to have the experience, you have to get off the highway. Anyhow, any ideas would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

bjt

If you're driving to Key West, then you might want to stop at Mangrove Mama's, an institution in the lower keys. It's right on the way. Good seafood, great drinks, very tropical decor. I was there two years ago, but it has been around for ages. Of course, I was in Key West for Hurricane Katrina, and I stopped at MM's pre-hurricane, so you may want to call.

Mangrove Mama's
19991 Overseas Hwy
Summerland Key, FL 33042-3101
(U.S. 1 at MM 20, Around the Island)
305/745-3030

All the other recommendations I have are in Key West -- let me know if you need any of those.

We just returned from a week in Largo, and I would not miss Mandalay's on the oceanside. Small, charming, and right on the ocean Mandalay's has great sauteed conch steaks w/ key lime butter. Also great were the sauteed grouper sandwiches, much better than the fried FWIW, the oysters, and a great not sweet and just tart enough key lime pie.

Our other favorite is Calypso, also in Largo. Small, family run, but without the view. It serves great she-crab soup, fish tacos, hogfish sandwiches, deepfried corn, and fantastic sangria.

Jim