Cracked Conch Cafe, Marathon

Had high hopes for this place as it was recommended in a book we reference for good eats while traveling, but to be honest I was not impressed at all with the place. While the place itself didn't seem too bad (the outside seating in back is nice), the food was ok at best. The caesar salad with shrimp only had 3 pieces of shrimp placed on top of boring caesar salad, and the cracked conch sandwich (a specialty of theirs) was nearly inedible. I have had conch before and enjoy the taste, but this was just bad. I may as well have been chewing on my flip-flops because I could not chew my sandwich. Needless to say, after stopping in for lunch we left unfulfilled and looking for another place to get food.

We are here for the winter and have given this place several chances. The food is edible, but the pizza awful, the drinks underpoured, and everything over priced. Some of the staff is pleasant but some are lazy. One server in particular is downright mean to patrons. No call for this behavior in the Keys. Her accent tells me that she's not from here. She should go back to the snow and get an attitude adjustment. There are too many nice, friendly, affordable restaurants within a mile of this place. Pass on it.

I went there for lunch. A nice staff with great classic rock playing. A nice cafe for lunch. Sat at the bar and had conch pizza. Really want to go back for the conch omelet.