Description: This restaurant sits right in front of Mallory Square, and has some history to it. We were lucky to get a table outside, where we could hear the live music, watch the passers-by, and enjoy the roosters scurrying around to get crumbs. We were also immediately across from the Memorial Sculpture Garden which commemorates people who had influenced the development of Key West or were just famous enough to be there. Lamentably, the heads of the statues serve as perches for the chickens and roosters who leave unsavory souvenirs behind.
The service is a bit slow at Meson Pepe, but you can enjoy the music while you wait. Or, as I did, the back of the menu has the history of the building and it's worth the five minutes it takes to peruse.
Chuck was intrigued by one of the dishes that was brought out to another table, and immediately wanted one and the same. It was a wonderful mix of fried white cheese, chorizo, picadillo, beans and corn at the bottom of a pile of warm tortillas. We ordered a fresh salad to accompany this huge meal which neither one of us could finish. Wine for Chuck, lemonade for me and it was not pink, thank heavens.
If you're heading to Key West, here's a coupon for you for dining there. Just click on the link right here and enjoy! For more coupons for foods and activities, you can also go here
Something about the building: it is also referred to as Caya Hueso y Habana (Caya Hueso means Bone Island, and was badly translated by the Americans who thought it meant Key West...ah the lack of culture!). Thousands of Cuban refugees came through this building during the 19th century; oddly enough, I was related to one of them who has since died. After you finish your meal, or before, take a tour inside: there is more restaurant seating, but thanks to the imagination and creativity of one Mario Sanchez, he recreated the essence of Cuban life on the island during that time with barber shops, domino matches, cigar making (he was the son of a cigar maker).
You can purchase souvenirs and cigars in the gift shop.
Some of the typical Cuban dishes served here are:
Ropa Vieja, Churrasco, Picadillo Habanero, Chuletas de cerdo al Key Lime, Frituras de Cobo (conch), Gambas a la plancha, and Tamal Cubano al ajillo. Breath mints de rigueur!
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