Sweet Tea's is a new restaurant on Upper Duval that is trying to make a go of a location that has had a few incarnations over the years. It was Alice's Restaurant named for Alice Weingarten most recently working with the Small Chef At Large on North Roosevelt. Then it became a Piano Bar named Keys. Now it is a Southern Comfort Food Place.
The chalk board on the column supporting the place gave me my inspiration for my first course. Italian Wedding Soup? Chuck laughed at me when I said I'd never had it in Italy growing up. "I've had it in Italy," he said, "Not from my part of the world," I said in my defense. We each had a bowl.
It was actually quite good, with meatballs and shredded chicken in broth. When I'm back in Italy this summer I shall ask my sisters about wedding soup. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention.
Chuck was a good sport as he'd been here before and allowed to fulfill a whim as my wife had eaten here and told me to check it out. For the main dish we both ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and I added a side of macaroni and cheese just because if I was going to try the place I wanted to know how their mac and cheese was. I like macaroni and cheese.
The food was fine, prices were reasonable amounting to $21 for lunch for two though I splurged and had iced tea while Chuck stayed with water only. They only offer sweetened tea which may be a nice gimmick but I prefer mine unsweetened. The atmosphere of the place is pleasantly subdued but we couldn't sit in the courtyard out back as they lacked the staff to serve us.
Chuck found the macaroni and cheese too soft, which is fair enough. I'd have liked more spice in my food, heavier cheeses and perhaps more pungent, Parmesan or smoked Gouda or something. But as was pointed out to me, these are yuppie tastes with nothing whatsoever to do with proper southern cooking. I yield to the more knowledgeable. I liked this place and I will return and I know my wife will be happy to meet me there. I enjoyed lunch with Chuck so perhaps it's just as well he's out of town for a bit.
The chalk board on the column supporting the place gave me my inspiration for my first course. Italian Wedding Soup? Chuck laughed at me when I said I'd never had it in Italy growing up. "I've had it in Italy," he said, "Not from my part of the world," I said in my defense. We each had a bowl.
It was actually quite good, with meatballs and shredded chicken in broth. When I'm back in Italy this summer I shall ask my sisters about wedding soup. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention.Chuck was a good sport as he'd been here before and allowed to fulfill a whim as my wife had eaten here and told me to check it out. For the main dish we both ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and I added a side of macaroni and cheese just because if I was going to try the place I wanted to know how their mac and cheese was. I like macaroni and cheese.The food was fine, prices were reasonable amounting to $21 for lunch for two though I splurged and had iced tea while Chuck stayed with water only. They only offer sweetened tea which may be a nice gimmick but I prefer mine unsweetened. The atmosphere of the place is pleasantly subdued but we couldn't sit in the courtyard out back as they lacked the staff to serve us.Chuck found the macaroni and cheese too soft, which is fair enough. I'd have liked more spice in my food, heavier cheeses and perhaps more pungent, Parmesan or smoked Gouda or something. But as was pointed out to me, these are yuppie tastes with nothing whatsoever to do with proper southern cooking. I yield to the more knowledgeable. I liked this place and I will return and I know my wife will be happy to meet me there. I enjoyed lunch with Chuck so perhaps it's just as well he's out of town for a bit.Trip Advisor comments on the place are included here:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34345-d2044103-Reviews-Sweet_Tea_s-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34345-d2044103-Reviews-Sweet_Tea_s-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html
3 comments:
You're making me look like Key West's version of Hunter S. Thompson...sans the Samoan.
I'm trying to figure out if that's a good thing.
Preferring al dente,
Chuck on Fleming.
Sweet tea is the conventional southern way of serving tea. It's not often done in Florida since Florida isn't particularly southern.
It might be a good thing as long as you don't end like Thompson....
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