"A tale of two cities", Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Niagara Falls, Ontario on Tuesday, June 18th, 2013, and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Key West Friday, June 21st, 2013.
The painful review can be found on the Niagara Falls Margaritaville Yelp page.
After visiting family in Toronto, Ontario Canada, the wife and I were invited to visit her sister who happened to rent a house about 20 miles outside of Key West. No sooner we get back from Canada, we lightly packed, and headed 151 miles south "to where I'd really rather be". Joined by the sister and family, we ventured into Key West on Friday, June 21st, to do a little sight seeing, shopping, and maybe grab a bite. Â Carnival Cruise lines had a ship in port, the streets were a little busy with shoppers and the like, but it was a normal HOT Friday in Key West, beautiful weather, and good times with family. Â We ended up at Margaritaville again, this time 1,500 miles south of the last one in the same week, and this time we knew we were back in the nest of parrotheads where magic is everyday, fantasy is a few beverages away, and it's always somebody else's fault. The five of us arrived for lunch, greeted by the hostess, served by the lovely Nicole, and what painful memories of Margaritaville in Niagara Falls I had were quickly erased by the ambiance, service, and quality here in Key West. I ventured for the conch chowder and an order of wings (hot), the wife and other guests all ordered burgers, an appetizer, and ice teas all around. I got my chowder almost immediately, as the rest of the food came out promptly thereafter. The music was great (and not overbearingly LOUD like Niagara Falls), we could enjoy our conversation without having to shout at each other. Our waitress Nicole was incredible, checking back on us several times, making sure everything was cooked properly (the burgers were HUGE compared to Niagara Falls, and cooked perfectly to order), the wings were great (10 to an order!), and we just had a really great time! We cashed out without any surprises and with tax tip out the door we'd average about $15 a person, compared to over $30 in Niagara Falls.
It was tough leaving the keys to come home, but we're fortunate that they're only 150 miles south and are a convenient escape and distraction as my car tends to head south on the Turnpike without any reason at all. We'll be back, and highly recommend it to all!!!
This is the original Margaritaville location and it's on Duval Street so its much much smaller than the location in Orlando but its got great character and theming which captures the Jimmy Buffet fan/island vacation feel all in one. Â
Pros:
*If you are a Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney fan then sit back and enjoy the music (live or not)
*The buffalo wing appetizer is actually much better than i expected but have a glass of water ready because they have a kick to them!
*Drinks are yummy
Cons:
*Service left much to be desired. The downside of this being a tourist destination and landmark is that the service seems to take their business for granted. Â Our waiter was with us within minutes of being seated but our drinks took a good 15 minutes to arrive, which, for a place named after a Margarita, should at least be speedy behind the bar.
*Price. There are so many great local places on Duval street to eat and drink that offer much better deals so overall I'd say visit this place once just to experience it but just make it a drink and appetizer place to save your meal money for a better bargain.
Margaritaville was pretty much exactly what I was expecting...a super touristy spot with decent chain-restaurant type food. The service was good, the food was decent. The decor and atmosphere were fun and we had an enjoyable time there. Overall, if you are looking to get your Jimmy Buffet fix in this is obviously the place to come.
The one thing that bothered me was the bathroom could use a little cleaning. We went at 4pm on a Monday and it looked like a bar bathroom at 2am.
I wasn't initially excited to go to Margaritaville, mainly because I was unimpressed with the location in Myrtle Beach. Yet this was where everyone else wanted to go so we tagged along. It proved to be better than I expected, but it was still an alright meal.
Located on Duval St., this Margaritaville location is apparently "the original", so I guess it's a mecca for Jimmy Buffet fanboys. Unlike the one in Myrtle, this one is smaller, quieter and not as flashy, all of which are great things, though the music was still a bit too loud for my taste (especially since we were seated directly below the speakers on the second floor. We went with a very large group and had a fixed menu to choose from, so I can't comment on the menu as a whole. We all started with a cocktail and I had the Sweet Tea Rita which used margarita mix, unsweet tea and Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. I got the small ($8.75) and that was more than enough for me, but most others got the huge blender cups that were about $15.
I ordered the catch of the day, which was a blackened grouper. The blackening spice was very nice, and fish was a decent quality. It also came with a mango chutney that went really went well with the fish, and there was a decent amount of it. The dish also came with some rice that was ok and some bland roasted veggies.
The service was fast enough given the size of the group, the food was decent and the restaurant employees didn't walk about on stilts singing "Margaritaville", which are all perks to going here.
Always come here for atleast 1 lunch or dinner while in Key West since I'm a lifelong Parrothead. Food & drinks are good, service is  prompt and friendly, and even though its a small place (compared to other Margaritavilles) its always fun. Good late night bands playing too. Have fun!
Review Source:First off I would like to say thank you to our Server Denise R for another great time in at Margarita we were there twice this year June and just recently in January and both times had Denise R.  As others have stated the drinks and food are a little pricey but it is Key West. Overall great relaxed atmosphere, love the music.  Crab, Shrimp, & Mushroom Dip is a great starter. They have excellent burgers, Burgers are large and will definitely fill you up.Can't wait to go back see in October.   Bill  D, NJ
Review Source:To be honest, I had expected a bit more from the "original" Margaritaville. I say this only because I've also recently traveled to several other locations (Grand Cayman, Grand Turk, and Las Vegas).
Yes, the atmosphere was nice, so was the weather and the people. But nothing particularly "wowed" me. I did think the painted ceiling was a cute touch. The trek to the bathroom, however, was a bit confusing. Once out, though, there was a sizeable gift shop and window at the front of the place for people-watching. I did like that it was located close to everything in downtown Key West.
Not a Parrot-Head myself, I still enjoyed the atmosphere, drinks, music, and company, but not 100% sure I'd go out of my way to go back.
A little understated...compared to his newer locations, but we had a good time.
I guess if you don't compare it to the Margaritaville in Grand Turk (with a gigantic free pool to lounge by, pool bar to swim up to or wave pool to learn to surf on) or the one in Grand Cayman with an indoor pool - then it ranks a moderate 3 instead of a 2 ("Meh").
The place was only half full but the house band was pretty good. The bathrooms were hard to find (upstairs and around a corner - and impossible if you were wasted) but the colorful and festive decor was cool.
I can't rate the food because we didn't eat, but we had fun ordering "Loaded beers" (Corona's with a shot of vodka).
The friend who brought us here refers to this as his "Church" (he's a huge Jimmy Buffet fan) so his review would be higher since this was the original...alas, I was just hoping for a tad bit more flash.
This place will work for you if you like the kind of place where you walk in and pay a bundle for food and atmosphere that makes you forget you're in a special place like Key West. Â In fact, it reminds me of an airport restaurant. The food wasn't horrible but the whole place is just nothing special for a steep price.
Review Source:OK, why I wasn't expecting this to be a major tourist trap was beyond me, but I was hoping.....
Overall, this is a fun atmosphere - a little pricey (it's Key West, so, yeah...) - $45.00 for 2 margaritas and a plate of nachos with sides. Â The food was filling. Â Kirby was our waiter and it seemed like they had him going at 100 mph, so kudos to him for getting the order, getting it out in a fairly reasonable time and checking on us a couple of times (although I must say, it did seem like he had a good number of tables to serve!!)
This is definitely a parrot-head hangout, so I'll leave it up to you to decide - if your choice is for novelty, definitely stop by, but with loads of other really great eateries on the key, this is just so-so if it's for the food!!
My wife and I were there on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch, our appitizer arrived and was very good, the bonless chicken wings. Â It went completley downhill after that. Â My wifes chicken sandwhich was very dry, my sausage with red beans an rice was totally underwhelming, no taste to it at all and we could never find our waitress. Â To sum it up his other locations may be good, but stay away from this crappy hole in the wall.
Review Source:I guess if you're a Buffett phan you have to rate the chapel at a 5! Â Okay so that was a little overboard but you know what I mean. Â
I did lie a little....the Glendale Margaritaville needs help....not a phan of that one at all....By the way, the PH in PHAN stands for Parrot Head...if you don't know what that is you should pick another review I think :)
Anyways, very small compared to some of the other one's, the whole place is probably the size of the Hemisphere Dancer but it's the first Margaritaville in Jimmy's old stomping ground so it's all about the history and aura when you go to this one. Â
Of course, the staff is super friendly and there's plenty of stories going around and it's always fun to sit at the bar and talk to the bartenders about their experiences with seeing Jimmy and also it's a great spot where you know you can go and talk to other parrotheads with similar interests. Â
The food isn't the greatest in the world but any one of us will say it's great because we are die hard phans. Â But to be honest, it's the experience as a whole that matters. Â The drinks are spendy (so is everything on Duval) but very good. Â I'd suggest the "Who's to Blame" or try some of the Margaritaville brand spiced rum. Â
I'd say with this and any Margaritaville cafe that I've been to, the "Volcano Nachos" are probably the most amazing nachos that I've ever had. Â They are massive. Â Even if you have great intentions of getting them as an appetizer, hold off on ordering food until you are half way through them and realize they are impossible to finish, even if you've been drinking pirates punch at Captain Tony's all day and have the appetite of a horse. Â
The retail store next door doesn't have the biggest selection of merchandise but you can definitely stock up on Key West Margaritaville shirts, hats, stickers, shot glasses, etc and you are sure to find something cool in there. Â I bought the book "Life Lessons of a Legend" in the store which made Captain Tony's even more memorable than it was from "Last Mango in Paris". Â
Overall a must see if you are in Key West and especially if you are a parrothead. Â FINZ UP!
My first experience at the bar was this woman bartender who made everyone nervous. Â She couldn't stop stretching and touching towels, stabbing lime and lemons shooting them across the bar, stuffing towels under the equipment, and making the drinks as fast as she could like she was in a race. Â She just attacked the bar. Â
The drink was fine nothing special. Â So we left and came back the next day. Â Different bartender way more relaxed and enjoyable. Â I had a glass of barefoot moscato and it was alot better atmosphere. Â This review for drinks no food
Okay, yes, it was sort of 'hack' to come here on my first night back in Key West but one of my life's guilty pleasures is the damn blackened chili cheese dog that they have here. Â If you go at lunch you get two regular sized dogs and for dinner, it's one longer hotdog (it was almost a footlong)
I can't explain the flavor, but it's a hotdog blackened with chili powder and then chili and tons of cheese. Â You get their regular fries and I love to use the Heinz 57 sauce as a dippin' sauce for the fries.
Pure heaven. Â It's probably the 3rd or 4th time I've eaten at a Margaritaville (including the one in New Orleans) and I'm just thankful that they haven't opened one in the Western Suburbs of Chicago, otherwise, I'd turn into one of those dogs.
By the way, Nina at the bar was very nice and attentive even when they were getting slammed. Â She's from Norway and had just returned from a visit home.
Not sure how this place is getting three stars. Stellar wings, reasonable prices, great booze, solid atmosphere and excellent service.
You have to put in the rotation. For the record, I've never been to a Margaritaville before this one and it's likely I wouldn't go to another of the 25+ locations they have scattered around North America.
We arrived into KW LATE on Friday night of Fantasy Fest - after checking in, we bolted for Duval, and more importantly, dinner. Â The first three or four places we hit up were 30 minute plus waits...we were STARVING, so this was not acceptable. Â So we kept walking up Duval, and I spied JB's place. Â We checked it out, and asked about the wait - we could be seated immediately....SCORE!
Now, I'm no fool. Â A serious parrothead, yeah...but no fool. Â I'm WELL aware that the reason we could get in so quickly is that you're paying to be in the ambiance of JB...but to two starving individuals, that works.
:-)
We got a couple of beers, and after checking out the menu, the wife ordered a club sandwich and I ordered a  (I know, shocker) bacon swiss burger.
While we waited for our food, we watched the general atmosphere of Fantasy Fest on a Friday night (can't be explained...you simply have to be there to get it). Â Truly enjoyable for both of us. Â For me, a definite cheeseburger in paradise.
(ok, that was over the top....but the door WAS open)
:-)
We got our food and dug in...and yes, we WERE starving, so perhaps that swayed the review a bit, but this was NOT bad at all! Â In fact, it was pretty darned good!
So yes, it's touristy (you're in KW...doh!). Â Yes, it's overpriced. Â But, at the end of the day, it's a pretty good meal in a pretty cool location with GREAT music (JB or live music on stage) playing. Â Recommended if you're in the above sitch, or if you're a parrothead, or if you just want a good burger.
TOURIST TRAP.
If you want to say you've been here, just walk by and take a picture. No need to come in side and waste your money on overpriced food.
For those that have read my ratings, how I look at restaurants is that they need to meet 3 needs for me.
1) Value 2) Customer Service 3) Tasty Food Â
this place FAILED Â 3 of 3 earning my "AVOID IT" stamp
Great place. Â Yes it's touristy but why else did you come here!!!!! Â Because you are in the Key's and you want to experience all that it offers and Jimmy Buffett's is part of that experience. Â
You will have fun, you will be out of the heat and humidity, that's practically an extra star just for the A/C...
Anyway, the food is good, the drinks are cold... and tasty...
You're in the Key's... Â HAVE FUN!!!!!!
I never thought I'd give a Margaritaville three stars, much less think about giving them four. As mentioned in my review for the Orlando Margaritaville, I'm not a fan of Buffett and find the Orlando location to be rather annoying. But dealing with it is something I do to make the wife happy - and so I grudgingly went into the original Margaritaville.
Wow. You'd almost never know the two locations are part of the same chain. Sure, there's Buffett paraphernalia everywhere - and they play some of his videos on the projection screen - and they serve the same food and drinks. What is completely different is the atmosphere and vibe.
THIS is a place I was happy to sit back and down a few drinks at (aside from the horrendous music). No giant erupting volcano. No stilt walkers. No singing and dancing servers. In fact, we mentioned the comparison to our server and she agreed that ours sounded kind of terrible.
The drinks were nice and strong, though the specialty margaritas drinks can be a little pricey. Even if you don't like Land Shark beer normally, try a "Loaded" one. They top off the bottle of Land Shark with tequila. Shoot through it on your first sip and it completely changes the flavor of the beer.
We didn't get the food, but we've had it from a few other locations, and it's always been roughly the same: decent, but unspectacular burgers, great and huge nachos, mediocre to poor everything else.
Can Orlando and Key West PLEASE trade Margaritaville's?!
Margaritaville is probably one of those places you get dragged to by unhip relatives who live in the Keys (or by overzealous, freshly minted college students who have just now discovered Jimmy Buffett).
If you're up for embracing the cheesy, "it's always five o'clock somewhere / no shirt, no shoes, no problem" experience, or at least up for accepting or tolerating it, you can handle Margaritaville and maybe even enjoy yourself a little.
The service is friendly and attentive, the drinks are adventurous and conspicuously 'boaty,' and the food is... about average. I went there for the first time in nine years this past week, and I was pleased to discover that the restaurant now includes options for those who would prefer their BOCABURGER or TURKEYBURGER in paradise to the ole' cheeseburger. c'est la mode, I suppose, and a good thing, too.
Don't go here if you're in a hurry because nobody here is. Then again, if you're in a hurry, what the hell are you doing in Key West?!
Wastin' away again in Margaritaville (Because the drinks are strong!)
Searching for my lost shaker of salt (It's on the table)
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame (There always is, but she usually pays the tab)
But I know it's nobody's fault (Except your own)
I have been a visitor for many, many years. Yes, the food is not the greatest, but it is decent at least. Besides, Buffet only talked about the sponge cake in his song.
Also, I've visited many other places in the area and they are similar in style/menu/service. You are in Key West! Enjoy the drinks and RELAX!
I fully and 100% agree with Ryan on only if you are a Parrot Head / Jimmy Buffet fan will you truly enjoy Margaritaville.
I was dragged here by my bf's mother who was told that they had the best burgers around. Â I was not that hungry, which is the most rarest thing to ever happen on the face of this earth, but I did have a bite of my bf's burger. Â If this is the best then I dont want to eat burgers ever again. Â Do not beleive the hype, the service was ehh, where's our waitress? I could fully understand if the place was packed but it was a Tuesday night and only about 4 tables had people eating.
End scene.
What a disappointment.
Lousy lukewarm food that lacked any sense of creativity.
An inattentive, disinterested waitress.
Overpriced food and booze.
Did I mention that the service was terrible?
Oh yeah, to get to the bathroom you have to walk to the back of hte restaurant, up stairs, down a hallway. Leave breadcrumbs to find your way back.
With so many choices in Key West this place should be low on your list. That is, unless you feel like you MUST go there because of your affection for Buffet and the Parrothead culture.
The band that came on was very good. That's about it.
Sure, have a beer when a band is playing. By all means go and have a cocktail so you can say you went. But don't do it! Don't eat there. Trust me on this.
Sorry Jimmy, but this place needs a serious overhall and a staff meeting. Â
You've got restaurants to the left,more to the right And you're the NOT only game in town....
I was expecting this place to be a completely cheesy touristy restaurant. This place lived up to my expectations fully ;-)
I had to order a Cheeseburger in Paradise. I mean come on it's Margaritaville for god's sake. It was dressed exactly as the song indicates and I must say that this is a pretty damn good combination. I wish the burger would have been a bit more memorable though. i had conch fritters which I have never had before and they were pretty tasty too. I had a Landshark lager which is a local brew and it was very "Corona-ish" and very refreshing.
We sat up in the balcony so we were able to see the big projection screen showing various concert clips of Jimmy which made for a decent atmosphere. I mean it is his place right? Service was marginal. Now that I said that I have been there, I probably won't be back If I am ever in the area again.
I went down to Margaritaville once before. That place is the worst. There was this one day in particular that I remember. It was raining and I wanted to get a bite to eat. I asked the local, Spider John, if he knew of a good spot. He said I had to try the Beach House on the Moon, because they had the best burgers in Paradise. Spider gave us directions. It was in this One Particular Harbor, and it took forever to get there. It felt like I was taking A Thousand Steps to Nowhere. There were Barefoot Children in the Rain everywhere. I kept thinking that they should put on some shoes before one of them steps on a pop-top.
When I got to the Beach House on the Moon, I looked like a Cowboy in the Jungle, I mean I'm no Son of a Son of a Sailor, if you know what I mean. I sat down at the bar to get some food and Boat Drinks. The place was run by a couple of Fruitcakes named Frank and Lola. Frank had a Pencil-thin Moustache and Lola looked how a Pirate Looks at Forty. They really had the Island Fever. Frank came up to me and said something like, "What can I get for you Jolly Mon?" Seriously, lets drop the Jolly Mon shit. I ordered the Barometer Soup and a cheeseburger. It felt like my food was on A Slow Boat to China. The soup came out cold, and I had to wait even longer for the cheeseburger. It was like the cook Went to Paris. I mean how hard is it to get A Cheeseburger in Paradise?
After eating the worst burger in Paradise, I wished that I had A Money Back Guarantee. I had a smoke and another drink. I noticed a girl walk in a sit at the other end of the bar. I called Frank over and asked, "Who's the Blond Stranger?" He said, "You mean Little Miss Magic over there?" "Yeah, Frank, the Brown Eyed Girl," I barked back. He shook his finger at me and slyly said, "The Wino and I Know." Seriously, what the fuck does that mean Frank, buddy ol buddy. Dickhead.
I heard the stranger call Frank over. He left me to tend her. He said to her, "Hey Good Looking." She flirted back, "I Heard I was in Town." After Frank got her some Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit alcohol drink, he whispered something in her ear. She looked up at me and shouted across the bar, "The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful."
I figured a little Changes in Latitude, might give me a Change in Attitude, so I walked over to where she was. At First Look, I thought she was a Honey Do, but when I got a littler closer I thought, Who We Trying To Fool. The Stars may have fallen on Alabama, but not her. I guess I was Playing The loser Again.
But she was The Last Mango in Paris so I figured why not try to Reason with The Hurricane Season and knock a few back with her. I've done worse. We got to talking and she said, "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw." So we got drunk, real real drunk. I pretty much cashed in at the Bank of Bad Habits and was down for Anything, Anytime, Anywhere. We started to dance, she was awful, but I still got hard. I guess there is Nothing Soft About Hard Times. I heard one of the locals say, "They Don't Dance Like Carmen Anymore." Fuck, even the locals knew I had me a Nottie.
We partied pretty late. At that point there was no one there except Vampires, Mummies, and the Holy Ghost. I called Frank over and asked him if with could get a bottle of rum to go. He looked over at the stranger, then at me. He gave me the bottle. I went to grab it from him but he pulled it back a little, and looked me in the eyes. He said, "Treat Her Like A Lady." Yeah right Frank, you must be Havana Daydreamin', cause she was Off To See The Lizard.
We left together singing, "Ho, Ho, Ho and a Bottle of Rum." I Don't Know, and I Don't Care what happened after that. I awoke in the morning, and When the Coast was Clear, I split the hell out of there. I left her a note that said: If The Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me. I have a feeling she will find me though, claiming the kid is mine, I mean Everybody's Got A Cousin in Miami.
For now, I have nothing to show but this brand new tattoo. And some people claim that there's a woman to blame, but I know its my own damn fault. Yes and some people claim that there's a woman to blame, and I know it's my own damn fault.
Ok...so I admit I stopped at Margaritaville. Â I became the ultimate tourist. Â I even bought tons of useless parot-phinalia at the gift store next store. Â
The food is typical American fare (Cheeseburgers in Paradise anyone?) with menu items paying homage to various Buffett hits. Â
The thing that keeps my husband & I coming back? Â The bar. Â
The bartenders are great. Â Not only do they make a great drink but they also freely offer their opinions on different places to try and make conversation as well. Â We've been there enough that we now have favorites when we visit. Â (Skip & Jen). Â Skip makes a mean rum runner and keeps you laughing. Â Shame he is leaving this summer. Â If you make it there before then, stop by.
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