Wednesday, April 4, 2012

CEDAR KEY TRANQUILITY -- PART 4


FIND OLD FLORIDA IN CEDAR KEY


The long drive, fresh air and rustic setting lends itself to a powerful hunger.

Tony’s Seafood Restaurant, in a restored brick building at the entrance to town in the Second Street Historic District, sates all appetites with lunch specials.

The grouper sandwich is huge, fresh and nicely blackened and on the dinner menu, a low country boil of shellfish, finfish, potatoes and corn on the cob make for an impressive Gulfside version of a classic New England lobster boil.

Speaking of New England, neither of us care for creamy, colorless New England Style clam chowder. Tony’s is famous for New England chowder, and we were skeptical.

Thankfully, Tony’s award-winning version is a symphony of flavor.

They won’t reveal the secret recipe, but there’s something in it that gives the bowl a pinkish hue and can convert an anti-chowder person into a fan in about three spoonfuls.

Tony's is in an old, historic building. But it has two accessible entrances and the wait staff is outstanding about subtly clearing a path of maneuverability to a prime table.

STORY CONTINUES TOMORROW -- APRIL 5

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