"Wow, We never knew this place was here" is the one comment uttered most often by tourists returning to Key Largo the first time they set foot on the "Docks of Key Largo". Only a couple of blocks off the main drag, Pilot House Restaurant and Marina www.pilothousemarina.com is sheltered not only from storms, but from the hordes who ride US-1 thinking it's what the Keys are all about. Pilot House has been around almost since Lake Largo was blasted out of solid coral rock in 1958. Now the restaurant hangs over the same lagoon where all of the local fresh catch arrives daily at Key Largo Fisheries. The "Glass Bottom Bar" provides locals and tourists alike the opportunity to hang out on the water with friends and watch the fish "shop for dinner" right beneath their feet. It's pretty much a party all the time. At night the water lights up from the underwater lights scattered below the decks. There's a green glow to the water and a wide array of fish, lobster, and the occasional manatee or bottlenose dolphin cruise through to the delight of the crowd.

But I digress...the food is fresh local seafood direct from Keys waters, to wings, to sandwiches, to steak or ribs. All "hand made" as chef Sal Ornelas says, in the open kitchen with the big blue neon sign proclaiming "Sal's Place". His Conch Chowder and Creamy Crab soup are the stuff of culinary legend. The guy's been around Key Largo all his adult life having cooked in the best places and now calling Pilot House home. It's all priced "Family Friendly"-(Hard to find in a tourist town!) and sure to make the whole crowd happy. They'll even cook your catch and not just fried. Sal's got about six different ways. And that's just the ones on the menu.

Speaking of a party, when the sun goes down and the lights pop on under the water, that's about the time the talent hits the stage. There's usually a local musician or band to liven things up and the bartenders are legendary for trying to "Bushwhack" the locals-and probably a tourist or two! I personally say a tourist one night trying to retrieve a shoe from the water with a two by four.

The Marina provides dry stack storage and dockage for yachts up to 65'. Entrance is by a short canal near the headpin to the main Key Largo canal. There's a jetty to starboard and a private lighthouse to port. You can hail the dockmaster on VHF 16. There's transient dockage at the restaurant. In fact, there's a sign hanging by the water originally put there as a joke. "Main Entrance".

 Whatever way you get there, it's worth the time spent. From the traffic light at Walgreens turn east toward the ocean, then immediately right on Homestead. Homestead becomes Ocean Bay Drive and 4 blocks down there's a big arrow "PILOT HOUSE". Turn left on Seagate. It's on the right. Have fun!