I love a bargain. Who doesn’t? Key West is home to many fantastic happy hour deals, and Martin’s is a standout. The thing about happy hour is that it is often hard to get to. Between working, dog walking, and other commitments, late afternoon is not usually when we are eating and drinking. Plus, it often seems like a late lunch more than an early dinner.
This weekend I was determined to try Martin’s. I had heard rave reviews, and with all appetizers, martinis and wines by the glass 50% off, it’s a tough deal to beat. I was determined to make it work. Sunday afternoon we met some friends for happy hour. Though the outside bar was livelier, we sat indoors in the crisp, cool air conditioning and enjoyed white tablecloths, flowering orchids and very good service.
I am not a vodka drinker. It is not a character flaw, I simply prefer the brown booze – bourbon, rum, tequila… But I was enticed by the martini list and the fact that everyone else was getting one, so I succumbed to the peer pressure and ordered a lemon drop. I am still not a vodka drinker and after the first one, quickly moved on to wine.
The choice of tasty bites is extensive. I homed in on the lamb chops right away. It is not often that lamb chops are part of anything half off, so we ordered a few orders of the lollipop style chops. Our table of four also had schnitzel strips (really, really buttery, but good), baked brie (fantastic), crab cakes (only okay, in my opinion), lobster bites (desperately needed seasoning, or butter, or both), bratwurst, scallops Florentine and a country pate. I can’t comment on the last three items, as I didn’t have any, but everyone else seemed to enjoy them immensely. My favorite (besides the lamb, of course) was the sauteed mushrooms over toasted, buttered bread. Flavorful and delicious, I was not terribly upset that one of my friends doesn’t like mushrooms. More for me.
The setting is lovely, the service attentive, and at half off during happy hour, it is a bargain. If you haven’t been to Martin’s happy hour, you should check it out. Offered from 4-6 PM daily, you can’t do much better.
