B.O.’s Fish Wagon

B.O.’s Fish Wagon Restaurant Review:

B.O. stands for Buddy Owen, the colorful, chatty and opinionated “Conch” (meaning born-and-bred Key West native) who owns this lively ramshackle spot. More of a collection of partial walls than an actual structure, the “wagon” is outfitted in droopy fishing nets, strings of old buoys, lobster traps, a rusty truck, license plates, handwriting on almost every surface, and oddball flotsam and jetsam. The food, like the owner, is bona fide local, from meaty conch fritters to fish ‘n’ chips (all fish is bought whole and filleted on the premises, so don’t expect bargain-basement prices despite the appearances) and a first-rate cracked conch sandwich. The bread is always Cuban; the sides are black beans and yellow rice. The burger is B.O.M.F (B.O’s Mother’s Finest), meaning as local as a burger gets in the Conch Republic. Don’t miss the live music and hopping happy hour on Friday afternoons.