Key West is famous for a lot of things and has a lot of people claiming to be the best at something. As locals, we are often asked where to get the best Key Lime Pie. It seems that every restaurant claims to have better pie than the one next door and they all have their "House Secret" that separates them from everyone else. I don't have the heart to tell an excited tourist that the best Key Lime Pie is sold at the Publix bakery so let's cover the places I like best for restaurants or bakeshops.
My favorite is Chef Kermit. Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe serves some of the finest key lime pies in the state. Serving hungry patrons for more than two decades, it has gotten recognition from the likes of Food Network and National Geographic and has become a local institution. Grab a slice of the classic pie or try something new, as this shop also serves pies on a stick dipped in dark or white chocolate. If it can be made with key limes Kermit will make it and make it good. I remember one day when Kermit gave me a piece of Key Lime Fudge. I was expecting it to be terrible. Lime fudge? Really? The only really about it is it was really amazing. I loved it. Kermit himself is one of the nicest people I know in Key West.
Pepe's Cafe would be a close second to Kermit. Dating back to 1909, Pepe’s Cafe in Key West is considered the oldest eating house in the area. It also serves some of the best traditional key lime pie around, as all of the desserts here are homemade. The pie is so creamy and light in texture that it’s served in a bowl, while the crunchy graham cracker crust and zingy filling complement the dollop of whipped cream that comes on top.
Although the Blond Giraffe is temporarily closed, I expect they will reopen once COVID settles down and they will continue to make a great Key Lime Pie. Featured in magazines like Southern Living and Coastal Living, the key lime pies at Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory in Tavernier are worth sampling. Based on a recipe passed down by the co-owner’s grandmother, the shop serves key lime by the slice, whole, or frozen on a stick and dipped in chocolate. You’ll also find a whole array of other key lime products such as cookies, pretzels and candy.
Blue Heaven, in my opinion, is very overrated. The food is good but not great. I don't have anything bad to say about the restaurant but other than their Key Lime Pie I'm not overly impressed by it either. Sitting in the historic Bahama Village neighborhood, this funky shop has been serving delightful slices of pie for over 20 years. Enjoy the live music and laid-back vibes, then sample the much-loved key lime pie. Made daily with fresh squeezed limes and a graham cracker crust, it is served with a heaping portion of meringue on top.
There are hundreds of other places to get Key Lime Pie in Key West and they will all claim to be the best. The places above are just my opinion as someone who has lived in Key West for 28 years. I'm not a baker, I'm not a food critic and I'm not a chef. I'm a Realtor and I still say the bakery department at Publix has the best Key Lime Pie in Key West. Grab a piece of pie and enjoy!!!
Gary
Gary McAdams, PA
Realtor and Notary Public
Barbara Anderson Realty
Key West, Florida
