John Arlene's Castaway - Marathon

After a drive past a trailer park, my husband and I stumbled upon this small seafood restaurant. As soon as we settled into our booth, we noticed that our table was extremely dirty—honestly, it was disturbing! Our waitress offered to clean it and used a wet, musty cloth, which only added to our dismay. The floors were equally unkempt, covered in grime and dirt. Despite our reservations, we decided to give the place a chance and ordered the Snapper, but it was overcooked, as were the shrimp. It's safe to say we won't be returning on our way to Key West. There are plenty of other fantastic seafood restaurants in Marathon, so don't waste your time or money here.

I would like to kindly suggest that you pay attention to cleaning your restaurant and consider updating the worn fabric on your chairs. Every time we visit, we notice that the tables aren't clean. Your food is truly exceptional, but the overall atmosphere suffers due to the lack of cleanliness. By taking pride in your establishment, I'm sure you'll see the benefits. Wishing you the best of luck!

The entrance may appear unassuming and somewhat rough around the edges, but don’t let that deter you; this place is well worth a stop for a meal. The bar area at the front, which is partially outdoors, is cozy and welcoming, and the staff are fantastic. One downside is that this is also where smokers gather, which can be a drawback for non-smokers like us (though we did enjoy sitting outside during a previous visit). So, we opted to head inside instead. The waitstaff is friendly and quick with drinks and food service. If you arrive early, you can expect faster service since the restaurant tends to fill up later. The menu changes frequently and often features a catch of the day. Additionally, they offer to cook your fresh catch if you book in advance. I particularly love the lobster, which comes with a generous side of potatoes, veggies, salad, and more. The appetizers are fantastic, especially the jumbo shrimp. The coconut shrimp is an extraordinary main dish; the shrimp are large, coated with a thick, crispy, and sweet coconut layer—definitely some of the best coconut shrimp you’ll find in Florida. Beer enthusiasts will be delighted, as the Castaway has an impressive selection of beers—over dozens to choose from. You can savor your favorite seafood while enjoying a beer tasting experience, and there are draft specials for those on a budget. When we visited this past Christmas, we were pleasantly surprised that some entrée prices had actually decreased since our last visit two years ago. The Castaway is ideal for families or a group of adults looking for a fun dinner with drinks. The snapper dish is one of my favorites, and the grouper is simply delicious. I’ve never had a bad meal here. While many seafood restaurants can be a bit pricey, the Castaway offers great value for the quality of food, service, and unique atmosphere. Whether you are headed to Key Largo or Key West, make sure to include a visit to this restaurant on your journey through the Keys.

This restaurant lacks cleanliness and may be acceptable for locals, but that doesn’t reflect well, especially considering my observations. The atmosphere is quite unrefined, and its location next to a dubious trailer park doesn’t help. While the sushi was tasty, I struggled to enjoy it due to the overall unsanitary feel of the place. Although it looked superficially clean, our tables and the floors were quite shocking. I won’t be coming back!

I had two fish and chip baskets, one tea, one water, and a conch chowder for lunch, which totaled $35 for two people. One basket contained fish ends while the other had actual pieces of fish. The food was good, but nothing exceptional. The service was quite slow, despite the place not being crowded. Overall, it felt like a pricey lunch that didn't offer much more than what you’d get at Long John Silver's.