re: Lower Florida Keys Best Restaurants.

Stayed in Marathon earlier this year. The below recs are all on Marathon Island.

Breakfast - Marathon Bagel Co., Porky's bayside BBQ, Mr. Beans books and beans (amazing coffee)

Lunch/Happy Hour: Key's Fisheries - on the water, great view from the 2nd story bar. Happy hour stone crab legs, conch fritters, and the world famous lobster reuben

Lazy Days South - We brought yellowtail we caught and had it cooked "Lazy Days style" It was one of the best things I've ever eaten. Ignore the bad google reviews. Everything we tried there was great.

We stayed at Tranquility Bay, it had a nice beach bar, food was ok.


Dinner:

Florida Keys Steak and Lobster house: My wife loves coconut shrimp and they had her favorite of the trip. Make sure to check out the wall art, it's interesting to say the least. Wait for a table at dinner can be rough, we just ate at the bar.

Key Colony Inn: Dolphin Meunier and dolphin senator were amazing

I second that you pass on Island Fish Co.

Note: If you want to kayak the mangroves (which I recommend on Marathon) Call Daniel 305-395-0355 to set it up. The beach where you leave from to kayak (Sombrero Beach )is also one of the nicest in the Keys so you can chill there after you kayak (go in the AM before it gets too hot).