On your next island getaway to Put-in-Bay, may I suggest The Keys restaurant for lunch or dinner? This place is amazing and located right on the water, near Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial. They have a family-friendly menu and a Caribbean vibe that is relaxing and fun.
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The Keys at Put-in-Bay
The Keys restaurant is a really fun restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating and open-air indoor seating. Once we stepped on the property of The Keys, we felt like we were out of Ohio and someplace tropical. They do a really good job of adding vibrant splashes of colors throughout with beach decor to create a Caribbean feel from the start.
The Keys isn’t just a restaurant but a sprawling location with a walk-up open-air bar, outdoor seating to listen to live music and chill, and intimate outdoor seating areas all around the water.
The service is fast, friendly, and attentive. Our server was friendly and super funny while offering suggestions on the menu and serving our food fast. Even with a group of 12, we were served right away and never waiting on anything.
If you have picky eaters in your group or dietary restrictions, no worries, there is plenty to choose from at The Keys! There is a great kid’s menu too. My dad and even my mom braved their enormous Chad Burger with I believe is a 1/2 pounder steak burger topped with a ton of delicious, tender pull pork, fried onion crisps, bacon, cheddar cheese, and BBQ sauce!
It’s HUGE!
My son ordered the Grilled Black Grouper because we just had some on our Florida trip and he found that he loves grouper. The Keys was just as good as the fresh grouper we had in Florida, if not better! In fact, he left a couple people take a bite because they wanted to order it but was afraid – sometimes fish taste too fishy, but they all loved it and wished they had ordered it even though what they had was delish too. The Florida Black Grouper is grilled and served on a toasted Bun with Lettuce, Tomato and a Side of Keylime Tartar Sauce. ORDER IT!
My sister also found an amazing find with the appropriately named Summertime Salad. It is literally summer-in-a-bowl with mixed greens with Fresh Strawberries, Mango, Pineapple, Sunflower Seeds, Blue Cheese crumbles(she substituted with mozzarella) and Homemade Strawberry-Mango dressing. Doesn’t it look divine!?
The restaurant manager recommended the Carnitas Rice Bowl and with much delight I enjoyed the it! The dish is very flavorful to say the least with Fire Braised Pork, Cilantro Rice, Roasted Corn & Black Beans topped with Shredded Cheese, Avocado, Key Lime Sour Cream and Tortilla Strips. Each taste is a mouthful of tastiness and a good choice of lunch or dinner.
The kids menu was also well-received by the littles in our group with hearty choices and plenty of options for sides.
Everyone found exactly what they wanted and nobody left The Keys without a smile on their face and a full belly. I just love how relaxed our experience was and how much fun we had enjoying the food as well as the view. We had water on 3 sides of us and really enjoyed visiting with grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, niece, and nephews. I love visiting Put-in-Bay with extended family and friends because it is such a fun time and bonding experience. Finding a restaurant that is accommodating for a larger group with a menu to satisfy everyone isn’t always easy but with The Boardwalk family of restaurants, we are always happy. The Keys and The Boardwalk Upper and Lower Deck as always great choices for family dining at Put-in-Bay!
My daughter ordered their Fried Chicken Club with bacon! Most of our dishes came with their signature seasoned fries, something we all highly recommend!
Again, family time. This is my brother and sister. Sitting together, overlooking the water with our kids together is such a special moment. It is a time to reconnect and there is no better place to reconnect than Put-in-Bay!
Our server pointed out their ‘dessert board’ with a littler orneriness. If you read the bottom sign, you’ll see why. ha! Unfortunately we were all stuffed and couldn’t make room for dessert this time around.
Another thing that makes The Keys such a lovely place to visit is their live entertainment. Check out their entertainment schedule to see what is going on during your visit. They had a luau earlier this summer that looked like so much fun! During the summer they have live entertainment every weekend and a couple shows daily. During our visit, we enjoyed island music from West Side Steve Simmons.
In summary, make plans to visit The Keys! It is a very family-friendly restaurant with great food and service. The pricing is good too – about mid-range.
The Keys
227 Bay View Ave.
Put-in-Bay, OH 43456
(419) 285-5397