You think dining in the Florida Keys and what comes to mind? Probably fresh fish dishes. But now Islamorda is getting an Italian infusion thanks to Oltremare at the Amara Cay resort. The place is pretty chic for the keys yet it still manages to have that laid back, unpretentious vibe.
The menu is Italian but fresh seafood is still featured in many of the dishes. This is the keys after all. The pasta, bread, and pizza (3 of my favorite words!!!) are made fresh daily at Oltremare. I started with the grilled pizza ($16). It's oval shaped and sliced into long strips. The ends crispy, the middle doughy, the cheese gooey. Heaven! Speaking of gooey cheese the eggplant rollatini appetizer ($14) made with 6 different cheeses is a good example of that. Thinly sliced eggplant is stuffed with cheese, rolled up and then topped with more cheese and baked in a red sauce. You slice into it and it oozes yummy. Chef Dario Olivera is smart enough to serve it with a piece of crusty bread to sop up the cheese and sauce. For the pasta, the fettuccine carbonara ($25) seemed to be a good choice. At Oltremare they top the pasta with a poached egg. You break it up and toss it around to make the sauce while the dish is still warm. The special of the day, on the night of my visit, was a cobia, beautifully prepared, served with garbanzos, artichoke hearts, escarole and red peppers cuz there's always a fish special offered at Oltremare.
Amara Cay used to be the Hampton Inn at MM80 in Islamorada. Oltremare was an Outback Steakhouse right next to it. Lucky for us now it's a fab 5 story 110 room boutique resort. Check in and check it out or take a drive down for dinner. But don't forget your flip flops cuz this is the Florida keys after all.
Belkys Best Bite: Eggplant Rollatini
Oltremare
Amara Cay Resort
80001 Overseas Highway
Islamorda, FL 33036
(305) 664-0073
www.oltremareristorante.com
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @belkysnerey