My partner and I were in Key West for a week, and we made it to Pinchers once. And believe me, once is more than enough. We kind of wondered in during happy hour, because you have to go up some stairs to get to this restaurant. The vibe inside is like any other cheap to be found in Key West. We chatted up the bartender and ordered some oysters on her recommendation. They were basically inedible. I don't really care about paying $.50 for oysters during happy hour if they are literally trash oysters. I understand everyone has to adjust their expectations based on the price to pay, but I still want the oysters even if they were free. Half of our oysters were left uneaten, and no one at Pinchers seem to wonder why. The drinks are half off, but they were just generic real drinks. You can get that anywhere. I was very disappointed with Pinchers, and it was probably the worst restaurant and bar out of the 20 or so we went to while we were in Key West.
(2)
Matt M.
Went here on a weeklong trip to Key West in Late July. Overall, everything was just so so. I ordered a chicken Parmesan which was decent but I could have made better myself. Pinchers also had a happy hour where you buy a drink and get an extra one for the same cost. This special runs all the time so it's basically like paying half face value. I would rate the atmosphere with 4 stars, it was slightly better than the food.
(3)
Elizabeth S.
I loved this location and that they had outdoor patio seating that looked down on Duval street. They also had a 2 for 1 happy hour and .70 cent wings, clams, oysters and shrimp. I got the wings and shrimp. I had to peel the shrimp myself, which isn't that big of a deal. I didn't enjoy the sweetart drink I had. It tasted like strawberry soda with no alcohol. The mashed potatoes are amazing and the crab cake was moist and yummy. I would have preferred a more attentive waiter. She didn't come around to see if we were okay. Only to take our order and then we had to wait for so long for her to come around to ask for the check.
(3)
Stefanie H.
Overall it is an ok place. You can sit upstairs and oversee the Duval Street. The food was tasty, I had mussels, but the portions weren't that big. We filled the space with 2 for 1 beers during the happy hour.
(3)
Michael R.
Don't waste your time or money. We waited about 45 minutes after we ordered our food and when it finally arrived, it was cold, soggy, and the waitress paid little to no attention to her customers. The food was noticeably frozen fish. We ordered fried and grilled grouper but both were chewy and tough. The price is ridiculously high for such poor quality food. There are plenty of other good restaurants on Duval Street that actually serve fresh fish and not frozen patty's.
(1)
Jenny A.
We had a drink at the bar below earlier in the day.. the bartender was Great and the drinks were well poured. Great space down below..... Came back Later to have some food... went upstairs... The hostess was bland.. and we sat at our table for 10 to possibly 15 minutes without even getting water.. Needless to say, we left. Unfed, And tainted on the overall experience.
(1)
Amanda B.
My family went there for lunch yesterday. I have to say I was supremely disappointed. The service was terrible. They have large big screen TV's and the staff spent all the time watching them. It took almost ten min for a drink order. I knew we should have left, but my kids were hungry and I didn't want to start over at a new place. Appetizer - warm crab dip. It did contain some crab however it was super watery and lacked flavor. Hubby and I added lots of hot sauce so there was some flavor. Kids liked it but it was like butter cheese sauce. Kids eat free a bonus yes. Son had chicken tenders and fries. He liked them so points there. Daughter had spaghetti with marinara sauce. Sauce tasted tinny. Like it was fresh from a car and the pasta was not well drained so it was all watery. 2 for 1 all day - they have a small draft beer selection. The beer was cold. Hubby- fish tacos. They were fair. The fish was decent, but not much of it. Me- crab cake sandwich. Way too much bread for a small crab cake. The crab cake was meaty and not too much filler. The remolaude was tasty. The fries were awful. They are fresh but they don't twice fry them so they come out dark brown and flaccid. They also lacked any seasoning. So disappointing to see fresh fries and then have them be so lack luster. The baked beans! Hubby and I both had them as a side. If you like cinnamon on savory things then you will love them. We like cinnamon in breakfast foods and desserts. So the cinnamon sugar beans were awful to us. All in all we felt the service was terrible and the food sub par. There are many better places to blow $70.00 on lunch with the family.
(2)
Christina G.
As a part time Maryland resident I was in heaven. Hot peel and eat shrimp. Blue crabs. Yeugling beer!!
(4)
Jason S.
Had the happy hour oysters! At $8.40/dozen during happy hour, I got 2 dozen! And cheaper than I can find them in Tampa! Had to go on vacation to a remote island to find the best deal, go figure...
(4)
Anthony V.
This place was expensive as heck and the fish tacos was mediocre. The server left without taking half our tables food orders and failed to mention that our drinks were two for one. Don't go here.
(1)
Elle B.
Scam artists. Bartender Gary is running a scam from the bar preying on tourists. Pathetic at best. Really needs to be closed down... Unless the managers/owners take care of the Gary problem.
(1)
Lynn M.
The food was just OK. The vegetables were not fresh; clearly frozen. Food temperature was lukewarm and prices were high relative to portion size. Definitely wouldn't recommend.
(2)
Christine C.
I guess we should have read the reviews before we went. I 100%agree with them. The only reason I gave it 2 stars was because kids eat free and my daughter enjoyed her food (but it could be because she 3) the service was very slow and the server/bartender seem liked it pained him to be there. I went with my daughter, husband and mother in law(a local) we are all in the industry and know Keys services isn't always as fast as else where in the country, we are very forgiving. They just didn't seem to care, it was like we were bothering them. The food was awful! We got calamari and cheese sticks. My husband and mother in law said the calamari was chewy and you could tell it was frozen not fresh. The cheese sticks tasted like freezer burn. We will not be trying them again.
(2)
Joe D.
The Grouper was one of the best fish sandwiches I've ever eaten in my life! Danielle was our waitress and she did an amazing job. Very kind and helpful server. Overall I would recommend this place to anyone visiting the area!
(5)
Jen G.
Ah, the Florida Keys, so many dining options! We were looking for a place to stop and grab a bite and a drink and use a restroom, so we stopped in on a weekday afternoon with the kids. Location was great. We chose to sit upstairs, and were seated right away and shown to the much coveted bathroom. The place was clean and the menu was pretty expansive, especially if you're looking for seafood options. I ended up using the Pina colada bucket because it was a good value, but wish there were more rum in it. My mom had the 2 for 1 margaritas, but they weren't that tasty. We ate something small and non memorable and went on our way to the next place. Service was great, and I'd go back to try some more food. I didn't realize this was a chain until I saw the name of my town on the bucket and realized they'd just opened a restaurant near me, so I'll be back.
(4)
Wendy N.
Don't waste your money here. We decided to stop and have something from the raw bar and a cocktail. It was happy hour, so it was 70 cents for shrimp/oysters/clams. I had a dozen shrimp, hubby had 6 shrimp/6 oysters. We both had one drink each. The shrimp were small, the oysters were 'meh', the drinks barely tasted like it had any alcohol in it. Our bill was FIFTY freaking dollars!!! TOTALLY not worth it. Would much rather have gone somewhere else and really enjoyed $50 worth! The service was very slow. It took like 20 minutes for our shrimp/oysters to be delivered. To top it off our waiter and another waitress were bickering over tables. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(1)
Amanda C.
Had an excellent lunch & service here while on our vacation. My hubby got the mahi sandwich and I had the ton of muscles (can't remember if this is the exact name but I thought it was funny& it was a nice big portion) we shared the rock shrimp appetizer. Everything was hot when it came out and delish! We enjoyed the double fister drink special. Prices were really reasonable. I was happy we got to sit outside on second story balcony. I am in shock that this place has a low rating!!!!!!! It was also VERY clean! Bathrooms too! They even had a sugar/salt rub with lemon to use in restroom, apparently it helps with the smell of seafood on your hands..nifty lol =D live music at their bar area downstairs was nice too!
(5)
Alex E.
Teresa was an amazing waitress, the food didn't take that long. The blacked grouper was good but could have used some more crab stuffing ( we paid 3$ more for it). The seafood shrimp pasta melody was really good and strongly recommended. All in all this place it not as bad as people say it is. One thing for sure, you can't beat the amazing view from the deck!
(4)
Marie L.
We ate downstairs and the staff was really nice. We had drinks and the rock shrimp. It was good but had quite a few sandy pieces. we tried to order pincher claws but they were out. All in all not a bad place to grab a quick bite but not a place for a serious meal and not my favorite place on Duval.
(3)
Thomas J.
I read the majority of reviews and as I've seen for other Yelp reviewed sites, don't believe everything people post. I came in just before happy hour food ended. Sat at bar. Got all day happy hour fm draft and was able to get 6 shrimp, 6 raw oysters (Aphlalachia) and six bone in buffalo wings. Although one bar tender handled the lower area, she was literally 'running' to serve customers. I started with oysters being so delicate. Not only were they tasty ( day and night from yesterday's at another place on Front Street), slight salt taste, nice size, virtually no shells (unlike Front Street). Only direct side was horseradish. It made my nose curl! Just as it should. Cocktail sauce in bottle was tasty but not the the same old basic of ketchup and horseradish. Shrimp were next. Maybe 25-30 size. Overlooked maybe 30 seconds because shell did not easily separate. Old Bay or seafood spice tossed on top made up for it. Ended with wings (strongest of three items). By the time I got to them they were not 'hot' but were some of the best 'naked' wings I have tasted. Basic; deep fried no batter, Franks Red Hot. Basic, traditional. Just good meaty wings. Service was top notch. To add to the delight, there was a 'one man band' playing 70's music. Back to the beginning... Give it a try. I was very happy with my happy hour delights!!!
(5)
Mike M.
Consistent. I've been to Pinchers in a few different locations (Key West, Naples and Fort Meyers) and they are always consistent with they're food quality. I've never had a bad meal. A favorite is the Boatload of Mussels .. awesome. Service has usual been good and the staff friendly. Nothing bad to say at all. They have Happy Hour ALL DAY and afternoon food specials (3p -7p i believe). Certainly a go to place if Im near one.
(4)
Dave L.
Way way way over priced for a plain meal, food was at best average with over priced menu. Service was very good but $13 for a regular burger.
(2)
Beth E.
We ate outside which was very nice. Two for one margaritas have very little alcohol so very disappointing. I had the grilled chicken sandwich which was over grilled so therefore tough and chewy. There was a mountain of fries which were good as well as the baked beans which I liked. A lot of waste as nobody should eat that many fries. My husband got the grilled grouper tacos and liked them. Asked for no sides but he still got a mountain of fries. So wasteful. Not very good service. 3 stars as I think there is potential.
(3)
Cruz K.
Liked the upstairs patio over looking duval ,Me and my daughter had a great lunch here.We shared crab legs and salad, kinda on the pricey side but very fresh and service was great.. I would come back again.
(4)
Jackie G.
Somehow we managed to pick one of the only chains in Key West. Oops! And it was so so. It's a good location, with a balcony overlooking Duval. However, the service was unbearably slow. It took over 20 minutes to just receive our drinks. We decided quickly we were just going to order a quick bite of appetizers. Little did we know a quick bite was going to be quite lengthy. We ordered the coconut shrimp, which were acceptable. However the grouper nuggets were complete flavorless. If it were not for the dipping sauce you could mistake it for hot paper. Oh and the ever-so-slow waiter never asked how our meal was and also failed to mention that the drinks we ordered were $14 each. $65 for snacks and 3 drinks. Hmmm... All in all, steer clear. Not worth the wait or atmosphere. Try a local dive!
(1)
Jason T.
Really enjoyed this place. The king crab was wonderful. The drinks were cold and the live music was good.
(4)
Heidi C.
A star for the great service from Natalie, a star for the convenient location overlooking the busy Duval street, and a star for the 'cute' entertaining decor. It was Xmas day and many restaurant we had wanted to go to were closed. So after walking almost the entire Duval street we picked this place. We wanted local fish so ordered the blackened black grouper and the grilled hogfish. The portions were quite small and taste was quite ordinary (not saying it wasn't good...just was very meh...). Bill was $54 with 2 glass of house white wine.
(3)
Courtney M.
This place is mediocre at best. No draft beer when we were there. Family hated the seafood platter, for being 40 bucks the food tasted imported and not fresh at all. Honestly the only good thing we had was the mozzarella strips, can't go wrong on fried cheese right?!. Green beans tasted like retreaded tires. Service was great, food was terrible.
(1)
Daniel L.
Cannot in good conscience recommend this restaurant. It was nearly empty, maybe seven other tables full, and once our orders were placed, our server disappeared until we were halfway through our meals. So in 20-25 minutes our drinks were empty, our food was cold and flavorless and only then did she show up to check on our table. She became rather irate when my wife commented that her scallops were delivered cold, rubbery and devoid of flavor. When we declined her offer of another meal, she said she would check with the manager about removing the cost of my wife's meal, she disappeared again. The manager never came to our table to speak with us nor did our server show up until after we flagged down another server. 10-15 minutes to pay our check in basically an empty restaurant. In comparison, we ate at Sloppy Joe's on a Saturday night and it was packed. Our food was served hot, delicious and our waitress was attentive and friendly! I don't know if our experience was a fluke, but I expected better service and food. Won't be going back here again-
(1)
Laura M.
Good food and good location! However, the blonde hostess had a bad attitude and talked badly about a customer using the word "f$&@ing." It would have been nice to have better service.
(3)
Paul P.
Had dinner here with 7 others. Says air conditioning working but hot as hell. Server so so. Had an order of $36 blue crabs zero flavor. Clam chowder tasted like it was from a can. It's as basic as they come. Sorry I didn't look at the reviews prior to going. Many many other great choices in that area. Oh well better luck next time we are in Key West
(2)
Travis W.
The food was just OK. There are literally a dozen better places to eat here in Key West. The location is great but not worth it at all. There were shells in the crab no matter what you ordered and most of the food was bland. The staff was the worst experience of all. They were all tweakers on some sort of upper. I have never felt more uncomfortable at a restaurant. They could not focus on any one thing at a time and forgot most of the order (we had a table of 4). We could not wait to leave this place!! Not recommended!
(1)
Alyssa K.
Went in during Happy Hour ... There was a 2 for 1 margarita special and asked the server what the special was she said the house margaritas were 2 for 1 and they were about $6. We ordered some and then found out that wasn't exactly the case. She gave us each a "tall" margarita for $6.75 each. A little bit deceiving. Had to find waitress to ask for plates for our appetizers. Also had to find waitress to ask for silverware a little while later. Peel n eat shrimp were small, a little mangled and pretty fishy for a self-proclaimed seafood joint. Decided to leave after apps and drinks bc of bad service/food quality.
(1)
Ryan S.
Food wasn't bad. We sat outside upstairs on a Friday night and it began to rain. Sit in the corner and you'll get wet! After eating, the manager moved us to a table inside to escape the rain and continue drinking (he did that on his own accord; we didn't ask.) The crab dip with cheese was one of the best appetizers I've ever eaten. Imagine queso dip mixed with crab meat. Delicious!
(3)
Brooke R.
Loved this place! Our server was very informative and helpful. I had blackened Mahi Mahi tacos and they were amazing. It is right on Duval street, so it's super convenient for going out afterwards. Sit out on the deck, it has a great view!
(5)
Dan G.
We had really good food here and enjoyed our night, it was just lacking that magic key west feeling that you find elsewhere on the island
(3)
Cathy C.
2 for one Margaritas! Need I say more? My mom had broiled Hogfish and said it was quite yummy. Jose had Hogfish, fish and chips style. He liked it too! I had Seared Ahi Tuna. It was quite nice :) this place used to be Crabby Dicks - now it is Pinchers. Sit high above Duval street and watch the parade of characters below. It is much fun!
(3)
Antonio M.
Nothing to write home about!
(2)
Kilroy K.
Was just there on Sunday November 3, 2014. The Food and Service was GREAT. The only thing that I would warn you about is the French Fries. They are made fresh (not Frozen) and they come served on your plate really brown and crispy looking (which I Like them that way) but than they are kind of under cooked and soft. When I asked why, I was told because they are cooked fresh and everyone says the same thing. I switched out to the garlic mashed spuds and that was much better. We all had a good time.
(5)
Irene H.
Had the crab dip, stone crab app, grouper sandwich. It was the best lunch. The waitress was the friendliest on the Island. Will be back.
(5)
Joey G.
Food was ok but our waitress was the most miserable person I've ever met. Deanna please get laid.
(1)
Carolyn M.
Don't get their happy hour oysters or shrimp. Clearly leftovers from the day before. Shrimp taste like they had set uncovered in fridge. Texture was off. Oysters very small. One of the oysters was slimy bad. They did replace it, but yuck! They should have never served it in the first place. Lost my trust.
(1)
Douglas S.
Don't waste your time, happy hour is not happy, 2 for 1 on $7 beers that look to be 10oz.
(1)
Joseph F.
I would not recommend this place to anyone! We sat outside where at least the music was good but that's about it. Service was horrible, I think our waiter is stoned off his ass.. Messed up my buddy's order and the food was bland! Ordered the Jumbo crab cake as an appetizer and it was small, full of shell and SAND!! If you want to get screwed go to the brothel down the street!
(1)
Sam W.
I was really wanting this place to be more. Although the staff is very friendly and courteous, they appeared to be somewhat understaffed. The atmosphere is great. The food left me wanting more. I ordered the soft shell crab and it was not seasoned much, my son's shrimp were the same, wife could only eat shrimp from her shrimps scampi dish. The price didn't bother me much since it was expected due to location. My suggestion is go for a drink or two, watch the crowds and get an appetizer (crab dip is tasty).
(2)
Tom K.
The live entertainment was the only great thing about this place... Cold shrimp, cold fries, cold burger and a server with the personality of a dead moth..... Trust me, other places have a 4-5 star rating while this place sits at a liberal 3 stars... Go somewhere else......
(1)
Pedro R.
Really good food. Prices are perfect for what they serve. I had a oyster pollboy sandwich it was very good and none of the fried food the served were too greasy. Over all very good!!
(4)
Karen P.
I had the stone crab claws, the were so sweet and fresh,very good. We also enjoyed the grouper reuben, sounds weird but it was very good. Half price drinks all day, but when I ordered a mojito it was a super large size, would have preferred to have an average sized drink, so only negative was that the waiter just brought the large overpriced instead of the regular, so check that out before you order.
(4)
Patty C.
This place has parking in the back of the location. If you have been to the Keys you know this is a big plus. We went up the eternal long stairs in the back of the restaurant parking. We went right into the second floor of the place where there is an insider bar, plenty of seating and an outside bar and also lots of seating with a great view of Key west craziness. Our waitress was awesome !!!!! The food was great and good drink specials 2 for 1.
(4)
Kari W.
We stopped for appitizers/lunch. One friend got a hot cheese/seafood dip that was good, we took it back to the condo for later and it reheated well. My other friend had mozzarella sticks, she's not a fan of seafood. I had the open faced crab roll sandwich that was a couple scoops on a piece of toast. We stopped back many times to visit the staff, Jason and Steph. We enjoyed them and 2 for 1's. We were only downstairs.
(4)
Lisa F.
Food was not great but good. The server, Karen, was over the top attentive...almost too. But she was incredibly pleasant and always there if we needed her, even when we didn't..Lol ! The food was average. The pinchers appetizers was good, Calamari was ok (sauce was boring and without taste) and the buffalo shrimp were good but lathered in sauce...maybe a little less sauce would have been better. The 2 for 1 drink specials are tasty! (hubby said the vodka/cranberry was watered down) but I thought the margarita was yummy. Hubby like the crab cakes but if your not paying attention, make not that when they ask if you want 1 or 2....they are 15/each!! They are larger size (about the size or a baseball width) but good. Views were great on patio of course as you are overlooking Duval Street.
(3)
Lily T.
Decent place. Came here and tried their seafood pasta and had a house salad with Mahi Mahi on top. Both were decent. not great. And portion was huge. We came here another afternoon and tried their happy hour special of oysters and shrimp at 70 cent each. The oysters weren't shuck very nicely. Had some shells in there still. The shrimps were decent. No draft beer when we were there. How is a bar/restuarant this big running without having any draft beer. Overall a okay place. There are better places in key west where you can go
(3)
Raquel M.
The food was good especially the grilled groupper. Loved that kids eat free and their menu had good selections. The staff wasn't so friendly and not very attentive. Lucky for them the food was delicious and the portions were big. The mojito bucket was yummy. The prices are average for being on Duvall st in Key West
(3)
Kristina D.
Teresa was our server and she was pretty much amazing. She gave us great tips for Key West and also told us what to order for food at Pinchers! I had the coconut shrimp and it was the best. We also had Ahi, Rock Shrimp, crab cake, and grouper and we all loved it. The garlic green beans were great as we had not had veggies in awhile.
(5)
Sara T.
After enjoying a long day of sight seeing and jet skiing, my partner and I were looking for something moderately priced and tasty. After driving around exhausted, we found ourselves at Pinchers. We were seated within the first 2 minutes of entering. We were eventually greeted by our server, who seemed to be in a hurry every chance we saw him. Can't really blame him for the service though, as he seemed to be the only one with 4+ tables inside and outside and at least 5/6 other servers standing around. We started off with the conch fritters, which they claim to be a house favorite. The sauce that came with the fritters was not necessarily complimenting to the fritters, tasted more like a thousand island dressing with spices in it. The fritters themselves were just below average. Mostly dough, nothing special. My partner than proceeded to order the grilled shrimp po' boy with fries, and added a cup of their clam chowder. While the sandwich itself didn't look bad, the fries came out in a basket, burnt, soggy from the oil that it probably soaked in hours ago. The clam chowder was brought out in a small white cup, with the soup leaking all over the cup itself to the point where you didn't want to touch the cup at all. In fact, the clam chowder was nothing more that heavy cream and starch. There was a piece of lettuce also inside the soup, no big deal, but still offputting. The shrimp po' boy was nothing more than mediocre mid sized shrimp tossed and seasoned with WAY too much old bay seasoning. The shrimp were so salty, that we simply could not finish eating. The bill came out to about $32, which was nowhere near worth the quality or service we received. All in all, it's extremely dissapointing to visit such a beautiful part of South Florida that prides itself with great seafood options, only to end up at a place like this. We will definitely be doing more research for food options and will definitely not be returning to this location.
(1)
Nikki H.
Go somewhere else if you want seafood and don't waste your money here! We went yesterday and it was horrible. We got the hog fish that was on special. It was very dry and overcooked. We also got the 2 soft shell crab and they were so tiny that the two put together didn't even make one of typical size. The mashed potatoes were flavorless and had obviously been sitting in a steamer all day. The bill for all of this was $78 and we didn't even have cocktails. What a horrible waste of money and time!
(1)
Johandra P.
First of I'm a little confuse by all the bad reviews. This was one of my favorite meals in Key West. The restaurant is nice and airy in a second story with a balcony overlooking famous Duval Street. The service was also good, fast and friendly. I had a delicious corn and crab chowder, best one I have had and for lunch I had a fish sandwich. The fish tasted fresh and it was nice and crispy served with french fries and coleslaw. I say this place is a must try! Great ambiance, food and drinks!
(5)
Michelle P.
My group popped in around lunch time on a Saturday. The place was pretty dead and the crowd was definitely on the older side. This is not the place to go if you are with a lively group or a bachelorette party. We were getting odd stares and felt super out of place. We sat down at a booth on the inside and immediately stuck to the leather-like seats. That was enough for us to be on our merry way.
(2)
Elizabeth C.
Waste of money and time! The food was disgusting and the service was slow. The waitress was rude and smelly. I think she hasn't showered in days. The beers never came out and server were rude towards my homosexual friend. I felt judged. Especially in a place like Key West. Total buzzkill. STAY AWAY!
(1)
K K.
Ate here recently on Spring Break and was one of my favorites. The only reason that I gave it a 3 is a. The drinks and b. The menu options. I am all about giving people options but there were way too many (a bit of a commercial place thing to do) and some of the options were obviously frozen. The first night I got over cooked pasta and a Caesar salad that was way too anchovy tasting for my liking. I will say the hush puppies and shrimp were out of this world! My second complaint would be the margaritas that were served warm and salty, very odd.
(3)
Dawn G.
I'll give it two starts only because of the two for one margaritas and it was awesome to sit above Duval Street and people watch for a few hours. Had the fish and chips, just ok. Small portion and very dry. Would have thought for a seafood place this was a dish that would be done right.... I would go again for the view and margaritas!
(2)
Amanda Q.
It was nice that the happy hour was all day, but the food wasn't worth it. I had the blackened mahi which was less than decent and my boyfriend had a pound of the king crab legs (that ended up being 3 legs...), definitely wasn't worth the stop, and I don't recommend it to anyone....
(1)
Mike M.
The food was good but the service wasn't the greatest. My order got messed up on two different items. The grouper however was very tasty.
(3)
Jeremy V.
Dont write many reviews, but this place merits it. For all that is sane and holy, don't visit this place. Food was gross. I'm in Key West and expect much better. Expressed our discontent with the waiter and didn't care. I hate my life a little because I went here.
(1)
Katie N.
All food was cold. Sent fish back and they microwaved it. When we spoke with the manager, he told us they didn't do that and told us we were wrong. Good ambiance though!
(1)
Lauren M.
Yo, real talk. this place sucked ass. There was a metal strand in the calamari and it tasted like vomit. The Alfredo is milky and tastes like crap. We got 10 conch fritters, 9 of them were shit. Don't go to pinchers.
(1)
Ryan C.
Happy hour all day with 2 for 1 drink specials. Food was decent with good selection of fish and crab prepared in a variety of ways. Best part about this place was the second floor seating overlooking Duval.
(3)
Jeffrey D.
I was intrigued, a restaurant that was not on Yelp yet! So we threw caution to the wind and went with it. Besides, we were famished and saw that they had oysters. The Waiter had explained that all their fish was from their namesake's fleet and caught fresh. We started out the a crab dip which was pretty good and their signature hot sauce was a nice complement. I went with the blackened Mahi Mahi and my wife went with baked Grouper. Overall, the service was good. Our server was pretty knowledgable about the menu especially since it was just opened recently. In fact, they still had not had all their dishes delivered. The outdoor seating was nice and we really liked the oysters. The management checked in throughout out stay and were very interested in our feedback. Overall, this place has some potential but like all new places there are likely to be minor bugs to work out.
(3)
Jen K.
I only came here for happy hour, which was really good! I was happy with the oysters, shrimp, crab, and drinks. Our servers were always pleasant so that was also nice. I'm giving it 3 stars because the hostess, not sure what her name was, but she had such an attitude! Instead of saying something like "ok follow me" or "right this way" or anything similar, she grabbed menus, looked at me, walked to the table and that was that. No smile & I felt like I was interrupting her day or something. Yikes..however the next day there was a young guy as the host and he was extremely nice and eager to help out! I later saw him running around trying to bus tables in order to seat people where they wanted to go. So all in all not a bad happy hour spot, but I don't think I'd come for anything other than that.
(3)
Janine K.
The service was subpar, the food mediocre at best. We ordered a large stone crab (great), raw clams (meh though fresh), a tuna sashimi (overpriced), blue crab (tasteless and rubbery), fried clams (bland, though the accompanying fries were a highlight), and a homemade slice of key lime pie (no taste of key lime, featured mostly cream). It started raining during our meal (sitting outdoors) and our server only reluctantly let us move inside once our food was soaked. On the bright side, this place is cheaper than most in key west.
(2)
J S.
It is a lively place with very helpful and friendly staff. The kids had the kids meals which were pretty basic, the smiley fries were pretty bland. My spouse had shrimp tacos which he loved. I had the blackened shrimp po'boy. It was good. Don't expect fancy but ESPN was on so we were good with that. I did enjoy my margaritas! The doors to the women's bathroom is tricky. Watch carefully coming out because exit doors are so close you can hit someone.
(4)
Aly W.
Stopped in for happy hour but what we wanted wasn't available from the "happy hour" menu. The boom boom shrimp was great- it's just like Bonefish's bang bang shrimp. The crab cheese dip was really disappointing. It lacked quality as it tasted like heavy cheap cheese rather than crab. But I loved the upper deck ambiance and I have nothing bad to say about the margaritas! And oh- the coleslaw was great!
(3)
Ben C.
Great happy hour. Pretty good oysters. Especially at $0.70 each. 2 for 1 drafts. Good attentive bartender too.
(4)
Cynthia P.
Had lunch here the other day and it was a good experience. We'll probably stop in again while we are here in the keys. We were in for lunch, and had the nicest server named Karen. Very outgoing and friendly. She knew the menu and was quick to offer suggestions when asked. Service was quick...food was really good - I had the 1/2 pound shrimp scampi with garlic mashed potatoes and garlic green beans...(the mashed potatoes were SOOOO good), and hubby had a cheeseburger with cheddar and fries which he enjoyed also. During the lunch shift they have a two for one on draft beers, wines, and something else...being a wine drinker, I appreciated that - and my husband, being a beer drinker did the same. A definite YES, you should stop in for lunch prior to hitting the bar scene on Duval St..the restaurant is upstairs. Inside and outside seating...outside for those like to people watch. :)
(4)
Dustin M.
Def stop in for happy hour. 70 cent specials for wings, shrimp and clams. 2-4-1 drink specials all day every day too. The live music is the best part. Never disappointed.
(3)
David L.
It's lively, it's hot as one is seated outside and its great! Our waiter was a young and really rather sweet Ukrainian who we know was glad to not be back in his home country just now. He had a wonderful Eastern European reserve, and we took to him as he was efficient in a quiet way. The manger was also rather jolly and plainly did not only know who was coming to dinner from their reservations, but also read and remembered a little about us....which impressed us. We learned from him about the history of the owner, why the place had been built as well as the ecological fishing practices the place promotes.....and we were impressed. The food choices were excellent, not in a fine dining way but in an authentic lively place sort of way. Their bottled beer selection was VERY unusual and is to be recommended. Outside the location, currently undergoing a major road development, is thus a little noisy...but it's also fun to watch and this should be over by now. This issue did not detract from the evening as we sat near the water, ate crab claws and other fishy dishes, and spent an enjoyable two hours. Overall the staff were excellent and seemed to work as a team...and busy they were to.I was most impressed with the design of the place.....in particular visit the toilets....as they are a testament to design creativity.
(4)
Jackie L.
Oh Yelp - thank goodness we didn't listen to you! Pinchers, I'm going to be honest here, we were heading to Camille's for crab - called for a reso and they noted they were out of crab! After a search we thought - Pincher's menu looks sweet, it's on Duval, oh and we are a party of 7...and we have a vegetarian, 2 light eaters, and we aren't interested in a lengthy dining experience or too expensive of a meal. SCORE! Pinchers had a nice case showing off a variety of fresh crab upon walking in, host was a delight, we sat on the balcony overlooking Duval and could hear the acoustic guitar set below - which was great. Our server Teresa was AWESOME! Friendly, funny and accommodating - even sent the pro over to show us how to open up the Blue Crab. Conch fritters were the best we had on the island - more crab then bread! Hush-puppies were also an app hit, the Hot Crab and Cheese was flavorful, filled with crab and even had the baked cheese top and sides - we inhaled it as you can see in one of the pics. The crab roll was a nice cold salad with zip - not spicy, but zingy. Side options complimented the meals well - all around we are glad Camille's was out of crab, we had a blast - great food, best value, and our full bellies were only a hop away from the greatness that is Duval, that is Key West, that is..we will be back!
(4)
Randy B.
Was there twice first time for.drinks was great on the bottom level. We went back for some chow upstairs and was there for more than ten minutes no service water nothing. We ended up leaving. Not on the ball
Don't bother, unless you're interested in overpriced, unimaginative, run-of-the-mill seafood at insanely high prices. Even at half the price of what they charge it would be too much. That's not to say the location isn't good. And the service was friendly.
(2)
Heather C.
Crab dip is DELICIOUS! great stop for a hearty appetizer & a beer break while walking Duval
(5)
Sam H.
I'm not sure why the reviews are so poor for this place. My family and I came here for lunch. We ordered the peel-n-eat shrimp, a dozen clams, the crab cake and crab cheese dip. Our server was friendly and prompt. And the food was fresh and tasty. I liked this place. But we were there for lunch and it wasn't crowded. It might be a different story when it is busy, but my family and I enjoyed it.
(4)
Shimmy G.
Needed a place to eat quickly as a cab was coming to whisk is away back to reality. Chose Pinchers because it was a block from our hotel. Our bartender/server John was a great guy from Michigan who was attentive and quick with suggestions. All of which turned out splendidly. I had the grouper - blackened (per john) and my partner in crime got the tuna appetizer (yum) and the hog fish. She loved it. I loved. We were loving life. Great last meal before returning to the real world.
(4)
Peter H.
Ok remember, this is a crab shack, not a fancy black tie kind of joint so don't let the 5 stars intimidate you from putting on your flip flops and popping over. Bartender was great and since we weren't sure what to get he made some recommendations and said he would "stand by them". So we took him up on his suggestions. Hog Fish and the Stone Crab legs. With fries and baked beans. First off they were great! Second off, aside from sushi I do not typically like fish. So with that said, good service, free music, and fish/crab that was delicious earns this place 5 stars in my book... Hope you enjoy it too!
(5)
James C.
Grouper Reuben was great. Soup was excellent. Fries are homemade and glorious. Service was friendly and quick. I really liked it.
(5)
Lew L.
Fun outside seating to watch Duval Street. Good happy hour prices on drinks. Food would have been fabulous if it would have been hot. We saw server carry our stuff out, set tray on the bar, go do something else, then finally deliver it to us later. What a disappointment.
(3)
Sofia K.
Had a quick dinner on an evening of an arrival to Key West. My shrimp pasta was excellent but hubby's grouper sandwich wasn't quite into his taste. Service and atmosphere was excellent!
(3)
Sam B.
the hush puppies and the coconut shrimp were good but we had terrible service and the mussels had to get sent back because they were cold and rubbery. knowing that we had a rough meal, the waiter actually took longer to get us our check and close out. it's bizarre to see a restaurant with a motto of "you can't fake fresh" when the experience felt inauthentic at best.
(1)
Dan H.
If only there was a way to give this place less than one star. It's the epitome of the tourist trap that is only here to grab your cash because you'll never return a second time. When you order oysters on the half shell and they are warm and dry, you're in trouble. Then the crab roll arrives and instead of letting you taste the simple flavor of the crab, it's saturated with some kind of salt seasoning and loaded with ground red peppers. The sides, too are loaded with salt, or maybe it's that Mrs. Dash crap. At least my waitress demonstrated on the brown paper tablecloth that she could write her name upside-down, that was the high point of the experience.
(1)
Michael M.
Great 2-for-1 specials on drinks. Really nice environment. We did not eat dinner or any of the food, but will probably come back for some. The service was INCREDIBLE. Ask for Kim as your waitress. She's very nice. I was a bit chilly & she grabbed her sweatshirt for me. Very noteworthy!
(5)
Jim B.
I did not find anything special about this place. Everything with one exception was very average. I had hogfish for the very first time here for lunch and it is now my favorite, nudging out grouper. A bit pricey but like I said Key West is all over. It is located on the second floor on Duval. Spacious and well lite not a bad place to stop.
(3)
Justin M.
The food was amazing. We had fried crab claws, boiled shrimp, raw oysters and raw clams. The clams were better than the oysters! Wait staff was slow, but otherwise, it was a great experience. We will go back!
(4)
Sylvia H.
we decided our waiter was hungover since he didn't come to our table much & when he did, seemed to hope we didn't want anything. however kitschy the restaurant is, the salads & iced tea were perfect for the heat. the bartender was much nicer even though we weren't drinking.
(2)
Keleigh D.
Keep walking! They just opened yesterday. My waitress was horrible and rude. The grouper had a funky taste and nothing we ate had any seasoning or much flavor at all. The french fries are cooked too long, almost have a burnt taste. The manager was nice enough to replace my meal but it came way after my daughter was done with her entire meal. The tacos also had no taste. Being a server myself, I know how to treat a guest and this was surely NOT the way! She had to make it a point that her boss took off my fish sandwich, my tacos AND my daughter's key lime pie. And then with attitude said "What else do you need"? I told her we were in a hurry to catch a shuttle and she never brought our bill or a take out container that I asked for. I had to ask the manager to please bring the bill!!!! There are plenty of restaurants in Key West that are outstanding and this is NOT one of them!
(1)
R W.
Great service despite being refused admittance with our dog. That in itself is a long story. However, we received exemplary takeout service, even a cup of cold water for our pooch.
(4)
Zammer Z.
Great food and service, there was never a bad experience. Food was fresh however a bit too salty on the fries was my only complaint.
(4)
Andres Z.
I had lunch here yesterday and I had the worst experience ever. The food was very bland and eating at McDonalds would probably have been better. To top it off we had a very inattentive and rude waitress named Becca. At the end, Becca stole my friends phone and they didn't grant us a refund on our food. I am outraged with my experience here. I recommend everyone to stay away from here so that you won't waste your money on bad food and get your phones stolen by waitresses.
(1)
Emmy B.
Up the stairs to a place thats "tag line" is "you can' t fake fresh". Is awful. The "two for one" drinks were brought out at the same time, one cold beer , one warm beer. The apps we ordered were originally frozen and cooked until they were way over done. Our waiter "Mike" had to explain the menu (a bad sign when you need a tutorial to use the menu). He talked more about himself than the food, but did include his opinion about several items , ending with the desserts, that were not all that good. He suggested that my family (that included our children) try the dessert place "Better than Sex", a cafe that offers pie slices for $11, and a menu full of sexually suggestive descriptions of desserts. Not a bad thing but not something you want to share with nearly grown children. My suggestion, do not go up the stairs.
(1)
Kelli C.
Don't get takeout... Calamari was tough. Hamburger actually un-eatable. Horrible. Had to wait forever to get waited on (that should have been the first warning) wasn't very busy. Yuck!
(1)
Caitlin B.
The service was awful. The food was below average. The mango salsa is the only reason I'd give this place two strs instead of one. Our group of eight came in late on a Thursday night. The place was empty and we were sat pretty much immediately after they put a couple of tables together. We asked if we were able to separate our checks and she said yes. We wanted to order both food and alcohol all at once but our server walked away after getting only half our drink orders. Then a member of our group asked what kind of tequila they used in their margarita she had no idea nor did she offer to find out. It took awhile to get our drinks but we all wrote that off considering we were a large party. She finally took our food order after she noticed we has eaten all their crackers. Most of us got one of the tacos. This place is very open and we watched her take about 15 minutes to put in our order. Once we got our food our drinks were empty but there was no offer to get us more not do I think anyone in our party had that kind of time. The food was ok but the mango salsa that came with the tacos was heavenly. A member of our party asked for extra sauce that came on her taco. The servers reply was let me see if we have any. What??!!! You put it on the taco you clearly have the sauce. The last straw came at check time. We specifically asked if they were able to split the check. Had they said no we would have prepared for that. She came back 20 minutes after we ask for the check and said splitting checks is her weakness. We then asked if splitting the check equally would be easier and she brought us one check. When we put down multiple cards she said she couldn't do that. Finally I offered to help her split it and went to the computer with her and LITERALLY DID IT FOR HER! It was that easy. So while she dropped off the check I asked to speak to a manager and he could not have cared less about our experience. In conclusion if you are interested in delicious mango salsa and do not care about anything else then this is the place for you!
(2)
Brian R.
I see a lot of bad reviews. Hmmm, I thought the service and food was pretty good. They had two for 1 happy hour, nice tables outside with a cool view on Duval. We all liked it!
(4)
P C.
Horrible food. Service fair at best. Ordered 2 beers brought 6 guess it was happy hour at 1030pm. Flavorless food. Looks like a cool place but i'd suggest you admire it from afar!!
(1)
Ben O.
Think 'Red Lobster' or 'Applebee's' Clearly not 'local' seafood as they claim. May as well have heated up a Swanson dinner, would have tasted better. Avoid the 'crab' cakes they are mostly bread with what seemed more like a piece of kamaboko. $14 for one. Left feeling like a fool. Oh well live and learn. Some businesses have no scruples.
(1)
Lissa W.
Our waiter was great but it took a while for our food to come out but to make up for the wait we had a choice of a free dessert. We went with the key lime pie of course and it was great. The hot sauce is the best I have ever had, I like it spicy! Like another review they still have some polishing to do but I really enjoyed the place. Management was always checking on us as he did with everyone.
(3)
Jane H.
Had the lobster soup and found no lobster only very small bits of some sort of fish. Very disappointed
(1)
Austin B.
The food was delicious, but our server Mykal was a complete jerk. I mean it took him at least 10 minutes to get our drinks, it has an atmosphere that is very fitting to Key West.
(2)
Buck S.
Save your money - this place is for the McDonald's crowd. I knew we were in trouble when I saw the cheap plastic Nemos dangling from the ceiling - then the overly colorful, plastic laminated menus but we soldiered on. Pinscher claws - rubbery, no crab flavor, just soggy garlic soaked clarified butter oil slop. Crab cake sandwich, tasteless. Probably frozen. I mean really bland, no crab flavor, no spices, nada. Crab clusters - a joke, Tiny, overcooked crab bodies with tasteless meat. I really don't know how these folks manage to completely obliterate the crab taste. Looking for anything positive? Two for one beers after 3pm and great french fries. Skip everything else.
(1)
Joel C.
Fresh seafood well prepared. Great service. Informal. Grouper and fish chips were very good.
(3)
Red D.
Nothing was bad here but it's just run of the mill boring corporate type food. The blood Mary's were pretty good. Totally overpriced overall. Great dining balcony. Friendly staff. Long wait for the food.
(2)
Chris M.
Looked better than it was. Food was ok just slow service for everything even drinks. The crab dip was way too salty for me. I had grilled shrimp which were similar to red lobster and my partner had blackened grouper which was ok. They were nice and brought her a slice of frozen key lime pie for her birthday. Good happy hour drink deal 2 for 1 all day!
(2)
L D.
So, the concept and location are great, but that's about it. The service, while memorable and perhaps amusing, fell far short of expectations And was slow. Our order got messed up; when you request mashed potato and green beans and get garlic bread, it's just stupefying. The crab I ordered was really just ok; I've had better at more places than I can recount. The fried items were ok, but not wonderful. There are so many better places in Key West -- even on Duval Street -- that you should think twice about making this a stop, especially when your visit here offers very few meal opportunities.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jason G.
My partner and I were in Key West for a week, and we made it to Pinchers once. And believe me, once is more than enough. We kind of wondered in during happy hour, because you have to go up some stairs to get to this restaurant. The vibe inside is like any other cheap to be found in Key West. We chatted up the bartender and ordered some oysters on her recommendation. They were basically inedible. I don't really care about paying $.50 for oysters during happy hour if they are literally trash oysters. I understand everyone has to adjust their expectations based on the price to pay, but I still want the oysters even if they were free. Half of our oysters were left uneaten, and no one at Pinchers seem to wonder why. The drinks are half off, but they were just generic real drinks. You can get that anywhere. I was very disappointed with Pinchers, and it was probably the worst restaurant and bar out of the 20 or so we went to while we were in Key West.
(2)Matt M.
Went here on a weeklong trip to Key West in Late July. Overall, everything was just so so. I ordered a chicken Parmesan which was decent but I could have made better myself. Pinchers also had a happy hour where you buy a drink and get an extra one for the same cost. This special runs all the time so it's basically like paying half face value. I would rate the atmosphere with 4 stars, it was slightly better than the food.
(3)Elizabeth S.
I loved this location and that they had outdoor patio seating that looked down on Duval street. They also had a 2 for 1 happy hour and .70 cent wings, clams, oysters and shrimp. I got the wings and shrimp. I had to peel the shrimp myself, which isn't that big of a deal. I didn't enjoy the sweetart drink I had. It tasted like strawberry soda with no alcohol. The mashed potatoes are amazing and the crab cake was moist and yummy. I would have preferred a more attentive waiter. She didn't come around to see if we were okay. Only to take our order and then we had to wait for so long for her to come around to ask for the check.
(3)Stefanie H.
Overall it is an ok place. You can sit upstairs and oversee the Duval Street. The food was tasty, I had mussels, but the portions weren't that big. We filled the space with 2 for 1 beers during the happy hour.
(3)Michael R.
Don't waste your time or money. We waited about 45 minutes after we ordered our food and when it finally arrived, it was cold, soggy, and the waitress paid little to no attention to her customers. The food was noticeably frozen fish. We ordered fried and grilled grouper but both were chewy and tough. The price is ridiculously high for such poor quality food. There are plenty of other good restaurants on Duval Street that actually serve fresh fish and not frozen patty's.
(1)Jenny A.
We had a drink at the bar below earlier in the day.. the bartender was Great and the drinks were well poured. Great space down below..... Came back Later to have some food... went upstairs... The hostess was bland.. and we sat at our table for 10 to possibly 15 minutes without even getting water.. Needless to say, we left. Unfed, And tainted on the overall experience.
(1)Amanda B.
My family went there for lunch yesterday. I have to say I was supremely disappointed. The service was terrible. They have large big screen TV's and the staff spent all the time watching them. It took almost ten min for a drink order. I knew we should have left, but my kids were hungry and I didn't want to start over at a new place. Appetizer - warm crab dip. It did contain some crab however it was super watery and lacked flavor. Hubby and I added lots of hot sauce so there was some flavor. Kids liked it but it was like butter cheese sauce. Kids eat free a bonus yes. Son had chicken tenders and fries. He liked them so points there. Daughter had spaghetti with marinara sauce. Sauce tasted tinny. Like it was fresh from a car and the pasta was not well drained so it was all watery. 2 for 1 all day - they have a small draft beer selection. The beer was cold. Hubby- fish tacos. They were fair. The fish was decent, but not much of it. Me- crab cake sandwich. Way too much bread for a small crab cake. The crab cake was meaty and not too much filler. The remolaude was tasty. The fries were awful. They are fresh but they don't twice fry them so they come out dark brown and flaccid. They also lacked any seasoning. So disappointing to see fresh fries and then have them be so lack luster. The baked beans! Hubby and I both had them as a side. If you like cinnamon on savory things then you will love them. We like cinnamon in breakfast foods and desserts. So the cinnamon sugar beans were awful to us. All in all we felt the service was terrible and the food sub par. There are many better places to blow $70.00 on lunch with the family.
(2)Christina G.
As a part time Maryland resident I was in heaven. Hot peel and eat shrimp. Blue crabs. Yeugling beer!!
(4)Jason S.
Had the happy hour oysters! At $8.40/dozen during happy hour, I got 2 dozen! And cheaper than I can find them in Tampa! Had to go on vacation to a remote island to find the best deal, go figure...
(4)Anthony V.
This place was expensive as heck and the fish tacos was mediocre. The server left without taking half our tables food orders and failed to mention that our drinks were two for one. Don't go here.
(1)Elle B.
Scam artists. Bartender Gary is running a scam from the bar preying on tourists. Pathetic at best. Really needs to be closed down... Unless the managers/owners take care of the Gary problem.
(1)Lynn M.
The food was just OK. The vegetables were not fresh; clearly frozen. Food temperature was lukewarm and prices were high relative to portion size. Definitely wouldn't recommend.
(2)Christine C.
I guess we should have read the reviews before we went. I 100%agree with them. The only reason I gave it 2 stars was because kids eat free and my daughter enjoyed her food (but it could be because she 3) the service was very slow and the server/bartender seem liked it pained him to be there. I went with my daughter, husband and mother in law(a local) we are all in the industry and know Keys services isn't always as fast as else where in the country, we are very forgiving. They just didn't seem to care, it was like we were bothering them. The food was awful! We got calamari and cheese sticks. My husband and mother in law said the calamari was chewy and you could tell it was frozen not fresh. The cheese sticks tasted like freezer burn. We will not be trying them again.
(2)Joe D.
The Grouper was one of the best fish sandwiches I've ever eaten in my life! Danielle was our waitress and she did an amazing job. Very kind and helpful server. Overall I would recommend this place to anyone visiting the area!
(5)Jen G.
Ah, the Florida Keys, so many dining options! We were looking for a place to stop and grab a bite and a drink and use a restroom, so we stopped in on a weekday afternoon with the kids. Location was great. We chose to sit upstairs, and were seated right away and shown to the much coveted bathroom. The place was clean and the menu was pretty expansive, especially if you're looking for seafood options. I ended up using the Pina colada bucket because it was a good value, but wish there were more rum in it. My mom had the 2 for 1 margaritas, but they weren't that tasty. We ate something small and non memorable and went on our way to the next place. Service was great, and I'd go back to try some more food. I didn't realize this was a chain until I saw the name of my town on the bucket and realized they'd just opened a restaurant near me, so I'll be back.
(4)Wendy N.
Don't waste your money here. We decided to stop and have something from the raw bar and a cocktail. It was happy hour, so it was 70 cents for shrimp/oysters/clams. I had a dozen shrimp, hubby had 6 shrimp/6 oysters. We both had one drink each. The shrimp were small, the oysters were 'meh', the drinks barely tasted like it had any alcohol in it. Our bill was FIFTY freaking dollars!!! TOTALLY not worth it. Would much rather have gone somewhere else and really enjoyed $50 worth! The service was very slow. It took like 20 minutes for our shrimp/oysters to be delivered. To top it off our waiter and another waitress were bickering over tables. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(1)Amanda C.
Had an excellent lunch & service here while on our vacation. My hubby got the mahi sandwich and I had the ton of muscles (can't remember if this is the exact name but I thought it was funny& it was a nice big portion) we shared the rock shrimp appetizer. Everything was hot when it came out and delish! We enjoyed the double fister drink special. Prices were really reasonable. I was happy we got to sit outside on second story balcony. I am in shock that this place has a low rating!!!!!!! It was also VERY clean! Bathrooms too! They even had a sugar/salt rub with lemon to use in restroom, apparently it helps with the smell of seafood on your hands..nifty lol =D live music at their bar area downstairs was nice too!
(5)Alex E.
Teresa was an amazing waitress, the food didn't take that long. The blacked grouper was good but could have used some more crab stuffing ( we paid 3$ more for it). The seafood shrimp pasta melody was really good and strongly recommended. All in all this place it not as bad as people say it is. One thing for sure, you can't beat the amazing view from the deck!
(4)Marie L.
We ate downstairs and the staff was really nice. We had drinks and the rock shrimp. It was good but had quite a few sandy pieces. we tried to order pincher claws but they were out. All in all not a bad place to grab a quick bite but not a place for a serious meal and not my favorite place on Duval.
(3)Thomas J.
I read the majority of reviews and as I've seen for other Yelp reviewed sites, don't believe everything people post. I came in just before happy hour food ended. Sat at bar. Got all day happy hour fm draft and was able to get 6 shrimp, 6 raw oysters (Aphlalachia) and six bone in buffalo wings. Although one bar tender handled the lower area, she was literally 'running' to serve customers. I started with oysters being so delicate. Not only were they tasty ( day and night from yesterday's at another place on Front Street), slight salt taste, nice size, virtually no shells (unlike Front Street). Only direct side was horseradish. It made my nose curl! Just as it should. Cocktail sauce in bottle was tasty but not the the same old basic of ketchup and horseradish. Shrimp were next. Maybe 25-30 size. Overlooked maybe 30 seconds because shell did not easily separate. Old Bay or seafood spice tossed on top made up for it. Ended with wings (strongest of three items). By the time I got to them they were not 'hot' but were some of the best 'naked' wings I have tasted. Basic; deep fried no batter, Franks Red Hot. Basic, traditional. Just good meaty wings. Service was top notch. To add to the delight, there was a 'one man band' playing 70's music. Back to the beginning... Give it a try. I was very happy with my happy hour delights!!!
(5)Mike M.
Consistent. I've been to Pinchers in a few different locations (Key West, Naples and Fort Meyers) and they are always consistent with they're food quality. I've never had a bad meal. A favorite is the Boatload of Mussels .. awesome. Service has usual been good and the staff friendly. Nothing bad to say at all. They have Happy Hour ALL DAY and afternoon food specials (3p -7p i believe). Certainly a go to place if Im near one.
(4)Dave L.
Way way way over priced for a plain meal, food was at best average with over priced menu. Service was very good but $13 for a regular burger.
(2)Beth E.
We ate outside which was very nice. Two for one margaritas have very little alcohol so very disappointing. I had the grilled chicken sandwich which was over grilled so therefore tough and chewy. There was a mountain of fries which were good as well as the baked beans which I liked. A lot of waste as nobody should eat that many fries. My husband got the grilled grouper tacos and liked them. Asked for no sides but he still got a mountain of fries. So wasteful. Not very good service. 3 stars as I think there is potential.
(3)Cruz K.
Liked the upstairs patio over looking duval ,Me and my daughter had a great lunch here.We shared crab legs and salad, kinda on the pricey side but very fresh and service was great.. I would come back again.
(4)Jackie G.
Somehow we managed to pick one of the only chains in Key West. Oops! And it was so so. It's a good location, with a balcony overlooking Duval. However, the service was unbearably slow. It took over 20 minutes to just receive our drinks. We decided quickly we were just going to order a quick bite of appetizers. Little did we know a quick bite was going to be quite lengthy. We ordered the coconut shrimp, which were acceptable. However the grouper nuggets were complete flavorless. If it were not for the dipping sauce you could mistake it for hot paper. Oh and the ever-so-slow waiter never asked how our meal was and also failed to mention that the drinks we ordered were $14 each. $65 for snacks and 3 drinks. Hmmm... All in all, steer clear. Not worth the wait or atmosphere. Try a local dive!
(1)Jason T.
Really enjoyed this place. The king crab was wonderful. The drinks were cold and the live music was good.
(4)Heidi C.
A star for the great service from Natalie, a star for the convenient location overlooking the busy Duval street, and a star for the 'cute' entertaining decor. It was Xmas day and many restaurant we had wanted to go to were closed. So after walking almost the entire Duval street we picked this place. We wanted local fish so ordered the blackened black grouper and the grilled hogfish. The portions were quite small and taste was quite ordinary (not saying it wasn't good...just was very meh...). Bill was $54 with 2 glass of house white wine.
(3)Courtney M.
This place is mediocre at best. No draft beer when we were there. Family hated the seafood platter, for being 40 bucks the food tasted imported and not fresh at all. Honestly the only good thing we had was the mozzarella strips, can't go wrong on fried cheese right?!. Green beans tasted like retreaded tires. Service was great, food was terrible.
(1)Daniel L.
Cannot in good conscience recommend this restaurant. It was nearly empty, maybe seven other tables full, and once our orders were placed, our server disappeared until we were halfway through our meals. So in 20-25 minutes our drinks were empty, our food was cold and flavorless and only then did she show up to check on our table. She became rather irate when my wife commented that her scallops were delivered cold, rubbery and devoid of flavor. When we declined her offer of another meal, she said she would check with the manager about removing the cost of my wife's meal, she disappeared again. The manager never came to our table to speak with us nor did our server show up until after we flagged down another server. 10-15 minutes to pay our check in basically an empty restaurant. In comparison, we ate at Sloppy Joe's on a Saturday night and it was packed. Our food was served hot, delicious and our waitress was attentive and friendly! I don't know if our experience was a fluke, but I expected better service and food. Won't be going back here again-
(1)Laura M.
Good food and good location! However, the blonde hostess had a bad attitude and talked badly about a customer using the word "f$&@ing." It would have been nice to have better service.
(3)Paul P.
Had dinner here with 7 others. Says air conditioning working but hot as hell. Server so so. Had an order of $36 blue crabs zero flavor. Clam chowder tasted like it was from a can. It's as basic as they come. Sorry I didn't look at the reviews prior to going. Many many other great choices in that area. Oh well better luck next time we are in Key West
(2)Travis W.
The food was just OK. There are literally a dozen better places to eat here in Key West. The location is great but not worth it at all. There were shells in the crab no matter what you ordered and most of the food was bland. The staff was the worst experience of all. They were all tweakers on some sort of upper. I have never felt more uncomfortable at a restaurant. They could not focus on any one thing at a time and forgot most of the order (we had a table of 4). We could not wait to leave this place!! Not recommended!
(1)Alyssa K.
Went in during Happy Hour ... There was a 2 for 1 margarita special and asked the server what the special was she said the house margaritas were 2 for 1 and they were about $6. We ordered some and then found out that wasn't exactly the case. She gave us each a "tall" margarita for $6.75 each. A little bit deceiving. Had to find waitress to ask for plates for our appetizers. Also had to find waitress to ask for silverware a little while later. Peel n eat shrimp were small, a little mangled and pretty fishy for a self-proclaimed seafood joint. Decided to leave after apps and drinks bc of bad service/food quality.
(1)Ryan S.
Food wasn't bad. We sat outside upstairs on a Friday night and it began to rain. Sit in the corner and you'll get wet! After eating, the manager moved us to a table inside to escape the rain and continue drinking (he did that on his own accord; we didn't ask.) The crab dip with cheese was one of the best appetizers I've ever eaten. Imagine queso dip mixed with crab meat. Delicious!
(3)Brooke R.
Loved this place! Our server was very informative and helpful. I had blackened Mahi Mahi tacos and they were amazing. It is right on Duval street, so it's super convenient for going out afterwards. Sit out on the deck, it has a great view!
(5)Dan G.
We had really good food here and enjoyed our night, it was just lacking that magic key west feeling that you find elsewhere on the island
(3)Cathy C.
2 for one Margaritas! Need I say more? My mom had broiled Hogfish and said it was quite yummy. Jose had Hogfish, fish and chips style. He liked it too! I had Seared Ahi Tuna. It was quite nice :) this place used to be Crabby Dicks - now it is Pinchers. Sit high above Duval street and watch the parade of characters below. It is much fun!
(3)Antonio M.
Nothing to write home about!
(2)Kilroy K.
Was just there on Sunday November 3, 2014. The Food and Service was GREAT. The only thing that I would warn you about is the French Fries. They are made fresh (not Frozen) and they come served on your plate really brown and crispy looking (which I Like them that way) but than they are kind of under cooked and soft. When I asked why, I was told because they are cooked fresh and everyone says the same thing. I switched out to the garlic mashed spuds and that was much better. We all had a good time.
(5)Irene H.
Had the crab dip, stone crab app, grouper sandwich. It was the best lunch. The waitress was the friendliest on the Island. Will be back.
(5)Joey G.
Food was ok but our waitress was the most miserable person I've ever met. Deanna please get laid.
(1)Carolyn M.
Don't get their happy hour oysters or shrimp. Clearly leftovers from the day before. Shrimp taste like they had set uncovered in fridge. Texture was off. Oysters very small. One of the oysters was slimy bad. They did replace it, but yuck! They should have never served it in the first place. Lost my trust.
(1)Douglas S.
Don't waste your time, happy hour is not happy, 2 for 1 on $7 beers that look to be 10oz.
(1)Joseph F.
I would not recommend this place to anyone! We sat outside where at least the music was good but that's about it. Service was horrible, I think our waiter is stoned off his ass.. Messed up my buddy's order and the food was bland! Ordered the Jumbo crab cake as an appetizer and it was small, full of shell and SAND!! If you want to get screwed go to the brothel down the street!
(1)Sam W.
I was really wanting this place to be more. Although the staff is very friendly and courteous, they appeared to be somewhat understaffed. The atmosphere is great. The food left me wanting more. I ordered the soft shell crab and it was not seasoned much, my son's shrimp were the same, wife could only eat shrimp from her shrimps scampi dish. The price didn't bother me much since it was expected due to location. My suggestion is go for a drink or two, watch the crowds and get an appetizer (crab dip is tasty).
(2)Tom K.
The live entertainment was the only great thing about this place... Cold shrimp, cold fries, cold burger and a server with the personality of a dead moth..... Trust me, other places have a 4-5 star rating while this place sits at a liberal 3 stars... Go somewhere else......
(1)Pedro R.
Really good food. Prices are perfect for what they serve. I had a oyster pollboy sandwich it was very good and none of the fried food the served were too greasy. Over all very good!!
(4)Karen P.
I had the stone crab claws, the were so sweet and fresh,very good. We also enjoyed the grouper reuben, sounds weird but it was very good. Half price drinks all day, but when I ordered a mojito it was a super large size, would have preferred to have an average sized drink, so only negative was that the waiter just brought the large overpriced instead of the regular, so check that out before you order.
(4)Patty C.
This place has parking in the back of the location. If you have been to the Keys you know this is a big plus. We went up the eternal long stairs in the back of the restaurant parking. We went right into the second floor of the place where there is an insider bar, plenty of seating and an outside bar and also lots of seating with a great view of Key west craziness. Our waitress was awesome !!!!! The food was great and good drink specials 2 for 1.
(4)Kari W.
We stopped for appitizers/lunch. One friend got a hot cheese/seafood dip that was good, we took it back to the condo for later and it reheated well. My other friend had mozzarella sticks, she's not a fan of seafood. I had the open faced crab roll sandwich that was a couple scoops on a piece of toast. We stopped back many times to visit the staff, Jason and Steph. We enjoyed them and 2 for 1's. We were only downstairs.
(4)Lisa F.
Food was not great but good. The server, Karen, was over the top attentive...almost too. But she was incredibly pleasant and always there if we needed her, even when we didn't..Lol ! The food was average. The pinchers appetizers was good, Calamari was ok (sauce was boring and without taste) and the buffalo shrimp were good but lathered in sauce...maybe a little less sauce would have been better. The 2 for 1 drink specials are tasty! (hubby said the vodka/cranberry was watered down) but I thought the margarita was yummy. Hubby like the crab cakes but if your not paying attention, make not that when they ask if you want 1 or 2....they are 15/each!! They are larger size (about the size or a baseball width) but good. Views were great on patio of course as you are overlooking Duval Street.
(3)Lily T.
Decent place. Came here and tried their seafood pasta and had a house salad with Mahi Mahi on top. Both were decent. not great. And portion was huge. We came here another afternoon and tried their happy hour special of oysters and shrimp at 70 cent each. The oysters weren't shuck very nicely. Had some shells in there still. The shrimps were decent. No draft beer when we were there. How is a bar/restuarant this big running without having any draft beer. Overall a okay place. There are better places in key west where you can go
(3)Raquel M.
The food was good especially the grilled groupper. Loved that kids eat free and their menu had good selections. The staff wasn't so friendly and not very attentive. Lucky for them the food was delicious and the portions were big. The mojito bucket was yummy. The prices are average for being on Duvall st in Key West
(3)Kristina D.
Teresa was our server and she was pretty much amazing. She gave us great tips for Key West and also told us what to order for food at Pinchers! I had the coconut shrimp and it was the best. We also had Ahi, Rock Shrimp, crab cake, and grouper and we all loved it. The garlic green beans were great as we had not had veggies in awhile.
(5)Sara T.
After enjoying a long day of sight seeing and jet skiing, my partner and I were looking for something moderately priced and tasty. After driving around exhausted, we found ourselves at Pinchers. We were seated within the first 2 minutes of entering. We were eventually greeted by our server, who seemed to be in a hurry every chance we saw him. Can't really blame him for the service though, as he seemed to be the only one with 4+ tables inside and outside and at least 5/6 other servers standing around. We started off with the conch fritters, which they claim to be a house favorite. The sauce that came with the fritters was not necessarily complimenting to the fritters, tasted more like a thousand island dressing with spices in it. The fritters themselves were just below average. Mostly dough, nothing special. My partner than proceeded to order the grilled shrimp po' boy with fries, and added a cup of their clam chowder. While the sandwich itself didn't look bad, the fries came out in a basket, burnt, soggy from the oil that it probably soaked in hours ago. The clam chowder was brought out in a small white cup, with the soup leaking all over the cup itself to the point where you didn't want to touch the cup at all. In fact, the clam chowder was nothing more that heavy cream and starch. There was a piece of lettuce also inside the soup, no big deal, but still offputting. The shrimp po' boy was nothing more than mediocre mid sized shrimp tossed and seasoned with WAY too much old bay seasoning. The shrimp were so salty, that we simply could not finish eating. The bill came out to about $32, which was nowhere near worth the quality or service we received. All in all, it's extremely dissapointing to visit such a beautiful part of South Florida that prides itself with great seafood options, only to end up at a place like this. We will definitely be doing more research for food options and will definitely not be returning to this location.
(1)Nikki H.
Go somewhere else if you want seafood and don't waste your money here! We went yesterday and it was horrible. We got the hog fish that was on special. It was very dry and overcooked. We also got the 2 soft shell crab and they were so tiny that the two put together didn't even make one of typical size. The mashed potatoes were flavorless and had obviously been sitting in a steamer all day. The bill for all of this was $78 and we didn't even have cocktails. What a horrible waste of money and time!
(1)Johandra P.
First of I'm a little confuse by all the bad reviews. This was one of my favorite meals in Key West. The restaurant is nice and airy in a second story with a balcony overlooking famous Duval Street. The service was also good, fast and friendly. I had a delicious corn and crab chowder, best one I have had and for lunch I had a fish sandwich. The fish tasted fresh and it was nice and crispy served with french fries and coleslaw. I say this place is a must try! Great ambiance, food and drinks!
(5)Michelle P.
My group popped in around lunch time on a Saturday. The place was pretty dead and the crowd was definitely on the older side. This is not the place to go if you are with a lively group or a bachelorette party. We were getting odd stares and felt super out of place. We sat down at a booth on the inside and immediately stuck to the leather-like seats. That was enough for us to be on our merry way.
(2)Elizabeth C.
Waste of money and time! The food was disgusting and the service was slow. The waitress was rude and smelly. I think she hasn't showered in days. The beers never came out and server were rude towards my homosexual friend. I felt judged. Especially in a place like Key West. Total buzzkill. STAY AWAY!
(1)K K.
Ate here recently on Spring Break and was one of my favorites. The only reason that I gave it a 3 is a. The drinks and b. The menu options. I am all about giving people options but there were way too many (a bit of a commercial place thing to do) and some of the options were obviously frozen. The first night I got over cooked pasta and a Caesar salad that was way too anchovy tasting for my liking. I will say the hush puppies and shrimp were out of this world! My second complaint would be the margaritas that were served warm and salty, very odd.
(3)Dawn G.
I'll give it two starts only because of the two for one margaritas and it was awesome to sit above Duval Street and people watch for a few hours. Had the fish and chips, just ok. Small portion and very dry. Would have thought for a seafood place this was a dish that would be done right.... I would go again for the view and margaritas!
(2)Amanda Q.
It was nice that the happy hour was all day, but the food wasn't worth it. I had the blackened mahi which was less than decent and my boyfriend had a pound of the king crab legs (that ended up being 3 legs...), definitely wasn't worth the stop, and I don't recommend it to anyone....
(1)Mike M.
The food was good but the service wasn't the greatest. My order got messed up on two different items. The grouper however was very tasty.
(3)Jeremy V.
Dont write many reviews, but this place merits it. For all that is sane and holy, don't visit this place. Food was gross. I'm in Key West and expect much better. Expressed our discontent with the waiter and didn't care. I hate my life a little because I went here.
(1)Katie N.
All food was cold. Sent fish back and they microwaved it. When we spoke with the manager, he told us they didn't do that and told us we were wrong. Good ambiance though!
(1)Lauren M.
Yo, real talk. this place sucked ass. There was a metal strand in the calamari and it tasted like vomit. The Alfredo is milky and tastes like crap. We got 10 conch fritters, 9 of them were shit. Don't go to pinchers.
(1)Ryan C.
Happy hour all day with 2 for 1 drink specials. Food was decent with good selection of fish and crab prepared in a variety of ways. Best part about this place was the second floor seating overlooking Duval.
(3)Jeffrey D.
I was intrigued, a restaurant that was not on Yelp yet! So we threw caution to the wind and went with it. Besides, we were famished and saw that they had oysters. The Waiter had explained that all their fish was from their namesake's fleet and caught fresh. We started out the a crab dip which was pretty good and their signature hot sauce was a nice complement. I went with the blackened Mahi Mahi and my wife went with baked Grouper. Overall, the service was good. Our server was pretty knowledgable about the menu especially since it was just opened recently. In fact, they still had not had all their dishes delivered. The outdoor seating was nice and we really liked the oysters. The management checked in throughout out stay and were very interested in our feedback. Overall, this place has some potential but like all new places there are likely to be minor bugs to work out.
(3)Jen K.
I only came here for happy hour, which was really good! I was happy with the oysters, shrimp, crab, and drinks. Our servers were always pleasant so that was also nice. I'm giving it 3 stars because the hostess, not sure what her name was, but she had such an attitude! Instead of saying something like "ok follow me" or "right this way" or anything similar, she grabbed menus, looked at me, walked to the table and that was that. No smile & I felt like I was interrupting her day or something. Yikes..however the next day there was a young guy as the host and he was extremely nice and eager to help out! I later saw him running around trying to bus tables in order to seat people where they wanted to go. So all in all not a bad happy hour spot, but I don't think I'd come for anything other than that.
(3)Janine K.
The service was subpar, the food mediocre at best. We ordered a large stone crab (great), raw clams (meh though fresh), a tuna sashimi (overpriced), blue crab (tasteless and rubbery), fried clams (bland, though the accompanying fries were a highlight), and a homemade slice of key lime pie (no taste of key lime, featured mostly cream). It started raining during our meal (sitting outdoors) and our server only reluctantly let us move inside once our food was soaked. On the bright side, this place is cheaper than most in key west.
(2)J S.
It is a lively place with very helpful and friendly staff. The kids had the kids meals which were pretty basic, the smiley fries were pretty bland. My spouse had shrimp tacos which he loved. I had the blackened shrimp po'boy. It was good. Don't expect fancy but ESPN was on so we were good with that. I did enjoy my margaritas! The doors to the women's bathroom is tricky. Watch carefully coming out because exit doors are so close you can hit someone.
(4)Aly W.
Stopped in for happy hour but what we wanted wasn't available from the "happy hour" menu. The boom boom shrimp was great- it's just like Bonefish's bang bang shrimp. The crab cheese dip was really disappointing. It lacked quality as it tasted like heavy cheap cheese rather than crab. But I loved the upper deck ambiance and I have nothing bad to say about the margaritas! And oh- the coleslaw was great!
(3)Ben C.
Great happy hour. Pretty good oysters. Especially at $0.70 each. 2 for 1 drafts. Good attentive bartender too.
(4)Cynthia P.
Had lunch here the other day and it was a good experience. We'll probably stop in again while we are here in the keys. We were in for lunch, and had the nicest server named Karen. Very outgoing and friendly. She knew the menu and was quick to offer suggestions when asked. Service was quick...food was really good - I had the 1/2 pound shrimp scampi with garlic mashed potatoes and garlic green beans...(the mashed potatoes were SOOOO good), and hubby had a cheeseburger with cheddar and fries which he enjoyed also. During the lunch shift they have a two for one on draft beers, wines, and something else...being a wine drinker, I appreciated that - and my husband, being a beer drinker did the same. A definite YES, you should stop in for lunch prior to hitting the bar scene on Duval St..the restaurant is upstairs. Inside and outside seating...outside for those like to people watch. :)
(4)Dustin M.
Def stop in for happy hour. 70 cent specials for wings, shrimp and clams. 2-4-1 drink specials all day every day too. The live music is the best part. Never disappointed.
(3)David L.
It's lively, it's hot as one is seated outside and its great! Our waiter was a young and really rather sweet Ukrainian who we know was glad to not be back in his home country just now. He had a wonderful Eastern European reserve, and we took to him as he was efficient in a quiet way. The manger was also rather jolly and plainly did not only know who was coming to dinner from their reservations, but also read and remembered a little about us....which impressed us. We learned from him about the history of the owner, why the place had been built as well as the ecological fishing practices the place promotes.....and we were impressed. The food choices were excellent, not in a fine dining way but in an authentic lively place sort of way. Their bottled beer selection was VERY unusual and is to be recommended. Outside the location, currently undergoing a major road development, is thus a little noisy...but it's also fun to watch and this should be over by now. This issue did not detract from the evening as we sat near the water, ate crab claws and other fishy dishes, and spent an enjoyable two hours. Overall the staff were excellent and seemed to work as a team...and busy they were to.I was most impressed with the design of the place.....in particular visit the toilets....as they are a testament to design creativity.
(4)Jackie L.
Oh Yelp - thank goodness we didn't listen to you! Pinchers, I'm going to be honest here, we were heading to Camille's for crab - called for a reso and they noted they were out of crab! After a search we thought - Pincher's menu looks sweet, it's on Duval, oh and we are a party of 7...and we have a vegetarian, 2 light eaters, and we aren't interested in a lengthy dining experience or too expensive of a meal. SCORE! Pinchers had a nice case showing off a variety of fresh crab upon walking in, host was a delight, we sat on the balcony overlooking Duval and could hear the acoustic guitar set below - which was great. Our server Teresa was AWESOME! Friendly, funny and accommodating - even sent the pro over to show us how to open up the Blue Crab. Conch fritters were the best we had on the island - more crab then bread! Hush-puppies were also an app hit, the Hot Crab and Cheese was flavorful, filled with crab and even had the baked cheese top and sides - we inhaled it as you can see in one of the pics. The crab roll was a nice cold salad with zip - not spicy, but zingy. Side options complimented the meals well - all around we are glad Camille's was out of crab, we had a blast - great food, best value, and our full bellies were only a hop away from the greatness that is Duval, that is Key West, that is..we will be back!
(4)Randy B.
Was there twice first time for.drinks was great on the bottom level. We went back for some chow upstairs and was there for more than ten minutes no service water nothing. We ended up leaving. Not on the ball
(1)Pat K.
Kevin, our bartender, was best we've had in key west! We've been in KW for a week and enjoyed every single place, but Kevin made this stop fun. King Crab Legs were AMAZING! Soft shell crab sautéed in garlic butter was out of this world!!! It was an early lunch for us so one of first in, however every guest coming in got the same attention as they continued to pick up. It's worth a stop!
(5)Wendy P.
Don't bother, unless you're interested in overpriced, unimaginative, run-of-the-mill seafood at insanely high prices. Even at half the price of what they charge it would be too much. That's not to say the location isn't good. And the service was friendly.
(2)Heather C.
Crab dip is DELICIOUS! great stop for a hearty appetizer & a beer break while walking Duval
(5)Sam H.
I'm not sure why the reviews are so poor for this place. My family and I came here for lunch. We ordered the peel-n-eat shrimp, a dozen clams, the crab cake and crab cheese dip. Our server was friendly and prompt. And the food was fresh and tasty. I liked this place. But we were there for lunch and it wasn't crowded. It might be a different story when it is busy, but my family and I enjoyed it.
(4)Shimmy G.
Needed a place to eat quickly as a cab was coming to whisk is away back to reality. Chose Pinchers because it was a block from our hotel. Our bartender/server John was a great guy from Michigan who was attentive and quick with suggestions. All of which turned out splendidly. I had the grouper - blackened (per john) and my partner in crime got the tuna appetizer (yum) and the hog fish. She loved it. I loved. We were loving life. Great last meal before returning to the real world.
(4)Peter H.
Ok remember, this is a crab shack, not a fancy black tie kind of joint so don't let the 5 stars intimidate you from putting on your flip flops and popping over. Bartender was great and since we weren't sure what to get he made some recommendations and said he would "stand by them". So we took him up on his suggestions. Hog Fish and the Stone Crab legs. With fries and baked beans. First off they were great! Second off, aside from sushi I do not typically like fish. So with that said, good service, free music, and fish/crab that was delicious earns this place 5 stars in my book... Hope you enjoy it too!
(5)James C.
Grouper Reuben was great. Soup was excellent. Fries are homemade and glorious. Service was friendly and quick. I really liked it.
(5)Lew L.
Fun outside seating to watch Duval Street. Good happy hour prices on drinks. Food would have been fabulous if it would have been hot. We saw server carry our stuff out, set tray on the bar, go do something else, then finally deliver it to us later. What a disappointment.
(3)Sofia K.
Had a quick dinner on an evening of an arrival to Key West. My shrimp pasta was excellent but hubby's grouper sandwich wasn't quite into his taste. Service and atmosphere was excellent!
(3)Sam B.
the hush puppies and the coconut shrimp were good but we had terrible service and the mussels had to get sent back because they were cold and rubbery. knowing that we had a rough meal, the waiter actually took longer to get us our check and close out. it's bizarre to see a restaurant with a motto of "you can't fake fresh" when the experience felt inauthentic at best.
(1)Dan H.
If only there was a way to give this place less than one star. It's the epitome of the tourist trap that is only here to grab your cash because you'll never return a second time. When you order oysters on the half shell and they are warm and dry, you're in trouble. Then the crab roll arrives and instead of letting you taste the simple flavor of the crab, it's saturated with some kind of salt seasoning and loaded with ground red peppers. The sides, too are loaded with salt, or maybe it's that Mrs. Dash crap. At least my waitress demonstrated on the brown paper tablecloth that she could write her name upside-down, that was the high point of the experience.
(1)Michael M.
Great 2-for-1 specials on drinks. Really nice environment. We did not eat dinner or any of the food, but will probably come back for some. The service was INCREDIBLE. Ask for Kim as your waitress. She's very nice. I was a bit chilly & she grabbed her sweatshirt for me. Very noteworthy!
(5)Jim B.
I did not find anything special about this place. Everything with one exception was very average. I had hogfish for the very first time here for lunch and it is now my favorite, nudging out grouper. A bit pricey but like I said Key West is all over. It is located on the second floor on Duval. Spacious and well lite not a bad place to stop.
(3)Justin M.
The food was amazing. We had fried crab claws, boiled shrimp, raw oysters and raw clams. The clams were better than the oysters! Wait staff was slow, but otherwise, it was a great experience. We will go back!
(4)Sylvia H.
we decided our waiter was hungover since he didn't come to our table much & when he did, seemed to hope we didn't want anything. however kitschy the restaurant is, the salads & iced tea were perfect for the heat. the bartender was much nicer even though we weren't drinking.
(2)Keleigh D.
Keep walking! They just opened yesterday. My waitress was horrible and rude. The grouper had a funky taste and nothing we ate had any seasoning or much flavor at all. The french fries are cooked too long, almost have a burnt taste. The manager was nice enough to replace my meal but it came way after my daughter was done with her entire meal. The tacos also had no taste. Being a server myself, I know how to treat a guest and this was surely NOT the way! She had to make it a point that her boss took off my fish sandwich, my tacos AND my daughter's key lime pie. And then with attitude said "What else do you need"? I told her we were in a hurry to catch a shuttle and she never brought our bill or a take out container that I asked for. I had to ask the manager to please bring the bill!!!! There are plenty of restaurants in Key West that are outstanding and this is NOT one of them!
(1)R W.
Great service despite being refused admittance with our dog. That in itself is a long story. However, we received exemplary takeout service, even a cup of cold water for our pooch.
(4)Zammer Z.
Great food and service, there was never a bad experience. Food was fresh however a bit too salty on the fries was my only complaint.
(4)Andres Z.
I had lunch here yesterday and I had the worst experience ever. The food was very bland and eating at McDonalds would probably have been better. To top it off we had a very inattentive and rude waitress named Becca. At the end, Becca stole my friends phone and they didn't grant us a refund on our food. I am outraged with my experience here. I recommend everyone to stay away from here so that you won't waste your money on bad food and get your phones stolen by waitresses.
(1)Emmy B.
Up the stairs to a place thats "tag line" is "you can' t fake fresh". Is awful. The "two for one" drinks were brought out at the same time, one cold beer , one warm beer. The apps we ordered were originally frozen and cooked until they were way over done. Our waiter "Mike" had to explain the menu (a bad sign when you need a tutorial to use the menu). He talked more about himself than the food, but did include his opinion about several items , ending with the desserts, that were not all that good. He suggested that my family (that included our children) try the dessert place "Better than Sex", a cafe that offers pie slices for $11, and a menu full of sexually suggestive descriptions of desserts. Not a bad thing but not something you want to share with nearly grown children. My suggestion, do not go up the stairs.
(1)Kelli C.
Don't get takeout... Calamari was tough. Hamburger actually un-eatable. Horrible. Had to wait forever to get waited on (that should have been the first warning) wasn't very busy. Yuck!
(1)Caitlin B.
The service was awful. The food was below average. The mango salsa is the only reason I'd give this place two strs instead of one. Our group of eight came in late on a Thursday night. The place was empty and we were sat pretty much immediately after they put a couple of tables together. We asked if we were able to separate our checks and she said yes. We wanted to order both food and alcohol all at once but our server walked away after getting only half our drink orders. Then a member of our group asked what kind of tequila they used in their margarita she had no idea nor did she offer to find out. It took awhile to get our drinks but we all wrote that off considering we were a large party. She finally took our food order after she noticed we has eaten all their crackers. Most of us got one of the tacos. This place is very open and we watched her take about 15 minutes to put in our order. Once we got our food our drinks were empty but there was no offer to get us more not do I think anyone in our party had that kind of time. The food was ok but the mango salsa that came with the tacos was heavenly. A member of our party asked for extra sauce that came on her taco. The servers reply was let me see if we have any. What??!!! You put it on the taco you clearly have the sauce. The last straw came at check time. We specifically asked if they were able to split the check. Had they said no we would have prepared for that. She came back 20 minutes after we ask for the check and said splitting checks is her weakness. We then asked if splitting the check equally would be easier and she brought us one check. When we put down multiple cards she said she couldn't do that. Finally I offered to help her split it and went to the computer with her and LITERALLY DID IT FOR HER! It was that easy. So while she dropped off the check I asked to speak to a manager and he could not have cared less about our experience. In conclusion if you are interested in delicious mango salsa and do not care about anything else then this is the place for you!
(2)Brian R.
I see a lot of bad reviews. Hmmm, I thought the service and food was pretty good. They had two for 1 happy hour, nice tables outside with a cool view on Duval. We all liked it!
(4)P C.
Horrible food. Service fair at best. Ordered 2 beers brought 6 guess it was happy hour at 1030pm. Flavorless food. Looks like a cool place but i'd suggest you admire it from afar!!
(1)Ben O.
Think 'Red Lobster' or 'Applebee's' Clearly not 'local' seafood as they claim. May as well have heated up a Swanson dinner, would have tasted better. Avoid the 'crab' cakes they are mostly bread with what seemed more like a piece of kamaboko. $14 for one. Left feeling like a fool. Oh well live and learn. Some businesses have no scruples.
(1)Lissa W.
Our waiter was great but it took a while for our food to come out but to make up for the wait we had a choice of a free dessert. We went with the key lime pie of course and it was great. The hot sauce is the best I have ever had, I like it spicy! Like another review they still have some polishing to do but I really enjoyed the place. Management was always checking on us as he did with everyone.
(3)Jane H.
Had the lobster soup and found no lobster only very small bits of some sort of fish. Very disappointed
(1)Austin B.
The food was delicious, but our server Mykal was a complete jerk. I mean it took him at least 10 minutes to get our drinks, it has an atmosphere that is very fitting to Key West.
(2)Buck S.
Save your money - this place is for the McDonald's crowd. I knew we were in trouble when I saw the cheap plastic Nemos dangling from the ceiling - then the overly colorful, plastic laminated menus but we soldiered on. Pinscher claws - rubbery, no crab flavor, just soggy garlic soaked clarified butter oil slop. Crab cake sandwich, tasteless. Probably frozen. I mean really bland, no crab flavor, no spices, nada. Crab clusters - a joke, Tiny, overcooked crab bodies with tasteless meat. I really don't know how these folks manage to completely obliterate the crab taste. Looking for anything positive? Two for one beers after 3pm and great french fries. Skip everything else.
(1)Joel C.
Fresh seafood well prepared. Great service. Informal. Grouper and fish chips were very good.
(3)Red D.
Nothing was bad here but it's just run of the mill boring corporate type food. The blood Mary's were pretty good. Totally overpriced overall. Great dining balcony. Friendly staff. Long wait for the food.
(2)Chris M.
Looked better than it was. Food was ok just slow service for everything even drinks. The crab dip was way too salty for me. I had grilled shrimp which were similar to red lobster and my partner had blackened grouper which was ok. They were nice and brought her a slice of frozen key lime pie for her birthday. Good happy hour drink deal 2 for 1 all day!
(2)L D.
So, the concept and location are great, but that's about it. The service, while memorable and perhaps amusing, fell far short of expectations And was slow. Our order got messed up; when you request mashed potato and green beans and get garlic bread, it's just stupefying. The crab I ordered was really just ok; I've had better at more places than I can recount. The fried items were ok, but not wonderful. There are so many better places in Key West -- even on Duval Street -- that you should think twice about making this a stop, especially when your visit here offers very few meal opportunities.
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