The Rusty Pelican Reopens on Key Biscayne

Sara Liss12/19/2011

The goods: Key Biscayne’s iconic Rusty Pelican has reopened after a five-month, $7 million top to bottom renovation.

Ambience: Additions to the massive restaurant, perched on the open bay, include a swanky cocktail bar; floor-to-ceiling bay windows; outdoor tables flanked by fire pits; a glass-enclosed wine corridor; and mid-century style furniture, wood paneling and cushioned booths creating a Mad Men vibe.

The grub: Modern American. Executive chef Michael Gilligan (W South Beach) churns out an extensive menu of small plates and hearty mains.  Prices skew to the special occasion diner: starters $7-$15 and mains $17-$42.

Dinner starts with a generous bread basket packed with cornbread sticks, cheese bread, ciabatta, butter and marinated olives. Then there are twenty small plate starters, including eel & foie gras with tostones (pictured), wild mushroom cappuccino, tempura fried avocado “fries” and a GLT slider with fried grouper. Mains include a duck fat-fried lamb loin wrapped in phyllo dough  and a slab of black sea bass over Jasmine rice in a cinnamon broth. Grilled steak, lobster tail and pork chop arrive with roasted vegetables and a side.

Desserts include key lime pie, goat cheese cheesecake and a “chocolate sabotage” consisting of mini-molten lava cake, chocolate panna cotta and chocolate mousse.

Verdict: A waterfront classic returns with mod 60’s décor and a robust menu of American crowd pleasers.

Speak up!

Average rating based on 2 reviews.

3

What you said

1

dolphintam

2

Posted on Tue, 02.07.2012 @ 17:02

we were not impressed with the food or the service.the stone crabs were $12 a piece and were at least a week old,we had to send them back,the meat was stuck to the shell and smelled old...just terrible.There is no sign at the front saying one has to be seated by a server,so after making our way to the front of the bulding via the outside and sitting down,we were told that we'd have to get back up and go all the way to the back of the building just to be seated...and it was 75% empty!needless to say, we did not do so. Food in general, apart from the stone crab fiasco, was ok, but the best thing this place has going for it always has been and always will be it's location.They better do something about their food,which has been horrible since I first stepped foot on it in 1999...one would think that after such an expensive renivation, the food would have also been upgraded. The waiters were also mostly clueless and during our meal we were subjected to really loud noise from a pressure washer on the top deck.Little details but very important.... Read more

0

MIALive

4

Posted on Sun, 01.01.2012 @ 18:02

Such a great restaurant, swanky indeed :-)

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