Not your Ma's Cookin

If you are ever in Islamorada down in the Florida Keys, you will find a plethora of great restaurants. If you know anything about the restaurants down here, the best looking ones are not always the best and Ma's Fish Camp is no exception. It is so easy to miss, even my family that has been coming down here for years passed right by it. One may think that this joint is a hole in a wall with a cheesy sign and not a place worth stopping by but it is far from that. This restaurant is one of those cases when you cannot judge a book by its' cover. When you walk in, it almost looks like an outdated diner with touristy Keys paintings and a poorly done Christmas tree, but Ma's Fish Camp will sure surprise you. The menu is limited and does not offer a number of options but there are a select few dishes that will give you your seafood fix.

As an appetizer we chose to try their smoked fish dip which is a great way to judge how a seafood restaurant will be, it is a common dish to find. Ma's Fish Camp fish dip did not disappoint. It was slightly creamy but still retained the texture of the smoked fish. The flavors were even more scrumptious with the smoky fish flavor, the bite of the onions, and the saltiness of capers brought it all together.

The dish that I ordered was legendary and I loved it. It had been a long time since I have found a restaurant that carried cheesy grits and shrimp. The last time had been at a restaurant in Fort Myers, but this version was so much different and delicious. The shrimp and grits was a definition of home cooking. From the grandma style plates to the rustic crunchy bread, it all worked so well together. First when eating shrimp and grits, I like to make sure the grits are cooked well and flavorful. That was a check and as soon as I tried it the sauce caught me off guard. It had just enough heat to really make the flavors explode in your mouth. The best part was how the shrimp was cooked, it tasted as it was right off a wood fire grill. Probably the only problem I had with this dish was how filling it was. Grits in the first place are filling and with the fish dip before I felt that I was getting as large as Santa.

The best way to end your experience at Ma's Fish Camp is to have a dessert which all of them are made in the restaurant. The German chocolate cake is one to die for. If you could imagine the richest, silkiest, moistest, and best chocolate cake ever, then you probably had a bite of this cake at Ma's. There is no better way to really describe this slice of heaven than being the best piece of chocolate anything that you can put in your mouth.

Ma's Fish Camp is surely a locals favorite and I can see why. It is ideal for families and anyone. If you get sit by a family, the noise level in the restaurant will go up, but you will probably be too distracted by the food that you are falling in love with. If you need some amazing seafood and great comfort food, take a stop by Ma's Fish Camp in Islamorada, FL.