My first review of Conch Island was in August, 2017. Time for another look. A LOT has happened since then! (Y'think!?)
In early 2022, Conch Island moved a couple of blocks west to 37169 Rehoboth Avenue. They are in the center near Casa DiLeo restaurant, across from The Pointe Bakery near where Rehoboth Avenue joins Coastal Highway. The new digs are amazing, and not broken up into smaller spaces like the old location. The centrally located stage is equipped with fully professional sound and lighting, and is fully visible from both huge bars.
It's no secret that Conch Island Key West Bar & Grill (aka, party central on Rehoboth Avenue) is a fun, upbeat, noisy and festive place to enjoy the hubbub of downtown Rehoboth Beach. But what a lot of people don't know is that this watering hole has an interesting food lineup that's worth exploring. Longtime Rehoboth businessman, former professional drummer and former law enforcement officer Bryan Derrickson is a hands-on owner who makes sure he’s able to whip up anything and everything his cooks come up with – just in case. Smart.
Bryan created a menu that is the culmination of his travels all over the country – with an accent on Key West, of course. Put 2+2 together and of course conch fritters come to mind. A crunchy crust on these little homemade orbs encases a particularly flavorful filling. And the tasty dipping sauce is not for the feint of heart! The combination works quite nicely.
I have to tell you that one of the stars of the show is the Bahamian-style conch chowder. Wonderfully spiced, you must might order a second one and make it a meal! See it in the gallery. Another hidden gem on the menu is the Key West Pink Peel ‘n' Eats. These massive shrimp are served as a half-pound or a full pound – there's about 10-12 to the pound, so you can imagine their size. We also tried the garlic-parmesan wings – quite tasty. I like that they kept their crunch in spite of the added cheese mixture.
Click here to hear Bryan Derrickson on the Sip & Bite Show that aired on June 11, 2022.
Part of Bryan's upgrade to the menu at Conch Island Key West Bar & Grill is the addition of a surprisingly nice steaks. Every steak we've ordered so far has been tender and perfectly cooked to temperature.
If you like burgers, you won't want to miss the Blue Heaven Burger – named after the Key West bar that originated the idea of topping a burger with bacon and eggs. Often, in Key West, I remember not really knowing what time it was. So the burger/bacon/egg combo covers all the bases. Take a look at this one in the gallery. Another great burger at Conch Island Key West Bar & Grill is the Bacon Blue Burger. The roll works well holding everything together, the blue cheese is quite sharp and works perfectly with the extra-crispy bacon. This one is a must-get for bacon cheeseburger lovers.
Another sleeper is the flatbread. (Flatbread: The word many people use for “pizza” when they don't want to be caught eating pizza. Hello: it's pizza.) Again, we were lucky to receive a bit of a sampler version made up of the Buffalo Chicken version (with crispy bacon) and the crab dip version. They are both good, but I will certainly order that chicken one again.
Is Conch Island Key West Bar & Grill fine dining? Of course not. It's a big bar with lots of bar seats, hi-tops and live music pretty much every night in season. But you might be surprised at what Bryan Derrickson has done with the menu. If you haven't been there in a while, give it a try. He's pretty proud of his well-designed new location. Not lovin' the idea of live music? No problem: They are open at dinnertime, and are now offering brunch on Saturdays and Sundays – WITH live music!
See the website here. Click on “music calendar” to see the entertainment schedule.
Follow Conch Island on Facebook.
The new Conch Island Key West Bar & Grille is located at 37169 Rehoboth Avenue extended. They will be are open 7 days in season: Mon. thru Fri. 4pm – 1am and Saturdays & Sundays 11am until 1am. You can call them at 302-226-9378.