What’s the Apps? Old Town Mexican Café

By Dakin Weekley

This week we go to Old Town Mexican Cafe for drinks and appetizers. The atmosphere is reminiscent of old Key West with outdoor seating on a wooden deck under the shade of Royal Poinciana and palm trees. Behind this casual setting is a gourmet menu with interesting Mexican-inspired compositions created by longtime Key West restaurateur, Gayle Brockway.

For drinks we order a Spanish Tincho and Old Town Mexican’s Homemade Sangria. Spanish Tincho is white wine with lime over ice, a refreshing respite from a Key West summer afternoon. This traditional sangria is made from red wine, orange juice, lime juice, and triple sec and is shaken with a splash of 7Up before serving; they make a solid sangria that doesn’t cross the line when it comes to sweetness.

Our first appetizer is the Tuna Escabeche, seared strips of tuna and crusted with black sesame seeds served on a bed of greens and topped with strips of corn tortilla and a citrus soy sauce. The tuna has a great texture enhanced by the crunchy sesame seeds, and citrus soy sauce provides an Asian fusion element and completes the flavor profile with a tangy sweetness that compliments the flavor of the tuna.

Next we have the Grilled Marinated Shrimp. These are served on skewers with Mexican spices and flecked with fresh cilantro. They come with a ginger-lime-soy sauce. The sauce has a savory, tart, and spicy flavor that is a good fit with the shrimp.

Both their Crab Cakes and Conch Fritters have a healthy portion of seafood. In the crab cakes the red peppers, green peppers, onions, and crab meat are prominent in their own right and smothered in a spicy lemon caper remoulade. The Conch Fritters are from an old Key West recipe with discernible conch and are served with a chipotle cocktail sauce.

Old Town Mexican Café offers a number of other appetizer options including chips and salsa for which they make a much sought after house-made salsa. They are located 609 Duval Street and open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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