Chanticleer South

closed

Believe that this location has been reincarnated by «Chef Michael» — the people are really sweet, and the fish is fresh! The wine list is uncomplicated and very reasonably priced.

Well… it was my sister’s birthday and we wanted to go somewhere special and boy did we stumble upon a little gem. We had some trouble finding the spot, it’s tucked back in a cozy little nook with not so great signage. Upon entering we were warmly greeted and shown a table. The décor is nothing to write home about, but it is pleasant and the «chanticleer» or rooster theme is prevalent in the decoration. We were shown a wine menu and there were many selections to choose from. I do not think there is a «bar» but after dining here– that is not what this restaurant is about– the star is the food. And boy does it shine!
I definately recommend getting a starter. We ordered the shrimp bisque and the seafood crêpe. Both were outstanding. The bisque had lovely parmesan puffs and pieces of shrimp which are not the norm in a bisque but added a great texture and flavor. The crêpe was stuffed with assorted seafood and in a lovely velvety sauce.
For the main courses we chose seafood options (being that we are in South Florida) although they had plenty of meat options that sounded amazing. My sister had the equivalent of lobster pot pie that not only looked like a work of art but tasted divine. I chose one of the nights specials– seared sea scallops. Just phenomenal. They came with a parmesan mushroom risotto, truffled corn cake, and spinach flan.
Lastly we preordered our dessert because of baking time– a chocolate soufflé. Again perfectly done light as air chocolatey goodness. I would definately go back to try other dishes and recommend to anyone to stop there for a meal. It is on the pricey side but I think it is well worth the experience. You can taste the love the chef has for creating his dishes. The service was great and by people you could tell really had a love for this establishment. Dinner for 2 that included appetizers, entrees, dessert, wine, coffee, and tip was $ 180.

I love this tiny French restaurant. The owners are so lovely and accommodating they make eating there a distinct pleasure. My entire foodie family was elated when we found that the chef had relocated our much beloved Nantucket restaurant closer to us in the Keys!
On our most recent visit (12÷12÷09) we had warm, fresh and delicious French bread followed by delicious seared scallops, mediocre mussels, and excellent fish entrees (snapper and pompano). However, the chocolate soufflé with crème anglaise sauce was an absolute highlight, it was phenomenal (and I am harsh critic of my most favorite desert). It is a bit pricey but totally worth it. Chanticleer and Pierre’s are a musts for me in Islamorada.