B.O.’s Fish Wagon, Key West, Florida

Nancy and I arrived in Key West a day after Liza, Michael, and the girls. Sue Boyd, Nancy’s co-grandmother, picked us up and took us to our airbnb, Atlantis House. We unpacked and then ambled over to Sue and David’s to meet up with the gang, watch Ella and Lily swim, and catch up. When dinner time came, the idea of going out had passed its sell-by date, so we got carryout from B.O.’s Fish Wagon at 801 Caroline Street. It’s a distinctive place. 

I reported on B.O.’s before here, and little has changed since then. They still serve well-prepared fresh local seafood, and they still boast that their chicken is NOT local. They haven’t redecorated. Here’s the current rear entrance/dockside view. 

I heard that their liquor license may be in abeyance, so the temptation to dine in isn’t what it once was. But that’s about all that is new, except, perhaps, for one thing, and even that may not be new. I may simply have overlooked it before. It’s the black beans and rice, the go-to side dish. 

See it? Yes, those are green olives. I’ve never seen either before in black beans. You’ll also notice the capers, which are not new but, to my experience, are unique to B.O.’s. I enjoyed the dish with olives, but then I’m a fan of green olives. I make sliced green olive sandwiches for lunch fairly often. I’m having trouble describing the overall change in taste, but you can rest assured that the core accompaniments to the beans, garlic and onions, are still there.

I’m not sure what prompted the olives. It’s not inconceivable that, as with chocolate chip cookies, potato chips, and the tarte tatin, the olives were accidental. You should go to B.O.’s and get, say, a yellowtail snapper plate — the yellowtail down in the keys is wonderful — which at $15.95 is a bargain indeed, and order the black beans and rice as a side. Let me know if there are olives in there and, if so, help me describe the flavor. You’ll enjoy your meal.

***

And while you’re at it, click “follow” on our front page to receive blog posts in your email box.  Or bookmark us and check in from time to time.  If you’re planning a trip, you can “Search” the name of the destination city, state, or country for good restaurants (in Europe, often close to sites, like the Louvre, Prague Castle, Vienna’s Old City, or the Van Gogh Museum, that you’ll want to visit in any event.  Comments, questions, and suggestions of places to eat or stories to cover are very welcome.  And check our Instagram and Twitter pages, johntannerbbq.