Papa Joe’s Waterfront — A Revival That is Changing the Florida Keys' Dining Scene When Papa Joe’s reopened this past year under the stewardship of Chef Alan Wilkinson, the place that once lived in local memory as a casual pub—famous mostly for hot dogs, wings and cold beers— has now become the dining destination of the Florida Keys. In a single season the restaurant reinvented itself without losing the warm, salt-scented soul that made it a community landmark since 1926. ### Setting the stage: location, history, and first impressions Perched where two oceans feel like a single horizon, Papa Joe’s Waterfront sits at a unique maritime crossroads. The building’s weathered pilings and sun-faded boardwalk recall an era before the Overseas Highway crossed through the Keys; the restaurant’s long local history—open since 1926—adds a sense of continuity and authenticity many travelers crave. Visitors arrive by car, by foot, or by boat—yachts up to 70 feet can tie directly into Papa Joe’s “b...