Classic Florida Food
Driving down Alt-19 in Palm, Harbor, you can't miss the sign: a topless mermaid flaunting strategically placed locks of long blonde hair, framed with the cutely suggestive name.
Once you turn, though, you almost wonder if you've gone the right way: the street turns immediately residential. A couple blocks in, however, it opens up to a little collection of restaurants and shops, including a gallery and an Aveda Salon.
Right at the end is Molly Goodheads, an area institution for real Florida food.
It's a very cute two story, with plenty of seating on the porch. The porch is glassed in and heated in cold weather, and affords a pleasant view of the woody street. There is also an open air side porch and indoor seating.
The menu features all the expected classics: gator tail, conch fritters, grouper and shrimp. There are also trendy dishes, such as seared ahi tuna (available as an appetizer, sandwich or entree), and unusual offerings, like "Molly's Header." Molly's Header is a a freshly shucked oyster, served in a shot glass with cocktail sauce and beer. Although I'm partial to every one of the ingredients, I wasn't quite brave enough to try them all in tandem!
While the menu is mostly seafood oriented, there are chicken and beef dishes, as well as pasta selections and rice and beans. I'd feel perfectly comfortable taking both vegetarians and meat-eaters here, as I think either would find something they'd enjoy.
My dinner date and I decided instead to split three apetizers: blackened gator tail, sesami ahi tuna, and buffalo shrimp. The ahi was well-priced, at $8.75 for a generous serving. The wasabi served alongside it was oddly dry, but the fish itself was, if not spectacular, very good. We ordered the shrimp spicy, and Goodheads' is as good as their word: these were hot. The batter was perfect, and covered with just the right amount of sauce. The gator was a bit too salty, but otherwise good. If I went again, I'd probably order it fried.
The beer selection is adequate, but not amazing. You've got your usual Bud and Miller, or course. You can also get Amerbbock and Killians on tap. If you want anything darker, they also have Sam Adams and Guiness in a bottle. For those wantings something a bit stronger, try the rum runner, which is available frozen or on the rocks. Margaritas and Pina Coladas are prominently featured on the menu, as well.
I definitely plan to go back and try out more of the menu.
I'm signing off for now. I'll be back later this week with a photo post of a street in Dunedin which has the largest collection of novelty mailboxes I've ever seen in one spot.
