It’s an impressive restaurant that can command an hours-long wait for brunch (a wait that ends in good-natured applause when the anticipated name is finally called). Of course, having a full bar serving up delicious morning-after drinks probably helps.

The thing is, Blue Heaven in Key West is a destination and a journey, an experience far beyond the roughly 17 minutes it took us to gobble our brunch. It’s about the live jam band playing, the Bloody Marys, mimosas, packed bar, and all the little places to relax and pull up a chair while waiting.

Heck – we walked down to the Southernmost Point and took the requisite pictures during the two plus hours we waited. Disclaimer – it WAS Sunday Brunch on New Year’s Eve weekend.

Blue Heaven is about hanging out, people-watching, slipping into the Keys atmosphere, because, really, where do you have to be so early in the morning in Key West? Why not pull up a chair, watch the roosters pecking around, have a drink?

And delicious it is. You’re on vacation– go for the outrageous – a lobster Benedict ($19.50), or one of the specialties such as the avocado omelet ($12), a delicious serving of Vermont white cheddar with a heaping amount of avocado with fresh tomato salsa, black bean ginger sauce and sour cream with their legendary banana bread.

Or try the rich, over-the-top Shrimp and Grits – Key West shrimp sautéed in white wine, butter and scallions placed over grits and Vermont white cheddar and served with a side of toast or banana bread for $15. Whatever route you choose, make sure you get the homemade banana bread and maybe pick up a loaf to go home. And if there’s any room at all left, check out one of the desserts Banana Heaven, Chocolate Torte or one of the best looking, towering Key Lime Pie’s we’ve seen down there, all for $8.

Blue Heaven: 729 Thomas Street, Key West; 305-296-8666; open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.