Brevard has been called “one of the great festival areas of Florida,” and it celebrates food in an increasingly sophisticated way. Some of our favorite Space Coast culinary experiences are included on the next few pages. You don’t want to miss these palate pleasers!

Wine dinners at Café Margaux.  Absolutely superb cuisine, and the beverages aren’t bad either

Ginger dressing from Makoto’s.  Famous everywhere but born in Brevard

Mangoes from a Merritt Island backyard.  Nothing beats fresh off the tree

“Jaygantic” sandwich at TooJays, Melbourne Square Mall

Blueberry muffins from the Blueberry Muffin, Indialantic.  Worth a visit

Pecan-crusted chicken from Yellow Dog Café, Malabar.  We’re nuts about it

Fresh herbs from Downtown Produce, West Melbourne.  This is where cooks shop

A loaf of wild rice and sweet onion bread from Sunrise Bread Co. in Titusville.  Unique, and that aroma!

Kobe A5 rib eye (Wagyu) steak at Ulysses Prime Steakhouse.  Unsurpassed

“Moon Over Mocha” beverage from Sun Shoppe Cafe, downtown Melbourne.  Just enough chocolate

Coconut-curried shrimp from Fat Snook, Cocoa Beach.  Brevard deserves cuisine like this

Tacos from Quillen’s in Titusville.  Big, fresh and good

Shrimp from Yen Yen

Orange Chicken from Red Ginger in Suntree.  A beautifully presented dish in a beautiful little restaurant

Peach shake from Del’s Freez, Melbourne.  A beloved specialty from a beloved soft ice cream stand

Dressings bottled for the Produce Place, North Melbourne..  Definitely not grocery store stuff

Tomato basil soup from Slow & Low, Cocoa Beach.  Perfect for a cool evening

Homemade fudge from AJ’s Candy Castle in the Avenue Viera.  Defines “melt-in-your-mouth”

Greek salad at Grecian Garden, North Melbourne.  Everything is fresh, including the feta

Raw wildflower honey from Mrs. Mango & Co., Rockledge.  Sweet perfection

Yin & Yang chocolate fondue from the Melting Pot, the Avenue Viera.  Dark chocolate and light chocolate, perfectly compatible

Garlic-flavored extra virgin olive oil from Olives and Grapes, Cocoa.  Unlike any other

Salad and black bean soup from Pineda Crossing, Melbourne.  Salad-as-meal, done beautifully

A cheeseburger from Tip-A-Few, Cape Canaveral.  No, it’s not just a bar, and families are welcome

Garlic pork chunks at Las Palmas, Palm Bay.  Havana is here

An ice cream cone from Twisty Cone in Palm Bay.  Get the twisty kind

Irish coffee prepared by John Nolan at Nolan’s Irish Pub, Cocoa Beach. The real deal. Slainte!

Chocolate-covered potato chips from Grimaldi, Melbourne.  A local classic

Raspberry cream cheese spread from Petty’s, Melbourne.  Try it with imported biscuits

“Island Style” pasta at Island Pasta Co. in downtown Melbourne.  Great pasta topped with lots of toasted coconut

Kobe beef roll at Matt’s Casbah, downtown Melbourne.  A great selection from a great sushi house

A Chicago-style hot dog from Mustard’s Last Stand, Melbourne.  Right down to the poppy seed bun

“Chings” at Taco City in Cocoa Beach.  A guilty pleasure

Real New Jersey beefsteak tomatoes at the Farmer’s Market at the Avenue Viera.  You have to travel to Exit 7A to get better ones

Pirogue from Salt & Sweet Polish Restaurant, Melbourne.  Light and crisp: perfect

Schwarma from Cedars Café, Melbourne.  Not too spicy, always fresh.

New England-style clam chowder from Shells, West Melbourne.  Great broth, lots of clams

A slice of pummelo from a tree grown by a member of the Brevard Rare Fruit Council.  It wouldn’t be rare for long if more people knew about it

Fresh tripletail from Wild Ocean Seafood Market, Port Canaveral.  What local fishermen eat

Smoked fish dip from the Smokehouse, Port Canaveral.  Not too smoky, not too fishy: perfect

Grilled Mahi sandwich from Grills, Port Canaveral.  A port classic, recognized on national TV

Brown and wild rice salad from Green Turtle Market, Indian Harbour Beach.  Creative and satisfying

Peanut butter from Sunseed Food Co-Op, Cape Canaveral.  Grind your own.

Royal Filet of Chilean Sea Bass at Palm Café, Kiwi Tennis Club, Indian Harbour Beach.  No restaurant here does it better

Flatbread pizza from Ossorio, Cocoa Village.  Made in a wood-fired oven

The sides – especially beans and rice – at Brasas Grill, Cocoa Village.  The beef is good, but the sides stand on their own merit

Schnitzel at Café Coconut Cove, Melbourne Beach.  Wunderbar!

Quiche Lorraine at Simply Delicious, Cocoa Beach.  Perfect combination of custard, meat and vegetables

Chicken Gringo at Da Kine Diego, Satellite Beach.  Glorious surf grub

Polenta Amore from Amore Italian Ristorante, Suntree.  Mascarpone makes the difference

Mummy shrimp at Chameleon Fusion Bistro, Melbourne.  Crunchy and clever

Lobster rolls at Boston Beef & Seafood, Cocoa Beach.  Boston comes to Brevard

A slice of pizza from the original Bizzarro’s, Indialantic. Another beachside legend

Crab Bisque from Scott’s on Fifth, Indialantic. Exquisite.

Specialty cakes from Oleander Bakery, Cocoa Village.  Colorful, expressive, gorgeous

Italian cookies from Pane e Vino, West Melbourne.  Little Italy-style

Cherries jubilee at Djon’s Steak & Lobster House, Melbourne Beach.  The way it’s supposed to be done

Any tapas made by James Tsamoutales.  Art in food

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout from World of Beer, the Avenue Viera.  A gift from Britain to Brevard

Pizza from Pizza Gallery & Grill, the Avenue Viera.  You’ve never had pizza like this

Fried gator from Lone Cabbage Fish Camp, Cocoa.  FSU Fans delight in chomping on this delicacy

A bottle of Amberjack beer from the Indian River Brewing Co.  Refreshing

Garlic crabs from Ms, Apples Crab Shack, Merritt Island.  Really informal dining, really good food

Jellies and jams from Brevard Farmers’ Markets, Cocoa Beach, Eau Gallie, Rockledge and Titusville.  Sweet, old-fashioned goodness

Indian Harbor Blend coffee from Indian River Coffee, Melbourne.  Tastes as good as it smells

Oranges and Orange juice from any grove stand in Brevard County.  A treat for visitors and residents alike

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