Posts Tagged ‘Restaurants’
The Mansion, Historic Downtown Melbourne, FL | Local Dining in Brevard County, FL | Carolyn Smith, Realtor
Posted on: March 24, 2012
Carolyn Smith, Realtor – Local Dining in Brevard County, FL – Restaurant Review: The Mansion, in Historic Downtown Melbourne, FL
Formally known by many Brevard County locals as “The Strawberry Mansion”, this landmark restaurant has been completely renovated, redone, and renamed “The Mansion“, and it is just what Historic Downtown Melbourne needed! A LOT of money was obviously spent in the renovation of this historic restaurant, and it turned out absolutely beautifully. The Mansion is not your typical restaurant, with a bar and a dining room, and although it does have those features, it has many more features as well. Just to give you a quick rundown of all the separate spaces The Mansion offers, there is indoor restaurant seating, outdoor restaurant seating, beer garden with picnic table seating, rooftop bar with river views, deli, outdoor deli seating, coffee bar, wine cellar, and package store. Wow, right?! The first time we visited The Mansion, my husband kept saying that he felt like the place was built by Disney, and what I think he meant was there is something for everyone, of all ages, and the atmosphere, decor, and landscaping are all just picture-perfect. The Mansion truly is different from any other restaurant/bar in Brevard County… you really have to check it out.
Outdoor dining, beautiful at night!
On our first visit (we’ve been twice), three of us we went for dinner on a Saturday night, and while the parking lot was full, we managed to get an outdoor dining table immediately. The menu is not huge, but it is completely sufficient, with a variety of appetizers, entree salads, hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, and full entrees, in addition to nightly specials. The beer menu, on the other hand, is absolutely huge, with over 60 selections of draft beer from which to choose. Okay, maybe this explains why my husband felt like he was at Disney; this beer menu instantly brought him to “the happiest place on Earth“. He is a bit of a beer snob, and this beer menu is by far the best in Brevard County – all craft beers, with barely a Budweiser product to be found. Truly fantastic. Of course I expected a wine list that would be just as spectacular, but I was informed that they were still working on the wine list, and while they do offer some wines by the glass (which our server quickly listed for me), they don’t have a full wine list yet. You can, however, purchase a bottle from the onsite Wine Cellar and enjoy it with your meal.
Now onto the food. I saw Bavarian Pretzel Sticks on the appetizer list and I could not resist giving them a try. Sounds pretty boring, I realize, but I was hoping they would be comparable to one of my favorite pretzel stick appetizers at a restaurant I used to frequent in Washington DC. I’m happy to report that The Mansion’s pretzel sticks were awesome! More like freshly baked pretzel bread than average soft pretzel sticks, they were served with a horseradish mustard sauce and also beer cheese sauce. We all enjoyed them so much that we actually *blush* asked for another order of the same thing! And we finished every last bite of both orders *blush again*… so yummy! For dinner, I got the Sesame Citrus Tuna Salad, my husband ordered the Grilled Salmon, and our dinner guest got the Fish Tacos. All meals were perfectly-sized, well-cooked, and made our bellies happy. No, they weren’t the absolute best salad, salmon, and fish tacos we had ever eaten, but they were very tasty and well-priced.
The Mansion at night, Historic Downtown Melbourne
Overall, The Mansion offered us a nice meal in a lovely setting. And I must mention that our server was fantastic! Her name was Cassandra (if I remember correctly) and she was friendly, patient, super-knowledgeable about the food and beer menus, and she offered great suggestions. She didn’t rush us at all, and gave us plenty of time to sit and chat at the table when we were finished with our dinner. Lastly, I have to say that the menu (both food and beer) is VERY reasonably priced. For three of us, with 2 appetizers, 3 dinners, and 6 beers, the bill totaled $80. To me, that is surprisingly reasonable for an enjoyable night of food and drinks.
I highly recommend going to The Mansion for lunch or dinner, or even just for a quick drink and an appetizer. You can find The Mansion at the very east end of Historic Downtown Melbourne (east of US 1); the address is 1218 East New Haven Ave. Melbourne, FL 32901. Their phone number is (321) 345-5800. You can also check out their website here: The Mansion’s website
Hope you enjoy your visit to The Mansion in Historic Downtown Melbourne; it truly is a great new addition to local dining in Brevard County, Florida!
Start your dream home search right here: Carolyn Smith Realtor Website
Whether you are buying or selling, it would be my pleasure to represent you!
Please call or email me today to review your real estate needs!
Contact me, Carolyn Smith at:
Phone: 321.271.0870
Email: CarolynSmithRealtor@gmail.com
SRES – Accredited Seniors Real Estate Specialist
CDPE – Certified Distressed Property Expert
Sandbar Pizza Grill ~ Great Family-Friendly Restaurant in Melbourne Beach, FL!
Posted on: January 9, 2012
Sandbar Pizza Grill - Family Friendly Restaurant in Melbourne Beach, FL
If you are looking for a family-friendly restaurant in Melbourne Beach, FL, don’t miss the Sandbar Pizza Grill on Ocean Ave. The name of the restaurant pretty much sums up their menu – they have pizza and they have “grill”-type items such as burgers, sandwiches, wings, wraps, burritos, and salads, as well as their famous (and amazingly delicious!) fish tacos.
The Sandbar Pizza Grill is not fancy and it doesn’t have a ton of seating, but it has friendly service, good food, and great prices. And, if your kids are a little bit loud, it’s okay, the Sandbar Pizza Grill is, as I mentioned, very family friendly. One of the best features of the Sandbar Pizza Grill in Melbourne Beach is their daily specials. A couple of the most popular nights at the Sandbar are Tuesdays, for Taco Tuesdays, and Fridays, for $5 Fridays. However, be warned, seating is limited and the restaurant fills up fast, so get there early, or expect to wait for a seat.
So back to Taco Tuesdays… half price tacos – fish, chicken, steak, or shrimp. The fish tacos, in my opinion, are the only way to go. I’ve had fish tacos in all the places known for fish tacos – San Diego, Costa Rica, etc – and the Sandbar’s fish tacos rate right up there with the best of them. You can order them grilled, blackened, or Baja-style, they are all very tasty. And for every 3 tacos you order, you get a free side order of black beans and yellow rice or french fries. Great deal! My other favorite night at the Sandbar Pizza Grill in Melbourne Beach is $5 Fridays where you can get either 2 tacos, a burrito, or a wrap for just $5. Bargain!
Some of the other specials include Wednesday Pizza Night, when you can get a 20-inch pizza for the price of a 14-inch, and Thursday Kids Night, when kids eat free off the Sandbar’s kid’s menu from 4 pm – 10 pm. The Sandbar also features about 12 televisions mounted around the restaurant, which feature both college football games and NFL Ticket, perfect for the sports-fans members of your family. The restaurant also serves serves beer and wine, so it’s a great place to meet friends for a drink and some wings, and hang out to watch the game.
You can find the Sandbar Pizza Grill in Melbourne Beach at 300 Ocean Ave., Melbourne Beach. The restaurant is open daily from 11 am to 10 pm, and their phone number is (321) 733-7977. You can also visit their website at Sandbar Pizza Grill Melbourne Beach.
Start your dream home search right here: Carolyn Smith Realtor Website
Whether you are buying or selling, it would be my pleasure to represent you!
Please call or email me today to review your real estate needs!
Contact me, Carolyn Smith at:
Phone: 321.271.0870
Email: CarolynSmithRealtor@gmail.com
SRES – Accredited Seniors Real Estate Specialist
CDPE – Certified Distressed Property Expert
Squid Lips has a great outdoor beach area!
When I see a great local deal, I just have to share it! Today’s LivingSocial “Daily Deal” is for Squid Lips Overwater Grill in Melbourne or Sebastian – $25 to spend on appetizers and drinks for $12! Wow, what a bargain! If you have never been to Squid Lips Overwater Grill, it’s a casual restaurant situated directly on the Indian River, with an amazing outdoor patio perfect for enjoying an appetizer and drink on a lazy afternoon.
This deal is only available for one more day, so follow the link and order yours now:
https://share.livingsocial.com/deals/203958?ref=conf-jp&rpi=40337092
The Squid Lips restaurant in Melbourne is located at the base of the Eau Gallie Causeway on the mainland side… very convenient if you are coming from anywhere on the beachside, or even from Suntree or Viera. It’s a great spot for entertaining out-of-town guests who may be visiting you in warm, sunny Brevard County, FL for the holidays. They have live entertainment on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays until 11:00 pm. Definitely a great local establishment to check out! Here’s a link to their website if you want more information about the restaurant: Squid Lips Overwater Grill
Start your dream home search right here: Carolyn Smith Realtor Website
Whether you are buying or selling, it would be my pleasure to represent you!
Please call or email me today to review your real estate needs!
Contact me, Carolyn Smith at:
Phone: 321.271.0870
Email: CarolynSmithRealtor@gmail.com
SRES – Accredited Seniors Real Estate Specialist
CDPE – Certified Distressed Property Expert
That’s right, from mid-October through mid-May, these deliciously delightful crustaceans can be found in restaurants and seafood markets throughout the state of Florida. Although stone crabs can be found in places as far away as North Carolina and Texas, they are primarily harvested from the waters of our very own Sunshine State. And the best part is, stone crabs are rated Green (Best Choice) by the Seafood Watch, meaning that the stone crab’s population is strong and well-managed… so go ahead and crack another claw!
If you’ve never had the opportunity to taste a stone crab, I’ll do my best to explain what you are missing! The stone crab’s meat is sweet, firm, and delicious; very similar in texture and taste to lobster. You only eat the claws of stone crabs, which are great served either warm or cold, and pair wonderfully with a mustard sauce or melted butter. Stone crabs are cooked right after they are caught, so whether in a restaurant or from a seafood market, they come to your plate ready to eat.
Now, more on the sustainability of stone crabs. In a world where overfishing has become a major problem, stone crabs can be considered a poster child for sustainable fishing, because the crab is not killed during harvest. When a stone crab is caught, only one claw is removed, so the crab is still able to defend itself while a new claw is regenerated. Crabs are harvested using traps, and they must meet certain size requirements for their claw to be removed. Once stone crabs are returned to the ocean, they start to generate a new claw, which they can do 3 to 4 times, as long as they are properly handled.
I am sure you are asking, “Okay, so where can I go to taste some stone crabs?”… I have some answers for you! As far as restaurants, you could try either River Rocks Restaurant in Viera, or Chart House in Melbourne. Or, if you would like to enjoy your stone crabs at home, you can pick some up at Indialantic Seafood Company or Green Turtle Market (remember to grab some mustard sauce too!). Be sure to call all of these places before you go, stone crabs sell out quickly!
If you know of anywhere else in our area that serves stone crabs, please let me know! Also, if you get the chance to sample some stone crab, I expect a full report…let me know what you think about this uniquely fabulous Florida fare 
Whether you are buying or selling, it would be my pleasure to represent you!
Please call or email me today to review your real estate needs!
Contact me, Carolyn Smith at:
Phone: 321.271.0870
Email: CarolynSmithRealtor@gmail.com
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I did, finally, the other day when I realized we had nothing in the house to make for dinner! And it was AWESOME!
I am sure you have eaten at Bella’s restaurant in Downtown Melbourne at one time or another, or maybe you remember Mezzaluna on Eau Gallie? Well, the chef who made these two places “famous” has now opened a new location, but instead of being a restaurant, it is a takeout counter located inside the Melbourne Beach Market. You might be thinking, “Takeout counter… really?”, but trust me when I tell you that Chef Frank is turning out restaurant-quality food including full pasta dinners, homemade soups and salads, amazing pizza, hot and cold subs, appetizers, and more. The menu offers almost any Italian dish you can think of, from the basics like Spaghetti & Meatballs and Traditional Lasagna, to special entrees such as Veal Saltimbocca and Eggplant Rollantine, and everything in between. Including Garlic Knots… don’t even get me started on these, they are out of this world!
When you find yourself craving Italian food, or if you just find yourself staring into an empty kitchen pantry with no idea what to prepare for dinner that night, I highly recommend giving Chef’s Corner a try. They don’t have a menu online, or even their own website, but you can view the menu on the Chef’s Corner Facebook page, here. You can call in your order and then go pick it up, delivery is not available. Chef’s Corner also offers catering, which I was lucky enough to experience recently at a neighbor’s party. Again, everything they made was delicious, and the Penne Vodka was especially memorable!
So, here’s the info on this awesome Melbourne Beach takeout counter:
Chef’s Corner, located inside the Melbourne Beach Market
302 Ocean Avenue, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
Call in your order: (321) 914-0959
Enjoy!
Whether you are buying or selling, it would be my pleasure to represent you!
Please call or email me today to review your real estate needs!
Contact me, Carolyn Smith at:
Phone: 321.271.0870
Email: CarolynSmithRealtor@gmail.com
Grapevine Cafe at Green Turtle Market in Indian Harbour Beach… Amazing Lunch!
Posted on: August 30, 2011
Admittedly, I have been to the Green Turtle Market too many times to count; their selection of freshly prepared foods is always spectacular and delicious, their wine selection always has me browsing for longer than I intended, and a free “pour your own” local draft beer while I shop… what more could I ask for?! That pretty much sums up my ideal food shopping experience! This gourmet market also offers fresh meat and seafood, as well as an assortment of freshly-made, drool-inducing bakery goods. So, while I am more than familiar with the offerings of the Green Turtle Market, I had never taken the opportunity to dine at their “in-house” cafe, the Grapevine Cafe, until this past weekend. Oh wow, my mouth and my belly sure were missing out!
The Grapevine Cafe is only open during lunchtime hours, from 11:30 am – 2:00 pm on Monday – Saturday, and 11:00 am – 2:30 pm on Sunday. Since I usually am not one of the “ladies who lunch” (lunch is typically just a quick PB&J for me!), I don’t visit “lunchtime-only” restaurants very often. But after this weekend’s amazing lunch at the Grapevine Cafe, that may just have to change!
My husband and I arrived around 12 noon on Sunday, and to my surprise, the menu offered more than their online menu (click here to see the online menu) suggests. Inside the regular menu was a page of specials, and to my delight, it listed several breakfast/brunch items. In additional to the daily soups, the menu offered two types of quiches, a couple different gourmet-sounding breakfast burritos, special sandwiches of the day, and my final pick, eggs benedict with crabmeat and shrimp (except they named it something that made it sound even more appetizing). Holy cow, this honestly was one of the best breakfasts I have ever tasted! Served with a side of pesto potatoes, which were also amazing, the dish was perfectly cooked, expertly seasoned, and not a morsel was left on my plate. And yes, it was a very generous serving, and besides a bowl of cereal, all I had to eat for the rest of the day. My husband, who is on an eternal search for the best-tasting hamburger, took a leap of faith and ordered the Angus Sirloin Burger. In his words, “this may be the best burger I have ever eaten”. The burger, which was served with herb-crusted potatoes, was a huge sirloin patty topped with apple-wood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, gorgonzola cheese, and a chipotle pepper aioli. He loved every single bite of that burger… well, except for the one little nibble I just had to steal! On my husband’s behalf, I would like to name the Grapevine Cafe’s burger “the best burger in Brevard County”!
The Grapevine Cafe serves beer and wine (including fabulous mimosas!), and you can even choose a bottle of wine from the market and have it with your lunch for just a $5 corkage fee. The prices at the Grapevine Cafe are very reasonable, and as I was perusing the menu, I just kept thinking how I must come back, because there were so many dishes that I wanted to try! The Green Turtle Market and Grapevine Cafe also host special events, such as wine dinners, food and wine sampling events, and various tasting festivals. Visit their website for more information on the Market, the Cafe, and their upcoming events: Green Turtle Market website
The Green Turtle Market and the Grapevine Cafe is located at 855 E. Eau Gallie Blvd in Indian Harbour Beach, FL. Their phone number is 321.773.2001.
Image from Green Turtle Market website
Whether you are buying or selling, it would be my pleasure to represent you!
Please call or email me today to review your real estate needs!
Contact me, Carolyn Smith at:
Phone: 321.271.0870
Email: CarolynSmithRealtor@gmail.com
