dining
GUIDE
CONTINENTAL
Black Tulip One of Brevard’s landmark, continental-style restaurants, the Black Tulip is newly expanded, but still serves a long list of popular lunch and dinner dishes, like the Grilled Steak Sandwich (lunch) and Veal Oscar. The Black Bean Soup is a local favorite too. The Tulip also offers Sunday brunch, and reservations are recommended. 207 Brevard Avenue, Cocoa. (321) 631-1133. LD. $15-$22
GERMAN/AUSTRIAN
Heidelberg Lots of people know Heidi and Eddie Deleuil, owners of Heidi’s Jazz Bar, which is adjacent to Heidelberg. What lots of people don’t know is that the Deleuils are European- trained chefs and that their landmark restaurant serves super German/Austrian and Continental-style cuisine. 7 N. Orlando Avenue, Cocoa Beach, (321) 783-6806. LD. $16-$28
CARIBBEAN
LaTinaja Cuban Cafe Reminiscent of those great little cafes on Calle Ocho in Miami, LaTinaja is tiny and immaculate, with faultless service and all the good things you expect from a restaurant of its kind, complete with hot, buttered Cuban bread. It features plates of the day as well as everyday specials and wonderful side orders. 3815 N. Highway 1, Cocoa, (321) 639-1430. LD. $3.50-$10.50
Roberto’s Little Havana Breakfast at Roberto’s is the norm for some of Cocoa Beach’s more prominent citizens (city hall is nearby), and though some people profess to be surprised by the high quality of the steak, the locals know. At its heart is Cuban-American cuisine, though; the palomilla is very good. 26 N. Orlando Avenue, Cocoa Beach, (321) 784-1868. BLD. $8-$46.95 (for paella)
ITALIAN
Alfredo’s Paradiso The Alfredo of the restaurant’s name used to have eateries in New York, and now he and his wife have this inexpensive, immaculate little bistro that serves a great buffet lunch (including arrancini). The pizza is Northern-like, the sauce is homemade and the pasta dishes are very good. 217 Crockett Ave., Merritt Island, (321) 453-6119. LD. $5-$25
Brano’s Italian Grill Another product of Bruno Krunik, who owns the long-loved Vinnie’s on Merritt Island, moderately-priced Brano’s features the specialties you’d expect from an Italian grill. Osso bucco is a specialty and lobster ravioli with grilled shrimp is a favorite. 3680 N. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, (321) 783-6031. LD. $9-$15.
Cara Mia Riverside Grill Located in a lovely,
Mediterranean-themed building in Cocoa Village, Cara Mia serves traditional Italian fare and grilled specialties for lunch and dinner. 11 Riverside Drive, Cocoa, (321) 639-3388. LD. $10.95-$20
LONE CABBAGE FISH CAMP
This is “Old Florida:” rustic and extremely informal,
where the water laps along the dock, the airboats whirr and the alligators are never far away. Dishes include gator tail, frog legs, catfish and turtle, as well as fried chicken and burgers. 8199 SR 520, Cocoa. LD. Under $10
(321) 632-4199 |
twisterairboatrides.com
108 : SPACECOAST LIVING
Domenico’s Italian Restaurant Domenico’s exterior
may be humble, but its interior, like its food, is elegant. This is one of the best Italian restaurants in the area; think high-end attitude, minus the prices. The veal piccata is exceptional and the traditional Italian dishes are fresh and beautifully served. 3100 Fiske Boulevard, Rockledge, (321) 635-8830. LD. $10-$20
Silvestro’s Authentic Italian Cuisine Carefully
prepared cuisine like Capellini con Gamberi e Capesante (capellini with sautéed tiger shrimp and sea scallops with a saffron sauce), Filetto con Farfalle ai Funghi (filet mignon served on a bed of bowtie pasta with crimini mushrooms) and an exceptional Saltimbocca served in elegant surroundings, make Silvestro’s one of Brevard’s fine dining sites. Reservations are recommended. 2039 N. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, (321) 783-4853. D. $19-$35
MEXICAN/TEX-MEX
LaBamba Formerly the bright, orange restaurant on the west side of U.S. 1, La Bamba now is the bright orange on the east side of U.S. 1: much more comfortable surroundings with the same good tacos, enchiladas, etc. 1257 S. Highway U.S. 1, Rockledge, (321) 637-9607. LD. $5-$20
Taco City The likes of tacos, burritos and enchiladas are classic surfer fare, and at Taco City, they come in large amounts, as do local favorites like Chings, which are made of seasoned, shredded chicken rolled in pastry. 2955 S. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, (321) 784-1475. D. $5-$11
SEAFOOD
Fat Snook Everything about it is inventive and original, from the décor to the dishes. Steaks, fowl and pastas are served, but seafood is the star of the show. Each meal is served with an amuse-bouche, a rarity in these parts, and the presentation of each course is as imaginative as you’ll find: food as art. Desserts, including homemade gelati, are exceptional too. Reservations recommended. 2464 S. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, (321) 784-1190. D. $15-$40
Pompano Grill This intimate, unpretentious little restaurant is a hidden jewel, with fresh everything and real care taken with the food. Not surprisingly, seafood is the specialty, and what’s not fresh isn’t served; when it’s available, Tripletail Almondine is terrific. Pompano Grill does equally well with meat and vegetables, however, and service is excellent. Reservations recommended. 110 N Brevard Avenue, Cocoa Beach, (321) 784-9005. D. $15-25
Sunset Café Waterfront Cafe & Bar Boater-
friendly and family-friendly, Sunset Café has a big covered deck and super views of the Banana River. Seafood is the specialty here, although Sunset also serves steaks, pastas, burgers and good, big salads. 500 W. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, (321) 783-8485. LD. $8-$26
SPECIALTY
Brasas Grill A churrascaria, or Brazilian-style steakhouse, meat is grilled en rotisserie and served from skewers at the table. Steak is the specialty, but surprises like hard-boiled quail eggs – they’re on the salad bar – abound, and other meats, like game hen and pork, also are grilled. 109 Brevard Avenue, Cocoa, (321) 638-1338. D. About $25
TAPAS
Vintage 56 Tapas probably is the best way to describe the cuisine at Vintage 56, although that may be a little limited. It’s very modern, with “casual elegance” and a menu just made for sampling, with all sorts of delights, including chops, cheeses, soups, salads, patés and pizzas. 200 Barton Boulevard, Rockledge, (321) 639-4048. LD. $10-$25.
SOUTH-CENTRAL
(Viera, Suntree, Satellite Beach, Melbourne S. to SR 192)
AMERICAN
Foreman’s Steak House A casual, northern-style
steakhouse where steaks are hand-cut; burgers, hand-formed; and hash browns, in a league of their own. 1940 S.R. A1A, Indian Harbour Beach, (321) 779-8980. LD. $15-$30
Grapevine Café/Green Turtle Market A fine
lunch restaurant attached to meat and specialty food retailer the Green Turtle Market, Grapevine is quiet, clean and comfortable, with outstanding salads, good sandwiches and top-rate entrees like Wild Flower Honey and Tangerine Ginger Grilled Salmon. 855 E. Eau Gallie Boulevard, Indian Harbour Beach, (321) 773-2001. L. $8.50-$12
Little Phillies Cheesesteaks Ever wonder what
a real Philadelphia cheesesteak tastes like? Head to Little Phillies, which is as authentic as it gets in Florida. Other hoagies are available, too. Oh, and if you love the other Phillies, baseball is on when they are. 190 N. Highway A1A, Satellite Beach, (321) 412-8265. LD. $6.50-$11
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