Restaurant news: New waterfront brunch restaurant opens in Ponce Inlet

Ponce Inlet welcomed a brand-new restaurant this month, serving up breakfast, lunch and waterfront views.

HT’s Sand Bar & Bistro began welcoming guests at the start of February, a long-awaited opening that owner Scott Weber tells me has been in the works for roughly two years.

No stranger to the restaurant industry, Weber opened Port Orange’s popular Hidden Treasure Tiki Bar & Grill in 2010, followed by Ponce Inlet’s Hidden Treasure Rum Bar & Grill in 2011. HT’s Sand Bar & Bistro, his latest endeavor and neighbor to the frequented Rum Bar & Grill, is a concept the restaurateur says has long been missing in the charming beach town.

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“We didn’t want to do anything competing with next door, obviously, so we felt that there was a big need and a void for a breakfast/brunch place in Ponce Inlet — especially with all the boaters coming in and out all morning on the boat ramp,” Weber said.

With a fresh and flavorful focus, the eatery's menu of picturesque morning selections ranges from homemade stuffed waffles, Benedicts and flatbreads, to sandwiches, seafood and more.

Seasoned Chef Frank Hurst, who got his start in the industry at just 14 years old, tells me “anything fresh” is what keeps his culinary wheels turning, often drawing inspiration from the use of ever-changing seasonal ingredients.

“I’ve always had a passion for (cooking),” Hurst said. “I’ve written a lot of menus and recipes and was a private chef for a good period of my life. So, I’ve had a lot of experience cooking with a lot of great chefs.”

HT's Sand Bar & Bistro's menu: Breakfast sandwiches, waffles and more.

According to Hurst, the eatery’s menu will grow and evolve over time as the restaurant continues to receive community input.

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The Sand Bar & Bistro's menu offers staples like oyster stew and creamy tomato basil soup, with other options ranging from the Monte Cristal Belgian waffle — a Canadian bacon-, melted gruyere cheese-, and American cheese-stuffed waffle served with a side of raspberry preserves and maple syrup; to the fried soft-shell crab BLT — large, tempura-battered soft-shelled crab, peppercorn bacon, organic mixed greens, tri-color heirloom tomatoes and Dijonnaise; and the biscuit, eggs and gravy bowl — ground sausage and Andouille sausage white gravy, served over buttermilk biscuits and topped with a sunny side egg.

“It’s a scratch kitchen. I make all of my gravies and soups fresh. I make them pretty much daily … we’re trying to do a lot of different things,” Hurst said. “And we’re doing all fresh (seasonal) fruit — hand cut.”

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Alongside its breakfast selections, the restaurant houses an array of beverages, including regular and decaf coffee, espresso, tea, cappuccinos and lattes, as well as grab-and-go goodies like Danishes, muffins and more.

The pet-friendly new brunch spot also offers a “Paws Menu” with filet mignon, homestyle potatoes and a “doggy ice cream cup” available for visitors’ furry friends.

“We don’t want to do ... ” Weber began.

“Anything traditional, really,” Hurst chimed in.

“We really want it to be our own,” Weber said.

“We’re excited about what’s going to be here once all of the construction is done," Weber noted, motioning to the lot across the way. "We feel like its going to be a destination for families and kids — there’s so much to do around here.”

A perfect location with more in store

HT’s Sand Bar & Bistro offers diners a waterfront view overlooking the inlet, with several outdoor tables available. According to Weber, the eatery’s close proximity to the local dog park, famous light house and Marine Science Center made it an ideal location to open shop — and there’s more to come, he tells me.

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“The project is actually going to be a lot bigger than it is now. There’s going to be a ‘boatel’ here, a three-story boatel, and a full marina with fuel,” Weber explained.

“So, any boaters that want to come in and spend the night, they can get a night at the boatel and, of course, the restaurant will be here for breakfast and lunch and then next door for lunch and dinner.”

Currently, the eatery offers carry out with plans to offer delivery in the near future.

HT’s Bistro & Sand Bar is located at 4950 S. Peninsula Drive in Ponce Inlet and is open 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. For information, call 386-767-7676 or visit hiddentreasurerestaurants.com.

Helena Perray is the restaurant and dining writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be contacted at hperray@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Support local journalism by subscribing

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: HT's Sand Bar & Bistro serves breakfast, coffee, more in Ponce Inlet