It's that time of year: These Brevard restaurants make al fresco dining a pleasure
Remember the dark days of COVID-19, when would-be diners sought restaurants in the sunshine or under the stars to brighten their days (or comply with the rules)?
You hurried to Café Margaux, the Fat Snook, Frigate’s, Pub Americana and other restaurants that would allow you to dine outdoors, and perhaps you thought, “This isn’t bad. We should do this again after things improve.”
Well, they have, and no time is better for al fresco dining than at this time of year, with warm, breezy days and cool evenings, and though most of the restaurants that made a great-for-al-fresco list in 2022 remain, newer venues have been built for or converted to it.
A half-dozen of the most prominent ones are:
Dolphins Waterfront Bar & Grill at Cape Crossing, 310 Lagoon Way, Merritt Island: You could drive by this bright, tiki-style restaurant, so well hidden from major thoroughfares is it, but really all you must do is follow the barge canal. Dolphins is right on it, so you can watch the water sparkle as your wine bubbles under cover or otherwise. The menu is a little Polynesian (Kahlua pork), a little Caribbean (garlic shrimp), with a fine array of appetizers for those who seek light food to go with cold drinks. Call 321-338-2220. dolphinsgrill.com
Harvest Thyme Kitchen, 601 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne: Indoors, Harvest Thyme is charming, as its location was in successive restaurants before this: an old, converted home in which you eat and pay in the front rooms. But this old house also has a broad, shady porch that pretty much keeps the glare off you, and an herb garden that is aromatically delightful, in which you enjoy breakfast or lunch in the sunshine. The menu is clever, with flights of biscuits and gravy, the likes of ham, cheese and apple melts and a long list of great teas. Call 321-327-3577. harvestthymekitchen.com.
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The Landing Rooftop, Hotel Melby, 801 Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne: The view’s the thing at this mostly outdoor restaurant, with vistas that start in downtown Melbourne and extend to the ocean in the east. The culinary theme is “elevated American regional comfort food” with “social plates” such as Southern Fried Chicken Steam Buns, charred octopus and braised lamb leg and potato empanadas; and featured plates with the likes of harissa-rubbed grilled swordfish, squid ink cavatelli and a Wagyu burger. Call 321-327-6007. thelandingrooftop.com.
Marker 24 Riverfront Grille,1360 S. Banana River Drive, Merritt Island: Marker 24 is another of Merritt Island’s newer, hidden beauties, located just before the Roy Jaren Bridge and across from the marina. The entrance is a hedge, greenery and palm trees are everywhere, winding walkways are sandy-white and you sit back in Adirondack-style chairs. It has the ambience of an island resort: entirely relaxing. The food is informal: burgers, “super salads,” tacos, etc., and at least some of the emphasis is on the healthy, like kale in the Island Slaw. Call 321-453-7888. marker24marina.com/m24-riverfront-grille-restaurant
Marker 99 Restaurant and Lounge, 4263 U.S. 1, Melbourne: Located directly on the Indian River Lagoon, dolphins play in the water as diners enjoy food with a certain international touch at Marker 99, also the site of restaurants past. Starters include the likes of patacones and ceviche with cobia; on the main course menu are chifrijo and fresh catch cartoccio. It also offers flatbreads, soups, salads and hand-held foods. Call 321-253-1369. marker99restaurant.com
Vine & Olive, 3350 S. Washington Ave., Titusville: Vine & Olive, located in another of those repurposed old venues, is clever in many ways, not least the way it does outdoor dining. The area behind the building has been made into an Italian garden of sorts, partially covered, partially in the sunshine, all well-appreciated by its regulars. It suits the food, which comes in “shareables,” flatbreads, soups, salads, “mains,” etc. The latter contains scallop risotto, hanger steak and bone-in filet Oscar as well as Italian-American-flavored entrees. Call 321-567-5028. www.vineandolive.net
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Great weather for al fresco dining: These 6 Brevard spots fit the bill
