So we found ourselves visiting family for Christmas this week in Melbourne, Florida former stomping grounds of Jim Morrison for you Doors fans. We got up early on Christmas Eve and opted to find a cool breakfast place. After a few minutes in Yelp, we found Backwater which is nestled in Historic Downtown Melbourne. Parking should not be a problem but if you can't find some on your he street their is a public parking garage not to far away. Upon arrival we were seated pretty quickly and all the staff were very friendly. Our server Amy was awesome and recommended a few breakfast items that were awesome. We opted for the Greek breakfast and the Cuban Benedict which were both fresh and excellent. We also split their seasonal Cinammon pancake as well which was great as well. Pancakes are huge so make sure you leave some room if you plan on having one. All portions were healthy as well, no skimping at Backwater and everyone was in the Christmas spirit as well which was awesome! The atmosphere is friendly, laid back and welcoming which is great if you are from out of Town. So if you are in the area, make sure you check them out for breakfast or lunch. I am sure you will not be disappointed! So in fact he spirit of the holiday I will adjust my customary ending to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a prosperous and blessed Happy New Year to all of you! Enjoy and Bon Appétit mes amis! read more

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Wowowow! Friendly staff and incredible food! Had the Monte Cristo which was fluffy, toasty, heaven. Home fries were nice and crispy. Super casual interior and smell of yummy pancakes all over. Prices couldn't be beat either! Will be back when traveling through this part of FL next read more

I'm so glad I came to this restaurant! They're doing breakfast the old fashioned way here! The dishes are hearty! For example, if you order sausage, you get w large patties. However, I think the standout items here are the ones that are made from scratch. Get the potatoes for sure! They're masterfully made with plenty of flavors and crunch! The pancakes are huge and fluffy. Another solid choice! The moment you enter, the EEs are all smiles! What a special group of people! They make sure you get what you want and take care of you professionally and efficiently. read more

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So so so good!! This is the cutest place with the friendliest staff. They have several tables with griddles built in so patrons can make their own pancakes. We chose to sit at the bar and watch the cooks. I had the waffles with candied orange zest and fried gator tail. The orange zest brought a ton of bright flavor to the waffle. The gator was fresh and fried to perfection. My partner had the veggie omelette (he added bacon) with grits and toast. The grits were loaded with cheese and were some of the best I've ever had. This was one of the best breakfast's I've had in a long time. read more

Backwater - Waffle with orange zest and fried gator tail - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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This place had some amazing food. The portions were huge and everything tasted delicious. They didn't seat at first because they only had griddle tables and we didn't want to grill our own pancakes, but after 15 min they said we could sit at the table. The servers were on top of it refills and food came out quickly. read more

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Experience: it was a Sunday morning about 10:00 and we decided to come try the pancake grill. Service: the wait was about 30 minutes, but they text you when the table is ready, so we walked around and window shopped while we waited. Out waitress was nice but I was really impressed by the gentleman that checked us out. His name was Rich and he was so friendly and funny. He makes you feel welcome... Yall need to keep him!! Food: Ok, just as I thought, the pancakes were so fun!!! read more

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I gave 3 stars not totally for the food, but for the overall experience. The food was good. There were 4 of us. Pancakes, omelet , waffles with gator, & a pork Reuben were ordered. The omelet looked great. It was loaded with the ingredients my friend selected. She said it was amazing. I tried a piece of the Gator on the citrus waffle. It was tender & fried nicely, but it was overpowered by the orange citrus/candied orange. I would not have been able to eat it if I ordered it. It was way sweet & citrusy. The pancake looked great & I was told it was ok. But how bad can a pancake be? I had the pork Reuben. It was good. However, I assumed it would be grilled?? It was just assembled with pulled pork red sauerkraut & swiss. I asked for the Cajun remoulade on the side. I did use it as it was not fiery hot, it was pleasant. It could have used more kraut The bread could have been taken out of the toaster 2 minutes earlier., but overall it was good. The slaw was very good. Not to sweet or creamy. The Server was very friendly, she explained a few things from the menu that were unique to them. The runner was friendly as well. So the 3 stars ... it was loud & crowded. Ok, Kids out of hand. And there were a lot of kids. I don't begrudge taking your kids out to eat. In fact I always enjoyed taking mine , however they behaved. As did my granddaughter when she came out to a restaurant. The seats were super uncomfortable. This kind of thing adds to my overall experience. Maybe they don't want you to hang out?? LOL ! We were told it would be 45 min to an hour wait. They took us in like 5 minutes. That was a positive. I don't think I would go back. There are way too many restaurants in that area to hit this one again. read more

Backwater - Orange Blossom Honey Pils - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

We just beat the brunch rush and were sat immediately in the bar area. The atmosphere was cozy, friendly, and casual. Our server was hilarious and very knowledgeable -- she provided great recommendations. The food was DELICIOUS, as were the mimosas! We got a side of pulled pork as an appetizer along with the fried gator and the flavor of the pork was amazing. I had the Monte Cristo and it was very satisfying. This is a must try spot in Melbourne. read more

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Located in downtown Melbourne, this place is dishing up some southern goodies. As soon as you walk in, you can appreciate the decor that really does give homage to the natural beauty of Florida. You add your name on a tablet and specify which type of table you want. There are tables with griddles so you can make your own pancakes or regular tables available. There is usually a little more wait for the griddle tables. We got there pretty early so we waited about 5 minutes for our griddle table. This really makes for a family fun experience!! The menu items are great! They have a lot of southern classics with their own unique twists. For example they have chicken and citrus waffles, shrimp and grits and a grilled mac and cheese sandwich!! Did I mention they have alligator bites too? We got the DIY lemon poppy seed pancakes and half the fun is making them, but the flavor is absolutely delish!! We also tried the fried green tomatoes which are in a corn meal batter. Nice and crispy! And of course, can't leave without some loaded grits. It was delicious, loaded with cheese, bacon bits and chives! The service here is great too. Our waitress was so kind and made great recommendations. She also helped us navigate the menu because it was our first time. The staff did check up on us and made sure we had enough drinks the whole time. Very helpful and kind people. This is a must try in Melbourne! read more

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A taste of the south! You have two options for breakfast. Either a regular table where you order omelettes, etc or a table with a hot plate in the center so you can make your own pancakes. How cool is that!? I tried and made the lemon poppy seed pancakes which was delicious! Only thing it can get a little warm because the hot plate is in front of you but it's not too bad. We also tried the fried green tomatoes which was good. Eggs, thick bacon and loaded grits which was delicious. We didn't get the loaded Mac and cheese but our friends did and it was a he best I've had. Simply amazing. Service was great and the people working there are fantastic and friendly. read more

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Such a fun breakfast / brunch spot. I've eaten at both locations. Enjoyed supporting downtown Melbourne. There was quite the line on a Friday morning but you can put your name on the list. We didn't wait long before a bar spot opened and decided to park it there. Enjoyed a Bloody Mary and grapefruit mimosa. The waitresses are busy but still remain attentive. Food fresh/local/yummy. Such a fun looking spot with lots of cool artwork, etc read more

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Perfect Breakfast. Service fast and friendly and the food was fantastic. Highly recommend their Hambone Sammy. Home fries and bacon also terrific. We will be back for sure! read more

Fast seating (for 2). Very pleasant staff. Open until 2pm 7 days a week. Variety of Mimosas! Blood Orange Mimosa was good! Seasonal mimosas offered. read more

Backwater - Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer with Blood Orange Mimosa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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The best breakfast spot in Historic Downtown Melbourne! This place came recommended by a local artist from the area. We were so happy we came. You can choose to sit at a griddle and make your own pancakes, or sit at a table and have them make your food. We chose the latter. The buttermilk pancakes were huge and tasty. The eggs were perfectly basted as I had asked, and the bacon was nice and crispy. The Mexican omlette with potatoes were so good. Definitely recommend it! read more

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Celiac Disease/Gluten-Free Review Wow!! What an amazingly incredible experience!! This place has the ambiance of this place just says they want you to enjoy your backwater adventure. The decor is very besetting the backwater theme. To me the food and the service, here, are tied together. I have Celiac Disease and the waitress was very helpful with what I could have, with what she recommended for me and also making sure the kitchen staff were handling things correctly and properly to protect me from gluten and cross contamination. To me ~ this was an epic experience and a wonderful place to recommend! When we are back in the Melbourne area ~ this place is definitely on "We'll be back!" list! Thank you for a great experience! read more

Backwater - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

Backwater has the best breakfast, huge portions, great, friendly service. If you want to cook your own pancakes, you can right at your table. read more

This place was amazing! Not only was the service absolutely excellent and the servers so very nice which made the whole experience even better but the food was absolutely delicious that alligator was so good and the sauce that it dips in I wish I knew how to make that at home. You can choose a regular table for dining or you can choose a griddle or you can make your own pancakes there's a little menu where you can choose the different type of pancake batter you want to use and a bunch of different toppings and then they give that all to you and you get to make them right there at your table and order other things off the menu as well it was such a fun yummy experience I will definitely go back! read more

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Was in town a month ago and tried this place out. Was a busy Saturday morning and the wait was around 40 minutes, but managed to get 2 seats at the counter within 5 minutes. Fast and very friendly service. Had the Bayou Benedict and it was incredible. read more

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. First, I want to thank Katie for helping us navigate the menu and sharing her favorite dishes! Her service from beginning to end was amazing. I wanted to try so much on the menu, but I'm only in town visiting . I ordered the carolina pulled pork and gator bites for the appetizers. The pulled pork was the best thing I have put on my palate all month. Omg. It was so juicy and flavorful. The gator bites were perfectly cooked, but something was missing. The sauce it came with was DELICIOUS so that certainly made up for it. I think a little lemon juice would've done this dish some good. For the entree, I had the bayou Benedict with a side of grits. Also DELICIOUS. I also had the mimosa flight (You get to select 4, and I tried everything but the strawberry one). Everything was pretty good. The grapefruit one was the most refreshing. The atmosphere was very family friendly and the other staff members we interacted with were nice as well. If I'm ever in town again, I will 100% be back to visit! read more

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Such a fun place for breakfast or brunch. We just barely beat the crowd and so glad we did. They had tons of gluten free and southern specialities there was just so much to choose from. You can also get a table with a griddle so you make your own pancakes right then and there. They even had fun flavors and gluten free pancakes yoi could make. We opted for the gf pancakes with Nutella and the batter made so many we actually had leftovers. My husband got the boss hog which he thought was one of the best breakfast ever. It was super filling and also all reasonably priced. Really fun spot. read more

Backwater - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

Meh...it's ok. Nothing special. The grills are unique I guess, but I didn't want to sit at a table with a hot grill in my face. Service was ok, but it wasn't busy. It would have been sketchy if it was busy. I had the Greek Omelet and added mushrooms. It was kinda watery. Coffee was decent, when I had some in my cup. Overall I wouldn't make a special trip to eat here, but it was a convenient walk from the place I stayed while in town. read more

My sister recommended this place for brunch recently and I'm glad she did. It's not a very large restaurant inside and it can get quite busy depending on the type of seating you would like. They have griddle top tables where you can make your own pancakes, but if you want normal seating they have that too. The restaurant has a very Floridian energy and is very cute inside. I got the Pulled Pork Benedict which is Eastern Carolina pulled pork with two poached eggs over a grilled biscuit topped with hollandaise and served with home fries or grits. I was very excited to try this as I grew up with Carolina style pulled pork and it is hard to come by in Florida. It was delicious! My husband got the pancakes and they were just as delicious. The pancakes were on the sweet side and had a nice vanilla taste. For the price, the portions were rather large and the quality was great. I also appreciate that they have options on the menu if you have family with dietary restrictions (vegetarian, gluten free, etc.) There is parking located across the street from the restaurant. read more

Backwater - Buttermilk Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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Impeccable food in unsuspecting spot. You'll have to wait more than likely. Even have to find a parking spot & walk to here. But it's all worth it. One of our families favorite spots for good homespun food. You'll not leave here hungry. And if you have kids, one of the very cool things is the tables with flat tops where you can cook your own pancakes right at the table! A kid favorite! If you're solo or just two - sit at the bar/counter. Small place but definitely worth the wait! read more

Backwater - The Boss Hog Breakfast skillet. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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Wow. Super awesome. Very impressive. We are staying at the Hilton next door. Went to breakfast. Eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy and the pancakes are all awesome. Great staff. Super friendly. Eat here. read more

Walked in on a very busy Saturday morning and there was a two seater high top my buddy and I were told first come, first serve at them tables, You know we took it. Demi served us and she did a great job. Awesome experience and great service by Demi. We will be back. Im from SC. read more

I see why the rating is so high. The food and service are amazing I have shaved rib eye sandwiches with blue cheese. It was steaming hot and the melted blue cheese was so good. And I'm not even a blue cheese fan. I also had a side of fried gator. Never Tried. So had to tried. Not my favorite. It's like fried conch. read more

Backwater - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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One of the hidden Gems of Melbourne Food is incredible Service is tip top Has a family atmosphere. Definitely will go again !!! read more

Food was a delicious blend of southern comfort! The entire platter of thick bacon, crispy potatoes, homemade biscuit and eggs w/ cheese had me in a happy place. The fresh squeezed lemonade was an added joy as well...The customer service , friendly small town feel , fast turnaround and inviting service was indeed a joy . I wish I had a little more time to revisit this gem. read more

Backwater - Southern Breakast w/ Scr eggs & cheese + biscuit $15 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

Last month visited and had another awesome breakfast! Everything was perfect from the Vegetarian black cherry grits, Eggs Benedict, Sausage Biscuit meal. We were surprised how busy it was during the week but everything arrived in a timely manner and has awesome service. It's always clean inside whenever we visit! Thank you for another awesome breakfast! read more

Backwater - Vegetarian sausage and gravy on freshly made buttermilk biscuits. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

Amazing place and Ricky is the best! Food is amazing! A must go!! Everything is fresh and you can make pancakes at your table!!

EXCELLENT! This is a breakfast/brunch place. It closes at 2pm and we arrived around 1:30. The staff was able to fit us at a blackstone table just before they shut down the blackstones. They were TERRIFIC! A blackstone table is a table with a blackstone/flat top grill in the center of the table. We made out our pancakes, with designs and toppings. INCREDIBLE! I hope everyone visits this place...it's AWESOME! read more

Backwater - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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One word, YUM! This place is solid 10, the servers are very nice and the food was simply amazing. They have a lot of variety which makes it the perfect spot for brunch lover! If you are in Melbourne you can't miss it ! read more

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A 5 star breakfast/brunch/lunch spot in Melbourne! They serve up a lot of breakfast favorites with a Southern influence. Came here when I was in town for a Sunday breakfast with friends and it did not disappoint! I've heard about this spot before and knew about it for the griddles that are at tables where you can cook your own pancakes. I haven't seen a concept like this before and always wanted to try it. Funny enough, during this visit, I came late so I didn't actually get to make the pancakes but it was still fun to watch friends do it and indulge in the finished product. The inside is very on theme and leans into the "Everglades" backwater vibes. The service was so friendly and super accommodating. We had a pretty large group with people coming in at different waves and they were able to add us to the table and add some chairs. They also were more than willing to give us recommendations and constantly checked in on us. For food (other than the pancakes), I got the shrimp & grits. This is my go-to when I see it on the menu. The flavors were really good and the portion large. Overall, a great experience and can't wait to come back again the next time I'm in town! read more

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Honestly the best egg sandwich I have ever had. Great ambiance, but very loud as it's always packed. Good prices and huge portions!!! read more

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Backwater was amazing. The place itself was BUSY!!! Our server L was an absolute delight. She is a pro at her job and went above and beyond for us. What a cute restaurant inside! My husband and I did not sit at one of the tables with the built in griddle. We ordered off the menu. I had the penny stack with bacon and everything was cooked perfectly. The seasonal pancake was peaches and cream. My husband got the Bourbon Revival. It was the best Monte Cristo I have ever tasted. The Bourbon Raspberry sauce was delicious!!! Must try!!! read more

Backwater - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

I heard great things so we had this on our list to try. The griddle table was such a hit with the kids to make their own pancakes. We opted for the colored batter to allow them to make some designs. I also ordered a breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and grits. We added the breakfast potatoes too. I'm so sorry but.. the eggs were slimey in the middle so I only had a few bites. The grits were cold and flavorless. There were chunks inside and they were crunchy. They didn't take like they were cooked all the way. The line of people outside waiting to get in made us worry that we would have a long wait. We had been told it was 35 minutes.. within 2 minutes we were called in to be seated. They said that larger parties were waiting and since we were smaller we could fit so we got in sooner. The waitress was nice and our food came pretty quick but then we never got a refill on our drink. We went to the bathroom before we left and it was not great. The floor was so sticky. There is no sign outside showing the name of the place, maybe they are replacing it? I'm not sure. If you wanna come to let the kids experience the griddle to make their own pancakes, then go. Maybe we went on an off day? Again, this place was busy. We won't be back. read more

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Decided to go back to Backwater for breakfast since I saw lots of menu items I wanted to try. This time was just as delicious As I entered, I was kindly greeted. The place was busy as people were enjoying breakfast on a Saturday morning. I was seated and looked over the menu. I let my server know what I tried before and asked for a recommendation. She hi-lighted their BOSS HOG. I ordered and she brought me coffee as well. This menu item was incredible. The presentation was amazing. Provolone stuffed sausage with balsamic onions. Loaded cheese and bacon grits with a sunny side up egg. WOW Check out the food pic! I enjoyed the Boss Hog as much, if not more than the Bayou Benny I had last time. I will return to try more items. read more

Backwater - Boss Hog Provolone stuffed sausage Balsamic onions Cheese and bacon grits Sunny side up egg - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

We enjoy going here but so do a lot of other people. The wait times are longer because the ambiance is chill, the food is delicious and the drinks are thirst quenching and good. My favorite is their Bloody Mary extra spicy. We have done the grill and we have also done just the regular menu. Service people have always been super friendly and helpful. Each time we went, the food was delicious. We went on Father's Day and the wait was over an hour and the same thing the second time. There are no reservations, and so it's best to go early and put your name on the list and have someone wait. Don't go hungry because when you smell the food from the tables, it's just torture. Gotta try their shrimp and grits, the eggs Benedict was yum too. Overall, a must go to, we went to the location of Wickham. read more

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Definitely a busy place. Our wait for a party of six was about 45 minutes. BUT this was just after noon on a Sunday. Understandable and okay with that. Once we got in and seated, the first thing we all noticed? That it was quite warm in the building. Nothing worse than trying to enjoy a good meal and fine company when you are on the verge of sweating. That needs to be corrected. Between the six of us, we ordered a wide variety of the menu items, so it was fun taste testing. And we loved the splashy names given the food fare. Our Backwater Guide for this excursion was Cherokee M. She did an excellent job navigating the bayous of our dining desires. I ordered the Fried Green Tomato BLT, along with a cup of Gator Gumbo. So now I am hooked on doing BLT's with fried green tomatoes! That combination takes this venerable sandwich to a whole new level. AND the Gator Gumbo was scrumptious! BIG chunks of gator meat and all. Florida WILD meets Cajun STYLED! My Fav Fab One ordered the Shaved Ribeye Sandwich. She enjoyed it. Hmmm, so did I. Leftovers, baby! Overall, it was a great time had by all. Lots of laughs and lovin' over some mighty fine feastin'. read more

Backwater - Fried Green Tomato BLT! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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Backwater is a fun breakfast spot that accommodates to most diets including gluten free which is awesome! They have griddles at some of the tables where you can make and design your own pancakes which is absolutely cool! If in the area and craving some bomb pancakes, this place is a must!! read more

Backwater - Tofu scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, Florida