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    Backwater

    4.6 (935 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Backwater Takeout or Delivery

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    BACKWATER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Backwater

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    Reviews With Photos

    Boss hog and the Fried Gator Citrus Waffle
    Desiree R.

    A delicious, creative, and fun breakfast/supper gem in downtown Melbourne. The griddle top booth with pancakes is always a fun time with my family. The boss hog is exploding with flavor and my favorite breakfast dish. They have gluten free swaps for pancakes and for bread. The staff is super friendly and efficient. The food comes out pretty quick despite the crowd. I love all the Florida decor, It really just brings a unique vibe. They even have merch! Shirts for $15. Definitely our go to spot for brunch :)

    Waffle with orange zest and fried gator tail
    Amy P.

    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.

    Lena B.

    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!!!

    Dinner menu?
    Pedro S.

    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.

    Alligator Bites and Pulled Pork
    Quinncee P.

    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.

    Natalie J.

    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.

    Menu 1 of 2
    Nelson M.

    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!

    Orange Blossom Honey Pils
    Lori K.

    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.

    Southern Breakfast
    Stephany S.

    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!

    Entrance
    Adonis S.

    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.

    Brittany M.

    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

    Coffee
    Jeannie C.

    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!

    Randy T.

    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!

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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

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    1 year ago

    Food was ok I had way better the sweet tea was poorly made.this place I won't be going back i rather cook my self .

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Food is great, service was impeccable. The vibe was great as well, the decor was unique. Highly recommend!

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    4 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Great food, great service. Didn't wait too long to get a table during a very busy timw. Highly recommend.

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    1 year ago

    Plenty of delicious food and hard working staff. Highly recommend! The orange juice was fresh squeezed and the coffee was great.

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    1 year ago

    The food and service was good. I liked the atmosphere. I would come back next time I'm in the area.

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    Page 2 of 24

    Ask the Community - Backwater

    Are they letting people make their own pancakes again?

    They were when I was there a few weeks ago.

    Do the servers and kitchen staff wear masks?

    They did last time I was there. Here in FL it is hit or miss.

    Do they take reservations?

    No, they do not. You have to get there early! There will be a sheet where you can "sign-in" and indicate if you want a griddle or not. If you don't want the pancakes, the seating is first come, first serve!

    Are you (small) dog friendly?

    I do not believe so

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Hemingway's Tavern

    Hemingway's Tavern

    4.4
    (974 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Went here for Father's Day. They opened an hour earlier. Was expecting it to be packed, since they…read moredon't do reservations/take call ahead. Our party of 7 was seated fairly quickly. The place is really nice. Lots of great decor, and a live stream of Key West on a TV screen that we sat near. Food was absolutely delicious. I got the Guava Jerk Sirloin. It was cooked beautifully. The sauce was absolutely delicious. The mashed potatoes were loaded and massive, and the broccoli tasted great. Couldn't finish it, so took it home! I also got the Cafe con Leche, and it was wonderful. Would come here again!

    This restaurant was huge with lots of locals and tourist. I'd recommend the patio over the crowded…read moreinterior. There is a vegetarian section with three menu options. Two have chickpea as a source with the third no having a plant based source of protein in the dish. We confirmed with the server that the guacamole did not contain dairy so ordered the plantain chips and guac as an app- highly recommend. Then after having many other burgers/sandwiches on our trip I opted for the chickpea pasta with veggies and leaving off the parm to make it vegan. I appreciate the volume of veggies in the dish, though the sauce was a touch too oily. The main issue was the cooks WAY over cooked the chickpea pasta so when they tossed it with the sauce and veggies 2/3 of the pasta had broken apart...

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    Keke's Breakfast Cafe

    Keke's Breakfast Cafe

    4.0
    (362 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$
    Gluten-free friendly
    Casual dining

    This is one of my most favorite places for breakfast/brunch when I need a break from Disney…read more I LOVE (and I cannot stress this enough) LOVE the seasonal menus and how there's always something new to try. Literally everything I've had at Keke's has been amazing. The French Toast is usually my go-to as they have perfected it. The pancakes and waffles are also top tier. I would consider myself picky about bacon, as some places miss the mark, but Keke's always gets it right. I would definitely recommend getting your name on the list, especially on weekends, as this is a popular place (rightfully so). Service is always wonderful and atmosphere feels like a diner in your home town. Comparable to First Watch, but I think Keke's takes the cake. I love Keke's and will keep coming back!

    My husband ordered the Florida waffle with a black coffee. He absolutely loved the waffle and said…read morethe coffee was the best cup he has had since we arrived in Florida. We are from the PNW, so we tend to be a bit coffee snobby. He also mentioned the waffle was perfectly crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and topped with very fresh fruit. I ordered the Keke's Special combo with two pieces of French toast, bacon, cheesy grits, and a Peach Bellini. Everything was absolutely delicious. The cheesy grits were by far the best I have had in several years. Our waitress Noelle was wonderful and kind! She did a great job. Great food, great coffee, and a fantastic start to the day. We would definitely come back. Sorry I forgot to get pictures, it was just too delicious to wait.

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    Backwater - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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