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    Backwater

    4.6 (930 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    BACKWATER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Backwater

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    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.

    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.

    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!!!

    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.

    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.

    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

    Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer with Blood Orange Mimosa
    Sheryl A.

    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.

    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!

    Loryl S.

    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!

    Mimosa Flight
    Adriane L.

    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!

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    8 months ago

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    5 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

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

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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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    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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    4 years ago

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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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    First Watch

    First Watch

    3.4(82 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Thank you Brittany for an amazing service!…read more We came here for the first time from California. I have to say the ambiance is very country chic modern. The service was friendly. The food was serviced within 10 minutes of ordering our breakfast. The prices are very good considering I would have charged more for what we ordered due to the quality and taste of the food. The food is well beyond average and could even be considered 5 star in my opinion. This place needs a Michelin star! We ordered from a seasonal menu The chimichurri steak came with potatoes and over easy egg. The chimichurri sauce on top was a very good balance taste. I would come back for this every week. I was so excited to try this I forgot to take a photo before I ate it !!

    A slow morning at First watch....it was very chilly in the restaurant…read more Seated right away and had our drink order taken. Ordered up the Trifecta and a Skillet Hash. Trifecta was perfecta....good amount of eggs and meat. The waffle was hot and crispy. My skillet came out and I was hard pressed to find the avocado. It had to have been the smallest avocado ever harvested. I am sure they placed the teeny pieces where they were supposed to but the affect was lost due to the miniature slices. They did bring me some extra so I had enough. The potatoes had a weird after taste/finish. We think it was the paprika the use in the blend of the preseasoning of the packaged potatoes (server said they are seasoned when they get them). Either way it really was meh. Our server was attentive and other servers grabbed stuff for us. A fourth star is coming if they can figure out the seasoning on the potatoes.

    Photos
    First Watch
    First Watch
    First Watch

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    The Roots Restaurant Tavern - Cowboy Burger Lunch

    The Roots Restaurant Tavern

    4.4(132 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    **INITIAL REVIEW**…read more Most of my fellow Yelpers know if food were categorized by a genre, breakfast and brunch has a special place in my heart. Ergo, I am on the constant search for more breakfast and brunch places to add to my repertoire. With that in mind, I must stress that Historic Downtown Melbourne a.k.a. Melbourne Main Street has an amazing number of breakfast and brunch places. But the one I admire the most is The Roots Restaurant Tavern, which I will shorthand simply to The Roots for the remainder of this review. Though an address is provided, it must be stressed The Roots is a little "off the mainstreet" of Melbourne Main Street. Just west of the train tracks, the road splits in which the northernly direction is the continuation of New Haven Ave. or the actual Melbourne Main Street. The Roots is on the southern road, right next to The Iron Oak. Take note that The Roots is quite a cozy location. On the outside, The Roots has this look of an old saloon out in the wild west. There are a few tables and chairs for outdoor seating, excellent for people-viewing while eating your meal. Inside, The Roots looks delightfully tacky with all the knick-knacks hanging around and about on the walls. Imagine how Cracker Barrel used to look before the new CEO decided the decor should be more minimalist. But my statement on how The Roots looks small from the outside definitely shows when you are inside, too. The place is small. They definitely utilize the space as best they could, with large party seating being in the back for only one party. Still, take note of this limitation. My waitresses were very kind and attentive when serving me. But I am sure you all want to know about the food. The times I have eaten here, I have had three meals: The Eggs Benny Flight, and Pancake Flight, and Shrimp n' Grits. I will detail each in the pictures of food (if I have them), but I will say that everything here was delicious. My one lone criticism is that some of these flights are best enjoyed with another, not by yourself. On a sidenote, the restroom is clean and stocked, but there is only one and it is unisex. As I said earlier, The Roots is the best breakfast and brunch restaurant, well for me, in Historic Downtown Melbourne. So it is understandable why I am giving them a five-out-of-five stars for their review. Food, service, and ambiance are all excellent and the issues are way too minimal for me to consider them having any major affect. If you are ever going to eat at The Roots only once. My suggestion are the flights. Either eggs bennies, pancakes, or mimosas, you can't go wrong with any of them.

    It's a cute place and fun to go to. I got the pancake flight and loved I could pick different…read moreflavors

    Photos
    The Roots Restaurant Tavern - Keep Calm & Drink Wine

    Keep Calm & Drink Wine

    The Roots Restaurant Tavern - Shrimp and grits were so yum

    Shrimp and grits were so yum

    The Roots Restaurant Tavern

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    Mel's Tiki Cafe

    Mel's Tiki Cafe

    4.8(244 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    We had visited Mela years ago and loved it! We are in the Melbourne area and so wanted to try it…read moreout again and we think it is even better!! Tried the PB and banana waffle- WOW, Super yummy, and mt husband had the bltiki, delicious!! We will be back next time we are in the area!

    We had such a great experience at Tiki Café in Melbourne. From the moment we arrived, the…read moreatmosphere was welcoming and relaxed. Shannon was our waitress and she was incredibly sweet, charismatic, and attentive. She made us feel right at home and added such a positive energy to the whole experience. I ordered the "Kahili" Rainbow Bowl and my husband had the biscuit sliders with delicious tiki bacon!!! Both dishes were flavorful and absolutely delicious. The ingredients tasted fresh and the portions were generous without being overwhelming. You could tell care went into the preparation and presentation. We both ordered the Frothy Coffee, which ended up being one of our favorite parts of the meal. It was such a unique and fun touch and made the whole breakfast feel a little more special. It was delicious and different from your typical coffee drink. Everything from the food to the service made this a memorable stop during our trip. We enjoyed it so much that we're already hoping to come back again before we fly home. Highly recommend stopping here if you're in Melbourne and looking for a delicious breakfast with great service.

    Photos
    Mel's Tiki Cafe - Children's art work under the tiki bar roof!

    Children's art work under the tiki bar roof!

    Mel's Tiki Cafe - Create Your Own Breakfast Bowl

    Create Your Own Breakfast Bowl

    Mel's Tiki Cafe - Frothy coffee with coconut milk. Sooo darn tasty if you love iced coffee.

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    Frothy coffee with coconut milk. Sooo darn tasty if you love iced coffee.

    Backwater - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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