We enjoyed a fine holiday lunch on Christmas day with friends. We had shrimp and pasta with alfredo sauce and grilled mahi with asparagus and risotto. Our meals included a good salad bar. Our service was very good. The ambiance was pleasant and made conversation easy. Although I was a bit anxious due to the less than generous reviews in 2025, we thoroughly enjoyed our meals and we plan to return again soon. read more

We are visiting for the weekend and we were looking for something local to eat and found The shack on google. Here are my thoughts Parking: it's complementary valet parking Service: 7/10 we made reservations because we didn't know what to expect but there was no wait time. Everyone was super friendly! Ambience/Crowd: it's a mixed group but its family friendly actually perfect for a big group Food/drink : 5/10 we had the SW egg rolls, calamari, and stuffed mushrooms for appetizers, for entrees we had scallops with risotto, fried shrimp, and Cajun pasta. The mushrooms are AMAZING! My mom loved the shrimp and I loved the scallops just wish they weren't on a bed of risotto. I misread the menu. We didn't like the egg rolls or calamari. Favorite thing: stuffed mushrooms and live music! Least favorite thing: risotto Overall enjoyed our experience. read more

The Shack Riverfront - Crab Stuffed Mushrooms Fried Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

04/01/2026 Went for dinner 8 of us service was horrendous. 2 waiters for entire restaurant. Couldn't keep up with the amount of people indoors and outdoors. Food most came out cold or luke warm. My steak burger was a dripping mess I had to eat it with a knife and fork. Waiter for one of our party's order, the clam chowder when it came it was cold and no spoon. Had to call him back for spoon and his drink order. He ordered the scallops at $46 he got 3 medium size over cooked. Ridiculous!! At that price at least 5 would have been acceptable. To top it off 25% minimum tip. REALLY ?? Will NEVER go back ... Really sad because the view is gorgeous and could be a very nice restaurant. read more

Burnt $46 crab cakes need I say more! Served in a puddle of greasy risotto. Grouper bites served with NO LEMON!!! Greasy fish tacos advertised as going to "change my world "....and it was not for the better!! Come for the view, have a cocktail & leave!!! read more

Food was lacking Crab cakes were bland Took forever to get food and wasn't even warm read more

See all

Food was amazing. Had the shrimp. Friends had lobster, snapper and Cajun chicken pasta. Love the renovations and updates. Valet service was good read more

Food was very good. Appetizers were great, grouper bites and spicy calamari. I feel that they jacked up the prices for Valentines Day and the valet parking experience was awful! We left about 5:45 with plenty of time to catch the sunset but the ungodly long wait to get our car made us miss the 6:25 sunset! They need to hire more help out there because every time we go it's a long wait for our car. read more

The Shack Riverfront - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

Waitress was awesome. Food description is not good. I ordered Lobster Mac And Cheese. It came with no breadcrumbs on top and was all cut up lobster claws. Wasn't creamy at all and it was way over priced $42. Also went there to see a band that was supposed to play from 6:30 to 10:30 and they played 2:30 to 6:30 read more

The Shack Riverfront - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

the prices are way too high ,appetizers are as much as a dinner, casual dining with high end prices for meals and OMG , drink prices are insane, sooooo expensive.great place on the river but can't enjoy it as much as used to because prices are through the roofservice is not that great , noticed manager seemed so stressed out and alot of waitresses appeared to have a chip on their shoulder. read more

Experience: met a friend here for a quick drink on a Sunday at 2:00 pm. Facility: cute place on the water. There is indoor seating and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating has some steps down to lower levels too... each one closer to the water. They had a live band that played top 40s mix that was nice. There are regular chairs and tables and high chairs at the bar. They have valet parking so don't worry about the parking lot looking small or full... pull in and they got you. Service: everyone was polite. The hostess told me it was open seating outside. The bartender served us at the bar. She was nice too but a little slow... understandably as it got busy. Food: we only ordered appetizers. We had chips and salsa and queso. The chips and queso were great and the salsa good but a little sweet to me. Then we had the seafood melted dip and it was really good with a nice big portion to share. Overall: I really want to come back and try more of the food here. Lots of yummy choices of seafood, nice regular American fare and bar food too. read more

The Shack Riverfront - View from our seats - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

Stopped to check it out and got a happy hour drink. Very friendly bartender. Nice outside setting. Dining room looked inviting. We would consider going back for dinner or a meal. read more

Great food. Service mid but beautiful view. Fun Karaoke night. Things to know 1. Everything is ala cart 2. Only valet parking in lot. 3. Great rocket launch viewing 4. World's best clam chowder read more

See all

We stopped for lunch after picking guest up from the Melbourne airport and everyone was starving as it was 2:10 PM , got there around 2:30. Of course Mother's Day crowd and was told there were no available reservations for seats unless it was at bar or high tops in bar which we did get 1 right up next to the band. They were good by the way but we got a "mother's day specials" menu. Was kinda expensive as we just wanted some apps and hand helds but the prefix menu had large meals with a Salad bar and sundae bar included . I still ordered the smash burger that was marginal . No mustard , catchup was brought to the table , didn't have pickles or lettuce or tomatoes on it . Just bun , meat and cheese . I had to as for some mustard and matchup . Fries were good . Hubbys salmon was dry and the veggies and side was cold . Our guests food was lame for the $49 price tag in the lobster Mac and cheese. Looked like craft macaroni and cheese . The sundae bar , what an embarrassment. Soft serve with sprinkles and crushed Oreos . If you attemp to make it nice and give a $39 or $49 menu and don't give people the option of ordering off your regular menu which has more variety . I feel it was lame! No chef quality more like a tired assisted living vibe. We were so embarrassed to bring our guest here and we will NOT be back nor will we recommend it to friends . Terrible attempt read more

Great food, reasonable prices. Excellent service. We will definitely return!! Great views and not loud!!

Food was cold, service was pretty slow and prices were outrageous. Will not be back again.

We came for karaoke tonight and had a fabulous dinner, good drinks and an absolute blast singing and hanging out! The bartender Kristy took very good care of us, and we had a blast hanging out with the other patrons. Unfortunately, one of the servers (Taylor?) was completely unprofessional and made quite a scene all night. She was harassing customers, got on the microphone at the end of the night and told everyone to get the fuck out, was visibly drunk, belligerent and all around unprofessional. I've been in the service industry for over 20 years and the way she held herself was not okay. She wasn't even our server but managed to really take away from our experience. Not cool! Besides her we had a fabulous night. Get more professional servers! read more

See all

We went on Christmas Day and had lunch. It was very good and came with a salad bar and sundae bar. The waitress was wonderful. Definitely want to go back. read more

Don't let the view fool you, like the waitress Mary fooled me, we gave her a $10.00 CASH tip, and she took it a upon herself to give herself another $16.00 out of our debit card. Actually, she ripped us off. My advice to every patron that goes to this SHACK, check your receipt's and your bank accounts to see if you've been ripped off by Mary the BIG TIPPER!!! The Fish and Chips was rather mush and fries, Mrs. Paul's quality and not worth the money. The View was distracting me from what is really going on in this SHACK! How do you trust someone like this handling your food? THE SHACK ON THE RIVERFRONT is full of FRIES, LIES, and little bitting FLIES, Mary's advice is to use COCO BUTTER, and the FLIES won't bite you. read more

See all

Been there a few times and the food is amazing every time. It's right on the river and the views are beautiful. The service is always on point. Everyone has such a great attitude and personality. read more

I went here for a late lunch, I had the Shrimp and chips. It was very good. Then for dessert, I had the best Key Lime pie that I ever had. I guess it's made by a local and bought to the restaurant. Washed everything down with a couple of Intracoastal Lagers-perfect. read more

See all

With little parking, this place was hard to get into. A dirt parking lot and the only place available was in front of someone's home... very awkward and left me feeling uncomfortable leaving my vehicle. The entrance is nice! A beautiful sign to welcome you and a charming little scenic walk down a pathway leading you to the bar. The view is the first thing you see and it's breathtaking! A stunning outdoor tiki bar with lots of patio seating facing the water that makes you really feel like you are on an island. The service was so slow it felt like we were abandoned the whole time, having to get up to ask for a menu, a drink, place an order of food and to get our check. I started with a classic dirty martini that tasted like water and had very little olive juice. I then ordered the salmon with Cajun cream "sauce", crispy fries and a side of broccoli with cheese. The fries were amazing! A delicious crunch and seasoned very well. The broccoli and cheese was good too! The fish and sauce.... Oh boy. The fish was over cooked and dry as a desert!! With a thick and gritty bowl of slop they called sauce. It not only looked unappealing but tasted horrendous. I pushed it aside and focused on my fries. And at $30, unacceptable. I try giving any place a second shot, but without the attentiveness and overall being ignored, there was no one's attention to even bring this disappoint to. This is a stunning little spot that feels like a slice of heaven for your eyes, but my tastebuds say no! read more

See all

First, the 2$$ signs are not accurate. This restaurant is VERY pricey. The fare was ok but not upscale to match their pricing. You're paying for the view and atmosphere. Better, less expensive options available. Sorry ! read more

Closed Sept 23, 2025, it was a new record in deplorable conditions. Taken from Florida Today, "one of the worst in Brevard." Are you going to chance it? High Priority - Live, small flying insects found, 2 flying insects observed at sever area. **Repeat Violation** High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. One in coffee pot. **Admin Complaint** High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. 15 rodent droppings found in storage area at entrance to kitchen. 20 in hallway behind banquet room. 2 on window in dish washing area. 6 under equipment on cook line. 4 on dry stores area shelves. 6 in HVAC area near bathrooms. 53 total. **Admin Complaint** High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Ice cream uncovered with dripping water from freezer top. High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Located at near walk in freezer. Intermediate - Establishment advertised fresh juice, but juice was not prepared within 12 hours of sale and/or juice contains additives. Operator is advertising fresh ingredients for multiple drinks using store bought or commercially processed substitutes; fresh strawberry purée, fresh coconut cream, fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh peaches, and fresh lime. **Warning** Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda gun soiled at southeast corner of exterior bar. Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Exterior hand wash sink near ice machines being used at dirty dish sink. Intermediate - Identity of food or food product misrepresented. Caesar dressing states house made on menu but it comes from vender. Menu has Wagyu steaks listed but they are no longer offered. **Warning** Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Exterior hand wash sink near ice machines. Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Operator has moved mop sink, added exterior service station with no hand wash sink, and added ice machines **Warning** Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Exterior sink near ice machines. Count Violation 1 + Approved source 3 + Food protection, cross-contamination 1 + Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized 4 + Handwash sinks, handwashing supplies and handwash sign 1 * Sewage and wastewater disposed properly 3 * Plumbing installed and maintained; mop sink; water filters; backflow prevention 3 * No presence or breeding of insects / rodents / pests; no live animals, outer openings protected from insects / pests, rodent proof. 2 * Misrepresentation; misbranding 2 In use food dispensing utensils properly stored 1 Clean clothes; hair restraints; jewelry; painted / artificial fingernails 2 Food-contact and nonfood-contact surfaces designed, constructed, maintained, installed, located 1 Single-service and single-use items 5 Floors, walls, ceilings and attached equipment properly constructed and clean; rooms and equipment properly vented 1 Other conditions sanitary and safe operation read more

The Shack Riverfront - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

Was convinced to give The Shack yet another try by some out of town friends who used to eat there 20+ years ago when they lived here. Their decision was based more on nostalgia than logic! Despite me telling them it had changed ownership and that their prices were ridiculous, they still wanted to go. As expected, food quality was sub par... 2 stars at best. They are more expensive than The Yellow Dog or The Brevardian, with big fancy menu ideas but without the skills to deliver. This was my third try with the new owners ... strike 3 ... you are out. Look at their recent restaurant inspection reports and you will see how miserably they failed that ... they were actually shut down by the county! (Taken from Florida Today, "one of the worst in Brevard." Are you going to chance it? High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Multiple areas of rat droppings noted. Read the full review here from another poster. ) Do yourself a favor... spend your hard-earned money someplace that earns it! read more

Hubby and I visited this restaurant for our TGIF date night and loved our experience here. Very lively atmosphere, fun vibe, quick service, decent food. Great for date nights or for going out with group for celebrations. The band plays great music. We felt like we were transported to another world because Melbourne area is pretty secluded and rural. The views are great. There are few benches on the lakefront as well. Must visit if you are in the area. read more

See all

We have been there 3 times in the past 2 months. Each time the food was amazing!! Unfortunately, twice the entertainment was SO loud, we could not even have a conversation. We were sitting to the back of the outside setting, too. Our waitress, Tiffany, was so good, we asked for her again! The last time we went, she was not available, so we had Michelle. Altho she was good, there were large parties going on, and our food took over an hour to get to our table. We had bought family with us, up from Broward County, and that did NOT make a good impression. However, the food was still top notch and we will come back, as we are locals. However, the menu has changed, and unless the portions get larger, it may not be a weekly treat. They need to do a sound check for their entertainment, so that customers can converse without shouting. Also, the person that does Bingo on Wednesday nights needs to tone down his vulgar language. There are children that come, that do NOT need to hear how he talks. read more

The Shack Riverfront - Matilda's Chocolate Cake!! - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

See all

my experience was mid at best. we went on thanksgiving, as we had just moved here and not unpacked a thing. we wanted a nice holiday experience. their ad looked good; they offered a fixed price menu ($39.95 pp) with choice of entrees. i had the prime rib. it was a very small, thin cut and overcooked. the only really good thing we had was the lobster bisque from the salad bar; THAT i can recommend. when we got the bill, we ended up paying $140 for two. the cocktail each of us had was extra (understandable), but very expensive! i'm glad we didn't also opt for the dessert too, as they were pricey and an add-on as well. the other thing i'd note is that the restaurant was totally unprepared for the possibility of rain, which does happen in florida. they have no covers to deploy for their outside seating, so when the skies opened up, many folks with reservations - like us - had to wait over an hour for our tables, because all the outdoor seating was rendered unusable. all in all, we'd have had a better holiday experience if we'd ordered chinese and eaten on the floor of our new home. very disappointing for the price. i wouldn't do it again. read more

Overpriced and Underwhelming - Poor Service at The Shack Riverfront We came for Sunday lunch--my daughters, niece, and I--and spent over $150 expecting a quality experience. Instead, we got a wilted, slimy Caesar salad with a $42 lobster mac and cheese, and when we asked to substitute soup, we were told only another salad could be offered. I added the salad bar to my meal and found a dead fly in the beets. No manager came over. No apology. Not even a small discount offered. For a restaurant that boasts a James Beard award and claims to have beaten Bobby Flay, the customer service was shockingly poor. We left disappointed read more

The Shack Riverfront - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

The good - The view doesn't get much better. Beautiful tropical setting right on the Indian river. Regular live bands, nice dance area. The bad - parking is pretty much valet only and your car will most likely end up in a dirt lot on the other side of the highway. The ugly - they had a recent menu change and their prices are beyond outrageous, and on top of that seem to have no rhyme or reason. $15 for a burger with fries, not bad but $21 for fried ravioli? $23 for calamari? Two of the cheapest foods. $20+ for a salad? Entrees are $40+. Their food prices don't reflect the area, it's not a resort or Miami. Add to this, they add a 2% fee to ALL checks to pay for music. Two draft beers with tip was over $20 read more

In town on vacation, looking for a casual seafood dining experience & The Shack delivered. The option to choose between indoor or outdoor, and both had a water view. We opted for the deck overlooking the water. Our server Jamie was awesome, very friendly, attentive and gave great recommendations. He definitely enhanced our dining experience. We tried a variety of dishes, from the calamari, fried cod bites, to the jambalaya, shrimp scampi, fried flounder. All were very tasty, nothing was over cooked or fried and the sauces had good flavor. The only fish I would not recommend was the crab cakes, but 4 out of 5 meals being a hit is no fail in my book. We'd go back next visit for sure. read more

See all

Great service, food is good. Great view. Great live music and dancing. Right on the water. read more

The Shack Riverfront - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

amazing vibes, such a great happy crowd. the band was amazing and even gave out cupcakes for the singers birthday! I got the buffalo chicken sandwich, the fries were cooked perfectly. The chicken was good but I didn't taste much buffalo sauce. The blue cheese was strong and tasty read more

The Shack Riverfront - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

4.5 Tasty food. Nice portions. Food is a bit pricey. Good drink specials. Happy hr 11am to 6pm. Aaron, bartender was attentive & gave food recommendations. Tiki bar with plenty of seating & nice view of the river. Enjoyable experience. Complimentary valet only. read more

See all

This is one of our favorite spots. The ambience is nice and fun. The food is very good. The management is very nice. read more

See all

WOW the food was absolutely delicious, I have pictured here the Hangover Burger. The patty was juicy, bacon was crunchy and the spicy aioli was the perfect amount of spice I DEFINITELY recommend ordering it! For drinks I ordered the Aloha which is sweet, easy and fruity! I also ordered the Tiki Juice WOW it was strong ,which is what you want from a drink you payed for, the after taste is fruity and sweet as well so it's strong AND yummy! The service is great, everyone was beyond nice! Sitting in the shade in front of the water feels so nice and fresh. read more

The Shack Riverfront - Hangover Burger Tiki Juice - Seafood Near Me - Palm Bay, Florida

See all

Very disappointed in my last couple visits. This is one of my favorite places when visiting Florida. The last few times the food was horrible and way over priced compared to before. What a disappointment!!! read more

Where do I start? I had clam chowder which was actually potato chowder...you had to hunt for the clams. Predominantly fried food choices. No catch of the day. Prices were exorbitant. Never going back! read more

We used to frequent more often. The food is very good, but recently it's gotten a little pricey. The service though is on point. We usually sit at the bar. The bartenders are very attentive. We especially like Christine (I think that's her name). She is wonderful. The atmosphere and music on a sunny day is enjoyable and fun. read more

See all

Very overpriced our cocktails were not good margaritas and pina colada not good Need better raining on mixology Our food just ok very overpriced for what you get Not sure we'll be back 3 of us $160 Our server Mary was great but not worth the price and menu difference every time we come read more

Had a reservation on 12/25/2025 for 4 for 1 pm. One ordered ham, 2 ordered grouper & one ordered blackened mahi. Mahi was not eaten due to way too much salt. Informed our waitress to let the chef know that the mahi was way too salty. She did. Didn't offer anything off our bill until we asked. The manager then took off ONE drink for the $39.00 meal! Will not return for that reason! read more