Restaurants in Cocoa Beach

We will be staying in Cocoa Beach the day before our cruise departing out of Port Canaveral. Can anyone recommend a good restaurant for dinner in Cocoa Beach. Something mid price range would be great.

We will be staying in Cocoa Beach the day before our cruise departing out of Port Canaveral. Can anyone recommend a good restaurant for dinner in Cocoa Beach. Something mid price range would be great.

Trip advisor has some good suggestions. Google trip advisor, Cocobeach florida restaurants.

Enjoy your cruise.

Kelsey's Restaurant & Pizzeria (family friendly pizza / Italian near the port)

http://kelseyscanaveral.com/

Fishlips

http://fishlipswaterfront.com/

Rusty's Seafood and Oyster Bar

http://www.rustysseafood.com/

Grills Seafood (Grills/Rustys/Fishlips .. the portside trilogy ... I prefer Grills)

http://www.grillsseafood.com/newly-r...ort-canaveral/

The Mango Tree (a bit more $ in Cocoa Beach)

http://mangotree-restaurant.com/

Heidelberg Restaurant (Bavarian with an attached Jazz Cub .. Cocoa Beach)

http://heidelbergcocoabeach.com/

Coconuts on The Beach (this one is on the ocean if the wx is nice)

http://coconutsonthebeach.com/

Atlantic Ocean Grille (on the cocoa Pier - best view of all)

http://cocoabeachpier.com/cbp/restau...-ocean-grille/

Florida's Seafood Bar & Grill (popular for QUANITITY and selection ... but no view)

http://www.floridas-seafood.com/

We eat dinner at Kelsey's every time we're in PC. We were just there in early Feb and it was crowded. I had chicken parm and it was pretty good. We had lunch at Zachary's. We don't do seafood as I'm allergic to shrimp so I avoid shellfish. A lot of people go to Grill's or Fishlips but we don't. The PC/Cocoa beach area doesn't really have what I would consider "great" restaurants, but there are some decent ones.

Long Doggers is supposed to open today in Cocoa Beach (actually in Cocoa Beach while many of the other discussed places are actually in Cape Canaveral . . . )

Long Doggers has been around this area for quite a while with now 6 locations. It is a casual place, burgers, wings, hot dogs, menu:

http://www.longdoggers.com/LDMenuSM.pdf

it is on 520 just about a block west of Ron Jon .... the site of what was the Italian Courtyard, and near Florida's Sea Food Bar ..... no view, not on the water

In general Long Doggers does very good business with the locals but have not been on the beach . . . decor is 'surfer'

We loved Rusty's.

We LOVE Dixie Crossroads in Tittusville ( 14 miles from Cocoa ) been around forever - never miss a stop here when in Florida. We eat here going and coming. Famous for Rock Shrimp!:D

http://www.dixiecrossroads.com

We love Papa Vito's Italian Restaurant - you can google for the menu/info.

Great prices, pizza and salad was excellent! All the Italian dishes looked good.

It's in a small strip mall, but roomy inside. Local people were lined up to get in on a Saturday - so you know it's good!

Pam in KY

We LOVE Dixie Crossroads in Tittusville ( 14 miles from Cocoa ) been around forever - never miss a stop here when in Florida. We eat here going and coming. Famous for Rock Shrimp!:D

 

http://www.dixiecrossroads.com

LOVE Dixie Crossroads. If you time it right, they may have Red Royal shrimp in season. If they do, they taste like little lobsters. Yummy! We will be driving over to Dixie Crossroads the night before our cruise. We are on FOS on April 26.

30 years ago

Dixie X got fresh rock shrimp from Port Canaveral fishing boats

today there are no boats or receiving houses .. you can count Canaveral fishing boats on one hand

The place (Dixi X) survives on their history and gets their 'product' from elsewhere

We love Papa Vito's Italian Restaurant - you can google for the menu/info.

Great prices, pizza and salad was excellent! All the Italian dishes looked good.

It's in a small strip mall, but roomy inside. Local people were lined up to get in on a Saturday - so you know it's good!

Pam in KY

Luv Papa Vito's as well. $3 for one sixth of a 24" pie

30 years ago

 

Dixie X got fresh rock shrimp from Port Canaveral fishing boats

 

today there are no boats or receiving houses .. you can count Canaveral fishing boats on one hand

 

The place (Dixi X) survives on their history and gets their 'product' from elsewhere

Have to agree with Capt.

Last year we lived in Mims for 3 months and tried Dixie X several times each time hoping for better but it failed to impress. Always busy for sentimental reasons I guess but nowadays it is just OK in that area with not too many choices nearby. I simply cannot recommend driving all the way from Cocoa Beach to Titusville for a Dixie X experience.

Our list of happy places around Canaveral/Cocoa Beach continues to grow - from the happy hour bargains and great pizza at Papa Vito's, to Brano's to Euro Kafe to Florida's Fresh Grill to Thai Thai to Varga's and on and on!

I simply cannot recommend driving all the way from Cocoa Beach to Titusville for a Dixie X experience.

We were up in Titus' last Saturday and looking for a place for dinner ... I mentioned Dixi X and spousal unit gave a strong no . . .

We came down to Rockledge and went to Ashley's, another place that's been here since forever. We ate there regularly in the 80's when we lived closer. It was like old times ... friendly service and quick with good food.

http://www.ashleysofrockledge.com/

Great place .... oh by the way .... it is haunted ....

The legends concerning the ghosts of Ashley’s are varied. Writers and photographers, news reporters, psychics, and ghost hunters have investigated the restaurant, and each have come to their own conclusions. Some believe the spirit of a victim of an accident on either the highway in front of the building or the train tracks in the back may have wandered into the restaurant. Others believe it is the ghost of an elderly male employee who did odd jobs and lived upstairs that haunts the building. But most everyone agrees that there is something strange going on at Ashley’s. The question is: what?

It is believed that Ethel’s murder is the main source of the ghostly activity which happens, much of which seems to be centered on the ladies restroom. One manager has seen the feet of a woman dressed in 1930’s era footwear in the next stall, only to exit the her own stall and find that the other one is empty. Patrons have also reported apparitions of a young woman in the bathroom mirror.

The haunting is not limited to the ladies room though. A common experience is a feeling of being pushed by an invisible force while ascending or descending the stairs. Lights have been seen flickering on and off during the night, burglar alarms go off unexplainably, glasses and dishes fall and break without cause. Many employees tell of hearing whispering in the restaurant after closing, and often find objects have moved when opening the next morning.

References

Carlson, Charlie. Ashley's Shadow. 1. New Smyrna Beach, FL: Luthers, 2005.

Jenkins, Greg. Florida's Ghostly Legends and Haunted Folklore: South and central Florida. 1. Sarasota, Fl: Pineapple Press, 2005.

Moore, Joyce. Haunt Hunter's Guide to Florida. 3. Sarasota, Fl: Pineapple Press, Inc., 1998.

Myers, Arthur. The Ghostly Register. 1. Chicago, Il: Contemporary Books, Inc, 1986.

Luv Papa Vito's as well. $3 for one sixth of a 24" pie

Happy to see that someone else agrees! The first time, we almost didn't stop there - it wasn't very impressive from the outside. Best pizza, salad, cold beer, and the Italian dishes are delicious too - we would drive 30 miles to eat at Papa Vito's!

The family that owns it is very friendly and appreciated our praise!

Pam in KY

Sorry others don't like Dixie Crossroads - but we do - been going for years ( and years) since my grandma lived in Tittusville. My own kids grew up stopping there every year on oun annual pilgrimage to Miami to visit my family..... Love the hush puppies & rock shrimp - will eat there again next week as we head south for our cruise.

If you search on Trip Advisor, do NOT miss Big Kahuna. Get a reservation. You won't be disappointed.

Can anyone recommend Florida's Fresh Grill?

Sorry others don't like Dixie Crossroads - but we do - been going for years ( and years) since my grandma lived in Tittusville. My own kids grew up stopping there every year on oun annual pilgrimage to Miami to visit my family..... Love the hush puppies & rock shrimp - will eat there again next week as we head south for our cruise.

We still love Dixie Crossroads too; and Papa Vito's!

Can anyone recommend Florida's Fresh Grill?

Been there also. Very good. Don't let the fact that it's in a shopping mall scare you. It's really good!

Been there also. Very good. Don't let the fact that it's in a shopping mall scare you. It's really good!

Thanks! Yelp reviews seem really good, but it's nice to get reviews from this board! :)

Hi,

I have been to cocoa beach many times. Each time we go, we love Brano's. It's next to the Ron Jon area (not near the water for dining)...i wrote several trip advisors for cocoa beach restaurants..and that's usually where i go (tripadvisor) to find a new place to try. Brano's is moderately priced, casual dress, families, small bar area, indoor seating is quaint, and the food is italian..they have gluten free too if anyone needs that.

I have been to Rusty's right on the docks a few times...you literally see the ship sail right by you...and trust me, that's the only good thing about that place. If you are looking for bland food served in paper cups and cheap tableware, then that's your place. Oh, the other good thing there is the drink and draft beer specials.

Can anyone recommend Florida's Fresh Grill?

Florida Fresh Grill is a wonderful restaurant! But very popular (even the bar area fills up a few minutes after opening each afternoon at 5pm) so do call ahead to tell them when you plan to arrive.

About Dixie Crossroads - the OP is staying in Cocoa Beach so the question is whether or not to drive all the way over to Titusville for a Dixie X experience? No, in my humble opinion! The restaurants around and near Cocoa Beach are just too good nowadays.

Florida Fresh Grill is a wonderful restaurant! But very popular (even the bar area fills up a few minutes after opening each afternoon at 5pm) so do call ahead to tell them when you plan to arrive.

Thank you! :)