50 Best American Restaurants near Port Canaveral

“amazing menu. perfect views of the launch and cruise ships. happy hour everyday 4-6 with food and drinks. brunch on Sunday with unlimited mimosas and bloody mary drinks. request me to be your server.“

“The food was absolutely amazing! It was hot, fresh and well presented. I had the Lobster grilled cheese and my wife and daughter had the chicken fingers. The staff were friendly and timely, constantly he king in to make sure all was well and if we needed anything. The atmosphere has always been awesome, exceptional view, and a clean and bright layout. We really enjoyed our dinner there this evening and look forward to dining there again.“

“Great food great service and very welcoming!“

“What a great addition to Cocoa Beach! So safe, welcoming as soon as you walk in the door. Beautiful decor, they did it right! And I am now a kombucha fan!! Thank you!“

“Crackers Island Grille- Cape Canaveral- 3-stars "Flawless execution will trump low-quality ingredients every time." -- The Big Boy "Where will I lunch today?", was my thought as I grabbed my random restaurant generator and headed towards the BBDO mobile. As the name scrawled across my screen, I saw I was heading up the coast to Cracker's Island Grille. Taking my time and enjoying the drive, I had time to reflect a bit on my job. Since I started this over two years ago, BBDO has grown by leaps and bounds topping out at over 14K followers across social media. I am extremely humbled by this and it steels me to continue forward. My GPS told me I had arrived and I found myself in front of a strip mall 1 mile north of the famous Ron Jon's Surf Shop and across from Golf N Gator. I arrived in the BBDO mobile at precisely 11:15 AM and the place was busy. Awaiting my turn, I glanced about the place and was quite taken in by the decor. They have a nice little island/surf theme going and this contributed to a very relaxed atmosphere. After a short wait, I was shown a table, handed a menu and told my server would be right with me. As packed as they were, I wondered what exactly that meant. It wasn't too long before a server approached my table and introduced herself as Brittany. Brittany was very prompt, charming and had our drink order back in no time at all. Along with the drink order, I also requested the Bouillabaisse and one order of the special of the day, Gator tacos (wondering if the meat was fresh based on the proximity of Golf N Gator). Brittany assured me this was not the case. I was sure this made the animal rights people happy, however, I was not. I have to say that first of all, Cracker's Bouillabaisse looked better on the menu than it did in front of me (see pictures for comparison). But, the smells wafting up were pure gourmand nirvana. With just the right amount of heat and all the seafood one could want, the flavors were complex, tantalizing and just a tad hot on the palate. The seafood seemed low quality (frozen, not fresh), but the execution was performed well. The accompanying bread was warm and slathered in garlic butter that added a nice compliment to the seafood stew. Dying to try something I never have before, I eagerly dug into the Gator tacos next. Wow. That is my professional opinion of these delightful tacos. Just, wow. Served on warm flour tortillas with fresh-cut tomatoes and cooked to perfection they were absolutely as delicious as they were unique. The meat was tender, juicy and extremely flavorful. The seasoning really got my taste buds dancing and there was just enough heat to make sure they were not only awake but stayed that way for the duration. The Gator tacos alone were worth the drive up the coast. Not that one needs an excuse for that. As I am sure my loyal readers know, I firmly believe that the only thing that matters in regards to a successful slop house and one that fails is execution, not location, not parking, not service, not interior design (though those all certainly help). If the food is good, as I've said before, you could open a food shack in the middle of the Okefenokee Swamp and people would flock to it. Make no mistake about it, Cracker's is not a fine dining establishment, they use low-quality ingredients, but man oh man you can tell the chef/cook cares about what is slung forth from his kitchen. The execution of all the items I had was done flawlessly, and everything was delicious, especially the Gator Tacos, those were unreal, proving once again what I've said ad nauseum, execution, execution, execution! The Big Boy says, "when in the area and in the mood for some cheap eats and seafood, head on over to Cracker's Island Grille, you won't be disappointed!" #iamthebigboy #bigboydiningout“

“Comfy atmosphere.Family & pet friendly.Super selections on Menu,delicious food each time,consistent. Love the decor,staff & owners always there.Its a party every day & night.Super place for a date,girls' night,family dinner,celebration or alone.You are one of the family.Made a lot of new friends,too.Go for the delicious food & gain new friends ❤️ Their heart is in it.“

“Long Doggers is our favorite local spot! The food is delicious and the service is excellent!“

“We are regulars to Muddies on Sunday am and sometimes during the week. Today I had the shrimp basket for breakfast. I saw it last Sunday and thought I would have it today. I was not disappointed at all! Great breakfast item. We love all the staff, friendly, thoughtful and quick to smile. We love Carrie, Debbie and MS Bonnie. The owners John and Debbie are always quick to please no matter how busy they may bee. thank you for wonderful breakfast or lunches. We appreciate everyone's hard work. Thank you everyone.“

“Ate here after checking out the pier. Sat at the outside bar and the waitress was very welcoming and friendly. I ordered the fried pickles and tried gumbo for first time and was sooo goood!! Tasted fresh and homemade. Was a bit pricey but worth it. Great place with chill vibes.“

“Everything we ate there was delicious. The service was amazing. We got the tattoo man and he was juggling waters and showed us just the tip of his head. His name was Jason!!!“

“Beautiful restaurant with ocean view. Went for Sundays boozy brunch! Drinks, food and service were all excellent! Can’t wait to return!“

“Old school diner, simple atmosphere, good food. Go there for a good, hot meal.“

“I’ve been coming to play Savannahs golf course for over two decades. Since Carter’s Grille made their appearance about 6 months ago. I find myself now showing up just for lunch and dinner. The food is hands down delicious, made fresh to order and fast enough to get on the turn. 10-10 and have been feeling that way for months.“

“This is our 4th time eating at the Moon Hut in Cape Canaveral- each visit has been exceptional! Tonight, we had dinner with some friends, and our server, Rose, was delightful and informative. Rose added to our extraordinary meal with her warm and bubbly interactions and attentiveness. If you've not been, this restaurant is a MUST!“

“Known Dylan for a long time. Great food Awesome service“

“Stopped in for lunch on a Monday, decently busy. Service was prompt and greeted immediately. Ordered a Village blues burger, their take on a bacon and blue cheese. Burger was phenomenal, temp was spot-on medium. The char on the meat was superb the grill master allowed just enough of the char flame to tickle the surface and create that perfect crust but still protecting the flavor and moisture. The bacon crispy and just enough not to over power the beef. Bun fresh toasted, this burger magician is a master craftsman. LTOP as always. The gorgonzola funky and creamy just as you would expect. The sauce...the house made sauce.... lemon honey aoli, the balance the acid, the sweeteness the creamiest, pretty sure cherubs themselves spread this glorious masterpiece on the bun. Will I be back?! Does a snake piss low to the ground? Yes. This little Gastropub hits all the expectations and more. Cheers!“

“A great local place, and it’s right next to the marina. The chicken pot pie is awesome and I love how friendly everyone is!“

“The Greenhouse is our Friday favorite. The staff is great. We come down for adventure. Good American food. Daily specials are always good, fresh and come with a drink. It is the best lunch value on the cape. Wish they would bring back the shrimp pivot on Friday, but the shrimp and seafood baskets are piled high and served fast. The mushroom Swiss burger is my second go to, there are so many good things to choose from. We appreciate the NOTU team for letting us visit as often as we can even under these trying times.“

“We just went for the first time and will definitely be back. The food was superb, the staff outstanding and we met Shawn one of the owners and he is great. We will be telling all our friends and look forward to future visits!!! Thanks for a great dinner. Rick and Rae“

“Thank you SO MUCH to Thomas and Jenn for making the reunion for Rockledge High Class of 1984 a raging success!!! The wait staff was phenomenal and took great care of us! THE FOOD WAS PHENOMENAL, as always! This is not our first class event here and it won’t be the last! THANK YOU TWISTED BIRCH!!“

“Amazing food, gotta be the best ive ever had, 10/10 definetly reccomend . aye shoutout cj gardener johnson for locking up dhop all game man. but back to the food. ts was spectacular. best customer service ive had since 94' but aye man shoutout kermit for being so overrated man. Eagles fly fn!!!!!!“

“Matt was incredible. He brought me 3 frosted mug rootbeers and hot food. What else could I ask for. Oh wait, I got the cookie, ice cream dessert so now I am ready to roll right out of here and I believe Matt would help if necessary! Love this place!“

“We (wife and I) were staying here at the Radisson the night before our cruise, as a lot of people do. After the long drive to get here we didn’t feel like going out looking for a restaurant, so we decided to try out the in-house restaurant, Flamingos. We both had the pineapple chicken with shrimp skewers, and it was outstanding. Even better than the food was the service/hospitality. Our server Keith and the manager Eileen were both great. Haven’t had service like this anywhere in a long time. When they found out it was also our 40th anniversary they even made us a custom dessert and presented it to us. Thank you Flamingos, especially Keith and Eileen!“

“Their black & bleu salad is deceptive in that it is actually completely being undersold and they hide it under the menu by saying 'beef tips' when it is actually some of the best marinated and glazed balsamic steak tips in existence. I think a ghost wrote their menu.“

“oday I had breakfast at My Island Pancake House in Rockledge, Fl. My meal was terrific! The server (Rachelle) was excellent! Service with a smile, and very helpful with menu questions. She should be running the restaurant! A must stop if you are anywhere near Rockledge, Fl.... You will not be disappointed!“

“Just doesn't have the hometown homecooked breakfast atmosphere. I will a very Donald Trump atmosphere for those who love him .“

“The space is beautiful and I love the thatch roof! I had the grilled Mahi sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is great. They had live music on Saturday and a DJ on Sunday. Kyler, Kara, and Lindsey made our experiences really fun. We will be back! Great place!“

“Quite possibly the Best waterfront dining in Brevard County. Excellent food! Friendly and polite staff!“

“While the food & drink are always fantastic, our favorite server Nina always goes above and beyond to ensure we have a great experience! Thank you to Nina and the entire Beef’s team for always making our family dinners a blast! Can’t wait to visit again!“

“We had a wonderful dinner tonight! From the wines to the small plates, to our “ramen special” then desserts, the experience was awesome! Very cozy place and friendly management/owners/chef! We will definitely be back!“

“I don't recommend it. The preacher burger was served to me with sand in it. Ridiculous, I won't be back.“

“Our food was great, but our server Sheri took our experience to the next level! She was so friendly and helpful with all of our questions. My son has some dietary restrictions that make going out difficult, but Sheri made us feel comfortable like I never have before! We will definitely be back!“

“I like there food very much“

“very family-oriented food is great people are very very nice“

“My wife and I went on a date tonight to Longhorn in Merritt island. Ashley H was our waitress. Ashley is an amazing waitress. She was very friendly and attentive but not overbearing. Thank you for the great experience.“

“Wonderful meal got chicken fried steak eggs great service“

“We loved it, kids loved it! Kids had the banana peanut butter sandwich’s, we had the blackened mahi mahi tacos and the blackened blue burger. Service and food 10/10!“

“First time here last Saturday and it was AMAZING. We were welcomed as soon as we walked in. The staff were attentive, polite and knew every detail on the menu. Our waiter, Austin was fabulous and so pleasant (and extremely cute). I even chatted with Chef Ricardo who, even though he was super busy, spent a few minutes talking with me. I had the macadamia crusted mahi mahi. It was superb! This place is a little hidden gem. Will definitely be back the next time I’m in Cocoa Beach. Thank you Chef Ricardo and your amazing staff!“

“Good food, great service in a low-key atmosphere. Going to be on our regular jaunts to Cocoa Beach.“

“First time here and definitely will be back. Amazing food“

“Great food. Friendly staff. Great for parties and get togethers.“

“The burgers were fabulous. The bison burger was amazing too. Almost too big to get your mouth around. Must try. We also loved the beer. Order a flight to sample many.“

“I had the prime rib, shared it with my sister, and it was delicious! So tender and moist, absolutely wonderful! The bread pudding was a perfect ending! My other sister had the hamburger and she loved it! Thank you for another great meal!“

“Only been here for breakfast so far 🥞 🍳 It's always delicious and the service is always friendly and quick 👍“

“We came here on a whim before our cruise out of Port Canaveral to grab some quick breakfast and it did not disappoint! It was so great in fact that once we arrived back to port after 8 days at sea, this was our first stop again! Thank you, Joanne!“

“Dixon Diner 1312 Dixon Blvd., Cocoa, FL 32922 4 Stars I am on a great roll with service this month. Vanessa is my server here, and she is number three in a row of outstanding service. Job well done, Vanessa! Dixon Diner in Cocoa, FL, is in a wonky location that the average traveler may miss. Let me tell you, that would be a mistake, as the food is great. But I get ahead of myself. I asked Vanessa for a two-egg breakfast with chopped steak, eggs over medium, hash browns, and the Southern breakfast staple of a biscuit with sausage gravy. The place was pretty barren, as you can see by the pictures; I assume it's the location. As such, my food was out in no time. Look at the pictures. Look at them! If a picture could talk, this one would be saying, “Flavor, flavor, flavor.” The chopped steak is made to order and gigantic in size. The seasonings are complex and full of tastiness on the palate. The toast is aptly buttered and blissful with the egg yolk. The line cook nailed the over-medium eggs this morning, as they were perfect. Well done, Sir and/or Madam! It was all I could do to stop eating the chopped steak and eggs as they were that good, but I was here for a job. Looking again at the pictures, you can see how laden with sausage that gravy is. The gravy was outstanding. I would put that up against anyone's Me-maw and let the chips fall where they may. While the gravy was top-notch, the biscuit was not so much. It wasn't bad, just not on par with the rest. The Big Boy says, “This is some great grub at a great price. Highly recommend.“

“Great place, suggest it to everyone! Great food, great staff, and great atmosphere! One of my favs, can ya tell?“

“The staff, service and food are amazing!! There is a reason (actually a lot of reasons) why it has become our family tradition to eat breakfast here every Sunday morning! It is super family and kid friendly. John, Kesha and Kara are all so welcoming. Since we have been coming regularly, they have learned what we typically order and are thoughtful enough to bring our 15mo her food first. We always look forward to seeing them each week and appreciate their hospitality and genuine kindness. We also very much appreciate their kindness and playfulness towards our kids, specifically, our 15mo who can be found walking around greeting customers and picking out some of the #Brevardrocks from the basket. We love and highly recommend the Rockledge Diner!! 😊“

“Yesterday we went to Tip a Few 2 in Cape Canaveral on A1A (maybe cocoa beach? It’s kinda close to the line) anyway.. we’ve been there a handful of times and every single time it’s a fantastic experience. We usually go early in the afternoon. Amy is always there and she is just the sweetest! She’s completely awesome, entertaining, friendly, fast, efficient & she can work a bar! We usually just go for a beer or two but today we were a bit hungry so we both ordered the “veggie burger” they use the Beyond burger and it comes on this giant bun that they dry toast beautifully and they pack it with lettuce, tomato, onion & shredded lettuce. This burger is seriously amazing, AND can you see the crunch on these fries?! They’re perfect!!!! I was super happy when I saw a plant based option on the menu and super stoked when I got a beyond burger! (They’re my favorite) the prices were more than fair, the service is awesome and the place has good ambience. It’s a little divey, but kinda upscale divey if that makes sense. Hands down winner in my book!“

“Rec 225- Cocoa, FL- 3.75 Stars "I lurched away from the table after a few hours feeling like Elvis in Vegas - fat, drugged, and completely out of it." ― Anthony Bourdain Getting back into the swing of things post--Covid has been great for the Big Boy and I hope for you as well. Thank you for all the comments, supportive and not so supportive. As you can see, I take each one to heart and answer straightforward. I do not cut corners in my reviews, nor do I apologize for them. Finding myself meandering up the Space Coast, I grabbed my random eatery generator and punched in my location. A few nearby eateries popped up and I found myself near the local star, Cryderman's Barbecue. Curious as to who could hang in the same neighborhood, I ventured into Rec 225. The first impression was one of spic and span clean, like your kitchen when you know guests are coming over. Grabbing a table, our waiter Jo-Jo came over to see how we were doing. It turns out that Jo-Jo is also the owner and not only cares about the customer but obviously takes pride in his business as he was welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable and just downright awesome. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about Jo-Jo. I placed an order for their eponymous sandwich, the 225, along with one Mac & Cheese grilled cheese and a side order of Bacon and Bleu fries. As for a drink, I went with the vaunted Jarritos Orange (how can you go wrong with this liquid concoction of pure delight?). Waiting eagerly for the foodstuffs to arrive I continued to glance about the place and found the interior charming. Before too long, Jo-Jo came back with my order, placed it upon my table and offering a sincere, "Enjoy your meal," Jo-Jo went off to address other patrons. Looking at the pictures you can see that everything certainly did look scrumptious! Grabbing the self-named sandwich, The Big Boy went to work. Comprised of bacon, Gouda, french fries, and tomato pesto on garlic Texas toast it was a delicious mouthful of exquisite flavor. The combination of the bacon and Gouda was enough to send one's taste buds into a dance of joy, add to that the fresh tomato pesto and the perfectly golden fries and you are entering the taste bud danger zone! Seriously, I thought mine were going to sashay right out of my mouth they were so pleased with the flavors found in this masterpiece of a sandwich. It almost felt like a crime when I set it down and turned my attention to the Mac & Cheese grilled sandwich, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. This was far from the simple grilled cheese we all ate as a kid. This incorporated classic mac&cheese with Gouda served on Texas toast. Grilled in butter to a perfect golden hue, it was thoroughly enjoyable on the palate. What I can say about the fries? They were cooked just right and smothered in bleu cheese and bacon. How could you go wrong? The Big Boy says, "If your not nearby, make an excuse to be nearby and grab some incredible grub!" #iamthebigboy #bigboydiningout“