Never having visited Melbourne before, we asked hotel staff where they eat. Travelers, here is an important distinction. Always ask for recommendations by saying, “Where do you eat?” If you say, “Where should I eat?” you will get suggestions that are close by but not necessarily that memorable. You will often get suggestions that are chains instead of locally owned too. We wanted to know where locals eat in Melbourne, Florida. The front desk staff and our breakfast server gave us two winners that we will remember for many years to come.
Where Locals Eat: Hemingway’s Tavern
“If you could only eat at one place in this town, where would it be?” My husband asked the question of two front desk staff to force them to really narrow down their suggestions. To that point, they named four or five restaurants, but we were only in town for two days. We needed to cut to the chase if we were going to find the good stuff.
Simultaneously, both women said, “Hemingway’s.” So, that was our obvious winner and off we went for a late lunch. You won’t find many fake palms trees or cheesy parrots here. Hemingway’s Tavern is less of a Key West-themed bar and more of a museum to the writer. As literature goes, I am not much of a Hemingway fan. Yes, I know. That’s blasphemy. I’m sorry, but I can only be honest. Though, my drama class study group in college did turn his 1927 short story “Hills Like White Elephants” into a play. We really knocked one out of the park with our performance. Not being biased at all (snort), we were amazing.
For those that are fans of the big guy, you will appreciate that the food is as bold as his legacy. It’s delicious and we would gladly go back.
A Menu with Unique Flavors
We started with an appetizer of Cuban Pork Empanadas ($8.00). The exteriors were extremely crisp, light and sizzling hot. I liked that the pastry wasn’t heavy and dense, which some empanadas envelopes can be. Inside, the pork was sweet and our order of three came with sweet BBQ sauce for dipping. The key here was that the sauce was thin, so it didn’t overpower the flavors in the empanada.
The Havana Burger caught my husband’s eye immediately ($14.00). Then, he splurged and added truffle fries to his meal for an extra $6.00. If you think this isn’t adventurous, think again. This could be one of the most unusual burgers we’ve ever encountered. The menu describes the Havana Burger this way: “topped with mojo pork, jalapenos, guava jalapeno aioli, rum-glazed onions, and melted Swiss.” My husband’s love of this burger nearly defies description. If you are a burger fan, this is a don’t-miss dish!
A Bruschetta Burger was on special that day ($16.00), so I tried that. Served on two book-thick slices of Texas toast and topped with some of the freshest tomatoes, onions, garlic, basil and herbs that I’ve ever had, this was a winner too. Both burgers came with cole slaw. The one small misstep was that we both requested medium burgers and we both received well-done burgers. Otherwise, this was a decadent lunch that I can’t say enough positive things about.
The restaurant also features several vegetarian appetizers, including Italian Risotto Croquettes and Black Bean Hummus. Their creative chef also offers two vegetarian sandwiches and several main courses for pescatarians.
Like Hemingway himself, this menu is bold, creative, adventurous, and defies the usual rules.
We had the same server for breakfast at our hotel both days we were there. When asked where she eats, she raved about a Thai place and, so, off we went. Jao Thai Kitchen is hidden in a tiny strip plaza of seven businesses on busy New Haven Avenue in Melbourne.
Mr. HomeFree is known in our family for his love of and ability to make phenomenal fried rice. Here, he ordered a big bowl of combination fried rice ($17.95) with a spice level of just over medium. He adores super-hot food. I’ve never heard him review any food as too hot, but he was cautious since this was an unfamiliar menu. Our server, Honey, also delivered a lazy susan of hot herbs and toppings that he could add himself. He was in Seventh Heaven.
An order of three vegetarian Thai spring rolls only set us back $5.95. They were light, crispy and flavorful. These rolls didn’t quite compete with the wildly addictive ones from Chopstix in Gainesville, Florida, but then, nothing ever does. They were still delicious enough for me recommend.
Other Menu Options
I tried the chicken Rad Na ($14.95) and was surprised to receive a bowl of soup. The menu says it is chicken, egg, broccoli and brown gravy. When I questioned Honey, she confirmed that it was the right dish. As I dug my spoon into the deep bowl, I discovered a thick layer of noodles hidden on the bottom. I churned everything up. What a reward! While I did not originally picture so much gravy, I realized it was the star of the show. It was thicker than broth, but not as thick as true gravy either. It burst with flavors and herbs that I can’t identify. Quite frankly, it was incredible.
Clearly family owned, Jao Thai is a busy place with a wonderfully friendly staff. Consider them for your next beach vacation. After all, they also offer an extensive sushi menu.
So, remember, kids: Your passport to the best local foods is often the question: “Where do you eat?” In Melbourne, Florida we were two-for-two using this method.
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