A couple more from Cocoa Beach--Updated 9/03----

Two Words!

Coconut Shrimp![url='http://www.floridas-seafood.com/index.html']Florida's Seafood Bar and Grill[/url]
2nd time putting this link in!
Although I am not a big fan of Florida's Seafood Bar and Grill, it seems to be very popular. The reason I stopped there, was just to pick up some of their tasty fritters.
Little hush puppy like fried balls of dough topped with powdered sugar.
But.. while I was looking at the menu, I said... "Hmmm....Coconut Shrimp?---Let's try them"..

I figured since their specialties are seafood items, they would have to be better than the Sysco product I got at The Sandbar.

Oh yah.....
Now these are REAL coconut shrimp.
Skewered, dipped, and fried.
LOTS of coconut.
I didnt care for the sauce, it tasted like the basic orange, spicy sauce that usually accompanies coconut shrimp, but it wasn't translucent... it almost tasted like it had 1000 Island dressing mixed with it.
Icky for shrimp. I think it was the remoulade sauce that you would for conch fritters also. Bud I dont see them on the menu, unless my eyes are really bad.
Unless the bartender screwed up and put the wrong sauce in my go box.

SO...A+ for their coconut shrimp.
Anything else there?
I can't vouch for.

Ok, my friend-send me some!!!!!

WOW - one serving please. they really look good.

Sheesh! Don't you think it's time you got a job instead of just hanging around having fun?

The shrimp look awesome!

I have them often, at a local places. It was served with raspberry sauce. Very good.

The dessert item was not zeppoles?

The description makes me think of zeppoles (fried dough with powdered sugar). Were they filled with anything, that makes them different?

They just call them fritters, and are given to you at the start of the meal, instead of bread.

Looking good there!

quote:

Originally posted by CCinNJ


The dessert item was not zeppoles?

Down here in FL, we see a lot of hush puppies & conch fritters, but very little of zeppoles. I don't know why, since sweet things sell well.

Love coconut shrimp...Good version at Bonefish Grill, too..I think the one at Sam's Club is decent, too. I think they are made by Saucy Susan? I fry them in oil..I don't bake them.

Anywon know if Dixie Crossroads serves coconut shrimp, too? If they do, are they good? I know they specialize in rock shrimp.

quote:

Originally posted by Baah Ben

Anywon know if Dixie Crossroads serves coconut shrimp, too? If they do, are they good? I know they specialize in rock shrimp.

From Dixie Crossroads website...

SHELLFISH - For an Extra-Special Treat - Try our Wild Ocean Shrimp, hand breaded, rolled in shredded coconut, fried golden brown and served with sweet plum and orange marmalade dipping sauces; or filled with Maryland-style crabmeat stuffing; or wrapped in hickory-smoked bacon.

1/2 DZ Coconut or Stuffed or Bacon Shrimp $ 12.99

1 DZ Coconut or Stuffed or Bacon Shrimp $ 20.99

Pick Two - 1/ DZ of Two Varieties $ 20.99

My grief, those look good. I'll take a double order please, and lots of those little fritters. I have good cholesterol, so bring 'em on!!!

Just don't tell my endocrinologist.

I've just read all 3 of your reports and figured I'd give my reply on this last one. I've got to say, that although there are many foods I don't eat that you described and photographed, you still made everything really come alive, and still made me curious. Best of all, your reports had me longing, once again, to "retire" down there to live the Florida lifestyle that I've wanted to live since 1973, my first trip down there! Tara, I have followed you in all of your travels, or at least most of them, and I think you should write a book. As somebody on a previous Cocoa Beach thread said, "You are a true road warrior". You seem like such a great girl and I'd love to meet you sometime in the future.

And your reports add to my lesson plan arsenal for my Brian (he likes Florida, too, and is gonna be on his way to loving it, once we get there together!)

I so look forward to seeing more reports from you.

Aww shucks Harriet....
Thanks so much for the kind words.
I am speechless right now, so please take my silence as a big thank you!
(silently stepping out of the limelight now)

Oh, stop it. Wait a minute. You, speechless? HAH! I think not! That's like people saying about me, "Harriet's the quiet type". NOT!

OK.... I HAD to finally stop at an aquaintance's diner. I hadn't been there since returning, and today was the day to say hello!

Sunrise Diner in Cocoa Beach....
It is family run Greek owned diner that offers a little of everything!
I mean EVERYTHING!!!!!!

Breakfast, Lunch, early dinners with everything from open faced sandwiches, Italian dishes, Greek dishes, seafood, fried chicken (30 minute prep time is mentioned on the menu for that), meatloaf sandwiches, liver/onions ()--enough for just about everyone!

They also always have turkey orzo soup as a standard, with an additional S.O.D. available.
Demitri and his family have had this diner for quite some time.
He is a real doll baby also..
I used to get the club sandwich all the time, but today,
I had to get some of his Greek offerings.
I have had the Dolmades before and they are FANTASTIC.

I decided on the Pork Souvlaki-
Marinated skewers of pork tenderloin, chargrilled.
With sauteed bell pepper, onion and tomato, served over rice, with a side of Taziki Sauce.
Oh yum.......
Just as good as I imagined it would be.

I cant put my finger on the marinade, but obviously herbs, and I am guessing a "greek"-(Oh.. Imagine that") dressing..
Other Greek dishes are Mousaka, braised Lamb shanks, Gyro' and Spanakotiroptia-which I do want to get one of these days.

It came with a choice of soup or greek salad, and I chose the salad.
Pretty decent sized for a side salad, and to finish it, it came with a slice of garlic bread.

Then, of course, I had to have a piece of home made Baklava.
Soooo sweet.. Wow.. It hurt my teeth!..
Have to eat that at different times....


They also offer home made rice pudding, amongst other items.

Always packed for breakfast and lunch, and a favorite amongst the older folk for their early bird dinners 3-6PM, its not the cheapest around, but for diner fare, you cant beat it.

I love going there, and will be showing more from there..
I got a hankering for a meatloaf sandwich or open faced turkey.

Oh that souvlaki looks wooonderful. I love good Greek food. Thanks Tara!

Mmmmm. Souvlaki. Must have some soon.

Boy, that Greek food looks awesome.

Great looking food...thanks for sharing!

Roossy90 -

Thank you for taking us with you.
Food looks awesome.

Great meal. I love Greek Diners.

Hey, did they remember you?

Roossy - Did you happen to see if they had a rotating gyro meat broiler....

Looking good, yep, gotta Love Greek diners

Joe.. Yes they did...

Ben... I shall check next time I am there....

John... They are cool folk, but I will never get pizza from a Greek owned pizza joint. I remember in Marlboro, almost all the pizza joints there are Greek owned.. Ick.
Greek pizza palors..
AKA.. House of Pizza.. LOL.. seems like they all were House of something.....

Hello all ,

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
The Sunrise Diner was my parents favorite breakfast spot in the 90's when thery lived in Merritt Island .
I loved it for the good breakfasts , and always a crowd .
We would occasionally stop for the early bird dinner also and there were always a few specials for $5.99 and included your entree , soup ,salad and drink .
Good food , fairly priced , where the locals ate and not a touristy spot .
Thanks for sharing the pictures

Benzee

I went to a local off the beaten path restaurant at a marina in Merritt Island.
Little local place, totally off the beaten path.
I had another hankering for a burger, since my last one wasnt all that good.

Harbortown Marina-Nautical Spirits, is the name of the restaurant.
This is an old menu, obviously, they have not updated their website, and some of the menu items are different. I noticed they had shrimp parmesan with musrooms as opposed to the scampi on the web menu....
[url='http://www.nauticalspirits.com/']Nautical Spirits-Harbortown Marina[/url]
[url='http://www.harbortownmarina.com/Canaveral/frames1.htm']Harbortown Marina[/url]



I swear, this is one of the best burgers I ever had.
Menu said 8 oz Angus beef, comes with a choice of about 6 or so sides.
I got the Fries.. shoestrings, but they were seasoned fries, fresh and tasty.
Fresh cooked, and the burger was cooked perfect. Medium for me.
$6.00-(I dont get cheese-that was add .75 cents)

But it is cooked on the char grill, and was just tasty as can be.

Cell phone pic again.



For a really good burger, its worth going to, and easy to get to.

Here in Daytona/Ormond Beach, there's a chain of pizza places owned by Greeks..Stavaro's. I don't like them, but they seem to do just fine without my business.

quote:

Originally posted by Baah Ben

Here in Daytona/Ormond Beach, there's a chain of pizza places owned by Greeks..Stavaro's. I don't like them, but they seem to do just fine without my business.

They seem to be everywhere.. Never had a good pizza, well, IMHO from one of them.