Mark’s favorite
places to eat
Food scene - my favorite places and why
This is a list of my favorite places to eat. These are all locally owned places.
There are plenty of really good chain restaurant too, but those are so easy to google, no need for me to help you find those.
This is my favorite place for a light breakfast, but the lunch and dinners are great too. Although the home-made pastries alone make it worth visiting (try the cinnamon buns!), it is much more than a bakery. They have a great Chief, cooking is done on a wood fired oven. Everything is served on paper plates so don't expect fancy but expect reasonable prices and friendly staff. The menu is not that large, but everyone can find great something to eat. Ossorio is just across the river from my house, I often paddle there in my kayak. Ossorio's has kind of a 'coffee shop" atmosphere, but don't let that fool you into thinking the meals are ordinary. It is 2.5 miles from my home.
Take a walk around quaint Cocoa Village while you are there, there is plenty of interesting shops and antique stores.
This is a true local gem that even a US president visited.
36 locals recommend
OSSORIO Bakery & Cafe
316 Brevard AveThis is my favorite place for a light breakfast, but the lunch and dinners are great too. Although the home-made pastries alone make it worth visiting (try the cinnamon buns!), it is much more than a bakery. They have a great Chief, cooking is done on a wood fired oven. Everything is served on paper plates so don't expect fancy but expect reasonable prices and friendly staff. The menu is not that large, but everyone can find great something to eat. Ossorio is just across the river from my house, I often paddle there in my kayak. Ossorio's has kind of a 'coffee shop" atmosphere, but don't let that fool you into thinking the meals are ordinary. It is 2.5 miles from my home.
Take a walk around quaint Cocoa Village while you are there, there is plenty of interesting shops and antique stores.
This is a true local gem that even a US president visited.
Sunrise Diner has been around for years. Its main features are it is on the way to the beaches, the food is good, the prices are low, the service is fast. It is a hole-in-the-wall, it is not "fine dining". It fits more into the convenient and inexpensive category. The diner is 6.5 miles from my house.
8 locals recommend
Sunrise Diner
365 W Cocoa Beach CausewaySunrise Diner has been around for years. Its main features are it is on the way to the beaches, the food is good, the prices are low, the service is fast. It is a hole-in-the-wall, it is not "fine dining". It fits more into the convenient and inexpensive category. The diner is 6.5 miles from my house.
Cosy Corner Cafe is great for breakfast. It is truly a local favorite. It draws plenty of local customers, there is occasionally a line but very little waiting is needed, if any. There is plenty of seating, the place is nice and clean. The cafe is 4.5 miles from my home.
7 locals recommend
Cozy Corner Cafe
2425 N Courtenay PkwyCosy Corner Cafe is great for breakfast. It is truly a local favorite. It draws plenty of local customers, there is occasionally a line but very little waiting is needed, if any. There is plenty of seating, the place is nice and clean. The cafe is 4.5 miles from my home.
This is my favorite local place for dinner (or lunch). It is also close, just across the river from my house. I really like the food, the prices. It has kind of a pizza place feel. there is also a bar seating for solo-travelers. His place would be on my short list of "must visit."
38 locals recommend
Ryan's Pizza & Pub
4 Harrison StThis is my favorite local place for dinner (or lunch). It is also close, just across the river from my house. I really like the food, the prices. It has kind of a pizza place feel. there is also a bar seating for solo-travelers. His place would be on my short list of "must visit."
Thai food here is delicious. This place is in cocoa village, just across the river from my house. They have good priced lunch specials and generous portions for dinner. The food (taste and presentation) gets 5 stars, the staff is very friendly but the service is a seems slightly slow to me , the service speed gets 4 stars.
21 locals recommend
Thai Thai Village
100 Harrison StThai food here is delicious. This place is in cocoa village, just across the river from my house. They have good priced lunch specials and generous portions for dinner. The food (taste and presentation) gets 5 stars, the staff is very friendly but the service is a seems slightly slow to me , the service speed gets 4 stars.
Thai, Japanese & Sushi Restaurant. Cocoa Beach.
If I want Thai or Sushi, this is the place I typically go. I really like the food. There is never any waiting to get into the place, the service is fast. Besides the beach is just a block away. This place is attached to the La Quinta Inn. It is 9 miles from my home.
15 locals recommend
Siam Orchid Cocoa Beach
1275 N Atlantic AveThai, Japanese & Sushi Restaurant. Cocoa Beach.
If I want Thai or Sushi, this is the place I typically go. I really like the food. There is never any waiting to get into the place, the service is fast. Besides the beach is just a block away. This place is attached to the La Quinta Inn. It is 9 miles from my home.
For Mexican food, this is my favorite place. This is so popular that there is almost always a waiting line for seating. It is a block off the main roads, so most visitors don't know about this place. I don't like to have to wait to be seated, this is only place that I routinely visit, knowing i will have to wait a little. It is 2 miles from my house.
15 locals recommend
El Tucan
225 N Sykes Creek PkwyFor Mexican food, this is my favorite place. This is so popular that there is almost always a waiting line for seating. It is a block off the main roads, so most visitors don't know about this place. I don't like to have to wait to be seated, this is only place that I routinely visit, knowing i will have to wait a little. It is 2 miles from my house.
For Italian I like this place. Prices are a little higher, but not high. typically there is no waiting, the food is great, the service is great Dining here is a really nice experience. This place is in a Merritt Crossing strip mall, I always pass it and have to circle back. It is 3 miles from my house.
6 locals recommend
Alfredo's Paradiso Kitchen
For Italian I like this place. Prices are a little higher, but not high. typically there is no waiting, the food is great, the service is great Dining here is a really nice experience. This place is in a Merritt Crossing strip mall, I always pass it and have to circle back. It is 3 miles from my house.
Grills is a great place,. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you are looking for sea food, this is the place. It has location too, is on the water. Watch the Cruise ships go out to sea while eating. In the evening you might have to wait a little. The adjoining tiki bar is a favorite watering hole for locals on the week-end. The bacon wrapped scallops are really good. Grills is 11 miles from my house.
173 locals recommend
Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar
500 Glen Cheek DrGrills is a great place,. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you are looking for sea food, this is the place. It has location too, is on the water. Watch the Cruise ships go out to sea while eating. In the evening you might have to wait a little. The adjoining tiki bar is a favorite watering hole for locals on the week-end. The bacon wrapped scallops are really good. Grills is 11 miles from my house.
Fishlips is also one of my favorite restaurants for seafood. I generally eat up stairs, in the bar area. There is plenty of seating up stairs. It is on the water, the cruise ships pass by as well as sail boats and fishing boats..Fishlips is 11 miles from my house.
115 locals recommend
Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill
610 Glen Cheek DrFishlips is also one of my favorite restaurants for seafood. I generally eat up stairs, in the bar area. There is plenty of seating up stairs. It is on the water, the cruise ships pass by as well as sail boats and fishing boats..Fishlips is 11 miles from my house.
This place is right on the beach, so it has atmosphere and good food. Kind of a beach bar place. It’s nice, lunch or dinner, or just drinks. Coconuts is 9.5 miles from my house.
302 locals recommend
Coconuts on the Beach
2 Minutemen CausewayThis place is right on the beach, so it has atmosphere and good food. Kind of a beach bar place. It’s nice, lunch or dinner, or just drinks. Coconuts is 9.5 miles from my house.