Backwater

GREAT SPOT! Stop by and grab breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Everything we tried was amazing, and the staff was incredible. This local gem has something for everyone, from standard breakfast fare to alligator delicacies. If you are feeling adventurous you can sit at a griddle table, and make your own pancakes on the table top! Not sure how this all works, as we choose to sit a the bar, but I could see how this would be a fun thing to do with the family. We got a great view of the kitchen from our bar perches and watched the chef turn out some incredible food while making it all look so easy. Everyone we encountered on the staff was friendly and many chatted with us about the local scene. My coffee cup was kept full +++ which a great way to start the day!

Great service. Staff was training a new hire. Everyone was very attentive.

The food was delicious! Note, their grits are stone ground grits, so you won't get smooth grits here. That said, their grits are very flavorful and the food was delicious.

We went on a weekday after 9am, so there wasn't much of a rush and the parking was easy.

This place is fun, creative, delicious and totally FL! My brother took us out for breakfast while I was back in town for Thanksgiving and I was not disappointed! The create your own pancakes were amazing and the seasonal batter pumpkin spice was delicious. Love all the decor and great service too! They offered me almond milk for my coffee, lactose-free win!!!

Always on point! Backwater is a culinary haven, offering delectable Southern cuisine and a warm, inviting ambiance. Each dish is crafted to showcase the rich heritage of Southern cuisine with meticulous attention to detail. The staff's passion for Southern hospitality shines through, making each diner feel valued. The ambiance, with exposed brick walls and soft lighting, evokes a sense of Southern charm. Embark on a dining adventure at Backwater and prepare to be enchanted by its culinary magic.

Want some back country & swamp fixins. This is the place for breakfast and lunch. Love the vibe and atmosphere of the restaurant. Staff is super friendly, food is delicious.
Great family and friends gathering at their castiron flattop tables. So cool, pick the batter, color of batter, toppings. Design your custom pancakes right at your table.

Ok, come on. Super friendly staff, unique breakfast experience, unique dishes to die for, really cool decor, clean... Did I miss anything?

Stopped in for breakfast and was a bit overwhelmed by the experience. Having your own griddle to make fresh pancakes (colors available for the artist in you!)

I had the Boss Hog Skillet with strawberry lemonade. This single dish hit me with sweet, salty, savory and hearty all at once.

Unreal. I will remember this place forever.

Fast service, well priced and fun! 16 bucks for 4 tubes to make your own color pancakes, then add toppings and sides for PRN cost. They have a full menu too, but didn’t even look at it as we have a determined 2 year old.

Everything about this place was amazing!
We decided to sit at the bar since we didn't want to wait for a table, since the tables have built in griddles to make your own pancakes!
I have never felt so cozy sitting at a new restaurant before. The staff made sure our waters were full and we were constantly being taken care of, even though the restaurant was packed! The warm personality of the staff was the best part next to the flavor of the food! You get quality ingredients made fresh.
I would definitely recommend this place!

We popped in for brunch and to our surprise they had griddle tables to cook your own pancakes. The food was very yummy and the experience was so fun. We would likely forgo the griddle table in the future though because we were roasting right along with the pancakes 🤣. We had the Cuban Benedict, Italian Omelette both with home fries and orange juice.

This is one of the few breakfast spots in the area that offers vegan pancakes and a full vegan friendly menu as well.

The draw here was for the fun, D-I-Y pancakes right at the table. The kids enjoyed making their artsy hot cakes with the many colors of sweet batter and an array of toppings but the adults also enjoyed the interaction. Another surprise was how delicious the rest of the à la carte breakfast items were. I had the Okeechobee Ice Cream, Backwater’s homemade biscuit, and gravy topped with a sunny-side-up egg—which had to be one of the most savory, delicious versions of the dish I’ve ever had. Another meal our party enjoyed was the orange zest citrus waffle with fried gator (or fried chicken is also available). The service was friendly and fast, and we went on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend crowds. Feb 2023

We were in Melbourne for a comedy show and decided to get up early the next day and find a good place to get breakfast. We decided on Backwater based on the reviews and numbers of reviews and it definitely lived up to the hype.

It was busy when we walked in so we decided to sit at the bar (the tables have griddles built into the middle so you can make your own pancakes) since there wasn't a wait for those seats.

My girlfriend ordered the breakfast platter and I ordered 2 of their seasonal pancakes and a side of biscuits and gravy (we saw someone else's order coming out with it and it looked so good). 10/10 for sure. The pumpkin pancakes were amazing. The bacon was thick and perfectly cooked. And the biscuits and gravy were to die for. The gravy is probably some of the best sausage gravy I've ever had. They even had one of my favorite beers (Crooked Can Florida Sunshine) on tap but it was 8:30 in the morning so I somehow managed to resist.

We couldn't finish it all but I'm glad we ordered what we did because it was fantastic. If I make it back, I will definitely sit at a table and try the griddle experience. Service was also top notch!

Our server Julia was amazing! The food was delicious! The watermelon mint mimosa was so refreshing!

Cool spot with great service, friendly staff and delicious breakfast. I tried the deep fried French toast and enjoyed every bite. It's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside ... nice twist on a classic dish. They ask you how you like your bacon ... crispy or soft which is awesome because I like my bacon crispy - kudos to whoever thought of that. Great experience, I'd go back again.

The Best spot for Breakfast in FLORIDA.

The pancakes 🥞 actually taste like cake 🍰.
So funny to say but so simple that it makes sense… shouldn’t a pan “cake” taste like cake?

The morning libations are just as amazing! Try a spicy bloody or a mimosa to kick start the day.
Fried gator tail, bacon, and some amazing omelettes are in store for a journey of fluffy, crispy, and tender.

Your not going to want to miss this spot. Just be in the know that if you don’t end up getting a bar seat you may just be waiting for a while.

Cheers 🥂

The food was amazing, very big portions, great value, great atmosphere. The service was awesome. You can make your own pancake.

Very nice restaurant and they were very cautious with my husbands celiac requests. He said the pancakes were delicious! I had a great meal myself! It was a long wait but worth it! If you have celiac I wouldn’t recommend cooking your own pancakes.

Been here a couple times for breakfast/brunch and they do not disappoint! Love the food, atmosphere, and southern decor! Service is great and pancakes are fun to make!

We drove by the day before, Sunday morning, and the line was out the door. So we went back on Monday morning and it was delicious. We chose not to make our own pancakes but to have the kitchen version, they were very great. Loaded grits were good. My daughter had orange Creamsicle pancakes, those were good as well. Such a cute idea for families to make pancakes around a griddle but if not into that, the main kitchen puts out great food. We all ordered penny stacks, 2 pancakes, and it was large portions.

Still one of the best breakfast places in Melbourne, Florida. It is small and cute. The wait times are lengthy on some occasion but still very much worth it. If you’re interested in making your own pancakes, the wait could be a bit longer because you will need a seat at the griddle table. It’s a fun time to engage with the folks you come with and compete to make the best pancake designs 😉
It’s also kid friendly. I loved the vegan BLT, not recommended for meat eaters.. the mimosas are delectable and the eggs in the omelettes are very fluffy. I’d revisit this place over and over because it’s just that great and staff is friendly. There is no full bar but there are a couple of cocktails premade with vodka. Enjoy it!!!

The fried green tomatoes caprese salad was AMAZING!

Excellent everything was delicious !!! I would highly recommend this place specially for kids !
The idea of making your own pancakes is genius !!