Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Backwater

    4.6 (938 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Backwater Takeout or Delivery

    Backwater Photos

    Business Info

    BACKWATER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Backwater

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Boss hog and the Fried Gator Citrus Waffle
    Desiree R.

    A delicious, creative, and fun breakfast/supper gem in downtown Melbourne. The griddle top booth with pancakes is always a fun time with my family. The boss hog is exploding with flavor and my favorite breakfast dish. They have gluten free swaps for pancakes and for bread. The staff is super friendly and efficient. The food comes out pretty quick despite the crowd. I love all the Florida decor, It really just brings a unique vibe. They even have merch! Shirts for $15. Definitely our go to spot for brunch :)

    Waffle with orange zest and fried gator tail
    Amy P.

    So so so good!! This is the cutest place with the friendliest staff. They have several tables with griddles built in so patrons can make their own pancakes. We chose to sit at the bar and watch the cooks. I had the waffles with candied orange zest and fried gator tail. The orange zest brought a ton of bright flavor to the waffle. The gator was fresh and fried to perfection. My partner had the veggie omelette (he added bacon) with grits and toast. The grits were loaded with cheese and were some of the best I've ever had. This was one of the best breakfast's I've had in a long time.

    Lena B.

    Experience: it was a Sunday morning about 10:00 and we decided to come try the pancake grill. Service: the wait was about 30 minutes, but they text you when the table is ready, so we walked around and window shopped while we waited. Out waitress was nice but I was really impressed by the gentleman that checked us out. His name was Rich and he was so friendly and funny. He makes you feel welcome... Yall need to keep him!! Food: Ok, just as I thought, the pancakes were so fun!!!

    Dinner menu?
    Pedro S.

    I'm so glad I came to this restaurant! They're doing breakfast the old fashioned way here! The dishes are hearty! For example, if you order sausage, you get w large patties. However, I think the standout items here are the ones that are made from scratch. Get the potatoes for sure! They're masterfully made with plenty of flavors and crunch! The pancakes are huge and fluffy. Another solid choice! The moment you enter, the EEs are all smiles! What a special group of people! They make sure you get what you want and take care of you professionally and efficiently.

    Alligator Bites and Pulled Pork
    Quinncee P.

    We just beat the brunch rush and were sat immediately in the bar area. The atmosphere was cozy, friendly, and casual. Our server was hilarious and very knowledgeable -- she provided great recommendations. The food was DELICIOUS, as were the mimosas! We got a side of pulled pork as an appetizer along with the fried gator and the flavor of the pork was amazing. I had the Monte Cristo and it was very satisfying. This is a must try spot in Melbourne.

    Natalie J.

    This place had some amazing food. The portions were huge and everything tasted delicious. They didn't seat at first because they only had griddle tables and we didn't want to grill our own pancakes, but after 15 min they said we could sit at the table. The servers were on top of it refills and food came out quickly.

    Menu 1 of 2
    Nelson M.

    So we found ourselves visiting family for Christmas this week in Melbourne, Florida former stomping grounds of Jim Morrison for you Doors fans. We got up early on Christmas Eve and opted to find a cool breakfast place. After a few minutes in Yelp, we found Backwater which is nestled in Historic Downtown Melbourne. Parking should not be a problem but if you can't find some on your he street their is a public parking garage not to far away. Upon arrival we were seated pretty quickly and all the staff were very friendly. Our server Amy was awesome and recommended a few breakfast items that were awesome. We opted for the Greek breakfast and the Cuban Benedict which were both fresh and excellent. We also split their seasonal Cinammon pancake as well which was great as well. Pancakes are huge so make sure you leave some room if you plan on having one. All portions were healthy as well, no skimping at Backwater and everyone was in the Christmas spirit as well which was awesome! The atmosphere is friendly, laid back and welcoming which is great if you are from out of Town. So if you are in the area, make sure you check them out for breakfast or lunch. I am sure you will not be disappointed! So in fact he spirit of the holiday I will adjust my customary ending to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a prosperous and blessed Happy New Year to all of you! Enjoy and Bon Appétit mes amis!

    Orange Blossom Honey Pils
    Lori K.

    I gave 3 stars not totally for the food, but for the overall experience. The food was good. There were 4 of us. Pancakes, omelet , waffles with gator, & a pork Reuben were ordered. The omelet looked great. It was loaded with the ingredients my friend selected. She said it was amazing. I tried a piece of the Gator on the citrus waffle. It was tender & fried nicely, but it was overpowered by the orange citrus/candied orange. I would not have been able to eat it if I ordered it. It was way sweet & citrusy. The pancake looked great & I was told it was ok. But how bad can a pancake be? I had the pork Reuben. It was good. However, I assumed it would be grilled?? It was just assembled with pulled pork red sauerkraut & swiss. I asked for the Cajun remoulade on the side. I did use it as it was not fiery hot, it was pleasant. It could have used more kraut The bread could have been taken out of the toaster 2 minutes earlier., but overall it was good. The slaw was very good. Not to sweet or creamy. The Server was very friendly, she explained a few things from the menu that were unique to them. The runner was friendly as well. So the 3 stars ... it was loud & crowded. Ok, Kids out of hand. And there were a lot of kids. I don't begrudge taking your kids out to eat. In fact I always enjoyed taking mine , however they behaved. As did my granddaughter when she came out to a restaurant. The seats were super uncomfortable. This kind of thing adds to my overall experience. Maybe they don't want you to hang out?? LOL ! We were told it would be 45 min to an hour wait. They took us in like 5 minutes. That was a positive. I don't think I would go back. There are way too many restaurants in that area to hit this one again.

    Southern Breakfast
    Stephany S.

    Located in downtown Melbourne, this place is dishing up some southern goodies. As soon as you walk in, you can appreciate the decor that really does give homage to the natural beauty of Florida. You add your name on a tablet and specify which type of table you want. There are tables with griddles so you can make your own pancakes or regular tables available. There is usually a little more wait for the griddle tables. We got there pretty early so we waited about 5 minutes for our griddle table. This really makes for a family fun experience!! The menu items are great! They have a lot of southern classics with their own unique twists. For example they have chicken and citrus waffles, shrimp and grits and a grilled mac and cheese sandwich!! Did I mention they have alligator bites too? We got the DIY lemon poppy seed pancakes and half the fun is making them, but the flavor is absolutely delish!! We also tried the fried green tomatoes which are in a corn meal batter. Nice and crispy! And of course, can't leave without some loaded grits. It was delicious, loaded with cheese, bacon bits and chives! The service here is great too. Our waitress was so kind and made great recommendations. She also helped us navigate the menu because it was our first time. The staff did check up on us and made sure we had enough drinks the whole time. Very helpful and kind people. This is a must try in Melbourne!

    Entrance
    Adonis S.

    A taste of the south! You have two options for breakfast. Either a regular table where you order omelettes, etc or a table with a hot plate in the center so you can make your own pancakes. How cool is that!? I tried and made the lemon poppy seed pancakes which was delicious! Only thing it can get a little warm because the hot plate is in front of you but it's not too bad. We also tried the fried green tomatoes which was good. Eggs, thick bacon and loaded grits which was delicious. We didn't get the loaded Mac and cheese but our friends did and it was a he best I've had. Simply amazing. Service was great and the people working there are fantastic and friendly.

    Brittany M.

    Such a fun breakfast / brunch spot. I've eaten at both locations. Enjoyed supporting downtown Melbourne. There was quite the line on a Friday morning but you can put your name on the list. We didn't wait long before a bar spot opened and decided to park it there. Enjoyed a Bloody Mary and grapefruit mimosa. The waitresses are busy but still remain attentive. Food fresh/local/yummy. Such a fun looking spot with lots of cool artwork, etc

    Coffee
    Jeannie C.

    The best breakfast spot in Historic Downtown Melbourne! This place came recommended by a local artist from the area. We were so happy we came. You can choose to sit at a griddle and make your own pancakes, or sit at a table and have them make your food. We chose the latter. The buttermilk pancakes were huge and tasty. The eggs were perfectly basted as I had asked, and the bacon was nice and crispy. The Mexican omlette with potatoes were so good. Definitely recommend it!

    Randy T.

    Celiac Disease/Gluten-Free Review Wow!! What an amazingly incredible experience!! This place has the ambiance of this place just says they want you to enjoy your backwater adventure. The decor is very besetting the backwater theme. To me the food and the service, here, are tied together. I have Celiac Disease and the waitress was very helpful with what I could have, with what she recommended for me and also making sure the kitchen staff were handling things correctly and properly to protect me from gluten and cross contamination. To me ~ this was an epic experience and a wonderful place to recommend! When we are back in the Melbourne area ~ this place is definitely on "We'll be back!" list! Thank you for a great experience!

    See all

    Photo of Don M.
    210
    18
    20

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Debbie S.
    206
    19
    16

    7 years ago

    Love the fact they have vegan options. Tofu Scramble made the way you like, Vegan pancake batter, vegan sausage and bacon....

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elena L.
    148
    74
    30

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Place is awesome. Sat at griddle table w/funfetti pancake batter. Food's always bomb.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pam M.
    40
    22
    2

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Helen H.
    10
    74
    99

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Love everything about this place from the griddle table tops and mimosas to the amazing oatmeal!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Uyen N.
    402
    64
    44

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J R.
    0
    29
    10

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tini B.
    68
    105
    66

    7 years ago

    Outstanding!!!! This is my favorite breakfast place in the space coast! Make your own pancakes!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kellie B.
    538
    106
    44

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J M.
    18
    58
    46

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of TC Y.
    1
    6
    10

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ang R.
    0
    101
    18

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carrie S.
    161
    15
    1

    5 years ago

    this place is extremely delicious!!! great ambiance, friendly staff and the food....so incredible!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ian P.
    6
    31
    14

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah K.
    185
    181
    436

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim P.
    55
    28
    0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 14 of 24

    Ask the Community - Backwater

    Are they letting people make their own pancakes again?

    They were when I was there a few weeks ago.

    Do the servers and kitchen staff wear masks?

    They did last time I was there. Here in FL it is hit or miss.

    Do they take reservations?

    No, they do not. You have to get there early! There will be a sheet where you can "sign-in" and indicate if you want a griddle or not. If you don't want the pancakes, the seating is first come, first serve!

    Are you (small) dog friendly?

    I do not believe so

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Breakfast & Brunch 878 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Meg O'Malley's - Ale and Cheese Croc with assorted bread

    Meg O'Malley's

    4.3(909 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    It's always a treat to come to Meg's!…read more It's a lively spot and has live bands occasionally, but even when there isn't is fun! Tonight Eva was our server and was great! Super patient with us and offered a bread pudding for a birthday dessert! We had the $.18 soup and the bread and cheese appetizer. That came out quickly, make sure if you're getting the cheese dip that you are aware of how hot it is!!! Everyone's food came out pretty quickly and hot! The portions are big so you definitely could share or take the rest home! The location is in downtown so you can walk off the food a bit before heading home!

    We stopped by Meg O'Malley's on a Saturday, and even though it was packed, the wait was only about…read more30 minutes--which wasn't bad at all. As soon as we were seated, we were greeted by Brandon, who was incredibly friendly and had a great sense of humor. He made us feel welcome right away and provided outstanding service throughout our meal. To start, I tried the new Lychee cocktail, and it was delicious! We also ordered the Meg Threesome appetizer, which was flavorful and perfect for sharing with the table. The Kilkenny sandwich was absolutely amazing. If you've been missing a classic New York corned beef sandwich, this is definitely the place to satisfy that craving. I also loved the Irish Cuban sandwich--it was juicy, packed with flavor, and a fun twist on a classic. The mac and cheese was rich, creamy, and incredibly cheesy. The chicken pot pie was generously sized and full of flavor. And of course, you can't beat the 18¢ cup of bean soup--such a fun tradition and a great addition to the meal. Even though the restaurant was busy, the service never skipped a beat. There was live music, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the entire experience was fantastic. We'll definitely be back!

    Photos
    Meg O'Malley's - Clean restrooms

    Clean restrooms

    Meg O'Malley's
    Meg O'Malley's - The soup and a Guiness is all you need

    See all

    The soup and a Guiness is all you need

    The Mansion - Pork chop special

    The Mansion

    3.7(874 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I love this restaurant's food... but the secret liquor store downstairs is a hidden gem!! They have…read morethe most incredible selection of liquors that you can't find anywhere else. Scotches that I know I've personally purchased in Scotland bc they don't sell them in retail here. Gins we've seen around the world, but actually not in this country. Same with tequilas and mezcals. An incredibly sophisticated prosecco and wine selection. I don't know who is doing their procuring but never let them go! Shopping there is literally like getting to go around the world collecting all the bottles you'd never find at your local liquor store. LOVE IT!! And yes, the food is pretty fantastic. We came before, during, and after COVID, and I have always been impressed. Even in the terrible COVID years of staff and food shortages, the bartenders and management worked their bottoms off to keep the place running smoothly and not disappoint their customers. The upper patio has great views, too. We'll be loyal forever.

    NOPE! Damn, I should have listened to the other Elites. This place kind of sucked. And I have…read morewanted to go here for years, but kept forgetting about it. Food, service, and overall feel, meh. Let's get into this. Clocked in at 1:00 pm. Clocked out at 2:15 pm. Frankly an hour for some Burgers and a sandwich is a bit extreme. Certainly we could have overlooked the service, but the food was just OK. But as far as the service, sure one server for the whole place, it's gonna be epic. NOT! I was also a little put off how limited the menu was. Then again, I'm pretty sure they want you in the tavern part, not the dining part. I had the special Avocado GoGo. It was bad bad. You can see from the pictures not much in the way of avocado. They should have called it an olive tampanade with a slice of cheese. Yeah one. At least the olives were good. My wife had the Mansion Burger. It was good. Very sloppy and who doesn't like a sloppy floppy burger. The fries came out cold, no biggie. When we mentioned it, they brought us two giant bowls full of fries. They were great. All in all meh. Now, if you drink, you want to visit their tavern. That looks so cool. Go there for that.

    Photos
    The Mansion - Wires... and just stuff.... The only decoration.

    Wires... and just stuff.... The only decoration.

    The Mansion - Crab cake entree- cakes were edible everything else- not edible

    Crab cake entree- cakes were edible everything else- not edible

    The Mansion - Tasting

    See all

    Tasting

    Beachside Cafe - Corned Beef Hash Breakfast with a Side of French Toast.

    Beachside Cafe

    4.5(330 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $

    Beachside Cafe in Indialantic was a great breakfast stop…read more The wait was short and easy, the staff was friendly, and there was a unique "all for one" feeling from the team. Everyone seemed attentive, helpful, and focused on making sure guests were taken care of. I had the biscuits and gravy, and it was delicious. It was so good I had to order an extra biscuit. My friend had a classic eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit breakfast, and it looked great as well. One thing that really stood out was the attention to detail. The staff made sure our coffee cups never fell below the halfway mark, which is always appreciated at breakfast. The location is excellent, right across from the beach in Indialantic. Parking was a little tight, but we managed. Great food, friendly service, and a really nice beachside breakfast spot. Solid five stars.

    Went here for breakfast to get away from our hotels $27 a person breakfast. I checked many reviews…read morebefore deciding and I grateful to have picked a winner. This really small place serves delicious perfectly cooked food at a very reasonable price ($32 out the door with 2 meals, coffee, tax and 25% tip). Our waitress Quinn was slammed but she provided excellent service. You can tell she has a lot of experience making sure her customers have a good experience by asking things like "the home fries have onions is that okay?" We expected very slow service but truly we were sat and had our breakfasts in about 15 minutes. Which I think is pretty good. Took a little longer to pay our bill but 100% worth the wait. We would definitely come back when in the area. My Daugher says "Quinn you did amazing!!! You were soooo good at serving. The pancakes were delicious!"

    Photos
    Beachside Cafe - Dining room

    Dining room

    Beachside Cafe
    Beachside Cafe - Indoor decor.

    See all

    Indoor decor.

    Crush XI - Baked Brie

    Crush XI

    4.4(483 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    Wow wow wow. We used to be fairly regular diners at the location that was in Cocoa Village, but we…read morehad never visited this one in Melbourne until yesterday for brunch. Wow, we missed so many things about Crush! Those bacon-wrapped Medjool dates, the amazing cocktail program... so many things. My burger was new to the menu, and I can't remember the name, but let's just call it "the Butcher Burger," because I know it had a patty that was a mix of chorizo and venison, and maybe Wagyu? It was also topped with an egg and some smoky mayo. Regardless of what it was called, it was TO DIE FOR. My daughter had a huge wedge salad, and it was great. My wife's chive and Gruyère biscuit was awesome, and her strawberry-rhubarb cocktail was delicious. Honestly, we had such a good meal that we almost came back again for dinner just a few hours later on the same day! We didn't, but we will definitely be returning very soon!

    First time in Melbourne and decided to eat here based on reviews and recommendations from friends…read more Everything was excellent! Sat at the bar prior to dinner and had two fabulous cocktails. Watching the bartenders assemble the craft cocktails was a show itself. On to dinner. Our waiter recommended the bacon wrapped dates as a customer favorite. They were a combo of sweet, salty, and smokey. Perfect start to dinner. We ordered the coffee crusted filet with cocoa demi-glace, smashed truffle potatoes and grilled broccolini for one dish, and the fresh catch of the day with coconut rice and pineapple salsa. Our server (forgot his name) was awesome as well. The whole experience made my birthday that much better!

    Photos
    Crush XI - Interior- very well done

    Interior- very well done

    Crush XI - Heritage Pork Chop

    Heritage Pork Chop

    Crush XI - French 75

    See all

    French 75

    Backwater - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...