Last Saturday, my wife and I enjoyed a fantastic seafood dinner at the Islands Fish Grill. The owner, Lori, greeted us at the entrance and wished us a Happy Birthday. My wife and I have the same birth date!!! The restaurant is on the small side, but intimate and cozy, with a nautical feel. Our waiter, Thiago, was knowledge about the specials and other offerings and engaged us in friendly banter. He speaks three languages and we tested him on two. He passed!!! Our dinners of crab cake, house salads and onion encrusted Mahi Mahi were delicious. The cakes were full of crab, the sauce subtle but tasty, the salads were served chilled to perfection, and the fish dish left us looking forward to our return. This family owned eatery offers fresh reasonable fare which will have you looking forward to a speedy return! Loved it!!! read more

I wish I could give it 4.5 stars but sadly Yelp hasn't figured it out in all this time...(Yelp? Are you *ever* listening?)... Anyway, what a fabulous surprise, really. From the street or even the back where the main parking can be found, the place really isn't much to look at. But when you enter, ah, there is the difference. Decorated in a light beachy theme, nothing tacky, mind-you, you get the sense it gonna be a special experience. The location has a bar that separates what I will call a front dining area (which faces 5th Ave) and one that is in the back, way smaller and more intimate. This is where they sat us and I am so glad they did. It was cozy and relaxed, and though there were other parties in the room it had a friendly relaxed vibe. The menu is short and too the point. Not many choices but the choices are all special. My wife had their shrimp and scallops while I chose their signature dish - the onion crusted grouper. I had forgotten how much I liked grouper and this slab of fish was both large and beautifully done up. The shrimp were large, the scallops were even bigger, and the entire meal was special from beginning to end. They serve local craft beer which instantly became a plus in my book. For dessert we had their orange creamsicle brownie - which reminded me more of turron rather than a brownie itself - but no matter. The darn thing was delicious. I could have easily eaten two or twenty more. Service was what you would expect from a higher end place - which this is clearly. It may not look at it from the outside, but it was totally high-end on the inside. The server was three or four-days new, she needed a bit help but was still spot on with the drink refills and checking in on us. The manager (I think she was the manager) came to the back and checked on everyone several times. She was very personable and we had a good time jawing about their beers. Like I said, a truly fabulous surprise - don't let the exterior fool you - this place has got it going very, very good. read more

Anyone who rated this less than 5 stars is either someone who doesn't eat fish and this is not the spot for you or they are absolutely insane and I'd never eat a meal with you nor would any reasonable human being. The food is absolutely excellent, hands down, no doubt these people know their fish. As a resident of a mostly landlocked flyover state where Walleye is the greatest delicacy, the onion crusted Grouper is that of dreams you didn't know you could have. I ordered the red snapper and loverboy ordered the grouper. While we often compete and always share, he technically won the ordering challenge. The Grouper is unbelievable. However, if you didn't know the Grouper existed you'd love the red snapper. A bit like Blondes. Until you know the joy of a true blonde, you just don't know what you are missing. The Brussels sprouts were perfectly done but the side that took the prize was the fried spinach. I didn't know such a disappointing vegetable could make me moan with pleasure the way Island Gish Grill's fried spinach did. Ladies and gentlemen get crazy, let that Florida wind blown hair down and be sure to get the fried spinach side. Disregard the French fries, the spinach will hit that salty crunch you crave. I promise your breath won't hinder the rest of your perfect night. Order the grouper, or order whatever they are almost running out of. Let the wait staff guide you through your oral pleasure journey. I promise from the bottom of my soul it will be worthwhile and you will have no regrets. Eat here if you are a regular and live the charmed life I can only fantasize about. Eat here if you are a tourist passing through and want an experience in delicious and affordable fish prepared by experts. This is a spot I will return to and probably buy tickets to fly into Orlando just to eat here. Build your trip around this dinner and eat here twice if you are privileged enough to do so. As always, Tip like you are on the first day of your vacation and haven't overspent at Disney already. read more

Islands Fish Grill - Half eaten Grouper - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

See all

Really great seafood, which is fresh caught daily. Excellent service and a cute place with a nice decor. We had fried chips with a bacon sauce that was delicious. Red snapper was fresh. read more

Went there for the wonderful food and wasn't disappointed. Service was also top notch. My only complaints are that they are very crowded, the ambiance is horrible. It was so loud in there we couldn't hear the waiter or each other at our table. Had it not been for everyone yelling, it would have been enjoyable. read more

This seafood restaurant was selected by our friend Kent who we were meeting for dinner. So nice for a local to pick our restaurant venue as they know all the non-touristy places! And so much better when it's a non-chain small place with personality. Our server was charming. The food was delicious. Everyone really liked what they ordered too. Both of the guys cleaned their plates! No dishwasher needed for them... I started with a very nice light Caesar salad. Then I had their seared scallops with rice and green beans. The scallops were perfectly cooked -- all the way through as requested -- but still tender. My husband had their onion encrusted grouper and our friend had their cobia special of the night. Too full for desert I enjoyed coffee while the guys each had a slice of authentic key lime pie. What a lovely dining experiences -- this place is definitely bookmarked for a future visit. read more

Islands Fish Grill - Scallops with rice and green beans - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

Service was lovely. Wine selection is good. Hubby and I both ordered the shrimp and scallops and it was a delicious dish. Both shrimps and scallops were plump and delicious. The signature fried spinach and the grits were very good. We enjoyed our meal and will be back. read more

Islands Fish Grill - Shrimp and scallops with fried spinach and chefs grits. FABULOUS!!! - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

What a great meal! Fresh grouper baked to perfection in their onion crust. Extremely tasty with the jalapeño cheese grits and deep fried spinach. No complaints here at all. My wife had the filet mignon, it was cooked exactly as ordered. The spinach mashed potatoes and asparagus were an excellent side to her meal. The service was fantastic our waiter and hostess were very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the menu and food choices. Cannot wait to get back to Melbourne to eat here again! read more

Islands Fish Grill - Onion crusted baked grouper, deep fried spinach & jalapeño cheese grits - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

See all

First time here and won't be the last! Delicious local fish offerings to please the pallet! My wife and I met one of her dear high school chums who suggested this as a great seafood restaurant. My house special Onion Encrusted Grouper with mashed potatoes and flash fried spinach was superb! My wife had the Scallops and our friend had Cobia, all were wonderful. Don't forget to save room for the authentic keylime pie. Friendly and enjoyable service will bring us back again! read more

Islands Fish Grill - Onion encrusted Grouper - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

Such a hidden gem in Melbourne! Everything is made from scratch and has such good flavor. The best thing on the menu is the onion crusted fish. It is sooo yummy. The deep fried spinach is also very good. Oh and the oysters! We loved this place and will be back soon. Make sure to make reservations! read more

I took the manager's recommendation and ordered the specialty. Onion crusted grouper with fried spinach and this incredible Caribbean rice The friendliness of the staff and oh the food really is top notch. The grouper was prepared perfectly. Slightly flaky but not overdone. The ambiance of being in downtown Melbourne along with this great seafood is perfect. Can not recommend the grouper enough. Portion size is very large read more

This restaurant is amazing. We visited a while ago while in town and it was top notch. The service was very personable, accommodating, and informative. The food was outstanding and the restaurant space itself was very comfortable. We visited this past week and again, we were throughly impressed just as much as the last. Ethan was yet another excellent server. His knowledge of the menu left no unanswered questions. He was able to suggest beverages that complimented our meal (with or without alcohol). This restaurant is an absolute must. Thank you to all of you at Islands Fish Grill. Each experience we have had with you has been nothing short of excellent. read more

Islands Fish Grill - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

See all

Absolutely adore the fresh menu and excellent flavors here in addition to the beautifully decorated walls with local arts. They have weekday specials so be sure to check it out! On the day that we went, two entrees came with a free app! The Thai chili shrimp is mouthwatering and not spicy. Just delicious! The pan seared scallops in a butter sauce was perfect. I really enjoyed the chef special carbs which was seasoned rice. read more

Islands Fish Grill - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

See all

I really wanted to love this place because I've heard wonderful feedback but I was left wanting more. The staff was super friendly. The decor was dated, service a bit slow (he may have been the only waiter), and parking is a bit awkward. That being said the hostess sat us in a private area and provided a mini bottle of champagne when she was told it was our anniversary. That was a nice surprise! The menu was small but had a little bit for everyone. I ordered the onion crusted grouper with mashed potatoes, and asparagus. My husband ordered the one pasta dish they have which was marinara with mussels, shrimp, and crab. I found my grouper to be under seasoned since I pushed the sweet gelatinous sauce to the side, it was cooked perfectly though! The mashed potatoes and asparagus were also under seasoned. A little salt would have went a long way. Same with my husbands dish. The ingredients were cooked perfectly but his dish was sweet? I think the menu could use some revamping with a little less sauces. The hostess did give us tips for our next visit which I think will happen again. Now that we know what to expect, we can tailor the dishes more to our taste. read more

Islands Fish Grill - Onion Crusted Grouper - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

See all

The food, drinks, service, and ambiance were all excellent. We had the shrimp appetizer, which was very flavorful. The house salads were also well executed. We had Wahoo and Snapper for our entrees. The cajun preparation was great, but the onion crusted option was a little too strong for snapper. The key lime pie was made in house and was authentic. We also ordered a bottle of Chardonnay that was both excellent and reasonably priced. The wine list was not large, but was thoughtful and was perfectly paired for the food served. read more

We found this little gem while on a recent visit to the coast of Florida. Probably the best meal of our entire stay (and we had some pretty great seafood while there). My husband got the onion crusted grouper, the fried spinach, green beans & I got the grilled corvina (a catch of the day), yummy parmesan grits & green beans. I had never had corvina & I swear it'll be my first choice from now on. The grits were awesome...well everything was! My husband's grouper was "almost" ha! as good as mine...but we both practically licked our plates. BUT, we didn't stop there! We had probably the best key lime pie I've ever had (and I tried key lime pie all over the island) & the chocolate mousse just melted in your mouth. Price wise - super reasonable. Ambiance? So nice & easy...no loud music. Staff? Soooo friendly, helpful, & knowledgeable. read more

Wonderful service & food. Shrimp app was a bit bland but still yummy, onion encrusted grouper & another catch of the day jerked was incredible (we joked about not saving room for dessert but to get a second plate of food hehe). Great wine selection (NZ sauv blanc!!) Again, top notch service, will 100% be back. read more

See all

Stunning: The onion crusted fish specials were outstanding. They served grits with jalapeño spice. A very nice touch. Restaurant was filled as locals knew the high quality. Fish is fresh from the ocean. Servers were very friendly and offered great guidance. read more

First time at this restaurant and won't be my.last even though I live an hour away Had the onion encrusted yellow tail smaller with asparagus and spinach. A better meal this is not. Everything made to perfection . The flavors bursted in my mouth. The vegetables were perfect and I never had a crunchy spinach but I could have eaten more portions. The fish was perfect and I never tasted fish that good. I really enjoyed their food and I will support this restaurant to the best of my ability. My only regret was not trying the key lime pie. read more

We started with the Thai shrimp that were very delicious. Then we went with the special of the night, blackened swordfish over a bowel of penne pasta with the most delicious sauce. We could have licked the bowl, it was so good. Our waiter was outstanding, and observing the other wait staff, they were as well. We would be regulars if we lived here. read more

The fish was fresh and amazing so much flavor! Came out quickly, server was wonderful and a very pleasant atmosphere We'll definitely be back. Parking was a little bit of an issue be patient it's worth the walk! read more

Food is really good with loads of flavor. Staff is very friendly and went out of their way to make sure the little kids had fun. IMO it was a great value for the price. It was a little crowded in our space, but they were very busy, and for good reason. I would definately recommend this restaurant and will try to go back there with out of town friends. It will leave them with a good impression for sure! read more

Amazing food and service! Chef's daily preparation of fish and grits were so unique both times we had opportunity to visit. Highly recommended! read more

Islands Fish Grill - Amazing "Sheepshead" with Parmesan and garlic grits - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

One of the BEST dining experiences we have had...anywhere!! Freshest seafood with delicious sides, we had all; and the sauces are amazing! Ethan was our server, the entire staff goes out of the way to accommodate any guest. If I do say, we travel a lot, and we know fresh seafood......Islands Fish Grill is on of the finest dining experiences you will enjoy! read more

Fine dining (with corresponding prices - that are well worth it) at its best beachside. Everyone had an outstanding meal, even the 10 year old was catered to ;) great ambience and service. For florida, this was a bit dressier venue but this is a hidden gem. read more

The meal we had here was easily the best meal either of us have ever eaten. The onion-crusted corvina was light and had a great flavor. The mahi was good, and my wife especially enjoyed the lobster mashed potatoes. This dinner was the highlight of our trip - I can't recommend this restaurant enough. read more

Islands Fish Grill - Onion crusted corvina and mahi - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

Me my wife and our 15 year old son were in town for a week and as always we restaurant shop for the best restaurants we can find, we're major foodies, "it's a whole thing" We were tired of The Chart House "our normal go to" so we shopped around and ended up going here twice in three days because we liked it that much. The food, service, and hospitality were all very personal and genuine, we didn't feel like generic customers as often times is the case at a lot of different restaurants/establishments. Anyway, without giving a long winded review I will say this. If you want good food and you want great service, along with an owner who seems like she is a very kind and caring not to mention genuine" look you in the eye when she talks to you kind of person" go here. Basically just eat here if you like dining out, that pretty much sums it up, thank you for taking the time to read this review. read more

See all

Popped in on a last minute Groupon purchase. I will tell you this in advance, call ahead to make a reservation if you can. Walked in to this cute restaurant and was greeted with great customer service from the moment you walk in. I server was busy with 3 tables (1 a large party), so at times it was hard to pin him down. We started off with the thai shrimp appetizer and it was yummy. Wish they would have dusted the shrimp with a little seasoning, but the sauce was good and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. Went with the scallops and the side specials of mashed potatoes and fried spinach....It sounded like a good idea, but didn't finish so well for me. The mashed potatoes needed more seasoning (butter, salt, pepper), and the spinach was a bit like paper to me. I should have tried the kale and bacon, lol. But my scallops were delicious. My mom had the crab cakes and there were yummy. Overall this place has the seafood down packed, but needs a little help with the sides or maybe I just got the wrong ones. I'd give them another try :) read more

See all

This is clearly a local spot as the folks are a noisy bunch who come to have good time so be ready to shout at your table mates - Wait staff is very friendly and helpful - We had the shrimp pasta - the shrimp were good but served with tails on so you had to deep dive and grub around to get tails off before eating - OK if not worried about messy hands but for fussy folks not ideal - Amber ? Not jack was OK but detected some of dreaded fishy taste so not a order again but the triple tail was outstanding - all at table agreed best we have ever tasted so give it a try read more

Best crab cakes I've ever eaten. I got the onion crusted snapper and it was delicious. Husband had the shrimp and scallop penne with goat cheese. He loved it, the only complaint is that the pasta was very greasy. Would definitely come here again. read more

Disappointing. We chose this place because of the 4.6 rating online and were completely let down. Staff 5 stars. Environment 3 stars. Food 2 stars. Upon arrival we were greeted by the friendly staff. Although, the atmosphere was cold, dark, and dirty the staff were inviting and we were seated right away with our reservation. The menu was priced on par with that of a fine dining restaurant and the waiter was very knowledgable and made recommendations. My wife was skeptical about the pairings but I went with the special and the glass of wine recommended. The fish of the day, the triple tail, was mushy and bland. Unusual for such a fish and the sauce was overly sweet. Deep fried spinach was also a strange accompaniment. My 16 yr old son ordered the 4 crab cake dinner which was a huge portion for $34 but was mostly breading and bits of shredded crab. Would have been nicer with 2 cakes and more crab. He didn't finish them because they too were over seasoned. We ordered a couple salads and sides and the over arching theme was over done, over seasoned food, and second day stale wine. Our server was so nice we couldn't get out of there fast enough when he asked how our meal was. Honestly, the place needs a deep clean and a new chef and we might give the front of the house staff another chance. They were all so nice and attentive. read more

We always enjoy ourselves when we dine here. The parking can be a bit difficult, but once you've secured your spot, it's all worthwhile! The restaurant is clean, the staff welcoming and friendly, and the food is always fresh and delicious!! read more

We had a very positive first experience here. Both fish entrees were very good. The onion crusted grouper was perfect. The BBQ snapper was very good, but the sides (roasted potatoes & slaw) were just average and took away from the fish. Fried spinach and green beans were spot on too. Biggest surprise of the night was the house made Key Lime pie. Heavy texture, right tartness, graham cracker crust and homemade whipped cream. Best around by a long shot. We will be back. read more

Islands Fish Grill - Onion Crusted Grouper, Fried Spinach & Green Beans - Seafood Near Me - Indialantic, Florida

See all

In one word - delicious! This place will surely be a recurring restaurant that we enjoy on a regular basis. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable; the food was straight up amazing; and the atmosphere was welcoming. read more

Sat at the bar Saturday evening. The bartender was awesome! Food was fantastic. For sure a great must stop.

Great menu, specials and service! Always a pleasure having dinner at this restaurant during our visits to Florida. Highly recommend!

Best meal we had during our trip to Melbourne! The service as exceptional and the food was delicious. I highly recommend the catch of the day prepared with the onion bacon glaze. That dish along with the grits and fried spinach YUM! If I lived closer this would definitely a restaurant that I would come to all the time! read more

The food here was phenomenal. I had to catch of the day wahoo. My wife had the mahi catch of the day. The grits were great potatoes mashed spot on broccoli was absolutely phenomenal. Definitely a go to place read more

How on earth does everyone not know about this place? It's fantastic. Great, and I mean GREAT seafood. They cook it so many ways we will be going back for years. Possibly the best seafood meal my wife and I have EVER had. Even the sides are "knock it outta the park" good. If I could give it six stars I would! read more

INVEST IN YOURSELF & YOUR COMMUNITY.... I am a firm believer of investing in your community by dining/supporting your local (non commercial) dinner establishments. If not, one day they won't be there for your enjoyment. Islands Fish Grill has been off 5th Ave as long as I can remember. I've enjoyed countless fine dinners here with family, for school dance dinners, dates, and more due to the consistency in good food and service. (A rarity for sure). Islands isn't the most expensive surf & turf in town, but by all means isn't cheap either. People spend good money to enjoy this place. With that being said, that long term community investment should be reciprocated. For an establishment that has been here so long, local support unwaivered, it's a shock to me that the inside NEVER gets any nicer. The interior is old, smells, and is lacking maintenance, in key areas. Hopefully the interior designer was fired years ago because the decor feels confusing, cheap, and low budget STILL. Ambiance is a integral part of enjoyment in your experience, and cleanliness is paramount without discussion. However, when my wife went to use the restroom, all you could smell in the small hallway is aging urine emanating from the mens side of the restrooms. This is not a pleasant smell for the women that have to pass it before eating, or them men who have to face it full brunt to wash hands before eating. It almost felt a little disrespectful that the community has been investing in this establishment for soo long, and the owners don't reciprocate that investment to give its patrons a clean, good smelling, sanitary environment to enjoy they're dinner. Makes the whole experience feel like a cash grab. Islands communicated to me, "Who cares, we're busy and making great money, so why change anything". That Is how it feels. For me and my wife. I don't care how good the food is, if I can't wash my hands before dinner without doing it in an area that smells worse than a Melbourne High football locker room. With young kids, we don't get to have a date night often, but we chose to eat here in hopes to have a romantic evening accompanied by good food and service. However, sadly I don't think we will return for awhile after last night, and probably never if the next time it's still the same. There's mold and water damage on the ceiling over the bar, from the genius who decided to encase the ventilation ducts in wood. There's mini blinds covering the bars top stock, and clutter everywhere upon entry where you would typically sit to wait for seating. It wasn't a surprise to me that they were understaffed in this economy, but 1 official Server.... Really? They sent the bartender to wait our table, and it wasn't the experience we hoped for. He was under dressed for this type of establishment to begin, and explained nothing about the specials other than whats written on his cheat sheet. We had never heard of some of the fish options before. Overhearing the ACTUAL server at the table across from us, he explained the specials and did so with grace and professionalism. That thankfully clarified things for us, & helped us decide. In addition, he was properly dressed for the occasion and interacted with the Customer as anyone would expect. This further cheapened our romantic evening, to be served by a young Lad in jeans and an untucked polo, with stains on it. (if I had to guess it's the Owners Son) She was not just the Hostess, but table buser, food expediter, and all while eating her own Dinner at the Bar. Not a good look. Overall, it was not the experience we've come to know over the years and hopefully these comments are taken with the constructive nature they were intended. Typically owners respond quite negatively to Yelp reviews and criticism. But, I say these things with all due respect, as we would like to see you grow with the community & be around for years to come. Thank you for the great Golden Tilefish. read more