As is the case with many dining traditions, the origins on how brunch got started is largely unknown. A few food historians think that the meal got it’s start in England. They would dine on a lavish multi-course hunt breakfasts that featured a buffet of items such as chicken livers, eggs, meats, bacon, fresh fruit and pastries. Sunday Brunch may also have been derived from the practice of Catholics fasting before Sunday mass and sitting down for a large meal afterwards. Regardless of it’s true origins, I’m happy that this tradition continues today and I had a blast while creating this article. We are truly blessed to have so many amazing restaurants in Indian River County!
A special thank you to my readers for your help with suggesting and voting for your favorite places. With a total of over 170 votes cast, you helped me narrow down the list to your Top 6 favorites! The final 3 restaurants are listed below in no particular order.
Cobalt Restaurant – Vero Beach
Located inside one of Vero’s Premier ocean front resort hotels, Cobalt is one of my favorite places to dine on the island. This will be my first time joining them for brunch, so I was looking forward to my visit. The weather on the day I stopped by was a bit chilly, so I choose to dine inside, but if you have the opportunity to sit outside I highly recommend it. They have one of the largest outdoor patios in Vero and one of the best views of the Atlantic ocean too! Executive Chef Winston Guerrero has been leading the culinary team for the past 2 years at both Cobalt and Heaton’s (poolside bar & restaurant), and the food here just keeps getting better each time I visit.
Cobalt Restaurant at The Vero Beach Hotel & Spa
Address: 3500 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963
Phone: (772) 469-1060
https://cobaltrestaurant.com/
Riverside Cafe – Vero Beach
Riverside Café is just one of those places that truly defines what Florida living is all about. It’s located right on the water, you can drive up in your boat, grab a bite to eat and enjoy those spectacular sunsets! Executive Chef Brandon Howard’s menu has classic American dishes with a strong focus on seafood! Sunday Brunch is very popular here and has been running for over 14 years! With selections from eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, prime rib, and a wonderful selection of seafood items, you won’t have a problem finding something you like! As a previous winner of my Golden Fork Awards Top 10 Best Dishes I tasted for 2019, you know you are in for a treat when dining here!
Riverside Cafe
Address: 3341 Bridge Plaza Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963
Phone: (772) 234-5550
http://www.riversidecafe.com/
The Lemon Tree – Vero Beach
The Lemon Tree is a cozy cafe located on Ocean Drive and is one of Vero’s oldest breakfast & lunch places in town! It’s become quite popular with locals and tourists alike due to it’s central location on the island. I stopped by and met with manager, Michelle Collins to try a few of their most popular dishes. While everything I tasted was delicious, the two stand out dishes were the Quiche and the Chicken & Waffles. The Quiche is freshly made in house daily and the Maple Sriracha syrup served with the Chicken & Waffles was outstanding! A little sweet, with a little heat!
The Lemon Tree
Address: 3125 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963
Phone: (772) 231-0858
https://lemontreevero.com/
This article concludes this two part series where I visited and featured your Top 6 brunch restaurants located in Indian River County! In case you missed part 1, CLICK HERE to read it! Stay tuned for next month’s article, we’ve got lots to “taco” about!
We are always interested in hearing if the restaurants mentioned include gluten free options