BACKWATER

BACKWATER is a rare double — an A kitchen at 96/100 and 4.7 stars from 2,939 diners.

Its latest inspection on January 12, 2026 cited only 4 basic violations. On health score it's safer than 62% of Brevard County restaurants we grade. Menus here flag options for vegan and vegetarian diners.

A · 96/100 · safer than 62% of Brevard County

Get directions Call (321) 837-3925

Restaurant details

Health grade
A (96/100)
Violations
4 total — 4 basic
Address
1904 MUNICIPAL LANE, Melbourne, FL
Cuisine
Other
Categories
Southern restaurant (US), Breakfast restaurant, Brunch restaurant, Lunch restaurant
Price
$10–20
Rating
4.7 stars (2939 reviews)
Seats
80
Phone
(321) 837-3925
Website
Official website
Photo of BACKWATER
Photo: Backwater

Community Rating

Reviews via Google
4.7 Community-sourced rating 2,939 reviews
Read all reviews on Google →

What diners say — our read

Diners writing about this place keep returning to service. Reviewers who mention service rate this place 4.8 on average — it is working in the restaurant’s favour. Pacing follows at 24% of reviews, where ratings average 4.6.

If you had to pick one number to represent this corpus it would be 5, the most frequently given rating (15 reviews). 21 of 21 rated reviews are four stars or higher; 0 are two or lower.

Against that, the kitchen inspects well — an A (96/100), 4 basic violations at the most recent DBPR visit. DBPR last walked in on January 12, 2026. Across its inspection history the kitchen is improving, which argues for giving it the benefit of the doubt. Ranked against Brevard County, it is safer than 62% of the restaurants we score. The citations behind that grade include dishwashing facilities and nonfood-contact surfaces clean.

Nothing here pulls in opposite directions — an unusually clean read. Read the originals below and judge the pattern yourself.

Our own analysis of 21 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →

  • June 29, 2026

    Nice place to bring kids or just for some good food

  • June 25, 2026

    Best BLT ever!...cool twist with the pancake option to cook at your table. Also fair prices!

  • June 23, 2026

    Stopped in today for a to-go breakfast right when they opened. Super friendly staff and the food was delicious. You can tell that these folks care just by the way they treat everyone. My cuban breakfast sandwich was killer, I'll be back when im in town again.

  • June 19, 2026

    3rd visit and we love it. Food amazing and staff very friendly and accomodating.

  • June 13, 2026

    Super fun with the griddles in the middle of the table! It’s a bit pricy but it’s fun for once in awhile.

  • June 13, 2026

    It was a very fun experience for our granddaughter’s birthday!

  • June 9, 2026

    Had breakfast today. Very busy and sat at the bar, they seemed short handed, but Crisi was very quick, professional and fun. Cook made the Denver Omelette perfectly. The big waiter should not wipe his nose with the back of his hand. Good coffee too.

  • June 9, 2026

    Pancakes

  • June 9, 2026

    Great breakfast. New favorite place. Staff was friendly.

  • June 8, 2026

    Breakfast was very good! Ms. Tracy was very polite and professional. She was attentive and service was quick. Really enjoyed my breakfast 😊.

  • June 7, 2026

    New menu items!!! Always the best breakfast

  • May 28, 2026

    A little snug during a late Friday morning breakfast (9:30 AM) with at least three groups waited to be seated, but we were able to grab a small wall table for two in the 'bar' area. Food was super good, and reasonably priced. Are server was new (first week) but was very friendly and energetic, but lacking in answers for some particular question - but she quickly found the answers for us. Enjoyed the Boss Hog (I prefer my grits with more butter) and a neat bacon filled breakfast club. Good place to drop in if you work in the area or are passing through. No military discount.

  • May 26, 2026

    Love it

  • May 25, 2026

    Backwater is always great to eat at but this time we had the pleasure of having Rich help us. My mom has many, many food allergies and he took the time to sit down with us and make sure there was something she could eat. He was extremely friendly and even went as far as walking my 98 year old grandmother out to the car. His service was top-notch and so appreciated!

  • May 24, 2026

    I am vegan and my mum has celiac disease (gluten-free) abd Backwater was an awesome place to have breakfast and accommodate both of our options. The waitress asked questions and offered suggestions based on our need. We both had omelets, mine of course was vegan (made with tofu scramble. There are no vegan cheese options) and a grapefruit-sage mimosa. Everything was delicious! The portion size was large and we said we wouldn't eat it all, but it was too tasty not to. There is seating with a griddle to make your own pancakes. They do have gluten-free and vegan options for the pancakes. They clean/wipe down the griddle after each party/guest leaves for the next folks to use. I will definitely come back to The Backwater the next time I am in the area.

  • May 23, 2026

    Difficult to hold conversations it's so loud so dining alone would work just fine. One napkin at a table of 5 diners. I'd have to imagine it was just an oversight (but it shouldn't have happened). Had Cordon Bleu on bed of cornbread. My husband and I found it just okay. Will try something different next time.

  • May 17, 2026

    Great service, DELICIOUS food!

  • May 17, 2026

    Pretty busy, usually a 30 mon wait but worth it

  • May 14, 2026

    The perfect place for breakfast or brunch. Don’t sleep on the freshly squeezed juice.

  • May 8, 2026

    Absolutely awesome! Few places have this atmosphere!

  • April 26, 2026

    I had an absolutely fantastic experience dining here. The food was outstanding—everything was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Each dish felt thoughtfully prepared, and the quality really stood out from the first bite to the last. The service was just as impressive. The staff was attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming without being overbearing. They made sure everything was perfect throughout the meal, which really elevated the entire experience. One of the highlights for me was the excellent range of gluten-free options. It’s often hard to find places that offer variety without compromising on taste, but this restaurant truly delivered. The gluten-free dishes were just as delicious and satisfying as anything else on the menu, which made dining here feel easy and enjoyable. Overall, I highly recommend this spot—whether you’re looking for great food, top-notch service, or reliable gluten-free choices, it checks all the boxes

Overall Score

72 / 100

  • Health inspection grade 40/40
    Grade A
  • Dietary transparency 7/20
    2 options listed
  • Community rating 19/20
    4.7★ average
  • Hidden-gem status 0/10
    Not flagged
  • Track record 6/10
    Improving, 0% clean

Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.

Opening hours

Monday
8 AM to 2 PM
Tuesday
8 AM to 2 PM
Wednesday
8 AM to 2 PM
Thursday
8 AM to 2 PM
Friday
8 AM to 2 PM
Saturday
8 AM to 2 PM
Sunday
8 AM to 2 PM

Inspection history

The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.

  1. January 12, 2026 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    0 high-priority · 0 intermediate · 4 basic

    • 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
    • 16 — Dishwashing facilities; sanitizer test kits; gauges
    • 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation
  2. August 1, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    3 high-priority · 0 intermediate · 4 basic

    • 01 — Food from approved source; safe, unadulterated, sound condition
    • 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
    • 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage
    • 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained (×2)
    • 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
    • 51 — Other conditions of sanitary & safe operation

This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →

Data last updated: January 12, 2026