SOUTHERN SISTERS CAFE

The crowd and the inspector disagree about SOUTHERN SISTERS CAFE, and it isn't close: 1,301 reviewers settle on 4.5 stars, while its latest health inspection lands at an F, 38/100.

By health score it sits near the bottom of Brevard County on health score — among the riskier kitchens in the county. The grade reflects 5 high-priority, 6 intermediate, and 4 basic violations at its last inspection on March 30, 2026. Worse, the trend is downward. Safer, higher-graded picks nearby are listed below.

Loved (4.5★) but failing (F, 38/100) · bottom of Brevard County

Get directions Call (321) 775-3442

Safer options nearby

Higher-graded restaurants close to SOUTHERN SISTERS CAFE, by Florida DBPR grade:

Restaurant details

Health grade
F (38/100)
Violations
15 total — 5 high-priority, 6 intermediate, 4 basic
Address
2242 SARNO RD, Melbourne, FL
Cuisine
American
Categories
Southern restaurant (US), American restaurant, Breakfast restaurant, Brunch restaurant
Price
$10–20
Rating
4.5 stars (1301 reviews)
Neighborhood
Bowe Gardens
Seats
95
Phone
(321) 775-3442
Website
Official website
Photo of SOUTHERN SISTERS CAFE
Photo: Shannon Pickron

Community Rating

Reviews via Google
4.5 Community-sourced rating 1,301 reviews
Read all reviews on Google →

What diners say — our read

Diners raise cleanliness often enough to notice — and on this one the state inspector agrees with them. The staff tends to be raised approvingly here, averaging 4.0 stars.

More reviewers landed on 5 stars than any other score — 14 of 19. 15 of 19 rated reviews are four stars or higher; 2 are two or lower.

Notably, 16% of reviews here already touch on cleanliness — and the inspection agrees, grading the kitchen an F (38/100) on 5 high-priority, 6 intermediate, and 4 basic violations. Diners were picking up on something real. That result dates from March 30, 2026. Its inspection trajectory is downward over the records we hold. Ranked against Brevard County, it is safer than 1% of the restaurants we score. What the inspector actually wrote up: food from approved source.

The practical read: people enjoy eating here, and the kitchen still failed its last inspection. Those are separate claims, and only the second one gets checked by anybody. The underlying reviews are reproduced in full underneath.

Our own analysis of 19 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →

  • June 30, 2026

    Great food great service good sweet tea

  • June 21, 2026

    Nice little mom and pop shop if you are a fan of those!

  • June 17, 2026

    Excellent service 👏

  • June 14, 2026

    Best breakfast in town

  • June 14, 2026

    I tried this out for the first time. A few things happened that I am not holding to the review that I'll mention too. Food was good. Breakfast is hard to mess up. And it was delicious except for the sausage. It had like hard ends so I think it was a pre cooked version. Eggs, pancakes, and hash all good. I didnt realize until halfway through, but my coffee cup had a sticker that was disintegrating on the front of it. I think I drank some sticker because I found it on my bottom lip. It took a while to get food, but it was a packed house. Sunday before and after church is going to be busy. This did not impact my review. Waitress was great and doing the best she could. Its not a very clean place. I can tell from the ceiling tiles that have water leak damage, the coffee cup itself, and the two flies that kept bothing me, that it needs a good cleaning. 2 seats down on the breakfast bar, I think a local brought his own swatter. For a quick bite, not bad. Food is good and staff wants to help. I dont recommend against going. But I can't recommend going out of your way to try it.

  • June 13, 2026

    I love coming here on Sundays with my dad and my friends on special occasions! Service is always so kind and it’s a lovely cozy atmosphere for brunch. And we always enjoy the food here, it’s always fulfilling and delicious. They also have special dishes they do seasonally, highly recommend the strawberry cheesecake French toast when it comes around again! All the waitresses are wonderful and you’ll never be without a full cup of coffee.

  • June 8, 2026

    Four of us agreed our eggs were cooked the way we ordered. The home fries had onions and peppers with the potatoes, yum-yum

  • June 5, 2026

    Best Breakfast 😋

  • May 28, 2026

    Great spot for breakfast! Haven’t tried any lunch offerings but the breakfast is great! We usually come by when we are in town every weekend.

  • May 11, 2026

    Can you say sick to stomach?? Puked for days. Was in bathroom washing my hands and the cook came from the stall and walked right out the door never once to stop and wash his hands. I was sick for days

  • May 4, 2026

    Food was excellent, service outstanding.

  • May 2, 2026

    I had a fantastic breakfast at Southern Sisters Cafe in Melbourne! The steak and eggs were perfectly cooked with tender meat and fluffy eggs, while the Southern Benedict was a flavorful twist packed with savory goodness. Tasty, hearty home cooking done right. Highly recommend—cozy spot with generous portions!

  • April 13, 2026

    Another great scrapple destination in Melbourne FL. This place has been an institution in FL for 20 sum years and while its recently changed ownership it maintains the same staff and culture of service. The coffee’s hot, the ladies are sweet and the scrapple is perfectly prepared. If you want southern style cooking at great prices make it a destination for you. While all the crew is great, Pam went out of her way to make us feel at home. A true gem she is!

  • April 13, 2026

    Little hole in the wall. Good food.

  • March 28, 2026

    Love that place

  • March 20, 2026

    Sehr gutes Frühstück. Große Auswahl. Kaffee refill umsonst. Preise günstig.

  • March 11, 2026

    The large woman at the front desk rudely pulled away my 80-year-old father's dish while he's still using during the slow hours without a single waiting for tables. YET, no apologies for her rudimentary uneducated behavior but claimed as a manager, and nobody above her...? It's a low-end restaurant serving junk food for unnecessary fat feeding. (French toast burned on both sides, but cold & dry inside, too much to say about the rest, we unfortunately ordered 4 combo brunch! I leave some dignity for the owners. ) I don't recommend the tasteless food, sticky chairs, and stained floor, based on the fact inside and out. God bless your health!

  • March 2, 2026

    Best breakfast place I’ve found

  • February 21, 2026

    Very good coffee, breakfast was just so-so. Service was very good. Probally would not ho back for breakfast

Overall Score

30 / 100

  • Health inspection grade 0/40
    Grade F
  • Dietary transparency 10/20
    3 options listed
  • Community rating 18/20
    4.5★ average
  • Hidden-gem status 0/10
    Not flagged
  • Track record 2/10
    Declining, 0% clean

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

Opening hours

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

Inspection history

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

  1. March 30, 2026 · Complaint Full

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    5 high-priority · 6 intermediate · 4 basic

    • 01 — Food from approved source; safe, unadulterated, sound condition (×2)
    • 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods (×3)
    • 03 — Temperature control of foods (cold/hot holding, cooking, cooling, reheating) (×2)
    • 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage
    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 16 — Dishwashing facilities; sanitizer test kits; gauges
    • 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
    • 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation
    • 40 — Employee personal belongings
    • 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
  2. February 25, 2026 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    1 high-priority · 1 intermediate · 6 basic

    • 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
    • 10 — In-use food dispensing utensils properly stored
    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices (×2)
    • 16 — Dishwashing facilities; sanitizer test kits; gauges
    • 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×2)
  3. September 23, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    1 high-priority · 4 intermediate · 7 basic

    • 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
    • 03 — Temperature control of foods (cold/hot holding, cooking, cooling, reheating) (×2)
    • 11 — Employee health knowledge; no ill/symptomatic employee present
    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 16 — Dishwashing facilities; sanitizer test kits; gauges
    • 21 — Wiping cloths; clean & soiled linens; laundry
    • 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized (×2)
    • 25 — Single-service and single-use items
    • 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided
    • 40 — Employee personal belongings

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: March 30, 2026