SQUID LIPS WATERFRONT

SQUID LIPS WATERFRONT does the basics right — an A grade, 96/100, at its most recent inspection on March 24, 2026.

On health score it's safer than 62% of Brevard County restaurants we grade. Diners rate it 4.3 from 7,642 reviews. Cuisine: Seafood. Menus here flag gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, paleo, and other dietary options.

Get directions Call (321) 259-3101

Restaurant details

Health grade
A (96/100)
Violations
4 total — 4 basic
Address
1477 PINEAPPLE AVE, Melbourne, FL
Cuisine
Seafood
Categories
Seafood restaurant, Bar, Restaurant
Price
$20–30
Rating
4.3 stars (7642 reviews)
Seats
374
Phone
(321) 259-3101
Website
Official website
Photo of SQUID LIPS WATERFRONT
Photo: Squid Lips

Community Rating

Reviews via Google
4.3 Community-sourced rating 7,642 reviews
Read all reviews on Google →

What diners say — our read

This listing's ratings cluster at the two ends of the scale. Opinion on service is split — those reviews land at 3.3 on average. After that, whether it is worth the money appears most often — 31% of the corpus, averaging 3.4.

The split is 12 positive to 3 negative across 16 rated reviews, with 1 in the middle. A third strand, freshness, appears in 19% of them at 5.0 stars. If you had to pick one number to represent this corpus it would be 5, the most frequently given rating (10 reviews).

The health record runs ahead of the reviews. The last DBPR inspection returned an A (96/100) with 4 basic violations. DBPR last walked in on March 24, 2026. Its inspection trajectory is downward over the records we hold. On health score it sits safer than 62% of the Brevard County restaurants we grade. The citations behind that grade include plumbing installed & maintained and floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained.

Both measures agree, which is the least complicated version of this page. Read the originals below and judge the pattern yourself.

Our own analysis of 16 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →

  • June 30, 2026

    We were in town to celebrate a special occasion! Our time at Squid Lips was enjoyed by all! Thank you Chef for our wonderful meal and of course our realtor Jake who introduced us to this local spot! #supportlocal @trutraveler

  • June 29, 2026

    A great place on the beach! Kids played on the beach and pier while the food was made fresh. Food was excellent, prices were great, and overall it was a complete win.

  • June 29, 2026

    A must for anyone who travels to the area. Crab burger is amazing. They also have a coconut encrusted fish sandwich that is to die for and out of this world. My family and I ate here twice in one week on our vacation. I can't wait to go back again.

  • June 28, 2026

    My family ate here on Friday and the food wasn’t that great. My mom got the fried fish sandwich and got terrible food poisoning after. She called the following day to inform them, for the safety of others and the manager was not pleasant and argumentative on the phone and just said they would make a report.

  • June 27, 2026

    I would start by saying JoJo, our server was very sweet. We were here a few weeks ago and had the same dish, which included shrimp. last time the shrimp was firm and very tasty. This visit and the shrimp was mushy and had no flavor. If this was my first visit, I would not be back.

  • June 21, 2026

    I love their happy hour that starts at 3 o’clock and I always get a dozen raw oysters which are $.99 apiece and the peel and eat shrimp which is $.69 a piece incredibly delicious!!!

  • June 19, 2026

    The price of food is highly disappointing. The scallops was $21. They didn’t even taste that great they should’ve at least use a full piece of bacon… I guess I’m a fatty expecting a little bit. More service was fine. Prices are what killing me but welcome to the New World.

  • June 18, 2026

    It's always a great vibe at squidz (as I call it) it was trivia night and those guys & gals that run it are really good at their job! Dare I say, charismatic? 😆 It helped that I knew the answers to so many questions at first, and I was beginning to think had some hidden genius inside me all these years, alas it was not true lol. Very fun none the less, great service, smiles all around!

  • June 15, 2026

    Amazing food and service!

  • June 14, 2026

    Love this place. Have no problem making the 2 hour trip just for lunch with friends here. The drinks are strong the food is fresh and the portions are worth it on its own. The staff is super friendly. The muscles and peel and eats are to die for. Never had a bad experience. To spend less 100 for drinks and food for 3 people is almost unheard of nowadays and with this level of quality is a real gem.

  • June 14, 2026

    Beautiful view and good eats. Worth taking some time to enjoy in a Sunday

  • June 12, 2026

    Worst food ive ever had with at that price point!!!!! Ive had better fish at a Dennys. Mahi was over cooked and super tough, the mango salsa was barely salsa and the mango wasnt even ripe. It literally felt and tasted like a low end cheap restaurant, worse than Dennys.

  • June 11, 2026

    Good 👍

  • June 9, 2026

    Good seafood! We also went for prime rib night and it was great!

  • June 8, 2026

    Always Have a Great Time .The Atmosphere is Very Tropical and Food is Good

  • June 3, 2026

    Great local setting on the water. Oysters were knock your socks off and the peel and eat shrimp was very good as well. The setting outside stole the show.

Overall Score

79 / 100

  • Health inspection grade 40/40
    Grade A
  • Dietary transparency 20/20
    6 options listed
  • Community rating 17/20
    4.3★ 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
11 AM to 9 PM
Tuesday
11 AM to 9 PM
Wednesday
11 AM to 9 PM
Thursday
11 AM to 9 PM
Friday
11 AM to 10 PM
Saturday
11 AM to 10 PM
Sunday
11 AM to 9 PM

Inspection history

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

  1. March 24, 2026 · Routine - Food

    Call Back - Complied

    0 high-priority · 0 intermediate · 4 basic

    • 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
    • 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×2)
  2. March 16, 2026 · Routine - Food

    Warning Issued

    2 high-priority · 5 intermediate · 10 basic

    • 01 — Food from approved source; safe, unadulterated, sound condition (×3)
    • 06 — Potentially hazardous foods properly thawed
    • 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained (×2)
    • 21 — Wiping cloths; clean & soiled linens; laundry
    • 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized (×2)
    • 24 — Storage & handling of clean equipment and utensils; air drying
    • 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
    • 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided (×2)
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×3)
    • 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
  3. September 22, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    2 high-priority · 3 intermediate · 10 basic

    • 01 — Food from approved source; safe, unadulterated, sound condition (×2)
    • 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
    • 06 — Potentially hazardous foods properly thawed
    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained (×2)
    • 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
    • 24 — Storage & handling of clean equipment and utensils; air drying
    • 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention (×2)
    • 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided (×2)
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×2)

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 24, 2026