Dining 2026 - Weeks 9-10

 In the last two weeks of 2026 I have eaten at four different places with one new for me (I think). I stopped at the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp after a morning of photography at the Orlando Wetlands. I think it is new for me, but I may have went once with my parents. Since dad passed in 1991, I figured it has been at least 35 years since I visited.

First, the simple Stats...

Statistics

Current Weeks: 9-10 
# NEW Restaurants:         Current:1   Total:3   Goal:3
# Different Restaurants:   Current:4   Total:16  Goal:10


Here are the restaurants added since the last post...

3/4/26 - BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Scored 3.0 (Great)

This is one of my favorite spots for lunch and not because of its great name. I go because it has some good lunch specials during the week (M-F) which includes a small pizookie (short for pizza cookie).

The Melbourne place opened in 2016 just outside of the Melbourne Square Mall. The chain began in 1978. There are over 200 of them operating in the USA.

I like to get the all-you-can-eat soup and salad. The trick is that the first soup and salad are large servings and all reorders are smaller. Salads include House Salad, Wedge Salad, Caesar Salad, and fresh mozzarella and tomato salad. The soups include Piranha Pale Ale Chili, Chicken Tortilla, Broccoli Cheddar, and Clam Chowder.

I started with the Chicken Tortilla Soup with a Caesar Salad. I save the croutons to put in the soups. My second soup was the Chili and I did not get a second salad. I ended with a Salted Caramel Pizookie.






3/7/26 - Ichabod's Dockside - Scored 3.5 (Great to Excellent)

Ichabod's first open in 2000. I use to go there after golf with my friend's Jim and Fred. We would always see Melbourne Mayor Harry Goode having a drink after a long week running the city. It was always a great place to have a beer and a quick bite with a nice view of Melbourne Harbor. Since the early days, the food has stepped up in class and quality, but I still enjoy a beer at the bar. Normally I don't go out on Saturdays because of crowds, but I saw a parking spot and grabbed it.

I always seem to order a Corona with lime here. They have no beer taps, just cooler ready beers in bottles and cans. On the day I visited they had an Appetizer Special with Scallops. I asked Arty, the bartender, how many and he said only three but that people who had ordered it said it was great. So I got the Seared Scallops over a mushroom cream sauce and a house salad with cucumber ranch dressing. The scallops were served with a bread that I thought at first were pancakes. It was great for sopping up the cream sauce which surprisingly was delicious.

They have a regular menu, but I would recommend you check out the board with daily specials. Ichabod's Dockside is also a place I like to bring company.





3/8/26 - Ryan's Pizza & Pub - Scored 2.0 (Good)

Opened in 2006 on the corner of Delannoy and Harrison in Historic Cocoa Village. I think it is the spot where Pub Americana is now. Due to their popularity they moved down Harrison in 2015 to a bigger footprint with a second floor open-air bar overlooking the Indian River. It was opened by Mike Ryan Sr., a retired police officer. I think it is still run by the family.

I like to visit normally for a slice of pizza when there is an Art show or arts & craft fair. It's a good break from walking around the artists. They have about 16 beers on tap and I got the Kona Big Wave, a favorite of mine.

Not in the mood for my regular slice of pizza (great white sauce), I made a mistake and ordered an Italian Sub. I just raved about the great sub I got at Cerratos in my last post. Well, although good, and they did throw it in the pizza oven for me, it was good but lacking in meat. The kettle chips were like the pieced you would use for frying fish or chicken, not a single whole chip. The Cole slaw was okay. Did I mention they have Kona on tap? Next visit, it is pizza for me...



3/11/26 - Lone Cabbage Fish Camp - Scored 2.5 (Good to Great)

Established in the 1940s along SR 520 on the St John's River. Originally a fishing outpost, it evolved from selling live bait and renting cabins into a popular restaurant and airboat ride spot known for fried alligator, frog legs, and live entertainment, maintaining a timeless feel since the 1970s. And it came into my radar because of a story in the local paper about 5 classic places.

5 Classic Places to eat

I was not completely hungry but I wanted to try a few of things they are known for. Right there on the menu is the Lone Cabbage Sampler. Catfish, gator and frog legs. Yup, I tried it.





They are also known for their airboat rides. I think I have a picture of my dad with my nephew Brandon getting a ride. I may have to go on a weekend when they have their famous catfish fry. I liked this visit and hope to visit again to try some other food and listen to some entertainment.


Summation: 3 New Places visited of 12; 16 Different places of 52...

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