Dining 2026 - Weeks 11-16

 Well, so much for posting every two weeks my dining goals. Actually I have been thinking of just including it in my day-to-day posts which I have done, but the statistician in me wants a synopsis.

This update will include my trip over to Saint Petersburg recently. There were 8 different restaurants I visited over the last six weeks, keeping me ahead of schedule. The one new restaurant was in St Pete.

Not the new restaurant, because I have been here before.

First, the simple Stats...

Statistics

Current Weeks: 11-16 
# NEW Restaurants:         Current:1   Total:4   Goal:4
# Different Restaurants:   Current:8   Total:24  Goal:16

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

3/12/26 - The Mansion - Scored 3.0 (Great)

I am realizing that when I go out to a meal with someone, I have a tendency to not take a picture of my food. It's probably a good thing socially but not so good for the BLOG. Whenever Nancy takes her car in for service, we usually go out to eat. She knows of my dining goals so she is always game to try a place I need. This time we stopped at The Mansion in downtown Melbourne. It use to be the Strawberry Mansion but the name was simplified when they changed the color of the mansion.

I got a Crab Cake appetizer and Nancy give me her Cole slaw. I forgot what she ate. It was great.

3/14/26 - Hell n' Blazes Brewing Company - Scored 2.5 (Good to Great)

During the St Paddy's parade in downtown Melbourne, I was craving some corned beef and cabbage. Going to the Brewery was a big mistake. The only reason I scored a 2.5 was because the Stout I had was outstanding. The food was not.

The corned beef was full of fat, the cabbage was really kraut, the carrots were cold, but there was lots of mustard. I should of went to Meg O'Malleys.

3/19/26 - Cabana Shores - Scored 3.0 (Great)

One of my favorite places for comfort food. The special was called a turkey Rueben, but it really was just turkey with cheese, kraut and thousand island dressing on a sub roll. Surprisingly it was delicious. The turkey was not fatty, the kraut was kraut, and the salad was suppose to be cold. I paid extra to get the salad in place of the fries. It was great!

4/9/26 - Charlie & Jakes BBQ - Scored 2.5 (Good to Great)

I am glad I only got the half rack of St Louis ribs because I took three of these home for supper. The waitress liked that I got both the baked beans and green beans as my two sides. The score should be 2.95, it was almost Great!

4/18/26 - Parkshore Grille - Scored 4.0 (Excellent)

After the wedding, the newly married couple took everyone out to lunch at the Parkshore Grille, a fancy place on Beach Avenue. I accidentally called my mother's name and I ended up with this beer.

The fish of the day was Red Snapper and I got it grilled. Father of the groom Rick got it blackened and said it was great. It was served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Yummy...Excellent!

4/18/26 - Red Mesa Mercado - Scored 3.0 (Great)

In the evening of the wedding day, Teresa and I left Reid & Claudia's home. We talked to Teresa's ex Tim and ended up picking up her son Anders. We went to the Red Mesa for a Mexican dinner. You order the food at a window, you find a table, they call your name and you pick up your food and drinks at a different window. Again, I forgot to take a photo of my soft tacos, one chicken and one beef. It was served with beans and rice. It was great!

I took this phone shot as we left dinner.

4/19/26 - Café Clementine - Scored 4.0 (Excellent)

On Sunday morning, Teresa and I were taking a walk on the new St Pete Pier. First, we stopped at the Museum of Fine Arts where there is this café that serves breakfast. They open at nine and there was already a line waiting to get in. A beautifully presented array of baked goods and breakfast items.

I ordered the Cardamom cinnamon roll with Cream Cheese glaze. It was excellent.

4/19/26 - El Cap Restaurant - Scored 3.5 (Great to Excellent)

The NEW restaurant for April was this St Pete classic, open for over 60 years. They are known for the burgers and since I had to drive back to Melbourne, I did not want any foods that may upset my stomach. It is a sports bar too, and Teresa said that she and her son Anders comes here to watch the Rays play. They were playing while we were there.

I ordered a Jai Alai IPA, and a mushroom Swiss burger. I had taken a few bites before I realized I need a picture. It actually shows how big it was. Some people were ordering with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and many other things and it would be six inches high. They offer a fork and knife. My burger was Medium and it had some pink, like it should. It was Great, and almost excellent.

Teresa ordered some fries for us to share. They were great too.

Well, I am always looking for new places to eat and now I am enjoying the ones I have liked in the past. Next post will be on St Pete Pier.