Securing a spot at any waterfront restaurant has become a challenge as the season peaks.
This past weekend, we witnessed every restaurant by the water filled to capacity, with no available parking. Establishments such as Mulligans, Tiki Bar & Grill, Mo-Bay Grill, Earl’s Hideaway Lounge, Crab Stop, Captain Hirams Resort, Squid Lips, Sebastian Saltwater, and Outriggers were all overflowing, leaving customers facing long waits and a parking dilemma.
Farther north in Micco and Grant, the same situation was going on at Chubby Mullet and the Old Fish House.
Faced with no tables or parking, what’s the next best option?
We decided to give the local breweries a shot and were pleasantly surprised. Pareidolia Brewing Company and Mash Monkeys Brewing Company had availability for those interested in genuine craft beer, wine, or seltzers, situated a block from the waterfront.
At Pareidolia, we snagged an outdoor table and ordered roast beef paninis, chips, and homemade potato salad for our lunch. We were tempted by the parmesan meatball sub, highly praised by fellow patrons.
Mash Monkeys had plenty of indoor space and was served by a food truck named Southbound and Down, with the option to order from Gianna’s Pizzeria next door.
There are still more choices like Sandy’s Grille, Sebastian Sandwich Shack, Village Tavern, Ay! Jalisco’s, Wasabi Thai Sushi, Aunt Louise’s, Las Palmas Cuban Restaurant, Woodys BBQ, and JJ Manning’s when waterfront venues are at capacity.
There’s also diners such as Ham ‘N’ Egg, The Hen House, Riverwalk Cafe, JT’s Diner, Pelican Diner, and others.
In Sebastian, alternatives abound. If one location on the water is packed, others are likely as well, particularly over the weekend.
Remember to show kindness and generosity to our local servers; delays or mishaps aren’t always within their control. Please tip our local workers.