Reviews | Page 4 | Vero Beach Foodie

Polo Grill – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

My next tasting experience takes me over to the island side of Vero Beach again, and this time to the Polo Grill. It’s located on Ocean Drive and in the Portales de Vero center. This wonderful upscale eatery definitely has a loyal following and has some classic dishes, with a few out of the ordinary ones too. This was my first time dining here so let’s jump in and see what this place has to offer.

Parking is located off of Flamevine Lane on the west side of the building, or you can park on the street closer to the entrance at the east side of the building. As I entered the restaurant, I was promptly greeted by the host, Kenny and shown to my table. The crystal chandeliers and wall sconces were dimly lit, with wainscoting on the walls, dark stained wood, leather chairs and tufted backs of the booths it felt very elegant, kind of like a private club. Artwork throughout kept up with the name and was very equestrian.

Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat and drink!

Oyster Bay New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc – ($9.95) – I chose this wine at random, and coming from a wine newbie, I think it was an excellent choice. It was crisp, slightly tropical in flavor, and definitely refreshing.

Shrimp Scampi – ($20.95) – Before I dined here, I looked at the menu and was having a hard time deciding which appetizer to have, so I asked my waiter Hector, which one he would recommend between the crab cakes or the scampi. He recommended the scampi, so that is what I ordered. It contained 4 large shrimp, with sautéed tomato, garlic, and herbed scampi butter. I squeezed the lemon over the top and took a bite. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the sauce had a little different twist with the addition of the tomatoes, which was a nice change of pace. They were really good!

The Bleu Wedge – ($8.95) – This is my very first wedge salad I have had. I’ve avoided them in the past because I thought that they would be too difficult and messy to eat. It consists of nearly 1/3 of a head of iceberg lettuce, a creamy bleu cheese dressing, and some bacon crumbled over the top. It was easier to eat than I thought, and kind of fun too. I cut it up into manageable bite size pieces and it was really good. The lettuce was fresh and crisp, the dressing had lots of flavor and was very creamy.

Caesar Salad – ($8.95) – With the two entrees that I ordered, each one came with a salad, so I got one of each of the salads they offer. This is your classic Caesar with romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, grated parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, and I got the optional anchovies on top. The lettuce was very fresh and crisp, and was coated lightly with the dressing. The anchovies were nice and salty. A true classic and very nicely done.

Pork Schnitzel with Cherries -($29.95) – This was one of the more unusual dishes that caught my eye while I was browsing the menu, so I had to try it. It’s made from pork tenderloin pounded almost paper thin, breaded, deep fried, then a cherry sauce is spooned over the top. The pork was very tender, the coating had a nice crunch to it, and the cherry sauce was more tart than sweet. It was a great flavor combination with the pork. Sides were a potato gratin, sliced carrots, and asparagus. The potato gratin was the star of the side dishes. The potatoes were thinly sliced and were layered with parmesan and cheddar cheeses. A fantastic dish, and a top seller at Polo Grill.

Black Angus Short Rib – ($29.95) – Short ribs are becoming a new favorite of mine, so I knew that when I saw it on the menu, that I would have to try it. This is a boneless short rib that had been slow cooked for hours and served with a rich brown gravy over the top. The short rib portion was quite large, and was fork tender. The rich gravy added a wonderful richness to the dish. Sides were the same as I had with the pork schnitzel and were just as good a second time around.

Creme Brulee – ($5.95) – This is one of my all time favorite desserts, so when my waiter mentioned this was an option, my selection was a no brainer. A soft custard, baked, then sugared and torched on top to finish is always good, and this one is no exception. The sugar on top was nice and thin, and broke easily with the spoon. The custard was set perfectly and was smooth and creamy. A great way to round out a fantastic meal!

In Conclusion:

What a fantastic dining experience I had while visiting the Polo Grill! From the host, to the very professional wait staff, they all took great care of me while I was there. While slightly off the beaten path at the south end of the shopping district on Ocean Drive, this is a place that is definitely worth seeking out. If you are looking for that exclusive club feel, with excellent service, and fantastic food without the membership fees, then Polo Grill is definitely your place!

Have you tried Polo Grill? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 4 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Polo Grill Website

2855 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963

Hours:

Monday	5–9PM
Tuesday	5–9PM
Wednesday	5–9PM
Thursday	5–9PM
Friday	5–9PM
Saturday	5–9PM
Sunday	Closed

(772) 231-4090

Dagwood’s – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

My next tasting experience takes me to a small strip mall off of 17th street near Hwy 1 in Vero Beach. With sandwich shops being a dime a dozen these days, you really have to do something special to stand out in this crowded space. Owners Josh and Marie Jenkins believe they have what it takes to do so. From huge sandwiches, salads, and wraps custom made to order, they have just about everything to please anyone that steps through their door. Listed as the #12 restaurant in Vero Beach on Trip Advisor, and 77 five star reviews on their Facebook page at the time of this writing, they are definitely doing something right. Let’s jump right in, take a look and see why.

Parking is tight in the strip mall, and this place is always busy for the short 4 hours that they are open each day, so be prepared to fight for a parking spot. Walking in to Dagwood’s you are greeted by a counter with stools and a dining room to the right with low and high top tables. After placing your order at the front counter, you will receive your drink and then are instructed to take any seat and your sandwich will be brought to your table. The atmosphere is nice, with ochre colored walls, and black accents. Decorations are bold and add a unique vibe to the place. With the extreme heat we have been having this summer, the day I visited their air conditioner froze up and it was a little bit warm inside but it did finally start to cool down towards the end of my visit.

Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat!

Dagwood Sandwich – ($6.75 half / $9.75 whole) – This is one impressive sandwich! Served on their house made sub roll, it contains ham, turkey, roast beef, pepperoni, bacon, cheddar, provolone, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, banana peppers, black olives, jalapeno, and topped off with Dagwood’s special spices. Oil and vinegar was served alongside. Trying to fold it up for a bite was a challenge in itself. Once I got a handle on it and took a bite this sandwich had a lot of flavors and textures going on all at the same time. It was tangy, crunchy, and a little bit sweet. This is probably a sandwich that I would not have tried on my own, so I’m glad I got to try it, because it may be my go-to when I return in the near future.

California Club Sandwich – ($6.75 half / $9.75 whole) – This thing is stacked up with a ton of turkey! Served in their house made sub roll, it contains provolone, turkey, bacon, avocado, alfalfa sprouts, mayo, honey mustard, tomatoes, onions, and Dagwood’s special spices. With the creaminess of the mayo and the avocado, it almost tasted like a turkey salad sandwich. The sprouts were fresh as were the rest of the ingredients. This one was also a handful to pick up and take a bite, so make sure you have extra napkins on hand!

Prime Rib Sandwich – ($9.75) – This sandwich is only made on Fridays and sells out very quickly, so if you want to try it, you need to get there early. I met a friend for lunch one day prior to my review around 1:00pm and they were already out of it. It contains thinly sliced prime rib, sautéed peppers and onions, mushrooms, and provolone cheese on toasted white sandwich bread. Au Jus is served alongside. The prime rib is very tender, and I was able to bite through easily. I know why it sells out quickly, because this is one awesome sandwich!

Reuben Sandwich – ($9.75) – I had to unhinge my jaw on this one to take a bite! It’s built like a club sandwich with another layer of rye bread in the middle. It contains Dagwood’s oven roasted corned beef, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and Swiss cheese served on rye bread. First off, the corned beef is spectacular! The sauerkraut was crunchy, not too zingy. I thought the thousand island dressing needs a little bit more kick to take this over the top, but it was still an excellent sandwich.

Potato Salad – ($1.25) – We received a 4 oz portion of their house made potato salad to try. The potatoes were perfectly cooked, just the right amount of mayo and mustard mixed in. It was very fresh, slightly sweet, and tangy. This is a definite must have with your sandwiches!

In Conclusion:

I’m really impressed with the sandwiches I tasted during my visit, and I look forward to trying a few more. From making their own house cured corned beef, pastrami, smoked beef brisket, and prime rib, along with roasting their own chicken and turkey, they definitely have some strong offerings. If Guy Fieri were to ask my opinion of where he should film an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in Vero Beach, I would definitely recommend this place!

Have you tried Dagwood’s? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 5 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Dagwoods Website

Hours: Monday – Saturday from 11:00am till 3:00pm, closed on Sunday’s

They only serve non-alcoholic beverages at this time, but are working towards including beer and wine, which will allow them to extend their hours and offerings soon!

835 17th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 778-1900

Frontera Cocina – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

Frontera in Chicago has been on my bucket list of must try restaurants for quite a while now. When I learned that one was within 2 hours driving distance, I had to go and check this place out for myself. Located in what was once known as Downtown Disney, the newly re-designed Disney Springs has added additional shopping, attractions, and some really great new restaurants. Chef and proprietor Rick Bayless has won countless James Beard awards and has hosted the PBS TV show “Mexico, One Plate at a Time” for over 10 years. Disney only welcomes the best of the best, so how will Chef Rick Bayless’ new restaurant stack up against the rest? Let’s dive right in and take a look.

Parking at Disney Springs is much improved over Downtown Disney. They now have two major parking garages to park in. We parked in the Lime Garage since it was closest to the restaurant. The new garages have some cool new technology that tells you how many parking spaces are left, and which rows actually have spots, so you don’t find yourself driving around aimlessly to find a spot. We pulled in and found a spot within a few minutes. We had a short walk up the stairs, then over and down another set of stairs to enter Disney Springs. Once we entered, both my wife and I looked at each other and felt lost. We are both very seasoned Disney visitors, but there have been so many changes, it felt new to us again. As we stepped in further, we saw the World of Disney and got our bearings. We were able to easily find the restaurant not far from where we parked. We arrived fifteen minutes early for our 4:00pm reservation and were seated immediately.

The restaurant has only been open since June 27th, so they are still really new. The dining room is really open with that comfortable but industrial feel of the new style gastro pubs with the exposed ventilation ducts and high ceilings. The A framed ceiling is lined with dark wooden beams, skylights to allow in as much natural light as possible, and a large light fixture over the dining room that reminded me of hanging chili peppers. Two walls in the dining room had shelves with tequila bottles as decoration on them. There is a second dining room separated by a small wall directly in front of the bar. They also have outdoor seating with a man made water view behind the restaurant.

Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat and drink!

Fiesta Mexicana Iced Tea – ($3.00) – Both my wife and I ordered this drink and thought it was quite refreshing. It is a black tea flavored with mango, melon and papaya. It came unsweetened, but they had several sweetener options to choose from. They even had a stevia option which was nice to see.

Queso Fundido – ($12.00) – This was the appetizer we ordered to share and it arrived to our table hot and bubbly! It contains chihuahua cheese, roasted pablano peppers and caramelized onions. Four warm corn tortillas and two different salsa’s were served alongside. The cheese was nice and stringy as you would expect and had good flavor. The corn tortillas were very fresh and held together well. The red salsa was the milder of the two. It was oh so good!

Chipotle Chicken Tostada – ($13.00) – My wife ordered this appetizer as her main entree. The dish consists of crispy tostadas, chipotle seasoned chicken, crema, creamy black beans, queso fresco, and topped with a slice of avocado and a cilantro leaf. The tostadas were crisp and held together well, the chicken was nicely seasoned and tender. It was delicious!

Arroz con Plantains – ($5.00) – Since my wife ordered an appetizer as her main course, she ordered a side dish to accompany it. This side dish consists of white rice studded with plantains and cilantro. The rice was perfectly cooked and the plantains were caramelized nicely. It’s such a simple dish but oh, so good.

Shrimp Mojo de Ajo – ($27.00) – I’ve seen Chef Bayless prepare his mojo de ajo on his TV show many times, so I knew before my arrival this was the dish I would order. It’s made with pan-roasted Mazatlan blue shrimp with mojo de ajo sauce, plantain rice, grilled calabacitas. Warm corn tortillas were supposed to come with the dish, but I did not receive any. There were a ton of shrimp, I think I counted at least 10, the rice was the same as what my wife had as her side dish and paired nicely with the shrimp. The mojo de ajo lived up to my expectations and was fantastic!

Coconut Lime Cuatro Leches – ($9.00) – I’m a fan of coconut and lime flavors, so I chose this dessert for myself. It’s made with sponge cake that is soaked in 4 milks (coconut, half and half, condensed, and evaporated), topped with whipped cream, toasted coconut, fresh blackberries, and lime zest grated over the top. The cake was fresh and light, the whipped cream was a good choice for the icing, and the lime zest gave it a very fresh taste. All in all, this is a very tasty dessert!

Pecan Pie Bar – ($9.00) – This is what my wife picked for her dessert. It’s made with Mexican vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce. The pecan pie bar was like a dark chocolate brownie, only not as dense as a brownie would be due to the pecans which made it a little crunchy. The ice cream was fresh and tasty, and the chocolate sauce and crushed pecans were used as a garnish.

In Conclusion:

With expectations set high, we were not disappointed. You can tell that they have only been open a short time due to some chaos in the kitchen. Our desserts were provided at no charge due to a delay with the main course arrival, and now that I read the description of the Shrimp dish, the tortillas never made it either. All new restaurants have growing pains such as these, and they will get past them and eventually find their groove. Will I come back and give them another shot? Absolutely! If you find yourself in Disney Springs anytime soon I definitely recommend you check them out!

Have you tried Frontera Cocina? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 4 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Frontera Cocina Website

Hours:

Wednesday	11AM–10PM
Thursday	11AM–10:45PM
Friday	11AM–10:45PM
Saturday	11AM–10:45PM
Sunday	11AM–10PM
Monday	11AM–10PM
Tuesday	11AM–10PM

Address: 1604 E. Buena Vista Drive, Orlando, FL 32830

Phone: (407) 560-9197

Baci Trattoria – Restaurant Review

by Eden Colonna – Vero Vine Intern / Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Student

More and more locals are finding their way to downtown Vero Beach due to the abundance of new, up and coming neighborhood eateries. One such eatery is Baci Trattoria. Specializing in authentic Italian cuisine, they serve a large variety of tasteful breakfast and lunch options in generous portions.

Upon my arrival at Baci, proprietor Karen Fulchini kindly greeted us outside and accompanied us to our table. I instantly felt a warm welcome, and I could smell the aromas of the delicious foods waiting for us inside! They offer both beautifully decorated indoor and outdoor seating. In the summer, when it is almost too hot to eat outside, fans are located all around the outdoor patio for your added comfort.

Now let’s jump in and see what we had to eat!

Joan Rivers Omelette – ($10.95) – There is definitely a back story of how this omelet got it’s name, so make sure you ask Karen about it next time you are there. The omelette was fluffy and cooked to perfection. Being a fan of the traditional lox, the smoked salmon, green onions and cream cheese had a lovely flavor and texture combo. Salmon can sometimes have an overpowering fishy taste, yet this salmon did not. Crispy home fries were served along side.

Primavera Benedict – ($12.95) – This dish was one of my favorites! The aroma coming from this dish as it was set down on the table was wonderful! It consists of two poached eggs served on top of thick parmigiano polenta wedges, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers and fresh spinach. The yolk from the poached egg made the entire dish very rich. The polenta was flavorful and had a satisfying texture with each bite.

Cornetta Nutella di Firenza – ($8.95) – By the sweet smells coming from this pastry dish, you know that you are in for a treat! The outer layer was crispy, while the inside was soft and sweet. The pastry was filled with strawberries, bananas, and the most delicious sweet cream filling. This one is a must order the next time you go to Baci!

If you ever find yourself in Florence, Italy, pastry chefs make these treats late at night and if you find the right back alleys and the correct doors, you can get these heavenly pastries fresh at these secret bakeries.

Eggplant Vesuvius – ($11.99) – When this dish was brought to our table, it was so tall they had to use a bbq skewer to keep it from falling over! The dish is made of eggplant rounds that have been breaded and fried. They are then stacked with fresh mozzarella and chopped basil, and topped with a light tomato wine reduction. The dish was still steaming when they brought it to the table, so we had to let it cool down a bit before tasing. The eggplant was perfectly fried with a slight crunch to it, the tomato wine reduction was still slightly chunky, and had good flavor. A very well put together dish.

NJ Diner Tuna Club – ($10.95) – The triple layered, tuna sandwich is definitely enough for a couple to split. It has a perfect amount of tuna and the flavors and textures from the egg and the tomato made sure that each bite was equally satisfying. The thick-cut steak fries were seasoned with seasoned salt and paired well with the sandwich.

Frutte Di Mare – ($14.95) – This gorgeous dish is served to you in a pot with a lid, so it is a fun surprise once it is placed on the table. I have to say, this is impeccable! The pasta, shrimp, mussels and oysters all soak up the tasty, white garlic sauce, which compliments the entire dish. The seafood was perfectly cooked and was seasoned nicely.

In Conclusion:

I loved dining at Baci Trattoria. Their staff is incredible, they make you feel as if you are apart of the family. Most of the menu items have a backstory as to how they got their name, so be sure to ask your servers about it. Baci is open from 7:00 am to 3:00pm for breakfast and lunch but if you’re hosting a get together, they offer afterhour private events for a small fee. If you’re looking for outstanding food, value, and service, this is definitely the place to go!

About Eden Colonna: Eden is a Sophomore at Florida Atlantic University studying Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts. She desires to pursue a career in the food and beverage industry. Eden’s energetic love for culinary arts has introduced her to Thomas Miller, food blogger and restaurant critic. Eden resides in Vero Beach during the summer and is currently interning for Mr. Miller, writing and reviewing restaurants for verovine.com

Baci Trattoria Website

Hours: Open everyday from 7:00am til 3:00pm

1918 14th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 794-4747

Bistro Fourchette – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

My next tasting experience takes me to Bistro Fourchette in old downtown Vero Beach. They occupy the space where Melody Inn was once located. Owners Chef Stephane Becht and his wife Loretta opened this place in November 2015, serving up some classic French bistro style cuisine. Chef Stephane was the Executive Chef at Windsor, until he realized he would rather run his own restaurant. He turned to internet crowd funding to help pay for the restaurants renovations and raised more than $5,000 in doing so. Does this new restaurant have what it takes to survive in the crowded restaurant scene in Vero Beach? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

If you have driven down 19th Place through downtown Vero, I’m sure you have passed this place by a few times and did not even realize it. They are located at the corner of 14th Ave and 19th place. Parking is in the back as is the entrance for the restaurant. As you enter the building, there is a long hallway that leads to a courtyard where the entrance is located.

Upon entering the restaurant, you come right into the main dining room, with the hostess stand on your right. It’s cozy, yet it does not feel cramped, decoration was subtle with all kinds of different mirrors and some French artwork on the walls. Lighting was dim, but not so much so you could not read the menu. I arrived at 6pm and there was plenty of daylight coming in through the windows.

There is a second dining room separated from the main one by a short hallway, that allows them to seat a total of 80 guests. I was promptly greeted upon entry by Loretta and shown to my table.

Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat and drink!

French Bread – The bread comes with all meals and was presented shortly after I sat down. It was warm, had a nice crust and was soft on the inside. Real butter was served alongside.

Chablis Bichot, Burgundy, France – ($10.00) – Per Loretta’s recommendation, I tried a glass of this wine with my meal. It had a nice fruity aroma and was light on the palette. It paired nicely with the dishes that I tasted.

Tarte A L’ Onion Avec Chevre Chaud – ($10.00) – The first appetizer of the evening was this wonderful onion tart. The crust for the tarte was made from puff pastry and was feather light and disintegrated in your mouth with each bite. The onions were caramelized nicely and had a subtle sweet flavor. This dish is normally served with goat cheese, but was substituted this evening with Roquefort instead. It has the same tanginess that goat cheese has, but leans more towards the flavor of bleu cheese. It was a worthy substitution as the dish was fantastic!

Steak Tartare “A LA Francaise – ($13.00) – Next dish I selected to taste was the Steak Tartare. This was my first time for steak tartare, so I was anxious to try it. It was served with a raw quails egg still in the shell on top. I poured the quails egg over the top before eating. The chilled tartare contained onions, garlic, parsley and other spices. It was a tad bit under seasoned for my taste, but was very fresh.

Quiche Lorraine – ($19.00) – As this dish was set down in front of me, the aroma of the bacon and Gruyere cheese was intoxicating! This creamy egg pie had a smooth, creamy texture with lots of bacon and cheese which added an over the top flavor experience. The lettuce on the side salad was very fresh and the dressing was light, yet tangy.

Beef Bourguignon – ($22.00) – My last main entree for the evening was the Beef Bourguignon. The beef was braised in red wine, with lardons (bacon), mushrooms, carrots, fingerling potatoes and topped with freshly chopped parsley. The beef was fork tender and the vegetables were all cooked perfectly. The gravy had a slight red wine flavor to it but not overpowering at all. It was delicious!

Coffee Ice Cream Profiteroles – ($6.00) – Shortly after finishing up my entrees, I see Loretta heading my way with this dessert. The dessert contains 3 profiteroles cut in half, a scoop of coffee ice cream in between, and a warm, rich dark chocolate sauce over the top. The coffee flavor in the ice cream was subtle, the profiteroles were light and airy, and the dark chocolate sauce was definitely the star of this dish. It was the consistency of hot fudge and was one of the best I have ever tasted.

In Conclusion:

I moved to Vero a little over 2 years ago from the Midwest, and French food was not something available to me where I used to live, so I was excited to give them a try. Chef Stephane and his wife Loretta take great pride in the food they serve, and I could taste that with each bite. I suggest that you stop by and pay them a visit for a little taste of authentic French cuisine, right here in Vero.

Have you tried Bistro Fourchette? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 5 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Bistro Fourchette on Facebook

They are open Tuesday through Saturday, 5:00pm til 10:00pm, closed Sundays and Mondays

1309 19th Pl, Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 770-2071

Planet Yum – Restaurant Review

by Eden Colonna – Vero Vine Intern / Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Student

View All Vegan Restaurants in Vero Beach | How hard is it to eat Gluten Free in Vero?

Planet Yum, located in Downtown Vero Beach, is one of the few cafes in Vero that offers all vegan options. Originally, their main focus was their vegan popsicles that are exclusively plant based. These corner sold, gluten and dairy free vegan pops were so popular, they led owner, Michael Haggerty to open a cafe around the corner selling not only vegan pops, but other enticing vegan items as well. I’ve heard great things about this place, so let’s jump right in and see what this place has to offer.

Nitro Coffee – ($2.50) – The first menu item we were able to taste was the cold brewed iced coffee with added cane sugar and almond milk. Coffee is always a must for me, but let me tell you, this is my new go to place to sip on an iced coffee this summer. It has that perfect kick of coffee flavor that you’re looking for, without being too strong. Together the almond milk and cane sugar made it perfectly sweet and creamy.

Belgian Waffle – ($5.50) – We were then presented with this beautiful Belgian Waffle sample. It was topped with strawberries, chocolate sauce and homemade coconut whipped cream. These waffles were light and fluffy, and tasted just like a freshly made waffle cone. The coconut whipped cream and chocolate sauce was subtle, however, the strawberries added a delicious, empowering flavor with each bite.

Grilled Bagel Deluxe (GF) – ($4.50) – Moving on we tasted a grilled bagel with vegan chive cream cheese, tomatoes, red onion and sunflower sprouts. There was a perfect mix of textures. The red onion was a bit overpowering, but other than that it was phenomenal. I am a huge fan of chive cream cheese and not only were the ingredients on this bagel appetizing, the bagel by itself was delicious. I loved the flavor it achieves from the grill.

Field Roast Seitan Vegan Burger – ($8.50) – Before I say anything, you must know that this is by far, one of the best burgers I have ever had. You wouldn’t expect it to be vegan. The “burger” patty is simultaneously juicy, crispy and flavorful! The ingredients all compliment each other very well and the texture is perfect!

Vegan Soft Serve in Waffle Bowl – ($5.00) – Just like the burger, you would not expect this chocolate vanilla swirled ice cream to be vegan. The melt-in-your-mouth chocolate shell goes perfectly on top of the sweet and creamy, custard like ice cream. At this point of the review, I was happily stuffed but I could not let this heavenly treat go to waste.

Planet Yum’s Chocolate Almond Sea Salt Pop – ($3.00) – I was too stuffed to try one of Planet Yum’s vegan popsicles so I took one for the road. There is such a wide variety of flavors, yet I was informed that the Chocolate Almond Sea Salt was a big hit so of course I had to try it. To me, it tasted like a chocolate covered fudgesicle with almonds, but without the guilt! It was so creamy, crunchy and a perfect guilt free summer snack!

In Conclusion:

I wholeheartedly enjoyed every second of my experience at Planet Yum. The employees were more than friendly and made you feel right at home! I wish that I had the opportunity to taste every menu item because what I did taste, was outstanding. If you’ve never considered eating an all vegan meal before due to it being stereotypically “bland”, Planet Yum is anything but, so you definitely need to check them out! I recommend It to anyone and everyone!

Planet Yum on Facebook

Planet Yum is open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and from

11:00 am to 9:00 pm Thursday through Saturday

2121 14th Ave Rear, Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 925-1535

Maison Martinique – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

My next tasting experience takes me to South Vero Beach for a visit to Maison Martinique, which is part of the Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel. I was invited to come and try some of their new menu items by their two new chefs. Chef Chet Perrotti has been there for a little over 3 months now, and Chef Patrick Hughes joined the team a little over a month ago. I’ve tasted Chef Hughes cooking before at the Top Chef finale where he prepared a fantastic dish, that I thought was the clear winner of the evening, so I was excited to taste more from his kitchen. With a new menu leaning more towards American Contemporary cuisine with a little bit Italian influence. Maison Martinique is the most recent winner of Opentable’s Diners’ Choice award for 2016 so I’m excited to see what they have to offer!

The South Vero Beach area is very beautiful, yet I don’t explore this area of the island very often. Driving across the 17^th Street bridge, and taking it until the road dead ends into Ocean Drive, seems to take you into another world. It’s a much quieter, lush and tropical part of the island. Nestled away behind a row of tropical greenery on Ocean Drive is the Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel.

I was promptly greeted by Gwen Perrotti, the restaurant manager, and seated in the Bamboo Room. The room was tastefully decorated. The lights were dim, which created a very romantic atmosphere. The tables were beautifully set with white table clothes, wine glasses, cloth napkins, and a unique candle holder in the center.

Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat and drink!

Italian Rustic Bread – A basket of warm bread was presented to me to start the evening with. It had a nice crusty exterior, but was soft and chewy on the inside. Softened butter was already on the table and made for a nice way to start the meal.

Home Made Meat Balls – ($13.00) – The recipe for these meatballs comes from Chef Chet’s grandmother and is a blend of beef, pork, veal and fresh herbs. They were topped off with marinara sauce and house made ricotta cheese. They were about the size of a baseball and were perfectly seasoned. The sauce had the perfect blend of spices, and the ricotta was a nice finishing touch.

Ahi Tuna Tini – ($13.00) – This was one of my favorites of the night! Presented in a martini glass was freshly diced Ahi tuna with cucumber, avocado, ginger, cilantro and tossed with a sesame seed citrus Ponzu sauce. The tuna portion was very generous, the cucumber was crunchy, and the avocado added a nice texture. The citrus Ponzu sauce added a nice Asian twist to the dish.

Roasted Beets – ($12.00) – This salad consists of roasted golden and red beets, sliced pears, chopped almonds, goat cheese crumbles, cabbage slaw and a red wine herbed dressing on a bed of arugula. The beets were perfectly cooked and very tender. The dressing was minimal, but just the right amount. A perfect summer salad.

Royal Red Shrimp Grattan – ($27.00) – This dish is part of the Rip Tide Nightly specials menu and comes with a first course, this main course or several others to select from, and a dessert, all for the same price. The shrimp were the best part of the dish. They are wild caught from Cape Canaveral and were cooked and seasoned to perfection! The u10 scallop was properly cleaned, had a slight sear on top and was cooked to a perfect medium. The basmati rice had a subtle coconut flavor and paired well with the shrimp. This was an outstanding seafood dish!

Bistro Tender – ($27.00) – This dish is also one of the other choices on the Rip Tide Nightly specials menu. The steak was horseradish encrusted tenderloin that was fire grilled, sliced and served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, and topped with a port wine demi. The horseradish crust was almost indistinguishable, as I did not taste any of it. The steak was not as tender as I had hoped it would be for a tenderloin, and could have used a touch more seasoning for my taste. The port wine demi was light and flavorful. The mashed potatoes were pressed through a ricer which gave them a nice texture, the green beans had a slight crunch and were seasoned well.

Chef Chet’s Tiramisu – ($10.00) – As you can see from the picture, this is not your typical tiramisu. It does not have the typical dark layer like a traditional tiramisu. It was creamy, the lady fingers were very tender and soaked in a little brandy. The coffee flavor was minimal, so if you are not a big coffee fan, I think you will enjoy this dessert. It was definitely a nice way to round out a fantastic meal.

In Conclusion:

This was my first time dining at this restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed my time and the dishes that I got to experience during my visit. The two new chefs running the kitchen seem to work very well together, and care about your dining experience. I noticed Chef Perrotti and Chef Hughes in the dining room several times during the evening speaking to the other diners and making sure their meals were to their liking. If you are looking for a secluded, tropical, romantic place to have dinner in Vero Beach, then look no further than Maison Martinique for that dining experience!

Have you tried Maison Martinique? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 4 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Website Link

The RIp Tide Menu is served all night long.

Hours: Monday – Saturday 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

1603 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963

(772) 231-7299

Reservations: opentable.com

Cajun Cove – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

A trip to New Orleans to eat real Cajun food has been on my bucket list for a long time now. Next summer I believe it’s actually going to happen, so I’m excited about checking that trip off my list. In the meantime, I learned that right here in Vero Beach we have a new restaurant serving up some truly authentic Cajun dishes. I was invited by the owner Willie to come by for a tasting of their offerings, so I was definitely excited to get a preview of what I would experience next summer!

Located in Royal Palm Point, they are in the very first buildings to the right hand side as you drive in. We actually missed it and drove all the way into and around Royal Palm Point since the landscaping was blocking our view of the restaurant. We arrived on a Thursday night around 6:00pm for dinner. Upon entering the restaurant, you are greeted with a caricature of a New Orleans band, called the Mud Bug’s, and the hostess stand is on the right. The dining room is quite large, with seating at both tables and booths available. Southwestern colors adorn the walls along with some colorful paintings of New Orleans. We were promptly greeted by the general manager, Anthony Montaivo and seated near the front windows in a booth.

They have a full bar with 12 beers on tap, and some really tasty sounding drinks on the menu.

They do have an outdoor patio with a water view for those of you that would like to have a drink or dine outside. In the picture above was our waitress Annie, and the General Manager Tony enjoying a few of their special cocktails!

Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what we had to eat and drink!

Fresh in-house made French bread with seasoned butter is included with every meal, while the broccoli and cheese corn bread is available as a dinner side. ($3.00) We were provided this as a sample tasting, so this is not a full portion. The French bread was nice and crusty on the outside, but soft on the inside. As most of my regular readers know, I’m not one for broccoli, but I did try the corn bread and it was quite tasty. It was fairly dense and not dry at all. The butter was Cajun seasoned and was not spicy.

Montalvo’s Colada – We asked what was one of the more popular drinks that people order and this one was suggested to us. As for the ingredients in it, the description says “TOP SECRET – Special Blend – Only Tony Knows” We tasted coconut and pineapple in it, it was light, creamy and refreshing!

Bean, Kale, and Andouille Sausage – ($7.00 Cup) – This is a very hearty bean, kale and sausage soup. It brought back memories of the ham and bean soup that my grandfather used to make. It was chock full of sausage and was wonderful!

French Onion Soup – ($7.00 Cup) – This was as tasty as it looks. There was a thick slice of their house made French bread on top covered with a thick layer of cheese. The onions were diced which made the soup a little easier to eat, and the broth had that slow simmered for hours taste. It was absolutely delicious!

Fried Green Tomatoes and Grits – ($9.00) – This was our favorite appetizer of the night. The grits were slightly smoky from the cumin, the green tomatoes were perfectly fried and crunchy. The black eyed peas were tender and delicious, and the balsamic drizzle over the top made it sweet and tangy. This is a well put together dish with so many different flavors and textures.

Cove Sausages Maxi Balls – ($10.00) – Think of these like a Cajun hushpuppy, only with Boudin sausage inside. They were perfectly fried and had a slight crunch to the outside. The inside was dense but not dry at all. The Cove dippin’ sauce had great flavor and a slight amount of heat, just enough to feel it on your tongue a tiny bit.

Cajun Caesar – ($10.00) – This is your typical Caesar salad but with a Cajun seasoned dressing. The lettuce was fresh and crisp, the croutons were homemade, and it was finished with shaved parmesan cheese over the top.

Bleu Cheese Slaw – ($5.00) – I’m a big BBQ fan, and I eat a fair amount of coleslaw. This was creamy and sweet, just the way I like it, but the addition of the Bleu cheese was new for me. It added a new texture and flavor profile to the slaw that was really unique.

Seafood Louisiana – ($38.00) – Just looking at and the wonderful aroma coming from this dish, you know it’s going to be good! The portion is huge, and full of shrimp, scallops, and andouille sausage. The flavors were bold, yet not overwhelming. My dining companion does not like things too spicy, so they were able to tone down the spiciness of the dish quite a bit. If you prefer your food spicier, they can also accommodate your request. This dish also comes with a frosty mug of beer included in the price.

Crawfish Creole – ($20.00) – My first reaction to seeing this was “Look at all of the crawfish in this dish!” Sautéed with green peppers, onions, and tomatoes, the crawfish were cooked perfectly with the onions and peppers having a slight crunch to them. The heat was dialed back again in this dish but it still had a fantastic flavor. If crawfish is not to your liking, this dish is also available with chicken, shrimp, catfish, andouille sausage, and there’s even a vegetarian option!

Beignet – ($5.00) – This was my first ever beignet, and it tasted like heaven! It was warm, soft, and very tender. The beignet was hollow in the center, but had a slight thickness to it. The dough was slightly sweetened and one of the most amazing offerings here at Cajun Cove. They have a separate deep fryer just for these, so there are no worries that your beignet may taste like fish or whatever else they may be frying up. I enjoyed this so much I’m already planning my next visit so I can have another one.

New Orleans Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce – ($7.00) – Bread pudding is one my dining companions favorite desserts, and she said this one does not disappoint. It was warm, had a slight bourbon flavor in the sauce, and was absolutely delicious! We were trying to decide which dessert we liked better, and they are both great in their own respects. We will definitely order both of these next time we go for dinner.

In Conclusion:

Before I try any restaurant in town, I always read reviews from a few different sources to see what others have to say about the restaurant. This place does get mostly good reviews, but some fear that it won’t last due to some of the higher priced entree’s they offer. My opinion is that they do offer enough variety of different dishes at all different price points, that anybody can still come here to enjoy a little bit of New Orleans right here in Vero, so be sure to check them out sometime. Heck, the Beignet’s alone are worth the trip!

Have you tried Cajun Cove? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 5 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Cajun Cove

Happy Hour everyday from 4:00pm till 7:00pm. Ladies Night is on Thursday’s and is from 4:00pm till 7:00pm

89 Royal Palm Pointe, Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 617-6359

Heaton’s Reef Bar & Grill – Restaurant Review

by Eden Colonna – Vero Vine Intern / Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Student

Vero Beach Hotel and Spa’s poolside lounge, Heaton’s Reef offers a full bar and menu that offers appetizers and entrees. While enjoying your meal you have an oceanfront view, live music on Saturdays, and toasty fire pits for cool and windy nights.

If you are a guest of the hotel, you are able to utilize the pool and hot tub. Otherwise, there is an open bar for seating, as well as tables and chairs available, where Heaton’s Reef servers are happy to take care of you.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to join Thomas Miller on his review for Cobalt. Stacy Cook, editor of Vero Vine, has given me the chance to do my own review and write about a few of the food items on Heaton’s Reef menu.

Read our review of Cobalt

Let’s get to the food!

Fried Lobster Tacos- ($19.00)- To start off, we were able to taste two crispy fried lobster tacos. The batter on the perfectly cooked, white lobster was rich and buttery. The Arugula and chopped tomatoes added a lovely flavor and texture combination to the taco. To top it off, there was a light cilantro aioli that added excellent flavor.

Chicken Salad Sandwich- ($14.00)- I am not usually one to order a chicken salad sandwich, but I have to say, this sandwich was delightful. The chicken salad was properly dressed; light on the mayo, but not dry. It was placed under red onion, lettuce, two tomato slices and between white bread, which could have been toasted a bit more. However, the flavor combination of tarragon, scallions, and celery in the chicken salad was exceptional.

In Conclusion:

I thoroughly enjoyed these two menu items and my experience at Heaton’s Reef. While the prices are a bit above average for bar food, this is not “typical” bar food, so consider the overall value of the flavors, service, and atmosphere you get while dining here. It is unique and I would recommend it to anyone. Unfortunately, I am under the age of 21 and can’t inform you about the drinks that Heaton’s Reef has to offer. Looks like you’ll have to go try it out for yourself!

Heaton’s Reef also has Daily $5 Drink Deals

Heaton’s Reef is open daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm. They offer a happy hour from 4:30pm to 6:00pm

Heaton’s Reef

3500 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963

(772) 469-1060

Pineapples are in season on the Treasure Coast!

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

I’m sure most of us have driven by Nature Farms, Inc. a 100 times, and never knew what lurked just a few hundred feet off of the road. I know, because I’m one of them! I’m so glad someone told me about this place, it’s truly a hidden gem on the treasure coast. My wife and I had the pleasure of getting a behind the scenes tour last weekend. Keep reading to learn a little bit more about this hidden gem and to find out when you can get your hands on some of the best pineapple I’ve ever tasted!

View Farm Photo Gallery on Facebook

Nature Farms, Inc is located just off of US Hwy 1 in Sebastian, Florida, and is only a stone’s throw away from Hale Groves. By the time you see Hale Groves you may have passed it, so look for the sign on Saturday’s during season, which usually runs from July til about September. Mark Dellerman is the man in charge and the one who gave us the tour of his farm. Mark has been in the citrus industry for most of his life. His grandfather, Frank Bates was a citrus grower. They had over 900 acres of citrus groves in DeSoto & Indian River Counties. The property where they grow the pineapples has been in the family since the 1960’s and is approximately 25 acres in size, although he is only utilizing 10 of that for the pineapples. Each year he harvests on average 15,000 – 20,000 pineapples.

To prepare the land to grow the pineapples when he first got started around 2003, Mark had organic wood grindings from other farms in the area brought in to build up the soil, and prepare if for growing the pineapples. He added layer after layer of it until it was almost 4 feet thick, mowing over it to help compact and grind it to a finer consistency. The pineapples are planted on raised beds and fertilized with chicken manure and dolomite lime. The raised beds are then covered with plastic to help them hold their shape and keep the weeds under control. Below is a new bed Mark was preparing for more pineapples.

Once the soil was ready, in the beginning Mark would collect and recycle discarded pineapple crowns from Publix and simply plant them in rows. Once the plants flower (December – February), they take about 6 months to ripen. The pineapples are also grown without the use of insecticides or pesticides, which is very important to people these days. While he follows organic practices, he is not a certified organic grower, due to the extra cost and paperwork involved with getting the certification. This season, Mark told me that he is growing a new variety of pineapple he is calling the “Indian River Gold”. This new variety is larger and has incredible tropical flavor, and is a little bit sweeter than his normal variety.

One of the biggest problems Mark has on the farm are raccoons. Just like us, they love that sweet taste of the pineapple too! The easy thing to do would be to trap and kill them, but Mark does not believe in killing them. Once they have been caught in a live trap, he takes and releases them back into the wild away from the farm. Mark says they are getting smarter too, as he is trapping less of them lately. He uses sardines, peanut butter, and even has tried fresh diced up pineapple in the traps to get them, yet they seem to know and avoid the traps most of the time. Check out this pineapple below we found while on our tour that got eaten by a raccoon.

Mark is expanding his offerings as well. He has some avocado and mango trees and expects a small amount of avocado to be ready by the end of October. No word yet on when the Mango’s would be ready, so make sure you follow him on Facebook to know when they are available. The picture below is of his avocado trees.

Let’s dive right in and see how much better these are than your grocery store variety actually is.

We bought one from a local grocery store almost 2 weeks ago, and it is now just starting to ripen. We also got one from Mark this past weekend, 4 days ago. The picture above is of the two of them together. Can you tell which one is which?

The picture above is with the tops cut off.

The picture above is of the bottom with a 1/4 inch cut off. Wow, you can really see the difference in this picture!

Now both of them next to each other with the skin off.

The way I cut them from here is to quarter them from the top, using the core as the center point. I cut straight down, and turn 90 degrees, then cut again while still all together, once again using the core as the center line. Once cut into quarters, you can simply cut the core off of each spear, then slice and eat. The next picture below is 4 sections that I cut from both pineapples, for a side by side comparison, and as you can see, the one on the left is from Nature Farms, Inc and the one on the right is the one from the local grocery store.

In Conclusion:

WOW, what a difference it makes when you get them fresh from the farm! Mark’s pineapple is definitely sweeter, and I did notice a “hint” of coconut in them too. If you are new to his pineapples, or a regular customer, be sure to visit him on Saturday’s from 10:30am till 3:30pm or until he runs out for the day. This Saturday, June 25th is the Grand Opening for this season, so be sure to get there early, as I’m sure they will sell out quickly!

Thank you for reading our review of Nature Farms pineapple.

MORE INFORMATION:

Nature Farms, Inc., Mark Dellerman, 9150 N US Highway One, Sebastian, FL 32958,

(772) 538-6066

“Like” Nature Farms Inc. on Facebook for all the latest information and product availability

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