Why Locals Have Loved Eating at Blue Water Bay for More Than 30 Years
Fresh Seafood, House-Smoked Meats, and 30 Years of Local Flavor in Melrose
Sometimes we seek out a local restaurant for sustenance – but other times you stumble upon a restaurant that becomes an experience in itself, and it ends up being one of the highlights of your trip. Blue Water Bay is that kind of place. If you’re looking for places to eat in Melrose, Florida, you’ll definitely want to check out this local hotspot.
One of the best restaurants in Melrose, Florida
Blue Water Bay has stood the test of time and has been around for more than 30 years in the same location – proving that it’s one of the best places to eat in Melrose. They cater a lot of local events, but the in-person experience at this award-winning establishment demands a visit if you’re in town. This is more than just a place where travelers come. It’s a family-friendly eatery where you’ll find the locals flocking for their favorite meals each week.
Depending on who you ask, you may get different answers on what makes this one of the locals’ favorite places to eat in Melrose. Some come for the food, others for the drinks. Music-lovers hang out there for the live music – there’s live entertainment every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. It has an overall ambience that people love, too. No matter if you choose the dining room or bar side, you’ll feel right at home and have access to the same amazing food and drinks.
The diverse menu
It’s hard to push Blue Water Bay into just one category of food. They have an in-house smoker and are smoking up meat all day, every day – so they’re certainly known for that. But they’re also one of the best seafood restaurants in Florida, and they’ve won awards for having the best burger in town.
In addition, their menu also pulls in some dishes with international flavors such as Cuban mojo pork and chicken. Homesick Cajuns will be excited to see things like seafood etouffee and crawfish tails on the menu. Health-conscious folks can also order up a salad made with fresh, locally sourced, organic greens, and paired with house-made dressing. If you bring along the kiddos, there are options for them, too.
Add in Taco Tuesday and Sunday Brunch that have even more options, and you’ll quickly see that the menu just really is that diverse. It’s often hard to find one restaurant that everyone can agree on, but Blue Water Bay really does have something for everyone. The Blue Water Bay menu reflects the creative culinary skills of the owner and chef, Bryon Terwillegar. While there are way too many dishes to list, a few favorites include:
- Lobster Bisque
- Fried Mozzarella
- Jumbo Smoked Chicken Wings
- Farm Raised Gator Tail
- Vegetarian Spring Rolls
- Escargot in Garlic Butter Sauce
- Jumbo Fried Shrimp
- Chopped Black Angus Sirloin
- Fresh Florida Black Grouper
- Smoked Chicken Thigh and Sausage Gumbo
- Fried Jumbo Oysters
Everything at Blue Water Bay is served up in enormous portions, but they also offer a couple of shareable platters. Foodies who can’t decide on what to order and want to try a multitude of offerings will like this option. The Bay Platters for Two come in fried and grilled options and include an assortment of foods like shrimp, fish, scallops, deviled crabs, and more.
Blue Water Bay’s signature dessert
They also offer a wide assortment of desserts. While there are a few tasty things to choose from, there is one sweet treat that Blue Water Bay is most known for – the Sour Orange Pie. With an Oreo crust, the sweet and sour tones create the perfect flavor.
You can order any of their desserts by the slice, but you can also take home a whole cake or pie. After one bite of their flavorsome sweets, you’ll probably opt for that. If you’re celebrating a birthday or special occasion while you’re in the area, this is a great place where you can order a cake. Just make sure to place your order in advance so they have your preferred choice waiting for you.
The special drink you can only get at Blue Water Bay
While they have a variety of drink options, including local beer and an impressively stocked wine cellar, there’s one particular drink that you’ll find the locals flocking in to order by the gallons – The Gallow Bird. If you could put vacation in a glass, this is what it would taste like. This fruity, rum-based drink has flavors of citrus, pineapple, banana, and chocolate. The bartender, Holly, has been there for a decade and creates the perfect concoction. You can try one when you come in for lunch or dinner, but you can also grab a gallon to go. Seriously – you can really do this. You can also order their famous margaritas by the gallon, too.
Bourbon and whiskey enthusiasts will also be very impressed with their vast selection. They have a plethora of options such as Pappy Van Winkle, William Larue Weller, and George T. Stagg. If you’re looking for a bottle of a particular hard-to-get spirit for your own personal collection, they may be able to help with that as well. Reach out to their crew and let them know what you’re looking for – they may be able to help you get it.
Local art and fishing lure collections
Once your food comes out, you’ll be busy for a while – the portions are huge! Before it gets to your table though, take some time to look around and check out the unique collection of art on the walls. Melrose is an artsy community, and the creative vibes are in full display on the walls at Blue Water Bay. Many local artists display their work there, and if you see something you like, you can take it home – all of the local art is for sale.
You’ll also see some other interesting exhibits displayed. The owner Byron has cases that showcase some of his favorite fishing lures. Since Putnam County is the “Bass Capital of the World,” it’s no surprise that elements of its prized fishing legacy are wrapped into the decor. If you fall in love with any of Byron’s display cases, you can take one of those home, too.
Tips for visiting
This laid-back spot is perfect for those who want high-quality food and drinks in an unpretentious setting. This is a restaurant where you can just come in after a day on the lake with messy hair, shorts, and flip-flops, and still order delicacies such as escargot. If you would rather just get something like a salad or mozzarella sticks, you can do that as well.
Walk-ins are welcome, so come whenever you like, just as you are. Fridays and Saturdays can get pretty busy though, so you may want to make a reservation. Taco Tuesday brings out all of the locals, too, so reservations are recommended for that as well. Our biggest advice to you though is to come hungry! The food is scrumptious and the portions are huge! Paired with a welcoming staff, this is one of the best culinary experiences you can have when visiting Florida.
Location:
319 FL-26
Melrose, Florida 32666
352-475-1928
Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Warning: You may love the food so much that you decide to go back again and again to try more of the great dishes. No judgment – we love it that much, too. Check out all of the great places to stay in Putnam County, and just plan on staying at least a few nights.