Blue Water Bay - Melrose

The food was absolutely delicious and definitely worth the price. The seafood was particularly outstanding! For appetizers, my friend ordered fried green tomatoes, while I opted for calamari. She thoroughly enjoyed her green tomatoes, though I found them a bit thicker than I prefer. The calamari, on the other hand, was fantastic. My friend had previously tried calamari and didn't like it, but this time she was impressed. It could have easily been a meal on its own. I must mention that I’d hoped for some marinara sauce to accompany it; it might have been homemade, but the waitress mentioned it had a hint of sweetness. I found the flavor intriguing, but I wasn't sure if it was my palate or the sauce itself. We also ordered two salads: a house salad and a seven-layer salad. The house salad was average in size, but my friend loved the generous chunks of blue cheese it came with. I didn't try it, but it looked appetizing. The seven-layer salad, however, was enormous—it didn’t even fit on the plate! The ranch dressing served with it was rich and delightful. I didn’t want to spoil my appetite since I was looking forward to the etouffee I had ordered. The etouffee was delicious, packed with large pieces of seafood and vegetables. I wasn’t aware it had paprika—which I would have preferred to skip—but it was cooked to perfection. It came with a side of rice mixed with vegetables, but I asked to have it on the side as I'm not a fan of rice. My roommate sampled it and thought it looked pretty good. The portions were generous to the point that they were nearly too much to finish. It could easily serve two people. My friend ordered the seafood platter, which included shrimp, scallops, egg rolls, fish, hush puppies, and she swapped the fries for a baked potato. This dish could have easily fed four people! It was absolutely massive. She also had coleslaw and fried oysters on the side. The coleslaw looked delicious with its mix of fruit and cabbage, and the oysters were fried to perfection. The only disappointing part of the meal was the dessert. I decided to try the cheesecake—a personal favorite of mine—choosing the peach flavor, while my friend opted for blueberry. My peach cheesecake had a light glaze and a few peach bits, but the cheesecake itself had a pumpkin flavor which didn’t appeal to me at all. My friend’s blueberry cheesecake, on the other hand, was just right for her taste, and when I had a bite, it truly tasted of blueberry. Overall, we did spend quite a bit, but it was largely worth it. From the artistic ambiance to most of the delicious dishes, this restaurant definitely provides value for your money.

Dinner was absolutely delicious and incredibly generous! I ordered the smoked chicken wings (25 for $19) while my wife opted for the grilled veggie linguine to help manage her cholesterol, and the portions were enormous! We both ended up taking some home to enjoy tomorrow. We also had two drinks (Jack Koks and Jack Ginger), and the total bill came to $63, which I thought was very reasonable. The menu offers a wide variety of options, including different fish, calamari, chicken, and shrimp. I’m definitely looking forward to going back!

We enjpyed the fast friendly service. The veggie fatuccine was so creamy and chocked full of fresh vegetables, delicious. We also had the Duo Special, shrimps and groupers so delicious. It was our first time we went back with family and friends.

This hidden gem was recommended by our friends in Melrose, and we visited over the weekend. I must say, both the food and service were outstanding. As a resident of St. Augustine, I've had my fair share of delicious fried shrimp, but theirs was absolutely fantastic! My son ordered a BLT and couldn't stop praising it. We went in for an early lunch, but we'll definitely be returning for dinner soon!

Diverse, delicious menu (ie: fried green tomatoes, lobster bisque, quesadillas, a Cuban). Casual, also has booths in bar. Hidden treat.