Restaurants in Cocoa

Before heading into his kitchen, chef and owner of Frappes North Bobby Frappier makes a detour at the restaurant’s organic herb and tomato garden, harvesting ingredients for the day’s menu. The armful of herbs and tomatoes make cameos in that evening’s sauces, such as dill compound and thyme jus, as well as in the bottled pasta sauce sold at the restaurant.

In addition to its fresh cuisine, Frappes North has earned nods for its ambiance, which the New York Times calls “sophisticated [and] hip.” Wine tastings, held on the first Tuesday of every month, bring oenophiles and the oeno-curious together for a sample of delightful vintages, paired with appetizers. Sunlight spills across the exposed dark wood beams that support the canted ceiling and tiled flooring that supports the live acoustic music on Friday nights.

Ocean waves swirl steps from The Beach Bucket's umbrella-littered patio, where white tables groan beneath fried-shrimp baskets and plates of burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Blenders churn frozen libations to the pulse of weekly live music performances, and mixologists also stir sea-inspired drinks such as shipwreck, bay breeze, and water on the rocks. Personable staff and a selection of 28 bottled beers leave sippers grinning as broadly as the exultant shark on The Beach Bucket's souvenir T-shirts.

Though Clubhouse Restaurant’s wall-size windows look out on the rolling greens and fairways of Daytona Beach Golf Club, the steady stream of regulars often have a difficult time prying their eyes away from the plates in front of them. Locally renowned for its juicy steaks and handmade, all-beef burgers, Glen Leizear’s restaurant has become a community staple since he moved to Daytona Beach from Maryland more than a decade ago. The key to his success, as he once told the Daytona Beach News-Journal only begins with the food—he works more than 100 hours a week to ensure that prices stay reasonable and his customers feel welcome, whether stopping in for full meals or friendly games of cards. Though the restaurant’s familial atmosphere encourages guests to drop their guard and relax, Glen keeps things interesting by routinely hosting catered banquets, old-fashioned cookouts on holidays, and indoor driving-range practice.