Great place for dinner at Port Canaveral! (we saw the Magic - pictures!)

[TigH]

My husband and I decided to watch the Disney Magic sail out of port yesterday. We looked around on the Port Canaveral website and found a restaurant called Grills (also a Tiki Bar!). It took us a little over an hour to get there, but it was worth it! We requested a window seat and had about an hour and a half to kill until the Magic was scheduled to leave. Our waitress was GREAT! She let us order drinks and left us alone until we were ready to put in our appetizer order and then she came back later to collect our dinner order. We were not rushed at all!

For anyone who is spending the night before their cruise in Port Canaveral, I highly recommend checking this place out! The food was yummy. Although it's a seafood place, we ordered burgers and they were the best burgers we've had. They were almost too big to finish (almost!)

Try the mango daquiri - very refreshing!

There were people of all ages there. Families with little kids who came just to watch the Magic set sail, people our age (early 30s) and people who were probably in their 60s and 70s. A very eclectic mix! ;)

There was a live band playing out at the Tiki Bar (lots of Jimmy Buffet tunes - nice!) We got to watch the fishing charter boats unload their catch. They unloaded tuna, a big red fish (snapper?) and even a young shark.

The atmosphere is very laid back!!! We plan to return some time later this year to do it again. Outdoor seating is available so you can get just a little bit better view, but it was warm and we wanted to stay inside to enjoy the AC.

Here is a link to the restaurant. <a href="http://www.visitgrills.com">Grills Restaurant</a>

Here are some links to a few pictures we took. We also saw the Carnival Pride, but the Magic is a prettier ship! ;)

<a href="http://www.rossandkaren.org/magic_PC1.jpg">Here she comes</a>

<a href="http://www.rossandkaren.org/magic_PC2.jpg">Plenty of people on the deck</a>

<a href="http://www.rossandkaren.org/magic_PC3.jpg">Wider shot</a>

<a href="http://www.rossandkaren.org/magic_PC4.jpg">Close up of the top deck</a>

<a href="http://www.rossandkaren.org/magic_pc5.jpg">The Coast Guard is patrolling the area</a>

<a href="http://www.rossandkaren.org/magic_PC.jpg">Goofy at work on the Magic at Port Canaveral</a>

[herrmfam24]

Great pictures!! It sounds like a very cute little restaurant! We'll have to try it out next time we're down in Florida!

[snelsonbrown]

Hey there Karen,
Isn't it funny, but Norm and I were also at Grills and watch the Wonder and the other 2 ships leave - it was a beautiful day - Grills is really a neat place - reminds me of Key West when i go there simply due to the laid back atmosphere - the music I agree was great - we were there about 5or so and stayed til the ships left.
They do have great food.
Always
Shirley

[mmouse37]

Thanks for the info....very nics pics!!! We have often been on the ship waving to the folks at the restaurant....nice to see pics from the opposite side!!

MJ

[PartiesNBalloons]

Thanks for sharing your pics!! We leave on our 1st cruise in 13 days and I must say that your pictures definitely builds the ExCiTeMenT!! :Pinkbounc

[WDWLVR]

We got in a day early before our May 12th cruise and also ate at Grills...what a nice experience. We were able to watch the May 11th cruises leave - even got a few pics of them that my husband (MarkRG) posted. The best part is that we knew at the same time the next day we'd be the ones cruising! It was fun that Sunday to wave at all the people down at Grills. I definately recommend it to anyone getting there a day early!

[PiperG]

Wow! These are beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.

[MrsScooby]

How far is The Grill from the Radisson?
Thanks!
Laurie :D

[4nana]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share these with us:cool:
We still have 5 mos to wait so this was a nice treat! Ditto, how far is it from the Radisson? Our group will be staying there the night before.

["Ginger"]

Thanks for the pictures, they made me home sick for the Magic.
We'll be trying Grills on Oct 25. can't wait.

[MarkRG]

Yes, Grill's is a very cool place, and the next time we can get there a day early we will definitely go hang out and watch the ships leave. I took lots of pictures of the 5/11 cruisers as Wdwlvr said above, and here's the link to theirs, with a link to pics of our trip that left the next day :)

The May 11 cruisers leaving. (http://pages.prodigy.net/mary_gums/cruise.html)

[Jobro2]

This place sounds great...we may very well check it out next June when we head down to cruise again! You said it is a laid-back atmosphere...I assume then that shorts would be acceptable dress for the kids and us??? How far a drive from the Radisson??

[Jobro2]

I just checked out the map on Dave's Tribute site, and Grills looks very close to the Radisson..it is closer than the DCL terminal, but very close to it...it is much closer than Ron Jon's (if you know the area..) but the other direction!

[D A P & I]

GRILLS is 1.08 miles from the Radisson, that is about 3 minutes. We are going in three weeks. They have a coupon on their website and their menu.:Pinkbounc :bounce:
Thanks for the great pic's it made us want to go there even more.

Anne

:earsboy: :earsgirl: :earsgirl: :earsboy:
:earsboy: :earsgirl: (grandparents)

[MarkRG]

It's about 5 minutes north of the Radisson. You have to drive past the port and Grill's to get to the Radisson. In the following map, the roads in orange are currently under construction and may not be finished yet. But,if you look on the map, there is a spot along the channel labeled 'Public Boat Ramps' , Grills is in the building directly below that label. The Radisson is just off the bottom of the map, If I am remembering properly.

http://www.portcanaveral.org/about/20yearmap.jpg

[MrsScooby]

Thanks so much for the info and the great pictures!:D I was wondering where we would eat for dinner the night before our cruise. This place looks perfect!

Laurie

[JLSE50]

MARK--great map!! Where did you find it? We live in Indiana near Chicago so are almost neighbors.

Jan :earsgirl:

[JLSE50]

MARKRG: On your May 11 pictures it looks like something says WA HOO on the side of the MAGIC. Can you explain?

Jan :earsgirl:

[MrsScooby]

Do I need reservations for The Grill?
Laurie

[TigH]

Glad everyone liked the pictures. Here I thought we had discovered a hidden treasure, but it's nice to know so many people have been there and enjoyed the place.

We wore shorts and t-shirts. We saw people there in some very nice sundresses, people in polo shirts and shorts, people in bikini tops and not much in the way of shorts, people in bathing suits with itty bitty bathing suit "covers" on, people in jeans with sleevelses shirts and tattoos from here to there, etc. Then there were a few guys walking around shirtless in the bar area. Some of them could really have used a shirt (ha ha!) It was a wonderfully diverse group. :)

I don't know if you need reservations (or if they will take them). We got there around 3:30 and it wasn't too crowded. We requested a window table and were seated in about 2 minutes (after being given a pager). We were there on a Saturday afternoon. We overheard our waitress tell people that Sunday would be a very busy day as it's usually their busiest day.

The cheese stuffed fried shrimp was our appetizer. It was very nice! There should be something on the menu for everyone.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

TigH, thanks for the great photos. Kinda' funny, though. The photo you have of the Coast Guard helicopter flying alongside the Magic... it looks, from your perspective, like the helicopter is about to land on Deck 9. Wouldn't that be interesting?

Also, thanks for the link to their web site. I had a different link on my web site, and it wasn't to as good a site as this one.

To everyone else, you could probably walk to Grills from the Radisson, but I wouldn't recommend it... it's not a real pedestrian-friendly area. But if you drive there, it would take less than five minutes. Also, you don't pass Grills on your way to the Radisson, you definitely have to drive there on purpose.

[MrsScooby]

Thanks so much! I've checked out the menu and it seems ideal for my family. My DS8 especially loves California rolls and some other types of sushi. Takes after his Dad 'cause his Mom likes her fish cooked! :)
Laurie

[MarkRG]

Ok, to answer all the questions in no particular order,

The Wahoo II is one of the numerous fishing charters that leave from the docks behind Grill's. They have a big sign that got in the way. You should have seen some of the fish they were bringing in that day. If such a thing interests you, look into it, looked fun to me.

The map is on the Port Canaveral official website. http://www.portcanaveral.org/ They have a lot of info about the port there, including one webcam that you can usually see the Magic or Wonder from. :wave: JSLE50

As someone said before and I'll just add to, clothing is DEFINTELY casual, lots of people in swimwear. They don't need phone ahead reservations, just find the person handing out the beepers and you're set, took about 10 mins for us, busy night, lots of people watching the fishing contest boats come in, which can be quite entertaining on its own.

And for Dave, I'll correct myself :p Grills is in the Port which you do have to drive past to get to the Radisson if you're coming from Orlando on the Beeline/A1A, the most typical way over. The complex will be on your left after you cross the Banana River. You can't miss the ships :) And if they have that new overpass open, you might even see Grills' sign from it.

[snelsonbrown]

Hey there - TigH - awesome picture - Norm and I go often to Grills - they do not take reservations, but waiting is usually not bad - we go over on Saturday nights when things are really going strong - the steel drums etc is super nice - the waitress are all very polite and helpful - getting there walking can be a problem - cab/car is better choice to geth there - with the new overpass you can't see Grills tho.
Anyhow thanks for sharing
Always
Shirley