Port Canaveral Restaurants- Grills, FishLips, or Kelseys?

[WDW Princess 71]

I've heard of 3 places to eat in Port Canaveral, Grills, FishLips and Kelseys. I would love some feedback from those of you who have done any of these and recommend, or if you have other recommendations. We are staying at Radisson which is right next to Kelsey's, which is convenient but we'll have a car so if the food/view is better at Grills or FishLips, I'd be able to drive. Looking forward to hearing everyone's opinions since I've never been! Thanks!

 

[anewmac]

We ate at grills. It was a long wait on a Friday. But worth it.. Good food. Unfortunatly I didnt take any pics LOL. Fun atmosphere. They had a band playing on Friday out on the patio!

 

[skylynx]

Our family has eaten at Grills twice...both at night, once during a raging thunderstorm. It does get REALLY croweded on Friday and Saturday nights, so go early (before 6) or plan on waiting an hour or so. We enjoyed the atmosphere although it got pretty loud and wild about the time we were leaving the night it wasn't raining. They have a very reasonably priced menu with a good variety and plenty alternatives if you don't care for seafood. If you go there, make sure you check out the deep sea fishing station cleaning benches right next to the restaurant. It has some amusingly disgusting signs that say something like "please poke the fish eyes out all the way." My kids loved them.

 

[jlw0820]

Weate at Kelseys on Nov 29. Great Pizza, and Lasagna. We stayed at the raddisson and that was the resturant right in the same parking lot we only had a 20 min or so wait but the food was worth the wait. Oh and we ordered choc cake to take back to the room with us for later it was the best choc cake and I LOVE cake so you know it was good. well worht it in my book.

 

[mmouse37]

Kelsey was good but we also ate at Grills several times and enjoy the atmosphere...most recently we had 16 people for dinner there this past October the night before our 7 day cruise. We had made a reservation for 4:30 and it was great....restaurant was empty at that time but soon filled up. Watched a ship come cruise down the canal on its way out sea and watched the fisherman unloading their catch on the dock....fun place with good food!!!

 

[gometros]

Here's a thumbs up for Fishlips. We ate there in October and really enjoyed the meal and the view.

 

[lillygator]

are they walking distance from the Radisson?

 

[mmouse37]

are they walking distance from the Radisson?

Kelseys is but not Fishlips or Grills.

 

[ljm23]

Do they take reservations? Grills in particular.

 

[suezyq50]

I didn't think Grilles took reservation, but was mentioned they did. Have never been to Kelsey's. We like the Grille. We were actually there when the Disney ship came down the channel. DH said "Some day we are going to have to cruise Disney". Food at both places is very good. Both have live music.

 

[Capt_BJ]

A lil info

There are several rest' on the south side of the port along the way from the cruise ship piers to the port entr.

At the eastern most end of the port, at the jettys, is Jetty park. There is an admission charge to the county park but if you want to see the ship leave the port, that's where it 'technically' happens, at the end of the jetty. The north side is Cape Canaveral AFB and a closed area.

In the port the western most rest' is a new one, Millikan's Reef I believe is the name. It is large, with lots of outside bar and deck and several dining room. Early reviews have been good. Here you'll actually have a chance of seeing a ship leave the pier and head down the channel....they'll pass here first.

The eastern most rest' is Grills altho it is no where near Jetty Park. There is a large deck area and many like it. I eat there a lot, there's entertainment on the weekends etc etc. BUT, between Millikan and Grills are Rusty's and Fishlips and BOTH offer the same type entertainment on the weekends .. I believe Fishlips has outside pool tables on the deck.... all have menus.

Which is better? Usually if the wait at one is too long we head to the next! IMHO...very similar.....but locals do have their fav' (and so far as I know Grills is the only one to offer breakfast) I'll admit we've eaten at Grills more than the others....cuz spousal unit likes the bacon wrapped scallop appetizer and has that and conch fritters as lunch after church on Sunday.

Now all these rest are not what I'd all walking from the Raddisson.... Actually I WOULD walk it but I walk far routinely...this is less than 2 miles, but you'd need to cross busy roads. If you have a car or need taxi the trip is short and the hotel shuttle has been reported to take folks to any of the Port places. Kelsey's is a pizza place right in the hotel parking lot. It is good (not GREAT...nothing special) but no water view.....

Does this help or cornfuse???? I dunno ....

 

[WDW Princess 71]

A lil info

There are several rest' on the south side of the port along the way from the cruise ship piers to the port entr.

At the eastern most end of the port, at the jettys, is Jetty park. There is an admission charge to the county park but if you want to see the ship leave the port, that's where it 'technically' happens, at the end of the jetty. The north side is Cape Canaveral AFB and a closed area.

In the port the western most rest' is a new one, Millikan's Reef I believe is the name. It is large, with lots of outside bar and deck and several dining room. Early reviews have been good. Here you'll actually have a chance of seeing a ship leave the pier and head down the channel....they'll pass here first.

The eastern most rest' is Grills altho it is no where near Jetty Park. There is a large deck area and many like it. I eat there a lot, there's entertainment on the weekends etc etc. BUT, between Millikan and Grills are Rusty's and Fishlips and BOTH offer the same type entertainment on the weekends .. I believe Fishlips has outside pool tables on the deck.... all have menus.

Which is better? Usually if the wait at one is too long we head to the next! IMHO...very similar.....but locals do have their fav' (and so far as I know Grills is the only one to offer breakfast) I'll admit we've eaten at Grills more than the others....cuz spousal unit likes the bacon wrapped scallop appetizer and has that and conch fritters as lunch after church on Sunday.

Now all these rest are not what I'd all walking from the Raddisson.... Actually I WOULD walk it but I walk far routinely...this is less than 2 miles, but you'd need to cross busy roads. If you have a car or need taxi the trip is short and the hotel shuttle has been reported to take folks to any of the Port places. Kelsey's is a pizza place right in the hotel parking lot. It is good (not GREAT...nothing special) but no water view.....

Does this help or cornfuse???? I dunno ....

This has been very helpful! Exactly the kind of answer I would give as a local to tourists visiting the area (I live in Ocean City, an extremely busy tourist town in the summer at the Jersey Shore). Thanks for your help!

 

[lillygator]

where is the Chart House in relation to the port and the radisson??

 

[Capt_BJ]

where is the Chart House in relation to the port and the radisson??

The only Chart House I know of is in Melbourne just south of highway 192...a good 20 miles south of the port.

If you are looking for somewhat more upscale than Grills et al, like Chart House, I would suggest Mango Tree near A1A and highway 520, or Black Tulip in Cocoa Village

http://www.themangotreerestaurant.com/

http://www.brevardmenus.com/BlackTulip.htm

These are less than 10 miles south of the port

 

[WDWLVR]

We've done Grills for both dinner and breakfast and enjoyed it!