Cafe Monte Carlo — Restaurant in Cape Canaveral

Cafe Monte Carlo- Cape Canaveral- 3.75-Stars

"Don't judge a book by its cover" -- G, Elliot

In pursuing my goal of reviewing every eating establishment on the Space Coast, I have learned a lot about our lovely state of Florida. For example, not knowing how to drive and/or park is not limited to out of state plates, Publix stores anchor a multitude of strip malls, and Florida is chock-full of dingy, seemingly run down and forgotten by the tides of time, strip malls. These little guys are hanging on for dear life all up and down the coastal roadways. Sometimes, they hide a pearl worthy of dive by an Ama (Japanese pearl divers) and while I didn't know it at the time, that was going to be the case here.

The new paint job the building was boasting could not hide the fact that it was at least 20 years old and in dire need of modernization. Looking around as I entered and approached the counter I couldn't help but notice the inside wasn't all that much better. While it was clean and orderly, it also was begging to enter the 21st Century. Apprehensions based on looks set aside I boldly placed an order with our Server, Andrew, for a Croque sandwich on a croissant, biscuits and gravy, one Monte's grilled 3 cheese on white bread and a cup of their Cuban espresso.

The thing I love about an open kitchen such as the one you will find inside Cafe Monte Carlo is that well, it's an open kitchen. If it's dirty, dingy, and greasy I have found that often so is the slop slung forth, This kitchen sparkled with cleanliness and care. Watching the cook grill our sandwiches made me think that they might not be so bad after all. Andrew soon returned with our food and it was time to go to work!

The Croque sandwich can come in a few different ways and I ordered mine with ham on the aforementioned grilled croissant. The ham was not fake processed meat stuff, but the real honest to Jimmy Dean deal. It was sliced deli thin, piled high on a bakery fresh croissant and then topped with an egg cooked to a perfect medium. The whole thing was then topped with some of the best tasting and most unique bèchamel sauce I have yet had. Made with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a dab of mustard really made it stand out and brought the sandwich to a completely different level of gastronomical heights.

The biscuits and gravy reminded me of the building I was in by their mere appearance. They did not look very appetizing, but I had a job to do. With one bite I knew I was in the South. These were not your plug and play, frozen, preformed biscuits, no Ma'am! These were the real McCoy handmade biscuits fresh out of the oven and they were delicious. Slathered atop these icons of biscuits was some of the best sausage gravy I have yet had. The sausage was fresh, complex in taste and cooked correctly, while the gravy was obviously made by my great grandmother as there is no other explanation as to how incredibly flavorful it was (please return her, she is missed!).

Next up on my to-do list was the Monte's grilled 3 cheese on white. With a gooey interior of a melted mass of Swiss, Cheddar and Provolone cheese the sandwich would have been gold as is, however, add to that bacon and a vine fresh tomato onion chutney and you have sandwich platinum, baby! Oh, sorry, I got caught up on the inside with ya know bacon, the freshly baked white bread was grilled to a perfect crunchy hue and added a nice base for the baco...I mean grilled 3 cheese.

With a menu boasting 11 types of java, it would seem that they are attempting to put the coffee back in cafè and they do an excellent job at that. My Cuban espresso was not only aesthetically pleasing but done properly with the correct amount of boldness one expects from Cuban coffee. It was a perfect ending to a rather enjoyable and surprisingly delicious meal.

The Big Boy says, "For a unique and tasty take on a grilled cheese, an excellent cup of Joe and more, overlook the outside setting and hit this place up!" #iamthebigboy...

A good breakfast location north of Ron Jons I was driving by headed to the port when I saw this place on the east side of A1A. It is in one of the many strip centers as you travel north on this road. This restaurant has only a few parking spots directly in front of it but it shares the lot with other businesses and there are more spaces in front of the other stores. As you enter, the counter is directly in front of you. They have totally enclosed the counter so you order through a window. The menu was a simple trifold paper affair. They have lots of coffee and tea choices and several breakfast options. The prices are very reasonable with everything from a $3 bagel to $10 for a smoked salmon sandwich. I ordered bacon, egg, and cheese on a croissant. The food came out quickly and it was absolutely delicious. Inside seating is about 6 4-person tables along the left wall. I believe that there might be more tables out the back door but I did not check on that. The decor is space-themed (appropriate for their location near the south end of Cape Canaveral). The store was very clean and the staff was very pleasant and nice. It was a very nice place. I plan to visit again and recommend it to my...

Cute cafe to grab a quick bite. You can dine-in or get takeout.

Space theme decor that reflects local community it’s in (Space Coast). Cashier thar helped me had cool earrings. Someone said in a previous review they didn’t like the clear boards that separate the cashier & customer, but I didn’t mind. I appreciated that he walked over to me & dropped off my order. They do bring food on a plate to tables if you dine in.

I got a medium-sized cafe con Leche & smoked salmon bagel.

Cafe con leche was okay— wakes you up & nicely sweetened. I don’t think it was the best cafe con leche I’ve ever had but it was good; I would order it again!

Smoke salmon with everything bagel. I’ve never had a smoked salmon sandwich. Usually I get nova lox, but why not try something different? It was tasty.

I kinda liked how the tomatoes were cut up instead of sliced & the salmon was broken up. It doesn’t overwhelm your tastebuds when you bite into it. Cream cheese was a...