by “The Food Guy” – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine and Vero Beach Foodie
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If you are a regular reader of mine, you may remember that I was just at the Bluewater Beach Grill about 3 months ago. At the time, they did mention that they would be coming out with a new menu in the upcoming months and that they would like me to come back and give it a try. I got that opportunity to visit them again last week and try out the new menu.
The atmosphere hasn’t changed since my last review other than their new sign and logo. The most notable change was to the menu. All the items that I reviewed previously are now gone except for the Poke bowls. The new menu, while limited from what they offered previously, has some really tasting sounding items on it. Prices have also dropped on their sandwiches making it more affordable too. I think part of this change was to cater to the beach and surfer crowd that frequents this area, making it affordable for them to stop in and grab a quick bite to eat before hitting the waves.
As you drive by on A1A, you may miss this place since the front of the restaurant faces north and is not that visible as you pass by. There is limited parking on the street in front of the building, but ample parking in Jetty Park if you arrive early. There are other restaurants and bars in the area so as the evening progresses, the lots tend to fill up quickly. As we walked up to the entrance, there were lots of tables outside, and plenty of seating inside if you prefer the A/C. There was a mix of hi and low top tables, a few booths, and a long bar with lots of stools to choose from. It had that rustic laid-back beach vibe and was very comfortable.
Now Let’s jump right in and see what the new menu has to offer!
Signature Smashed – ($7.00) – Smashed burgers seem to be very popular right now. This one is made with a ground beef patty, American cheese, charred onions, their secret sauce, and horseradish pickles on a brioche bun. Loaded fries were served alongside (ala carte). The burger itself was perfectly cooked and was seasoned nicely. The secret sauce reminded me of a thousand islands or a Frisco type of sauce and was very good. The French fries were fantastic and a table favorite!
Cheeseburger – ($6.00) – Nothing beats a classic cheeseburger! This one is made very much like the signature smash burger, only the onions are not charred. It’s made with a beef patty, American cheese, their secret sauce, and available upon request you can add hydro lettuce, onion, and tomato served on a brioche bun. Loaded fries were served alongside (ala carte). The burger was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was on point. The brioche bun was very fresh and quite tasty.
Chicken Burger – ($7.00) – Up next for my tasting pleasure is their new Chicken Burger! It’s made with a white meat chicken breast that has been lightly breaded and deep-fried to a light golden brown. It’s served on a buttered brioche bun with hydro lettuce, herbed mayonnaise, and crisp kosher pickles. Loaded tator tots were served alongside (ala carte). I cut it in half and the first thing I noticed was how juicy the chicken breast was. It was oozing juice as I lightly squeezed it. The manager said they brine the chicken to make sure it stays moist while frying it. This reminded me of a popular chain restaurant’s chicken sandwich but was much fresher and more flavorful.
Hamachi Poke Bowl – ($19.00) – Poke bowls are somewhat new to me other than the previous review that I did here, so I was anxious to try their new varieties. It’s made with a mix of brown and white rice, sweet onions, tobiko, carrots, radish, pickled veggies, avocado, sesame seeds, nori, crispy shallots and topped with a spicy Amarilla sauce and a seaweed salad. The portion was quite large and everything was very fresh. Flavors were a bit subtle for my taste, but overall, it was quite good.
Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl – ($16.00) – They previously had an Ahi Poke bowl which I tried on the previous review, so I was anxious to try the new one and make my comparison. This one is made with white rice, sweet onion, green onions, pickled ginger, cucumbers, avocado, carrots, tobiko, nori, rice seasoning, Eel and Togarashi sauce, and finished with their house Poke sauce. While I liked the presentation of the previous version better, this one had a lot more flavor. Everything was fresh and quite tasty with lots of bold flavors and different textures. I’m definitely a fan of the newly updated dish!
Donuts – ($4.00) – Our last course of the evening were these little beauties! They were small bite-sized donuts made with a spice cake batter. They were deep fried and placed in the bag while still warm and tossed with the cinnamon and sugar mixture to coat. They had a slight crunch to them and were not as rich as I hoped they would be, but they were still quite tasty.
In Conclusion:
With menu changes this drastic, you take the risk of alienating your existing customer base that you have already established by removing their favorite dishes, all while wanting to attract that new customer that has never dined with you before, so it can be a delicate balancing act. The new menu should appeal to young and old, and every budget by offering a range of prices that most everyone can afford. While I’m sad to see some of the previous menu items go, the new ones are quite tasty and should please most anyone that dines with them.
Have you tried Bluewater Beach Grill? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.
Atmosphere – 5 Forks
Service – 5 Forks
Food – 4 Forks
Rating Scale Legend:
1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent
Bluewater Beach Grill Website | Menu | Facebook Page
Address: 2025 Seaway Dr, Fort Pierce, FL 34949
Open Daily from 11:00 am till 10:00 pm | Happy Hour Everyday from 4:00 pm till 7:00 pm
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