JB’s Fish Camp and Restaurant offers old school Florida cool, great food
JB's Fish Camp & Restaurant sit along the water near the Canaveral National Seashore offering an Old School Florida setting and great food. Photo Rori Paul
We were there to SUP (Standup Paddleboard), but by the looks of it, it was truly old school Florida. Weathered wood and faded sports signs, a huge patio overlooking the Mosquito Lagoon, part of the Atlantic’s inland waterways. There was an old trailer turned into an office-shop and the cutting area for the day’s catch. An outdoor shower to get the goo off and the piers out over the water. We’d arrived a little early, walked around, took photos and readied for our SUP tour with East Coast Paddle. Yet I kept glancing back at the restaurant nearby. JB’s Fish Camp and Restaurant was certainly drawing my attention.
We’d already checked out the menu online as we prepared for our tour. Having to locate the fish camp to launch from, we’d checked it out: everything looked interesting. Yet what would it look like in person?
Old School Florida: that's what makes this a hidden gem for travelers and local favorite. Photo Rori Paul
So many of America’s best eateries are in dives. Places you can’t imagine eating in, scary looking and not so enticing. Yet the food is amazing, the service friendly and outgoing, the experience a dream.
Was this such a place?
Our tour with East Coast Paddle was wonderful, but being out on the water and under that hot and steamy Florida sun worked us into a hard thirst. We needed at least something to drink. Not to mention, had to hit the facilities. But we’d already been inside, when it was empty, and knew the restaurant to be fun, playful, old school charming.
So we decided: lunch it was.
Sliding into our booth in the backroom, we watched the other tables to see how it was done. The wooden table with the shellacking cover would apparently end up covered with paper, and so it would be, drinks were ordered, then we hit the menu to decide. Take note; drinks can be ordered by the glass or pitcher, and even though I’d be drinking my Coke alone, I went with the pitcher. I didn’t finish, but darn close thanks to a few hours on the water.
Even the playful paintings on the ladies bathroom wall adds to the charming atmosphere. Photo Rori Paul
What we got
Laura is a fish lover so she went that way. Being a fish place in Florida on the water, you usually cannot go wrong and so too again was she delighted. She ordered the Rock Shrimp (yum) and crab-cake sandwiches.Thoroughly delighted, she now cannot decided if she wants to go back for the same or to try new things.
I had a salad and due to the sun and an earlier stomach issue, I wasn’t that hungry, so I also ordered a simple hot dog. I cannot speak to the dog as I could only handle a single bite this day, but the salad seemed to hit the spot well. We were actually pleasantly surprised by the size of the salad and the array of veggies included (minus a cuke I would have loved) and found it to be easy on my weakened tummy.
Check Please
The meal was good, the service friendly and with a smile, and the atmosphere fun and old school cool. Portions were right on and solid for the price. Everything tasted as good or better than expected. Without question we will return to what travelers would like consider a hidden gem and locals a regular favorite.
Located outside the Northern entry for the Canaveral National Seashore, its about a 1 minute drive in or out. Enjoy lunch then hit the beach or the other way around. Bring your kayak for time on the water, drive up on your boat, do some fishing, rent a kayak or launch here with East Coast Paddle then hit the restaurant. Many great choices all around.
For a great experience and making us want to come back, we give JB’s Fish Camp & Restaurant
Four out of five diamonds for a wonderful, must try
dining experience.
The outdoor patio overlooks the water for a great way to enjoy a meal.
Enjoy the bar area or large dining rooms.
But beware, you never know what Florida
creature is lurking…
Laura’s rock shrimp she clearly defines as : delicious!
My salad was large, tasty with fresh veggies and only
lacked the cucumbers I love.
Laura’s crab-cake sandwich was also yummy and
she now says she has no idea if she should order the
same things on our next visit, or try something new.
My hot dog, the single bite I had, was fine.
I just was not having a good tummy day…
So much of Florida seafood is the experience and working to get
to the eating… that’s what makes it all wonderfully Florida!
