What’s Clean
At Cedar’s Cafe, much of the produce is organically grown. Additionally, Cedar’s Cafe works to source fresh produce from local farmers and vendors whenever possible, as Florida’s growing seasons vary. The rice at Cedar’s is organic and the lamb is grass-fed from New Zealand (largely considered the best source for lamb on Earth).
What’s Served
Cedar’s Cafe serves all the Mediterranean favorites I expected! These meals include Flalafal, Tabouli, Kibbeh, Gyros, to Skewers and a few additional Middle Eastern style delights. While they have a focus on Lebanese food, Egyptian and Turkish flare is aplenty. You’ll see dishes from most regions of the Mediterranean Basin. They do a great job Americanizing some dishes without overtly ruining the traditional vibe and taste.
What I Ordered
I ordered the Veggie Power Bowl and wow! The veggies were cooked to perfection as was the rice. When you consider the selection of veggies and how they manage to cook each perfectly, you realize attention to detail is a thing here. The taste was spot on and although my stomach was full, I could not stop eating the robustly flavored dish.
The Vibe
The interior is small with a handful of tables. Outdoor seating under a covered roof is provided in front of the restaurant adding an extra bit of Mediterranean ambiance.
The Takeaway
Cedar’s Cafe is a wonderful restaurant tucked away in a somewhat unassuming, yet busy shopping center in Melbourne. It is not a very large space with a ton of tables inside, so the addition of outdoor seating is needed and perfect. The Mediterranean food with a strong Lebanese presence is superb in taste and quality. Now I know why reservations are strongly recommended, yum.
