In the heart of tiny Melrose, Florida, there’s a weathered wooden building with a metal roof that doesn’t look like much from the outside.
But locals know that Blue Water Bay houses one of the state’s most surprising culinary treasures – and it’s not what you’d expect from a seafood joint.
While fresh catches and fried platters certainly have their place on the menu, it’s a steaming crock of French onion soup that has regulars making the drive from counties away, whispering about it like a delicious secret they’re both eager to share and reluctant to spread too widely.
Melrose itself feels like Florida before the theme parks and high-rises – authentic, unhurried, and refreshingly unpretentious. This little community nestled between Gainesville and Palatka offers a glimpse into the Florida that exists beyond the tourism brochures…