It’s exciting to see how many little cafés have been popping up throughout Indian River County recently.
Many focus on a limited menu, dedicating themselves to preparing each dish with exceptional care, creativity and the highest quality ingredients. If you’ve been keeping a running list, be sure to add Little Gem Cafe.
Little Gem is a café that lives up to its name while delivering big on flavor.
Cafe, bakery, coffee, tea, bread
Located on Old Dixie Highway near a couple of popular dinner destinations, Little Gem Cafe makes breakfast and lunch the important, and utterly delicious, meals of the day.
The covered patio, lined with lush potted greenery, feels both cozy and private. For those of us with furry children of the canine variety, it’s especially delightful to discover that dogs are welcomed with open arms in this outdoor space.
Inside, tables are comfortably arranged in a bright, white-walled setting that resembles a small art gallery, complete with fresh flowers and paintings by the resident artist.
Breakfast, lunch, burger, chicken, salad
We commented to one another that the food at Little Gem Cafe perfectly mirrors its surroundings. Every plate is a work of art. Each menu item is thoughtfully crafted and made to order using carefully selected, high-quality ingredients.
The smashburger ($15) is described simply as American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and special sauce on a brioche bun, but that hardly tells the story. This sandwich stood tall and proud, featuring two thick, juicy, perfectly seasoned beef patties tucked into a gently warmed, pillowy bun.
It was accompanied by a generous Little Gem Cafe salad dressed in an exceptional sherry-shallot vinaigrette and topped with shaved cheese.
Bright decor, colorful food
And when was the last time you had a truly memorable green goddess salad? We’ll be running back for the green goddess chicken salad ($15).
A deep, generous bowl of shaved greens, crisp apple slices, cucumber, avocado, and tender grilled chicken created a satisfying combination of freshness, texture and flavor.
The coffee and house-made pastries were equally enjoyable. We sampled an iced latte ($7) made with oat milk and cinna-brown bliss, along with a cinnamon scone ($3.50) and a chocolate chip cookie ($1), all of which provided a sweet finish to the meal.
Sweet treats, cookies, latte
Those in the know grab a menu from the counter, find a seat, make their selections, and then return to the counter to place their order.
Food and drinks are delivered to the table, making for a relaxed and uncomplicated experience. Best of all, everything is refreshingly straightforward with no surprise fees added at the end.
So, if you’re compiling a list of places worth discovering, make sure Little Gem Cafe is on it. Better yet, put a star beside its name because this little café is one of Indian River County’s bright gems.
Little Gem Cafe
Maribeth Renne dines anonymously at the expense of TCPalm. Contact her at maribeth.d.renne@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida restaurant with perfect name deserves star for great breakfast
Reporting by Maribeth Renne, Special to TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Maribeth Renne, Special to TCPalm | USA TODAY Network
