A PLEASANT REPAST

Salty Fox adds flavor to EGAD

Suzy Fleming Leonard
FLORIDA TODAY
Candied Jalapenos and Cucumber Boats are two of the "Shareables" on the menu at the Salty Fox in the Eau Gallie Arts District

Sometimes you have to trust a friend's judgment, even when you end up in a bar at lunchtime on a Thursday.

I was confused when I pushed open the door to the Salty Fox, one of the latest additions to the Eau Gallie Arts District. Noon sunlight filtered through the plate glass front, but the room still felt dim. The main focus? A bar topped by hundreds of pennies.

I was meeting Teresa Beard — she was sitting there at the bar waiting — and Teresa is a responsible adult. She's the marketing director for Clevens Face and Body Specialists. She's on the Board of Directors for EGAD. Surely she wouldn't lead me astray in the middle of the work week.

Jimmies in Rockledge closes, joins forces with JD's

"Let's go sit at a table," she said, leading me past the bar into a big, even darker room. We sat at a wooden picnic table with the board game Apples to Apples perched on the corner. We had the place to ourselves. It was early for the bar crowd.

It didn't take long to realize, though, that this is a place the lunch crowd needs to discover. Teresa wasn't trying to get us into trouble. She was introducing me to some tasty food that's equal parts innovation and nostalgia.

We started with Cucumber Boats ($6.25, $4.25 for a half-order), and Candied Jalapenos ($3.99).

The Cucumber Boats were hollowed out cucumbers stuffed with shredded chicken, cashews and carrots. Ginger dressing was drizzled on half the order; Sriracha ranch was on the rest. The result was flavorful and filling. The jalapenos came with crackers and cream cheese. They had an addictive sweet heat.

I could have filled up on appetizers alone, but I wanted to try something else on the menu. The menu has a "Vintage" section, and I was tempted by Spaghetti O's ($3.49), a childhood favorite, as well as the Pizza Rolls ($3.49). Teresa thought the panini called "Apricot Ya Red Handed" sounded cute, and I was intrigued by the combination of chicken, apricot spread, onion, sage and provolone cheese, so I went with that instead.

Why was this my first meal at Ms. Apples?

It was delicious, crusty and warm with a perfect combination of sweet and savory.

I should have known Teresa wouldn't steer me wrong. The only problem was, we both had to head back to work, which meant sipping water and tea instead of some of the Salty Fox's more adult offerings.

Next time, we'll definitely have to plan a post-work meetup.

The Salty Fox

Where: 602 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-midnight Tuesday-Friday, 1:30 p.m.-midnight Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday (brunch) 

Info: www.thesaltyfox.net or on Facebook

Email Leonard at sleonard@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Facebook /SuzyFlemingLeonard and on Instagram @SuzyLeonard.