Category: Southeast Florida

Ocean Grill in Vero Beach

January 4, 2015 / / 0 Comments

You know when you are en route home from a trip and you are so bummed it is ending? That was me yesterday. It was bad. We were driving along I-95 home from the BEST TrulyFlorida trip (I’m so stoked for the upcoming posts!) and my guys patiently allowed me one last stop to the Ocean Grill in Vero Beach.  We were so glad we did. Nate said it reminded him of restaurants in the 80’s because the dishes were thoughtful, the service was abundant and well, it is just that intangible nostalgia you get if you were an 80s era Floridian kid who occasionally went to seafood restaurants in your Sunday best. I can’t describe it any other way. But our nostalgia was only for a few decades ago. We had no idea that just below the waves is the remains of the Breconshire shipwreck. Oh yes, I see another TrulyFlorida post about this.

A nearly full moon and a spotlight off Ocean Grill's almost 70 year old structure allows diners an incredible view.

A nearly full moon and a spotlight off Ocean Grill‘s almost 70 year old structure allows diners an incredible view. Even cooler is what is hidden close by just under the water, the remains of the Breconshire shipwreck.

The local flounder was amazing. The Ocean Grill sources some of their best fish locally unlike the oxymoron practice of some Florida oceanfront restaurants offering only thawed fish flown in from Maine or Korea. Ocean Grill’s owner Charley Repogle says it best when he points to the water outside saying, “literally this fish was out here swimming yesterday morning,” to chef Emeril Legasse in this episode of Emeril’s Florida. A family owned, historic restaurant that serves locally sourced ingredients is TRULY FLORIDA.

PHOTO SHOT WITH Canon Mark III and Canon 50 mm

Written & photographed by Molly Dempsey

An old fishermen village

September 22, 2014 / / 0 Comments

This post is about a step back in time for me and is dedicated to my family and the fun we had in this part of our home state.  So the fact that nearly NOTHING has changed in this restaurant or along this section of Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach brings an indescribable comfort to me.

All photos were taken with my iPhone camera as part of a little self-imposed photographic challenge.

ConchyJoes-3032TrulyFlorida

ConchyJoes-3076TrulyFloridaBahamian dishes, including all things conch, and fresh seafood are among the restaurant’s specialties.

ConchyJoes-3025TrulyFloridaDeck shoes… enough said.
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ConchyJoes-3011TrulyFloridaAll of the above are scenes from Conchy Joe’s Seafood restaurant, an old Florida institution. Walking into the restaurant, I could still see my beautiful mom laughing as she attempted to line dance to a live band’s music, although she had no idea what she was doing. Conchy Joe’s Seafood 3945 NE Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957
(772) 334-1130

ConchyJoes-3038BWTrulyFloridaWindow AC units still cool these shotgun cottages that line an old dirt road, which is perpendicular to the Indian River. This spot is still popular for local and visiting fishermen.

ConchyJoes-3041TrulyFloridaThis is one of many elaborate and colorful mobile homes located near the water. I will definitely return to photograph these homes, as each one has a story to tell.

Written & photographed by Molly Dempsey and edited by Pamela Staik.

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