Sometimes when on vacation, you have a little too much fun. Blame it on the beach, the local brew, the bars or the dangerous combo of all three, multiplied by the lack of responsibilities.
After you’ve done the damage, the best place to recover is at D.I.G. Bistro in Melbourne, one of the Space Coast’s top, honor-winning restaurants – and also one of the healthiest restaurant destinations in the area.
D.I.G. stands for “Dirt-Inspired Goodness,” and that’s because the restaurant gets most of its menu items from the soil of nearby Rockledge Gardens, Brevard County’s largest garden center and nursery, which has a long-standing reputation for its fresh, delicious produce.
The chopped wedge salad at D.I.G. Bistro — Photo courtesy of D.I.G. Bistro
Menu items at D.I.G. Bistro are often seasonal and inspired by what comes from the farm. When fresh berries come in, look for them on a cream cake. When the tomatoes are ripe, you’ll find them on black cherry tomato bruschetta with a fig and balsamic drizzle.
The focus here is local, fresh and made on site. You won’t find many boxes and cans here. Even the ketchup is organic.
Have dietary restrictions? D.I.G. has a scrumptious selection of gluten-free food, as well as vegan options.
The atmosphere is relaxed, bright, clean and family-friendly. Sit outside if you want to enjoy the Florida sunshine. Or if you’re in a hurry, grab a bite to go. D.I.G. serves breakfast through lunch, but no dinner.
Although you can find ultra-healthy-sounding options – like homemade soup, salads, quinoa and lentil dishes, juice and smoothies – you'll be surprised to see plenty of indulgences, too. They're all made with the best ingredients possible and with unique, healthier spins.
Take, for example, the hemp brownies with cocoa root beer frosting and toasted hemp seeds; the cocoa pistachio brownies with peanut butter mascarpone frosting; or the baked pear with honey-vanilla Greek yogurt, bee pollen (You read that right.) and homemade pumpkin granola.
Who knew healthy could taste so good?
Negate last night’s beer with a wheatgrass shot or a hot coffee.
For breakfast, look for the likes of stuffed French toast, bacon and chocolate-chip waffles with strawberry-vanilla maple syrup.
For lunch, D.I.G. Bistro might offer farm-fresh deviled eggs stuffed with guacamole or a sweet potato stuffed with balsamic roasted onions, peppers, blue cheese and bacon. Wash it down with the unsweetened blueberry tea.
For a side dish, enjoy farm-fresh, roasted mini eggplant in olive oil, with tomato and mozzarella cheese; baked sweet potato chips; or pumpkin fries instead of French fries.
Just looking for a snack? You've never tried organic popcorn like this before: with ghost-chile lime butter or Mexican style, with cilantro and Cotija cheese.
Just because D.I.G. Bistro aims for healthy doesn’t mean dessert is off the table. Look for a chocolate, peanut butter and banana smoothie or a gluten-free chocolate torte with buttermilk pudding. And it wouldn’t be Florida without a Key lime pie options. Here, it’s a Key lime bundt cake with vanilla bean drizzle.
Pick up some cold-press juices to go. If last night was particularly gluttonous, we recommend the “detox” drink: spinach, green apple, lemon and cucumber. It’ll bring your body back into balance soon enough, so you can get back on the board and make some waves and new memories.
