Unearth The Voyage
There is a spot in Melbourne, Florida, where the line between upscale restaurant and neighborhood marketplace gets delightfully blurry. Fresh sushi sits next to deli cases, steaks sizzle in a polished dining room, and live music drifts through the air on weekend evenings.
The menu reads like a world tour, yet every dish feels rooted in quality and care.
Where You Can Find This Melbourne Culinary Destination
Tucked inside a well-kept shopping area at 2435 Metfield Dr, Melbourne, FL 32940, Urban Prime Marketplace and Restaurant is not the kind of place you stumble upon by accident.
You seek it out, and once you find it, the address becomes something you save in your phone permanently.
Melbourne sits on Florida’s Space Coast, a stretch of Brevard County known for its proximity to Kennedy Space Center and its laid-back coastal energy.
Urban Prime fits right into that spirit while simultaneously elevating it. The building presents a clean, modern face to the parking lot, and the warm lighting visible through the windows makes it hard not to walk straight in.
The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 8 PM. You can reach them at 321-499-1188 or visit urbanprimefoods.com.
The Story Behind the Kitchen
Chef Ercan Ekinci is the heart and engine behind Urban Prime, and his culinary journey stretches back more than two decades in the Brevard County area.
Before Urban Prime came to life, he ran Green Turtle Market, and loyal guests from those days followed him to this new chapter without hesitation.
That kind of loyalty says something real about the man and his cooking. Chef Ercan brings a worldly perspective to the menu, drawing from global flavors while keeping quality as the non-negotiable foundation of every plate.
His responses to guest reviews reveal someone who takes feedback seriously, sharing criticism directly with the culinary team and celebrating wins with genuine warmth.
The phrase he closes with, referencing his team as the Urban Prime family, does not feel like marketing language. It feels like a mission statement that the entire staff actually believes in and lives out every shift.
A Concept That Goes Beyond Just Dining
Most restaurants ask you to sit down, eat, and leave. Urban Prime has a different idea entirely.
The concept blends a full-service restaurant with a marketplace component that includes a deli, prepared foods, and a fresh sushi section available for grab-and-go or dine-in.
A full-service bar anchors the space, and the overall layout makes it easy to pop in for a quick market pickup or settle in for a long, leisurely dinner.
That flexibility is genuinely rare. One reviewer described the operation as an ambitious project helmed by an experienced, worldly chef, and that description nails it precisely.
The marketplace side means Urban Prime functions almost like a neighborhood hub, a place where you might grab lunch ingredients one afternoon and return that same evening for a celebratory dinner.
Few spots in Melbourne manage to pull off both roles this convincingly, and that dual identity is a large part of what makes Urban Prime so memorable.
The Atmosphere That Sets the Mood
The moment you walk through the door at Urban Prime, the atmosphere does a lot of the heavy lifting before the food even arrives.
The lighting is warm and well-considered, the paintings on the walls catch your eye without overwhelming the space, and the overall design feels upscale without being stiff or intimidating.
Several guests have specifically called out the artwork and lighting as highlights of the experience, and I found myself pausing more than once to appreciate a piece near our table.
The vibe hits that sweet spot between relaxed and refined, which makes it equally suitable for a casual weeknight meal and a proper anniversary celebration.
One guest described feeling like she had left Brevard County entirely, which is about the highest compliment you can pay a local restaurant’s atmosphere.
The indoor space can get lively on busy nights, especially when live music is playing, but that energy adds to the experience rather than detracting from it.
The Outdoor Patio and Its Perks
The outdoor patio at Urban Prime deserves its own conversation, because it genuinely earns the praise it consistently receives.
String lights overhead, a fire pit that glows on cooler Florida evenings, and a layout that feels both open and intimate all combine to create one of the better al fresco dining experiences in the area.
On nights when live music is scheduled, the patio fills up fast, so arriving early or making a reservation is the smart move.
One detail that dog owners will especially appreciate: the patio is pet-friendly, provided your furry companion is well-behaved. A sign near the entrance spells it out with a touch of humor, noting that dogs are welcome as long as they are friendly.
There is also open space nearby that makes it easy to take a quick walk with your pet before or after the meal, turning dinner into a full outing rather than just a stop.
Live Music Nights That Elevate the Experience
Urban Prime does not treat live music as background noise or a marketing checkbox. On nights when performers take the stage, the energy in the room shifts noticeably.
The restaurant has hosted everything from jazz bands and violinists to specialty pairing events like their Bourbon at Urban evening, where a live jazz band played while guests worked through a curated menu of paired dishes.
A Sunday brunch I attended featured a violinist who moved through the dining room while guests ate, and the effect was genuinely lovely rather than gimmicky.
On busier music nights, the indoor space can get loud, and the outdoor patio becomes especially appealing if you prefer conversation over concert.
Checking the restaurant’s social media or website before your visit is a good habit, as live music schedules tend to shift by week.
When the timing lines up, a music night at Urban Prime turns an already strong dinner into something you talk about for days afterward.
Steaks That Justify the Trip Alone
The steak program at Urban Prime is the kind of thing that makes people drive across town and come back on anniversaries.
The menu features cuts ranging from an 8oz sirloin to a commanding 16oz ribeye, and the kitchen clearly understands that a great steak needs little interference beyond proper seasoning and precise cooking.
Multiple guests have raved about the ribeye in particular, with one describing it as the highlight of a special anniversary dinner shared with a spouse.
The filet paired with a loaded baked potato is another crowd favorite, showing up repeatedly in positive reviews as a combination that simply works.
For those seeking something more adventurous, the menu has also featured peppercorn-crusted venison loin at specialty events, which signals that the kitchen is not afraid to push beyond the expected.
Whether you order the classic cuts or the more ambitious preparations, the steaks at Urban Prime arrive with the kind of confidence that only comes from a kitchen that genuinely knows what it is doing.
Seafood and Sushi That Deserve Serious Attention
Urban Prime carries a full sushi menu alongside its main dining offerings, which is an unusual combination that the kitchen manages to pull off with real skill.
The Parmesan-crusted salmon has drawn consistent praise for its flavor and precise cooking, arriving at the table with a golden crust that gives way to perfectly tender fish underneath.
The Blue Crab Artichoke Dip is a starter that has appeared in multiple glowing reviews, described as the kind of appetizer that nearly disappears before anyone thinks to take a photo.
The Tuna Timbale is another standout on the seafood side, though some guests have noted it benefits from a touch more seasoning to fully sing.
Oysters also make an appearance on the menu, and while a few guests have wished for larger sizes, the quality of the shellfish itself draws no complaints.
For anyone who loves both a great steak and fresh seafood in the same meal, Urban Prime offers a rare opportunity to have both without compromise.
Appetizers and Small Plates Worth Ordering First
At Urban Prime, the appetizers are not an afterthought. They are a genuine reason to arrive hungry and order generously before the main event.
The Moroccan Lamb Sliders have become something of a signature starter, combining bold spicing with tender meat in a format that feels both casual and sophisticated at once.
The mushroom soup has developed a devoted following of its own, with guests reporting that even self-described mushroom skeptics find themselves finishing the bowl and considering a second.
The Blue Crab Artichoke Dip is another first-course favorite, rich and deeply flavored in a way that pairs well with the bread service.
Calamari is also on the menu, though it benefits from the dipping sauce provided, as the seasoning on the rings themselves can be inconsistent.
Starting the meal with two or three shared starters is genuinely the best strategy here, both for the food itself and for the communal, celebratory energy it creates at the table.
Brunch at Urban Prime Is Its Own Kind of Special
Sunday brunch at Urban Prime operates in its own category, separate from the dinner experience in feel but equally impressive in execution.
The banana nut waffle has become a brunch legend among regulars, arriving light and fluffy on the inside with a satisfying crisp on the outside, carrying a real banana flavor rather than the artificial sweetness that plagues lesser versions.
Crunchy walnuts add texture throughout, and the overall result is the kind of waffle that lingers in your memory long after the plate is cleared.
Brunch service runs on Sundays from 10 AM to 8 PM, giving you a generous window to plan your visit without rushing.
The atmosphere during brunch feels slightly more relaxed than dinner, with natural light softening the space and the pace of the meal feeling unhurried.
Adding a live violinist to the mix, as the restaurant has done on select Sundays, transforms a great brunch into a genuinely memorable morning out.
Desserts That Close the Meal on a High Note
Urban Prime takes dessert seriously, and the closing course here feels like a considered part of the meal rather than a perfunctory afterthought.
The creme brulee is a reliable favorite, arriving with a properly torched sugar crust that cracks satisfyingly under a spoon and gives way to smooth, rich custard underneath.
Gelato makes a regular appearance, both as a standalone option and as an accompaniment to other desserts, and the quality is noticeably above what you would find at a typical American restaurant.
A decomposed apple crisp served with vanilla gelato has drawn praise as a creative and well-executed take on a familiar comfort dessert.
Cheesecake rounds out the rotation, and the restaurant has been known to offer a complimentary slice to guests celebrating birthdays, a small gesture that lands with real warmth.
Finishing a meal here with dessert is not just recommended. It feels almost mandatory once you see what the kitchen is capable of sending out.
Celebrating Special Occasions the Urban Prime Way
Urban Prime has quietly become one of Melbourne’s go-to destinations for milestone celebrations, and the guest reviews make a compelling case for why.
Anniversaries, birthdays, work milestones, and family gatherings all appear repeatedly in the restaurant’s review history, each one described with the kind of warmth that suggests the staff genuinely understands what is at stake for their guests.
The kitchen goes the extra mile on special occasions, from complimentary birthday desserts to attentive service that anticipates needs before they are voiced.
Live music nights add an extra layer of festivity that transforms a dinner reservation into a full event, and the outdoor patio with its fire pit creates a romantic backdrop that photographs beautifully.
Making a reservation in advance is strongly recommended for celebrations, especially on weekends and music nights when the dining room fills quickly.
When the service and food align, and they do so more often than not, Urban Prime delivers the kind of celebratory evening that guests reference for years afterward.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
A few practical notes can make the difference between a smooth Urban Prime experience and a frustrating one, so they are worth sharing upfront.
Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings and on nights featuring live music. Walk-ins are accepted, but wait times during peak hours can stretch to an hour or more.
If you do find yourself waiting, the bar is a genuinely good place to spend that time, with skilled bartenders and a menu of appetizers that pairs well with the wait.
The dress code is smart casual at minimum, and most guests lean toward the nicer end of that range, especially for dinner service.
Parking is available in the surrounding lot, and the area near the patio provides a convenient spot to walk a dog before or after the meal.
The price point lands firmly in the moderate-to-upscale range, with most entrees reflecting the quality of ingredients and preparation. Budget accordingly and you will leave feeling like the value was more than fair.
