Canaveral Meats and Deli, a Hidden Gem

Canaveral Meats and Deli is one of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach's best-kept secrets. Located off of North Atlantic Ave on Canaveral Blvd, it serves residents and tourists alike.

The mom and pop store is owned by a local couple and has been in the same location for 25 years. The store acts as a general store, offering dry goods such as canned beans, soups, mayonnaise, cookies, etc. It has beer, soda, milk, frozen foods and the like. It also has a full meat department with freshly butchered cuts of beef, pork, chicken, hotdogs and sausages. The deli side of the meat department offers sliced bologna, salami, pastrami, turkey, ham, and several cheeses.

Canaveral Meats and Deli has many wonderful features, not the least of which is their in-house make-while-you-wait deli. Step up to the counter and order a foot long sub for $3.89, your choice of meat, cheese and extras like lettuce, tomato, onion, peppers and condiments, or opt for their $ 2.89 sandwich that includes meats, cheese, extras, condiments and choice of bread. They also offer 3-4 varieties of homemade soup everyday, and occasionally chili. For sides, pick from two kinds of potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, pasta salad, or cucumber salad. And if that weren't enough, they also offer prepackaged microwavable meals like chicken nuggets, stuffed pasta shells, mac and cheese with ham, steamed shrimp, or you can get one of their small garden salads or a large chef's salad.

But I caution, if visiting their deli around lunchtime, be prepared to stand in line. They'll take your order quickly, but the deli is such a favorite of the local community that there will be crowds.

Another one of Canaveral Meats and Deli's features is their meat packages. Ranging in price from $25-$125, patrons can order variety packs of their fresh meats at very reasonable prices. For instance, a $36.99 pack gets you 4 pork chops, 4 New York Strips, 8 hamburger patties and 4 lbs of chicken (cut up or whole.) Customers can also call in their packages so it will be ready to go for pick-up.

One of their best features is the friendly staff. Always they are there to help and serve you. Ask questions, chat, you won't be disappointed.

While the Canaveral Meats and Deli is a wonderful spot for locals, it's a hidden gem for tourists. If renting a condo or beach house for the week, this is a great place to stock up on supplies. In many cases, their offerings might be more expensive than WalMart, but still cheaper than regular grocery stores. And you just can't beat the personal, friendly service.

Canaveral Meats and Deli is located in Cape Canaveral, Florida, five blocks from the beach and two miles from Port Canaveral at 8109 Canaveral Blvd, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, phone # (321) 799-2875. They are opened Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.