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43 Years, Four Generations of Guests, and Still Serving Like Family
Owners Eddie and Joyce Smeen
For more than four decades, Skewers Mediterranean Grille has built its reputation on something both simple and increasingly rare: welcoming guests like family and serving wholesome food from scratch with a sense of place, tradition and purpose.
For owners Eddie and Joyce Smeen, the Melbourne restaurant is more than a business. It is the continuation of a family story that began when Eddie’s parents, Joseph and Mary, opened the Lebanese Gourmet Middle Eastern restaurant in 1983.
First and foremost, the Smeens credit God for blessing their family and business throughout the past 43 years. Today, their son Joseph represents the third generation of the Smeen family to help look after the guests they have come to know, love and care for.
Born and raised in the Middle East, Eddie came to the United States in 1979 at age 15. He later earned a business degree from the University of Central Florida, but his path into the restaurant industry had already been shaped by his family’s entrepreneurial spirit and the flavors of his childhood.
Today, Eddie and Joyce carry that legacy forward at Skewers, specializing in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine and creating a dining experience that has attracted generations of loyal customers. Some members of the Skewers team have been with the restaurant for 10, 13 and even 15 years.
“We still have guests coming for 40 years,” the Smeens said, noting that some families are now in their fourth generation of dining with them.
A colorful Mediterranean feast features grilled steak and chicken skewers, succulent shrimp, seasoned rice and fresh vegetables, showcasing the variety that has made Skewers a longtime Space Coast favorite.
That longevity is reflected in a menu offering both variety and authenticity. Steak and lamb share the spotlight with chicken and seafood, while vegetarian and vegan selections appeal to a broad range of tastes. At the heart of the menu is the restaurant’s signature garlic chicken, a dish the Smeens say everyone should try at least once — and one that helps tell the story of four generations of their family’s culinary tradition. Skewers has consistently been voted among Brevard County’s best for Mediterranean cuisine, while the award-winning desserts from Joyce’s Creations have developed a following of their own.
For the Smeens, however, hospitality extends far beyond what arrives on the plate. Over the decades, Skewers has become part of its customers’ lives, from date nights and celebrations to nurturing and catering dozens of weddings for guests and members of its own team. Along the way, Eddie and Joyce have even found themselves playing matchmaker.
A slice of pistachio-topped, award-winning cake with a lavender-hued cocktail.
Their connection to the community also reaches beyond the restaurant. Eddie is a Master Mason and is involved with Shriners International and the AZAN Shrine, as well as the Scottish Rite.
From a family restaurant launched in 1983 to a Mediterranean dining destination serving longtime regulars and first-time visitors alike, the Smeens’ story is rooted in faith, family and continuity. It is about preserving the flavors of their heritage while evolving with the Space Coast community they call home.
After more than 40 years, perhaps the strongest measure of their success is not simply the awards and accolades. It is the families who keep coming back, generation after generation, to share another meal.
For those who have yet to experience Skewers Mediterranean Grille, Eddie and Joyce invite diners to pull up a chair, explore the flavors of the Mediterranean and discover why generations of Space Coast families have made Skewers part of their own traditions.
For reservations, call 321.727.8944 or visit SkewersGrille.com to view the full menu. Skewers Mediterranean Grille is at 144 Fifth Ave., Indialantic.
