A traditional Bahamian breakfast is hearty, savoury and built for a long morning. If you are visiting Freeport, Grand Bahama, it is one of the best ways to taste local food. At Merport Bistro it lives in the Wake Up Bahamas section of the breakfast menu, served Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 10:30 am.
This guide explains what each dish is, how grits and Johnny cake differ, and how to order if it is your first time.
What makes a Bahamian breakfast different
Many people think of breakfast as eggs, toast and something sweet. In the Bahamas, breakfast often looks more like a small dinner. The base is a starch, usually grits or a slice of bread, and on top or beside it sits seafood or meat cooked in a seasoned sauce or broth. Conch, fish and tuna show up a lot, which makes sense on an island.
The flavours are savoury and well seasoned, and the portions are generous. It is comfort food, and it is a good way to eat like a local while you are on Grand Bahama.
The Wake Up Bahamas menu at Merport Bistro
There are four dishes in this section. Each one is served with your choice of yellow grits or Johnny cake.
Native Stew Conch with Grits
Conch is a large sea snail and a staple of Bahamian cooking. Stewed conch is cooked slowly until tender in a thick, savoury gravy. It is one of the most popular local breakfasts, and it is a good place to start if you want to try something classic.
Stew Fish
Stew fish is fish cooked in a rich, well seasoned gravy, usually with onions, peppers and tomato. It is a close cousin of boil fish, which has a lighter broth. The thicker gravy here is what makes it so good with grits or Johnny cake.
Chicken Souse
Souse is a Bahamian dish made by simmering meat in a clear, tangy broth with lime, onion, pepper and spices. Chicken is a popular version. It is lighter than a stew and has a bright, citrusy edge, so it suits people who like soup for breakfast.
Tuna and Grits
Tuna and grits is a classic Bahamian pairing: soft, buttery grits on one side and seasoned tuna on the other, often with a squeeze of lime. It is simple, filling and a favourite for people who want something a little less heavy than a gravy.
Grits or Johnny cake?
You have to choose one with every Wake Up Bahamas plate, so here is how they compare.
Grits are a soft, creamy porridge made from ground corn. They are mild, which lets the seasoning in your dish stand out, and they soak up gravy beautifully.
Johnny cake is a dense, lightly sweet Bahamian bread. It has more bite than grits, and it is made for mopping up sauce.
If you cannot decide, order one with the plate and add the other as a side. Yellow grits, homestyle cheese grits and Johnny cake are all on the sides list, so you can taste both.
How to order if it is your first time
- Want the safest start: Native Stew Conch with Grits.
- Like soup and bright flavours: Chicken Souse.
- Prefer something lighter: Tuna and Grits.
- Want a richer gravy: Stew Fish.
- Sharing with the table: order one Wake Up Bahamas plate, then add pancakes or French toast for something sweet. The breakfast menu has the full list.
If you are not sure about spice or ingredients, just ask. Our team is happy to explain a dish before you order.
What to drink with it
A coffee goes well with a savoury Bahamian plate, and the coffee station is ready from 7:30 am. If you would rather have something cold, the drink menu includes fresh lemonades and juices.
Good to know before you go
- Wake Up Bahamas is part of the breakfast menu, so order before 10:30 am.
- We are open Monday to Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday.
- We are at 3 Merport Building, One Town Center, Freeport. See the map and directions.
- A 15% service charge and 10% VAT are added to your bill.
Come and try it
Book a table, call +1 242-602-7506, or order online. For more ideas, read our post on where to eat breakfast in Freeport, or check the specials page for what the kitchen has been cooking lately.
