Clayton's Beach Bar and Other Week-end Activities

I don't get out at night a lot.  My husband is on-call 50% of every month which means he has to be within 30 minutes of the hospital...which is 28 minutes from our house...and if we do fun things on the island...well, we have a 50-50 opportunity.  We have become empty nesters and tend to stay home more and more.

This week-end was a change for me.  A childhood friend re-connected with me a few months ago and she made a trip down to the island, with her adult son, for a little summer time fun and catching up!

They arrived Friday evening and their request was "someplace fun" for dinner.  So, remembering the days of vacationing here, I automatically thought of the Louie's Backyard sunset view, huge buffet, and fireworks on the bay.  They seemed to enjoy it and it wasn't soooo loud that we couldn't talk and begin our catching up.  Fireworks were great, they enjoyed the food (especially piles of crab and shrimp) so I felt it had met the "first day criteria"!

On Saturday they wanted to shop a little and go to a beach bar for lunch, dinner someplace, and then live music and fireworks again.  I drove them around to a couple of the huge (and numerous) souvenir/resort wear shops where they got the things they wanted.  We headed to Wanna Wanna because it was fairly early and I figured it wouldn't be too crowded yet...and still pretty shady and cool.  We enjoyed eating and talking for two hours there - glorious view, nice shady table...everyone seemed content.

We next made our way down to LaQuinta, where they were staying so they could change, and I went in search of parking so we could beach it in front of Clayton's.  Holy smokes - that was a disaster.  Poor parking by space hogs (no striped parking - one hopes people will be reasonable - but no) left zero parking despite 15 minutes of my circling.  I ended up across the highway in over-flow parking.  I'd brought some bottled water with me, and couldn't enter Clayton's with that in hand - so we walked around the side and another 'holy smokes' moment!  The crowds looked so thick I couldn't see a path to the water.  We wanted to see the Sand Castle contest so we finally made our way down to the beach area in front of LaQuinta and saw Sandy Feet and Emerson at the conclusion of another fun contest morning.  I was so hot from slogging through extremely hot loose sand that I didn't even pull out my camera.  I regret that now.

We ended up finding a path to the water enough to just rinse and cool our feet and then decided the deck, under the palapa-style umbrellas was the better solution on this crowded day.  We enjoyed the glorious view of the water and sort of skimmed the top of umbrellas and the hoards.  Good plan.

My guests decided Clayton's had it all, so they didn't want to venture away for dinner and would happily eat bar food, listen to music, and watch fireworks where they didn't have to move and could walk right back up to their room at the end of the evening.  I left to go home and shower/change before the evening and we reconnected around 7:30.  Zack was playing sand volleyball and Lisa was enjoying the view and the music.  It was cool and breezy and Pelican West was doing Beatles covers when I arrived...I was one happy camper.  Fireworks promptly at 9:15 and then the final hour of Pelican West music had the dance floor hopping.

The most fun part of the evening was watching the people around us.  A group next to us was having a rip roaring good time with their parents and in-laws...the grandma on oxygen was up dancing with her portable oxygen machine...and everyone was happy to be spending the evening at "the place that had everything"...something I heard repeatedly about Clayton's Saturday night.  The group next to us were on their last night of vacation and had just found Clayton's.  They really ended their vacation with a party!  I sure hope they got home safely because those folks were partying hardy!

Pelican West is a great band - they cover a huge variety of favorites and the crowd was up and dancing...young ones, old ones, fat ones, skinny ones, break dancing, getting funky, couple dancing...it was goin' on!  I so enjoy watching people having a good time.  I was a bit bummed that my husband was on-call and unable to be with me...'cause my feet wanted to boogie!  I don't think my feet or hands stopped doing a chair boogie the entire time I listened.  My son would have noted that my head was bobbing...which it always does when I listen to music.  I have plans for Mr. Flip Flop and dancing soon...he just doesn't know it yet :-)

I liked that Clayton's had some non-alcoholic choices and the grill was hopping (we had basic nachos with jalapenos and virgin pina coladas - I was driving).  I can't say I liked the daytime crowds at Clayton's but I did enjoy watching the banana boat off the beach, the sky diver's making perfect landings in front of Clayton's and the best, visiting with my friend of 54 years!

Photo by Zack Turner - at Louie's Backyard

I had intended to swing by Wanna Wanna and listen to the Bongodogs...but I was so tired I just pointed my car home.  The downside of all of this was it took me 45 minutes to make a 15 minute drive home!  The trail of tail lights across the causeway was long and slow.

Overall...Good times, good times.  Bay front or beach front...there's lots to do on South Padre Island at night in the Summer!!!

The video above is of the fireworks display - sorry for the jittery sound - I just did the point and record thing and it is what it is.  Enjoy!!!
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THE CHEF HOUSE - 2014

MAY 2015 REPORTED CLOSED AT THIS LOCATION

I just have to say...WOW!  Talk about "movin' on up, to the East Side"!  The Chef House restaurant has moved to a new location on the island.  It's awesome!  The view is outstanding, the space is maybe 75% larger than the Port Isabel location....lots of changes.  What hasn't changed is the personalized and attentive service and their outstanding cuisine.

The view from our table by the window

My friends and I had lunch there today.  It was a gorgeous day, resulting in an outstanding view of the dunes, beach, and ocean outside their lovely windows.  We hung out for nearly two hours.  Thankfully, they weren't over-crowded and allowed us to sit and chat and sip tea and coffee without feeling rushed.  Since we don't seem to get together often enough, we had a lot to catch up with.

I love the 3 types of salsa and fresh tortilla chips
served before the meal.  Unusual and delicious!

Both of my lady friends had coffee with their meals (actually, one just had coffee - she rarely eats when we go out) and they both were happy with the nice large mug and delicious flavor of the coffee.  My first comment about my iced tea was "this is really good tea".  I hate it when I go out to eat and have iced tea that is bitter or watered down.  This tea tasted perfectly brewed...and I enjoyed having it served in a stemmed goblet.  Just felt more special.


Once we'd had a few minutes to chat, we busily perused the menu.  I had decided on the special of the day (an enchilada plate that sounded delicious) and then I realized we had a breakfast menu to look at as well!  I have been craving Eggs Benedict and I had no doubt The Chef House Eggs Benedict would be outstanding.  True to form, they were.  Prepared with high quality ingredients, the addition of some fresh spinach, both a Beurre Blanc sauce as well as a Hollandaise sauce over perfectly poached eggs....my eyes were rolling back in my head after the very first bite.  Add a tasty little potato cake and my meal was just incredible!

My friend who did eat, also ordered off the breakfast menu.  She had Ham and Egg Tacos on corn tortillas.  She said they were excellent.  It was quite a bit of ham and egg, so it was nice that two tortillas were provided.  Her meal also included a side of refried beans on the plate.  It looked quite yummy!

I'm so happy with the new location and the same fine cuisine.  Their hours are currently 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and they are closed on Monday.  Beginning this very evening, they will start serving dinner on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.


We all scanned their dinner menu and it looks to be delectable!  I can't wait to get there for an evening meal.  Hope you stop in and give them a try.  I don't think you will regret it!

Returned for lunch on January 25th with Mr. Flip Flop. He had a
Port Isabel Omelet (which he said was delicious) and I had
Beef Enchiladas with the Red Chili sauce.  Absolutely outstanding!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

5 – OMG – that was an outstanding meal!  I can’t wait to go back.

The Cafe on the Beach for Lunch

Sister Sheryl is on the island and we decided to lunch together somewhere she has never gone before.  I had told her about how much I enjoyed the location and food at the Cafe on the Beach at Palms Resort...and she said she was "in".  We had a nice 15 minute stroll down the beach from her temporary island home to arrive at the beach access in front of the cafe.  She immediately started commenting how cute it was and wondering how had they missed it all of these years.  I told her I didn't really find it until we moved here in 2008, so it wasn't really surprising.

When we arrived, there were plenty of tables open...by the time we left it was completely full!  I admit I was a bit surprised at a full restaurant, at lunch on a week day, off season!  One waiter handled it all...and did an excellent job.

We started with both of us ordering the Tropical Tea - sister loved it.  We spent a lot of time perusing the menu and I finally decided on my "regular" - a delicious Beachfront Salad with grilled chicken.  While certainly delicious, I was greatly disappointed that it was missing the Parmesan crisps and caramelized pecans that really go towards "making" this salad extra special.  I guess for a $19 salad ($13.95 plus $5 for the chicken addition), I expect to get all that is advertised.  But, as I said, still delicious.

As described on the Menu:  Beachfront Salad
"Fresh spring mix lettuce using  organic greens
from local organic farms with tomato, kalamata
olives, pears, hearts of palm, Maytag bleu cheese,
and mandarin oranges with tangerine  balsamic
vinaigrette dressing.  Topped with Parmesan crisps
and caramelized pecans."

Sissie ordered the Spinning "Crispy" Chef Salad as a tryout for her husband, Rob.  He likes the chef salads apparently and she was hoping to lure him back down there because she knew he would enjoy the beachfront location....but only if the food was as equally delicious as the view!

As described on menu:  Spinning "Crispy" Chef Salad
Julienne ham, turkey, provolone,  Kalamata olives,
boiled eggs, organic greens from local organic farms,
hearts of palm, tomatoes, and Maytag bleu cheese tossed
with honey mustard dressing..  Served in a crispy
fresh made flour tortilla shell. 

I will likely get that salad the next time I come - I tasted hers and it was delicious.  I do love honey mustard and have gotten kind of stuck in the awesome rut of their Beachfront Salad...but that chef salad was a new contender in my game!  A good buy for $12.95.

Mostly we enjoyed the cool breeze, the gorgeous flowers bloomed up in the low dunes in front of the restaurant (due to a couple of days of good rain) and the beauty of the Gulf Coast.

It's a small place, very personal, and I've never had a bad meal there.  Fingers crossed it never changes!  I haven't talked to my sister yet, but last night when the teen and I joined her family for a delicious lobster dinner, she was encouraging her husband to walk down with her for breakfast (she'd checked out the breakfast menu while we waited for our food).  I hope, if she went, that her second trip was as enjoyable as the first!

Bon Appetit, Y'all!!!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

4 – Lip smackin’ - good quality – flip flops will definitely be parked under their table again!

The Cafe on the Beach at The Palms Resort

Father's Day 2012... Sunday morning late, we head towards the island on a gloriously sunny beautiful day.  We motored past a few of our favorite restaurants (it was almost 11:00) looking for someplace where breakfast was still being served.  Brunch, breakfast, whatever!  Every place we rolled by was packed to the point of bulging.  I finally turned to Mr. Flip Flop and said "do you have a suggestion?"  He said, "yeah, I'd like to go to the place at the Palms, the one on the beach".  YAY!  We'd never had breakfast there and I hoped they were still serving breakfast.  Considering it was Sunday and Father's Day, I reckoned we had a decent chance.  We knew we'd have a good view even if we were nudged towards the lunch menu.

We went at JUST the right time.  There were a few tables for two left (the teen had snubbed us again) and we were right at the edge where we knew we'd have an exquisite view as soon as the sun screen was raised.  Soon thereafter, the place was packed with nary a chair to spare.  Really good timing!

The waiter everyone is staring at - he balanced 4 plates up his arm
and several drinks (like 4) in one hand...
balanced on the edge of his thumb.
He was quite entertaining and could probably get a job
in the circus if the gig at Palm doesn't work out!!!

It was already getting hot, and the breeze only hit my legs because the sun screen also blocked the breeze from the top of the railing upwards.  It wasn't unbearable, but it was pretty warm - especially after the hubs started drinking coffee.  He eventually asked for ice and poured his coffee on the rocks - iced coffee a much better idea.  I'd already been brilliant and ordered their tropical iced tea.

We were lucky that the menu said breakfast was served until noon on Saturday and Sunday!  Woo hoo!

My breakfast choice was Eggs Benedict.  My better half requested the Breakfast Taco with sausage.  I could have sworn the menu said two, but he didn't remember (and when I double checked, it didn't).  It was fine, because I couldn't eat all of my meal, it was so rich.  He ended up eating half of my meal!

Now - I didn't get to try his Breakfast Taco, but he said it was delicious.  It looked delicious!  Generously filled with scrambled eggs, pork sausage, and cheese.  A side of salsa and a small cocktail pick of fresh fruit made for a pretty plate.

My Eggs Benedict were nicely presented with a side of has browns, crisped just the way I like them, and the same spear of fresh fruit.  I felt the Hollandaise could have had just a squeeze more of lemon, but maybe that was just me.  The Canadian bacon was a generous thick slice and the eggs were perfectly poached.  The English Muffins were more dense than I would expect, but again, might have just been me.  It was a nice celebratory breakfast option that was out of the ordinary for me and I did enjoy every bite.  (I can't say the last time I've ordered Eggs Benedict anywhere!)

The sun was just peaking over the roof when we finished our meal so we never did get to linger to look at the view while dining.  I did snap a photo as we were leaving, which I'll share here.

Hello, ocean!  I love you!

It seemed as if every family was in good spirits and even if the food took a little longer than usual to get served, I don't think a single soul cared.  The staff were very attentive and jovial and it was a lovely South Padre Island Sunday and Father's Day.  The Palms is a quirky little place, with a surprisingly nice beach side cafe.  I'm glad we decided to spend Dad's special day dining at The Cafe on the Beach at the Palms Resort!

From the parking area

Bon Appetit, Y'all!!!

Clayton's Beach Bar & Grill

While I have not actually eaten food at one of South Padre Island's newest waterfront bar and grills, we did stop in to "check it out" on Wednesday afternoon.  My sister ordered a strawberry margarita swirly and the teen and I just had sodas.  I sipped her margarita and it was delicious!

The good things I noticed about Clayton's were, of course, the view, the cool sea breezes, the location on the north end of town (next door to La Quinta) where it is a trifle less crowded, the friendly staff, the comfortable NEW furniture (not the typical plastic chairs of many ocean front deck eateries) and ... well, again, the view!

I'll certainly want to go again when we haven't just eaten.  Now that I know where it is, I'll be wanting to check out their goodies.  The menu seems to offer the fairly typical water-side eatery selections...but we all know the quality of said "standards" can vary greatly from place to place.  I'll keep you posted as I sample!  In the meantime, here are a few photos I snapped with my cell phone camera, of their menu - everything sure sounds tasty!

Great location (used to be an oil company retreat for their execs - totally remodeled) and nice beachy decor will be a siren song for tourists and locals alike.  Hopefully the extensive bar and menu lives up to the location!

Sure hope so - because I definitely like the vibe!

Bon Appetit, Y'all!!!

WANNA WANNA

A very brief update on a previously reviewed and often-visited-in-the-summer spot.  Had lunch this past week at Wanna Wanna because I wanna be near the beach...sun shining, wind unfortunately blowing to the point of sand blasting :-) so one offset the other.  I needed to pick a "protected" spot!

Wanna Wanna is beach front, outdoor dining, and very pleasant for what it is.  It's a great "dive".

I rarely get burgers AND fries but I was hungry so I did.  Mammoth amount of fries...didn't even put a dent in them...but my oh my, they were really delicious!  I think they are different than they used to have, but I am not certain because I tend to just eat a few of the teen's fries.  These had a light batter on the fries and they were incredibly crispy.  Yum.  The burger tasted a bit over-done...definitely "flame kissed" but I was happy with it none-the-less because it had a great "outdoorsy" flavor.  Veg was fresh - lettuce and onion crisp, had all the proper condiments, and I had my Diet Coke.

Nice afternoon to sit in a protected area with families around me (young and old).  I got my little ocean fix and a right tasty burger to go with it!

Still giving them the same rating...not better and not worse.  Just a good burger bar on the beach!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:
3 – Pretty Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back from time to time!

WINDJAMMER BEACHFRONT CAFE AT THE ISLA GRAND BEACH RESORT

View from our table at Windjammer Beachfront Cafe

I've been wanting to try the lunch time Soup and Salad bar at the Windjammer Beachfront Cafe in the Isla Grand Beach Resort on South Padre Island.  FINALLY, the lady friends and I made our way over on Wednesday.  It's a lovely restaurant with full glass-fronted windows viewing the beautiful pool and palm trees and the ocean.  We all agree it feels like we are on vacation when we eat there.  They are well known locally for their theme night buffets.  Monday is Prime Rib - which I hear is awesome.  Tuesday is BBQ, Wednesday is Mexican, Thursday is Italian, Friday is Seafood, Saturday and Sunday are Breakfast Buffets with an Omelette Station.  Monday through Friday lunch is Soup and Salad...and that's why we were there.

Excellent table service was provided, very amenable to splitting our checks, kept KM's coffee cup filled, hot bread with some dynamite butters served tout de suite...unobtrusive but attentive.  That's what I like.

IB and I had the buffet and I must say I loved it.  IB said it had the best crab salad she may have ever eaten.  Today's soup was French Onion.  I thought it was outstanding...very oniony - croutons and white cheese at the ready with little crocks for service.  Yum.  I enjoyed the many salad choices but would have enjoyed the addition of some chunked ham or turkey.  The only meats were in other types of salad, not something to top the green salad with.  The tuna salad was very fresh tasting and I too enjoyed the crab salad.  I built my salad with mixed greens, artichoke hearts, a few hearts of palm, grated cheddar, purple onion, boiled egg, cucumber, carrots, a few sunflower seed kernels and some tasty "house dressing" which was a honey mustard.  I normally prefer Italian, but their Italian didn't look good to me.  In fact, IB complained it was too oily and she regretted using it.  I always put a bit on a carrot stick and sample it before I pour it all over my salad.  I could tell by the appearance that Italian was not going to be my choice.  They had several other selections available...Blue Cheese, French, Green Goddess, and Thousand Island as well as the honey mustard "house dressing", which I thought was excellent.

They had large and small plates available and I started with a small plate.  I then went back for another small plate and finished with cottage cheese with fresh strawberries and canned peaches (a personal favorite for me), some pasta salad, the crab salad and tuna salad.  From what I can remember, there were several other salads...a pea salad with ham and cheese and a mayo-type dressing, potato salad...and some other things as well, I think.  That's the best my memory provides.

We laughed and talked for a solid hour and a half...never felt rushed, and we DID feel like we were on vacation.  The Windjammer is on the second floor next door to the nightclub, The Quarterdeck.  I've danced more than one dance on THAT dance floor in my early years of vacationing on South Padre!  The Isla Grand used to be The Radisson...it underwent an exceptional renovation after Hurricane Dolly.  It's lovely and well maintained.  A really nice place.  It is on the South-east end of the island (beach side) and the address is 500 Padre Blvd.  If you are coming across the bridge you want to keep going through the light towards the stop sign and get into the left turn lane at the stop sign.  Turn left and then it will be, of course, on your right side within a block.  If you are coming from the north or central end of the island, turn left at the light just past McDonald's...and go past the shopping center with Gabriella's, Yummies, and the Harlequin Chocolat Shop...past the bank and visitor's center and turn left into the hotel parking lot.

It's not often that I recommend a hotel restaurant.  However, if you want a good quality all-you-care-to-eat lunch.  This is a great place.  There is menu service as well, of course.  Prices change - but today it was $9.95 for the soup and salad bar.  The prices for the other specialty nights vary but can be found at this link.

I'd really like to go to Prime Rib night - I'll have to get that on my busy social calendar (mwah ha ha ha).

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

3 – Pretty Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back from time to time!  (and the view gets a 5!)

More on Hermine

Thursday morning, following Tropical Storm Hermine's Monday night slam into the Texas Gulf Coast, two Mexican shrimp boats still sit "beached" at Isla Blanca Park, just north of the jetties.  It was a gorgeous morning, wind blowing the fine sand like snow across the beach.  All was quiet...and the boats just sat there as if waiting for someone to come rescue them.  The Mexican citizens who wanted to be rescued, were rescued according the ValleyCentral.com, but the boats just sit there...waiting.  They, as well as their masters, are claiming "safe harbour".

TS Hermine spewed her wrath in the form of voluminous rain on a tremendous amount of Texas, causing flooding and resulting in at least two deaths that I've heard of.  My friend, Patricia Miller, from Salado, posted some heart wrenching, and heartwarming, photos of the flooding in their small town.  You can see (and purchase) her work at RedBubble. 

Here are some photos I took this morning at Isla Blanca Park.  Usually I see surfers at this time of day. Today, the few surfers I saw were watching the boats.

Wanna Wanna Beach Bar and Grill

Last year my sister Cynthia, and her partner Lana, came to visit and she had one thing on her "to do" list.  She wanted to eat at Wanna Wanna.  Cynthia and Lana are true parrot heads and the only thing they like more than the U.T. Longhorns are the Florida Keys.  I felt sure I could convince at least one of them that South Padre was equal to the Keys.  So when Cyn said she'd read about Wanna Wanna in Coastal Living Magazine where they'd said it was one of the best Seafood Dives in the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast, I said "alrighty then, let's roll!".  I'd seen it, driven by it, but never stopped.  So, on Memorial Day week-end 2009 we drove ourselves, our umbrellas, and all of our related beach junk to the Wanna Wanna Beach Bar and Grill, located at 5100 Gulf Blvd.  What were we thinking???  Can you say "crowded"?  We, however, are of hardy stock and seem to possess a parking angel.  Someone was leaving - we zipped into their spot - viola.  Beach access and Wanna Wanna all together!  My sister collects tee shirts...so, of course, she had to go chat up the receptionist and get herself a tee.  About the time she was finished it was opening time for the grill and she was first in line.  She ordered some boiled shrimp, I ordered a hamburger and fries, and I don't remember what Lana ordered.  While the pack mules (me and Lana) unloaded and set up our spot on the beach, Cyn got us a table and met people and enjoyed the gorgeous view from Wanna Wanna's seating area.  My sister can make friends anywhere she goes...so she had learned that yes, Wanna Wanna had a great burger, and where to buy fresh shrimp since B&A had closed and who knows what else.  About the time our order was ready, Lana and I had worked up a sweat and were ready to sit and enjoy that gorgeous view as well!  I can't say that I convinced either of them that South Padre was better than the Keys, but I think that Cyn enjoyed checking out one of the "Best Dives" in her magazine!

That was the first time I ate there - and it certainly was not the last.  We now try to choose a beach access close to Wanna Wanna in case we need food or a cold margarita while playing beach bum, or just need to get out of the sun for a bit on a hot day.  I've never gotten anything other than a hamburger...their burgers are delicious and I haven't had the desire to try anything else.  When you find a great grilled burger source - you just stick to what you know is going to be good.

Wanna Wanna got a bit of bad press this past year - and I followed it like everyone else.  All I can say is I've stood at the pick-up window and watched the guys cooking and nothing looked alarming to me.  I've got a fairly stalwart digestive system, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt.  The only thing I don't like about Wanna Wanna is the smoking situation in the winter months.  Last November they had the plastic rolled down and a guy two tables over was smoking a cigar.  I got so sick to my stomach while I waited for my beeper to flash, that I went to cancel my order...but it was just coming out...and since the guy who was ordering was ordering a hamburger, I offered him mine.  He was quite happy and I hope he enjoyed it.  I just can't handle cigar smoke in an enclosed area.  Yuck.

All of that aside, when the seating area is open to the ocean breeze, there are not many places I'd rather sit down and enjoy the view, than at Wanna Wanna.  It has a great beachy dive vibe...and I love it!
Photo Source:  Google Image (top) and D. Hook (middle)

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:
3 – Pretty Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back from time to time!