SHRIMP HAUS RESTAURANT

Friday night was my second visit to Shrimp Haus Restaurant located at Schlitterbahn at the Beach.  It's open year round, regardless of the Schlitterbahn operating hours.  The first time I went, was after an afternoon at Schlitterbahn and the teen and I sat outside overlooking the Boogie Bahn.  Not much choice but to sit outside because, of course, no wet swim suits in the inside restaurant.  Apparently they expect you to check in (in your wet bathing suit which requires you to go inside) so they didn't "know we were there"...despite making multiple eye contacts with wait staff.  The service was not great so I never went back again.   The food, that time, was good but not really outstanding.  Some of my opinion of the food might have been tainted by the exhaustion of a day in the sun...and slow service.  The teen had a burger and said it was good.

What a difference a crowd of thousands makes vs the peaceful post-Spring Break crowd.  Friday night was one of the best evenings out I've had in quite a while.  Mostly due to the happiness-invoking voice of the ever-lovely Leslie.  She's popular here on the island.  She performs covers of a wide variety of popular music and every song was performed in an exceptional way!  Gorgeous voice.  I'd heard about her, but never heard her live.  I could have stayed for hours...she's good and she's funny in between songs - sharing interesting news tidbits.

We sat next to the big picture windows and since DST is in full effect, it didn't get dark for quite a while...and we had a nice dune and sea grass view out the window when seated.  If I stood I could see the ocean.  Nice.

Our waiter was very attentive and had quite the dry sense of humor.  He asked how I was doing and I said fine and responded..and you?  He hesitated and said "okay...I have a pulse" with a totally straight face.  We laughed...a pulse is good to have!  Nice guy and the first waiter I've ever had shake my hand when we were leaving.  You meet all kinds...but most importantly - he provided excellent table service.

The food was good.  I specifically went for shrimp.  They serve shrimp a heck of a lot of ways at Shrimp Haus.  You know my standard though - when I am doing a comparison, I get fried shrimp.  They have an every night special of All U Can Eat Shrimp for $14.95...includes a trip to the nicely outfitted salad bar, French Fries, and a loaf of bread.  I don't know why I got that...because I couldn't even eat all that they brought me the first trip.  I could have saved a buck and just bought the fried shrimp platter for $13.95.  I know better.  The shrimp were quite large and nicely fried - not overly battered as I frequently see.  Good tartar sauce - which is good because I don't eat cocktail sauce on my fried shrimp.  I'm picky about my tartar sauce and this met my high standards.  It was a very good fried shrimp dinner.

All U Can Eat Fried Shrimp

The teen had the grilled shrimp - $14.95.  Normally that is served with rice and some steamed or grilled veggies I think.  I am pretty positive that's what I got last summer out on the deck.  My boy doesn't eat vegetables though, so he ordered it with just French Fries.  SHOCKINGLY, he complied with my suggestion that he go check out the salad bar...he got one with his meal and I thought there might be SOMETHING he could nibble on.  I nearly fell out of my chair when he came back to the table with a salad plate with green leaf lettuce and mushrooms piled on it.  It had no dressing, but he ate half of it.  Maybe he is growing up.  I encouraged him to just squeeze some lemon on it since he doesn't like dressing, but, although he squeezes lemon all over his shrimp AND his French Fries (???), he refused.  Later he said "I didn't realize lettuce was so dry".  I had to chuckle.  He said the grilled shrimp were really good...and he polished them off in no time flat, so they must have been!  He actually ate most of my fries as well as all of his.  They were pretty tasty too...not that I'm a huge FF fan.

Grilled Shrimp and French Fries...normally rice and veggies!

We ate slowly and enjoyed watching several couples get up and dance up by the stage...it was very pleasant!  Tropical exposed wood decor, lots of "port hole" shaped aquariums (including one submarine-shaped aquarium suspended from the ceiling), great view...all add up to a nice alternative to my regular haunts.  Most people probably don't think of going to eat at Schlitterbahn...but it is worth the trip in my opinion!  It's on the south end of the island, ocean side, and you can't miss the big Schlitterbahn entrance.  The restaurant entrance is to the right of the water park on the 2nd floor.  There is an elevator for those who can't or don't want to use the stairs.


Casual yet "nice" place to dine on an off-season night!

On the way home I asked the teen what he thought about Leslie's singing.  He said "I liked it...actually, her voice sounded kind of angelic."   That is high praise from a hearing impaired individual who didn't like ANY music until about 5 years ago!

All-in-all, I think we both had a nice evening.  Our total bill was $36.37 plus tip...not a bad Friday night's meal AND entertainment!  The sign says Chuck and Leslie play every evening Tuesday through Saturday.  I'll make it a point to go again.  I want to try their Shrimp Scampi and their Shrimp Nachos.  Leslie singing will likely lure me back sooner rather than later!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

3 – Pretty Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back from time to time!

PIRATE'S LANDING....THERE'S A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE



My photo from Sand Castle Days 2010



We headed over to Pirate's Landing for a Friday night dinner before the hoards of Spring Breakers land on South Padre Island.  We will be avoiding the island restaurants at all costs for the next 9 days as college students descend on the annual tradition known as Texas Week on South Padre Island.  Bikini clad girls, lots of drinking, sunburned bodies...they will be populating every eatery in a 5 mile radius of the beach.  We stay home or go away during that time of year :-)  We are happy to have them...but we don't care to join them (well, the teen might, but he won't).

Anyway, we delightedly hopped into the car and headed to Pirate's Landing in Port Isabel.  I last blogged about it in September 2010....and really didn't think I'd be blogging about it tonight.  However, <imagine the sound of Obi Wan Kenobi's voice>

"I feel a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced."

It isn't Alderaan exploding but....our waiter, Shawn, informed us the complimentary yeast rolls were "no longer" as of April 1st.  NOOOOOOOOOOO.......



This pirate obviously had
a premonition of things to come



I had just ordered my usual Chef Salad and the teen had ordered his usual burger on the same delicious bread that they make the yeast rolls from, and our waiter was obviously finished when the teen piped up "Mom, what about the rolls?" and I said "I'm sure the rolls will come."  I looked up and the expression on Shawn's face was "uh...oh..." and I said "what, not during Spring Break?" and I quickly scanned the other tables...no rolls on any tables.  I'm now hearing the soundtrack from Jaws playing in my head...in full force alarm by now.  He then explained that they would no longer be complimentary as of April 1st but he would get me a basket tonight.

Whew...and then my brain flickered on "well, hell, I'm not coming here any more" (those little voices in my head get real sassy from time to time) ...and then, I thought, "oh, don't be stupid" (I guess that was the "other" voice - the voice of reason). 

We had great service, we had excellent food, but disappointingly, the rolls we had avidly awaited were hard...like they had been left in a warmer too long or had been microwaved to get them warm.  They literally crunched when the teen used a knife to cut them open (normally we pull the tender yeasty rolls apart - but not tonight).  Was this some kind of reverse psychology thing, I wondered?

He ate two, I ate a half...it wasn't worth the calories to eat them - they were that bad.

I appreciate the attempt to make me happy - and tipped accordingly.  However, if I had paid for those rolls, as I assume you will be required to do after April 1st, I would have returned them and refused to pay for them.

That little bit of negativity aside - I ate every bite of my delicious Chef Salad...the ham and turkey were fresh and tasty, good crisp lettuce, lots of bacon, red onion, cheese, black olives, a bell pepper ring (I had them hold the tomato...not a fan).  The plate was a small round plate on top of the previous platter that they used to serve the salad on...I guess everyone is making cuts everywhere.  I understand - and it was actually a more appropriate sized salad because I ate it all and felt full - and I used to leave some on my plate because it was too much.  I'm good with that...and the price of groceries is hitting everyone hard.

I admit to not liking change...unless it is for the better.  I hate to see the loss of the delicious rolls simply because I've been eating them for ten dang years!  Read my first post about Pirate's Landing and you'll see - the rolls are what I first raved about.  Fortunately, the excellent service prevails and the great location and view cannot be denied. 

Of course, I will return...after all I'm a Frequent Diner Card holder...I probably won't hold this against them.  But, I know there are going to be some unhappy Summer tourists...and I immediately texted my older children and my husband informing them why there had been a shift in The Force...in case they had felt "something".  I can't print what my oldest son texted back.  It's just too...ummm...well, let's leave it at "too bad"!

I still give Pirate's Landing the same Flip Flop Foodie rating.  No change there...just a touch of sadness.  I still love their tee shirts!!!  They are a hoot! 

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

3 1/2 – Pretty Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back quite frequently!

DADDY'S SEAFOOD & CAJUN KITCHEN

UPDATED 6/22/2013

Didn't realize I had not reviewed the new location.  The previous location closed and they moved to a wonderful spot in the old Garcia's at 1808 Padre Blvd.  The ambiance is supremely superior to their old locale and they continue to have their great daily specials and fresh seafood.  After many visits, I continue to get my red beans and rice fix there for $5 bucks ($7 after 4:00).  Can't beat it!  My son enjoys their burgers and fries and their Shrimp Po'boy.  My husband enjoys many of their blackened fish dishes and also digs the red beans and rice special.  This location change has really upped my appreciation of this restaurant in the Dirty Al's chain of dining.  Good and fresh...excellent service.  Definitely upping the rating to a 4!

Previous Review Below with Updated Rating and Address:

Finally had the opportunity to have lunch at Daddy's Seafood & Cajun Kitchen.  Everyone always ranted and raved about them...but every time I went there it was so crowded in the parking lot, I didn't stop in.  Of course, that's a good sign...but I don't like to wait...so I just didn't go. 

I'm really glad I finally got the opportunity to go!  I had a GREAT lunch plate of red beans and rice...generous serving - filled with spicy and delicious sausage - and two fabulous cornbread muffins (and I do mean fabulous dahlin!).  It was too much for me - but I just kept eating because it tasted so good.  I liked the "kick" of the spice - it enhanced the flavor, while not overwhelming the taste.  Just delicious.

Their online menu says this lunch special is available every day from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. DINE IN ONLY ... and it's only $5.00!!!  There are other lunch specials Monday through Friday...but our friendly waiter recommended this when I asked if their red beans and rice were really good...and he said yes...so I asked "how big is the bowl?" He responded by pointing out the special and said it came with the cornbread and it was delicious.  He was right on target.  A big old glass of Diet Coke for $2.25 and I walked out of there filled to the gills and happy as a clam for under $10 tax and tip included.

I can't believe I waited so long to get there...and I won't take so long to get back!

My friend didn't have such a great experience - they misunderstood her request not to have salt added to her fried shrimp after it came out of the fryer...and brought her grilled shrimp because "they can't do fried shrimp without salt".  I would have complained...but she didn't.  The price for her large plate of fries and skimpy amount of shrimp was a bit much in my opinion....but I don't recall the amount.  She said she loves their fried shrimp and the grilled shrimp was okay.  Just not what she was hoping for.

So, one happy camper and one not-so-happy camper today.

You'll find Daddy's on the west east side of the main road on the island at 3409  1808 Padre Blvd.  So head on over and laissez les bon temps rouler...y'all!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE UPDATED RATING:

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



Bon Appetit, Y'all!!!

Dirty Al's - on South Padre Island

I've written several reviews about Dirty Al's - mostly have visited the Port Isabel location - but certainly have gone to the island location several times - but not in the past 6 months.  We live on the mainland side so Port Isabel is an easy destination for dinner.  Last Friday night, February 11th, we headed out to eat...kinda later than we usually go.  My hubby had just rolled in from Austin and was tired and we were all hungry.  I asked him what his preference was and he said "Dirty Al's".  We pulled into the Pelican's Station location to find the parking lot full and the waiting area filled.  We circled right on out of that lot.  My hubby said "just go on across"...so I turned right onto the causeway...and he said "I meant across to Pirate's Landing".  Uh, well, too late!  I told him if said to "go across" - to me that meant across the bridge!

We proceeded onwards to Dirty Al's on the island and, thankfully, they were not overcrowded.  Apparently they close a little earlier though, because we hadn't even gotten our food when they were turning off the open sign and flipping the signs to say "closed".  Whoa...it was only 7:45!  Anyway, Dirty Al's continues to provide the consistent good food we have come to expect...tonight I had an order of calamari for my main meal...with a small side salad.  Perfect.  Actually, there was so much squid I had to offer it up to the bottomless pits men at the table to help me finish it off.  The teen had his usual burger and fries, and my hubby had a boiled shrimp taco salad.  Pretty basic stuff - but everyone was happy with their orders.

One of the best things about eating on the island is I'm now to the point where I tend to see someone I know or at least someone I recognize.  This evening was no different.  Joni and Griff, from Paragraphs on Padre Blvd., were finishing up their meal.  Joni stopped at the table to say hi.  It's always good to see folks we know.  I finally feel like a local!  Love small town America :-)

So, there's the update on Dirty Al's...everything is copasetic!  Good grub as always.

MEXIQUITO'S REVISITED

I wrote previously about my happiness at finding good Tex-Mex food...FINALLY... in the South Padre/Port Isabel area.  I was happy to find a low-cost little place with dependable quality Mexican food that tasted good...every time.  Mexiquito's was the answer to my dilemma but I had not been there for a few months because of my busy baking schedule and the holidays.  Monday I was riding solo, doing errands, making deliveries... and decided to stop in for a late lunch (arriving around 1:20) before heading back home.  I was parched and tired and starving.

A couple of times I had thought about stopping and their few parking spaces were all filled up...or they were closed in the evening...so I figured late lunch time would be perfect.  I was not far off my mark :-)

I arrived to find the usually immaculately clean restaurant nearly empty of people...but filled with dirty tables!  OK, I was hungrily cranky, so I kept that in mind as I looked around for somewhere to sit.  The waitress said "just sit anywhere" then she looked around like "oh, no clean tables" and scurried to clean my chosen table.  She left a basket of half-eaten chips on the table and I was sure hoping she was not expecting me to eat those.  She came back in a few moments and got my order for a Diet Coke to drink, and delivered it rapidly.  I felt immensely better after slugging down a few drinks of that deliciously cold fizzy soda.  Now, if I could just get chips and salsa I'd be happy.  Another person was now industriously clearing all of the dirty tables...and I thought to myself... Valentine's Day lunch is always a busy day...bet they were slammed. (see my mood was improving due to re-hydration)  I decided on the white-board lunch special of the Mexican Plate...normally $8.99 but on special for $7.99.  Two cheese enchiladas, 2 beef tacos, a chalupa, beans, rice, and "salad" aka (I knew from experience) a small pile of lettuce and tomato.  Sounded great to me.  I was starved.  Gave my order and worked on reading my book trying to send mental images of chips and salsa to my waitress.  I purposefully was not asking for something that is always automatically provided there because ... well, I shouldn't have to.  Finally, a fresh hot basket of tortilla chips and cooked salsa came and the old basket was whisked away.  Ahhhh, heaven. 

My lunch came in a very reasonable amount of time...about the time I was telling myself to stop eating chips or I would be too full to eat my lunch.  Two full plates of food were delivered!  Everything was tasty as anticipated.  There was enough food for two people IMHO.  I ate half of everything and almost all of both tacos.  The tacos are softly fried (not crisp) and the beef was well-seasoned.  The chalupa was on a crisp fried tortilla base (as it should be) with refried beans, a generous layer of beef, lettuce, and cheese (I always ask for no tomato).  The beans and rice were tasty and the cheese enchiladas were as good as I remembered them.  A very satisfying meal.

Mexiquitos is not haute cuisine.  It is a great mom-and-pop place to consume filling and generously portioned Tex-Mex food in Port Isabel.  You won't be able to miss the bright green building on the south side of Hwy 100.  And remember, if you go to a restaurant at the tail end of lunch time on a holiday...you are likely to find tired staff ... if you go in hungry (like I did) and feeling irritable, hold your opinion until you get settled with a drink and a starter.  It will help adjust your attitude!  I'm happy they pulled it together for me and gave me the same enjoyable lunch as if I'd arrived at straight up noon on Valentine's Day. (after the bumpy start...which I'm not holding against them!)

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

3 1/2 – Pretty Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back from time to time!

Dirty Al's at Pelican Station

I've written about Dirty Al's before - I love their shrimp - but I didn't realize that my husband has never been to the mainland location, located at Pelican Station.  It is a really nice place...and filled with history as well as good food.  I first went to the spot when it was the restaurant, "Pelican Station" and I found some history about the location on their old web site.  It's interesting history about our area...so I'm quoting from that old web site below and copying one of their photos as well.

Rio Grande Rail Road Company 1870 - 1911

Pelican Station is located on the exact site where the Rio Grande Rail Road ran in the late 1800's. RGRR began in 1870 as the only railroad in Texas and one of the few in the United States. It was a 42" gauge railroad. RGRR ran a twenty-six mile route between Point Isabel and Brownsville and consisted of three locomotives and fifty-six cars.

RGRR was owned and operated by several Brownsville businessmen. It was created in an attempt to break the transportation monopoly held by riverboat owners Richard King and Mifflin Kennedy, who later became owners of large ranches in the area.

RGRR had a loading / unloading pier 1000 feet long, built over the shallow waters of the Laguna Madre. Lighter boats would offload cargo from ships offshore of Point Isabel and deliver it to the pier to be offloaded once again. This process was reversed for cargo shipped from Port Isabel. This pier was rebuilt in 1928, by the US Corps of Engineers, and used to deliver the granite rock used to construct the Jetties.

There is a railroad car in the parking lot...and my son tends to respond "the historical railroad place?" when I ask if he wants to go to Dirty Al's. 

Photo Source:  http://www.pelicanstation.net/tour.htm

My hubby and I wanted to go out to lunch on the mainland side today because we had errands to run in Port Isabel...I suggested Mexiquito's, Dirty Al's, or Pirate's Landing.  He jumped at Dirty Al's - so off we went!

We were seated quickly at a table with a wonderful view of the causeway and South Padre Island...and some pelicans perched on pilings.  It was a sunny day, but in the upper 40's...unusually cold for us!  We enjoyed watching the birds and the bay and chatting while we waited for our order.  Our drink orders were taken rapidly and served equally efficiently.  My husband ordered the shrimp and oyster platter and I ordered the medium shrimp platter with onion rings instead of fries.  My hubby quickly changed to onion rings as well when he heard me doing so.

Our food was not too long in coming, so we were happily ready to dig in when I bring everything to a halt saying I needed a photo..."of course you do" he responds dryly,  "but you took your camera out of your purse before we left the house".  I do have my cell phone, however, so it had to do!

Medium Shrimp Platter with Onion Rings Substituted for fries - an Add'l $2.50



Medium Shrimp and Oyster Platter with Onion Rings Substituted for frues

 I absolutely love the Dirty Al's shrimp...the onion rings are not worth, in my humble opinion, an additional $2.50 for the substitution.  They tasted slightly overly-greasy - which I confirmed with my husband as his opinion as well.  If we'd realized there were so many (we left about 8 or 9 on the plate between us), only one of us would have paid for the up charge and shared the onion rings.  That would have been better.  With drinks and tip our lunch was $35.00 and that's a bit pricey for a week-day lunch.

The shrimp are so fresh tasting, though, I'd rather get them here than most anywhere else at this point.  I've tried them in a LOT of places...these folks know how to fry some shrimp.  They split them, and lightly bread them, and they don't taste greasy at all. 

Some of the best, if not THE best, fried shrimp in the area!!!

They bring 3 sauces with your platter...cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, and ranch dressing...and they serve a squeeze bottle of Dirty Al's secret sauce...and, catsup of course.  My sons love the Dirty Al's sauce - and if you read my previous posts, you know I've not had luck in getting any to take with us.  Today I asked about it and the waitress said, yes the did sell it, but it wasn't bottled, it was in a Styrofoam container with lid and it cost $6 or $8 - she wasn't sure.  That didn't sound like it would transport well - so I skipped it.  They'll just have to come see me and buy it themselves!  I love it when my kids visit (hint, hint if you are reading this boys!).

My husband and I walked to the car laughing, saying "if only Pier 19 and Dirty Al's could get together...we'd have the perfect shrimp platter with onion rings".  We both love Pier 19's onion rings and Dirty Al's shrimp is our current "favorite" vote in the fried category.  Oh well - isn't it always that way?  Keeps you searching for the perfect plate!

We both walked away with a full tummy and a satisfactory feeling - so good lunch in my book!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

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

My name is the SPI Flip Flop Foodie....

...and I am addicted to PadreRitaVille Nachos. 

I think about the chips when I've gone too long without them...
I think about the beans and the chicken and the beef....
I think about the guacamole and sour cream.

Today, I gave in to my obsession...again.  I can't seem to help myself.
I'm paying for it though.
I ate almost the entire container of jalapenos (served on the side)
I ate a handful of diced red onion sprinkled on the nachos
I ate almost all of the delicious salsa
I picked all of the globs of melted cheese off the plate...

I have indegestion

I have taken Ranitidine

I have chewed Tums when the Ranitidine didn't work sufficiently to douse the burn in my belly...

I even tried to coat my stomach with... chocolate (it seemed smart at the time)

Is it wrong, nay even SICK of me, that I will make it through this horrible discomfort,
and think of returning to
those evil geniuses at PadreRitaVille?

There is something terribly, terribly wrong with me.

Can you blame me?
PadreRitaVille Nachos

Where to Eat??? Cap'n Roys It Is!

New Year's Day night I hit a wall...I didn't want to cook or bake another thing over the next 24 hours.  My hubby was informed "kitchen closed" and he could either go get us some fast food or we could go out to eat someplace where I didn't have to get all fixed up :-)  I required "casual, no make-up, wild hair acceptability".  When we got back from the beach today I had scrubbed all the sand off my face, pulled back my hair and I didn't intend to change my attire other than moving from shorts to jeans as a nod to the dropping temperatures.  After running through potential options, he suggested Pier 19 since he hadn't been since he was home in October for Sand Castle Days.  Sounded good to me so off we went.  I don't know what we were thinking...lots of traffic on the island...Saturday night, a holiday, Winter Texans arriving, people in town for the Polar Bear Dip...lots of activity...lots of restaurant traffic.  The parking lot wasn't full - but it was more than half full...and it was too cold and windy for outdoor seating, so there was a 20 to 30 minute wait.  Wow, that was a first for us both - we've never had to wait there.  Oh well, no go for me.  I was hungry.  So, we moved on.

Next stop, Gabriella's....where I hadn't been since the end of October (I've been busily baking and testing recipes and prepping for holidays...not eating out so much).  Just passed on by...parking lot full.  We looked at each other and I said "this might not have been a good idea - but let's try Cap'n Roy's if that's okay with you, before we give up?"  He was good with that...he did the looking when we slowly drove past...looked okay to him...so we did the u-turn at the light and what a great decision that ended up being!  We got a table instantly, drink orders taken immediately...really good service for the entire evening.  We munched down two baskets of chips and salsa before feeling the "edge" taken off our hunger (we hadn't eaten since breakfast).  The staff kept our drinks topped off and everything replenished.  They seemed legitimately happy to be at work.  That's nice to see in a wait staff.

I had the beef enchilada plate...it was awesome as always.  My husband had decided on grilled shrimp tacos...and then made a quick change at the last minute to the fried shrimp platter with fries and a generous helping of their delicious fumi salad.  You can guess what the teen had...hamburger and fries. <sigh> By the looks of the 3 cleaned plates - I'd say everyone thought their meal was reallll good!

I'm so glad we ended up at Cap'n Roy's.  It was a perfect end to a good day.  Good food, good service, happy people.  Who could ask for anything more?

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

I'm bumping up their rating - everything has been so good the last few times I've been there...

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

Blackbeard's Revisited

http://www.blackbeardsspi.com

The teen and I were finishing up our holiday shopping on the island, at Paragraph's on Padre Blvd, and noticed it was approaching time to eat dinner - our meals had been sporadic that day and we were starved!  We were driving south and he pointed to Blackbeard's and said "hey - they don't have a crowd - no wait!" so I did a quick lane change and u-turn at the next block to return to the intersection of Esperanza and Padre Blvd.  It was 5:30 and early enough that it was, indeed, not crowded at all.  That's always a plus for me :-)

We were promptly seated in the "no smoking" section and our very efficient, and friendly, waitress took our drink orders and pointed out specials...and left us to peruse the menu.  The first question out of the teen's mouth was the oh-so-scary "hey Mom, do you have plenty of cash?"  Uh, why do you ask???  One of the specials was a steak and shrimp combo, which was not all that expensive.  I gave him the thumbs up if that was what he wanted. We also heard the table next to ours raving about the all-you-can-eat shrimp special they were enjoying. 

Despite the many good options, the teen went with a British Burger (1/2 pound burger with bacon and cheddar cheese).  He's so funny - because I knew it would be ordered "hold the cheese"....and it was.  I will say, the burger was huge and loaded HIGH with bacon.  The boy was in bacon burger heaven.  A big old  pile of fries...what teen wouldn't be happy with that?  He informed me we would be returning...it was a really good burger.

I ordered a chicken-fried steak, with green beans and mashed potatoes (how Texan of me, huh?).  I am here to tell you ladies and gentlemen...that hand-breaded chicken fried stick was enough to feed a farmer after a hard day working in the fields...two pieces of meat, enough green beans to serve 3 or 4 by FDA food pyramid standards, and a double dollop of mashed taters.  Cream gravy on the side (thank you very much - I hate it when the whole thing is coated with gravy before it hits the table).  Very possibly, this is a chicken-fried steak that rivals my Mom's. I've ordered this at several restaurants (because I get sick of seafood every so often) and I rank this the #1 chicken-fried steak in the Lower Laguna Madre area. (at least of the places I've visited...if you know of one I should try...comment please!!!)  I like gravy on my mashed potatoes and ketchup with my chicken-fried steak.  That's the way we ate it growing up.  I ate both pieces of the meat...completely...and scrounged for any crispy pieces that might have fallen off. 

And the green beans?  Tasted like fresh green beans and cooked the way I like them...some nice soft onion in them - and perfectly seasoned. Well-cooked...not under-done as is popular it seems - I like mine thoroughly cooked!  I ate every single bean in that very large serving!  Delicious :-)  I don't like frozen green beans...they squeak on my teeth...I was so happy these were not frozen as so often served at family-type restaurants.  I ate half of the mashed potatoes...they weren't bad - they just weren't primo...and I was so filled with meat and green beans and a big piece of buttery Texas Toast that I couldn't possibly have finished them even if they were the finest potatoes in the land :-p

Business started picking up as we were leaving, so I was so happy to have been early-birds.  Excellent service, excellent food, and all for a reasonable price.  That's the way I like my night to roll!

If you are on the island visiting, or a local...give Blackbeard's a try if you haven't been recently.  Open since 1978, we've seen some ups and downs...but this visit, we were very happy campers!

Bon Appetit Y'all!

Tom & Jerry's

Photo Source: http://www.spadre.com/tomandjerrys.htm

About halfway through the South Padre Island Christmas Parade, the teen-ager was chomping at the bit to go eat.  I think it was moving a little too slow for him.  Note to self:  get there earlier - stand closer to the start of the parade instead of the end of the parade :-)

So, I succumbed to his "looks" and said, do you want to leave after the Port Isabel HS band passes by?  YES he nearly yells.  He asked if we could eat at Tom and Jerry's (we were standing slightly north of them) and I said, "well, it's a sports bar...and loud...are you sure?"  He responded yes and so we walked down there and, of course, it was quite empty due to everyone being outside looking at the parade....except for the bar area, of course....several people there watching a game.  So, I told the host we were a party of two...and we were led to a table back by the kitchen...despite the many empty tables by the windows. <sigh>  I will say, they might have been set up for reserved parties.  Later I noticed festive people going to those seats.

The cigarette smell was overwhelming and I really wanted to leave before ordering.  It was so loud, though, I couldn't have discussed it without it being a "top of the lungs" discussion.  I just decided to suck it up.  I need to say I've only been to Tom & Jerry's once before... a couple of years ago.  I got so po'd that I never returned.  The hubby and I went one Fall afternoon - it was nearly empty - the service was slow - I ordered the special of the day, which was the Mexican Plate...and they were "out of salsa" so I had none to put on my taco.  I joked with the waiter that The Blue Marlin was just a couple of doors down, couldn't someone get some since the Mexican Plate WAS the special of the day?  He looked at me like I was a bother and walked away.  I really was so angry with the sucky customer service that I barely nibbled my food and left in a snit.  Never returned.  Wouldn't have this time except the teen had his heart set on going there. <sigh, the things we do...>

Thanks to our outstanding waitress, Emily, I endured the loudness from the bar, the smoke, the Lakers/Bulls basketball game in the background, and sitting at a less than prime table.  A sports bar is just not my idea of fun.  Everyone is different...and I am so past that stage in my life.  We don't even watch sports in our immediate family (well, I watch Longhorn football...but that's it).  We'd rather watch gymnastics or ice skating :-)  Go ahead, laugh it up...that's just the way we are.

Anyway, back to Tom & Jerry's....  Emily was sooo good with the teen.  He tried to order a medium rare "Tom's Big Burger" (he always asks for medium well, so what the heck???) and I said "you mean, medium well, right?"  He gave me "the look" and said "no, medium rare...I want it moist and juicy".  After back and forth about food safety and undercooked ground beef, he got the stubborn look on his face and nearly growled at me...both the waitress and I could see he was not happy about being questioned!  She told him that hamburgers were really better cooked a little more - that it would be better not rare.  He turned on me and started to argue that he wasn't a baby and to stop treating him like one, he wanted it medium rare.  I told him I cared about his health and that wasn't a good idea.  Emily stepped in and told him "I'm 25 and my mom still cares about me and would tell me the same thing - it never ends - she's your mom!".  I don't think he was happy about any of it...a tired teen-ager who hasn't been fed is not the most rational person in the universe.

I ordered a Patty Melt with Swiss cheese and onion rings instead of fries (I knew I would pay for that much onion later, but it just sounded good).  The food came out pretty quickly which was a really good thing considering it was nearly 8:00 and lunch was hours ago.  The teen inhaled his and said it was really good.  I ate a little more slowly...and I had only one very small complaint.  The bottom side of my sandwich was a heel of bread.  I'm not a fan of the heel and I've never been served a heel in a restaurant in my entire life!  Nonetheless, it was an exceptionally tasty patty Melt...perfectly cooked onions, double meat.  So large, I couldn't finish it.  Generous serving of tasty onion rings...also couldn't finish.  It was a good meal.

I probably won't go back to Tom and Jerry's only because of the noise and cigarette smoke.  There are too many places I can go without having to endure that smell.  I think, however, my middle son would like it.  Sports bars are more his thing than mine :-)  Here's a link to the menu.  They seem to have a good variety...and their customer service has certainly improved (and it wasn't just my waitress - I observed good service all around - bar and restaurant areas alike).  There were obviously a lot of locals that night as the parade wound down - big crowd by the time we left...everyone seem to know everyone else.  That has a lot of value to me.  I like going to local "spots" where people are greeting each other (staff and patrons alike)...it feels very welcoming.  Just can't endure cigarette smoke - previous smokers, we're always the most intolerant :-)

It is hard to rate this using my usual scale...the food was good - so I'd give it a 3 - but I probably wouldn't want to go back...so I can't really say my flip flops would be interested in parking under their table again.  <shrug>  Many thanks to Emily, our waitress...she made the experience so much more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise.  She rocked!

Zeste's...a Little QC Never Hurts!

Note:  October 2013.  Zeste Café and Gourmet Market is out of business. A great loss for the island.

Yesterday I found myself preparing to write a review on a location I hadn't visited really recently...had a couple of hours to spare...so I jumped into the car and braved the high winds for a short trip to the island.  I ended up making 3 food-related stops :-)  No surprise there! 

I hadn't taken the opportunity to write a review on Zeste's since I hadn't been by the shop recently.  This was a good excuse to head that direction for some Quality Control before commenting on, what I knew would still be, their delicious goods.  I had recommended them on a previous blog or two...so thought...I should go check out the goodies in their case today...and the specialty food items currently on their shelves!

So, first stop... Zeste Cafe and Gourmet Market.  I had a craving for some of their Orzo Garbanzo Feta salad.  I haven't had any since having it at the SPI Farmer's Market and I needed some.  Need/want....whatever!  I know I could make it (or something quite similar) myself...but I knew I'd make too much and would be eating it for days.  It just seemed easier to bite the bullet (not a hard bullet to bite!) and stop in at Zeste's for my fix.  Since I can't manage to walk in and just buy the one thing I've come for, I also indulged in a small container of Artichoke Parmesan Dip.  My friend, Trina, made hot Artichoke dip this week-end and I've been thinking about it all morning...so I blame that for my epicurean impulse purchase.  I can't figure out what forced me to purchase the bottle of Bellino Anchovies packed in olive oil...so I won't even pretend.  I just wanted them.  Oddly enough, I would say "no" if you asked me if I liked anchovies.  Because, I don't...on my pizza or visibly identifiable in or on my food.  However, the underlying punch a melted down anchovy adds to many recipes is delicious.  So, since I rarely have them when I want them...I grabbed the last small bottle from the shelf.  My hubby will be glad...he likes anchovies :-)

They have a more limited selection of packaged food items than my previous stops...but still very good quality.  More inside seating now (hence less shelf space) - and a larger selection of wines...still good stock of microbrewery and imported beers.  It is what it has always been... a lovely gourmet shop, unusual on a little island.  The one thing I've never done is actually gone, sat down, and had a meal there.  I generally go for the deli case salads, a cheese, or a specialty food item.  I solemnly promise myself I will stop in for tapas some week-end night...the menu looked delicious.

I highly recommend Zeste's for any resident or tourist foodie - walking in the door just feels "good".  You'll find Zeste at 3508 Padre Blvd... it is the "red roofed" building on the East side of Padre Blvd, headed north from the bridge.  They reportedly make beach picnics to go, and had a selection of picnic accoutrements for sale as well.  I might not think of a beach picnic on such a chilly day...but if I wanted some specialty oils, salts, ladyfingers, cheeses, crackers, or dips and chips...that's the the place I'd go!

When I left Zeste's, I was craving enchiladas, because it was untropically chilly/windy today and it was past lunch time, so I stopped in at Cap'n Roy's...had an extremely generous serving of beef enchiladas, rice, beans, and a small side of lettuce and tomatoes (which I topped with salsa).  I waddled walked out to continue my mini journey, filled with good food and the sense of well-being it provides.  It didn't hurt that the entire bill, including a nice glass of iced tea, was under $10!

Note:  Harlequin Gourmet Chocolats is also out of business.  My next stop was Harlequin Gourmet Chocolats for "dessert" and to pick up a stocking stuffer for "someone special".   My treat was a deliciously decadent Coconut Cream Truffle.  I really, really tried to hold off eating it until I was home so I could truly enjoy every delectable morsel with the requisite closed eyes....unfortunately, the siren song of chocolate lured me upon the rocks.  I had no more than touched the front of my tires on the bridge heading home, than I found the truffle unwrapped in my hand and it heading north to my mouth.  It's like crack.  I couldn't help myself.  I had it completely finished before I made it to the post office in Port Isabel.  Oh.... I'm so ashamed. HA! Not really.  It was some good good chocolate!

So, all of my stops received an A+ on this brief excursion.... or on the SPI Flip Flop Foodie rating system....

5 – OMG – that was outstanding!  I can’t wait to go back J

A Cold and Windy Day at the Cafe on the Beach



Photo Source:  www.palmsresortcafe.com



Today my hubby and I wandered over to the island for lunch.  He hadn't gotten to the beach since being home so I suggested we go to the Cafe on the Beach at the Palms Resort since it was beachfront.  He was amenable and off we went.  Wowzer it was chilly and we were both in short sleeves and no jacket.  I was, of course, in flip flops.  Brrrr...the windy overcast day was not very inviting!

We were regretting our decision shortly after ordering a big glass of iced tea!  The patio heaters were not putting out much warmth and the wind was cutting through every possible crack and crevice of the drop protectors that acted as a wind break.  My hubby moved over to my side of the table so we could share body warmth and ordered coffee, getting rid of his iced tea.  Our nice waiter finally told us the propane was empty (hence the lack of warmth) and, if we were cold, he would get a new tank.  We both nodded our heads vigorously!  Once that little snafu was taken care of....ahhh, the warmth was exquisite... we could enjoy the view of the crashing waves and the intrepid kite surfers!  I couldn't believe how many were out there catching air over the waves...full body suits of course :-)  It was very cool to watch.

John ordered the Spinning "Crispy" Chef Salad (Julianne ham, turkey, provolione, kalamata olives, hearts of palm & Maytag bleu cheese tossed with honey mustard dressing or your choice of dressing. Served in crispy homemade tortilla shell.) and I had a Chicken Teriyaki sandwich with fresh grilled pineapple (the Teriyaki sauce was excellent with just the perfect viscosity not to make the bread soggy) and a side of delectable freshly made potato chips sprinkled with Parmesan cheese....yummy.  We were both quite hungry and gobbled down our food.  It was delish!

I know it is challenging for folks who come to the island on cold dreary days when the wind is like a sandblasting machine on the beach...but this is a lovely way (when the propane heaters are on) to enjoy the beautiful view and a nice meal beach side!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

3 1/2 – Pretty Darn Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back from time to time

Parrot Eyes

As I drove over to the island this morning to get my nails done (at Venus Nails and Spa with Jenny of course!), I was next to a white vehicle with a Parrot Eyes sign on the side...it stuck in my mind when my appointment was finished and I was feeling hungry!  See, advertising does pay :-)

This is only my second visit to Parrot Eyes.  I don't know why I don't go more often.  It's really tasty, well-priced, and what a lovely view on this gorgeous day!  It wasn't crowded, and most people were sitting out on the deck.  I didn't feel like being around a crowd - so I sat inside.  The staff are very friendly and attentive at Parrot Eyes - my drink order was taken immediately and I was provided a menu with the daily specials pointed out.  All within moments of being seated.

The specials are every day, I was told...and they are just $5.00.  Well, you can't beat that!  There was a taco plate, an enchilada plate, a pasta plate...and some others which didn't stick in my mind.  The first time I went there was last Fall - and I had a Cobb salad.  I remember it being very good.  Today I selected the $5.00 enchilada plate.  Very basic - no substitutions - 2 cheese enchiladas with a beef chili sauce, rice and beans.  I was almost surprised at how good they were!  Heavy cheese on top (just the way I like it) - the chili was good - and the tortillas thin and tender.  Excellent!  The ice tea was good (you may recall, I'm picky about my iced tea) - fresh and tasty.  The outstanding item on the plate, though, was the bowl of beans.  I had expected the typical refried beans...but these charro style beans were exceptional...with onion and bacon and quite spicy!  The rice was just so-so but when I added it to the brothy beans...frankly, I could have made a meal of those two items together.  The rice toned down the spice a bit - and it was just a perfect side!  I cleaned my plate and walked away full as a tick for a total of $7.52 plus tip. What a great deal.
 
I've driven by with the consideration of stopping on other occasions, but they were awfully crowded (Summer time).  I bet I won't wait another year to stop in!  Fall and Spring are likely the optimal times for locals to swing by - I'll leave it to the tourists for summer time fun!




Parrot Eyes on Padre Blvd


This is a fairly new facility, I'll add.  Very nicely done.  My photo didn't turn out so well - I'll try to get a better one...or better yet - look at their very nice website.  Their original business of recreational watersports has been around longer than the restaurant.  I remember it from when we used to vacation here.  My nephews reported they stopped in for a meal there and greatly enjoyed the tropical atmosphere.  I particularly liked looking out the huge windows at all the pelicans and bay views.  It's on the canal side that leads into the Laguna Madre.  There is a gift shop, pool tables, a bar/nightlife scene...lots to make folks happy.  I definitely recommend it whether you are a local, a Winter Texan, or a tourist!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

3 1/2 – Pretty Darn Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back from time to time!

Eating with Gusto!

My niece and her husband were visiting the island this week.  It was soooo windy all week that they only got one good day on the beach.  I think they enjoyed the after-festival viewing of the sand castles from Sand Castle Days and just hanging out at their hotel.  We had dinner together at Gabriella's on Tuesday evening and enjoyed talking smack with our jovial waiter.  We plowed through the delectable calamari with marinara sauce in under 5 minutes.  I need to teach the teen how to truly "share" a shared appetizer!  He ate most of it, the piggy!  Holly and I both had Bowtie Pasta Carbonara - it was awesome.  The intensely flavorful asiago cheese has just the right bite for the rich creamy sauce.  Big pieces of bacon didn't hurt either as well as thin bite sized pieces of chicken!  Really, it was about perfect.  We both took leftovers home (and I greatly enjoyed mine for lunch the next day).  Her husband had Pasta a la Tonno which featured a flaky yellow fin tuna over linguini with a creamy pink sauce - sun dried tomatoes, fire roasted red peppers, garlic and mushrooms.  It looked delicious and he cleaned his plate - so I'm guessing it was!  The teen had, surprisingly, a new dish (for him) - Shrimp fra Diava - which was a big pile of onions and peppers and Gulf shrimp over pasta with a white wine sauce.  He put a good sized dent in the dish but did say the sauce tasted too much like alcohol for him.  I think he would have been happier with a buttery garlic sauce - but I was glad he tried something new!  After the salad and bread and small antipasti plate, we had no room for dessert.  It lived up to my expectations again!  Gabriella's has a new website which I've linked here.  My complaint is that you can't see the entire menu at a reasonable size.  Hopefully their web master will get that fixed.  My old eyes can't handle that small print!  They are also now on Facebook - so "like" them here!

On Thursday we had scheduled to go to Louie's Backyard for the sunset and buffet when I saw this photo appear on Facebook!  Instead of Joe vs the Volcano...it was TONY vs the PadreRitaVille Nacho Volcano!!!

Photo by Holly Monnich

They went for a late lunch and thought they were "just getting an appetizer" when they saw what Cathy and Micheal have to offer.  It really can't be beat!  I messaged them that we could forgo dinner if desired - but they said no "you only live once" and they would meet us there before sunset!  They enjoyed watching several of the island's sand sculptors carving pumpkins at PadreRitaVille and got to meet a few as well.  I'm glad they had a good time.  I couldn't believe they still wanted dinner - but I was glad.  I haven't been to the Louie's buffet in a good while and was looking forward to it.

The evening was so windy, though, we sort of "waved" at the sun going down and scurried into the inside dining area.  We gorged on crab legs, prime rib, fried shrimp, a spicy shrimp scampi sort of dish, (I had salad I might piously add), baked potato, corn on the cob, barbecued ribs, boiled shrimp...and I don't know what else everyone had... unbelievably, we ordered a huge piece of chocolate cake for dessert.  With 4 forks though - we shared :-)

We stayed for over 2 hours and I bet they were glad when we left!  Although, I will say, we didn't eat the whole time.  We chatted and told old family stories and just had a great visit.  Service was great - they weren't crowded and our table was kept cleared and our drinks filled.  That's always a plus! 

They left this morning and are safely back in Austin.  I miss them already.  They are fun people.

As a side note, the teen was very social - he knew people working there (from school) and went out on the deck and met another person he knew out there.  It's nice to see that he's settled in so nicely here.  It was a good move for us.

Anyway - thanks Holly and Tony for the good times - and the great photo of the Nacho Volcano.  It's fun to dine out with other foodies!

Cap'n Roy's

One of our family's "go to" dining spots on the island is Cap'n Roy's at 1313 Padre Blvd. ....everyone has their favorite and it's a frequent choice when we talk about grabbing a bite to eat on the island.  I tend to go for the Mexican food offerings, my husband goes for the seafood, and the teen either goes for a burger or fried shrimp.  No one has ever had any complaint about their food - and I don't think we've ever not 100% cleaned our plates!  Last time, I had the enchilada plate - beef enchiladas specifically.  I ordered chips and salsa for the side - and they are big freshly fried 1/2 tortilla sized chips and a cooked style salsa.  Only complaint is the bowl isn't big enough :-)  I always need more.  I have also had, on a cold dreary day, a revitalizing serving of excellent carne guisada.  Delicious.  My husband loves the grilled shrimp tacos or the fish tacos with the fumi salad.  And we never fail to seek out their booth at the annual Shrimp Cook-off in Port Isabel.  They always have an award-winning concoction of goodness to sample.  The teen - he loves, loves, loves the big old half pound burger with fries.  Their fried shrimp is always a good call - with french fries and the delicious tart fumi salad (a vinegary yet sweet slaw - really pairs well with fried food).

The only complaint I have is having to do a u-turn to get there when coming from the bridge.  But, that's no biggie to get to a guaranteed good meal.  If they are busy, there's lots of stuff on the walls to look at - old photos, big fish, other nautical "stuff".  It's a small joint - but that's the way I like it.  The prices are reasonable, the waitstaff are courteous and friendly.  It's a great island spot!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

3 1/2 – Really Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back from time to time!

PadreRitaGrill - Revisited!

My friend and I were in dire need of adult conversation and some time out of the house... so, we decided to hit PadreRitaVille for lunch Tuesday.  I suggested it in an email last week, and I baited my hook with a link to the Island Breeze article last week that had me salivating for most of the menu items mentioned.  She, being weak, like me, succumbed rapidly.  Yay! 

Today finally arrived and we hopped in the car and headed out to lunch.  I was nearly giddy with happiness!  I didn't even need to think about looking at the menu... but I did.... in great detail.  I knew, going in, that having to decide between a volcano of nachos and the Tuesday lunch special, Shrimp Scampi, was nigh impossible...but I managed.  Up until the last minute it was going to be the special and then I had a quick step switch to the Nachos.  My friend got the special so I can speak to both.

My 1/2 order of supreme nachos were delicious - I had beef this time since I had chicken before.  The chips were delicious, generous dollop of guacamole (freshly made) on top and fresh salsa, jalapenos, and sour cream on the side.  Piled high with beans, cheese, onion, (skipped the tomatoes), and a LOT of nicely-seasoned ground beef....overall, excellent.  I couldn't eat more than half of the half order.  It was an extremely generous serving.  The $6 lunch special my friend got was deemed very good (and I challenge you to find a lunch like that for the price anywhere else on the island).  It started with a mixed lettuce with tomato and red onion side salad.  The entree was served on a large, very attractive, pewter fish-shaped platter filled with pasta topped with shrimp and a tasty garlicky butter sauce; broccoli on the side, and garlic toast.  (there were other side choices, she chose broccoli)   My meal, with iced tea was in the $15 range and my friend's was $8 before tip.  She had a generous mug of freshly made French Roast coffee and said it was delicious.  I opted for iced tea and it was as good as I remember (despite the waitress topping it off with raspberry tea instead of regular tea - I'm not a raspberry tea fan - I didn't have the heart to tell her at that point).

I'm sure restaurant owners wish people would stop taking pictures of their food with their cell phones - I read an article in Bon Appetit magazine that said so - but I feel irresistibly compelled when something is so exciting to me that I think the whole world needs to see it!  I held off because I kept imagining my mother giving me the stern "big eyes" if she saw me.  I had my camera in my purse, but by the time the food was in front of me, I was starved and just dug in.  It was delicious.  Unfortunately, that leaves me - again - with no pictures from PadreRitaVille!

The follow-up visit was as good as the previous visit.  There was a slight mis-step in both of our orders arriving "not as ordered", but it was taken care of pretty darn quickly.  We weren't overly concerned because we were gabbing.  The shift manager checked in a couple of times and apologized for the beginning mis-step.  No problemo.  Regardless of the few service bleeps, I continue to totally enjoy the food here.  Really nice.

I want to come back for dinner - the "steak night" special has been luring me for a couple of weeks now.  However, I'm finding now that school is back in session, homework is abundant, and eating out on a week-night is just not feasible unless there is a special occasion (like no homework for the teen or a parade).  I also know I need to keep trying new places...but, by golly, I just want to go back to PadreRitaVille so I can try some more of their menu.  It all looks soooo good!

If you haven't made it by - you MUST go...  'nuf said!

UPDATE 1/3/2014
My son and I had a delicious lunch here on a gorgeous January day on the island.  Excellent prices for delicious food.  I continue to love PadreRittaGrill! (note name change)

Here's the slightly edited update from my Facebook page:

"Yummy lunch at PadreritaGrill Spi with Ian Hook. Outstandingly creamy and delicious Tomato Basil Soup with a plentiful and diverse Salad Bar for me. Generous Shrimp Po'Boy with fries for him. Mine was great and he said his was really good. (high praise from the usual shoulder shrug)  All for a reasonable price. "

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

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