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.

Marchan's White Sands Motel, Marina, and Restaurant

(See update at bottom of post)

A friend of mine sent me an email asking me to review Marchan's in Port Isabel.  I thought "oh dear" because I had only eaten at Marchan's once and I wasn't overly impressed.  While the view was very enjoyable, it was crowded, the items my husband and I had were unmemorable, the service was slow...I never went back.  That, however, was over 18 months ago.  My sister and her husband and sons think Marchan's has the best breakfast tacos in the area but I'd just never made it back after my one lukewarm trial.  If I mention it, my husband gives a quick "nuh uh", as in no way.  So, this morning I decided, as I was on my way to the island to check out the storm damage and scan the area for breakfast options, to instead make a quick u-turn and go to White Sands Marina/Motel, the home of Marchan's instead.  It's a scenic little place - the old fashioned drive-up-to-the-door motel geared to fishermen.  The marina has a gas pump and a bait stand and it is where my sons always go to meet Captain Jack Barton for their fishing excursions.  The restaurant is fairly nondescript from the outside but does have a great water view of the Port Isabel deep water canals.  Always lots of gulls and pelicans lurking about - so, scenic in a non-South Padre kind of way.  (Not touristy is what I mean by that comment)  The one time we went it was filled to the brim with locals and gritty looking fishermen (and fisherwomen) and it was a lot bigger on the inside than I expected.  Definitely a locals joint.

Anyway, I pulled in to the restaurant parking area and it looked like there was only one other car there besides mine.  It is a Wednesday morning, the first week of "off season" and past the time folks stop in on the way to work or on the way out to fish.  Perfect...I was in the need of a little quiet and I had a book.  I was open-minded and ready to relax.  Boy, am I glad I made THAT decision!

The server told me to sit anywhere so I took the table in the middle - the only other patron was on her cell phone and obviously just finishing up.  I ordered coffee and perused the menu.  The coffee was good and the cream was not skim milk (that's a good thing) and was in an icy cold little stainless pitcher.  I like half and half in my coffee and I despise when I ask for cream and I get skim milk.  I'd rather skip the coffee if that's the way it is.  So, off to a good start.  One of the first things I noticed was a plaque on the wall from Coastal Living magazine naming them one of the Best Seafood Dives.  I thought that was a good sign!

They had a good menu selection - basic breakfast combos (eggs, meat, potatoes, and toast), breakfast tacos in burrito-sized tortillas, omelets, migas, breakfast gorditos (a kind of Mexican pocket bread) are the items I remember off the top of my head.  The server brought my attention to the dry-erase board for the specials of the day - biscuits and gravy for $1.99 and sausage and egg taco for $2.50.  Once I'd confirmed the taco with sausage and egg was not involving chorizo (not my favorite), I decided to order that and had cheese added for an extra 50 cents.  My sister's family said to order the breakfast tacos...I assumed they knew what they were talking about!

While I waited for my food, more patrons arrived - 2 older fishermen on the last day of their fishing trip, a couple of older ladies who were obviously local and known to the server, an older couple who looked like they had just rolled out of bed...I like to people watch as much as I like to see what they order :-)  My food came out fairly quickly and it was a gigantic taco filling up a 12 inch ironstone platter.  My waitress brought a squeeze bottle of obviously freshly made salsa and a squeeze bottle of catsup.  Diner style - love it.  The taco was so huge there was no way to pick it up daintily so I went for the open face method.  I squeezed a bit of salsa to the side to make sure it was to my liking - it was quite good - had a burn but not vicious.  I hate it when the burn destroys my taste buds and i can't taste my food.  So, I gave the taco a good slathering of salsa on half of it and got to work.  It was DELICIOUS.  The ground sausage was tasty and not greasy and still in good sized chunks.  The cheese was cheddar and melted to stringy deliciousness.  The eggs were fluffy - not too wet and not too dry... just right.  The best though... the tortilla.  It tasted freshly made and had been lightly grilled - just the way I like it.  I ate and ate and just couldn't finish it.  I was starving when I arrived but I couldn't eat more than 2/3 of it (see picture of what I couldn't handle).  Normally one takes pictures of the just served food.  Truly, though, when I thought about doing that I though "hmm, it just looks like a taco" so I blew it off.  At the end of the meal though, I was so in love with it, I needed a photo to remember it by!

Then, the good part - my total bill was $5.25 - more food than I could eat and a good cup of coffee - for $5.25...wow!

Just goes to show you - always try, again, a restaurant everyone says is wonderful - even if your first try is not so wonderful.  Now, I'll have to go for a lunch and a dinner...but maybe not Sunday lunch like we did before...when it was packed and rushed.  Marchan's reminded me of the places my parents took us for breakfast when we travelled.  It's old school - nothing fancy - far from it.  The boats coming and going, the pelicans swooping in to land (less than gracefully), and the people chattering all around will keep you entertained - and now I know, the breakfast is DEFINITELY worth returning for!

Side note - I saw someone's biscuits - they were open faced and grilled - just like at Grapevine Cafe.  Is this a Rio Grande Valley thing?  Or have I just missed out on this concept?  I'm still inclined towards fluffy biscuits - but thought I'd mention it since I saw it on a plate going by!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:
2.5 – A satisfactory meal –I’d try it again

Updated Rating Due to Below:
1 – Okay – but I’ve definitely had better – not sure that I’d return

December 19, 2010 UPDATE

We had some errands to run in Port Isabel at the noon hour and my son asked if we could eat lunch "at that place we go fishing".  I asked "Do you mean White Sands - where you meet Captain Jack?"  He replied affirmatively and I said, "the restaurant there is Marchan's - you want to go there?"  He again said yes, so in we rolled. 

At 12:30 on Sunday I was surprised to find only a few tables filled and the water front area wasn't even open.  Huh.  So, we took a booth with a decent view of the water from afar, commenting on how smooth the bay was after days of choppy, windy weather.  Our waitress was really nice, prompt, and friendly.  I ordered Carne Guisada plate with corn tortillas and the teen ordered a burger and fries as usual.  Our food came out really quickly.  The menu said mine came with a salad - but there was just beans and rice (both were dry) but the carne guisada looked good and I didn't really care about the salad so I didn't mention it.  The tortillas were flour instead of corn - but oh well - I wasn't in a complaining mood and I didn't instantly see our waitress so I just started with what I had.  The teen and I were having a lively conversation and I didn't want to upset the flow (it's rare that we have a lively conversation at a restaurant - but this one had no background noise - so it was possible to converse!).  All was well until I bit into a twig of something...I thought maybe it was from some thyme or some other herb (not that I could see ANY visible herb in the sauce).  Two bites later, something else felt funny in my mouth and I pulled out "something" - again, favorably thinking of the cooking process, thought maybe it was part of a dried chili pod.  THEN, two bites later...a big piece of plastic was pulled out of my mouth...and that was the end of that.  I let the waitress know when she brought my check - by pointing out the items on my napkin.  She looked appalled and snatched it up and said she would let the kitchen know - that was absolutely NOT okay.  She then brought me a revised bill with the carne guisada plate charge removed.   Fairly disappointing meal but excellent and appropriately responsive waitress.  Here's a photo of the two bigger "items" in my food.  Diners beware!  I know that "stuff happens" in kitchens - but really - 3 different ickies???

Items found in my Carne Guisada Plate

Tropical Storm Hermine

It's hard to think about food when you are sitting in a condo on the Laguna Madre with the hurricane shutters banging hard with the sustained 50mph winds as well as 70mph hurricane force gusts of wind.  I am, however, thinking about coffee...and the lack thereof!  I got up at 3:00 a.m. after laying in bed for 3 hours tossing and turning.  I felt happy that I had my hurricane supplies handy and up to date (plenty of batteries, water, battery-operated fan, solar charger, small electronics battery charger, and best of all - roll down hurricane shutters, etc.).  After Hurricane Dolly, I bought many supplies and they are kept in the "hurricane kit" in the attic.  I didn't want to drag down the propane stove and drip coffee maker until I knew I could go outside to use them!  I decided to take a shower to soothe my nerves...and it worked.  I used my handy battery operated lantern which really lit up the bathroom and there was plenty of hot water in my tank, despite the electricity having been off for several hours.  I ended with a cool shower because, of course, no air conditioning comes with no electricity!  My haute cuisine breakfast was a Diet Coke and a Chewy Chocolate Chip Pure Protein bar.

After calling AEP to get an ETA on electrical power reinstatement (they estimated 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday), I got to check my email and Facebook via cell phone for the first time.  I don't have a fancy cell - 3 year old flip phone works just fine for me...except times like this.  It is laborious to have to use a non-QWERTY keyboard for posting updates and texting the family that I survived...and that my teen slept right through it all - bless his heart.  I feel so disconnected with no electronics - no television, no computer (well, I could play solitaire for a while if I wanted), no "sounds" other than wind and rain.  No a/c running, no fridge running...all those little background noises we grow so accustomed to hearing!  I felt extreme happiness and relief when the power returned shortly after 6:00 a.m.  Thank you AEP workers!!!

I'll get back to reviewing restaurants later this week.  For now, I'm thankful to have survived another night in the tropics during Hurricane Season.  Time to re-set the clocks and get that coffee maker going!

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!

SandCastle Days Coming Soon!

Sandcastle Days are coming soon to South Padre Island - beautiful sand sculptures, many family activities, a variety of vendors of food, jewelry, art, t-shirts....so much more!!!  Make your reservations now and come on down to the tip of Texas.

Here's a youtube slide show from last year's events.  You don't want to miss it!  October 20-24, 2010

PadreRitaVille

I had the opportunity to try out South Padre Island's newest dining establishment this week, on their first day of business!  J. Micheal and Cathy Laferty have just opened the delightful PadreRitaVille at 4001 Padre Blvd.  I'll visit again after they are fully "in swing" but I wanted to put the word out about this new place to grab a bite on the island.  You can follow them on Facebook too!

The ambiance is Texas tropical (of course) with a parrot-head nod... nice variety of lighting ranging from colored drop lights to multi-colored string lights and an eclectic mix of candles and table-top tiki lights.  It is a cool and restful retreat from the glaring sun in the middle of a hot day.  Palapa umbrellas top the roomy tables and it just has a good vibe.  Cathy is highly visible as she checks to make sure everyone is enjoying their visit and that the food is good; the wait staff is extremely attentive as well.

Our table tried out appetizers primarily.  Starting with an order of the bottomless mild fresh salsa and freshly made tortilla chips we had a hard time deciding what we wanted (and so, of course, we ordered more than we could eat). We sampled good, crispy fried calamari, a Mexican Shrimp Cocktail with generous amounts of shrimp and fresh avocado (thank you - finally fresh avocado), and a GINORMOUS and delicious pile of supreme chicken nachos.  We all commented that the refried beans on the nachos were unusually enticing (I mean, who notices the beans usually?).  Four people munching steadily could not make a dent in the nachos!  The margaritas were deemed "two thumbs up" by my son and his friends, and I enjoyed a good glass of iced tea in a beautiful Mexican-style heavy glass with blue rim...and a curvy straw for comfortable sipping.  The dishes and glassware were of the quality I would use in my home...another plus!  I sampled a nibble of another person's all-you-can-eat fried fish and shrimp.  It was good and crisp and the tartar sauce was just right as well.  Word of mouth is that they will try to do everything "fresh" - avoidance of frozen products and Sysco main dishes; not the usual restaurant fare to be found on the island.  Hooray!

The prices were very reasonable and the atmosphere friendly and coastal...I'll definitely be back to sample the dinner menu as well.  I didn't get a chance to see their patio nor snap a photo of their sign...because I was in such a food and bonhomie-induced soporific haze...all I could think was "nap"...so I just forgot!  I'll be back, though, you can count on that!
(photo source sandyfeet's photos)

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:
4 – Lip smackin’ - good quality – flip flops will definitely be parked under their table again!

The Big Donkey (now known as Senor Donkey - same owners)

(Name Update as of 2013 - same owners)

I find it strange that this close to the U.S./Mexico border, I struggle to find a good plate of Tex-Mex food.  Taquerias are plentiful but pitifully deficient in quality ingredients and my son asks to go to Taco Bell for "good" Mexican food.  Oh my!

So, when we moved here a couple of years ago, there was a Mexican restaurant on the island called Mamacita's.  I tried it three times.  Once it was good (fajitas with all the sides - tasty - fresh) but the service was so poor, in a nearly empty restaurant at 1:30 in the afternoon, we nearly missed our movie because of the delay.  Still, I'll give anything a second try unless they make me physically ill...so, we went again.  It was packed, the service was only slightly better, and the food was just so-so (stale chips always starts me off badly).  I had a combination plate of some sort and while the enchiladas were fairly good, the tacos were just "off" tasting.  My husband liked his fried shrimp, my son was okay with whatever he got...so I just shrugged.  I'd eaten so many chips and salsa that I didn't much care that one of the items was inedible, but bad service...well, I'd pretty much finished with Mamacita's.  However, my sister came to visit and after visiting Turtles, Inc. on a blustery cold day we decided to stop there for lunch.  Her nachos (with "off tasting" beef) were inedible and my son's "well done" burger was red, and whatever I had was so unmemorable I can't bring it to mind.  Anyway, 3 strikes, they were out!

Before too long, there was a new sign on the building - it was now "The Big Donkey".  I laughed at the name and thought "I don't THINK so" and didn't stop.  Then a friend said "oh, they are owned by the people who own Dirty Al's and Daddy's - so should be good".  Great, I thought, I'll give it a try!

So, I went for lunch.  The chips and salsa were good, not too spicy, fresh tasting.  It was a coolish Spring day so I got a cheese enchilada plate with beans and rice - it was surprisingly good.  I thought "whew, I can do this again" and danced a little happy dance!  So, a few weeks later, I brought my son for dinner on a week night when I didn't feel like cooking.  Very few people there, loquacious waiter, lots of chit chat.  Chips and salsa "okay" but the chips bordered on stale.  Hmmm....  So, I order beef enchiladas and my son ordered soft tacos - beef and cheese only.  They came covered in lettuce and tomatoes.  Had to send them back.  Then we both got down to eating after we were re-served.  I took a couple of bites and, again, something seemed "off" about the beef.  Not "spoiled" but like it might have been on the edge...and there was an underlying taste I could only identify as "cinnamon"???  I looked at my son and he had eaten two bites and laid his taco down.  He looked at me and said "there's something wrong Mom, it doesn't taste good".  So, I told our loquacious waiter that we both thought something tasted "off" with the ground beef, and asked if he could have someone taste it in the kitchen.  He came back in a few minutes and said "sorry, it tastes like it always tastes - I tried and the chef tried it."  Then he just shrugged.  Okayyyyy....so, I asked for our check...no offer of "sorry you didn't like it, can we get you something else?"  Basically, just a shrug.  So, that was the last time I went there for many months.

Then, I was so hungry for Mexican food, I told my son "let's go get some Mexican food - I'll go to Taco Bell if you don't want to try The Big Donkey again, but it's been a while...maybe they've improved!"  He agreed to give The Big Donkey another try.  He ordered some queso (which appeared to be unflavored melted processed cheese spread...not a pepper or onion in sight...just cheese) so we started with that.  I mixed some salsa in on a side plate and that made it palatable enough for me - my son likes melted processed cheese so he ate all of it :-p  We decided to order the same thing we'd had before because I really like beef enchiladas and my son really likes soft tacos.

It was a really crowded night.  Young server.  Same food problem.  We each took one bite - looked at each other and went "Huh?  Really? Again?"  It had that same peculiar flavor.  We both put our napkins on top of our plates.  I got out my wallet and sat there...and sat there...and sat there.  I finally asked a drink refiller to find our waiter, we wanted our bill.  I'm not sure she spoke English - she looked confused.  Young waiter never came.  I got up and asked for a manager from the woman at the hostess station.  Our young waiter came to the table and brought the bill.  He didn't ask why we hadn't eaten our food.  He wouldn't make eye contact with me. No manager appeared.  I paid.  I didn't tip (I NEVER don't tip) and I wrote a note on my credit card slip about the food tasting "off".  I'm easy to please generally - I'm very polite - so I can only limit my closing critique to... I will never, ever go to The Big Donkey again. 

I've seen reviews of other people saying how much they like The Big Donkey.  I've seen other reviews quite similar to mine.  I don't know what's up - but I've had 4 bad meals out of 5.  It simply isn't where I'll spend another penny of my eating out money!
(Photo Source Google Images)

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:
0 – My flip flops were not happy campers

Are they ALL good?

A friend told me it was time to tell the real dirt - to write a review on a restaurant I DIDN'T like!  So, coming soon, I'm carefully thinking how to say how much I dislike this one particular restaurant on the island.  I'm an ingrained southern girl...I have a hard time criticizing "out loud"
<uh, my husband and children might disagree>
but I'm going to spill the beans soon.  Because frankly - I've given it 5 tries and 4 of them have been awful...last time - we left our plates full, paid our bill, and left.  The sad thing - no one gave a hoot.

Keep an eye out...coming soon....

Pirate's Landing

Pirate's Landing in Port Isabel is the Grand Dame of eateries on the mainland side of the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway.  If you are looking for a family restaurant with a waterfront view, Pirate's Landing is a good choice.  Back when we vacationed on the island, it was always our tradition to stop there first for a Shrimp Po'boy before heading over for check-in.  The food servings are generous and the choices are many.  What keeps me going back again and again, however, is the basket of piping hot, fresh yeast rolls placed on the table with a container of honey butter.  Heck, I'm usually full before the order arrives!

Often, if I ask my youngest son "we're going out for dinner/lunch, where would you like to go?", his answer is Pirate's Landing....for the same reason.  He loves those rolls!  All of the sandwich offerings are served on their fresh baked bread as well, including hamburgers.  The food, in my opinion, is nothing fancy, but I've enjoyed our many meals at Pirate's Landing.  The kids meals are served in a "boat" and a pirate's hat and eye patch are often available for the kidlets.  During high season I often see a balloon artist strolling the tables, in Winter Texan season I've enjoyed live guitar music as we dined, and always I enjoy the view of the causeway, The Black Dragon pirate ship, and the longest fishing pier in Texas.  It's not just a restaurant, it's a destination!  It's on the Port Isabel Lighthouse Square and the list of activities in the immediate area can be found via the link to the restaurant.

Now, I have to say, out of fairness - my older sister does not agree.  She did not enjoy her shrimp sampler platter nor her seafood stuffed hush puppies.  I'll admit, that day, they didn't look very appealing.  I also don't care for their calamari strips.  I do, however, like their salads a great deal (Cobb, Chef, Seafood Pasta, Shrimp Louie to name a few) and another sister doesn't think it's vacation at the coast if she doesn't have her grilled shrimp salad from Pirate's Landing - especially with their honey mustard dressing.  I also enjoy their tortilla soup on those few blustery days each year where it is nippy at the coast.  I make a beeline for Pirate's on such occasions!  My son will tell you the Cheesecake Factory Tuxedo cheesecake can't be missed (we often take an order "to go" because we are too full to eat dessert).  My husband enjoys a cup of their espresso from time to time as well.  One of the great things about Pirate's is their service.  They have a crew that just seems to focus on drink refills and clearing plates.  The wait staff are regulars I've seen for years.  I've only had bad service once - and that server hasn't been seen for over a year :-)  Managers check around to make sure everything is going smoothly.  It's an efficient operation.  Something new I noticed last night when we were there, they offered $15 bottles of wine...and one of my favorites, Nobilio Sauvignon Blanc, was on the list!!!  I've paid $45 for that bottle of wine in an Austin restaurant...and $10-12 at the grocery store...so that was a real find in my opinion.  Don't know if that's a special thing for now or a regular deal - tell them you heard about it on my blog! 

They are open daily at 11:00 a.m. for lunch and dinner.  They are easy to find just look for the lighthouse and look over towards the bay - you can't miss it.

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

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

Grapevine Cafe

This glorious first morning of September, I dropped my son off at the high school and drove straight to the island.  The bay was smooth as glass, pelicans floating, gulls diving as I crossed the causeway...just beautiful.  My first stop was the beach for a quick walk...there wasn't much of a breeze, though, and the sun was intense for 8:15 in the morning!  So, it was a brief walk.  I dusted my feet off and drove to Grapevine Cafe for breakfast (okay, that was my intention all along...the walk just makes me feel less guilty).

Grapevine Cafe, at Padre Blvd. and Swordfish, is a breakfast-and-lunch-only establishment; open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  It is reminiscent of a diner without the counter or waitresses with big hair and aprons.  The tables are linoleum topped - the chairs are wooden and vaguely uncomfortable (they slant forward just slightly and it feels like I can't get seated correctly - a friend told me that was purposeful, to keep the tables turning - who knew?).  Coffee is in a mug and sugar is in an old-school pourable dispenser. A fork and knife wrapped in a paper napkin on the table.  Customers reading the paper or watching the news - families on vacation, young adults often looking hung over, seniors, and locals.  Cheap prices for the island.  Nothin' fancy.  The service is generally good if they aren't crowded - with the same wait staff I've had since I first start going.  When they are crowded...prepare to wait for any attention, they get spread a little thin (raise your hand and signal a coffee refill).  Today, it's quiet on South Padre and there were only a few other customers...the service was great!

This is the second time I've been there in the past week - school's back in session and I have some morning freedom. (yay!)  Last week I had their Texas-sized breakfast taco.  The tortilla is  bigger than a dinner plate - it is HUGE and toasted on the griddle.  I had egg, bacon, cheese, and avocado with their homemade salsa slathered all over it.  I'm careful about the slathering - some days the salsa burns the Hades out of this white girl's tender mouth!  Their salsa is cooked and is served warm most of the time.  The taco comes with egg - anything more is an additional charge.  I generally can't eat the whole thing.... but I never seem to order their regular size breakfast tacos. 

Today, I had my sister Sheryl's favorite item - the fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola parfait.  Served in an old fashioned ice cream soda glass, it is a fabulous concoction of seasonal fresh fruit (cantaloupe, watermelon, apples, red and green grapes, and strawberries were in there today), plain yogurt, and a great crunchy granola with occasional bites of chewy dried blueberries and currants.  That, with a cup of coffee, is a great meal.  Today, because I was hungry, I ordered a side of bacon.  Yum....love bacon.  Their order was 3 pieces of crispy and tasty bacon.  The entire meal, with coffee, was $10 and some change. 

They have a daily special for both breakfast and lunch - in the $4-$6 range.  Today's breakfast special was 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, and 2 pieces of sausage or bacon - slightly over $4.  Lunch special today was chicken fried steak.  The only lunch I've had was their Enchilada Plate - basic cheese enchiladas, beans, rice, a tortilla, and more of that homemade salsa.  It was good, basic food for a good price.  My other companions, or myself, have had the huevos rancheros (muy caliente!), huge bowl of oatmeal with toast, pancakes, basic eggs and bacon, and tasty omelets.  The only thing none of us liked time and again, are the grilled biscuits.  They've been burned, returned for a different one, and the replacements dark brown.  I am unfamiliar with the practice of open-face griddled biscuits.  I'd like to stay unfamiliar with the practice.  Biscuits should be fluffy in my opinion. 

To summarize....diner fare with a nod to the border proximity by including many Tex-Mex menu selections.

I like that the owner is there every day that I've ever been.  He always offers a friendly wave and hello once he recognizes you as a local.  Grapevine Cafe is not haute cuisine - nor is it traditional island fare.  However, if you want a decent cup of coffee, fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice when it is in season, and a low cost but plentiful breakfast or lunch...this is a good choice.

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

Louie's Backyard

This venerable hot spot of the island, Louie's Backyard, has been entertaining and feeding tourists and locals alike for as long as I've been coming to South Padre. 

If you are a visitor - it's a "must do" before you go home.  Summer offers Friday night fireworks viewing from their fabulous deck overlooking the lower Laguna Madre.  The marvelous display of the stunning South Padre sunset is applauded nightly by viewers as it sinks over the horizon.  It's a beauty and the unhampered view from Louie's is as good a spot to view it as I've ever seen.  It's a huge venue.  I've had a party of 28, a party of 7, and a party of 4 - all had good times and good food and were handled equally well by the industrious wait staff at Louie's.  When we take guests, we tend to do their extensive seafood buffet and dine on the deck.  With generous provisions of prime rib, fried shrimp, peel-your-own shrimp, crab legs, blackened fish, fried fish, scallops, an array of pasta salads, succulent fresh fruits, salad bar, potato bar...it's sure to please those with the need to stuff themselves silly.  I, personally, wouldn't rate it gourmet quality - but it is consistently good and plentiful.  In the depths of summer, it can be pretty hot, despite the many whirring ceiling fans.  Be prepared - and keep the drinks flowing (alternate in some water!) to remain hydrated.  Most people from Memorial Day to Labor Day, on Friday nights, plan their dining around being on-site at 9:15 for the fireworks.  Plan accordingly - tables don't turn often that night!

I've gone to Louie's as a "local" and eaten inside in the a/c.  (much more comfortable, but not as scenic) They have a full and varied menu and one of my favorite items is their Mexican Style Shrimp Cocktail.  I can make a meal of it - muy bueno!  I've had my share of frozen margaritas at Louie's and they were tasty as well.  There is a kid's menu, but we found, once (the party of 28), that they did not offer the kid's menu on Friday night for some reason.  They were kind enough (because we had a large group of special needs kids) to make an exception and got the kids what they wanted (the few who didn't want the buffet).  Bless them....because that could have been a big problem!  That was 5 years ago though...the kids are grown now and they want that buffet!

I never have room for dessert - but one year for my son's birthday, they brought out The Bomb - a chocolate brownie based explosion of chocolate deliciousness.  If you have room - I can vouch for it being a yummy selection!

After the parental units return to their condo, the adult "kids" often return for after hours live music or DJ and drinks.  They take The Wave home and always declare that they have a blast.  I can't vouch for the music, the dancing, or anything beyond a dinner drink...but the boys always seem to have a grand time.

Their website provides a list of scheduled entertainment - and it looks quite extensive!  I think I'll have to make a point of taking in some of the offerings... a Luau night, Mariachis,  Karaoke, a locals Sports Bar with over 60 televisions and big screens...WOW.  I've been missing out!

Whether you are a visitor or a local - Louie's Backyard is sure to be a good time.  Louie's is only open for restaurant dining in the evening (no lunch service) and their website says they are closed on Sunday.  The Sports Bar is open 7 days - and opens at noon on the week-ends.  You can't miss the big pink building at 2305 Laguna Blvd.  It's packed in the summer, but Fall is a wonderful time on the island.  I'll be looking forward to sitting on the deck in my shorts and flip flops in November, watching those beautiful sunsets, with a frosty margarita in my hand!
(photo from Google Images)

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:
3 1/2 – Pretty Yummy - I feel my flip flops wanting to head back from time to time!

Sea Ranch Restaurant and Bar

Photo source:  Google images

When we want to go somewhere nice for a family occasion, nine times out of ten, the family member requests Sea Ranch Restaurant and Bar as their dining establishment of choice.  This is one of those places where I wear my sparkly rhinestone encrusted flip flops I regularly purchase at Ship Shape on the island.  I'm addicted to their purty shoes...  However, I digress.  Back to food.

Sea Ranch was completely renovated after Hurricane Dolly and it is beautiful inside.  The staff are attentive and friendly.  The cosmos are good (the only drink I can attest to) and my son's girlfriend enjoyed the Appletini.  Everyone else had wine - and they sure seemed happy!  Mainly, though, the restaurant is visited for those special occasions, over and over, because the food is so delicious and the evening becomes an event to be remembered. 

The appetizer most loved by us all is the hot Artichoke Parmesan Cheese Dip.  Yum.  My hubby tends to get the Island Fiesta Combo - which is a pick 2 items kind of thing - he likes to get fish and shrimp.  My son learned to love Red Snapper here.  He also learned to love Filet Mignon and Lobster here.  Hmmmm...wish he learned to like something a little less pricey!  My brother-in-law and nephews enjoy bringing their catch and having the chef prepare it for them.  That option comes with some sides so it works out great for them.  Me?  I am in LOVE with their Seafood Alfredo...and their delicious fried shrimp...and their shrimp scampi over angel hair pasta.  Actually, I've never had a bad meal...or even a mediocre meal at Sea Ranch.

Sea Ranch is on the bay side and the evening is enhanced by lovely sunsets, boats coming and going, happy people, and a truly excellent dining experience.  It is located on the south end of the island and is only open for dinner.  So, put on your sparkly flip flops ladies and a nice tropical shirt guys... it won't be your cheapest meal on the island but I bet it will be one of the meals you remember.  I've been going to Sea Ranch for over 10 years...and when my birthday comes around...that's where I'll be wanting to go this year too!
(Image source - Google Images)

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

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

Dirty Al's

Having sampled Dirty Al’s several times over the past couple of years, I must say it’s a good value with consistent quality. I've been at various times of day, both high and low seasons...and have never been disappointed.

My oldest son heard about Dirty Al’s from a friend in Austin and they visited Dirty Al’s while on vacation a few years back. They raved about the fish tacos and the “Dirty Al’s Sauce”.  They assured me we should try it...despite having the word "bait" on the restaurant signage!  I didn't make it that trip, but I did once we moved down here.  Dirty Al's proclaims to have “the world’s best fried shrimp” and I’ve sampled their fried shrimp on enough occasions to know that it is indeed dependably tasty.  Lightly breaded shrimp, butterflied to the extreme, with onion rings instead of French fries for me… the small shrimp basket fills me up (so why do I keep ordering the large serving?). Last time we tried the fried calamari. I wasn’t overly fond of the dipping sauce (although my older son liked it) but they immediately brought some excellent tartar sauce and some Ranch dressing which I used instead; truly excellent calamari.  Service is attentive, friendly, and we've never had too long of a wait once we were seated.

My younger son is a picky eater but he declares their hamburger “thumbs up”. My only “dislike” was my granddaughter’s upset at ordering a corn dog and being served mini corn dogs. Tired little kids are fairly concrete. If that had been explained on the menu – it would have been one less melt down for the adults to experience! Their online menu is incomplete – so don’t think that is all they have. The menu on-site has options not listed online.

The original location on the south end of the island (on the bay side before you get to Isla Blanca Park) can be really crowded during the tourist high season. Going early for lunch or dinner will possibly score you a shorter wait. Their second restaurant, Dirty Al’s Pelican’s Station (bay front and less than a block south of Hwy 100) in Port Isabel, has a beautiful bridge and bay view, several televisions tuned to sports and news channels, and an ambiance more to my liking. The island location has a small gift shop attached and the Port Isabel location appeared to have a separate gift shop to the left of the entrance although I didn’t stop in.

They advertise that they also serve breakfast – which I haven’t tried; will be doing that soon. I’ll keep you posted!
(Photo source - Google Images)


SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

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

Gabriella's Italian Grill and Pizzaria

My family loves Gabriella’s Italian Grill and Pizzeria. It is always on their “list” when I have visitors and I try to put it on “the list” for new visitors. The wait is long during high season, but there is outside seating on the sidewalk if you can handle the sun. I prefer waiting for an inside table unless it is one of those lovely balmy island evenings in the Fall and Spring. The wait is worth it in my opinion.

The meal starts off with wonderful hot bread with herbed olive oil for dipping, a small communal plate of antipasto, and a family-style bowl of salad dressed with vinaigrette. They have an amazing beer and wine selection to complement your meal and a good cup of coffee, if that is your thing. The hand-made brick oven pizza, the chicken Marsala, the fried chicken (yes, fried chicken – with truffle gravy and garlic mashers – I’d order the gravy on the side – it’s intense), the spaghetti with meatballs, the bowtie carbonara….I should stop – everything I’ve ever eaten there has been outstanding. The one thing I have to have every time – fried calamari. It is the best I’ve ever eaten….and I’ve eaten a LOT of calamari.  It's just good food and a lot of it!

My younger son is a picky eater but he never fails to find something he likes there. The basic menu items are good as are the more gourmet offerings. My son tried his first Tiramisu there. His response was “WHY haven’t I had this before???” I just smiled “uh, because you won’t try anything new?”

My only “dislike” has been that the wait staff is sometimes spread too thin. Service has always been courteous but not always timely. I’m always hungry when I go there, so it has bothered me the last couple of times. Not the case during low season, but definitely a problem during high season. I’d be less likely to take my grandkids there. I doubt they could bear the wait.

When I first moved here they were located in Port Isabel and closed a couple of months after Hurricane Dolly. I was thrilled to discover their new location just north of the bridge on the island (700 Padre Blvd.), in a nice, but small, strip mall setting. Please note – when busy, parking may be a challenge. Be prepared. Really, though, for ME, it’s been worth the wait and parking crunch every time!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

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

South Padre Island Farmer's Market

BASED ON TRIPS FROM FEBRUARY 2010 TO JULY 2010          As I drove up to the North shore area, where the local farmer’s market is held, I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across my face. I was so happy to be back at a local farmer’s market! I parked on the side of the road, tried not to sink into too much sand, hopped out, grabbed my Central Market canvas tote, re-secured my hat – because, of course, the wind was briskly blowing – and just stopped to listen. I heard live music, I heard people laughing, I heard a gull or two, I heard the sound of flags snapping in the wind. Then, I sniffed the air – the salty sea air. The sun was shining and a complete feeling of Zen came over me. There is nothing like a farmer’s market!

The first trip to the SPI Farmer’s Market was, well, crowded. The Winter Texans were here and it was a new venture…it was a little chaotic. The produce was abundant (lots of greens and lettuce blends, broccoli, cauliflower) but sold rapidly. This trip was a little more laid back – April had arrived – the veggies were different. It was less crowded, more of the feel I’ve come to associate with off-season South Padre Island.

At one of the following visits I got celery, the first of the cucumbers, fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, tender little carrots, young green beans, some herbs, speckled eggs, and other delectable vegetables. On other trips I’ve gotten melons, pineapples, greens, onions, broccoli, salads from Zeste and baked goods. This week I hear there is corn, sweet potatoes, melons, an abundance of squashes, and other end-of-summer yummies. My favorite vendor is Acacia Farms – they never fail to have beautiful product. But, really, all of the selections are wonderful for such a small market.

The SPI Farmer’s Market just makes me feel good. I stood in the sun for a moment, listening to guitar music, browsing the offerings at the Paragraphs Book Store kiosk and was so happy to be living here in this beautiful area... with a soul-deep need fulfilled; to be able to access locally-grown produce in a friendly small-town environment – just heavenly. The market is currently held on Sunday each week, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. just north of the Convention Center at The Shores. You’ll see the white tents and the cars parked along the road. See you there!

SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATING:

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

Hi, I’m the SPI Flip Flop Foodie!

I’ve lived in the South Padre Island/Port Isabel area for a couple of years now, and I’ve vacationed on the island for many years. Eating out on the island was always one of our favorite things when we vacationed (of course the beach was #1). I still love the opportunity to explore the gastronomical offerings available in the area and decided I would share my enjoyment of good food with others by starting this blog.

I lived in Austin, Texas my entire life prior to the move here, and reveled in the bountiful offerings of HEB's first Central Market, the roots of Whole Foods Markets, a plethora of fine restaurants, and fabulous neighborhood dives. With the debut of Food Network as my catalyst for learning to love more than basic fried southern food and Texas barbecue, I began to experiment with more advanced cooking techniques at home, and began to choose foods I would never have tried in the past when dining out. My husband and I enjoy travelling... and finding great food in unfamiliar places is a true delight.

Since moving to the Gulf Coast, I found myself ridding my closet of almost all of my dress clothes and shoes and living La Vida Isla… in shorts, tees, flip flops, and sun screen. I used to edit and write a newsletter for a hospital where I worked, was editor of my school paper, and my first job was in a small local newspaper. I miss writing and decided I was ready to get back into writing something …and my first thought ran to food!

I hope you enjoy the restaurant reviews, event reviews, and other ramblings I’ll provide from time to time. Eventually, I hope to incorporate recipes and interviews. I’ll keep you posted as things progress!

I have decided to rate the food-related events and restaurants I visit, as described below. Also please take a moment to review my tongue-in-cheek disclaimer.


SPI FLIP FLOP FOODIE RATINGS:

0 – My flip flops were not happy campers

1 – Okay – but I’ve definitely had better – not sure that I’d return

2 – A satisfactory meal –I’d try it again

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

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

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


Disclaimer:


This blog is intended solely for those interested in my personal opinion of restaurants I have visited. If you don’t like my opinion, you are free to go to the restaurant yourself, decide if you like it or not, and write your own blog. Everyone has different tastes. If you hate a restaurant I love, well, don’t go back to the restaurant I love, go to the restaurant you love. I only go to restaurants where I can wear flip flops. I do have dressy flip flops so don’t think you can wear your swimsuit or cutoffs to all of these restaurants. While South Padre Island has a beachy, no-tie atmosphere, some places are a bit dressier and might be more suitable to having a few sparkles on your flip flops. There may be links or advertisements found on my blog. I try to be conscientious about links but the web is a constantly evolving creature. If you are inadvertently exposed to offensive material, nudity, obscenity, or other unintended obnoxiousness – it was never malicious on my part and I sure didn’t mean THAT to happen! I’m a nice girl – I wouldn’t intentionally do that. Please email me what happened and I’ll try to investigate. Some things are outside of my immediate control. If you own a restaurant I didn’t like, well… I’m sorry. If you want to know additional details about my visit, please email me with the subject “I am a restaurant owner” and I will be happy to have a cordial discussion about my experience. If you yell at me in writing, I will not respond. If you don’t like my writing style, I have misspellings, or there are other technical issues, I suggest you find another blog to read because I’m pretty casual about writing styles. Okay, enough of that icky disclaimer stuff.