South Padre Area Restaurants

Yesterday some friends staying in Alamo, Texas, came to visit, and we decided to go to Yummies Bistro for lunch.  What a great idea.  This small restaurant, located at 700 Padre Blvd, just a little ways north of the Visitors Information Center, provided all of us with some excellent food.  The Bistro is only open from 8 am until 2 pm, but you can get breakfast items as long as they are open. Their menus says that they have been featured in Southern Living Magazine and have won a number of awards.  I can believe it.  I had a grilled ham and gouda cheese sandwich ($8.99) which was really good and my wife had a cheese quesadilla ($7.99). The hungrier of our friends had their "Rancheros Santa Cruz" which had sauteed shrimp, bacon, ham, potatos, leeks, and red peppers topped with two over easy eggs and sourdough toast ($9.49).  He said it was really good and it looked it.  Our friend and his wife also wanted some ice cream for dessert.  They asked for some and were told that they did not serve ice cream any more... but then the server decided they had some ice cream they used in some of their wonderful sounding coffee concoctions and would make up something good for them in a sundae. They were impressed with what they got.  The service was good.  But, relax, you will have plenty of time as you wait for your food.  It took a good while for our order to come.  The atmosphere is laid back, the music is relaxing - no hard rock or such - and the staff is friendly.   I would recommend this if you want a light lunch or a breakfast and time to relax by yourself or chat with friends.

I am not yet in South Padre for the 2009-2010 winter season, but I can hardly wait.  I don't eat out a lot, so I really want to make sure I get to the restaurants that fit my mood that day when I do go.  I have a few places I go to more than others.  There is Dirty Al's which is not really fine dining, but it is FINE for me.  Love the fried shrimp there, and it is a great place to go if that is what I am in the mood for.   I have always liked Blackbeard's specials - again, maybe not great food, but plenty of it.  Also like The Brewery.  Have had some good beer there, and the food is good, too.  Like the Piano Man at D'Pizza Place, and the pizza is about the best there is, but the cigarette smoke can be brutal!  What are your favorites, and what do you like on the menu?