General Dining Discussion

post-Ike restaurant industry

Island Cat — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:43:54 GMT

I am worried about the restaurant industry. Normally, I am the first to put a positive swing on a subject; however, my own experitise plus my observation as of late, have led me to believe that there's a BIG lack of toursit/money hitting Ol' G-town post-Ike.

I know of a person who was hired at a seawall restaurant ( let's keep names out of this, a general discussion is all I am going for). He was put thur the normal two week training period, then LAID OFF. In the middle of July!

On the 24th of July, a Friday. I headed down the seawall to meet with friends at a burger spot we all love. Passing a major restaurant,, I was shcocked to see an empty parking lot. They had been open for 30 min. and should have been packed, or on the way to a hugh lunch rush. The next parking lot was not totally empty, but close.

If I was managment , I would have had my employees park up front. Nothing worse than looking closed, or unwanted.

Ordering my buger was a breeze, just walked right up to the counter. Missing were the lines out the door. The clocked mark streight up noon. Scary, but true.

Has anyone else encounted simlar, or better yet totally oposit dining adventures?

p.s. My friend pcked up a roofing gig right away. It pays to be flexible.

Float Pool and Bar

Robin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:34:03 GMT

OK, I've been to the island a bunch but never noticed this place til the last visit. What's the scoop locals? Adults only, older teens OK, kids?

What am I hungry for???

David — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:49:44 GMT

Ok gang,

First, hello to all.

I do hope everyone is getting back to some kind of normal after Ike.

We will be on the Island mid August and I am looking for some of the best places to sit down and chow. I have a few places on my list already but I am always looking for information on a great place to eat. I love just about any kind of good food.

A great burger will out do a medi-oker fine dinning any day but. I'm in on a fine dinning if it's worth the doe!!!

Let me here some of the really good places to eat and the type of food they serve. Please!!!

David

Cake

FW Gal — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:33:38 GMT

My husband and I are making our first trip to Galveston this August to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. Any recommendations on a bakery from which I could order a small "wedding cake" for us to share?

Thanks!

Boudreaux's on the Bayou (Blue Hole)

Lynniebell — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:40:22 GMT

A must for colorful local entertainment. Outside seating, a band, good margaritas..good fried shrimp basket. I had to ask if they had fresh shrimp and the waiter said they did and would make my basket with them. If I wouldn't have asked, I think the shrimp would be frozen. The fries are really good.

A fun place...and off the beaten path.

Best Seafood? and where to park nearest the cruise ships

rbarker — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:37:19 GMT

Who has the best seafood (like shrimp) It is still Shrimp N Stuff ? What about for steak. We had a prior good experience at Saltgrass. I saw something about The Mosquito cafe - is that any good.. where is the best place to eat a burger outside and watch the sites.

Also where is the cheapest / best access to park around just for like an hour to watch the cruise ships come and go.

I know about the strand having metered parking but is there a better parking area around the cruise docks? We just want to walk around and see were we can walk to.. but dont know the specific area.

Golden Corral

TX Traveler — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:52:25 GMT

Just out of total curiousity . . . did the Golden Corral open back up? It sort of sat in a low spot. I wondered if the owner/manager family moved back to where they originally came from: LA or GA?

charlies

arkie — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:35:11 GMT

im wondering about charlies on 23rd it was one of our favorite places to get a burger

Mosquito Cafe is NOW OPEN!!!!!!!!!

Dixie — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:44:01 GMT

Kiss my butt hurricane IKE

14th street is back!!!

Courtyard Cafe in Downtown Galveston

evolve — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:12:24 GMT

Courtyard Cafe is one of only six restaurants open downtown so far. Great home cooked food! They are located at 2519 Market st. Open Monday thru Friday for lunch @ 11 and dinner on Th, F, Sa @ 5:30.

Cafe Madrid

mojo boogie — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:43:13 GMT

They are working day and night on rebuilding. I spoke to the workman, and they said they are planning to reopen with the new year.

Christmas Eve Dinner

galvatraz — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:22:55 GMT

Does anyone know of a restaurant that will be open Christmas Eve? My family and I would like to go somewhere that has a Christmas type menu but have yet to find any such a place. Any suggestions? Not Luby's please.

Like others, we are lacking cooking space for a family of 6 due to Mr. Ike.

Thanks so much!!

Mosquito Grill

mojo boogie — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:12:15 GMT

So Dixie, heard anything? when are they reopening?

"NO CHILDREN" Seating Section

Galveston Island Gal — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:34:24 GMT

I have a novel idea for the larger upscale restaurants -- reserving a section for Adults Only!

Saturday, I ate a fantastic meal at Saltgrass Steakhouse at the Kemah Boardwalk. It was my Dad's 83rd Birthday. The service was superb, the view of the roller coaster and bay breathtaking and the food most tasty, economical and plentiful!

However, for the second time this month, our meal was interrupted by unruly kids while the parents did nothing. And have you noticed that when one baby screams, it starts a chorus throughout the dining room? Seems it was "take your kids out to eat" day or something. They do not sit still at the table but bounce up and down between adults. Each goes to the bathroom 2 or 3 times, darting out in front of slow-moving octogenarians. Either these children should be trained with better table manners (uh, like those of us older than age 45 were) or they should be left home and restricted to McDonalds, the Rainforest Cafe and various cheap buffets -- where bouncing up and down is part of the meal!

Since we cannot train the parents to train their kids, the simple and obvious solution is to reserve a section for adult diners. Much like the "Smoking or Non-smoking?" question from a few years ago, hostesses should now ask, "Children or Non-Children?"

Salsas Restaurant

tcpaint — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:24:46 GMT

Hi, you fellow posters gave me alot of info on some restaurants. Unfortuneately i did not go to any of them. Our first night there i had everybody talked into mex food. I told them a place called the original mex place or whatever(i forget the name) is on 15th i think.Well it was about 8:00pm when we were headed there and my sis-in-law says "there's a mexican restaurant"..It was Salsa's. Everyone said ok so i reluctantly pulled in. We had about a 1/2 hr wait and although the service was pleasant...the food was bland. No better than any take out mex place up here in the northeast. The salsa was bland. A jar from the market would of ben much better. When my sis in law complained about the salsa..the server brought her a cup of hot sauce. My suggestion would be to avoid this restaurant at all costs . It was my son's almost b-day and they did sing for him and put a sombrero on him... he loved that. Tom from Mass

Rainforest and hooters

tcpaint — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:33:08 GMT

Well these were the other 2 places we dined. Rainforest because my son requested it and this day was his actual b-day. we sat with the Gorillas and actually had a nice meal. Afterwards we went on the river cruise, which although is way overpriced, was an enjoyable(for the kids) after dinner treat. On our lat night my wife of all people metioned hooters for some wings. Well we went there and again celebrated my son's b-day. after dinner the server came over with a hoola hoop and took my son by the arm and led him to the back area where all the girls were waiting. He had a ball and we have some great pictures. My newly 12 yr old was in heaven. The food was decent. We do have both these restaurants up here. I wanted to go to fish tales but they decided since we had 5 2lb lobsters and 3lbs of steamers on friday night before Gal we should skip the seafood. Other than these places we shopped at Koglrers or whatever and spent alot of money on breakfast items, snacks, beer and soda. We had a good time..Tom from Mass I will be posting our beach episodes later on..Tom from mass

Margaritas

Lynniebell — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:42:07 GMT

I'm very confused on the Island's best margaritas. How about your opinion.

We all have different taste and I do not like the sweet ones that come from a mix, at all.

I've heard Salsa's has the best. Let's have your input.

Seaside Bistro

Arabian Princess — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:20:29 GMT

Seaside Bistro used to be one of our favorite places to eat. We didn't mind paying a little extra. .just simply because the food was so good.. however.. it is now on our BAN list. We usually give a place 2 chances.. and we had two horrible experiences with SB. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed how bad the food has gotten there...????

Patio dining w/ ocean view

tcpaint — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:31:35 GMT

Hi all, I have seen one of the webcams called the Spot cam. It appears this is a basic eatery with a nice ocean view deck. How is this place food wise and view wise? Are there any other restaurants that offer this type of view while dining? I'm not very fancy and simple is fine with us Northerners. Any ideas. 8 days til TX vacay..Tom

Good Crab Cakes

Dixie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:26:09 GMT

When The Sunflower has crabcakes on their night menu ... they are amazing , from what everyone tells me. Lynnie , next time you are in town , we'll have to go there , you can have your crabcake and I can have the grilled fish without going broke. They have an upscale menu with very reasonable prices. you will enjoy it plus they bake bread and pastries fresh daily , so you can take something yummy home with you.

I might see if Mojo wants to go there for lunch today Dang 5:30 in the morning and I am already thinking about a trukey , bacon and avacado sandwich on Jap / cheese bread

Walmart Recommendation

tomrgalvtx — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:20:14 GMT

Found that Walmart's selection of frozen pizza has added deep dish in a few varieties. My choice was to buy the peperoni and add my special ingredients. Very good with a fair price. Too bad that DiGiorno stopped selling theirs.

Tomateos & Salmon?

Dixie — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:20:38 GMT

The rock that I live under doesn't get a paper delivery, and there's not much of a tv reception either. What gives with the tomatoe crisis I bet I have 15 tomatoes. Will they be okay if I cook them?

Cafe Madrid

Sky — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:38:31 GMT

I have eaten here a couple of times over all the food does have a good flavor but the service is not very fast. I also ordered and after 15 minutes I was told that they didn't have that item. So I reordered and then it too 35 minutes to get the food which was only an TAPA Frio. I believe that the place has potential but must have better service. Also we found it hard to find. Everyone refers us like this "It's next to the Sky Bar" Well the Cafe Madrid could use better signage. There was a jazz group playing I believe someone named Sparky, I will say that he was an excellent trumpet player and the bass and guitar player also seemed quite professional. I would go back for the music but hope that the service would be better.

Nates Steakhouse

Dixie — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:39:30 GMT

Has anyone been to the new nates on the West End?

Galveston.com , do you know how i would VISIT them?

Hormel Microwave Dinners

durtolman — Mon, 26 May 2008 05:27:00 GMT

Has anyone tried the new Hormel Microwave Dinners? You put them in for 90 Sec. They cost $1.98 at Wal-Mart. I am eating one right now; salisbury steak and sliced potatoes; pretty tasty meal. Try one and let me know what your opinion is.