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Seafood Dining on Bolivar Peninsula Don and I recently had lunch at Stingaree Restaurant. We were on our way home after spending a few days in Galveston.  11 years ago we did the very same thing. Not too much has changed. Ferry and Food Adventure Both of our visits to Stingaree began with a ferry ride. It's fun to do a replay of a past adventure.  This is the ferry that Don and I took in 2013. We were on our way home from Galveston Island. We figured we'd find lunch as soon as we reached Bolivar Peninsula. Weather was perfect on that August day. We left the car and wandered the deck... of the Dewitt C. Greer ferry.  Who is Mr. Greer? Evidently a Texan, known as the "King of the Highway Builders". Thanks Wikipedia! We spotted barges that day...
...and dolphins! On a Friday in May 2024, Don and I drove onto the Robert C. Lanier Ferry... named for the mayor of Houston. At least he was mayor when we moved to Texas, 25 years ago.  A tractor trailer parked too close to Don's car door. He stayed trapped in the car. I headed out in search of dolphins.  None were spotted, but the seagulls were entertaining! Bolivar Point Lighthouse In 2013, I snapped this pic from Highway 87, on the way to Stingaree. The lighthouse looked oddly dark, standing next to the white beach homes.  I learned some history about the old lighthouse from 1872. Evidently the structure darkened naturally, from the elements. It once sheltered over 100 people, during Galveston's Great Storm/flood of 1900. It was featured in a movie (My Sweet Charlie) in 1968, along with actress Patty Duke. Sadly when we passed this past May, the top was removed and it looked sad and neglected. Stingaree in 2024 We arrived around noon, this past May.  Don followed the flow of visitors from the parking lot, but I veered left to see an old boat, docked nearby. Miss Kim II I don't know the story. Was there a Miss Kim I? Who was the boat named for?
I was mostly excited to get close, to see if those pelicans were real. Of course they were. Yellow Building Don waited for me to catch up. I studied the building as we headed towards the stairway.  Stingaree looked a little brighter than it did a decade before.  I pulled up my old photo to compare. Bigger? Had the old seafood restaurant expanded? Maybe the yellow paint just made it look larger.
I spotted the external elevator. There was actually a line for a ride in that metal cage. A lot of seniors out for lunch, on that pretty May day. Dining Room This picture shows the main dining room, back in 2013. It looked the same when we arrived in May, but all the tables were full.  We couldn't sit below the fish decor, or the stuffed geese, or the deer head. Quite a collection! 2013 Feast We enjoyed our lunch with a view over East Galveston Bay. I remember enjoying my Po'Boy and seafood gumbo.  I still remember Don's Avocado Delight, stuffed with shrimp and crabmeat. Very yummy! Bar Seating When we arrived on this visit, there were a few open seats at the bar.  We could have taken a seat and studied the dollar bills attached to wood beams. Or we could have pulled up a red stool at an extra bar counter, and studied the display of desserts. Side Room But suddenly the hostess guided us to a side room, where some good tables had just been cleaned.  We lucked out with another window table. Our waiter brought menus and eagerly suggested cocktails and appetizers.  The Stingarita and Muggarita actually sounded fun, but we were traveling. We already knew what we wanted to eat! Redfish Louie Don had seen the Redfish Louie featured on a TV show, that focused on Texas restaurants. Note that Don is wearing a t-shirt and hat once again. This seems to be required dress code for the men.  His redfish came on a bed of dirty rice, topped with crawfish etouffee & fried crawfish tails.  My serving of popcorn shrimp was just what I wanted.  The slaw and hand cut fries hit the spot too. I wish we'd been traveling with a cooler for leftovers. Stingaree History I wanted badly to have a chat with our waiter about a little Stingaree history. Like the name for instance. But he was bustling around pushing fried mushrooms and margaritas.  I studied the walls (and internet) for hints. The biz isn't nearly as old as I had guessed. 37 years old.  Jim Vratis opened the marina and restaurant in 1986. Jim's son Brad runs the busy place now. I like a family owned business. Wandering After Lunch After dining with a view of the intracoastal waterway, I was ready to get a better look.  We stepped out onto a higher deck, with another below. I kept hoping to spot some boats docking up for a visit to Stingaree. Guests can bring their fresh catch and have it cooked up in the kitchen.  We did spot a couple barges passing by. We headed from the deck, down a flight of stairs.  I was curious to see if there really were sharks or crabs inside those tanks.  No sharks, but a few crabs. Good Bye Y'all! Soon we were back on the road. Our ferry route made our drive back to our home in Sugar Land, about twice as long.  But the extra hour was worth it. We enjoyed the ferry ride (some enjoyed more than others!) and we had some very decent seafood! We also got in some curious people watching. A lot of seniors. Yep, like us, but dressed differently. Some men in overalls and some very snazzy sparkle shirts for the ladies. No political shirts, thank goodness!
Next time, I hope we can chat with some locals, or the owner. Maybe we can learn where that name Stingaree comes from.
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Soda Fountain in Rosenberg, Texas On Sunday we drove about 15 minutes, to Another Time Soda Fountain, in Rosenberg. The building did indeed remind me of another time!  The impressive corner building has housed many things in its 120 years, but a soda fountain has always been on the first floor. Since 1904 The structure was completed in 1904, when Meyer-Forster Land & Loan Co. occupied most of the space. That was the same year the waffle cone was invented at the St. Louis World's Fair.  That trivia makes me guess the old fountain only served ice cream in dishes, when it first opened. But we know the ice cream CONE eventually made its way to the Rosenberg soda fountain. More on that later! Last Visit It was 2014, when I last visited Another Time Soda Fountain. Don and I went on my 57th birthday.  It's been 10 years since I got ridiculously excited about my Birth-Year-Birthday! Since my age matched the year I was born, I figured I'd celebrate like it was 1957... at a "malt shop".  I ordered grilled cheese with bacon, fries and a milkshake! If it had really been 1957, I'm sure I would have ordered a malt. 11:15 on a Sunday We arrived for an early lunch, last Sunday. A few tables were filled with "after church families", but the stools were all vacant.  That would have been fun, but we had our 3-year-old granddaughter with us. She wouldn't have been able to reach the counter. Charlie Charlie was excited to sit anywhere. She loves a restaurant outing and she dressed for the occasion... in jewels!  On the drive to Rosenberg, I pointed out the train tracks that ran parallel to Hwy 90. "We'll see train tracks near the restaurant... and maybe we'll see a train!" So Charlie was eager when we parked between the restaurant and tracks. Silly me for getting her excited. There was no train. "Maybe later." I stupidly assured. Seated in Back Luckily Charlie was eager to go inside the big building. She didn't know she was missing out on those fun stools, when our hostess guided us to the back of the room.  I was glad to see the soda fountain hadn't changed in a decade. The pressed tin ceilings and decorated walls looked just how I remembered. Odd Table We couldn't spin on barstools, but we did have a curious feature at our table.  Each corner had an interesting cupholder. 8 holes in all! I guess this design accommodates left-handed people. But we forgot to use them! What's Up? After ordering, I was entertained watching Charlie and Pop Pop chat.  Suddenly they both looked up at something that I hadn't noticed. The little figure above us was familiar to me. My family had one in our New York apartment, in the 1960s!  A little clown on a unicycle was going back and forth on a tightrope, right above Charlie's head. We clearly had the best seats in the house, for clown viewing. Unless you're scared about a high wire mishap.  Evidently this clown has been entertaining customers at the soda fountain since 1946. The current owners inherited the clown when they started up Another Time, about 20 years ago. Ruth Our server Ruth couldn't have been nicer. She even had a bit of a 1950s vibe going on, with her hair tied up in a scarf.  As Ruth delivered a few baskets of chicken strips, she answered my soda fountain questions. I'd gotten curious after studying a nearby case, filled with vintage ice cream parlor goodies.  Ruth said there had always been a soda fountain on the first floor. "For years there was a doctor's office upstairs. Patients were given a wooden nickel that bought them an ice cream cone at the soda fountain." I loved picturing kids with their cones, (after 1904!!) at the soda fountain. But I also loved comparing my own memory! Memory Tangent! Dr. Grimmer was my family's doctor in Grinnell, Iowa in the 1960s. After our check ups, Dr. Grimmer would write us (me and my sibs) prescriptions for ice cream cones, at Cunningham Drugstore!  The Cunningham Drugs building (rebuilt after 1954 fire) doesn't look nearly as picturesque as the Rosenberg building. But, my fond ice cream memories likely match those of many Rosenberg kids, way back when! Blue Plate Special I didn't repeat the grilled cheese order on this visit. Instead I went for the Blue Plate Special. How could I pass up a retro diner feast for $10.00?  Pork steak with gravy, on top of sauerkraut! Served with potatoes, salad and roll. The meat was tender and tangy! The slightly mashed potatoes were delicious. I took half home! Ice Cream! When Ruth asked if there would be anything else, Heidi ordered a dish of ice cream for Charlie. I missed getting a picture of Charlie's expression when she shrieked with delight. I didn't get a video a second later, when she leapt from her chair and twirled around 5 times, squealing "Ice Cream! Ice Cream!" at the top of her lungs.
But I did get a million pictures, during the 19 minutes of icy vanilla bliss! The 3 adults were totally entertained. She started with giddy gusto and finished by tipping the dish and slurping up the melted cream at the bottom! Headed Out On our way out, I paused briefly to take in some of the many photos covering the walls.
I love this old building and its history. The exterior looked completely different when Frank Dedek took over the pharmacy in 1967. Amusing!
 Wheelchairs, hobby supplies and photo processing! All available at Frank's! I have no idea when this police photo was taken! I didn't have time to ask Ruth. We needed to get Heidi and Charlie to the car before rain started up. They were headed home to Austin. The Big Building I walked with Heidi and Charlie across the street. Charlie asked about the train tracks again, but there was no time to walk over for a look. It was sprinkling and skies threatened.  While Heidi got Charlie in the carseat I studied the 2-story brick building and suddenly appreciated the owners (the Butlers) who purchased and refurbished over 20 years ago. What a beautiful landmark. Bye Charlie Charlie was halfway buckled, when the clanging started. Suddenly a freight train was rumbling down the tracks, while the red lights flashed.  Charlie had a great view from her seat.  What a perfect ending to our soda-fountain-near-the-tracks-adventure! Another Time I said good-bye, then Heidi and Charlie headed off, just before the skies let loose.  I crossed over to where Don was parked and peeked up at the old building once more. The train was still thundering by. I peeked at the sign for "Rosenberg Railroad Museum" right next to where Heidi had parked.
"Another time!" I thought! "We'll come back to Rosenberg, go to the railroad museum, watch trains and come back to Another Time for ice cream... at the counter! Lured by the Sign I must admit, I've been lured by many a sign, towards a dining adventure. Usually it's something a little more exciting, like a vintage neon sign.  But this sign definitely caught my eye, last March. I love cows and this sign showed me a cow, in a spaceship! Lots of Signs! I followed!  I headed down Agnes Road past some lounging cows!  It said "Keep Going" beneath the arrow. I did as told. Where was this road going?  After cow pastures, I suddenly spotted an RV park. Not a particularly attractive one. Then I saw some trucks and a building.  I spotted this building and I said. "Nope." I was on my way to a garden nursery, less than 10 miles from home. I had just followed the sign because I was curious. I wasn't hungry. This building by the RV Park did not lure me. Back Again But I returned. This time I was with Don and we both were hungry.  The metal building looked huge. Where was the entrance?  We passed picnic tables and eventually found the door.  Don does not look thrilled in this photo. But he was actually pretty game. First to Arrive We arrived right after the burger restaurant opened.  Don and I both grinned. The place was huge and open and spotlessly clean.  What was the story about this burger barn with a cow theme? More Signs The cow signs lured me initially. Now some important signs informed me. As we read the menu, a very nice young guy walked out from the kitchen area.
He had some explaining to do. Although there was a video playing nearby, that told us about our robot service. Tap. Pour. Enjoy! The nice young guy took our order, but also made sure we noticed the self serve drink options.  We could serve ourselves some IPA if we wanted! But it was just after 11. A little early for that. Shopping We could also do some grocery shopping while we waited.  There was a case of WAGYU sausages and freezers full of all kinds of beef.  If we got a little confused, we could just read one more sign, next to the freezer case. Wodagyu Beef I read that the beef was processed by master butchers and vacuum sealed. I could see that.  I read that the cows (that become the beef) roam freely on land and are given happy, stress free lives. I like that. Then I learned that Wodagyu cattle have the same genetics as the infamous Kobe beef raised in Japan. Then I tried not to look at that sweet image... with big cow eyes. Seating Don and I had the pick of the place, for seating. We could have taken a seat on an orange stool, by a cow shaped sign, with stuff to teach.  I could have learned from that labeled cow. I've seen images like this before, but I never tried to absorb the info. Where's the shank, or the flank located? I should know now, but I didn't want to remind myself. I Love Cows I really should be a vegetarian, because I love cows. I don't like to be reminded of where my burger meat comes from.
So I studied the cow "art" that was cartoonish and whimsical. Look at that cow go! He's heading off in his flying saucer!  We took a seat not far from the neon cow, in his burger shaped flying saucer! Buzzer Placement We were given a buzzer. That's nothing new.  But we had to make sure we placed our buzzer properly on our table corner. Water Closet Then I raced off to wash hands. Mostly I was lured by the bathroom sign with figures and a WC. This Texas barn restaurant wasn't where I'd expect to see the Water Closet term.
During my little hike back to the restroom, I passed about a million mailboxes. What was this all about? The RV park? I think there were showers somewhere too? This is one fancy RV Park restaurant, I guess! Waiting Patiently I happily sipped from my Flying Cow paper cup, while we waited for food delivery.  I was getting very excited! Delivery by Robot! Then I spotted our robot. I was fairly giddy!  While "You're So vain" played on the sound system, the glowing robot moved towards our buzzer.  "Food Is Here" blinked on the top. Another cartoonish cow, (standing on a burger) reminded us "Best Burgers in the Galaxy" from the decorated side. Lunch for Two If we'd been dining with a family of 6, it would have been a lot more fun.  Then all the trays would have been filled with orders! And the kiddos would have been squealing with delight. I had to do that part myself. Yum! Our order took up the top tray. Cheeseburgers, fries and some brisket tacos to take home with us. But before we got the food on the table, the sweet guy from the kitchen came running out and admitted he put the wrong food on the robot tray.  Human error. That's okay. The food was mighty good and more diners had arrived, so we had some good people watching while we ate. I kind of liked the music that filled the place, too! Fun Time We left happy. We headed out and wandered to our car, looking out towards the RVs.  If our young man from the kitchen hadn't been so busy, I would have asked about how this whole place got started! Sweet Cows I felt a little guilty as we passed the cows on our way out.  I didn't stress over my guilt too long. I spotted something interesting far beyond the cows. A roof... Booth Public School Don and I passed the cows and headed down FM 2759 and made a turned down Booth Road.  This school from 1912, just sat there in a field of wildflowers... as pretty as you please.  I looked behind the school and saw the cows we passed and thought, what an odd little adventure! We live just 5 or so miles from this school (for 25 years) and never knew it existed. We didn't know there were fields and cows and a Flying Cow burger restaurant over here either! I'd say that was the best little close-to-home-dining-adventure I've ever had! UPDATE! Flying Cow was not a one-hit-wonder! We've been back! Just as I guessed, it was twice the fun with a child. Our granddaughter had a mighty fine time with the Robot and the she much approved of the Mac-n-Cheese!
And it's always good fun to tease your grandparents and make them think you fell asleep while eating!
Good Times at Flying Cow! Lunch Stop at Dahlia In early February Don and I wound up eating lunch in Liberty Hill, Texas.  It wasn't our original plan, but we lucked into a good meal at Dahlia Cafe. Oatmeal for Lunch? We had intended on having lunch in Oatmeal, Texas. It was my silly idea. I've always wanted to visit the town with the funny name. Surely they would have a diner with oatmeal on the menu!
All we found in Oatmeal was a windmill and a giant "can of oats". Actually there were picnic tables, near one white building. We could have brought an oatmeal picnic lunch. Farmhouse I did a search on my phone and read about Dahlia's. The reviews raved about great comfort food at the family owned business. I read that "Debi and John" opened the cafe about 15 years ago with about a dozen family members pitching in. We drove 15 minutes to Liberty Hill.  We pulled up and found a parking lot with 7 spaces for curbside carryouts. Odd. The building behind the fence was also a little odd. It was hard to see it well, but evidently there was a 1930's era farmhouse, within that sprawling cafe. Around Back We drove around back and realized this was no tiny cafe. Numerous "ice house" garage doors, looked out towards a wooden deck and towering trees.  We parked in a huge lot and walked through the yard space, noticing lots of fallen limbs. There was caution tape, near some scattered cut up "logs". Watering Hole The large outdoor area looked inviting, but the tables weren't in use.  The Watering Hole looked like it was the place to get beer during warmer weather. The old table clearly hadn't been used in a while. For the Kiddos The kids' play area looked tidier than the rest of the yard. There were so many cars in the lot, but there were no kids climbing on the structure or going down the slide.  There was something a little nostalgic about the old tractor tires and the metal monkey bars. How I used to adore showing off on those bars! Tree and Caution Tape As we got closer to the building, we could see that many areas were closed off with caution tape.  Evidently those big trees that offer heavenly shade in the summer, had recently caused some problems during a big ice storm. On the day of our visit, the Texas governor had issued a disaster declaration for 7 Texas counties. Liberty Hill's county was one of them. Cozy Inside The main entrance was on the side of the building. It led us into a long dining room, that had clearly been added to the farmhouse.  The "garage doors" were closed, keeping the space warm. It was surprising that the place was open at all, after the recent weather. But the place was hopping and the staff greeted with enthusiasm. "We'll get you seated in a few minutes!" Eating in the Front Room In about 5 minutes we were given a table in an older room, towards the front of the house. The room was smaller and quieter, with fewer big groups. Or maybe it was the paper egg cartons attached to the ceiling, that absorbed the sound.  Don ordered Mother in Law's Meatloaf, made with Debi's MIL's recipe. Don chose rice and mashed potatoes with brown gravy. The meatloaf was huge and flavorful. I had my eye on his biscuit. Toritilla Soup and BLT No complaints about my soup and sandwich. Although I should have at least looked to see if oatmeal was on the menu!  The soup was tasty with big chunks of chicken and avocado and tortilla strips. BLTs are always comfort food to me. The amount was just right, for someone who had plans on stealing half a biscuit and most of Don's potatoes! Wash Up Time Before we hit the road, I dashed to the restroom. There was one inside, but I could have opted for the funny little restroom that I saw outside the window.
The hand washing trough gave me a chuckle. I can picture kids in the summertime, running over from the playground to wash hands before dinner.
And as we drove on our way, Don and I grinned with our secret. We had recently learned that certain family members... with a certain little one... will be moving to Austin... not terribly far from Liberty Hill. I have a feeling we will be back to Dahlia's! Father's Day in Comanche Don has been flexible about Father's Day, for 35 years. June travels are an issue for many dads!  On Father's Day 2022, we were on the road heading home from Colorado. We had to make it special, so we stopped in the town of Comanche, at the restaurant with the best sign. Miguel's. Teepee and Metal Art There was more than a neon sign to lure us. There was a teepee in front.  There was a metal cactus and a pair of howling coyotes. The pink one was hiding behind the plant. Hungry It was 12:30 when we walked across a large gravel lot. There were a lot of cars. It seemed possible that every father in Comanche, was inside dining.  I had a feeling this little restaurant might have some history. And what about the town? There's clearly a history of the Comanches in Texas, but what about this town of about 4,000. Since 1989 Well the menu told me right away that they'd been around since 1989. That's not so long. That was the year Don became a dad for the second time.
A Comanche Tradition? What did the actually mean? I got a little curious. Was there any connection at all to the Comanche tribe that once dominated much of Texas? Spotlighted Display Luckily we were seated right away. Our table wasn't far from a glowing display. There were at least a dozen wind chimes hanging above.  Was this a Comanche Chief? Is that accurate dress for a Comanche woman? I don't think the vacuum was supposed to be part of the display. Crosses? There were a lot of crosses on display behind the two figures.
There were crosses of all colors and designs on a few walls. It looked like many of the guests had just come from church. So that fit. More Statues I got up to wash my hands and found a totem pole at the end of the hall. I found more statues that had me scratching my head.
I wish there had been some write up in the menu... maybe about the owner's interest in Comanche history. What's behind these 2 statues? Garage sale or commissioned work? The 2020 census says there are 19 residents who are Native American... I have questions. Painted Art There were murals that caught my eye as well.  Saguaro cacti, donkey, rattlesnake, little guy in sandals, with a large sombrero. And a dream catcher hanging above. So many theme going on here. Not sure what to think. Foods Options But, I let it go. I was famished and ready for chips and salsa. I would research later.
I only had to glance at the menu and my decision was made. I could have ordered Mama's Chicken or Ladies Plate, but I told our very pleasant server, " I think I'm going to have to order ZT's Special! Because... why not?!" She laughed with me. ZT's Special My choice doesn't look that unusual, but it was probably the least healthy dish on the menu.  Tamales wrapped in flour tortillas, then DEEP_FRIED and topped with queso! Served with rice beans and sour cream of course! Pretty decadent! Father Don & Chimichanga Don ordered Chimichanga for his Father's Day Fest. He looks like he's giving his entree the eye, before digging in.  His choice was actually much better than mine. Mine was all about the surrounding layers and his was all about the filling. His was packed with chicken! People Watching The food was decent and certainly better than a fast food stop on the road. We watched the diners around us, as we ate. There were 2 cute little sisters in church dresses and long black braids that made frequent trips to the Ladies Room.
There were a few cowboy hats and a couple of guys wearing "biker attire," if that is a term. One woman got up from the table and greeted about 5 other tables, as if she was at a church supper. I'm guessing we were the only non-locals. Checking Out We finished up and headed to the counter to pay up. There were lots of messages on the wall for us. "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" and "Jesus Texas and Tacos".
"AS FOR ME & MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE TACOS salsa 24:7" Hmm??? Questions? I wanted to ask our cashier some questions.  I wanted to ask about some of the decor. Who was behind these collections and decorations? But the signs on the wall and the crucifix behind the statues, sort of silenced me. Grenade & Candy So did the hand grenade, above the sign for complaints! Instead I turned my attention towards the "gum machines" on the way out. I didn't have any coins handy or I might have had some fun, for old times sake.
Then I noticed the yellow sign on the glass. "Protect Against Infection". A cow image was used to help us determine "6 feet". Was this farm/ranch humor? I left shaking my confused head. There was a lot I didn't understand.
I think our meal qualifies for a memorable, Father's Day Dining Adventure! |
The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
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