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Ponderosa Restaurant Last June, Don and I dined well, on the first day of our road trip to Colorado. I looked on my phone for good lunch options as we drove through west-central Texas.  As we traveled on Hwy 180 towards the town of Snyder, I looked for ideas on TripAdvisor and found Ponderosa. The term "hole in the wall" was written in more than a couple reviews. Compliments about the owner and food were pretty much mentioned in all! Driving through Snyder I looked up from my phone enough to glimpse at the town as we rolled along 180. We didn't spot a sign for Ponderosa, but we saw quite a few worn and weathered restaurants.
I did love the vintage Sinclair sign, though! And the sweet dino and mint colored truck!  What a mighty tidy little station! Ponderosa's Sign We made it through town and I thought we'd missed the place. Then we spotted the fine sign above a cluster of buildings on the Ponderosa property. (This curious sign was not featured in any of the reviews)  I tried to quickly take in all the info, written in Spanish and English. Restaurant AND motel Phone & Fax numbers Money Transfer Service Open 24 hours... yet, Open Mondey to Friday 6 pm to 10 pm. Nothing on the sign told us where to park or which building held the restaurant. Entrance We pulled off the highway and drove between 2 blue posts. Colored lights were strung between a few buildings.  The property felt a little odd and confusing. The cars parked near the L-shaped motel indicated long term residents. Should we park there? We drove around to another L-shaped section of rooms, that looked unoccupied.  We parked and headed back to the area with dark blue paint and signs. I reminded Don, "The reviews are positive! I heard it's the best food in Snyder!"  It looked like a few projects were in progress. I could see some scaffolding on the roof of the white building. The planter and fountain area was partially coated in blue spray paint. Blue & White There was more fresh paint on a little shrine built into one of the posts. Luckily statues of Mary are usually blue. She might have gotten an added touch-up of paint on her robe,
Madonna was facing towards the white metal building, that we presumed was the restaurant. But the attached carport made us wonder if it was a home. Luckily we noticed a neon sign above the door. "Come In We're Open" Happy Greeting As we stepped into a sort of breezeway, a man in a cowboy hat nodded and smiled on his way out. After passing through a red door, we finally felt confident we'd found our restaurant.  Two men stood chatting beside one of the booths. One was dressed in a proper chef's cook shirt. He looked at Don and smiled, "Welcome back!" (hmm?) Then he invited us to sit anywhere. Pick of the Place It was just 11:30, so all tables were available. We had about 8 options.  I was eager to sit at a table with Spanish style barrel chairs. "Ponderosa" and a scorpion was engraved into each. Lots to See While the chef finished up his converstaion, we took in our surroundings. The alcove-type windows, reminded me of Mary's shrine outside, But they were filled with artwork and knickknacks...
... and an occasional religious figure, if you looked carefully. Luis of Ponderosa It was just a moment before the owner/chef said good-bye to his friend and greeted us again, with menus.  There was a photo of Luis and his late wife Lucia, just below the giant scorpion. (It say Lus & Luisa??) There was also an important quote, that we heard about later. Words in Red There were important words in bold red, that told us something else important. But we didn't have to read. Luis told us right away.  He was happy to cook anything on or off the menu, if he had the ingredients. "This is your house!" Chips & Salsa After dropping off menus Luis disappeared for a bit and returned with a basket of piping hot chips. Did he actually just make those back in the kitchen? And incredible fresh salsa!  Luis couldn't have been friendlier. He inquired about Don and seemed surprised to know they hadn't met before. He was sure he remembered Don. With no other customers around Luis was in no hurry for our order. We heard a lot about this interesting man, in chef's clothing. Luis in California We didn't have to read the displayed article to learn about Luis. He stood beside our table and shared about his life, with great enthusiasm. As a young child, he moved from Mexico to Los Angeles. That was after his father moved to CA with the Bracero Program, in the early'60s.  At one point Luis wanted to continue with school but his father gave him the advice (written on the menu) about study vs. work. He quit school and ended up working for numerous notable chefs in Los Angeles. He was trained in cooking all kinds of cuisine. Dad's Advice Usually I'd question a father encouraging a child to quit school, but the more Luis spoke, the more sense his father's words made.  Luis seemed to be such a content man. It sure seemed that his hard work had given him what he needed AND wanted. Cook & Serve Besides chatting with us, Luis also had to cook our meal and serve it as well. He disappeared for a while and eventually returned with our steaming plates.  Another couple came in, so Luis suddenly had more to attend to.  However he had time to pose with Don and his incredible 2.5 pound burrito, stuffed with his choice of many meats. Ponderosa Combination Plate My plate was just as heavy, with enchilada, tamale, taco, rice and beans.  I should have used my steak knife for that cheese! Man that was a decadent and delicious meal. We ended up boxing up more than half to take with us.  As we ate, Luis moved back and forth from the kitchen, attending to the new guests. I kept worrying over how he did it all.  His wife passed away 3 years ago and it's been hard to find good help. Luis works alone right now, but says he doesn't mind. He can count on himself and he loves the people he meets and serves. He assured me he had Mondays off, but maybe not holidays. I read a rave review about a feast Luis cooked on Christmas. Buying the Motel As we dined inside the white metal building, I thought about his story of purchasing the Ponderosa Motel a couple decades ago. He was married with a daughter in CA and had been working for some talented chefs over the years. (Historic LA Athletic Club!) But he was ready for change. He and his wife spotted an ad in the PennySaver paper for the Ponderosa Motel in Snyder, TX. They bought it for a little over $100,000., sight unseen!  They packed up and moved and found the motel in lousy shape. Only 4 of the 24 rooms were serviceable. After a couple years they had the motel fixed up and added a new storm shelter. Eventually they turned the shelter into the restaurant and Luis got back to cooking! He said they had no regrets. Especially since Snyder had been such a good place to raise their daughter. Name Trivia Luis finished serving the other couple and shared some more tidbits. He smiled as he recalled becoming an American citizen. Paperwork led to the discovery that there were 7 others with his same name, (and from his state, Jalisco) who had also applied. That seemed to amuse him.  He talked about meeting a woman in another town, who shared his last name. When she mentioned something about being siblings, Luis quickly did the math about when his dad came to the States. He said that just as he was wrapping his head around the notion of a half sister, the woman added sweetly, "We are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God." He gave a big laugh at how he'd jumped to conclusions. Funny Signs Luis seemed to enjoy making us smile. So he pointed out some decorations. Mostly Luis made sure Don noticed the 20 or so little signs scattered about.  He said these were "double-tongue" messages. (Serious messages hidden behind humor) I snapped this photo with no clue. I looked up a translation... "Mr. Fiado died, he paid poorly and I killed him." We Paid Well We finished up and paid our bill at the arched opening to the kitchen. We offered much thanks and tipped well, for our nearly 2 hours of good food and entertainment. We didn't need a double tongue sign to encourage that!  Before we headed out, I asked Luis what he liked best about his work. He answered without hesitation. He loved delivering the dishes himself and seeing diners react to the food they saw and tasted!
What a sweet stop in the middle of nowhere Texas! I can see why the reviews were positive! We'll have to plan this route again!
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Birthday Lunch at Hotel ZaZa I was blessed with Birthday Weather on my 68th birthday! That's the kind of weather that feels like a true gift! It was perfect for a birthday picnic.  I thought about it, but decided to go for lunch at Hotel ZaZa's Monarch Restaurant. I love eating on their open air terrace. It feels a little like a sidewalk cafe in Paris. The Warwick 1926 This is how Hotel ZaZa looked when it opened as The Warwick, in 1926.  It was one of the first luxury hotels in Houston. Bob Hope was a fan. Princess Grace was a guest. Modern Additions The hotel went modern with a big renovation in 1964. I'm not sure when the addition (with the rounded portion) was added. Probably when it became Hotel ZaZa in 2007.  On my birthday, we dined in the round, terrace section. Festive Meet Up In the past decade I've had memorable meals with good friends and family in the comfy-classy restaurant. It's always fun to start with a little wandering in the hotel.
It's a 30 minute drive from our house, so not exactly convenient.  But it's always worth the drive. Plus it's close to the museum district and zoo, so you can make it more than a lunch outing. Hermann Park The hotel looks out over Hermann Park. The park and the Sam Houston Memorial are older than the Warwick.  The elephant on the grass, (looking towards Sam) just arrived a week before my birthday. The Great Elephant Migration That lone elephant was crafted from the invasive weed, lantana camera. He was one of 100 life-size elephants created for a traveling art installation. We found the others further back in the park. A morning strolling through this incredible display, was the real focus on my birthday. It was the only thing I really wanted to do to celebrate. But we added a little lunch for fun! Lobby It was about noon when we left the park. We greeted the hotel's valet parking staff and entered through the hotel's revolving doors.  We passed Frank Sinatra's mugshot and some interesting celebrity photos.  We wandered past the photo display and paused to study a large piece of art, with some busy characters in colorful clothes!  Below the art was a koi pond that was also entertaining. Recalling The Warwick The hotel was pretty quiet on a Wednesday. We decided to do a little exploring to see if we could find the rooms where we once dined, 25 years ago.  We paused in an elegant space beneath a sparkling chandelier. I was tempted to play that shiny grand! I wasn't bold enough for that, but I did test out one of the upholstered chairs. Zoom in on those amusing faces! One cat and one dog! Hints of Old Warwick We moved further on and found some hints of the original hotel's style.  I looked at the beautiful arched doors and found myself confused. Where did we eat with the kids, when we came for an elaborate Easter brunch in 1999? New Year's Day 2000! We took a peek through another set of doors and spotted magnificent wood paneling and a marble fireplace.  It was set for a meeting, but we recognized it as the Hunt Room, where we had dined with my brother and his wife, on the first evening of the millennial! 1960s? I think I remember lots of plaid, but maybe I'm wrong. This vintage photo shows a formal yet cozy setting, with lots of red.  I remember such a peaceful, relaxed dinner. Mom was baby-sitting our kids and we enjoyed an elegant meal. We toasted with a bit of humor, to the fact we made it into the next century without some wild Y2K bug drama! Hungry After Elephant time and hotel exploration, it was time for lunch!  We headed down a snazzy hall with more entertaining art!   We peeked into the restaurant and lounge. Surprisingly empty.
I liked the zebra, but longed for an elephant! The Terrace We passed the test with the host. Gotta love a flashy sign to remind guests about their attire. "Monarch Stylish... Sensual and Dignified...So are you... Appropriate Dress Required"
The Terrace was also very quiet, which worked just fine for us! Quick Trip I made a dash to the Women's Room to wash up. I do love a bathroom that with curious decor.  Black toilet and shiny green wallpaper with alligator bumps! Love it! Lunch to Amuse! I ordered the same fried chicken sandwich that I enjoyed on my last visit.  I hoped it would be as comically large (and tasty) as before! Yes! My sandwich was impossibly hard to eat, but worth the struggle! Caesar Salad was very yummy.
I failed to get a photo of Don attempting a bite of his bacon burger. It was crazier than mine! Both tasty and both happy.
What a wonderful meal, following a leisurely morning at the park. I'm sad to realize I'll never be able to enjoy that perfect Elephant/Monarch combo again. Clean Fun in Austin's East Side At the end of March, I enjoyed an early birthday outing, with some pretty fine folk.  My daughter Heidi gave me some restaurant options. I chose Launderette. This wouldn't be my first dining adventure in a restaurant housed, in an old laundromat! Las Vegas, New Mexico This is the first laundro-restaurant!  Very different food and atmosphere, at Charlie's Spic & Span! Posing With Signs The Launderette sign didn't have my granddaughter's name on it, but Charlie was happy to pose with me.
Actually she wasn't interested in the brown sign. She wanted to pose with the stop sign, that I now see has 1 changed letter. "STOP ALL WAR" Is this a trend in the Holly Neighborhood area? Or is this a one of a kind? Boxy Building Our posing made us few minutes late for our 7:00 reservations. But I just couldn't pass up the photo op before nightfall.  As we moved towards the flat roofed building I was excited to see if I could recognize any bits of the old washeteria, from pre-restaurant days. No Machines Once inside I could see they were not spotlighting the washing machine history. Although the concrete floors did have a sudsy green appearance.  The curved wood bar, with white wire chairs and mid-century lighting was pretty and clean as a whistle. Patio Seating We reserved an outdoor table, which was much quieter and pretty comfy.  We had a table under the roof, with chair or bench options. Pillows made things cozy on the wood bench. Laundromat History I was curious to ask our server if this building had truly once been a laundromat. Yep! Not just a gimmick. It was a neighborhood laundromat just before it became a restaurant, about a decade ago.  I told her I was actually glad to hear that. Then I wondered aloud if any of the guests or staff (on the property, right at that moment) had ever once washed clothes at a laundromat. She chuckled, but didn't give me her answer. I might have been the only person who could have answered yes. Fun Stuff The kids' menu came along with crayons and "Wikki Stix". The bendable wax sticks were a hit with Charlie... and Gramma.  The colorful sticks kept Charlie occupied, as I secretly cleaning a surprise that had appeared on her shoulder. There was a bird roosting above! One of the dangers of outside dining. Snacky Bits! I love a menu that has some options for "Snacky Bits". I love that playful term.  We didn't actually order any Snacky Bits, but Heidi and I chose a few vegetable sides that were unusual and fun for sharing. The Acorn Squash above, was very yummy. (sumac chèvre, cherry mustard, sunflower sukkah, smoked ricotta) I could have eaten a loaf of that crusty bread. An order of Frites with mazano sauce and garlic aioli, was Charlie's favorite veggie!  Shawarma Cauliflower! There was a lot going on with this veggie plate. I almost couldn't find the cauliflower.  But it was there! Along with pickled golden raisins, hummus, cabbage escabeche and arugula! Yum! Don ordered one of the 4 Specialties. The Texas Redfish with Trout Roe (fish eggs) was tasty, but the portion was small. I didn't steal a bite.  Don was okay with me stealing his broccolini. Charlie tried a bit, but it was too smoky for her purist tastebuds. Dessert! We ate lightly for 2 reasons.  1 - We'd eaten a very, very late lunch. 2- We wanted to sample some desserts! Two Out of Four We chose 2 of the 4 dessert options.  The Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwich was a must. It arrived with a lit candle, but no song. The fam sang a very lovely (and soft) Happy Birthday. Then Charlie and I puffed out the candle together. I'm always happy to get a little help. Besides, we were celebrating in March. The month between February (when Charlie turned 4) and my April birthday.  The ice cream with sprinkles was heavenly, between doughy sugar cookies.  We also shared Chocolate Cremelux, with marshmallow fluff ice cream and "cocoa nib soil" ? I liked the little triangles of meringue. Lots of textures and temperatures on that plate. Restroom Adventure I often enjoy a restroom adventure when I'm at a new restaurant. It's always a chance to explore and do some people watching. Not in the bathroom.  Charlie was excited to check out the Women's Room with me. We got to see some different kinds of chairs and artwork, on our way coming and going.  Charlie absolutely adored the hummingbird wallpaper in the Women's Room. Her voice offered a fair amount of entertainment for the other Ladies waiting their turns, as she described the tropical colors and birds. Then she counted them. There were a lot. The restaurant was a little more hopping when we headed out around 9. I made a quick dash to check out the illuminated sign.  What a fun dining adventure on a lovely spring evening... with family!
Since 1977 The date on the rusty metal sign says 1977. That's not old. 20 years younger than me.  But there's a whole lot of history behind the structure, that houses the riverside restaurant. About 100 years worth of history, before the restaurant opened in '77. Beneath Gruene's Water Tower The town of Gruene was named for Henry D. Gruene, who was a pretty prosperous fellow in the 1870s. He planted cotton and built a water wheel gristmill... a cotton gin, mercantile business, saloon and more.  Today, the restaurant sits near the town's water tower. The restaurant was basically built up from the ruins of Gruene's original cotton gin structure.,,, which burned down, way back when. Christmas Trees in Gruene This past December, Don and I had lunch for probably the 10th time, at the well-loved Gristmill. This was our first visit to the sweet town, in December. Cheers for festive trees! We walked on the brick path towards the tower and spotted a cowboy hat, on the top of a decorated tree. (zoom way in!)
We stepped inside the entrance and I posed with an upside down Christmas tree... hoping it was attached well, from above! Greetings from Santa I was sort of glad for the damp & cold, wintery weather. Warm & humid December days in Texas, make it hard to get in the holiday spirit.  I loved the welcoming decor. Especially all the festive greeters, like Vintage Santa. And the frisky pheasants, didn't seem to notice us. They looked like they were trying to take off, from the red and green mantle.
We spotted sweet Lupe the longhorn, in his Santa hat. He looked down with authority, over the guests in the dining room. Perfect Table, Perfect Soup The Gristmill is a tricky maze of rooms and levels. Some inside, some out, some half-in and half-out. We were seated inside the warm River Room, near Lupe and the cozy fire. Perfect table.  I ordered Tortilla Soup and it felt like there was nothing better on that chilly day. Warm and spicy. Fresh avocado, onions and crispy corn strips. Melt in you mouth chicken and a nice balance of broth and cheese. That's all I needed on that chilly day. March 2023 My memories of Gruene & Gristmill, are spread out over the last 2 decades. We've had many fun visits with family, to Gruene. (now part of New Braunfels, TX) Somewhere, there are old photos, with our young kids at Gristmill. Who knows where?  A more recent visit, was less than a year ago and I do have pics. It was a similar damp day and we were on a roadtrip with my sister and her wife. We stopped for lunch and headed across the wet street to follow the path beside the old Gruene Hall. As we passed the screen windows of the weathered building, I reminded my sister of all the summer nights we slept with windows open. Rarely have we enjoyed open-window-time, since moving to Texas in 1998.  Along with the Gristmill, H.D. Gruene built the dance hall/saloon, to service the cotton farmers and millworkers in the area. That was 1878 and there was no a.c. to cool those hardworking men. In 2025, there is still no a.c. to cool the performers or visitors who come to enjoy live music on the stage. Cotton Gin from 1878 The cotton gin was built that same year as Gruene Hall.  This is how the Gristmill Restaurant looks today. I have no idea how much of the structure is old and how much was added in the 1970s. Entrance Today Last March, the pathway to the entrance was fairly quiet.
I paused to study the red brick and the earthy adobe-like bricks, behind some cement. I noticed a round window near the peak of the roof. A wheel of some kind? So many materials in the patchwork design. Inside The interior looked even more spacious than I remembered. There were no guests dining, in the barn-like front room. I noticed the staircase on the right, leading up to various levels, holding tables. It looked like a stage set to me.
I zipped upstairs quickly to take a photo. I was up high, on there same level as the window that I'd just admired. There must have been a story about that wheel-like structure. Where to Dine? The 4 of us had lots of options for seating. The air was damp, but it wasn't cold.
We passed up some of the nice inside tables, next to big, open windows. Floors I admired the shiny floors as we followed the host out towards the back of the building. I imagine these are repurposed boards, with their own special history.
We headed out to a wooden deck with boards, much more weathered. More brick walls that could have been old... or created to blend with the old. Who knows? A Little Shelter We were seated at a table with benches, beneath a good sturdy roof. Just in case.  Fun to have the old water tower above us. Look Out Below Our dining terrace was above some of the decks, closer to the river.  I spotted a couple, under and an umbrella and remembered eating with our kids in about 2000. Possibly at that very table. I remember how the kids watched the tubers traveling down the river, in big giddy groups. They talked us into a tubing trip the next day. Going Up After placing my order, I went adventuring. At least 2 servers tried to graciously guide me to a downstairs restroom, but I opted for the more interesting journey... up.  After pausing at a wall of historic photos, I found the odd set of stairs in the front room.  I felt like I was climbing high up, inside a complicated treehouse.  I stopped at one point and looked down towards a table in its own cozy nook, with a view of crumbling walls, green umbrellas and trees beyond.  At the top of the stairs, I found a room of tables beneath a sagging ceiling of... burlap? The room was surrounded by windows. High above the trees!  At first I felt like I'd climbed up into a tree fort. But with the view below, I felt like I was inside a tower of an ancient fort.  So many walls and levels and roofs and roof-less areas! I'd love to have a birds-eye view of this whole property. Upper Restroom Before heading down, I figured I'd find the restroom, that I'd pretended I was searching for. It was an odd one, with its round window.  I'm not sure about the history of the round mechanical piece inside the window! But I do know, it felt odd to stare down into the dining room, when I dried my hands. Rush! I stepped out of the restroom and heard a metallic rattling on the roof above my head!  There was some exciting weather drama and I rushed down the stairs so I didn't miss the action! Flurry of Excitement While the rain poured and gusts blew, the young staff dashed in all directions.  With a restaurant designed like this one, the servers were clearly prepared. Suddenly umbrellas were moved to cover the walkway. Diners were ushered to drier tables. It was actually quite a show and the young staff seemed to be having a blast. It would have been extra entertaining to watch if they place had been crowded! Hello! I found a bit of roof to stand under and hollered at our little group!  The rain gushed. Then halted and gushed again.  I peeked through the window and waved at Don and Jennifer and Kate. I got a break and made it to the table, just before the rain pounded again.  Our servers headed with grins towards our table.  One held a tray like an umbrella, over another tray of food. Jennifer captured this photo with great expressions. Lunch! Our food arrived dry! I have to be honest, this lunch was a year ago. I took photos, but I don't even remember who ordered the club or the broccoli soup
Jennifer seemed delighted about her burger and I believe we all shared fries.  The food was just fine as I recall. It always hits the spot. But it's not the food I will remember the most, from that lunch stop in March. I'll remember the off-season, weekday calm, followed by the exciting cloudburst! A fun lunch with Jennifer and Kate!  I'm glad we got to revisit the old Gristmill in December and take in some of the Gruene Family history. After 20+ years, I'm finally taking time to learn about this magical little town. Post December Lunch A few hours after our cozy December lunch, (near Lupe and the fireplace) Don and I took in a concert at the dance hall. That wonderful saloon and hall, where men gathered, nearly a century and a half ago!  This time the hall was filled with men and women, enjoying a Tiki Christmas Show! Boots, tropical shirts and leis! Dear Henry was probably turning in his grave. H.D. Gruene's Home After the concert, we walked a few steps next door, to stay at the Gruene Mansion Inn. This is the house H. D. Gruene built for his bride in 1872.  We slept in Bertha's Room, named for H.D.'s wife. It was a fun upper room, with a door to the wraparound porch. Gruene and Red We had a good dining adventure at the Gristmill. It tied in nicely, to more adventures in the festive little town of Gruene.  I love some Christmas colors! Especially when the red and green colors are glowing from an old steel tower from 1924!
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. |
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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