Stingaree in Crystal Beach, TX

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.  
​