Starting from San Antonio and heading south on I-37 is about a 150 mile trip to the Texas Gulf Coast where there are a lot of great eat places along the way. Here are some of the places I recommend.
------------------DAY ONE-------------------
Van's Bar-B-Que for Breakfast:
I have been to Van's for lunch for years, but this have been there for breakfast only once. If you're on I-37, just take exit 65 (Oakville) and you're there. It's on the east side access road of the interstate.
Bacon & Eggs with Biscuit
Eggs over easy with home fries and crispy bacon. That white stuff in the cup is cream gravy. I will show you what to do with that later.
Padre Island Burger Company:
Once into Corpus Christi, turn off of I-37 at Exit 4 and take the Nas-CCad Expressway to North Padre Island. Turn left off of South Padre Island Drive onto TX-361. The burger place is less than a block on the left.
Dr. Padre: the Bacon-Cheddar Burger, 1 of 7 Speciality Burgers
Photo says it all. The cheese is melted perfectly. Great burger meat and reasonably priced. Choice of buns ... can't get any better than that. They have seven speciality burgers on the menu every day in addition to their special of the week. Or you can design your own burger with a choice of four buns and 17 toppings not counting lettuce-pickles-tomatoes. My Cuz B.J. could have a gluten-free bun instead of eating his burger with a fork and knife.
Mikel May's Beachside Bar & Grill:
Mikel May's is located on Bob Hall Pier off of South Padre Island Drive on North Padre Island. I know that sounds funny, but for some reason South Padre Island Drive is on North Padre Island. You can see this place from South Padre Island Drive. It's on the right.
Seafood Nachos with Shrimp & Crabmeat
All types of seafood and bar food sold here. My favorite is the seafood nachos: Crabmeat & Shrimp with melted Parmesan Cheese Cream Sauce served on top of Homemade Tortilla Chips.
------------------DAY TWO-----------------
Breakfast at the Downtown Grill:
Find Ocean Drive and follow the scenic tour of Corpus Christi mansions to the down town. Turn inland a few blocks and you're on Market Street. Travel down Market until you find the Downtown Grill. This place is also known for its awesome business lunches.
Grilled Chuck Steak, Scrambled Eggs, & Hash Browns
I grew up in a thin-sliced bacon, sunny-side up eggs, and white grits house in New Orleans. While in college, the rebellious side of me took over one late night while at this Pit Grill in Monroe, LA. There I had scrambled eggs, hash browns, and beef chuck steak. Yes, the hash browns and eggs had to have ketchup. The taste of the grilled beefsteak and eggs was an immediate hit. The Downtown Grill brought back those memories.
Lunch at the Tarpon Bar & Grill in Port Aransas:
My girl Jewell at the Tarpon Grill.
Take TX 361 past the hamburger joint and drive to Port Aransas, turn right on Cotter Ave. It's right next to the Tarpon Inn. My first visit to the Tarpon Inn was in 1970 when I worked as a cub reporter for the Corpus Christi Caller Times, one of my most fun jobs ever.
One Pound of Fried Shrimp with Beer-Battered Onion Rings
My girlfriend and I ate through most of this one pound of shrimp before I remembered to take a photo. To cut back on the fat intake, we had a salad for our second side.
On my bucket list for this place are the following: Charbroiled Oysters, Crawfish Queso, Shrimp Cervice, Two Kinds of Fish Tacos, Two Kinds of Shrimp Taco, and yes ... Shrimp & Chorizo-Cheese Grits.
Lite Dinner from JB's Bakery & Cafe:
JB's is this awesome German Bakery on the Island found on South Padre Island Drive. Grab some sweets during the day and take them back to where you're staying for dinner. Once you're in JB's, you will want to take the bakery with you. It's like being a child and waking up in Candy Land, only you're an adult in Pastry Heaven.
The Cream Puff
Look at that cream puff ... real heavy cream went into making that filling ... and not that white fake stuff you find in other bakeries. Make sure you refrigerate their Cream Puff asap, unless you eat it right away. Just have a pot of coffee brewing. Pastries like coffee.
--------------------DAY THREE----------------
Back to BJ's for Breakfast:
Same place but just a second chance at their pastries. Have breakfast out on the water behind the bakery and nuzzle up to a cup of their coffee.
The Fruit Strudels
You have to try their fruit strudels: raspberry cream-cheese (upper left), blueberry cream-cheese (not shown), and lemon-cream-cheese (lower right).
Lunch at JJ's Little Bay Cafe:
To get here, get back on the expressway and take TX-35 north from Corpus Christi. Then select the Business 35 exit when you get to Rockport. Or you can head out TX-361 past the hamburger place, through Port Aransas and take the ferryboat. Get back to Business 35. Either way, JJ's is just before you get to the coast.
Brisket Omelet
This is their brisket omelet with melted jack, sour cream, peppers-n-onions. Really good stuff. The potatoes were crisp. This is a good breakfast or lunch combo.
Dinner at Pier 99:
Pier 99 is located on 2822 N Shoreline Blvd. which means you have to get back onto Ocean Drive and get back to go over this channel bridge to get to North Beach. This island is where the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington are located, which makes Pier 99 a nice lunch or dinner spot after touring these facilities. Or better yet, take the expressway back to I-37 south and follow it until you veers onto US-181 which takes you right into North Beach.
Seafood Po-Boys with Beer
Great fried shrimp and oysters here. No, not the New Orleans French bread, but you're not in New Orleans. This is a great sandwich none the less. Just sit out on the bar overlooking the water, sip a beer, and watch the ships pass by while you chow down on a seafood po-boy of your choice: oyster, shrimp, or fish.
------------------DAY FOUR----------------
Price's Chef for Breakfast:
Price's is has a diner look and offers diner food. It's located on South Alameda Street. Get on Ocean Drive and head toward downtown. Turn left onto DelMar Boulevard and then right on South Alameda Street. It's there on the right. You may have to drive around the area to find a parking spot. There is off-street parking.
Breakfast Sampler
This is their big breakfast sampler: biscuits, bacon, ham, egg, grits/hash-browns, pancakes, sausage.
Homeward with Late Lunch at the Dixie Grille in Seguin:
The grille is located off I-10 in Seguin Texas of Exit 607 on the south side of the highway. This place is opened for lunch and dinner. Normally, I do not post no-breakfast places unless they are really good, and Dixie Grille is really good.
Chicken-Fried Meats
Chicken-fried pork chops, steak, and chicken are fantastic here at Dixie Grille. Note that the mashed potatoes are standard with these meals. The potatoes are homemade and still have the skins, and that's the way I like them. All plates come with homemade corn bread. I could just eat that!
Chicken-Fried Pork Chops
Chicken-Fried Steak
Chicken-Fried Chicken Breasts
