Number 13 is the alias of brothers Jean and Pierre Lafitte. The restaurant is nestled in by tropical foliage at the Pelican Rest Marina. There is a huge two-story terrace and bar. Inside is warm and cozy with soft lighting and comfortable chairs. I'm sure you have a beautiful view of the marina, but it was dark when we ate there.
We had a 6:30 reservation on this Sunday night (Super Bowl night!) and dined with bed and breakfast guests/friends. Parking was easy in their large lot and we were seated immediately.
The hostess asked if we wanted water and a gentleman promptly arrived offering cucumber, lemon, and lime slices. Our waiter took our drink orders. Then we were given hot hand towels with an amazing fragrance to wipe our hands. In the meantime, fresh hot popovers were carefully placed on our bread plates, along with room temperature whipped butter. What a delight! 
We all ordered from the Galveston Restaurant Week menu, and no one was disappointed! Jeff and I began with the Alaskan Red King Crab Dip which was full of crabmeat and dripping with a creamy mornay sauce that I could seriously drink from a cup. A soft warm baguette crostini loaf held the dip nicely. Next was Beef Wellington, an angus filet topped with wild mushroom duxelle and baby spinach and wrapped in puff pastry, all resting on a tasty roasted shallot demi glace. My steak was more medium well than medium rare, but the taste was fabulous. Slightly undercooked carrots and potatoes accompanied this delightful dish. Our guests chose the fresh tomato basil soup and house salad; they raved about the flavors and freshness. Entrees were Seared Salmon Romesco which was perfectly cooked and the Oak Grilled Pork Chop Mojo with a tangy cuban citrus and garlic mojo. Again, the port chop was cooked to perfection.
Desserts were Roasted Corn Tres Leches and Bread Pudding. The Tres Leches was flavorful and the presentation was beautiful. It was accompanied by a blueberry gelato. The bread pudding was served warm with caramel sauce and salted caramel gelato. Loved it! 
Number 13 is not a place to go every night, as it is extremely pricy, but for a special occasion it is perfect! The GRW menu did not begin to cover the menu items here. We will be back to try other things!

Galveston Restaurant Week continues as we visit Fisherman's Wharf, a Landry's Inc. member.  We had a 6:30 reservation and easily found parkin in their parking lot. The restaurant was mostly full and we were immediately seated at a table marked 'reserved' - right by the window overlooking the deck they are refurbishing and the harbor. Usually the Alyssa tall ship sits right outside, but she must have been on an adventure.
Our waitress, Taylor, quickly appeared and took drink orders, asked about our select club membership, and took our parking ticket for validation. She arrived moments later with teas in-hand to take our order. The manager came by the table to thank us for being a select club member and return our now validated parking ticket. I want to mention that you get a whole three hours free parking, so if you want to walk around the harbor or even down to the Historic Strand District, you have time!
Jeff and I ordered the exact same meal which never happens. The GRW menu is only $28 per person. We started with the Blackened Shrimp Queso. Served with hot tortilla chips, this dip has amazing Cajun flavors and a generous amount of small shrimp just the right size for chips. Our entrée was Crab Stuffed Tilapia which was cooked to perfection and bursting with crab stuffing. It sat atop fresh spinach sautéed perfectly and was topped with a yummy lobster cream sauce. 
Then comes dessert. We chose the Homemade Brownie with Ice Cream. I have been craving a brownie since we didn't get one at Hearsay's, so I was excited about dessert! Well, our dessert curse struck and the manager came over to tell us that they were out of the brownie. Are you serious!?!? He did offer us any dessert on the regular menu, though. We opted for the Seven Layer Chocolate Cake for Two, and it was the best choice! This cake is four layers of rich chocolate cake and three layers of cheesecake, sitting over raspberry sauce with freshly made whipped cream and almond slices. It is amazing!! Although, I couldn't finish my tilapia that evening, I managed to down the whole cake, minus the two layers sacrificed to my dear husband.
We were very pleased with the food quality and service at Fisherman's Wharf. Although still brownie obsessed, we left feeling very satisfied and look forward to returning soon.

Galveston Restaurant Week is in full swing. We started it off with a date night dinner at Hearsay on the Strand because their GRW menu sounded amazing and we were attending a play nearby. They are located in the Fadden Building, constructed in 1898. It is absolutely gorgeous with two story dining/bar area and huge chandeliers. I would hate to be the person who has to dust all those glass and crystal light fixtures!  
We were very quickly seated, although right in front where the floor to ceiling iron doors were propped open even though it was a bit chilly outside and smoke from the next door bar drifted in. We had reservations and the Hostess congratulated us on our anniversary, as I had stated it was our anniversary in the reservation. Our waiter, Danny who lives in Galveston and sounds like he was raised in New Jersey arrived timely at our table and took drink orders. It was a Sunday evening and the restaurant seemed busier than a usual Sunday in the off-season. Danny brought our teas and took our food order shortly thereafter. 
I started with the crab and corn chowder. The silky soup and sweet corn created an addictive flavor, and the soup warmed me up on this blustery evening. The chowder did have about a teaspoon of crabmeat on top, but I only found one lump crab piece in the entire cup. Jeff opted for the seared pork belly with cherry jalapeno bbq and it was delightful! The crispy pork belly melted in your mouth and that bbq sauce left you wanting more. 
Next up was Surf and Turf and Scallops St. Jacques. Cognac and mushroom cream sauce atop four gigantic perfectly cooked scallops and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. The dish was absolutely to die for! The 6oz filet was seared to perfection at medium rare and the cut was tender and juicy. The two grilled shrimp on top were waaaaaaay overcooked, although seasoned nicely. I will say, too, that the Surf and Turf was second choice to Smoked Veal Osso Bucco which the waiter explained would be another 30 minute wait. 
When it came time for dessert, Jeff and I both had our eyes on the Chocolate Bomb which they describe as brownie, berries & rocky road ice cream. Awesome, right? Well, they evidently ran out of this dessert. I mean, how long does it take to bake up a batch of brownies? Anyway, we both chose the Bourbon Glazed Bread Pudding which we enjoyed very much with our coffee. By this time, they had closed the long windows in front and the restaurant was cozy and lively. 
We love Hearsay's menu options. Most of their food is cooked well and sauces are fantastic! I wish I could say this was the first time we had experienced unavailable menu choices, but it was not. Their service is about par for Galveston, lacking a sense of urgency with extremely open and friendly waitstaff. The ambience at Hearsay is great!

We love BLVD! This evening's service blew our minds! We skipped lunch today, so we made a 5:45pm reservation (yes, I made a reservation even though I knew we'd have no problem getting in. It's all about the points! I get points for using OpenTable, so I do when I can.). I requested the big table in the back and Denzel as our waiter.

Parking was a breeze this early and it being the off-season and all. We walked right in and were seated exactly where I wanted to be. Then, and here's the exciting part, here comes Denzel with carrying two teas!! OMG, have y'all ever experienced such a fine greeting? Never happened to me in my 50-something years. Needless to say, the service was freaking awesome through-out our meal! We learned, too, that Denzel is studying to be a (PA) Physicians Assistant. That's practically a Doctor!! Anyone visiting BLVD needs to support Denzel in his journey. A man that takes pride in whatever he is doing and works really hard to be good at everything he does.

The meal, as it consistently is at BLVD. Seafood, was delicious. I ate every bite of the 3 Pepper Chicken with it's perfectly fried chicken breast, creamy and delightfully seasoned garlic mashed potatoes, sweet roasted corn poblano cream, and spicy chipotle jalapeno drizzle. It's a total mouth fest/feast! Jeff enjoyed the happy hour fare starting with a BLVD. Mudslide; both beautiful and refreshing. He then had their unforgettable Wedge Salad generously covered with apples, bacon, blue cheese, tomatoes, red onions, avocado, and a wonderful balsamic drizzle. Shrimp Kisses, a bacon wrapped shrimp filled with cheese, then topped with grilled onions and balsamic, topped-off his belly. Everything at BLVD is cooked expertly every time. 

Mario's Seawall has been around for over 45 years. Now, part of Galveston Restaurant Group, it sits on Seawall Blvd @ 6th St. There is a huge patio facing the gulf and inside is lined with windows. It's a great place to relax and watch the waves. Since tourist season has slowed we got right in. Arnold quickly got us our teas. Sir Arnold is the most well-spoken gentleman waiting tables on the island. His name tag says he's been there five years. I'm hoping he writes novels on the side or something that he has a gift for. 

We went right for the entrees, skipping over appetizers. I wanted the grab claws with lemon butter sauce but didn't know if a half pound would be enough. Jeff said he'd help, so I got the full pound. He ordered the Grilled Salmon and Jenny had Spaghetti a la Mario's. Well, a pound of giant crab claws is WAY too much! We all could barely finish the plate that was surrounded with funky toasted bread things that I was not a fan of. The crab claws were good, just not great. Jeff's fish was awesome and Jenny finished all of her spaghetti. Arnold kept our glasses full of tea throughout the entire seating! Jenny decided to have a Red Velvet Cake to-go. The bill was a shocker when we realized my crab claws were $70! But, what the heck, you only live once and leaving an inheritance is for suckers.

Bar Menu at last! Most of the tourists are busy with the start of a new school year, so we were able to get a table in the bar area...finally! If you follow my blog, you know that we have been trying unsuccessfully to dine from the bar menu for months. We were so excited to see an available table that we didn't even care that it was still dirty. The host quickly had it washed down for us and our waiter was soon there taking our drink orders. 

Jeff had a $4 glass of Hogue Cabernet Sauvignon that was specially priced for Happy Hour. I, of course, had tea. We ordered the Crab & Spinach Stuffed Shells from the Happy Hour Menu to get started. We did have to get our waiter's attention to take our order. We just couldn't wait to have the Mini Surf & Turf from the Bar Menu. A 3oz lobster tail sitting atop its shell and a perfectly cooked 3oz filet are presented beautifully with small ramekins of butter sauce and steak a jus. This, folks, is the perfect meal at the perfect size and the perfect price ($13)! So happy to finally get a table at Willie G's for Happy Hour! 

Manager, Marissa, called the very next day after reading my not so favorable rant about their happy hour availability. She explained exactly when my favorite menus are available. I let her know that we were able to get a table the day before. We both sighed in relief that tourist season was coming to a close. It's been a very busy summer in Galveston. Good for business, but not so easy to dine freely. 

Tex-Mex is a family favorite, and Taquilo's is an awesome little spot in The Strand District with outdoor tables. Dogs are welcome, too! The restaurant is part of the Galveston Restaurant Group and physically located in a row of GRG spots that line Post Office Street. Great people-watching place. 

Tonight we arrived early and sat inside taking the last available booth. A waitress soon came over and said that she would take our drink order while our assigned waitress was in the bathroom? Okay. We were quickly served our teas. When the same server returned to take our dinner orders she commented that she didn't know what happened to our waitress but that she would take care of us until our person was available. Tea glasses stayed empty as the waitress, that was not OUR waitress, tended to other tables. 

Our food soon arrived, but no one took interest in filling our tea glasses. Finally, a manager stopped by to ask if the food was good. We asked for tea and she immediately filled our glasses. My Chicken Flautas were very good, although tonight they seemed much spicier than usual. Jeff had the Pollo Poblano Plate, as always, and his dish did not disappoint. Beef Fajitas were tried by Jenny. The beef portion was huge, as you would expect with a price tag of $29.99. It arrived sizzling! 

We had to get the manager's attention to check-out and decided it was too much to ask this bunch to get us to-go teas, so we exited as quickly as they could process our bill. I did have $20 in rewards through the GRG Rewards Program, and we had a gift card with a balance left on it, so we walked away paying only $20 + a much too generous tip for whomever our waiter was.

Pho 20 is our go-to Vietnamese
Restaurant. Their service is always great and the food is consistently good. We figured the touristy spots would have crowds, so we drove over to Pho 20, although it is only an eight block walk. It's just too hot to walk. Anyway, the parking lot was completely full. Since our pharmacy is just across the street, we parked there instead. The main dining room was not full at all. It looked like all the cars came from a group celebrating something in one of Pho 20's private rooms set apart with beautiful glass walls from the rest of the dining room. We were seated immediately and served our teas quickly. I ordered the Com Chen Ga. I can never figure out how to pronounce the Ga, and this particular waiter felt like he wanted to teach me, but I just couldn't get it. He understood Chicken Fried Rice, however. Jeff had the Fried Catfish with Garlic Butter Sauce and Jenny opted for General T'so Chicken. First of all, their chicken fried rice doesn't look like much but it is delicious!! Sweet chicken pieces, fresh scrambled egg pieces, vegetables, and the rice that has a seasoning I have yet to recognize create a melody in your mouth. The stack of rice they pile on your plate only grows as you eat. I couldn't even finish the leftovers in a single sitting. And, it heats beautifully in the microwave. Jeff's catfish was cooked to perfection with a yummy garlic butter sauce and fresh vegetables. Jenny loved the traditional General T'so Chicken which was an extremely full plate of large chicken chunks breaded and covered in a tangy sauce. We left with to-go teas and boxes, taking home more food than we received. Absolutely love this place. Did I mention the dining room is surrounded in the most beautiful elegant crown molding I have ever seen? Where did you get that, Pho 20? I want some!

Y'all know that BLVD. Seafood is at the top of our go-to restaurant list. So, after missing out for a third time in a row at 5pm on a Thursday at another, to be named later, venue for happy hour. Some places limit their seating for happy hour (Landry's), but not BLVD. Seafood! We got in immediately and even got the coveted booths at the end that sit up high and have a view of the Seawall. Our waiter this evening was Joel, because Denzel was off that evening. He was quick to take our drink and salad orders but slow in his delivery. Jeff and Jenny ate from the happy hour menu, while I couldn't wait to dive into the 3 Pepper Chicken. Their Wedge Salads were amazing, as always, full of goodies like apple slices, fresh blue cheese chunks, real bacon, tomatoes, and avacado. Jeff added a cup of gumbo and Jenny had Shrimp Kisses and Crabby Crab Cakes. All very good, I'm sure, but I was focused on that chicken. OMG! It's fried to perfection - juicy and crunchy and sits atop well seasoned garlic mashed potatoes. The whole thing is surrounded with a roasted corn poblano cream sauce, then topped with chipotle jalapeno drizzle. What can I say...You must try it. They offer a grilled chicken version, but I would miss that crunchy exterior on this dish. Anyway, Jenny ended the evening with BLVD Chocolate Mousse. I did steal a bite and it was smooth and creamy; the hazelnut whipped cream was delightful. Joel got us checked out eventually. By then, the restaurant had become pretty much full. His service may have been more memorable if he hadn't ignored a direct eye-contact request for more tea during our meal. Still love this place and hope to one day move past the chicken to try something new.