Galveston Restaurant Group's Saltwater Grill is one of our favorites, so we chose to make reservations here Thursday night before our play at ETC. We found a parking space pretty much half way between the restaurant and the play house and sat out on our date night. We arrived promptly at 6:30 and only about two tables were taken, other than a large party in the party room. We were quickly greeted and seated with iced teas in front of us before we knew it. Jeff began his meal with Baked Oysters on The Half Shell with a Rockefeller topping. These were on the small side but had a delicious flavor, he said because I don't eat oysters. The Seared Shrimp and Jumbo Scallops with risotto, peas, shallots, and mushrooms had been on my mind all day. It did not disappoint, although I prefer a smidge firmer risotto. The peas and mushrooms add such a necessary flavor component. Great stuff! Jeff enjoyed the Shanghai Salmon. He described the sauce as amazing. We skipped dessert since we were stuffed and not going right home. If they stayed open late, we would definitely be by for dessert following the play.

And, our guests Bennie & Patrice celebrated their 40th anniversary here Saturday night. They raved about the food and service that next morning during breakfast. Always good to have a positive experience for our guests!

Sonny's Place is hangout for locals and offers burgers, shrimp, muffulettas, and pasta. The thing about Sonny's is the atmosphere, more specifically, Junior. Junior is the second-generation owner of Sonny's Place. He is an 88 year old veteran the comes to work every day and spreads cheer. He is quite the prankster and knows soooo many corny jokes. His personality radiates love. It's like dinner and a show! Anyway, their Dressed Shrimp Sandwich was terrific. The fries are generous and I hear the beer is super cold and refreshing. 

Wendy's ended up being our second choice for lunch today. We walked the four blocks to the seawall intending to have Chick-Fil-a, but their air conditioning was out and the line was far too long to wait inside to order. So, we walked next door to Wendy's and ordered the Berry Burst Chicken and Apple Pecan Chicken salads. Wendy's does not have umbrellas for their tables, so we took our order to-go and walked back home. Heidi and I huddled outside under a piece of shade beside a palm tree while Jeff ordered inside. The salads were fresh and tasty, although the raspberry dressing on the berry burst salad is a bit sweet. It is nice having this classic fast food restaurant nearby. 

This afternoon we headed over to Yaga's with the pup. The outdoor tables were all full, so we walked down a block or so to Shark Shack. We had been there before during restaurant week for dinner. They had only a few outdoor tables and they were empty, so we made ourselves comfortable and people watched. If not for the competing music from the restaurant, and the bar a few yards down, and the bar across the street, sitting outside would have been a more pleasurable experience. 

Our waitress showed up immediately and quickly brought water for Heidi and tea for us. I decided on their Coconut Encrusted Shrimp with pineapple plum sauce & fries. The coconut crust thickly coated small shrimp that was cooked to oblivian. The crust had a good flavor, as did the sauce, but it was cooked so long it had hardened and had a very unpleasant mouth feel. The fries were good and plentiful. Jeff had the Shrimp Po-Boy which was beautifully cooked and presented. He did complain they gave me a larger portion of fries! Our waitress came out and asked about dessert...my favorite. I asked what they had and she got us a menu. I honed in on the Warm Brownie Delight and requested it to-go. She gave me about four portions of brownie (with a more cake-like texture) and a huge container of really creamy vanilla ice cream. The caramel and chocolate sauces and candied walnuts did not make it in our to-go bag; they were missed on this dessert.

Overall, we had a good experience at Shark Shack. It's prime location and pet-friendly attitude make it ideal for us. 

​Chef Daya Myers-Hurt has such a gift! She opened this tiny restaurant on 23rd St. that used to be my secret. Daya's motto is "Chef Driven. Farm Loving. Gulf to Table." She literally gets the fish from the dock, cleans and filets it, and works her magic with the fish and sauces she serves guests. Word got out about my spot and now you have to arrive by 1pm before she is sold out.  We knew this, because twice before we set out for lunch there only to see the sign on the door 'sold out'. We left early today and made the short walk to Fish Company Taco. Jeff had not tried it before and was tired of hearing me rave about it, so he ordered one of every taco on the menu, of which there are five. Heidi and I sat at a bistro table in front of the restaurant while he placed our order at the counter. He came out with teas and our food was quickly delivered by a very nice gentleman with the most beautiful blue eyes ever. Anyway, I asked for a Korean taco and a Vietnamese taco, but when he brought one of everything I wanted them all!! The fish, slightly breaded, and every so delicately fried, was absolutely perfect on each taco, as always. Chef Daya's sauces are to die for!!! I now have a new favorite - the Empire taco with a hunan bbq sauce, fresh cilantro, and sliced green onion. So simple but so complex tasting. The Dirty South taco is topped with Chef's family homemade pimento cheese. What a treat! We devoured every bite, although I did manage to part ways with two tiny bites of fish for Heidi. As we sat eating, a sign was posted on the door 'sold out'; it was barely after 1pm. 

How can you go wrong with a restaurant called Mosquito Café and a tag line that says "One bite is all it takes". Answer: you can't! We have been eating at Mosquito Café since we moved here a year and a half ago. It started out being our place to take the dog and remains her and our favorite outdoor patio. It has fans and plants and fountains. We ordered and I took my glass to fill with tea and saw the waiter already preparing Heidi's water bowl. We walked outside with the choice of any table. Usually this place is very busy, but tonight people stayed in giving us the place to ourselves practically. Jeff and I split the daily surf and turf special with Steak cooked to a perfect medium rare, shrimp with a slightly smoky flavor and only a tad overcooked, wonderful mashed potatoes, and a vegetable medley. Everything was superb! They have the best tea of anywhere, with a flavor that I can't quite identify...yet. Had to have some to-go. This place has really good service for a self-service restaurant. The gentleman kept our glasses full and made sure we and our puppy were happy. I did have some peach cobbler to go. A few seconds in the microwave and my midnight snack was complete.​