Vacations are filled with fun, excitement, and fantastic food, especially as travelers can taste the flavors of the region visited, enjoying new dishes that may end up being brought to their own tables once the good times have concluded. We at Sandcastle Condominiums have added many foreign dishes to our personal menus and every bite we take instantly transports us back to those golden days of adventure. Today, we invite our guests to explore a taste of the town, checking out the Port Aransas restaurants that represent the best of the area, guiding every traveler to the restaurants that we personally could not imagine NOT existing in our lives.
Coffee Waves Port Aransas, 1007 TX-361
Sometimes the best way to test the flavors of the area you are visiting is to stop in the coffee shops with the most crowded parking lots. Coffee is tricky beverage, always creating a scent that sets our taste buds a quivering, while not always tasting as good as it smells, but at Coffee Waves, their small batch beans are truly special and the cozy menu they have set up to accompany the nectar of the gods never hits a wrong note. Offering breakfast sandwiches, pastries, bagels, and muffins Coffee Waves may be the one restaurant that gets your repeat business every day of your stay.
Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill, 429 Alister Street
Alister Street is known as a shopping haven, offering a beautiful selection of cozy boutiques and after a long morning shopping, there is nothing that revives flagging energy levels as quickly as a seafood lunch at Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill. Offering an elevated dining experience, it is also a fantastic spot for quiet dinners with your favorite traveling partner. The lunch menu features a long list of seafood dishes, but also offers burgers, steaks, and salads, ensuring that even the pickiest eaters will find something they like.
La Playa Mexican Grille, 222 Beach Street #5312
Only open for dinner, La Playa Mexican Grille is closed on Sundays and Mondays, but if you have traveled far for this Texas trip of a lifetime, this will be your reward. Starting out your meal with guacamole made tableside is always a good idea and the seafood-centric Mexican meals will definitely become your newest obsession. This local hot spot has been a Port A tradition for hungry diners for over 20 years and its expansive menu is a blend of traditional Mexican cuisine and Tex Mex specialties that hold a special place in our heart.
Virginia’s on the Bay, 815 Trout Street
Views of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway add a beautiful sparkle to the meals you will enjoy at Virginia’s on the Bay. Serving an extensive seafood menu (as you might expect!) every bite will be the one that you know is better than anything you have ever tasted before. Plan a sunset meal and sit dockside while you sit on the patio overlooking the docks, offering a romantic experience that can be repeated with every sunset. If you rent a boat while in Port Aransas, you can dock your boat in the harbor and head into the restaurant for a fabulous dinner, going back out to sea at the end of your meal.
Dylan’s Coal Oven Pizzeria, 128 Market Street Suite D
We have it on great authority that pizza is the international language everyone understands and when you stop in Dylan’s Coal Oven Pizzeria, you will develop an even greater understanding. Their pizzas, made with homemade crust and a secret sauce will ignite a passion for pie that will never be quenched. Also serving sandwiches, pasta, and chocolate chip cannolis that will turn you against all over desert foods, this family friendly restaurant serves beer, wine, and cocktails so parents can really enjoy their pizzas as well.
Lisabellas Bistro & Bar, 5009 TX-361
Families and couples love a meal at Lisabellas, offering live music and a chef driven menu that never fails to satisfy. The large yard that surrounds the restaurant offers tables for dining, cornhole games for playing, and giggling children running mild in the grass. Lisabellas is the perfect special occasion restaurant, especially for travelers with children who aren’t always as well-behaved as we like, allowing guests to relax and enjoy the meal without fear of being judged.
The Kitchen of your Sandcastles Condominiums Vacation Hideaways
We do realize that our kitchens aren’t restaurants and guests will still need to do the work to have a meal, but high end appliances and a cheerful vibe does help to bring some joy back to your cooking experiences. Skip the dining room table, bringing your meal out to the chairs that line the balcony and enjoy your own sea-views for a lot lower cost, watching the sun fall into the Gulf on another perfect day in paradise. Reserve your favorite escape today!
A beach vacation is one that should never be spent cooped up inside, except for the hours of sleep, of course. A beach vacation is a wild experience best enjoyed outside, feeling ocean breezes kiss your cheeks as the bright summer sun beats down on skin that is so happy to feel warmth again after a long winter spent hiding from the cold. And when your beach vacation brings you to the serene shores of Port Aransas, your Texas-sized adventures will be outdoor ones, including swimming, boating, fishing, and yes, dining! Stay outside a little longer stocking up on the Vitamin D the sun provides while dining at these special Port Aransas restaurants that all offer outdoor patios for your convenience and joy! This guide, put together by our helpful staff members at Sandcastle Condominiums, will ensure that every waking minute in Port Aransas will be spent soaking up the tranquil ambiance offered by Mother Nature! Here are the best Summer outdoor dining in Port Aransas.
Fins, 420 W Cotter Avenue
As you may expect, many of the restaurants offering outdoor dining in Port Aransas are casual spots serving up good seafood and excellent views and Fins is our first choice for your summer outdoor dining experience. Sit out on the Tiki deck overlooking the harbor, order a plate of fish tacos to be enjoyed with an ice-cold beer, and feel any leftover real-life tensions drain from your body. The Pirate ship docked just steps away from your seat in paradise is sure to provide some extra whimsy to your day!
Trout Street Bar & Grill, 104 W Cotter Avenue
Not every meal has to offer a starch, a protein, and a vegetable, especially on vacation. Sometimes all a body needs or wants is a big platter peel and eat shrimp, a pitcher of beer, and views of the sea that will speak to your soul, all things offered by Trout Street Bar & Grill! Their outdoor patio provides more harbor views and although the Pirate ship seen at Fins is not visible from this spot located just a few docks away, the beauty of the boats you can see bobbing in the waters just beyond your seat will keep you entertained and envious!
The Phoenix Restaurant & Bar, 3500-A Island Moorings Parkway
Another harbor front restaurant, the Phoenix Restaurant & Bar is a popular choice for those looking for something more than fish sandwiches and bar food! Offers incredible views and a menu filled with beautifully prepared dishes including sushi, scallops, and many of your other seafood favorites. The Phoenix offers an elegant dining experience that is enhanced when you join them for a sunset meal on their deck overlooking the sea. A Texas sunset is one sight you must view and when accompanied by an excellent meal, well it just does not get any better!
Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill, 429 N Alister Street
An outdoor patio at any restaurant is a treat for diners and the one at Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill is no different! Feel the salt air against your cheeks as you devour poke nachos for lunch, raw oysters and shrimp and grits for dinner, and on Sunday brunch? No one will leave hungry after sampling the brunch menu at Tortugas! Every dish will taste even better when enhanced with a touch of Texas sun and sea scented fresh air, but if you twisted our arm and forced us to choose a favorite, their Port A Benny, made with a house biscuit, crabcake, avocado, tomato, eggs, and hollandaise sauce haunt our dreams the days brunch isn’t being served!
Montego Bay Restaurant & Wine Bar, 118 Cut-Off Road
Combining the best of food and drink, Montego Bay Restaurant & Wine Bar also offers a happy surprise with the inclusion of what they call, the Pooch Porch! Patio dining is dog friendly, even including a menu for your fur baby, one that includes complimentary milk bone treats, chopped chicken breast, marrow bone, and kibble that is grain-free and destined to be your pup’s new obsession! There is no better experience than enjoying a thick and juicy steak accompanied by a silky glass of wine with your most loyal companion curled up at your feet enjoying his own meal!
Book a Stay to Enjoy the Best Summer Outdoor Dining in Port Aransas
It is no secret that our condominiums are comfortable and stylish, but did you know that they also include patios and balconies that just may be the best place to enjoy outdoor dining during your summer adventures in Port Aransas! Prepare your favorite dishes in our fully equipped kitchens and serve it al fresco, overlooking some of the most scenic views in town (especially when you choose a beachfront property to make your own!) letting the peaceful scenery soothe and refresh. Reserve your favorite today!
When you’re visiting Port Aransas, there’s a lot of great, local dining to be had! While you’re out here enjoying your unique, beach vacation in Port Aransas, you’ll have plenty of options for one-of-a-kind dining. The local restaurants in Port Aransas provide a wide variety of eating experiences, and of course, you can’t afford to miss the opportunity to sample the Port Aransas seafood. With all that in mind, here are some recommendations for restaurants exclusive to the area that you should try.
The Crazy Cajun Seafood Restaurant
A tried-and-true Port Aransas staple for over 28 years, The Crazy Cajun is the go-to spot if you’re looking to enjoy the distinctive taste of Cajun cuisine served with an island style. All different kinds of shellfish and traditional Cajun dishes are offered here. You can get your hands on shrimp, crawfish, snow crab, smoked sausage, and stone crab claws by the half-pound or pound at maret price- perfect for serving groups after a long day on the beach.
Even if seafood isn’t your preference, The Crazy Cajun has plenty of meaty dishes to round out their menu. Ribs, gumbo, jambalaya, and more are all wonderful meals to quench your appetite. Beer and wine are also available for purchase during your visit, along with desserts and even their own special blend of Cajun spice to take along. Come see why they’ve been in business for nearly 30 years!
Seafood and Spaghetti Works
With a unique fusion of Italian and seafood dishes, Seafood and Spaghetti Works is one of the most exceptional dining experiences you’ll be able to find in Port Aransas. It’s a restaurant with a long history in the town, having been in multiple buildings since its original opening in 1979 under the name of “Spaghetti Works.” A few years later, the restaurant expanded its menu and received the name it has today. This is a great, local business to support while in town.
These days, the menu has reached a massive size with a variety of options. There’s something for everyone here, with a great selection of appetizers, especially seafood, to get your meal started off. From there, your choice of entree is wide-open. There are tacos, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, steak, chicken, pasta, and of course all kinds of seafood accompanied by a fully stocked bar and dessert menu to complete your experience. Whatever your choice, you’re sure to be impressed.
Irie’s Island Food
Founded by a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Irie’s Island Food offers a combination of local fare and fusion dishes that is sure to impress. Martin, formerly the head chef of several restaurants over the course of 20 years, put together the concept and created an impressive menu that locals and visitors alike can’t miss.
Rice bowls, tacos, sandwiches, salads, and more are all available for purchase here. There’s also a decent amount of Asian, Hawaiian, Mexican, and Cajun influence on the styling of the dishes. Because of this, you can expect to get a different experience every time if you decide to visit on multiple occasions to try some different dishes. This is a great place for curious palettes to visit, and they also have wine and beer offerings.
MacDaddy’s Family Kitchen
If delicious comfort food and BBQ are some of your favorites, consider visiting MacDaddy’s Family Kitchen while you’re visiting Port Aransas. They pride themselves on their ability to quickly and professionally serve larger parties without sacrificing the quality of their food. Bring the whole group with you and have them serve it all up family style. For those in smaller groups, do not worry! There are smaller portions to take advantage of as well.
Their menu has plenty of BBQ mainstays like chili, BBQ loaded nachos, and as many smoked meats you could imagine. Mix and match your meats of choice with the variety of platters they have available, or if BBQ platters aren’t your preference, indulge in an Angus Beef burger or fried fish platter. Finish off your meal with some pecan pie or peach cobbler and enjoy their full bar with sixteen beers on tap at any given moment.
Venetian Hot Plate
Get some authentic Italian cuisine from Venetian Hot Plate, opened in 1995 after founders Linda Maurice relocated to Texas from Venice. Enjoy fine, Italian dining in a casual atmosphere with the added flair of a well decorated interior and an abundance of eye-catching wine storage.
There’s no better way to get a sampling of Southern Italian cuisine in all of Port Aransas. You’ll find plenty of pasta dishes with shrimp, clams, and scallops that are all wonderfully paired with homemade sauces made to match the seafood’s flavor profiles. The same goes for all their other dishes, whether they’re prepared with beef, chicken, or no meat at all. They also offer a selection of salads, and plenty of hearty entrees like pan-seared duck, veal scaloppine, and more. Don’t forget to sample some of their handpicked wines while you’re there.
Book a stay and Enjoy our local restaurants in Port Aransas
Wherever you decide to dine during your stay in Port Aransas, Sandcastle Condominiums has the perfect rental to complement your stay. Book with us now and dine in style while you enjoy your Port Aransas vacation.