The Yardarm Restaurant
Located in a nondescript little building on Ocean Drive, the yellow exterior looks a little bit like a laundry, as one friend put it. Inside,
Our table offered grand views of Corpus Christi Bay which added to the overall charm of this restaurant. The Yardarm specializes in fresh seafood, and I tried the salmon with mango and cucumbers. The fish was moist and tender and paired well with the sweetness of the mango.
I was told the desserts at the Yardarm are excellent, and the six-inch thick cheesecake with port wine reduction sauce didn’t disappoint. Unlike others I have had, this one tasted way more creamy than cheesy. My dinner companions agreed and we found out that the chef adds a little Italian mascarpone to the recipe to give the cake a velvety texture. (Shhh, it’s a secret!) My tip? Order one for yourself; this is too good to share.
Glow
The menu changes daily and Glow turns out quite a variety of dishes from their small kitchen. During our visit for brunch, we tried several starters and entrees, including the crab and shrimp cakes with tomatillo lime crema and citrus tomato ($14) and the BBQ Texas shrimp bathed in garlic and butter over cheesy creamy grits ($16). Both were quite tasty and reminded one of our dinner guests of her mom’s down-home Southern cooking.
When it came time for dessert, we had the bread pudding made with salted rum caramel, brûléed bananas and candied pecans. My wife, who considers herself quite the expert, said that this bread pudding as well as the coffee were the best she has ever had anywhere in the world.
Cancun
For breakfast, it is hard to beat the local favorite Cancun for what they call breakfast tacos. The menu actually says taquitos but who am I to quibble? Anyway, for $1.58 you get a large, homemade flour tortilla filled with egg, cheese, potato, and ham. Extras are $.40 each. Cancun also offers a killer red or green sauce to complete what will end up being a fairly fat breakfast taco that is sure to satisfy until lunch.
Hester’s Café Bakery and Coffee Bar
Proving you can violate the truism, location, location, location, the owners of Hester’s Café chose to locate their restaurant off the main street, behind some businesses in a plain strip mall. Still, this hasn’t deterred people from beating a path to their door for some great local fare.
Open for breakfast and lunch, Hester’s boasts three full-time bakers who tempt customers with their muffins, scones and other pastries. They also have a wide selection of specialty coffees. French toast on challah bread is a popular morning item and my choice, the Louis Armstrong was a hefty portion of eggs, apple smoked bacon, spuds, fruit, and toast ($6.99).
When you are done, pop in next door to browse through Bleu Mercantile and their large selection of eclectic merchandise. You won’t have to search out their elusive location, however. You will find both at Old Towne Six Points at 1714 S. Alameda St.
Yo Philly Cheese Steaks & Subs
There are two things you won’t need when you come to Cotten’s BBQ in Calallen in North Corpus: menus and plates. Your server provides a verbal menu of the smoked meat roundup and butcher paper serves in place of plates. Either way, Cotten’s has a nice selection of brisket, ribs, sausages, and chicken. They also have a rather unusual sauce that reminds many of chunky picante. The owner says he has people who come from as far as Minnesota for his version of barbecue, slowly cooked for hours in ovens and then smoked with mesquite wood. ($11.45 for three meats plus pinto beans and a pickle.)
Bleu
For six dollars, you get three flavors created using heavy cream (except for the sorbets), which gives the ice cream a rich, decadent texture. Flavors are rotated on a regular basis and today’s offerings included chocolate, basil and raspberry Riesling. All were excellent but my favorite was the raspberry Riesling, which imparted a tangy, vibrant burst of flavor on my palate.
Republic of Texas
If you are still hungry after all of the day’s offerings, then y’all are probably serious foodies. So, for the best steaks in town, go to Texas—The Republic of Texas, that is. In this case, you
This is more of a special occasion restaurant, but for me, a great steak is a special occasion. I ordered the 8 oz. filet mignon ($36), and for that, you get a tender, flavorful and perfectly seasoned prime piece of meat from the world renowned Allen Brothers. This was almost the perfect ending to my culinary day, except dessert was yet to come.
My wife had the chocolate mousse, which was just as good, and the presentation was quite a work of art. Make sure you make your reservation early for this one as they get quite busy at certain times.
Other Things to See and Do in Corpus Christie
Operating under the assumption that man (or woman) doesn’t live on bread alone, here are some other non-food places worth visiting—between meals, of course.
This is the #1 attraction in town and for good reason. They have top quality exhibits including humongous fish tanks with sharks and glowing jellyfish, an otter exhibit and a dolphin show, and that’s just for starters. ($19.95 adult, $14.45 child, $18.45 senior)
USS Lexington
SegCity Segway Tours
This is my pick for the best way to see some of the sights along the bay and it’s quite a hoot as well! Tim, the owner, takes visitors on a fun
In case you aren’t sure if you can navigate one of these machines, let me assure you that Tim is very patient, loves people and is a great instructor and guide. He had my wife and friend moving around like pros in just a few minutes. This is one attraction I wouldn’t miss. You will love it. One and two hour tours are available.
Where to Stay:
FTC Disclosure: Promotional considerations and sponsorship were provided by those listed in this article.
Resources:
Corpus Christi CVB
The Yardarm Restaurant
4310 Ocean Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78412
(361) 855-8157
Yo Philly Cheese Steaks & Subs
3314 Surfside Blvd. Corpus Christie
Cancun Mexican Restaurant
6314 Yorktown Blvd
Corpus Christi, TX
(361) 986-8622
4252 S Alameda St
Corpus Christi, TX
(361) 334-2097
Republic of Texas
Cotten’s BBQ
Glow
Hester’s Café Bakery and Coffee Bar
Texas State Aquarium
USS Lexington
SegCity Segway Tours