Trifter

We spent the winter last year in the Corpus Christi area, staying in a condominium in Port Aransas. With all the fresh air and sunshine and the hope of improving our health, we looked for great seafood and found these local hot spots. . If you’re looking for a seafood restaurant in the area, it helps to know what they serve, where to find them and what you’re looking for when you get there. I’m rating them on the times we actually ate at these restaurants and included them because they all had good food worthy of a stop.

#1 Top Seafood Restaurant  : Moby Dick’s

517 S. Alister , Port Aransas, Texas 78373, Phone: 361-749-9447

Moby Dick’s has good brews on tap; like most of the south it carried Yeungling beer, which is in the class of best lagers. Moby Dick’s also has good visual character which is good for the children, a rich selection of dishes—I tend to go for shrimp while my husband prefers crab. Prices are reasonable and you receive good quality although we once had the grump queen as waitress but we smiled her way out of her attitude and she delivered quickly.

#3 Top Seafood Restaurant : Joe’s Crab Shack

5025 S Padre Island Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78411, Phone: 361-980-0023

Joe’s Crab Shack is one of the chain restaurants. They airlift in seafood from the north and always cook it up delectably. They’re famous for making buckets of crab, potatoes, corn, sausage and sometimes in combination with clams, lobster or other seafood. The staff dances for the diners every forty-five minutes and if you go often enough you’re likely to be able to do it to. Lots of fun.

#4 Top Seafood Restaurant :  Railroad Seafood Station

1214 N Chaparral St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401, Phone: 361-883-6200

The Railroad Seafood Station is downtown Corpus Christi near the tourist sites and was quiet compared to many of the restaurants right next to the USS Lexington. The atmosphere was quiet, the service good and the menu varied. Their specials were a good deal, my husband ordered the Rock Lobster special and was pleased by the price, portion and tastiness. I had salad and was equally pleased.

#5 Top Seafood Restaurant : Doc’s

13309 S. Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, Phone: 361-949-6744

Doc’s is a great pub with casual dining style. Prices are a bit more than the fish fry shack next door. You are seated, waited upon and served good seafood. Service was terrific and the crowd large, get there early on weekends. It has a great view of the the harbor and is located midway on the causeway from Corpus Christi to Padre Island. The place next door is more like a fish and chip joint–you order as you enter, find a table and they drop fried seafood and french fries at your side. Beware the seagulls.

#6 Top Seafood Restaurant : Virginia’s Seafood and Steaks

815 Trout Street, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, Phone: 361-749-4088

This place was packed. The menu was somewhat intimidating. They’d cook your fish for you. Or you could have a fish they had bought. Fish is the right choice at Virginia’s. The cole slaw was promised without mayonnaise but came creamy anyway. It was a small annoyance because I ordered a green salad too and that was terrific. Beer was good but a good lager was only available via bottle.

#7 Top Seafood Restaurant : Castaway’s

320 N. Alister , Port Aransas, Texas 78373 Phone: 361-749-5394

Castaway’s was quiet when we ate there, but has a huge salad bar not used at lunch. We had good fried bar food – me chicken strips and my husband and prawn salad. The salad was rather unvaried but fresh. Service was terrific. Beer was good but a good lager was only available via bottle.

 There’s other seafood restaurants in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas, but these will feed you well.