Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack spices up their menu

Boudreaux and Thibodeaux have been working hard over at Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack. The upstairs deck is temperature controlled, perfect for all the intense weather we’ve been having in the Clear Lake Area recently. You can’t get a better view of the Kemah Boardwalk Marina anywhere else in the area. And most importantly, a barrage of new menu items are coming this February. On the horizon for spring, when the weather settles and live music starts back up, you might see the two cousins swinging hammers, building a brand new outside kitchen for boiling crawfish and smoking Alan’s famous oysters!

The Swamp Shack’s humorously named menu items add a fun, swamp-like atmosphere to the dining experience. But clever names don’t adequately describe the satisfaction in each savory bite! Due to popular demand, additions will include some old Seabrook Beach Club gems, along with several mash-ups of current crowd favorites and some exciting new items to fill out the menu.

Swamp Shack’s burger menu is getting several major additions. Prized among patrons, Alan’s mouth-watering ground beef burgers are infused with fresh ingredients, creating a uniquely enjoyable taste. Two of the most popular burgers on the menu, the Swamp Hog – a beef patty stuffed and cooked with bacon – and the Water Moccasin – a beef patty stuffed and cooked with jalapeños – have been swamptastically combined to create the colossal “In-Breed” burger. Another exciting addition is the Alligator burger – a beef patty stuffed and cooked with tenderized chunks of real alligator meat. Crawfish lovers already appreciate the Mudd Bugg burger, but try it blackened in crawfish spices and you’ll be a fan forever.

Those who recall Alan’s famous shrimp stuffed jalapeños from the Beach Club days, will be pleased to see they’re now on the Swamp Shack menu. Other appetizer additions include an award-winning shrimp & oyster diablo (shrimp, an oyster and a jalapeño wrapped in bacon and deep fried), crab stuffed mushrooms, smoked oysters, real alligator legs (if alligator nuggets aren’t enough!), and various sampler plates to try them all. If you’re with a group of friends, be sure to share some boiled seafood treats. The Mix Crab Pot includes a Blue Crab, clusters of each Snow Crab, Dungeness and a leg of King Crab; and the ultimate Boiled Seafood Feast includes everything in the Mix Crab Pot plus two pounds of crawfish, half a pound of boiled shrimp and lobster tail!

More traditional seafood plates have been added to round out the menu, satisfying a diverse array of palates. Additions include buffalo wings, Swamp tacos (alligator, fish or shrimp), Bayou Po-Boys (fried alligator, shrimp, crawfish or shrimp slaw), a rib-eye steak sandwich, a club sandwich, fried oyster dinner, Cajun fried Blue Cat dinner, chicken & sausage jambalya, Cajun shrimp and/or crawfish etouffee, BBQ bacon shrimps, Red Snapper, a fried “Trash” platter (with jumbo shrimp, oysters, catfish fillet and alligator), and grilled “Captains” platter (with jumbo shrimp, scallops, and snapper filet). Top it all of with Alan’s new strawberry pudding cake!

Nearly doubling the menu, the Swamp Shack is fast becoming a full service seafood restaurant, equipped to cater to any needs of its diverse clientele. Already a hit with the locals who are crazy about crawfish all year round and its award-winning gumbo, the added selections are certainly a “win” for the restaurant. Just look at the cover of this month’s SCENE – and Thibodeaux must be very proud.

Originally published in The SCENE Magazine – February 2011

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine, crawfish, Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack, Kemah TX

Wine & Dine or just Fall in Love at Signature Bistro

Under new ownership since November, Signature Bistro has been completely renovated inside and out. With a fresh new look and an updated menu, the cozy, converted house is the perfect place to wine and dine. With live music on the weekends and low lights in the evenings, the Bistro provides a truly intimate experience. Top it all off with extraordinary chef-prepared dishes and a sophisticated selection of fine wines, and you’ve got yourself a fine dining destination – without the long drive.

The time, effort and service put in by the staff at Signature Bistro is inspiring. Sisters, Elizabeth Grella and Melissa Baccus own the restaurant; but are often seen bar-tending and serving food. Executive chef, Bradley Hamil, greets guests whenever possible, garnering feedback on his signature dishes. Patrons feel more like family than customers and there’s a welcoming spirit unparalleled with most establishments due to the quaint, homelike layout and small scale of the restaurant.

Family-owned and operated restaurants are simply tradition for these two sisters. Their great-grandparents, Sam and Jean Grella, owned the famous Scampi Miramar located both in Boynton Beach, Florida, and Port Washington, Long Island, where high society and famous celebrities would dine in the 1940s and ’50s. As the name implies, the restaurant was responsible for creating and popularizing shrimp scampi. The sisters’ father (also named Sam) and mother, Jan, owned a restaurant in Houston coincidentally called The Bistro, and later played a prominent role in bringing live Maine lobsters to Houston by building the largest live holding system in the Southwest United States. Currently, he is a producer and importer of fresh and frozen seafood which helps in sourcing product for Signature Bistro!

The sisters continue the inventive tradition by creating unique and savory dishes with the help of chef Hamil. Graduating at the top of his class at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin and previously working at Brennan’s of Houston, Hamil specializes in fresh, quality cuisine with a modern focus on presentation and design. Ingredients are of the highest quality and sourced locally whenever possible, ensuring less travel time from farm to plate.

The Bistro specializes in seafood, with dinner entrees such as lobster ravioli and linguine pescatore, and farm-raised fish, such as Texas striped bass and salmon. Seasonal specials include lobster stuffed with a delectable crab stuffing on Fridays and Saturdays (while supplies last) and a new featured fish each week. Past featured fish include amberjack, black drum, snapper and red fish. In addition to fresh seafood, the restaurant also features fine dining regular dishes such as stuffed quail, lamb chops, pork chop and filet mignon. Quality appetizers, soups and salads are provided to accompany entrees – I, personally, recommend the Turtle Soup – along with a variety of spectacular desserts.

Lunch at The Bistro consists of lighter versions of the dinner menu, along with a variety of pastas and the mouthwatering Texas Kobe burger. Look out for the Reuben, Cuban, muffuletta and club sandwiches starting this month!

The Bistro, now open Sundays, welcomes guests for brunch with delicacies such as stuffed French toast topped with Cointreau berry compote and crab Benedict (poached eggs atop potato crusted crab cakes, topped with a spicy beurre blanc sauce). Happy hour crowds will be especially pleased with the bar menu. Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Signature Bistro’s full bar features tapas such as Texas Kobe beef sliders and tournedos topped with herb goat cheese and wild mushrooms – all under $5!

With a sophisticated variety of fine wine grapes ranging from Cabernets, Pinots and Merlots, but also including Carménères, Malbecs, and Muscadelles, Signature Bistro is fit for business meetings and wine tastings as well. Reserve your spot now for the July 28th Wine Social―a great way to meet and greet other wine aficionados, sample hors d’oeuvres, and talk about the various wines.

In addition to fine dining, guests enjoy a wide range of romantic soft-rock classics and blues with David Scwope and his 12-string guitar on Fridays and a variety of musicians on Saturdays. Several outdoor patio tables and seating in the bar area are provide a comfortable environment for the casual diner.

Come be a part of the family at Signature Bistro, located at 1918 NASA Parkway in Seabrook. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, Tuesday through Friday and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner, Tuesday through Saturday, with the bar open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call 281-474-4455 or visit the website for a full menu at www.signaturebistro.com; and be sure to become a fan on Facebook with updates, specials and lots of pictures!

Originally published in The SCENE Magazine – July 2010

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine

Dickinson Bar~B~Que & Steakhouse: Hill Country Right Here in the Galveston Bay Area

Since October of last year, new owners of Dickinson Bar~B~Que & Steakhouse Keith and Holly Lilley have taken great care in creating a Hill Country environment right here in the Galveston Bay Area. From little touches to the stylized Fredericksburg décor to mouth-watering, scratch-made recipes, the Lilleys have reshaped the establishment into a one-of-a-kind, family dining destination. Choice cuts at reasonable prices and super-friendly customer service round out the experience at this family owned and operated restaurant.

Former president of Southwestern food chain giant, Café Express, Keith Lilley is no stranger to the food service industry. Leaving his secure position in an effort to fuel his entrepreneurial spirit, Lilley immediately jumped at the opportunity for self-employment in his own back yard. Taking a hands-on approach, customers will frequently see the apron-clad owners buzzing around the restaurant greeting guests and serving food, ensuring a quality dining experience in a relaxed, casual atmosphere.

The palette available at Dickinson Bar~B~Que is distinctive and plentiful. It’s Texas Bar~B~Que is uniquely slow-pecan roasted, providing a mild, sweet flavor. Using the indigenous state tree gives the smoked meats a genuine Texas feel, packed with rich, complex flavors. Meats include slow smoked sliced or chopped brisket, St. Louis rack ribs, Czech sausage, turkey breast and ham. Paired with its regular sauce gives the meat a spicy kick; though a milder sauce is available for a more traditional style and in the works is a hickory sauce, which will use local wildflower honey.

Not your typical Bar~B~Que joint, Dickinson Bar~B~Que is a full-fledged steakhouse as well, offering hand cut USDA Choice Rib Eye and New York Strip steaks, center cut pork chops, and Norwegian salmon filets. Angus burgers are also available; along with a variety of sandwiches. Homestyle cooking options for those looking for comfort food include hand battered chicken fried steak or chicken, chicken tenders, steak fingers and a catfish platter.

A plethora of fresh, homemade side dishes are also available and include your basics like cole slaw, potato salad, green beans and baked beans; but also items like jalapeño pinto beans, black eyed peas, macaroni salad, turnip greens, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, twice baked potatoes, real mac & cheese and other daily and seasonal specials. Add on a garden salad topped with dressings made in-house or a bowl of a fresh made soup for a full meal. Some daily soups include sausage chicken gumbo, chicken tortilla, and homemade chicken and dumplings. And with a chef devoted solely to creating an assortment of scratch-made pies, cakes, cobblers, bread and banana pudding, you’ll certainly want to leave room for dessert!

Family friendly, Dickinson Bar~B~Que offers “Little Whipper Snapper” meals available for the kiddos for about the cost of a Happy Meal; and there’s exterior picnic tables so you and your family can enjoy the weather outside. Serving food cafeteria-style allows the entire family to sit back and relax and it saves money all around. And you won’t want to leave after hearing an eclectic musical mix of old, classic country, Texas rock and blues.

For adults, a selection of domestic and imported beer and wine are available. Having toured Hill Country wineries extensively, Lilley features some of the finest Texas wines available―including Blanc du Bois from Santa Fe’s own Haak Vineyards. The museum-like front dining room―complete with red cedar ceiling, handmade shutter boxes and artwork by local muralist Gary Holman—can be shut off from the rest of the restaurant and is the perfect Hill Country setting for wine tastings, private gatherings and special events.

No time to dine-in or need food for a special occasion? Call ahead and pick up your food through the convenient drive-thru where you’ll see another amazing Holman mural along the entire west side of the building. And be sure to consider Dickinson Bar~B~Que when catering your event―some past clients include the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo, Krewe of Gambinus Float Parade, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Mainland Chapter CCA End of Year Banquet, and the Dickinson Strawberry Festival.

Dickinson Bar~B~Que is a member of the GO TEXAN Club, promoting the products, culture and communities that call Texas home. Find out more information and see a full menu with prices at www.DickinsonBBQ.com. Be sure to join their “e-Que Club” and you might get a little something special as a token of their appreciation. Add them on Facebook to keep up with news and events and to check out pictures (my favorite album is “Dads at Dinner”). The restaurant is located at 2111 FM 517 E in Dickinson and they can be reached at 281-534-2500.

Originally published in The SCENE Magazine – June 2010

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine, Dickinson BBQ, Dickinson TX

The Green Parrot Bar & Grill – Sunny San Leon’s Own Slice of “Parrot-Dise”

As you walk into The Green Parrot a maze of painted docks cover an ocean floor and the walls are plastered with seascape murals. Local artist Gary Holman, who’s responsible for wall art all over Clear Lake and Houston, painted the restaurant from top to bottom. The wood flooring, painted to look like the ocean, was added during the post-Ike restoration process―fitting, given the establishment flooded with six feet of water during the hurricane.

As you follow the wooden pathway through the main dining area, you pass through a set of French doors and find yourself inside the bar area, complete with a huge horseshoe bar and a full-sized darts area. Saddle up to the bar and enjoy dollar drafts or $5 pitchers all day, everyday. Tuesday thru Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and all day Sunday, enjoy $2 longnecks and $3 wells. Additional Sunday specials include $5 Jagerbombs and $2.50 Margaritas. Join in for Texas Hold’em every Tuesday and Thursday or catch sporting events on the easy-to-see flat screen.

The bar also features direct service to a large backyard patio, opening up the restaurant to the sunny weather. Sit outside and enjoy live music every weekend, with acoustic sets every Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and various live bands every Friday and Saturday from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. During the evening, when the area is really rocking the patio turns into a dance floor where you can move under the stars. With plenty of room for the kids and comfortable outdoor seating, the private patio is a popular spot to share a pitcher of beer or sip on tropical drinks amidst the beautiful sunny weather.

Amazing art, exotic ambiance and mouthwatering drinks are great for a long, lazy afternoon. But at some point, hunger pains start to kick in. Tuesday thru Saturday enjoy $5 lunch specials, with a different featured dish every day, plus new, every day lunch prices. Favorite dishes available all the time include half-pound cheeseburgers made to order, shrimp, chicken fried steak, rib-eye, and seasonal crawfish.

Expanded menu coming soon in mid-June will include a huge seafood platter, perfect for sharing, with local, wild caught fried Gulf catfish, fried shrimp, coconut shrimp, crab balls, and fried crawfish tails. Or order most platter items separately, as appetizers. Additional new seafood items include crab cakes, cold boiled shrimp and shrimp cocktail; new sandwiches include the patty melt and pulled pork sliders; and other new appetizers include stuffed jalapenos and chicken, beef, cheese, or chili nachos.

Summer is here so take full advantage of The Green Parrot’s tropical facility. Private parties and group functions are always welcome and there’s designated parking for bikers! The Green Parrot is Located on the San Leon peninsula at 2233 East Bayshore Drive. For more information, please call 281-339-1392 or visit the MySpace page at www.myspace.com/green_parrot_bar_grill.

Originally published in The SCENE Magazine – June 2010

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine, San Leon TX, The Green Parrot

Al Capone’s Bar & Grill – Not Your Average Pizza Joint

Pizza for me is not just a meal; it’s an event. I’ve always been prone to shared eating environments as opposed to stand alone dishes. Certainly, a couple of specialty pies and a pitcher of beer with friends is a social gathering success. You can guess that when I was asked by The SCENE to go check out Al Capone’s Bar & Grill in Webster, I hopped all over it.

At first glance, Al Capone’s looks like your average pizza joint with half the establishment being a dining area and the other half a bar. One expects there to be a kitchen with just a pizza oven and a microwave to heat up pub grub apps. But take a look at the menu and you’re in for a treat. Sure, there’s all sorts of pizzas to whet your appetite; but also a vast array of Italian appetizers, traditional dishes and sandwiches. Suddenly you realize this is more than a pizza joint―it’s a full-service Italian restaurant. The dishes are made from scratch, the sauces and dough made in-house, and the quality ingredients are fresh and delicious.

Al Capone’s owner, Rena Head, is no stranger to fine Italian dining. An immigrant from the former Yugoslavia, Rena relocated to America forty years ago; but you couldn’t tell―her accent is as strong as ever. Her story here in Galveston started in 1999 when she and legendary Tuscan chef, Luigi Ferre, opened up Luigi’s on the Strand. Ten years later, her friend and mentor constructed a menu and shared his secrets before her grand opening of Al Capone’s on Saint Patrick’s Day in 2009 while Luigi’s was undergoing repairs from Hurricane Ike.

Just over a year old, today Al Capone’s is locally known for its unique specialty pizzas and delicious pasta. Crowd favorites include traditional Lasagna, Spaghetti and Meatballs, the Tuscan Chicken Salad, and the heavily hyped, ultimate specialty “Al Capone’s Secret Vault” pizza. Unlike Geraldo Rivera, this mouthwatering pizza delivers. Toppings include pepperoni, salami, onions, peppers, olives, tomatoes, pineapple, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, jalapenos, garlic and Greek pepperoncini.

Daily food specials include $10 pizzas, loaded with your favorite toppings and half-priced appetizers between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Enjoy 25-cent wings on Wednesday nights and $10 rib-eyes on Thursdays.

But Al Capone’s doesn’t end with great pizza and pasta. Come in and enjoy the full-service bar, boasting some seriously insane drink specials, bi-weekly liquor promos, and all sorts of bar events, including periodic live music, open mic every Saturday night and karaoke three to four nights a week.

Anticipating a fun summer crowd, Al Capone’s is introducing the “Out of Control Happy Hour,” packed with $2 U-Call-Its (with NO restrictions) and beers and 75-cent Jello Shots, Monday thru Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Come in for Lone Star Mondays when Lone Star Beer is only a dollar.

With live music of every flavor―professional and amateur alike, bar games like Beer Pong and darts and TV’s at every vantage point to celebrate sporting events, Al Capone’s bar area is certainly an excellent a choice for cheap drinks, great food and tons of fun.

Find Al Capone’s physically at 17420 Fife Lane in Webster and on the web at www.alcaponespizzapub.com. Add them on Facebook and Twitter! Need catering or planning on bringing in a large crowd? Call in at 281-482-8100 and ask about special pricing.

Originally published in The SCENE Magazine – June 2010

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine, Al Capone's Bar & Grill, Friendswood TX

Boudreaux & Thibodeaux: In Search of Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack

The crawfish craze is still going strong here in the Clear Lake area; and Alan’s Seafood Market seems to be a big part of that. But supplying the Houston Bay area with tons of crawfish, shrimp, crab and all sorts of other wild caught Gulf seafood just isn’t enough for Paul Latour and Alan Franks. So, if you’re looking for a weekend seafood boil without the effort and a picturesque view, come on out to Paul & Alan’s newest concept, Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack, located right next door!

Pictured on the cover of this month’s SCENE Magazine are Paul and Alan’s cousins, Boudreaux and Thibodeaux! They’ve come all the way from Louisiana, looking for the Swamp Shack. The story started a long, long time ago on a bright and sunny afternoon in Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin (the Big Swamp next to N’awlins). Boudreaux and Thibodeaux were busy setting trotlines and crab traps; preparing, as they normally did, for an evening of catchin’ crabs and catfish, giggin’ frogs, trampin’ flounder and huntin’ alligators. Suddenly, the wind started howling and the water started rising and the sky turned black! Obviously, one heckuva tempest was a brewin’ (Hurricane Katrina) and before the cousins could escape to higher ground, the levee broke and washed the two fellas out to sea and all the way out to the Capitol of Louisiana (Houston, TX).

After three days of floundering around in Buffalo Bayou, the boys finally hit dry land and you can bet they were hungry! Since then they’ve been spotted all over Houston, Galveston and the Clear Lake area looking for their kinsmen and the Swamp Shack. Craving seafood like they get back home, Boudreaux and Thibodeaux are really looking forward to finding the Swamp Shack because they hear it specializes in boiled fresh Gulf crawfish, shrimp, crab and lobster; additionally offering both raw and baked oysters, jumbo fried shrimp, cajun gumbo, and red beans and rice. The Cajun cousins have also developed quite a thirst due to all that saltwater, so a few ice cold beers to help wash everything down can’t hurt!

The Swamp Shack features incredible views of the Kemah Boardwalk Marina―especially atop the rooftop deck. Relax and enjoy scheduled crawfish boils and other events, along with live music on the weekends. Reasonable prices and friendly service will round out the dining experience and ensure a good time.

Located at the base of the Kemah bridge, next to Molly’s, Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack is sure to be a hit for folks who dig rooftop decks, killer views, live music, and most importantly, a laid back, casual atmosphere. Friends of Boudreaux and Thibodeaux (Houston Bay area residents) will be given a customer appreciation discount card. So, if you see Boudreaux and Tibideaux out and about, make sure they can find their way to the Swamp Shack!

Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack will open this May. For more information, check out the website at www.theswampshack.com or call 281-334-1445. And please point Boudreaux and Tibideaux in the right direction!

Originally published in The SCENE Magazine – May 2010

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine, Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack, Kemah TX

Berryhill Baja Grill Crosses Clear Lake, Docks in South Shore

As the weather’s getting warmer and the days longer, we’re finding that summer’s creeping up on us. What better way to relax on a sunny afternoon in the Clear Lake area than with a couple of fish tacos and a fresh-squeezed Margarita? Award winning Berryhill Baja Grill’s newest location in League City makes it super easy to shave off an hour or two of work before heading home.

The new location welcomes us with a large patio, full of tables equipped with bright red, Christo style umbrellas. The amount of green space separating the outdoor seating area from the traffic creates a sound buffer not typically found in shopping center restaurants. Lurking overhead is the same, brightly lit Berryhill sign we all know and love; but in this case, it’s positioned on the rounded corner facade of the restaurant, appearing as the entrance to some sort of modern, grand castle.

The layout inside the main dining area resembles the charm of the other restaurant locations. What sets this location apart from the rest is the use of space in the bar area. Swirling with dazzling colors and imagery, the space makes for a perfect happy hour spot. Additionally, the amount and placement of flat screens, makes it easy to comfortably catch sporting events from any table or bar top.

And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a semi-private loft-style spot above the actual bar, complete with comfy, black leather couches, a couple of flat screens, and a killer view through its panoramic window. More like an upscale club setting, this area will cater to larger parties and casual get-togethers. Reservations are welcomed and there’s no charge to use the space.

Owner Philip Wattel (who also owns Montrose and Baybrook locations) jumped on the opportunity to open up a location in his own backyard. Having fell in love with the area when he opened up Baybrook, Wattal is a supporter of the Clear Lake boating community and is a member of South Shore Harbour Resort. Logistically, the new location is at a perfect spot to deliver to boating docks at South Shore Harbour on those hot summer days!

Dine in specials at Berryhill include $1.99 award-winning fish tacos every Monday and $.99 award-winning tamales on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Weekend brunch is available until 3:00 p.m., with $10 bottomless Mimosas; and breakfast is served every day. Be sure to also try an award-winning Margarita, Bellini, or Screwdriver―all served with fresh-squeezed juice!

So, whether you’re looking for a casual, patio setting for happy hour or restaurant service; or late night drinks and apps; or anywhere in between; Berryhill will cater to your needs. Being a super fan of the Original Fish Taco (Zagat rated as “Best Fish Taco Ever”), this spectacular location fits my needs especially, both with regards to proximity and cool factor. Enjoy the same great food and similar style; just on a grander scale and a perfect locale.

Find Berryhill Baja Grill’s newest location at 2660 Marina Bay Drive in League City, TX 77573. Check out the website at www.berryhill.com and become a Bajamigo by following Berryhill on Twitter (@BerryhillLOVE) and Facebook!

Originally published in The SCENE Magazine – May 2010

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine, Berryhill, League City

New Layout at Heads N’ Tails Amps Dining Experience

When you walk into the main dining area at Heads N’ Tails, it’s like you’ve walked into an entirely different restaurant. Recent renovations have opened the space up and increased the size of the stage and dance floor without compromising seating. Custom tables allow for a bar-height experience in a communal atmosphere; perfect for live music and social events. Other additions include more lighting to boast stage presence and a logistically superior sound system to compliment the hodgepodge of local and national bands that come through Heads N’ Tails Tuesday thru Sunday―and with no cover!

The venue is also a prime location to catch all your favorite sporting events with twenty-three flat screens scattered throughout the restaurant. Several new tracks of screens in the main dining area make it easy to catch the game without straining the eyes. Renovations will extend to the bathrooms as well. All of these changes and additions are expected to enhance the atmosphere of a place you already know and love.

Not only is Heads N’ Tails introducing a new layout, but also a new dining experience. Plans are to revamp the menu by eliminating some of the less-than-desired food items and focus on a smaller palette. This will both amp the quality of the food served and provide a more pleasurable experience. By going back to its roots, Heads N’ Tails will better serve its customers, both new and old.

Of course, Heads N’ Tails will keep pumping out its titular specialty. It’s high crawfish season and the weekend of April 24, Heads N’ Tails will present its Second Annual Smoke on the Bayou Crawfish and Music Festival. The event will take place both indoors and out, showcase fifteen bands and offer crawfish at an astonishing $2.99 a pound.

Heads N’ Tails is also expanding it’s famous $2 Deal to both Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, when you can find crawfish at $2.99 a pound, $2.50 longnecks and $2.99 wells. Come on out on the weekends and enjoy $.50 wings and $5 pitchers. Additionally, Heads N’ Tails will be offering Steak Night on Wednesday’s where, for $8.95, you’ll get a succulent, 16 oz cut of ribeye and a baked potato. In the same communal tradition, smokers will be set up under the palapa so you can cook your steak the way you want it.

Heads N’ Tails remains a prime outlet for Happy Hour and Late Night crowds. But outside the main dining area, there’s a non-smoking section, set apart, which is great for family gatherings and certainly kid friendly. Outside, there’s several patios and a huge palapa where you can enjoy the weather with family and friends. And there’s no better time than now!

While Heads N’ Tails has changed its layout, it’s still located at 1053 Marina Bay Dr in Kemah and you can call them at 281-456-4641. Visit the website at www.headsntailsbarandgrill.com and be sure to join their Facebook page!

***Originally published in the April 2010 edition of The SCENE Magazine***

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine, Heads N' Tails, Kemah TX

Casual Vibes and Tasty Food at Judge’s Bar & Grill

When the Foster family first laid eyes on the logo for their new restaurant, Judge’s Bar & Grill, they figured it was some sort of omen. You see, Judge Mark Foster, who aptly used his moniker to name his restaurant, is prominently displayed laying comfortably in a hammock with loose fitting shorts, an island shirt and a visor to shade his face from sunny San Leon. He’s got a tropical drink in one hand and a gavel in the other. Incidentally, the artist never actually met Judge Foster, who’s appearance and demeanor is strikingly similar; so when the proof came in, the family instantly embraced it.

The philosophy behind Judge’s is to keep things simple and provide a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, where folks can enjoy award-winning dishes, soak up the sun on the restaurant’s private beach and gander at the spectacular 180 degree unblocked, panoramic view of Galveston Bay, listen to live music on the weekends, and get into the easy-going spirit with some killer signature drinks. On his Facebook page, the Judge says he finds “joy in the simple things in life, you know family, friends, having a good time, sunrises and sunsets [sic].” Wise words from a man who appears to be the epitome of casual.

Aside from the casual vibe at Judge’s, you’ll experience a wide-variety of delicious tastes. A successful dining experience hinges on consistency and quality ingredients; and Judge’s has both. Judge’s meat, seafood and produce are all distributed through local vendors and Chef Manuel guarantees the great food you tasted today will taste the same next month.

If you’re in-tune with the Clear Lake food scene at all, you’ve already heard about the Judge’s award-winning Shrimp & Crab Gumbo (it won “Best Entree” at last year’s Cowboys and Cowgirls Who Cook event). Other uniquely delectable treats include the Judge’s Chicken & Sausage Gumbo, Boudain Stuffed Shrimp, Ahi Tuna, Fish & Shrimp Tacos (zing points for its flavorful Jalapeno, Cilantro Ranch Sauce), a Fried Shrimp family recipe, seasonal crawfish, and the crowd-pleasing Big Ass Cheeseburger (which boasts a full pound of red meat and can be served for one or many). A selection of lunch specials are also available, Monday thru Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All this, and the food is reasonably priced and served in generous portions too!

As if spectacular food isn’t enough, this boldly colored, family-run restaurant, is really more of a destination. Complete with a sandy beach where you can play volleyball, lounge around with family and friends, catch some live music (weekends from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) or even order a snowball! Head inside and you’ll find an expansive bar, serving an array of flavor-packed signature drinks―try the Boat Fuel and Pink Panty Pulldown for starters! Bartenders serving up drinks don blue “Bar Bailiff” t-shirts and servers flashy, orange “In Mate” t-shirts and the court-related theme spreads into the décor and on the menu, adding to the cool vibe of the restaurant.

What really sets Judge’s apart from the rest is its waterfront location and its view of Galveston Bay. Great for large parties, several high school reunions and both wedding ceremonies and receptions have already been scheduled for the summer. And since practically the entire restaurant opens up, you can easily gaze at the Bay. So, pack the kids and some sun screen in your vehicle of choice (golf carts welcome!) and come on out to Judge’s Bar & Grill―you can’t miss it; it’s the huge hot pink building, with yellow and teal trim.

But if you do miss it, Judge’s is located at 113 6th St in San Leon and you can reach them at 281-339-1515. Visit their website at www.judgesbarandgrill.com and join their Facebook page to learn about their specials, or, “Plea Bargains.” Court is in session Sunday thru Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday thru Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

***Originally published in the April 2010 edition of The SCENE Magazine***

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine, Judge's Bar and Grill, San Leon TX

Introducing Alan’s Seafood Market

You may have noticed some redevelopment at the corner of 4th and Texas near the Kemah Boardwalk. Now open, Alan’s Seafood Market features high-dollar seafood at competitive prices. Opening next door, just in time for crawfish season, is Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack, a boil house and restaurant, which―you guessed it―will be serviced by Alan’s Seafood Market.

Supplying its wild caught Gulf seafood direct from the boats and skipping the middle man ensures freshness and quality for you to cook at home or have served to you in the restaurant.

Twenty-eight year Clear Lake restaurant and bar veteran, Alan Franks, has teamed up with longtime friend and business partner, Paul Latour. The two first met each other back in the late eighties when Latour owned the Junction Night Club―now the site of Big Texas. You probably remember Alan Franks from the Seabrook Beach Club, an establishment instrumental in assisting the Clear Lake crawfish craze back in the early nineties. Franks would regularly sell 1,500 pounds of crawfish in an evening.

“I remember seeing a line out the door thirty minutes before they started serving,” said Latour, “and for those at the back of the line it’d still be an hour and a half before you got any crawfish.”

When the Beach Club closed in 2007, Franks continued selling crawfish wholesale, direct from Louisiana. Supplying restaurants and boil parties all over the Clear Lake area, Franks sold 750,000 pounds of crawfish last year.

Clearly Franks is passionate about crawfish and in order to meet the demands of crawfish lovers all over the Houston Bay Area, the natural progression from selling wholesale is to open a market and restaurant, serving the public directly.

Executive chef, Ismael Ramirez, promises to deliver the freshest ingredients and, talk about service, he’ll prepare the seafood any way you want it.

Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack will specialize in boiled Gulf crawfish, along with shrimp, crab, lobster; additionally offering oysters, both on the half shell and baked, jumbo fried shrimp, cajun gumbo, red beans and rice, and more. And if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, beverages will include beer and wine, there will be live entertainment, lots of outdoor seating and a rooftop deck.

Also, offered as an incentive for supporting local establishments, residents of the Houston Bay Area will be given a customer appreciation card, good for various promotions to be determined. What a great way to appeal to the local population and serve the community.

With its unique business model, Alan’s Seafood Market and Swamp Shack should be quite the popular spot just off the Kemah Boardwalk. Purchasing the freshest Gulf seafood possible has never been so easy. So when you visit the Swamp Shack and order some fresh Gulf seafood, be sure to bring your ice-chest and take some home from the market next door.

Alan’s Seafood Market is located at 309 4th Street in Kemah. By the time you pick up next month’s SCENE Magazine, Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack will be open next door. Call 281-334-1445 or visit wholesaleseafoodmarket.com for more information.

Originally published in The SCENE Magazine – March 2010

Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine, Alan's Seafood Market, crawfish, Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack