During our recent coast trip, I flipped through the dining pages of Texas Monthly to find a good candidate for Saturday dinner. They recommended a new fine dining place....in Port Aranasas of all places. Really. So we had to give it a try.
Cafe Phoenix (229 Beach St) truly impresses. It's not much to look at from the outside; the inside is quite modest as well. The dining room seats only 28 or so, so dinner reservations are highly recommended. Chef Tiana Worsham opened two years ago with lunch service, and added dinner about a year ago. Her menu changes several times a week, based on what's fresh and in season. She also includes a few off-menu specials, such as the soft shell crab appetizer (pictured)....some of the best soft shell I have ever put in my mouth.
Our salads arrived fresh and crispy. Both dressings are house-made; we may have to try and come up with our own recipe for creamy celery seed. Just a hint of celery flavor. Delicious.
My husband chose a pan roasted Chilean sea bass over warm jumbo lump crab and asparagus salad with a wasabi citrus reduction, served with mashed potatoes. The fish was tender and flaky, and the wasabi citrus complemented it well. I chose a red snapper topped with avocado, gremolata bread crumbs, and a lemon beurre blanc. It melted in the mouth. At another table, we saw the grouper entree; the parchment paper made for a beautiful presentation. The menu also featured a filet and New Zealand rack of lamb, for you non-seafood eaters (but you don't know what you're missing!).
We completed our meal by sharing a keffir lime creme brulee....and we got the last one!
Her lunch menu features salads, sandwiches, and a couple of entrees. There are a couple of options for vegetarians.
The restaurant encourages patrons to BYOB, as they don't have a liquor license. They're closed on Sundays and Mondays.
There are at least five other restaurants on that corner, and all but one share parking lots. If you try to park in the bar lot next door, though, be prepared to get shooed off by the grumpy owner, who jealously guards his turf.
We will definitely be return patrons on our next island visit!
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