The day started out overcast and threatening rain, but a cloudy day on the Laguna Madre is better than a sunny day in the office. By the time I pulled up for lunch at Pirate’s Landing at the foot of the causeway, the sun had just burst free of the gray and dreary morning. A good omen of what was ahead?
While it is still early in the season, I could pick out several tables with Winter Texans sitting down to their lunches in a very busy dining room – and it wasn’t quite noon yet. Even with the amount of traffic the staff was very attentive, and dishes were steadily streaming from the kitchen.
I started my lunch off with fresh lemonade and Coctel de Camaron. This beautiful dish filled with plump firm shrimp in a well-balanced sauce with cilantro and tomato is served chilled with tortilla chips, and tastes as great as it looks.
For lunch I ordered a garden salad and Red Fish Rockefeller with a side of vegetables consisting of tender steamed zucchini, broccoli, and carrots.
The fish was served on a bed of fluffy and flavorful Rice Pilaf, which could easily have stood on its own merits, and served the ideal supporting role to the star of this dish. A generous fillet of delicately firm red fish, well-seasoned and cooked to perfection, eclipsed half the plate atop the bed of rice. All of this was topped with a rich Rockefeller sauce with parsley and parmesan that made the perfect complement to the mild red fish.
If you haven’t been to Pirate’s Landing, or if it has been a while, we invite you to try them, or try them again. We have never been disappointed by the food or the service, and no matter where you are in the valley, this is always worth the drive.
Pirate’s Landing is located at the foot of the Causeway in Port Isabel’s Lighthouse District at 110 N Garcia Street, and is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.