ENJOY DINING OUT WITH JOY MORROW
The Pier House: 'Drift' on over

When I caught a glimpse of the National Spelli ngBee on television the other evening it sent me back to my spelling championship days at Winnetka Elementary School. I fear that in today's computer society, the youth of America has lost the ability to spell, pen the written word and make change (as in money).

Having just experienced a painful monetary exchange debacle by a summertime teen worker at a local business, it made me recall my fifth grade math class when one day our hilarious math teacher, Andy O. Owens, came lugging in a massive cash register, (a dinosaur by today's standards), as he was determined to instruct each of us in the fine art of making change.

In retrospect, he must have seen such hope in our eager faces he was determined that in our future we would at least make ourselves proud while schlepping to the general public.

Now that I'm on a nostalgia trip, I'll have you know that my recent assignment brings back more memories of my youth.

"Under the Boardwalk" by the Drifters was always one of my favorite "summeresque" songs, even though we had no boardwalks in Dallas. Come to think of it, I liked "Up on on the Roof," too, and no one was hopping up on many roofs in Dallas, either. I guess I had a creative imagination accompanied by the "Drifter" appeal.

The reason I mention this piece of history is that we now have open, for your dining enjoyment, on top of the boardwalk, The Pier House Restaurant located at Horace Caldwell Pier. Recently opened by Castaway's owner, Jay Jones, his happening casual creation is a perfect spot to enjoy good food and be literally on the beach with a beautiful view.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Pier House will start your day off with one of the extensive selections from their breakfast menu. Breakfast plates include "Shark Bait": two eggs any style with one meat, hash browns and choice of toast or biscuit. Note: The biscuits are stellar, (best I've ever tasted and I know my biscuits); The "PH Breakfast Pile": The aforementioned biscuit served open, topped with sausage gravy, two eggs (your way) and cheese; and, "Fisherman's Plate": two eggs, two meats, hash browns and two pancakes. Breakfast sandwiches, breakfast tacos, piggies in the blanket, and various omelets from cheese to shrimp are also offered.

Now, fresh from the bakery, homemade pastries abound with cinnamon rolls, kolaches, Danishes, croissants, to name a few, all personally created at the crack of dawn by the bakers led by Kiwi, the former pastry prince at Beeman's. Served from 7 to 11 a.m., it's a great way to begin your day.

The lunch/dinner menu starts off with snacks including stuffed jalapenos, coconut shrimp and fried mushies (mushrooms).

On to their signature burgers: "This magic moment was so different and so new," as I had the memorable mushroom/Swiss. Other burg combinations are bacon/cheddar and jalapeno/cheese. The po-boys come in oyster, shrimp or fish, and grilled mahi and chicken sandwiches are also available.

All entrees, even including the "dogs", come with a choice of one side: Fries, rings, cole slaw, corn on the cob, or dinner salad. I should point out that the side salad was huge, fresh and accompanied by homemade, lumpy (lumpy is good), salad dressing (we had one bleu cheese and one thousand island, ergo the lumps).

Mahi or chicken are the grilled plates and a half-pound shrimp boil includes corn and sausage.

Fried seafood platters come in fish, oyster, shrimp, coconut shrimp, and popcorn shrimpsters. Notice to you "fried food phobics": Get over it! as this fried is very special. The Pier House uses Japanese breadcrumbs and an egg wash batter that presents an incredible crunchy and light result.

My companion, Cap'n Jimmy Crunch, had the fried shrimp basket, and it was two non-greasy thumbs up. Trust me, try fried, it's "Some Kind of Wonderful."

The surfing decor is abundant, with surfboard tables (if you're lucky enough to score one) and picnic tables throughout. Cold beer, "There goes my Baby," is available in a self-serve cooler. The "Neon Lights are Bright" at this veritable one-stop beach and dining experience. "Drifter" on over there, and you won't even make a dent in your Andy O. Owens cash register.

Joy Morrow is a resident of Port Aransas who enjoys dining out and contributing to island merchants.
THE PIER HOUSE
749-2288
HORACE CALDWELL PIER
END OF BEACH STREET
KITCHEN OPEN 7 A.M. - 9 P.M.