Paging through Yelp for a spot to lunch that would afford us a view of the Tall Ships Parade of Sail across Galveston Bay recently, McGator and I settled on the 4 Star rated BLVD Seafood located at 28th Street and Seawall. The small parking lot was full, so we circled behind the restaurant on Avenue R in the rear and found a shady spot 2 blocks away. If you are willing to hunt and don’t mind short walks, publicly available street parking can almost always be found around the attractions in Galveston.
Our table had a clear view of the Parade of Sail
We worried a little that the crowd of spectators who were lining the seawall anticipating the arrival of the tall ships were a sign there would be no room at the restaurant. Miraculously, we were seated immediately at a table by the broad glass front with a perfect view of Galveston Bay.
Perusing the Lunch Menu
The lunch menu at BLVD Seafood is simple but not boring. We were offered a choice between sliders or tacos, and the fillings followed a blueprint of protein + sauce + greenness. Whether your tastes are bland or spicy, homestyle or exotic, healthy or indulgent, surf, turf or garden, there is a choice for you. I appreciated that the sliders came in lots of 2 or 3, and were priced reasonably from $6-$12, depending on number and filling. The tacos cost a little more, ranging from $11-$15. I was pleasantly surprised to see soft shelled crab as a choice, one of my favorite delicacies that is usually missing from Galveston menus.
I happily ordered the soft shell tacos and McGator chose shrimp sliders. As the waiter disappeared into the kitchen with our order, we were delighted to see a tall ship sail majestically into view. It was pretty spectacular; the wind had picked up, so the sails were full and the stately ship rolled gracefully up and over the waves.
Soft Shelled Crab and Shrimp
My trio of soft shelled crabs arrived nestled in flour tortillas and accompanied by hot and crisp seasoned skinny fries. My crab was tender and juicy, lightly coated with a soft crunch of batter and brightened with a perfect drizzle of red pepper sauce. It appeared that the chef had called an audible and replaced the menu prescribed coleslaw with baby greens, but I approved the substitution. I actually prefer their sweetness over the bitter tang of raw cabbage. McGator approved of his shrimp sliders, but felt undernourished even after ordering the maximum number of three and finishing off both of our sides of fries.
Impressive Bay View
McGator scarfed down two thirds of his sliders in two bites
As we munched on our food and watched the breath-taking parade of tall ships and their flotilla of welcoming sailboats navigate the choppy bay, I couldn’t help feeling relieved that the tickets to participate in a sail aboard one of those majestic vessels had all been sold out when I tried to purchase then earlier that spring. Not being a sailor, I knew I would most likely be bent over the rail in a fit of seasickness. Instead, I was firmly planted in my prime seat at BLVD Seafood relishing my soft shelled tacos and knowing they would be staying put.