116 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • March/April 2018 TheCoastalBend.com Island Italian Island Italian Padre Island natives harbor a soft place in their hearts for this beloved local institution. The restaurant’s late founder,“Tag”Tagliaferro, was for years one of the island’s most notable and popular business owners, and whether you stopped in for your weekly lasagna, or you ordered five pizzas at a time for the kids’pool party, Island Italian was always the go-to place for great food served hot and fresh. These days Tag’s son Tony carries on the tradition of treating customers as family, and serving up wonderfully prepared Italian standards from ravioli to mostaccioli, a range of delicious creations in chicken, shrimp, scallops and clams, steaks and veal, and stoned-baked pizzas that are of island legend. (Pizza deliveries limited to North Padre Island) 15370 S. Padre Island Dr. • (361) 949-7737 IslandItalian.com • $$ Dragonfly & Curacao Blues This French-owned and operated island bistro is home to the most international menu in the Coastal Bend, with fully authentic dishes from Europe and Latin America. Dragonfly’s“World Tour by Land”side of their menu includes French-style filet mignon in tarragon sauce, lamb meatloaf and healthy Mediterranean chicken, plus a wonderful Italian beef lasagna. The “World Tour by Sea”side offers delicious American crab cakes, a French-inspired crusted fish and grilled shrimp plate, seafood-stuffed cannelloni from Italy, fish tacos from Hawaii and a savory grilled shrimp skewer with coconut sambal sauce ala Malaysia. Curacao Blues next door is the island’s first tapas bar, which offers a laid- back place to relax and enjoy Spanish-style delicacies and wonderful wines and cocktails like their signature blackberry mojito, homemade watermelon martinis, and island-favorite sangria. 14701 S. Padre Island Dr. (361) 949-2224 • DragonflyCuracao.com • $$$ Little Manila Lumpia House Those who know and appreciate the wonderful cuisine of the Philippines will find their new Coastal Bend home in Flour Bluff. Enjoy classic lumpia, which can be easily confused with an eggroll, but that is made with a traditional combination of spices, vegetables and beef or pork. Little Manila’s Abobo Chicken is a menu favorite bursting with flavor and perfectly prepared, and is served as its own entree or as part of the lunch combo with Bihon noodles, rice and tea—for less than a song! You will forget your notion of Sweet and Sour Chicken when you try it as Little Manila—and Elena’s homemade sweet and sour sauce puts this dish over the top. 2124 Waldron Rd. in Flour Bluff • (361) 937-5651 • $$ Island Cafe One of those best-kept secrets held by Port A locals as a place for outstanding food at a decent price, all week long. It’s hard to beat breakfast at Island Cafe, which features all the most popular items, but is prepared like your best friend made it for you. Don’t be shocked to find borderline gourmet cooking at this place as well, along with the work of an obviously skilled pitmaster. Fish and chips at Island Cafe is a crowd favorite, as well as comfort foods that will give your day that sweet, soft landing. 301 S. Alister St. • (361) 749-1741 • $$ Irie’s Island Food Transplanted Austin Chef Martin Frannea has assembled a wonderful lunch menu that features garlic and ginger Kahuka-style shrimp, chicken and beef, Asian-inspired Treasure Beef, strip loin marinated in a brown sugar and chile soy sauce, and your choice of fried rice. Irie’s tacos will twist your definition of delicious, with over a dozen varieties from simple bean and cheese, to beef, fish, shrimp, fried oyster, Texas beef, and even, from time to time, Maine lobster! To the delight of islanders and frequent visitors alike, Irie’s started opening for dinner this year. 503 N. Alister St. • (361) 749-2310 • IriesIs- landFood.com • $$ Is a great Coastal Bend restaurant missing from the Coastal Food List? Email us: txcoastalbend@gmail.com