Dining Guide 2023

Japanese specialties, hibachi in kitchen. Seafood, noodles, soup, meats in a family-friendly atmosphere

Noodles Seafood

Teriyaki Hibachi

Sushi Miso

915 State Hwy 35 North, Port Lavaca, TX 77979

HOURS

Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.–2:45 p.m. 5–8:45 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m.–2:45 p.m. 5–9:45 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

WAGON TRAIN RESTAURANT

Mexico Tipico

421 N. VirgiNia • 361-552-5713

Hours:

- saTurday: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Nday & moNday: 6 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Menu

Chilifitas - $11.25

2 lg. flour tortillas stuffed with chicken fajitas and jalapeños, diced tomatoes and served with guacamole and refried beans.

Monterrey Plate - $12.99

2 cheese or beef enchiladas, rice (yellow or white Cheese), pico de gallo, grilled onions, guacamole, sour cream and flour tortillas (strip or steak)

Grilled Shrimp, Beef Fajitas, Chicken Fajitas - $16.95 served with rice, beans, guacamole and two flour tortillas

Laredo Plate - $12.99

Chicken fajitas with sausage, grilled onions and jalapeños, served with rice, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo and two flour tortillas.

Beef or Chicken Fajita Taco Salad - $9.95 served on a shell

1 pound of cabeza - $13.75 pico de gallo and 8 corn tortillas.

Saturdays & Sundays only

We sell flour tortillas by the dozen.

Sizzlin’ Hot!

Teamwork is the key that kept Bubba’s Cajun Style Restaurant going strong for 13 years

BY DD TURNER dturner@plwave.com

SEADRIFT – Teamwork started Bubba’s Cajun Style Restaurant 13 years ago with three boiling pots, a couple of pans and a Fry Daddy from Walmart.

And teamwork is what has kept Bubba’s as one of the must-visit restaurants in the area for 13 years.

“I financed it, but it was a team that built it,” said Buford “Bubba” Hall.

The orginial team, which is still with him, consists of his wife, Sylvia Hall, Marie Martinez, Ronny Gooden, Nancy Henson and Elpedia Rodriguez.

“I couldn’t have done it without all of them. I just don’t want anybody to think that. You don’t tell somebody you did something in this kind of business because it takes a whole team. You can’t do it by yourself,” said Hall.

Hall said they moved to the current home at 1142 E. Highway 185 in Seadrift, which sat empty for more than seven years and “it took off from there.”

They have expanded the building, gotten newer and bigger freezers and coolers and have redone the parking lot “about 10,000 times,” he said. “[The] year before, I spent $30,000 on it, and the next month it rained 40 inches in 30 days, so there goes your money, but you gotta keep on going.”

The interior is decorated with a mural of the Seadrift pier, a shrimp boat and sea creatures created by local artists, as well as sea-themed items brought by satisfied customers.

Surrounding the top of the bar are signed onedollar bills from people who have visited the restaurant. Hall said a patron from California stuck a bill on the top of the bar and began the custom. It now covers the top from beginning to end and even underneath.

ON THE MENU

If you want, you can get a hamburger or a chicken salad, but the boil’s the thing to order at Bubba’s.

It can be mildly spicy up to Bubba’s special preparation to take you into the realm of heat.

“Me and Ronny, we got to messing with the seasonings and created a concoction that works pretty well,” said Hall.

This special sauce is sold by the quart and “people put it on everything. A lot of people like it,” he said. “We just made it, put it on some shrimp and it was good, so we’ve used it ever since.”

Hall supports the local fishing community by purchasing as much bay shrimp from local shrimpers as he can. That is usually about 10,000 pounds a year.

“I like to buy all the shrimp off the local boats because it helps them and it helps me to get a better product,” he said.

And, while the bay shrimp is his favorite to use, gulf shrimp is used when it’s not available.

“Gulf shrimp is okay, but I like bay shrimp better,” he said. The shrimp tails are kept frozen until used.

While that is a lot of shrimp, it goes fast with all the boils and platters of grilled or fried shrimp that go out the kitchen doors.

The Castaway Special boil is 1 pound of shrimp with corn, potatoes and sausage in the mix. And crawfish is season is another big seller for the restaurant, along with snow crab.

COMMUNITY

A Fourth of July celebration is just one way Hall gives back to his community. People from as far away as Houston and Wharton have made their way to the show.

Always on July 4, the celebration is a fireworks show with no vendors.

“People look forward to it and we look forward to it,” he said. “It’s quite a show.”

Hall also hires local youngsters to work at the

restaurant.

“I’ve had a lot of school kids come through here and work — one just came back for spring break to work — and most of them go off to college, get jobs, get married and now bring their kids back to see me. It’s nice,” he said.

Supporting kids is a theme for Hall’s charity. “I like to support everything that has to do with kids because they are our future and everything. If you help getting them to go the right way and not the wrong way, that’s what you need to do,” he said.

In recognition of all that Hall does for the community, the Seadrift Chamber of Commerce presented him with a special pair of white shrimp boats painted by Audrey Huddleston of The Hobo.

The boats were decorated with the restaurant’s logo and the logo of the Seadrift Chamber of Commerce, along with fireworks, a boiling pot, seagulls and more.

Hall may not have been born in Seadrift, but he has made it his home. He liked how welcoming the people and the Baptist Church were and how the town pulls together to help out when needed.

“It’s is a nice small town with no red light, no blinking light, just a pleasant place to live,” he said.

The days start early and end late and Hall, who is turning 68, said he kind of wants to retire someday.

“I’ve done a lot of jobs. I’ve worked in the oil fields in the ‘70s, I’ve worked on the back of oyster boats and shrimp boats and this is probably the hardest job I have ever had. It can consume your whole life,” he said; however, Hall noted, “I go out and visit and get to know the customers. I’ve met so many new

to

and they

friends

look forward

coming back and shooting the bull.”

ABOVE: Nancy Henson, foreground, and Marie Martinez help make Bubba’s Cajun Style Seafood Restaurant go. The two have been with the restaurant since its inception. Upper Right: Sylvia Hall plates an order while Nancy Henson does prep work at Bubba’s Cajun Style Seafood Restaurant. Photos by DD Turner

Buford “Bubba” Hall speaks with Carrie Rouse, Kaylee Whitacre, Tye Wolfe, and baby Waylon Whitacre during their meal at Bubba’s Cajun Style Seafood Restaurant. Photo by DD Turner

The Seadrift Chamber of Commerce presented Buford “Bubba” Hall with a special pair of handpainted white shrimp boats in recognition of all that he does for the community. Photo by DD Turner

609 Ethel St., Port Lavaca, TX, 77979

361.935.7905

HOURS

Monday: 11 -8

Tuesday - Saturday: 11 - 9

Sunday: Closed

The Sea is Serving at ... On

Little Dockside

The Menu:

Seafood Baskets Burgers

Boils Other

Oyster | Fish | Shrimp

Oyster | Fish | Shrimp Soft Shell Crab

Hamburgers

Combo Plates

3 lb crawfish: 1 corn, 2 potatoes 1 sausage

5 lb crawfiSh: 1 corn, 2 potatoes, 1 sausage

2 lb shrimp: 1 corn, 2 potatoes, 1 sausage

1 lb shrimp & 1 lb crawfish: with 1 corn, 2 potatoes, 1 sausage

PICK BY THE POUND: Crawfish or Shrimp

PICK YOUR FLAVOR:

Garlic Butter, Cajun, Lemon Pepper, Plain

PICK YOUR SPICE LEVEL: Mild | Medium | Spicy

Add additional sides: Corn | Potatoes | Sausage

Mini Street Tacos

Tacos: corn and flour

Guisada: Beef Fajita or Chicken Fajita

Gorditas

Burritos

Quesadillas

Tacos

Tortas

Tostadas

Salad

Egg Rolls

Soft Drinks

Mexican Drinks

Building Traditions

Scully’s celebrates seven years of high standards at the bar & grill on the bay front

BY CJ VETTER cjvetter@plwave.com

Scully’s Sports Bar and Grill is an iconic part of Port Lavaca for many — whether they are a local or someone just passing through, the popular bayside grill offers delicious food and a casual, comfortable atmosphere for anyone coming through.

Owned by Zeke Davila and managed front-side by his sister Sarita Bonuz, the local brother-sister duo delivers a high and evolving standard of dining through their restaurant, as well as providing a welcoming place for the community to gather over good food and great drinks.

“We’ve become a place that people love to come to and they become our regulars because of how they’re treated when they’re here and the relationships they’ve built with our employees and with us,” Davila said. “There really is that strong sense of community, and from the hundreds of people that come here a week, we know a lot of them … We know what they’re going to get when they come here and the expectations they have for us. People really enjoy coming and I’m proud of that and I’m proud of my sister for that.”

Located right alongside Lavaca Bay, Scully’s open deck offers an excellent place to grab a drink, like their delicious peach Schnapps and coconut rum concoction called the Aquaholic. Visitors can also watch as oyster boats and cargo ships roll in across the waves or enjoy a nice relaxing sunset while snacking on classic staples such as their loaded potato kegs or brisket nachos.

“We try and give the community something different. Sometimes, people complain that we only have Mexican food restaurants, but I remember that was one of the first things people asked about,” Bonuz said. “That’s not our specialty. We have a different type

of menu.”

Celebrating its seventh year of business, Scully’s has continued to be a place that caters to its customers, whether it be by ensuring that they have their favorite drinks keeping the kitchen well-stocked. Despite the rough business climate brought on by COVID-19, Scully’s has continued to be a gathering place for those who want to get out of the house and have some fun.

“We can accommodate almost anything; we just need to have heads-up,” Bonuz said. “We had a wedding reception last summer. They came here for dinner and leased our whole deck and I had to figure out and calculate a short menu of things for them … We can make it happen if we have the time and it’s within reason. We’ve even shut down the whole restaurant for companies that want to have Christmas parties.”

Both Davila and Bonuz take great pride in the consistency and standards of service offered by their establishment, whether that be making sure your plate of wings is cooked to perfection each time or upholding a high standard of cleanliness.

“We hold very tightly to certain standards that we take the time to set. Whether it be the service we provide or the food we provide to our customers, we never want to give anyone the opportunity to talk down about us. We want them to know we’ll do everything we can to make their experience enjoyable here,” Davila said.

One key standard that they always seek to meet is ensuring everything is available on their menu.

“There’s nothing worse than having stuff on your menu and you’re out. That drives me insane,” Bonuz said. “That might have been what I just came here for.”

Originally opened to provide nearby plant

workers a place where they can connect with others and feel at home, Scully’s has grown beyond that and is now a place where co-workers, friends and family from across the county (and state) can meet to share drinks, such as the tangy Scully’s Trash or several refreshing beers on tap, and grab food such as their southwest chicken sandwich or fresh seafood.

“I was in Wyoming for about four years or so, working in the oil fields. I’d come down for about two weeks every month or so and I’d been wanting to open a restaurant. I wanted a place where people could go and not miss home as much,” Davila said. “Seven years later, we’re still here … There was always going to be an evolution. We changed and got more into the community beyond just plant workers. We’re changing almost every day for a more family-friendly environment.”

Community and success are the heart of the business and it is constantly changing and evolving to do its best to meet the needs of Calhoun County and its people. Taking inspiration from other restaurants and exploring the possibility of new experiences they can bring to Port Lavaca, Davila and Bonuz frequently discuss how they can make their restaurant better and better.

“We’ve lived here our whole lives. I’ve worked in the community and we’ve met so many people. At this point, some of them are extended family and we know that they have family and children,” Bunoz said. “We try and learn about our customers and even when we’re so busy, we’ll still wave them down and try to say hi.”

With warmer weather coming in, alongside a new series of summer burgers on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to swing by Scully’s and enjoy one of the finest dining atmospheres Port Lavaca has to offer.

Manager Sarita Bunoz presents some of the delicious items available at Scully’s while standing on its deck. Photo by CJ Vetter.

On History’s Pathway

Local Mexican restaurant serves up all the favorites

BY SHERRY FICKLEN lifestyle@plwave.com

In a community where Mexican food restaurants are perched around every corner, La Antigua Mexican Restaurant rates at the top of the list of local favorites.

Located at 737 N. Hwy. 35 in Port Lavaca, owner Santiago Degollado Jr., most commonly known to the public as Jimmy, grew up in the restaurant business. Born and raised in Port Lavaca, Degollado has been serving up Mexican favorites at La Antigua since June 2011.

“The majority of my family, both on my father’s and mother’s side, have been around the restaurant business most of their lives, so naturally, I’ve settled into it quite well,” he said.

In an area saturated with Mexican food restaurants, Degollado said he chose Mexican cuisine because of his heritage; however, La Antigua also serves Tex-Mex and American dishes. Most dishes contain the staples, beef, chicken and fish. The restaurant also serves unique dishes, such as steamed snapper cooked in foil. Also on the menu are tilapia snapper, shrimp and, of course, chicken fried steak, burgers and chicken strips.

“One time, my friend Ray asked me to surprise him with something. So, I whipped up a chicken fried steak, but instead of fries, salad, toast and gravy, I added ranchero sauce, cheddar cheese and added sides of rice and beans and called it a Mexican chicken fried steak,” he said. “The different types of fajitas and the deep-fried stuffed avocadoes are the community favorite.”

Degollado raves on his customers’ loyalty and said La Antigua is a hot spot to celebrate special occasions, with some people coming back year after year for birthday celebrations. Some people just drop by often because of the great service atmosphere. He spoke of one customer in particular that visits the restaurant so frequently from Palacios that a menu is not needed any longer.

The business is also available to cater events.

“For the most part, when people want a catering order from La Antigua, our experienced cooks prepare any dish requested as well as the sides for however many guests expected at the event,” Degollado said. “I am more than happy to deliver.”

Thirsty? La Antigua also serves alcoholic beverages such as beer, margaritas, piña coladas, daiquiris and more.

“The crowd favorite is definitely the house blend Margarita,” said Degollado. “If someone has a special request and we have the ingredients, I will gladly make them a drink to the best of my ability,” he said.

The restaurant is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Degollado invites everyone to visit La Antigua.

“According to most of the population here in town, they say La Antigua is the best in town,” said Degollado. “Come out a give us a try and see firsthand why I have very few disappointed customers.”

Santiago “Jimmy” Degollado Jr. prepares to serve a plate of delicious Mexican cuisine to a customer at his restaurant, La Antigua Mexican restaurant. Photo by CJ Vetter

A La Antigua employee is hard at work cooking local favorites.

Photo by CJ Vetter

Esmer Varela and Daniel Varela enjoy lunch at La Antigua Mexican restaurant. The restaurant is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Photo by CJ Vetter

MARCH

Looking for fun around Calhoun County

EVENTS

11: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at King Fisher Park Pavilion.

23: Saltwater Legend Series Fishing Tournament in Port O’Connor. It will be the second stop on the 2023 Saltwater Legend Series. Events take place at 5D Steakhouse.

25: Seadrift Market Days, 8 a.m. to noon at the Train Depot.

APRIL

1: Iguana Fest returns to downtown Port Lavaca. Music, vendors and more.

1: POC Service Club Spring Garage Sale, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Port O’Connor Community Center.

8: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at King Fisher Park Pavilion.

8: Easter Bunny Comes to Town at 5D Steakhouse in Port O’Connor. Egg hunt at 4 p.m. with prizes, snow cones, face painting, animal balloons, hot dogs and cotton candy.

21: Calhoun County Area Go Texas BBQ, Calhoun County Fairgrounds, Henry Barber Way.

22: Adopt A Beach Coast-wide Cleanup.

29: Seadrift Market Days, 8 a.m. to noon at the Train Depot.

29: Annual Crawfish Fest & Cook-Off in King Fisher Park. Starts at 10 a.m. Crawfish plates, crafts, food, vendors, horseshoe tournament and crawfish eating tournament.

MAY

6: Derby Day at the Port O’Connor Community Center.

12: MidCoast Smackdown Fishing Tournament. www. midcoastsmackdown.com.

13: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at King Fisher Park Pavilion.

19-21: Warrior’s Weekend in Port O’Connor. www. warriorsweekend.org.

27: Port O’Connor Memorial Day Kid Fish & Kite Flying Contest, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at King Fisher Beach.

27: Seadrift Market Days, 8 a.m. to noon at the Train Depot.

JUNE

3: MidCoast Smackdown Fishing Tournament. www. midcoastsmackdown.com.

9-10: 42nd Shrimpfest in Seadrift. Two days of music, food, fun, and contests like shrimp eating. There is also a fishing tournament.

10: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, King Fisher Park Pavilion.

10-14: Texas Water Safari starts in San Marcos and ends at Bill Sanders Memorial Park in Seadrift, with an awards banquet at noon June 14.

16: Rojo Classic, one-day redfish tournament in Port O’Connor.

17: The Legacy Tournament. Fishing tournament starts at 5:30 a.m. Registration at Sharkie’s Bar & Grill in Port O’Connor.

24: Legends in Lace, presented by the Saltwater Legend Series, in Port O’Connor. Events take place at 5D Steakhouse.

24: Seadrift Market Days, 8 a.m. to noon at the Train Depot.

TBA: City of Point Comfort Fourth of July Bash at the Bay at Waterfront Park.

JULY

1: POC Fireworks, King Fisher Beach. Craft and food vendors will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

3: Star-Spangled Bay Bash, July 3 at Bayfront Peninsula Park in Port Lavaca.

4: Port O’Connor July 4 Parade 9 a.m.

4: Seadrift Fourth of July fireworks.

8: Capt. Trey Ross Memorial Fishing Tournament. Events at 5D Steakhouse.

8: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, King Fisher Park Pavilion.

15: Little Mullets Tournament in Port O’Connor.

29: Seadrift Market Days, 8 a.m. to noon at the Train Depot.

ONGOING

City of Port Lavaca’s Bayfront Beats Saturday night concert series at Bayfront Peninsula Park starts. Bring your own chairs and drinks. No glass bottles.

AUGUST

5: Possum Invitational fishing tournament with events at Sharkie’s Bar & Grill. www.possumfishingtournament.com.

6-7: Hard Head Derby in Port Lavaca.

12: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, King Fisher Park Pavilion.

26: Seadrift Market Days, noon at the Train Depot.

ONGOING

City of Port Lavaca’s Bayfront Beats Saturday night concert series at Bayfront Peninsula Park starts. Bring your own chairs and drinks. No glass bottles.

SEPTEMBER

2: Flip Flop Festival at Bayfront Peninsula Park in Port Lavaca.

9: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, King Fisher Park Pavilion.

16: Adopt A Beach Coast-wide Cleanup

30: Seadrift Market Days, noon at the Train Depot.

30: Port O’Connor Service Club Fall Garage Sale 8 a.m. to noon at King Fisher Beach Pavilion.

OCTOBER

6: Port O’Connor Boat & Fishing Expo, sponsored by the POC Chamber of Commerce.

14: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, King Fisher Park Pavilion.

14: POC Service Club Clay Shoot.

28: Seadrift Market Days, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Train Depot.

28: Trunk or Treat, 6 – 8 p.m. at King Fisher Beach Park in Port O’Connor.

TBA: Calhoun County Fair Parade.

TBA: Calhoun County Fair opens.

TBA: Calhoun County Youth Livestock Show & Auction.

TBA: Point Comfort Trunk or Treat.

TBA: Port Lavaca Trunk or Treat at Lighthouse Beach.

TBA: Seadrift Trunk or Treat at the bayfront.

NOVEMBER

11: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, King Fisher Park Pavilion.

TBA: Free Thanksgiving Dinner, St. Jude Hall.

25: POC Poker Run, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Port O’Connor.

25: Seadrift Market Days, 8 a.m. to noon at the Train Depot.

DECEMBER

2: Port O’Connor Lighted Boat Parade, 6 to 8 p.m. POC Waterway.

9: POC Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, King Fisher Park Pavilion.

13-14: House Lighting Contest in Port O’Connor.

30: Seadrift Market Days, 8 a.m. to noon at the Train Depot.

TBA: Seadrift Christmas festivities.

TBA: Tree of Angels at Bauer Community Center.

TBA: Tree Lighting ceremonies in Port Lavaca, Point Comfort and Seadrift.

TBA: Festival of Lights Parade in Port Lavaca, starts at Bayfront Penisula Park.

TBA: Merry on Main in December, Port Lavaca Main Street.

TBA: Shop The Town in Port Lavaca.

Bienvenidos Amigos A ......

Welcome friends to La Antigua, where you will find a wide variety of authentic Mexican foods - dishes that have been prepared for decades & decades.

Come join us at La Antigua and make history with us.

Try Our Seafood Selections

737 N. Hwy. 35, Port Lavaca, TX • 361-552-7764

Hours: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Breakfast: 6-11 a.m. All Major Credit Cards Accepted - No checks.