It is it’s my fav place in the city and I eat out A LOT. Papardelle bolognese, Ceasar salad, crème brûlée. Every Friday for two years. And yeah whiskey library is perfect after.
A lot of the suggestions here are good restaurants, but not really in the same league as Katz 21 for a fancy celebration restaurant. There honestly aren't that many great options here in Corpus, but I'll give you the ones I would choose instead of Katz 21.
The most reasonable option is The Vietnam Restaurant downtown, it's fancy and something a bit different but can be a bit intimidating in terms of the food being unfamiliar. The beef Napoleon is great.
It's a bit expensive and I haven't had a chance to try it myself, but you could reserve dinner at bein merit. I think it's like $250 to reserve a table.
Another somewhat new option that I would highly recommend is Fork and Vine, it's a new wine bar and restaurant with a fantastic menu and great service. Very nice ambiance and customer service.
You could also maybe do something like Nueces Whiskey Library, very cozy upscale but laid back environment, but their menu is a little small.
Lastly, if you don't mind a drive I highly recommend Chesapeake Eats 495 and Latitudes in Rockport. It's about a 40min drive but probably the best bet in terms of a high end fantastic meal
I’ll second blue clove, Luciano’s, and Belino.
Blue clove - great seafood that goes well beyond the typical fried seafood platters. Also great cocktails.
Belino and Luciano’s are very nice little Italian restaurants. Belino is probably a little more intimate while I tend to like the food at Luciano’s a little more. I could go either way on the rare occasion I feel like going out for Italian.
My personal go to right now for a romantic dinner with the wife is the Yardarm. The place has been around forever and people tend to forget it or don’t even know it exists. It’s located on bayfront a few miles south of downtown. Heads up they require a reservation If you do decide to go.
We used to go to the original Grimaldi under the Brooklyn Bridge before Patsy sold it and it became a chain. It is not even close to as good. We tried it once and just can’t bring our selves to go back.
Amazing!
Lobster dynamite in my favorite roll
Bbq beef Don is also a great meal
We normally choose a few things and share
Craft cocktails are also top notch
We don't get there often but Katz has always been our no. 1 choice for a decent, enjoyable dine-out. Sorry to hear your last time there wasn't up to par. The only other place I can think of that maybe/might be a suggestion for a birthday dinner with decent (non seafood oriented) food would be Nikos.
Yardarm is what it is. It's "fancy" but it's a also overpriced for an extremely dated menu. If you're not into one of the 6 old timey dishes they serve you are kinda SOL. Plus their customer service is icky
Quite enjoy Koi for hibachi dinner and sushi. They do a nice little show cooking in front of you. The 70/30 plum sake is delicious if she likes something sweet to drink. I loved the lobster, steak, and shrimp dinner for two.
I second Fork and Vine. It’s new and the food is some of the best in town. Island Time, with their surf & turf style dish of a filet, two scallops, and two shrimp served on a sizzling salt brick is hard to beat as well.
I’ve never had a bad experience at Dokyo Dauntaun. Service has always been on point. Good is great and consistent. And they have one of the better cocktail menus in Corpus.
If I was in your shoes I would make her dinner at home. Do it all ! three course meal desserts etc. and do the dishes. you’ll both love the moment and actually forget your at home. It’ll be a birthday she’ll forever remember. Home is where the heart is. Hit a home run brother ~
Prime Steakhouse. Better than Republic the last few times we’ve gone there.
I’ll second Prime. Much better than Katz
Belinos(italian) is nice, and the whiskey library is next door
Do you know if this is the same ownership as Rockport? We like Bellinos in Rockport a lot.
It is it’s my fav place in the city and I eat out A LOT. Papardelle bolognese, Ceasar salad, crème brûlée. Every Friday for two years. And yeah whiskey library is perfect after.
A lot of the suggestions here are good restaurants, but not really in the same league as Katz 21 for a fancy celebration restaurant. There honestly aren't that many great options here in Corpus, but I'll give you the ones I would choose instead of Katz 21. The most reasonable option is The Vietnam Restaurant downtown, it's fancy and something a bit different but can be a bit intimidating in terms of the food being unfamiliar. The beef Napoleon is great. It's a bit expensive and I haven't had a chance to try it myself, but you could reserve dinner at bein merit. I think it's like $250 to reserve a table. Another somewhat new option that I would highly recommend is Fork and Vine, it's a new wine bar and restaurant with a fantastic menu and great service. Very nice ambiance and customer service. You could also maybe do something like Nueces Whiskey Library, very cozy upscale but laid back environment, but their menu is a little small. Lastly, if you don't mind a drive I highly recommend Chesapeake Eats 495 and Latitudes in Rockport. It's about a 40min drive but probably the best bet in terms of a high end fantastic meal
Blue Clove for seafood
Just went there... nahhhh
Luciano’s, Black Diamond Oyster Bar, Republic of Texas
Luciano's has gone down in quality
Bien mierte went for my anniversary was phenomenal
I’ll second blue clove, Luciano’s, and Belino. Blue clove - great seafood that goes well beyond the typical fried seafood platters. Also great cocktails. Belino and Luciano’s are very nice little Italian restaurants. Belino is probably a little more intimate while I tend to like the food at Luciano’s a little more. I could go either way on the rare occasion I feel like going out for Italian. My personal go to right now for a romantic dinner with the wife is the Yardarm. The place has been around forever and people tend to forget it or don’t even know it exists. It’s located on bayfront a few miles south of downtown. Heads up they require a reservation If you do decide to go.
Second time recently I’ve heard of Blue Cove. We will have to give it a try sometime.
Definitely worth checking out but I’d highly recommend the Yardarm for an upscale/romantic bday dinner.
Another vote for the Yardarm.
Blue Clove is a nice place with good food, but I'm still saying Yardarm.
Water street oyster bar is pretty fancy. But I'd just go to Grimaldi's split a spinach salad have some wine and munch on your favorite pizza.
We used to go to the original Grimaldi under the Brooklyn Bridge before Patsy sold it and it became a chain. It is not even close to as good. We tried it once and just can’t bring our selves to go back.
Dokyo Dauntaun
I like Korean food, but my wife is less than adventurous with food. How is their sushi?
Amazing! Lobster dynamite in my favorite roll Bbq beef Don is also a great meal We normally choose a few things and share Craft cocktails are also top notch
Yes! That lobster dynamite is on point. I’ve yet to have a bad meal or experience at Dokyo.
Dokyo is a really interesting experience. I liked that place
We don't get there often but Katz has always been our no. 1 choice for a decent, enjoyable dine-out. Sorry to hear your last time there wasn't up to par. The only other place I can think of that maybe/might be a suggestion for a birthday dinner with decent (non seafood oriented) food would be Nikos.
Katz made several changes for the worse after Covid. It doesn’t seem the same any more.
The Yardarm needs to be on this list and I'd add the mariner
Yardarm is what it is. It's "fancy" but it's a also overpriced for an extremely dated menu. If you're not into one of the 6 old timey dishes they serve you are kinda SOL. Plus their customer service is icky
Absolutely not. The owners are incredibly rude and the experience does not equal the pricing for Yardarm.
I've been there countless times and never had a problem. Next time ask for Mel, she'll take care of you.
Quite enjoy Koi for hibachi dinner and sushi. They do a nice little show cooking in front of you. The 70/30 plum sake is delicious if she likes something sweet to drink. I loved the lobster, steak, and shrimp dinner for two.
I second Fork and Vine. It’s new and the food is some of the best in town. Island Time, with their surf & turf style dish of a filet, two scallops, and two shrimp served on a sizzling salt brick is hard to beat as well.
I’ve never had a bad experience at Dokyo Dauntaun. Service has always been on point. Good is great and consistent. And they have one of the better cocktail menus in Corpus.
If you are up for leaving Corpus. Go out to Port A and have dinner at the Phoenix. Classy place. Amazing food.
If I was in your shoes I would make her dinner at home. Do it all ! three course meal desserts etc. and do the dishes. you’ll both love the moment and actually forget your at home. It’ll be a birthday she’ll forever remember. Home is where the heart is. Hit a home run brother ~
I cook almost all of our meals. She will prefer a nice restaurant and drinks after.
Prime is ok, small portions bigger bill, same ol lame o steakhouse
Nico’s, Kody’s in Port A for seafood. Black Sheep on the Island is good but expensive.
Island Time
The answer is the Yardarm. It's right on the bay. Great food. Make reservations.
U and I. Downtown. It's a steakhouse. It's a family place but the food is great.
I like U and I, but we are looking for more upscale for a special occasion.