With origins dating to the arrival of the first Spaniards in Texas—their first culinary encounter being with the indigenous ingredients and preparations of Native American groups—the cuisine known as “Tex-Mex” is a cornerstone of the Lone Star menu known around the world.
Interpretations of Tex-Mex differ from locale to locale around Texas itself, but touching the southern tip of the seafood-rich Gulf Coast and bordering Mexico along the eastern stretch of the Rio Grande River, South Texas is a region with multithematic flavors all its own.
Fiercely proud of his home state, late Texas football coaching legend Bum Phillips once declared that “Texans are forged in a hotter fire.” This aptly describes the cuisine of South Texas, which along with spicy, meaty, cheesy Tex-Mex classics such as rolled enchiladas and fajitas, features its own brand of mesquite-fired barbecue—and some other surprising cuisines, too.
Triangulated by Corpus Christi on the coast, Laredo to the west and South Padre Island, Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen in the state’s southern corner, South Texas has a seat at the table for every taste.
Corpus Christi
Covering an entire block in downtown Corpus Christi, multivenue Water Street Market is an inviting group destination comprising three restaurants, the Texas Surf Museum and retailers.
On the second level of the Water Street Seafood Company, the newly renovated Board Room is a private space accommodating up to 100 people for banquets and receptions. The restaurant, along with siblings Water Street Oyster Bar and Executive Surf Club, can be reserved for private events upon request and availability. With its cool coastal vibe, the museum can accommodate some 50 guests for banquets and more for standing receptions.
“Groups also have access to the entire block, including courtyard space and paved streets, for private events,” says Liz McCampbell, Water Street’s director of sales and marketing.
Scenically overlooking downtown and Corpus Christi’s bayfront from the 20th floor of the AAA Four-Diamond Omni Corpus Christi Hotel, Republic of Texas Bar & Grill is an elegant choice for semi-private dining and daytime events. Atmospherically combining high-end with cowboy casual, the multilevel steakhouse is renowned for its impeccable service and wine list, which earned Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” last year.
The 475-room Omni itself is supremely equipped for groups, offering 11 meeting rooms for a total of 24,000 square feet of function space, including the 10,050-square-foot Corpus Christi Ballroom.
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Laredo
Recognized as a “Texas Treasure Business” by the Texas Historical Commission, La India Packing Company has been a fixture on the Laredo scene for nearly a century. Founded as a small grocery store selling sundries and chocolate in 1924, this enticing time capsule has since evolved its product line to include a wide selection of Mexican spices, herbs and seasonings for all kinds of cooking. Groups visiting the store can purchase these flavorsome ingredients and also enjoy tasty fare at the on-site tasting room.
Opened in 2005, Palenque Grill quickly became a local favorite for its use of authentic Mexican flavors in preparing classic Mexican dishes. The restaurant represents a culinary journey begun in the mid-’70s, when the owners, originally from a Mexican village on the Pacific Coast, transformed their roadside chicken stand concept into El Pollo Loco (see Brownsville), a chain of grilled chicken ventures that took them first to L.A. and then to Texas.
Serving rave-reviewed tortillas, enchiladas and tantalizing specialty dishes such as the whole shrimp ceviche marinated with hot and spicy sauce, the venue is ideally suited for groups, with a private area accommodating a range of different events.
South Padre Island
As an island with a thriving fishing trade, seafood leads the way in this popular resort on the coastal tip of Texas.
Choices include Scampi’s, a fine-dining choice located bayside with spectacular views of the Laguna Madre and an upper-level area that can be closed off for groups of approximately 40 people.
Specializing in local wild-caught seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, Sea Ranch Restaurant is a local surf and turf institution with nautical decor and private dining and event space for groups of varying sizes.
Larger groups looking to combine the island’s beach atmosphere with dining and dancing have festive choices in Louie’s Backyard, a multitiered venue overlooking the bay, or on the Gulf side of the island at Clayton’s Beach Bar and Grill, the biggest beach bar in Texas.
For variety, the celebrated Gabriella’s boasts the only Italian brick oven in South Texas and one of only a few in the entire state. Seating 120, including 28 on the outdoor patio, this family-style favorite welcomes groups for celebrations, special events and other occasions.
Brownsville
The southernmost city in the state, Brownsville, just across the Rio Grande River from Matamoros, Mexico, offers the history, culture, traditions, language and people of two countries.
The flavor of binational friendship—along with delicious Mexican food—infuses the city’s annual Charro Days celebration each February. Introduced in 1938, this fiesta was created during the Great Depression by local business leaders seeking “an antidote to the gloom” then shadowing Brownsville and the nation.
With the waterfront Brownsville Event Center accommodating up to 1,200 delegates in its divisible main ballroom and offering outdoor event space, local catering options include El Pollo Loco, part of a restaurant chain serving signature citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken.
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Harlingen
With small meeting rooms available in a number of its restaurants and hotels, Harlingen’s most prominent group space could be called a surprising one for the region.
Housed in the historic Reese Building, a local heirloom first opened in 1925 as a 65-room hotel and now reborn as a multiuse property, Colletti’s is the only family-owned Italian restaurant in this relaxing destination some 35 miles east of McAllen.
Located on the ground floor, Coletti’s itself is one inviting choice for business meetings and social affairs, available for private events on weekends. The other, 5th at the Reese, is the restaurant’s dedicated banquet and event space on the building’s penthouse level.
“The 5th at the Reese center, with catering by Colletti’s Italian Restaurant, is a magnificent Rio Grande Valley venue for all your special events,” says Grace King, the facility’s event coordinator.
Accommodating everything from intimate gatherings and business meetings to educational seminars and elaborate wedding receptions, the space features scenic views, a lounge area and state-of-the-art technology.
As part of the building’s ongoing revitalization, a boutique hotel is planned for its middle floors.
McAllen
Conventioneers and groups can look forward to an eclectic dining scene with a variety of choices in this lively “City of Palms.”
With an extensive list of vintage and contemporary wines from diverse regions complementing its light fare and hearty lunch and dinner menu, House Wine & Bistro is a popular option for groups. Offering services including custom gift baskets, gift cards and catering, chef-owner couple Larry and Jessica Delgado are hands-on hosts for a range of private business and social functions.
Located in McAllen’s Arts District, the couple’s newest venture, Salt–New American Table features an open exhibition kitchen where diners can watch the action and sample delicacies as they’re being prepared. Focused on local, organic and sustainable ingredients, the menu’s small plates and farm-to-table dishes include rave-reviewed mac ’n’ cheese and seared scallops.
Salt is diagonally across the street from the Casa De Palmas Renaissance McAllen Hotel, offering 141 rooms, 24 suites and 6,500 square feet of meeting space in a historic hacienda-style setting.
In the heart of the lively Entertainment District in historic downtown McAllen, The Patio on Guerra is a perennial favorite for lunch, happy hour and dinner. Featuring live music nightly, the restaurant offers the private Centennial Room on its open-air patio for business meetings and intimate social events. Renowned for its steaks and seafood, Guerra’s extensive menu also includes lamb and duck entrees, as well as “Border Favorites” such as the Mexican tampiquena platter.
Longtime Meetings Focus contributor Jeff Heilman returns to South Texas and the rest of the Lone Star State for his seventh annual Meetings Focus Texas supplement, coming out in September.
