While it is a stretch to make light of the current situation, we can’t help but notice a few things over the last couple of weeks. 

First of all, we all know businesses — especially restaurants — along the Texas Gulf Coast are resilient, creative and have proven to be up for many challenges over the years. And when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a temporary waiver on March 19 allowing Texas restaurants and bars that serve food — all of which are currently closed for dine-in service due to the COVID-19 pandemic — the ability to legally deliver and offer to-go alcohol, beer, and wine to customers, many local venues got to work and let their creativity shine. From “Margarita Survival Kits” TO-GO to Free Craft Beer Growler fills with a food purchase to all kinds of creative booze buckets and mixed drinks TO-GO, our SCENE clients hit it from every angle in an effort to keep their staff employed. 

Unfortunately the issuing of this temporary waiver caused some confusion regarding what was and was not legal for restaurants to sell TO-GO and via delivery. Soon afterwards, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) made clarifications and many restaurants pivoted, although the confusion continues. Because The SCENE believes TABC should loosen laws further, even if just temporarily, to even better help venues keep their staffs employed and in business altogether, we decided not to go into detail on the clarification or what is legal or not as our goal is to help all our clients struggling to survive without focusing negative light on any.

 The Backyard Seabrook 

It is important to note that restaurants, breweries and bars that already have wine and beer retailer permits — not full liquor permits for mixed drinks — were already able to sell wine and beer TO-GO before the issuing of this mandate. One example would be The Backyard in Seabook which has a beer and wine permit and has always been technically allowed to sell beer and wine TO-GO but recently pivoted, purchasing a canning machine (pictured) and now offers draft craft beer TO-GO in cans. 

As mentioned in our Food-To-Go article, The Backyard - Seabrook, TX will be announcing Every Sunday what days and hours it will be open the following week.

“We are a new business, and our limited staff has been tirelessly working 7 days a week to keep the lights on, and meet the needs of our amazing community,” explained owner Jared Klein. “After learning that this crisis may be with us for at least another month, we have decided to begin pacing ourselves so we can stay strong, spend more time with our families and continue to serve you throughout this difficult time. Thank you so much for your support. The Backyard Seabrook loves providing all of you with our comfort food during this difficult time.”

 Another business that quickly pivoted as a result of the new reality was Red River Cantina in League City. The venue, located in Galveston County and not subject to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s order to close all bars and restaurant dinning rooms, had even announced they would go ahead a close their dinning room before Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did so statewide. As noted in our Food To-Go article, Red River Cantina and its older sibling establishment Red River BBQ & Grill have developed a number of creative food “family survival packs” TO-GO. They also launched their contact-free online ordering system in very early March, which has proven to be very timely. But Cantina was also among the first to take advantage of Gov. Abbott’s temporary waiver and had House Margarita’s TO-GO mixed up and available by the gallon as early as anyone. After the TABC clarification, Red River Cantina quickly pivoted again to what has become a very popular Margarita Kit including their house-made Margarita Mix and two 375ml bottles of El Jimador Reposed. 

Other venues offering Margaritas TO-GO include Jackie’s Brickhouse - Kemah, TX  all Luna’s Mexican Restaurant locations (League City, Friendswood, Texas City and Baytown), Mamacitas Mexican Restaurant   - Webster, TX and Noah's Ark Bar & Grill - Bacliff, TX.  

Jackie’s Brickhouse just launched new “Margarita Kits” with a gallon of their margarita mix, a bottle of Jose Cuervo, two limes and margarita salt for only $30!

In addition to Margaritas, Noah’s Ark Grill & Bar is also offering Bloody Mary, Bourbon & Soda, Screwdriver, Rum & Soda, Vodka & Soda and Draft Beer by the 1/2 gallon, beer by the six pack, wine (by the bottle and 4-pack) and other drinks including their popular Dirty Monkey and Parrot Head Punch for delivery and pick up with a food purchase. Check out the current drink menu on their Facebook page as this situation is fluid and subject to change.

Barge 295 in Seabrook is offering their famous Bushwacker (pictured above)frozen drink to go (16oz- $10, 32oz- $17, Gallon- $50). 

In Kemah, Bakkhus Taverna, Skallywag Suds & Grub, T-bone Tom’s, Tookie’s Burgers, Jackie’s Brickhouse and Dan’s Pizza are all offering drinks TO-GO with food purchases.

Recent drink promotions at Skallywag included Burger N’ Brew Day (“Pick any burger on the menu and any bottle or can brewski  to go”), “Buy a $30 gift card and get a FREE gallon of draft Craft Beer to go” and “Mix-and-match craft buckets” among other offers. 

Bakkhus Taverna is offering a range of drinks to go including adult buckets of mimosas, bloody Marys, wine, beer and even single and double to-go drinks (pictured), pick your mixers with $10 from each sale going to the bartender/server. 

Here is a list of venues offering drinks TO-GO with their contact information so you can stay in the loop.

T-bone Tom’s
https://www.facebook.com/tbonetoms/
707 Highway 146
Kemah, Texas 77565
281-334-2133
www.tbonetoms.com

Mediterraneo Market & Cafe
https://www.facebook.com/MediterraneoHouston/
18033 Upper Bay Rd
Houston, Texas 77058
www.mediterraneomarket.com

Mamacitas Mexican Restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/MamacitasMexicanRestaurant/
515 E Nasa Pkwy
Webster, Texas 77598
281-332-5362
www.mamacitashouston.com

Gio's Flying Pizza And Pasta
https://www.facebook.com/GiosFlyingPizza/
650 FM 517 Rd W
Dickinson, Texas 77539
281-337-0107
www.giosflyingpizza.com

Tookies Burgers
https://www.facebook.com/tookiesburgers/
406 Texas Avenue
Kemah, Texas 77565
281-942-9334
www.tookiesburgers.com

Noah's Ark Bar & Grill
https://www.facebook.com/Noahs-Ark-Bar-Grill-217151978251
4438 Boulevard St
Bacliff, Texas 77518
281-339-2895
noahsarkbarandgrill.com

Bakkhus Taverna
https://www.facebook.com/BakkhusKemah/
605 6th St, Suite A
Kemah, Texas 77565
281-538-
bakkhustaverna.com

Skallywag Suds N' Grub
https://www.facebook.com/skallywagkemah/
600 6th St
Kemah, Texas 77565
281-538-8877

Jackie’s Brickhouse
https://www.facebook.com/JackiesBrickhouse/
1053 Marina Bay Drive
Kemah, Texas 77565
832-864-2459
https://www.jackiesbrickhouse.com

Luna's Mexican Restaurants

Luna's Mexican Restaurant - League City
https://www.facebook.com/LunasMexRestaurantLeagueCity/
6555 South Shore Blvd Pkwy, Suite B
League City, TX 77573
281-334-0300

Luna's Mexican Restaurant - Baytown
https://www.facebook.com/LunasMexRestaurant/
730 W. Cedar Bayou-Lynchburg
Baytown, TX 77521
281-421-5661

Luna's Mexican Restaurant - Friendswood
https://www.facebook.com/LunasMexRestaurantFriendswood/
704 W. Parkwood
Friendswood, TX 77546
281-992-3171

Luna's Mexican Restaurant - Texas City
https://www.facebook.com/Lunas-Mexican-Restaurant-Texas-City-160346930661143
9300 E F Lowry Expressway
Texas City, TX 77591
409-986-7919

Main 101 Grill & Bar
https://www.facebook.com/Main101/
101 E Main Street
La Porte, Texas 77571
281-470-8484

Opus Bistro & Steakhouse and Opus Ocean Grille are operating from Opus Ocean Grille during the shut down
https://www.facebook.com/OpusOceanGrille
1510 Marina Bay Drive #124
Clear Lake Shores, TX 775
281-334-0006 

Red River Cantina - League City
https://www.facebook.com/Red-River-Cantina-League-City-1622531247860086/
1911 E. Main St. Ste. A
League City, Texas 77573
281-557-8156
Order at www.redrivercantina.com

Red River BBQ & Grill - League City
https://www.facebook.com/Red-River-BBQ-Grill-League-City-109192899109694/
1911 E. Main St.
League City, TX 77573
281-332-8086
http://www.redriverbbq.com

The Backyard Seabrook
https://www.facebook.com/backyardseabrook/
1301 4th St.
Seabrook, Texas 77586
281-942-9620
www.backyardseabrook.com

El Pescado Ciego
https://www.facebook.com/El-Pescado-Ciego-112897516821282
137 21st Street
San Leon, Texas 77539
Call 281-339-0199 to place your order.

Barge 295
https://www.facebook.com/bar295/
2613 1/2 Nasa Parkway
Seabrook, Texas 77586
281-549-7603
barge295seabrooktx.com