Black Sheep Bistro

The Engineer and I just took a 30-or-so-hour trip to Corpus Christi and thereabouts, to see the Gulf of Mexico. We loved our trip, and while on Padre Island, had a wonderful dinner at a little place called the Black Sheep Bistro. It’s a warm and eclectic modern bistro, with funky art for sale (I was mesmerized by a skeleton rendition of the little mermaid) and a strong menu that seems to vary a little according to the season. It’s a great place for a date or special occasion, yet also accommodated families with young children, so the dress code is very flexible. We started with a simple plate of bread to dip in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and grated parmesan. Every time I have something like this, I keep thinking I should serve it at home, and I always forget, but I really should make the effort! The Engineer had the fish of the day, swordfish, served on rice with gumbo (shrimp, scampi, mussels, and sausages), along with a side order of Greek salad (served with lettuce, but made really well). That main dish was off-limits for me, so I decided to settle for the airline chicken. The name doesn’t make it seem really appetizing, of course, but that’s because unless you’re a vegetarian or keep kosher, there’s nothing wrong with roasted boneless chicken breast with herbs. This one, though, really wowed me: it came with fabulous roasted fingerling potatoes and melt-in-your-mouth roasted cloves of garlic, plus a side of veggies that I actually enjoyed (green beans, bell peppers, zucchinis, and mushrooms). I absolutely loved my meal, and I would in fact go out of my way to have it again! We ended the evening by sharing the Billionaire Brownie, a two-layer brownie with caramel sauce topped with praline – yum! I highly recommend the Black Sheep Bistro to anyone in the area.