I read the reviews, and it always makes me nervous when reviews are overwhelmingly positive. It makes it had to have reasonable expectations. However, the food here more than exceeded the highest of expectations. We visited with the lunch menu, started with the Blue Crab Tostadas, she ordered the French Dip, I ordered the Lamb Burger. Every bite was enjoyable. We will be back. We arrived at about 2:30 and they were just about to close the kitchen to regroup for dinner. People that came after us had to wait about an hour before the kitchen was back up. Plan accordingly. If there is one minor thing to wish were different, because it is so close to the water, every surface is sticky. It's to be expected with the humidity, but it was noticeable. read more

The Mariner - View from inside looking toward the bay - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

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Food was fantastic!! I had the bowl seared tuna and my husband had the fish and chips, both dishes were excellent!! Service was great from the host that showed us to table to our server who was friendly and attentive. We sat outside on patio and it was truly pleasant. I would definitely recommend as well as come back when coming back to Corpus Christi!!! read more

The place is cute and the service was amazing. Our waitress was super nice and helpful. They are under new management so some things that they previously offered are no longer offered on the menu anymore which was disappointing because I went specifically for those Scallops . Now for the food review: 1. The oysters were amazing. 2. The Yellow Curry Shrimp with the plantains was our favorite dish. 3. The short ribs were a let down. The meat was really soft but it was so dry. We couldn't even finish it. (We wished we would have just both ordered th yellow curry shrimp) 4. The truffle fries were good but get the 1/2 order if your 2 because the serving size is a lot. 5. Banana Bread Pudding was the best thing. We kind of wish the serving size of the ice cream was a little more because the bread pudding was a large serving. It was the star of the show. We would be back just for this bread pudding so please don't ever take it off the menu. read more

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ok cute little apps and cocktail place! i'm always looking for a cute spot to meet up with friends when im in town and this place is checking all my boxes. great happy hour on Wednesdays. service was fantastic! cute a vibey. intimate space, so not for large groups but perfect for a girls night or a romantic bite. read more

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I'm so impressed by this place! I visited for the first time on a Saturday evening and the vibes were high. Great music, great ambiance, great service and great food/drinks. Myself and my friends split some apps and everything was super flavourful. As an east coaster I was also thrilled to see east coast oysters as an option on the menu. This place is on the small side though so if you have a larger party it'd be best to call ahead. read more

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I got the calamari, braised short rip, and truffle fries. Hate to say it, but the fries really stole the show. I actually ate each bite of short rip with a fry and the fry sauce...so good. The calamari was "ok" and a little undercooked. It needed some sharpness and punch. I added lemon, salt, and pepper which helped. read more

Amazing ambiance and vibe. The drinks were delicious and the service was prompt. The lamb sliders, oysters and truffle fries were out of this world. Would definitely recommend! Drinks were 4/5. Still some of the better ones downtown cc. read more

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Visiting from out of town and tried this spot after hotel staff suggested it. Although we only tried the truffle fries, they were amazing. All the food brought out looked great. The bartender who served us was phenomenal. After I tried to order a red wine that was out, she suggested a couple of others and let me sample them. That glass of red was one of the better wines I've had in a very long time. She even made her own version of strawberry lemonade for our ten year old (who said they were delicious and ordered a second). My husband enjoyed his regular lemonade. We could have hit an off day but the pace smelled heavily of gasoline when we walked in and lingered for quite a while, but it's also on a marina. Because of the food and the service, this won't deter us from trying this place again. read more

Food orgasm. All around. This was hands down one of the best meals I've ever had. From beginning to end, everything just worked. We started with the grapefruit, avocado and arugula salad with feta--fresh, bright and absolutely delicious. Then came the smoked snapper dip, followed by the drunken clams with Akaushi sausage. OMG. The clams were served in an incredible white wine, garlic, smoky, savory broth with crusty bread to soak up every last drop. There was absolutely no leaving that broth behind. Then came the branzino. Flame-grilled with fire-roasted red pepper and garnished with Italian chimichurri. Absolutely phenomenal. Beautifully prepared, full of flavor and one of those dishes you continue talking about long after the meal is over. In fact, about halfway through dinner, the table next to us interrupted to ask what we had ordered because everything looked so good--and, apparently, our very obvious food orgasm while eating caught their attention. The service was amazing. (Holden was great) The bartenders and servers were attentive throughout the evening, the drinks were great, and the wine was good. I would love to see the wine list expanded a bit with more options, but that is truly a minor suggestion compared with the overall experience. And then there's the atmosphere. Wonderful. Sitting right on the water overlooking the bay while enjoying an incredible meal made the entire experience even better. This is what dining out should be: incredible food, thoughtful flavors, attentive service, great drinks and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. I will be dreaming about this meal--and probably drooling while doing so. Truly, one of the best meals I've ever had. Five stars doesn't feel like enough. We will absolutely be back. read more

Great food and a wonderful, attentive waitress! They were gearing up for a game watch and she was very busy but still managed to give us her attention. read more

Went to The Mariner for our Valentine's Day dinner this year and it was phenomenal. The Valentine's Day menu was so good and each course had the most delicious options. The space is smaller inside but in an intimate, cozy, and quiet atmosphere way. It was ideal. The server we had was so sweet and told us about some drink specials they had for Valentine's Day and those were some of the best cocktails I've had. Everything from the food, drinks, and service was amazing. I highly recommend! read more

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Fun location, great drinks. Very creative. We had some appetizers, all great. It got busy, so be patient.

food, ambiance, and drinks were all a solid 9.6/10! the only reason it isn't a 10 was because we had to flag down a worker to order rather than someone coming to us. read more

The Mariner - Bar Area - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

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Hands down my favorite restaurant in the Coastal Bend. You'll come here and then find yourself coming back again... and again... and again. It never gets old. The food is delicious, the cocktails are even better. The vibe is always great, and it's tucked away on the second floor right on the water. read more

Make your way through the shop upstairs. Had the Nitro Espresso martini and it was one of the best I've tried. Bartender said they've worked on perfecting the recipe and that they did. The place has great view at sunset and the staff is entirely friendly and make great drinks. It is a small space, and a group of 3 of us arrived there were tables reserved for a planned tasting which at arrival we weren't sure if seating would be available. Thankfully we got to sit. Overall plan ahead with reservations. Didn't try the tapas but they're known for them being good too. read more

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Everything was excellent. Food was creative and delicious, service was attentive and friendly, and the location, upstairs on the waterfront, provided an enjoyable view. The second floor location could be an issue for some (didn't notice an elevator). After convention fare and mediocre local food offerings, it was a real treat to dine here. Small plates and drinks/wine/etc. read more

Everything was top notch. The space is so cute and well decorated. We ordered the octopus, fish dip, shrimp, and croquettes. The service was excellent and the staff friendly. I ordered drinks as well and the spring fling is so delicious read more

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Absolutely phenomenal food. I would give it a 6 but yelp only goes to 5. Friendly staff. Great prices. But the food was out of this world. Eric the head chef is an artist. Not to mention it is on the beach with a great atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

Fun place! Lots of cool cocktails- some of them on fire! Love the decor and service! The staff was great serving these complex drinks that tasted great! Love looking over the water from the tables by the windows. Went there late and helped close the place down- staff didn't kick up out but made sure we were served. Cant wait to go back! read more

Excellent menu, tasteful presentation of unique menu items such as Red snapper dip, coconut curry shrimp with plantain, and chocolate cake with fruit and ice cream, Kaley was wonderful hand crafting our smoked old fashions waiting on us. Chef Cody was great at describing the cuisine and service! Highly recommend, will return soon! We both scraped the plates! read more

Absolutely fabulous!! Upstairs from Harrison's Landing, enter via a stairway in the gift shop--literally a hidden gem (think Speakeasy). The craft cocktails are beautiful creations. My personal favorite is an old prohibition cocktail called The Bees Knees! The only one I've found this good is in NOLA. The Tapas are off the charts!!!! The Mariner does NOT serve regular bar food! These Tapas are perfect, delectable, works of culinary art!! Very special place, and we will be back often!! read more

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Everything about this place is good for CC! (You do need a lift!) Like many have said: "THERE IS NO GOOD FOOD IN THIS TOWN!!" CONSISTENCY IS A HUGE ISSUE HERE! I've been to The Mariner only three times and each visit has been great! The choice of food is amazing and all dishes are very well executed and perfect for sharing. There are some unusual items on the menu but everyone will find something to like! Drinks are well put together. They obviously take time with the menu! Service with a smile.....Well done! read more

They state that their menu/dishes are tapas style but these are very large tapas size dishes. They aren't large enough to be a whole entree for a person but they are priced like entrees. We ordered 3 dishes (party of 2) and we liked 2/3 of them. We ordered cocktails and they were awful. The atmosphere was neat, I just wish their menu set up was different. read more

This place is a real treat! The food is Gourmet - and served with such style. We had cocktails with our meal, which were not only great but elegant! The only concern I had was that all the tables were so high up - some of the people with me had a lot of trouble with the height of the chairs and tables. I highly recommend this restaurant for someone who is looking for an elegant dining experience. It is truly a hidden gem for Corpus Christi. read more

FINALLY...great food and drinks in Corpus!! Been looking for quite some time (talking years here) to find decent food in Corpus. So sad that I have yet to find good Mexican and seafood!! I'm from Houston, so I'm used to having many, many amazing restaurant options. Having moved to Corpus 1-1/2 years ago, I have searched far and wide, and only found maybe 5 good restaurants in the area-one of those being in Rockport. So far, the Mariner takes the top spot. I love the atmosphere, creative drinks, and delicious food. Staff is wonderful. Absolutely nothing negative to report. Looking forward to returning again and again! read more

Excellent drinks with great small plates. Super knowledgeable bartenders with a cool ambiance. read more

The Mariner - Painkiller - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Corpus Christi, Texas

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I don't do reviews, but once in awhile, a place makes me want to, but I'll keep it simple. This is a top notch restaurant period. I had the octopus, snapper dip, king salmon crudo, shrimp with miso horseradish(only reason I tried this one), and new Bedford scallop. All were exceptional and gluten free. I got the dip with cucumbers though and personally, I don't think it pairs well with cucumbers, I would suggest getting the corn chips instead as I believe the crunch would pair really nicely with the dip. If you're in town, this is a must stop. You have to enter through the boutique downstairs though. I'm not very experienced with mezcalas I prefer tequila, but the El pistolero was an amazing concoction. Kudos all around from the kitchen to the front of the house. read more

This hidden gem has a great drink menu with something for everyone. The presentation of the smoked old fashioned was very impressive.