Time for some old fashioned, Texas straight talk. Most of the food in Galveston sucks, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon. With the opening of the new Pleasure Pier, the continued Fertittaization of the island continues at a new, elevated pace. Beloved institutions like Gaido's have been unable to capture their former glory. The Strand, while charming in its appearance, contains far too many tshirt shops with poorly phrased PG-13 witticisms. Sometimes the hour drive to the coast doesn't seem worth the trouble.

Yet, if you know where to look, a trip to Galveston still holds a lot of appeal, especially in the summer. First of all, with a breeze coming off the Gulf, the heat is less oppressive there than in the city. Also, summer in Texas means crab season, and consuming crabs while looking out on the water just enhances the whole experience in a mystical way. This guide doesn't eschew all the obvious names but does focus on BOI-approved places that work hard everyday to please their customers. Please enjoy.