With a banner bad year for business (hopefully) behind us, local restaurants are rolling out daily deals to entice customers back to their tables in 2025. Some specials run daily, some run weekly, and others are offered for the entire season. All of the restaurants offer guests full meals at a fixed price. 

 Few expressions convey the heritage of American restaurants as does the “Blue Plate Special.” Diners and cafes across the nation offered them as early as the 1920s. These low-priced daily specials offered a main course with all the fixings and remained popular through the 1950s. 

 These casual meals were served for lunch and dinner and featured a serving of protein, vegetables, and starch. They were often served on blue plates, included pre-determined menu items at a set price, and were served during limited hours.

 Over the years, the concept of the food special has changed. There is speculation that the idea was first conceived to utilize foodstuffs that the restaurant purchased in bulk or had a limited shelf life. 

 Today’s daily specials allow chefs to showcase creativity, and utilize fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients. They also help generate excitement and encourage return visits from regular customers. 

 Specials can also use up what’s already in the kitchen in an economical and profitable manner. For example, a recent discussion on RestaurantOwner.com centered on what to do with Saturday’s leftover prime rib. Hence, a beef goulash or open-faced sandwich special on Sunday make for a win-win option, benefiting both the kitchen and the customer. 

 Galveston Monthly Magazine has collected a sample of food specials offered by local restaurants from a recent online poll of readers. Specials include a wide array of dishes from pizza to fine dining. We are confident that our readers will find meals that excite and delight them. 

 GM would also like to remind readers that the 13th Annual Galveston Restaurant Week will take place for three weeks between January 6 and February 2. During this time, dozens of participating restaurants in Galveston are offering discounted prix fixe menus including two or three-course meals priced from $10 to $40. 

Each restaurant will donate between $1 and $5 to this year’s charities, the Galveston County Food Bank and St. Vincent’s House. Reservations for dinner during Galveston Restaurant Week are highly recommended. For a complete list of participating restaurants visit www.galveston.com. 

 

 Fried Chicken and Pasta Dinner Grotto Ristorante
Grotto Ristorante in the San Luis Resort, Spa, and Conference Center serves a fried chicken and pasta dinner every Sunday and Monday evening from 4pm to 9:30pm. 

 San Luis Director of Restaurants John Paul says the large meal has been popular with islanders for several years. The meal is served family-style, for two people. 

Dinner includes seven pieces of hand-battered fried chicken (original or spicy), the house Simply Italian salad, spaghetti Bolognese, and a choice of strawberry cheesecake or Mezzanotte chocolate cake for $44.95. 

 Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 409.740.8605. Grotto Ristorante is located inside The San Luis Resort at 5222 Seawall Blvd. 

 Lamb Chops and Garlic Shrimp Katie’s Seafood House
The seasonal menu at Katie’s Seafood House offers several specials during the winter months “for visitors during the holiday season and to offer something different to our year-round residents,” General Manager Brett Otteman said. A favorite among diners has been the lamb chops and garlic shrimp for $44. 

 Four chargrilled lollipop lamb chops are served atop a house-made mint chimichurri sauce and accompanied by eight jumbo Texas Gulf garlic shrimp. Sauteed fresh vegetables and dirty rice complete the plate. 

 The lamb is basted with Katie’s signature red-eye gravy made from steak and Worcestershire sauces, herbes de Provence, and lamb drippings. This plate is easily shareable. 

 Seasonal specials are available for lunch and dinner. Katie’s Seafood House is located at 2000 Wharf Road. 

 Fried Fridays Maceo Spice & Import Company
Fried Fridays are a favorite of owner/operator Concetta Maceo at her restaurant and Italian grocery, Maceo Spice & Import Company. 

 “We use the seafood seasoning right off our shelves for both the fried fish and shrimp tacos,” Concetta said. 

 They also use their original recipe fish fry on the fish and chicken fry on the shrimp before deep frying to a crispy, golden brown. All products sold at Maceo’s are also available in their newly updated online store. 

 Three tacos are served for $18 with a choice of fried fish, shrimp, or any combination. Each item is hand-battered and fried to order, and topped with chipotle mayonnaise and fresh, crisp cabbage. The fried shrimp/fish, fried chicken and comb basket options come with French fries and house-made jalapeno hush puppies. 

 Other fried favorites include fried fish, shrimp or combo poboys and the fried quartered artichoke hearts that are served with Maceo’s original Corvette sauce. 

The Fried Friday specials are available during lunch from 11am to 3pm every Friday. Maceo’s is located at 2706 Market Street. 

 Chicken Marsala Special Mosquito Café
Mosquito Café has extended its weekend hours until 8pm and added a chicken marsala special on Friday and Saturday nights. This dish is made from the executive chef’s family recipe. 

 

 Chicken breasts are lightly dusted with flour, pan-sauteed, and finished cooking in a rich wine and mushroom sauce. Fresh string beans and roasted garlic mashed potatoes are also included. 

 “We wanted to feature a new and exciting dinner special as we just extended our weekend hours. Specials may change occasionally to offer something different to our repeat customers,” Mosquito Café and PattyCakes Bakery Director of Operations James Clark said. 

 The Chicken Marsala special is available on Fridays and Saturdays from 3pm to 8pm and costs $21. The Mosquito Café is located at 628 14th Street. 

 Spinach Mozzarella Calzone Riondo’s Ristorante
Riondo’s Ristorante has added lunch specials to their classic Italian “Farm to Fork” and “Sea to Table” bistro menu. Two different specials are being offered each Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11am to 3pm. This is in addition to their regular happy hour, lunch, and dinner menus served daily. 

 One of Friday’s lunch specials is their spinach and house-made mozzarella calzone that is made from the personal pizzetta dough recipe of Executive Chef Rico Caminos. The calzone is served with house-made pomodoro and a choice of soup or salad. For $18, this rich and filling Italian favorite is easily shareable. 

 For a complete list of new lunch specials call 409.621.9595. Riondo’s Ristorante is located at 2328 Strand. 

 Tails and Tenderloin Tuesday Shearn’s Seafood and Prime Steaks
Tails and Tenderloin Tuesday at Shearn’s Seafood and Prime Steaks is the restaurant's most popular special, said Food and Beverage Director Richard Ternstrom. 

The dinner includes a six-ounce filet mignon and a six-ounce broiled lobster tail with drawn butter. Mashed potatoes and sauteed asparagus round out the meal for $35.99. 

 Tuesday evenings are the busiest of the week, said Ternstrom, who suggests making reservations in advance. For reservations call 409.683.4554. Shearn’s is located inside the Moody Gardens Hotel Spa, and Convention Center at 7 Hope Boulevard. 

 Wednesday Texas Gulf Shrimp Special - $1.25 each West End Marina & Restaurants
Wednesdays at the West End Marina & Restaurants are “shrimply delicious,” General Manager Billy Bunch said. Diners at this west-end gem can purchase locally sourced Texas Gulf shrimp at $1.25 each. 

 The shrimp are prepared boiled and chilled, fried, or grilled and customers can order them in any amount or any combination that suits them. 

 Bunch created the winter special to “cater to our local residents during the off-season.” This special is offered during lunch and dinner. The West End Marina & Restaurants is located at 21706 Burnet Drive in Sea Isle. 

 Ribeye Steak Night 5400 Bistro
The 5400 Bistro at the Hilton Galveston Island Resort has recently reopened after an extensive renovation and rebranding. They are offering a steak night dinner featuring a 12-ounce ribeye served with cowboy butter, a house salad, grilled asparagus, and garlic chive mashed potatoes. 

 Roasted bone marrow is also available at an additional cost. Diners can also buy half price bottles of Prisoner wine and select whiskeys for $7. The steak special at 5400 Bistro is served every Thursday from 6pm to 9pm for $35. The Hilton Galveston Island Resort is located at 5400 Seawall Blvd. 

 Additional Daily and Weekly Specials
There are more specials than we have room to include here but a few that we felt still deserved mention. Here is a quick list of additional specials that are being offered around the island. 

 • Habanos Café added four daily lunch specials for $13.50, available from 11am to 2pm on Monday through Friday. The Ropa Vieja, Lechon Asado, Picadillo, and Arroz Con Pollo are served with tostones, a choice of a side, and a salad. Habanos Café is located at 511 20th Street 

• Hubcap Grill Galveston is serving $5 cheeseburgers all day every Tuesday from 11am to 9pm. Cheeseburgers are available dine-in and to-go. Hubcap Grill is located at 2021 Strand, Unit #3. 

• Macie’s Smashburgers and Fries is offering a double mac burger with your choice of four toppings, cheese, fries, and a drink for $11.99. Offer is good any day the weather is below 60 degrees. For in-person or call-in orders only and must mention the special when ordering. Macie’s is located at 1110 23rd Street. 

• Enjoy a large (14-inch) pizza with one traditional topping from Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant for $9.99 on Wednesdays. Pick up orders only. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant is located at 628 Seawall Blvd. 

• Kids eat free on Tuesdays at The Spot. Receive one free kids’ meal per adult meal purchased. The Spot is located at 3204 Seawall Blvd. 

• Tequila Rock Kitchen & Cantina is offering a free house margarita with the purchase of any entrée during Thirsty Thursdays. This offer is dine-in only. Tequila Rock Kitchen & Cantina is located at 2408 Strand. 

• Bring your appetite to the Galveston VFW Hall every Friday for steak or salmon night. From 5:30pm to 8pm, get your choice of a one-pound ribeye or T-bone steak cooked to order, loaded baked potato, salad, and dessert for $18.50. Substitute salmon for the beef for $1 less. Galveston VFW Hall is located at 1014 24th Street.