Executive Surf Club

Went here on a friend's recommendation, and I enjoyed my meal. Very casual, laid-back atmosphere. Order as you enter and seat yourself. I had the fish & chips and a tossed salad. The fish was really light, crispy, and flavorful! I was disappointed with the shoestring fries as the "chips." Not bad. I just have never been a fan. Expected thicker cut fries. 🤷‍♂️ The tossed salad was great, nicely sized, with the manager recommended walnut dressing. I saw most people ordering burgers... maybe next time!

Beautiful setting! But that luster went away when I walked in. I was looked at like I was supposed to know what to do when asked if we sit down ourselves or what. She looked up from her phone and directed us to the bar to order. So you have no clue walking in what to do. The bar tender acted completely annoyed and rolled his eyes when I said I didn’t want alcohol just was told to order food. Then our food just came out, literally thrown on the table there’s fries everywhere lol. The server ran off back to the kitchen. I’m not coming back. Food was good but I’ll go elsewhere for fish and chips. Very disappointed.

Nestled in the very heart of the entertainment district, The Executive Surf Club delivers an experience that’s both diverse and engaging. The venue is segmented into three connected areas, each with its own distinct vibe. The largest space is an outdoor performance area with a covered stage, which transforms into a lively, festive gathering spot on party nights. This vibrant energy makes it an ideal destination for those who love to soak up an energetic ambiance while enjoying live entertainment. The food here is a delightful revelation amid the bustling atmosphere. During my visit, I sampled the classic fish and chips—an absolute standout, bursting with flavor and perfect for those hungry moments. My daughter enjoyed her shrimp burger, and my son wasn’t far behind with his tasty fish sandwich. On another occasion, I tried the fried shrimp and fries, which came out wonderfully, while my husband’s fish tacos were a pleasant surprise. The menu offers approachable, satisfying options that elevate the overall experience, making it a hit with both adults and kids. One of the unique aspects of The Executive Surf Club is its thoughtful layout. Depending on your entry point, you might first experience an ambiance reminiscent of a downtown café, complete with a service counter where you can place your order for bar and grill classics. The food is then delivered to your table in any of the three areas, preserving the charm and individuality of each space. This clever segmentation, a common trend in downtown establishments that have grown into adjacent spaces, avoids the impersonal feel of a massive warehouse and instead offers a sense of separation and character. In summary, The Executive Surf Club offers a multi-dimensional experience that combines festive outdoor entertainment with a solid, family-friendly menu. Whether you're drawn to the energetic performance space or the unexpectedly delicious food, this spot manages to create a dynamic setting that caters to both the party-goer and the casual diner. It’s a commendable choice for anyone looking to enjoy quality food in a vibrant environment.

This was our second time eating here and we enjoyed the food and service both times. The big turnoff for me is the dirty look of everything. The bussers did a great job cleaning tables, it is just the generally old, worn down, dirty appearance of everything. The patio even had puddles of water under some tables so it was hard to find a place that looked clean and comfortable to sit.

We went there on Sunday evening so no live music but it’s not a big deal. We still enjoyed our food and the place there. Food was quick to get but I just really didn’t like their fries

My husband and I had an amazing experience at the Executive Surf Club thanks to Leo, the manager. He went above and beyond in a way that truly impressed us. After we placed our food order, Leo personally came over to let us know that what we had received didn’t meet their usual standards—it looked more burnt and darker than expected. Without us even saying a word, he offered to replace it with something better, he gave us detailed options and I ended up choosing the Baja tacos (see photo attached). It’s rare to see that level of attention to detail and genuine care for the customer experience. Leo caught the issue before it even became an issue and handled it with such professionalism and kindness. That kind of proactive service really sets a place apart. We left feeling valued and well taken care of. Thank you, Leo. Additionally the atmosphere is always great and all the staff is always so kind every time we go.

Never have I had a taco from a place that served tortillas raw. Cooked (or at least steamed) tortillas should never crack but having ordered the Baja shrimp and fish tacos, all tortillas were dry and brittle. At least the shrimp and sauce was flavorful. Also ordered a side of hand battered fries. Worst fries I’ve ever had. Despite looking crunchy, they were soggy and flavorless. Please be advised that salt is optional here. Go with the shoestring fries. Definitely feels like a tourist trap.

The killer atmosphere and customer service were spectacular. WE SCREWED UP. They apologized and really hooked us up. The food I only rated 4 stars because nothing was "out of this world," but everything was well executed and served fresh and flavorful. Big thank you goes out to the entire team! This is definitely a must stop. Love it here!

It's a fun place to hang out in the evening. They have great craft beer selections and a full bar. They have a decent amount of food choices, but the food is mediocre. Burgers are dry and the fish tacos are just average. The best part about this place is the live music and open mic nights on the patio they have on most nights of the week - I can't stress the open mic nights enough - they are very fun! Grab your table when you walk in, and then order at the bar or the food counter. They give you a number and then bring your food to the table. You'll need to park on the street or in someone else's lot, but it's usually not a problem. Go for the environment and drinks, but skip the food.

Good food, great staff, cool atmosphere. Service was a little slow. They were busy and seemed to have some staffing issues All that considered, we will be back soon.

Great fish n chips, margaritas and live rock music!!! Danced and ate here. Loved the atmosphere.

So fun great place to watch a game - bartenders are so fun! Had the fish & chips - it was so yummy - thank you! A great place to grab a bite and have fun!

Came here for music. The band was fantastic and we ordered an appetizer, too and it was really good. We hanged out for a few hours outside enjoying ourselves. It was crowded because of the band but good crowd.

Looking for food with an amazing ambiance and great drinks, this is your place. Executive surf club never fails me, the food always comes out super fast and it is tasty. The sweet potato fries could have use more flavor but besides that everything was good, specially the fish tacos. They have a bunch of events always going on, so I would suggest looking at their facebook page

Went very late night on a Thursday, Good burger, huge variety of foods. Interesting decor. Friendly service. Would definitely visit again.

Executive Surf Club (ESC) is an old school bar / live music venue / American food restaurant that has been around since the 80's I believe. It exemplifies Corpus' vibrant and historic "surfing" culture, although the city is less well known for that now. According to their website: "Located on popular Chaparral Street in Corpus Christi Texas the Executive Surf Club is the perfect spot to grab a casual meal, listen to the best in live local music, or simply enjoy the Coast!" As someone who has lived here twice over the last decade or so, I can attest to this statement. In fact, the first time I lived here I worked right across the street. ESC is part of the "Water St. Market" family of restaurants and venues, and sits snuggly in a cozy downtown "market" most visitors and every resident will recognize. It's very inviting, very casual, very interesting. The food is good; above average for American "bar food". The atmosphere and crowd is a great representation of peak South Texas culture, which is why it's such a magnet to visitors during "tourist season". I suppose the thing I enjoy most about the place is its management and staff. Let me explain: like many restaurants of this caliber, it's a revolving door for local youth and such finding their way through life, etc. However, unlike other nearby restaurants (I won't name names), they consistently maintain great service standards. Always friendly, always "South Texas casual" professional. Many visitors to the city invariably end up downtown. It's the nature of visiting new or infrequently visited places. If that should be you, and you are looking for a casual place for a drink, a break, or good meal that fits the bill as I have described, consider stopping by. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Decent place to stop by and have a quick bite. I had the shrimp tacos fried and they did not skimp on the shrimp. Very good, my Wife had the half pound fish and chips. The only complaint is how about another piece of fish? She was only served 3. It went a little heavy on the French fry side but aside from that a nice dining experience.

Loved the laid back vibe of this place. Went for lunch and got a large portion of fish and chips. Filling and tasted great.

This was a quick spot for lunch before heading out of town. We all just ordered burgers which hit the spot. Simple yet yummy! Service was great and the restaurant was roomy.

First time at this place, great atmosphere, great food and excellent bar service. Awesome band playing, with great locals welcoming us! I'll definitely be back very soon!

For decades now, if I'm in Corpus, I'm stopping in here for a meal. The ambience is great and the food is still pretty good. The burgers are always a safe bet and the staff is still as friendly as ever. You can go anywhere for a meal, but this is a chill spot to spend time and enjoy the scene. As the kids say: "it's a vibe".

Atmosphere- great Service- fast Food- cold fries Burger 6/10. Nothing to write home about but also not bad. Price is the big factor here. A lot cheaper than other restaurants on the same block. I'm sure if you drink, your food would taste 10x better.

We came for lunch and stayed for the music! Food was mediocre but the live band was great! Jazz Sunday was very much enjoyed!

Atmosphere is cute and music gives this place good vibes. The service is absolutely great! I got the classic burger with onion rings, which was very messy, but good. Downside was that I sat outside and there was so many birds and flies swarming me for food. You can tell this is where they normally eat, but it made me feel super super rushed when eating! Food was fast.

The atmosphere is awesome - just a really cool space! The staff was also very friendly and welcoming. I had a wrap and it was good - the steak was delish and the veggies very fresh. The sweet potato fries were shoestring style, which was unusual, but the were delish! Absolutely the highlight! A fiend had the hand battered fries, which were odd and under seasoned. So I'd avoid those and go for the sweet potato fries for sure!

Live music is great & food is delicious but the bathrooms need help.. floors were wet and dirty. The toilet paper was out and trash on the counters and floor. I just expect more.

It is iconic and a fun place with live music, just don't expect a lot from the kitchen. We ordered stuffed Serrano peppers to start and received fried cheese balls with the tiniest sliver of pepper in the center. We told the manager that we were disappointed in the misrepresentation and he was very kind and went above and beyond to make up for it. It's a fun bar but the food is meh.

Very unexpected and delicious! The vibe of this place is what really stuck out to me. It was packed on both sides and everyone was having a good time. Their menu is eclectic and reasonably priced. You order at the counter and your food is delivered to your table. They have a bar attached if you want to get any drinks, there is also a huge outdoor patio with live music which we loved.

My son had the burger and he said it was good. CFS and hand cut fries, no so much. I think this place is more of a fun bar with good live music. People were friendly and service was nice.

Recently went for dinner on 06-03-24. Wife had a margarita and I had a beer to start. Typical drinks for downtown. The fried pickles were very tasty as was there fish and chips. It's not your traditional cod dipped in wet batter more like tilapia fried traditionally but still delicious. The wings were just ok. Overall the service was attentive and I would return.

I've been going here since the glory days of the Hotrod Gang. I even used to work across Chaparral at Tom Foolery's. It's a shining example of what Corpus has to offer in terms of good times, good food, and awesome music. Really, this is an awesome venue. No place is perfect, especially when you've been going there for over a quarter century. Sure, I've had some concerns in the past. But, somehow the people at this place keep addressing them without making a big deal out of it. My wife and I usually go for daytime food and fun on the weekend, when there is consistently a solo performer from noon-4pm (Sat/Sun). Also, the open mic with Rick on Wednesdays is great. I know they have a trivia night (Drinks with Geeks) on Mondays. They also host a lot festivals, and they supplement the other festivals downtown. I've met some cool local musicians over the years and I highly recommend this family and dog friendly place. They do have indoor and outdoor seating, plenty of good food options (no u-peel-ems though), a full bar, and a wide selection of drafts (that changes with the seasons and availability). Here's some pics from spring break 2024. Pro tip: Get the surf burger (has beans, Fritos, and salsa). If you get the salad, have the house dressing (it's a Walnut dressing)

You won't be disappointed! Chris and Donnie were super welcoming. I highly recommend you stop by if you're looking for laid back and friendly service.

Service seems to vary greatly based on who is working. At first had amazing service but they left and service went downhill with the different employees. The food was quick to the table. The queso is not recommended but the burger was delicious.

Good burgers, good onion rings, good band playing. Feels like a dive bar that is kinda run down, but it appeared clean.

Nice American joint in downtown. Love music through the weekend. Most burgers and fried fish is pretty good. Total beach vibes.

Fun bar with a great vibe. There is an outdoor stage that had live music while we were there. We met friends for happy hour, and sat outside. We didn't have food while we were there but plenty of others were. It was a Friday and the place was packed. It's clearly a favorite in the city.

- veggie burger is pretty good - fries are a bit on the crunchier side but aren't bad! (coming from someone who loves soft fries) - GET THE ICE CREAM WITH STRAWBERRY SYRUP! it's so good omg - live music! - has cool surfing/beach memorabilia around the restaurant and is connected with a surf museum - multiple bars inside and outside - fun place to hang with friends and vibe - people can bring their pets :) - friendly staff only cons i'd say are: - it can get pretty cramped and loud when it's busy - there are a lot of flies and mosquitoes in the summer (especially since half of the place is outside so they leave doors open) - i saw roaches a few times but it was a few years ago so it might be resolved now!! overall great place to grab a meal with friends for a decent price :)

This is the best of the Lomax restaurants, consistent food. Burgers with buns made at their central bakery. I crave their nachos and battered fries. Nice fun place to listen to music and drink.

Had a fantastic experience great service great mgr. Food was great as well. Thank you surf club

We went last night and the food,service and the ambiance was so good. I must admit it was one the best burgers I have had in a very long time...I wish I could remember the bartenders name but he was very busy and still was able to attend to us and answer all of our questions. Thank you very mush we will definitely be back.

Atmosphere is nice and music is on point when the good weather is on! Good to hang out and food is good !

The food was fast and delicious and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed. The bartender was knowledgeable and very friendly. I'd definitely go back

They're a corpus institution. Been going here with my dad since I was a kid. Food never disappoints, laid back atmosphere with live music often. Drinks are solid and there's like 2$ beers one night outta the week. 4 star cuz bathroom is no man's land lol

It was the first place I ate in Corpus Christi when we met our daughter for lunch. The food was good, but what caught my interest was all of the pictures of the musicians that had played there. Since we moved down here, it has been one of my favorite places, and I have even been able to play music there at times, and visit with many people I have met there. The burgers are primo, the fish and chips very good, and I agree that the French Fries are the best in town. The drinks are good, both in quality and choices, and the staff is very attentive. I would certainly recommend it for food and entertainment.

Food was good. Service quick and friendly. Ambiance was cool with a coastal theme. Its worth a visit

This restaurant has such a fun theme, staff was really great and the food was absolute perfection. I ordered a burger that was probably the best burger I have had in a really long time. Perfectly cooked. We will definitely be back!

The only reason for 4 star is the overall temp of the place...otherwise 5 stars all day, every day. Nice vibe of locals, after work...grab a drinkers and out of towners (like me) Ordered the Mushroom & Swiss burger with Onion Rings. Many places have both on the menu but should be avoided. Not here...they should promote the heck out of both. M&S burger was hot and amazing, just right amount of mushroom, onion and cheese...plus lettuce/tomato a nice touch. Now the onion rings...to die for. May be my favorite of all time. 50/50 blend of letting the onion be the star and having an amazing breading/dredge that was equally awesome Give the Executive Surf Club a try...might have to return tomorrow

Several Corpus natives (now in Houston) highly recommended Executive Surf Club when I told them we would be coming down for a few days. I'm so glad we came in. For starters, you order at the counter, and they bring out your food. We came around 6 on a Friday, and it was quite busy. I grabbed a table while my husband placed our order. We got grilled shrimp tacos since I can't have gluten. They were incredible. You have to order your drinks at the bar, and they don't have a drink menu. The staff isn't very hands on - they come by to bring out food and pick up your plates, but it makes for an enjoyable environment if you don't want to be bothered with a server.

It's a surf bar. It's not changed since the first time I went 23 years ago when I was getting ready to move there for college. It's a super laid back casual place. The food is just as good as it was in college and great prices. Their fish tacos both blackened or fried are amazing. I may have eaten there every day on a trip last month. They have healthy options too. The drink specials are great. Every day it's something different. The staff were incredible. Everyone I came in contact with was amazing and friendly and so very helpful. Kid friendly for sure. They have a patio if outdoor is more your vibe.

My husband (29) and myself (26), who just moved here from Arizona, decided to have a nice night out, listening to live music. We walked in to order some beers and enjoy the music. We were questioned about our out of state licenses, which happens often since we look young. But the bartender went on to claim Arizona licenses are the easiest to copy since they have a 50 yr renewal date on them. That in and of itself is an out of date law that was no longer around when we got our Arizona licenses. Then he requested valid proof of our Arizona residency, other than an ID. We had just moved here and had no current Arizona residence. I have never had to show proof of residency other than an ID to buy a beer. Furthermore, this bartender is clearly not up to date on out of state licensure rules and regulations otherwise he wouldn't have cited an out of date law. I'm upset at the discrimination and would recommend taking your business elsewhere.

The taste of burger was good . But There seem to be no Mayo on it so it was really dry. The lady at counter was not very helpful when you ask what there known for .when I was trying to decide what to eat .It was over 30 dollar for two burgers ff drinks for two people for dry burgers. I was so excited to try this place again and was very kind disappointed. Not the same experience as the first time we went.

We tried the nachos and the burger with guacamole. They were delicious. The salad was not good at all.

It's a dive bar with bar food. Nothing fancy, but that's what I was in the mood for. The burger and fries were okay. They have probably 30 beers on tap but the first three beers I ordered were out. I ended up getting Shiner Bock in a bottle, but they only had three cold. I ended up switching to my fourth choice of beers on tap. They have three small TVs. The bartender was nice and apologetic, but there are too many options in a 3 block radius to go back to the Surf Club.

So...after a less than stellar experience at The Oyster Bar we were sent a gift certificate for there or the Executive Surf Club (both owned by same company). We chose to come back to the Executive Surf Club since we had had a great lunch there the first time. We again had a very nice lunch. Our bartender was very nice and the wait staff very good. We had wings (a little pricey for 8 wings, but at least they have them), a quesadilla and fried mushrooms along with a take home order of fried pickles (thanks for slipping one into our basket of mushrooms). There were all very good. Our two beers each were great as well. I have to say I'll miss this quirky little place when we leave Texas in a couple of weeks. Very cool. I would highly recommend stopping in for a bite and a drink. And, thank you to the owners who made a wrong right. We appreciate it.

Although this is more like a spots bar. I come for the burgers not the drinks. I don't visit corpus often, but when I do this has always been in my top 3 places for a burger in the city and I try to stop in each time when visiting. Prices are very reasonable for a sports bar serving such good quality beef. I guess you can call it small town prices. They also have combo options for many of the sandwiches. If you look at the menu, you will notice they serve fresh cut fries (3 types) and hand-battered onion rings, chicken fried steak and many homemade sauces like tartar, ranch and Caesar dressing. That is surely something you just don't see at many sports bars!

My boyfriend and I were on a day trip to Corpus and had to pick only one place we wanted to try for dinner. I chose Executive Surf Club because of the reviews.. unfortunately we were underwhelmed. We got an order of Nachos, Fish and Chips, and Fish Tacos. The order took very long to come out, almost 30 minutes. But it was ok, we understand when restaurants are busy. The fried fish was the same for both dishes, just one was served with fries and the other in between a tortilla. They were long in length but were dry and thin. It was very bland too, I drowned it in hot sauce. The fries were room temperature. We both thought the nachos were good but it came out with a gap in the plate. The only thing we were impressed with was the tartar sauce, which really says a lot. The service was great, though! Friendly and accommodating staff. They're probably the only reason this place is getting 3 stars instead of 2 from us. Overall, the food was just ok and the service is good. It's a decent place.

Great relax atmosphere for a day after the beach. And an outdoor seating area for the cooler months. Plenty of beers on tap to keep mom and dad happy.