All-You-Can-Eat Seafood at the Monument Inn

Photos by Robb Walsh

The all-you-can-eat seafood dinner at the Monument Inn starts with a basket of boiled shrimp and a plate of oysters on the half shell, then continues with a basket of fried seafood. The basket is deceptive -- it's a lot deeper than it looks. There were around three dozen fried oysters under there and at least as many fried shrimp, along with a stuffed fried crab and some fried catfish.

Battle of San Jac re-enactor

The Monument Inn is located close to the original location of the legendary San Jacinto Inn near the San Jacinto monument and the Battleship Texas on the north shore of the Lynchburg Ferry landing, nestled among the refinery towers on Buffalo Bayou. The San Jacinto Inn, which was famous for its all-you-can-eat seafood, opened in 1918 and finally went out of business in 1987. In the 1920s, the all-you-can-eat seafood was $1 for adults.

It's a very colorful spot. The day we stopped by, there were fishermen, crabbers, bird watchers, and a Battle of San Jacinto re-enactor dressed up in Republic of Texas army gear.