A small group gathered at Rita’s (4001 Padre Blvd.). The entrance looked bland, and the parking lot was nearly empty. It was the same inside. As we were entering, a couple was leaving with a to-go order. We were the only guests in the restaurant. That should not have been the case!

Rita’s is a seafood restaurant. All but one of their entrees are seafood. Our table ordered two variations of snapper (grilled and blackened) and one order of scallops. We started with calamari.

There was no wine list, as Rita’s focuses on Margaritas and cocktails. A decent wine list would help, but they deliver to the SPI Wine Bar across the street! They were out of Pinot Grigio (a favorite with seafood), but that was the last disappointment of the evening.

The entrees were terrific, but the calamari may have stolen the spotlight. The calamari was served with a homemade sweet chili sauce, almost Asian in taste and presentation. Our table embarrassed ourselves by ordering a refill on the sauce, but our waiter brought back an entire cup of sauce that many used on shrimp, rice, etc., as the dinner proceeded.

The snapper was among the best on the island. Rita’s served a large portion, perfectly cooked and seasoned with complimentary spices that added flavor but didn’t overshadow the fish. Each entrée is served with a choice of sides. The scallops are served over cilantro rice, so there is no need to order cilantro rice as a side. The deserts are typical of the island, with the key lime pie being the most popular.

The owner stopped by the table and told us that he was waiting on approval from the city to renovate and repaint the exterior. This should help because Rita’s looks closed when driving by. The owner thought his “north-island” location was also a problem. “People just don’t think about driving north,” he said.

People should drive north to experience Rita’s at 4001 Padre Blvd.!