Lobo Del Mar Sees Value In Supporting News Efforts By R. Daniel Cavazos |
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Ben Little operates a thriving family-owned business on South Padre Island, a restaurant with a back patio view of the Laguna Madre and a commitment to a community seeking information about local affairs.
The Lobo Del Mar Cafe is one of the sponsors of Island Matters, which is an independent news and information source with an exclusive focus on SPI. With its business membership supporting Island Matters, Little highlighted the value and worth of having a local-content based digital newspaper to keep the community informed about life on the Island. “It’s a great way to communicate about what’s going on and what to do.”
Little is part of a large family group whose patriarch is Rupert Buntin and has settled on the Island in recent years after living in Hawaii, Washington state, Alaska, and Mexico. The family has various business interests on South Padre. One of them is Lobo Del Mar, an eclectic bayside restaurant whose menu reflects the diverse backgrounds of its owners. |
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Rupert & Carrol Buntin recently celebrated 65 years of marriage and welcomed 11 children into their lives. |
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There’s a hula chicken sandwich that includes a grilled pineapple, crispy bacon, and teriyaki sauce. Dishes featuring cod and salmon harken to the family’s Alaskan influences. The Buntins have Texas roots so there’s also state favorites like ribeye steaks and chicken fried steaks. South Texas and Island influences are reflected in menu selections like a fajita dinner and Gulf of Mexico shrimp sautéed in Lobo Del Mar’s Captain Morgan sauce. The restaurant opens at 7 a.m. daily so there’s a bevy of $7 morning meal deals that includes biscuit and gravy and huevos rancheros. “This is a very unique market,” said Little, a Los Angeles native with years of experience in the restaurant business, and like the family he married into over 30 years ago, has lived in multiple states and Mexico. “I enjoy the friendliness of the people here, that Texas respect of people saying yes sir, thank you ma’am, they don't say that in LA.” |
Building Up Business
On a recent morning, Little touted his restaurant’s tasty and diverse menu before giving a tour of Lobo Del Mar and its spacious kitchen.
His kitchen crew is busy, even during an offseason day when business can be slow on the Island. That’s not the case at Lobo Del Mar, with diners a plenty on the bayside patio and wait staff using the walkway connecting the two halves of the restaurant. The Buntin family has invested in the restaurant since acquiring it in 2018, adding on to the kitchen and building new walk-in freezer and refrigerated areas to go with an improved patio area.
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The menu is stellar and so is the customer service. Little says the restaurant’s owners pride themselves on doing what needs to be done. It could be helping wait staff serve customers or washing dishes and greeting diners as they walk in to be seated. “It’s a family-operated business,” he said. “People see it and feel it when they come here. They meet family members and know their names. People here are really hospitable to you if you’re hospitable to them.”
Lobo Del Mar is located at 204 Palm Street, which Little describes as being “a bit off the beaten path” of the Island’s main street of Padre Boulevard. Still, judging by the crowd on a recent weekday morning as they enjoyed brunch, customers are finding Lobo Del Mar just the same. It’s a testament, Little said, to developing a local clientele that will return again-and-again, even during the leaner winter months. |
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“You need to put in an effort to show the locals that you run specials every day,” he said. “It’s a way of getting them familiar with you and building your local trade, not just the Island, but Port Isabel, Laguna Heights, and Brownsville. You do whatever you can to build up your business from all of your communities.” |
| Captured are the men and young men bagpipers of the Buntin family, standing alongside Rupert & Carrol Buntin. |
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Lobo Del Mar beckons residents and visitors alike to a daily musical haven, commencing at 5 p.m. with a special highlight on Wednesdays called "Fam Jam." As the sun sets, the SPI Restaurant and Bar on the Water transforms into a unique experience with bagpipes at Piper's Landing, delivering a heartfelt tribute to God and country. Guests are encouraged to immerse themselves in the evening ambiance, relax, and savor the timeless sounds of this age-old instrument.
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Lobo Del Mar showcases the talented women in the families, captivating the audience with an array of dance styles |
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Explore a World of Music & Dance Styles Every Wednesday, Lobo Del Mar defies its South Texas location, offering a diverse array of music and dance styles. From Celtic Music and Bagpipes to Irish Step Dance, Bluegrass, Western Swing, Flamenco, Belly dance, Polynesian Dance, and Mexican Music, the lineup promises a captivating journey through global rhythms. |
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Nightly Live Performances
Unveil the vibrant music scene of South Padre Island with nightly live performances at Lobo Del Mar. Whether reveling in a different group each night or hitting the dance floor, the venue guarantees a delightful dining experience complemented by fantastic music. Stay updated on band schedules through Lobo’s Facebook page, and join in on an unforgettable musical experience on South Padre Island. |
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