Turf N Surf Po'Boy

Gilmore credits his restaurant's loyal customer base for the recent growth. In February, Turf N Surf Po'Boy was listed at No. 35 on Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.

"Barely ever does a week go by that someone wasn't told to come by during an airline trip," Gilmore said.

Despite the positive customer feedback, Gilmore admits Turf N Surf Po'Boy still flies under the radar locally.

"When you do find us, I'm always thrilled," he said. "But I'm not shy. In the back of my mind, I wonder what's taken you so long."

Turf

When Turf N Surf Po'Boy opened in 2010, owner Ralph Gilmore served mainly po'boys until a tortilla maker pitched her product three weeks after opening. Now only Gilmore's restaurant and Whole Foods Market sell the tortillas. All tacos are dressed with mixed greens, slaw, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, cilantro-ranch dressing and each customer's choice of meat, such as blackened ribeye ($14), pork chop or hamburger.

Surf

Customers can choose whether to order a po'boy, taco or salad before selecting from nearly two dozen protein options. The most popular, Gilmore said, are the fried, grilled or blackened fish options. Gilmore orders fish each night, and it is delivered the next morning, he said. The selection ranges from mahimahi, catfish, snapper and jumbo shrimp, which is used in the Buffalo shrimp po'boy with bleu cheese ($14).

More

Salads are ordered the same way as the po'boys or tacos. Dressed with mixed greens, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, red bell peppers and cilantro-ranch dressing, salads are then topped with each customer's choice of meat, including tuna (market price varies). The menu at Lavaca Street Bar also includes baskets served with fries and mixed greens as well as sweet potato fries, chicken wings and nachos.

Turf N Surf Po'Boy, 1720 Barton Springs Road, 512-276-2763. Second location: 407 Lavaca St., 512-469-0106