Good Eats: 4 New Corpus Christi Restaurants to Try in 2016

Do you find yourself falling into a dining-out rut? It's comforting to stick with culinary favorites, but your taste buds deserve a change now and then. Check out these exciting new and upcoming restaurants generating lots of buzz around the Corpus Christi dining scene.

While TGI Fridays may be a familiar name, the Corpus Christi restaurant has received a complete top-to-bottom rebranding. The name is now simply "Fridays," while the interior is equally sleek and updated with blond wood, natural light and "flexible areas" that serve as gathering sites or workspaces. New features include a 7 a.m. opening time, weekend brunch and a grab-and-go case to recreate the casual, multi-purpose vibe of your favorite coffee shop. Be among the first to try this new concept that is serving as a prototype for the Dallas-based chain's other locations.

8TE began serving its modern, globally-influenced American cuisine in the fall of 2015, but it has already gained a reputation as one of the best brunch restaurants in Corpus Christi. Their motto, "In Good Food We Trust," is reflected in popular dishes such as Southern Comfort, traditional chicken and waffles with a modern twist of arugula, avocado and homemade maple-mustard sauce. Breakfast is served until noon on weekdays, while breakfast and brunch menus are available from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on weekends. An upscale-casual lunch and dinner menu is featured daily from 11 a.m. through 8 p.m.

The name and decor of this gastropub, which opened in October 2015, honor the site's beginnings as a U.S. post office. A charming outdoor patio now sits on space that originally served as a loading dock. The primary focus of The Post's menu is on shareable small plates featuring elevated American cuisine, including dishes such as Philly cheesesteak egg rolls and lobster truffle mac & cheese. Blackboard Specials are offered each day, and a recent selection was crawfish nachos topped with corn relish, fried jalapeños, diced avocado, and goat cheese sauce.

Austin-based Chuy's is bringing its contemporary take on Tex-Mex food to Corpus Christi with a new location scheduled to open in late summer. Chuy's is known for its quirky, eclectic decor and Mexican-border-town-meets-Rio-Grande-Valley cuisine made with fresh ingredients. Customer favorites include their "Big As Yo' Face" burritos, Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken and Texas Martinis.

Have you dined at any of these Corpus Christi restaurants? Give us your review in the comments!