Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

With its slightly nautical ambience and casual pub vibe, this spot makes an ideal clubhouse for play-hard types. And while places that look this good usually don’t have the menu to match, Pearl Dive’s kitchen gives the dining room a run for its money.

The lineup is true-blue American food with a Southern slant, spotlighting starters like crunchy crawfish fritters, regional gumbos and entrées like Tchoupitoulas—oyster confit with blue crab, Tasso ham as well as roasted corn. And then there are the incredible oysters, which are part of the Oyster Recovery Project (meaning you can feel good while you slurp them up with abandon). On your way out, make like the smug, in-the-know patrons and order the Brazos River-bottom pecan pie to go.