Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Corpus Christi / McAllen

OpenTable

Updated 05 May 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Corpus Christi / McAllen? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

SALT

4.9

4.9 (1393)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

McAllen

About the restaurant

SALT-New American Table, brought to you by the owners of McAllen’s house.wine & bistro. and Salomé on Main, Chef Larry Delgado and his lovely wife Jessica Delgado. The chef driven menu features local, organic and sustainable products, and a full service bar that boast beautiful, boutique wines, craft beers, and high end spirits!

Top review

Sublany

Dined on 1 May 2025

Everything was absolutely delicious and amazing!!!

The Republic of the Rio Grande

4.8

4.8 (164)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

McAllen

About the restaurant

A sumptuous, indoor-outdoor bar & grill serving Southwest menu, including steaks & pizza.

At the Republic of the Rio Grande, our attention to detail and the way we present a platter tells you that dining here is going to be special, no matter the occasion. We strive to create a sumptuous and exciting dining experience for all of our guests

Disclaimer: For Friday and Saturday reservations please call the restaurant directly. We recommend giving us up to a 24 hour notice if you would like to book with us due to possible low availability.

Top review

Richard

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent service and the food quality (steak) was cooked to perfection. The whole experience was very good!

Republic of Texas Bar & Grill

4.7

4.7 (2554)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Corpus Christi

About the restaurant

The Republic of Texas Bar & Grill is one of Corpus Christi's top dining destinations. Located on the 20th floor of the Omni Bayfront Hotel, this multi-level restaurant offers diners beautiful panoramic views of the Corpus Christi Bay. Featuring USDA prime beef cuts, a wide variety of wild game and seafood selections. We acquired the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for having one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world in the past four years. We obtained the 2014 Diners' Choice Award for the Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America. Restaurant of the Year from the HOSPIS Award in 2023. Stop by and experience our lounge, it is open daily at 5 PM. Happy Hour from 5 PM to 7 PM Monday through Friday.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined today

The service was very good and attentive. The food was plain and over priced and the noise really made our dining experience a disappointment. It was our anniversary and there was a table on the far side of the restaurant where 10 or so people attending a convention at the hotel was very loud and very drunk. Instead of cutting them off or asking the one particular lady who was particularly loud to tone down, they kept serving bottles of wine. Irresponsibility on the restaurant’s part

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Filet Chateaubriand (for Two)

Popular dish

Seared Diver Scallops

house. wine. & bistro.

4.7

4.7 (506)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

McAllen

About the restaurant

house. wine. & bistro. offers a boutique wine bar & New American Bistro dining experience featuring over 100 wines, craft beers and a diverse menu of locally sourced ingredients.

Top review

M Larry

Dined on 17 Apr 2025

Perfect place to celebrate my parent’s 70th wedding anniversary!

Ambra

4.7

4.7 (336)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

McAllen

About the restaurant

AMBRA combines a globally inspired steakhouse and a chic lounge creating one electrifying dining experience. Inside AMBRA, every foot of space is filled with eye-catching visuals, varied lighting, contrasting materials and textures, lush plants, and a layout of space perfect for mingling, date night, and dining. Take a seat in one of our stylish dining rooms or enjoy al fresco seating in our outdoor patio while sipping mezcal cocktails until closing time, when you dine with us every experience will be one to remember.

Top review

Armondo

Dined 5 days ago

Your server Beto is Excellent and you are very lucky to have this person representing your restaurant.

Liam's Steakhouse - South Padre Island

4.6

4.6 (1235)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

McAllen

About the restaurant

Alfonso Salazar, better known as “Dirty Al” originally started shrimping as a young man with his father and 6 brothers. In 2003, he and his youngest son, Cameron, who graduated from Culinary School, transformed his bait stand into a restaurant where together they have been known for having “The World’s Best Fried Shrimp”! In 2005, his other two sons returned home to help grow the business. To this day, they now own 7 restaurants on beautiful South Padre Island and across the valley and continue to bring only the “best” Gulf Seafood to each customer’s table.

Top review

Jake

Dined 4 days ago

Great Food and Service the waiter Leo was great and super knowledgeable about the menu

Il Forno a Legna

4.5

4.5 (443)

$30 and under

Italian

McAllen

About the restaurant

Since 2016, our chefs have used the finest ingredients available to recreate heirloom Italian recipes. We're inspired by the Italian way of life and the importance of sharing meals with loved ones. Il Forno a Legna is our love letter to Italian tradition, and our gift to the Rio Grande Valley. Bring a few friends and remember, a tavola non si invecchia.

Top review

Aide

Dined 3 days ago

Booked a business dinner and was given a quiet section away from the main patrons. The service and food were phenomenal. We were able to conduct our business and felt at ease being able to openly discuss our topics without any interruptions. I have eaten here several times with family and friends, this place never disappoints.

Moon Restaurant Mixology

4.4

4.4 (30)

$50 and over

Global, International

McAllen

About the restaurant

Discover a World of Flavor: Fine Dining Awaits. Get ready to go to the Moon and dine amongst the Stars!

WE ACCEPT WALK INS!

Top review

Casey

Dined 4 days ago

A unique restaurant with great atmosphere, chic ambiance, and excellent menu and service.

Mousai

4.2

4.2 (25)

$31 to $50

Asian

Edinburg

About the restaurant

Welcome to Mousai - Asian Contemporary Cuisine. We look forward to seeing you.

Top review

JessicaVIP

Dined on 23 Apr 2025

Everything was wonderful. Food was delicious and place was beautiful. Thank you!

El Divino Dining & Cocktails

4.1

4.1 (46)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

McAllen

About the restaurant

El Divino invites you to escape the cares of the day and journey back to the enchanting era of the roaring 20s. Immerse yourself in an exquisite world of handcrafted cocktails and delectable cuisine.

Each day, we meticulously press our juices, craft our own syrups, and master classic mixology techniques to deliver the epitome of cocktail perfection. Our dedication extends to the careful selection of premium spirits, ensuring unrivaled quality and adherence to the highest standards.
Our talented Chef has curated gourmet menus for every season, showcasing the freshest meats and seafood, harmoniously paired with locally sourced produce.

At El Divino, we take immense pride in offering you the quintessential drinking and dining experience. Please savor every moment of your visit with us.

Top review

Juan

Dined on 22 Feb 2025

Awesome experience and great staff ! Food was cooked to perfection.

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