The view from Buckets

The view from Buckets
Originally uploaded by ksteele2.

Days like today are why we live near the beach, even though neither hubby or I are beachy people. Give me a clear pool over murky water and jellyfish anyday.

Buckets just reopened after closing for three months to remodel, so this was my first time back. We got there just before noon and were one of only a dozen tables, but by the time we left the crowd was starting to line up at the door.

It was just under 80 when we got there, and Buckets had all their walls open. (It's a newish decorating style here for restaurants - they put garage doors where the walls would be, and roll them up on pretty days - which is most of the year from March to October. Makes pretty much an open air restaurant.)

The fence keeps people from walking straight in to the restaurant off the boardwalk, but there was a steady flow of bikini clad babes and droopy trunked boys (most of the "babes" and "boys" were in their teens) flaunting their already sunkissed flesh. With the schools closed for Good Friday, it seems most of the city hit the beach today. Just over the sand dune, lies the sand and surf.

The food was good, not great. Very average food actually - wings, burgers, salads. Shrimp, oysters, and crawfish. Full bar if you want a drink. What we got all came out well prepared, if unimaginative. To give them credit, for a beach front restaurant where you're paying less than $10 a person, well cooked in a great atmosphere is about the best you can ask for. And they do that very well.

I miss First Street Grill (our old 'sunny days are here' lunch break). It's sad to see the condos going up where there used to be the best restaurant at the beach - great views, AND great food. But Buckets does have one thing First Street didn't - boardwalk views. The boardwalk offers a chance to see all of mankind, and all of his beauty - and warts - without leaving the comfort of your dining seat.

But to the man who walked by picking his oversized nose, and to the woman who walked by right behind him in her undersized shirt (complete with black bra hanging out the sides) - I'd really prefer to see less of your warts, so up close and personal to my lunch.