Marcello's Italian Restaurant & Lighthouse Pub, Port Isabel

The stalwart, rose-colored Old Lighthouse Grocery building has stood on its spot in Port Isabel's historic Lighthouse Square since the 1950s, withstanding both storms and hurricanes. Despite its permanence, the building has undergone change—Manuela Stevenson moved into the vacated space in 1988 and established Marcello's Italian Restaurant & Lighthouse Pub. Much like the building it calls home, the casual restaurant has withstood the test of time, thanks to a casual-elegant atmosphere and a menu of hearty Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. During lunch and dinner, the dining room fills with the aromas of sizzling gulf shrimp, marinated steaks, and baked-pasta dishes dressed in tomato and seafood-based sauces.