Pearland - Friendswood Edition | February 2023

DINING FEATURE

BY SARAH PARKER

1 KNUCKLE SANDWICH: $32

Founder and owner Eric Nelson opened Good Vibes Coastal Kitchen in 2020.

Leslie Mejia works along Eric Nelson as his pastry chef and sous chef.

2 FRESH TUNA POKE BOWL: $19

3 S’MORES TOASTED TABLE SIDE: $13

Yellow n tuna is served with ginger yuzu sauce, cucumber, seaweed, sesame seeds, avocado, tobiko caviar and sticky rice.

A honey graham cracker cake is made with chocolate mousse, ganache, salted caramel gelato and homemade marshmallow.

Cold-water lobster knuckles are sauteed with Cajun garlic butter and served on a challah roll.

PHOTOS BY SARAH PARKERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

"PEOPLE THINK WE ARE JUST A BURGER

Good Vibes Coastal Kitchen Restaurant brings beach feel, elevated food to Pearland A fter years of working in ne dining, Eric Nelson decided to branch out and

GOOD VIBES COASTAL KITCHEN 1329 E. Broadway St., Pearland 832-569-4141 www.goodvibescoastalkitchen.com Hours: Mon.-Wed. 3-9 p.m., Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. JOINT, BUT WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO OFFER." ERIC NELSON, OWNER

a vacation but are still in Pearland, Nelson said. A large mural of a beach scene, island music, palm trees and sh swimming on the TV screens can be found in the restaurant. During December 2019, the Good Vibes sta and their families transformed the former King’s Biergarten & Restaurant, which had a castle exterior, into a tropical beach house restaurant. Good Vibes has grown even during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, Nelson said. Good Vibes oers themed nights and spaces for private events. It has a full bar indoors and outdoors, patio seating for more than 100 people, and a garden where kids can run or a band can play. Event and corporate

catering are also available. Throughout the week, Good Vibes’ customers can nd Nelson leading in the kitchen as the main chef alongside Leslie Mejia, his sous chef and pastry chef. Both Nelson and Mejia said they enjoy crafting unique dishes. The menu oers made-from-scratch options, such as deviled eggs with capers, oysters or salmon; a smoked salmon salad sandwich; an oyster bar; tacos and gourmet burgers; as well as s’mores toasted table side, which is the most popular dessert dish. “It’s a fun community,” Nelson said. “I grew up in a small town, and it’s cool seeing that environ- ment in a city.”

start something completely new. Nelson said he wanted to bring something fun and relaxed to the Pearland community, so he founded Good Vibes Burgers and Brews in January 2020. He renamed it Good Vibes Coastal Kitchen shortly after he realized the name could lead people to believe it served mainly burgers, Nelson said. “Our coastal kitchen caters to a lot more people. People think we are just a burger joint, but we have a lot more to oer,” said Nelson, who is also the restaurant’s head chef. The goal was to create a location where patrons feel like they are on

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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • FEBRUARY 2023