A perfect day in Port Aransas tends to be one without much of a schedule: a boat ride through the Gulf, a cold drink on a patio or an extended lunch break. At Drifter’s Deli, owner Clinton Mynier has built a sandwich shop around that same easygoing rhythm.
“There’s a certain peace and simplicity to living and working on the coast,” Mynier said. “Port Aransas is a very welcoming community and receptive to new business ideas, [especially food].”
After spending about two decades working in restaurants and moving to Port Aransas for a change, the idea clicked when the waterfront location across from his previous job became available. With the support of his sister, who helped conceptualize the restaurant and design the interior, the concept filled a gap Mynier had noticed in the island’s daytime dining scene. He had already been experimenting with baking bread, so sandwiches were a natural fit.
“Sandwiches have been a staple in everyone’s life at some point. Everyone has a favorite,” he said. “It’s a food that can be super basic and satisfying, even nostalgic, while also having potential to be experimental and complex.”
At Drifter’s, the foundation is scratch-made food, starting with fresh-baked bread and extending to house-made aiolis, condiments, sauces and rotating specials. The menu ranges from classics such as grilled cheese and BLTs to bolder combinations named after his siblings. The Therese, which is a top seller, is piled with turkey, bacon, spinach, tomato, banana peppers, cream cheese and garlic aioli. Or the Thomas, similar to an Italian, is layered with ham, salami and pepperoni, plus fresh mozzarella, onions, banana peppers, tomato and lettuce drizzled with red wine vinaigrette. “We’re just super dedicated to the scratch process and being fresh and affordable,” Mynier said.
Now past its first year of business, Drifter’s has built a following among locals while gradually drawing more visitors. Mynier continues to experiment, from rotating desserts and homemade ice cream—including flavors such as avocado coconut and raspberry goat cheese—to bottled hot sauces, plus catering for fishing charters and private events.
Inside, the atmosphere is an intentionally bohemian bistro with a more intimate feel, while from the patio, the marina view takes center stage. That balance is what gives Drifter’s that distinct Port Aransas feel.
In a town that was built around coasting out on the water and seeing where the day takes you, Drifter’s Deli may have found the perfect recipe; come hungry and settle in.
154 W. Cotter Ave. | @driftersdeliporta
