5 Best Seafood Restaurants in The Galleria, Houston
Our Criteria:
1. Caracol
Available Food Choices: Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour, Saturday Brunch, Sunday Brunch Buffet, Vegetarian, Dessert
Website: https://www.caracol.net/
Address: 2200 Post Oak Blvd #160, Houston, TX 77056
Contact Details: (713) 622-9996
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 11:30 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Friday: 11:30 A.M. – 10:30 P.M.
Saturday: 11:00 A.M. – 10:30 P.M.
Sunday: 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Monday: Closed
Google Reviews Score | 4.6/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 4.2/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4/5 |
Total Reviews | 5/5 |
Score Consistency | 4.5/5 |
Attentiveness | 5/5 |
Ambiance | 5/5 |
Seafood Choices | 5/5 |
Taste | 5/5 |
Pros
- Delicious shellfish choices
- Seafood-based Mexican dishes are crunchy and flavorful
- Attentive servers
Cons
- Small portions
- Need a reservation during happy hours
Caracol proves that brunch, classic Mexican dishes, and seafood are a top-tier gastronomic combination.
Patrons could either choose Caracol’s outside tables for alfresco dining or inside for easier access to their bar. After all, brunch sessions wouldn’t be complete without a swig of cold cocktails.
During our tasting session, we especially adored their scallop and oysters.
The creamy lemon chipotle and the scallops featured in their Callo De Hacha tasted divine, with the milky acidity of the sauce complementing the buttery goodness of the seared scallops.
When it comes to Caracol’s oysters, you could eat them fresh with a dash of salsa bruja or roasted with butter. Either way, we recommend pairing it with their Mezcal and jalapeño margarita to neutralize the briny taste of these shellfish.
Also, Caracol’s seafood-based Mexican food has the right crunch and fishy savoriness. Their tuna tostadas and tacos are a wonderful alternative if you’re craving something crunchy and fresh.
While their seafood dishes made us want second servings, their portions are a bit smaller despite their above-average price. If you’re feeling famished, you may end up spending a lot due to their serving sizes.
Also, you need a reservation if you want to eat dinner during their happy hour time every 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. We think it’s a bit inconvenient, especially if you want a table after a long day of shopping.
Despite that, the servers at Caracol always took their time in addressing our needs. They happily answered our questions about the menu and provided us with things like water and napkins.
2. Fig & Olive Houston
Available Food Choices: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Happy Hour, Wine & Cocktails
Website: https://www.figandolive.com/location/fig-and-olive-houston-the-galleria/
Address: 5115 Westheimer Rd Suite C2500, Houston, TX 77056
Contact Details: (832) 632-6632
Operating Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 12:00 P.M. – 9:30 P.M.
Thursday – Saturday: 12:00 P.M. – 10:30 P.M
Sunday: 12:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M
Google Reviews Score | 4.3/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 4/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 3.8/5 |
Total Reviews | 5/5 |
Score Consistency | 4/5 |
Attentiveness | 4.5/5 |
Ambiance | 5/5 |
Seafood Choices | 4.5/5 |
Taste | 5/5 |
Pros
- Calm and romantic ambiance
- Excellent tuna tartare and Atlantic Salmon
- Servings of seafood paella are
Cons
- Slow service
- Few seafood choices
Fig & Olive Houston shines with their hearty lunch choices centered around tuna, salmon, and seafood paella.
In terms of the ambiance, their space has a light, romantic vibe perfect for daytime dates with your loved ones. You could also enjoy a glass of red wine here while relaxing from the hustle and bustle of the Galleria.
The waiting time for our food was a bit slow even if there were only a few people in the establishment.
Although, we found their Yellowfin Tuna Tartare delectable, with the avocado and the pickled fennel adding a hint of freshness to the meal. The mixture of the acidic garnishes and the mild flavor of the lavash adds depth to the plain, raw tuna.
For the main course, we tried Fig & Olive Houston’s Atlantic Salmon.
We found the dish bold and spicy due to the harissa marinate, but the confit byaldi and whipped feta sides helped in toning down the spice.
Also, regulars love going to this restaurant on Sundays for a big serving of Seafood & Chicken Paella “A La Niçoise”. The mussels and shrimp combined with the tomato-flavored rice and crispy olives are best paired with a glass of Chardonnay.
3. The Oceanaire Seafood Room Houston
Available Food Choices: Lunch, Dinner, Specialty Cocktails & Wines By The Glass, Takeouts
Website: https://www.theoceanaire.com/location/houston-tx/
Address: 5061 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056
Contact Details: (832) 487-8862
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday: 12:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Friday: 12:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.
Saturday: 5:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.
Sunday: 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Google Reviews Score | 4.3/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 3.5/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4.1/5 |
Total Reviews | 5/5 |
Score Consistency | 4/5 |
Attentiveness | 4.5/5 |
Ambiance | 5/5 |
Seafood Choices | 5/5 |
Taste | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Wide selection of fresh seafood
- Offers valet parking
Cons
- Servers are a bit inattentive at times
- Mushy and salty crab cakes
When we walked inside The Oceanaire Seafood Room Houston, we immediately felt the classy air that this restaurant exudes.
Their doorman immediately offered us a valet parking service for a fair price, taking away our burden of finding parking in the expansive Galleria area. Inside, the decor looks like the inside of a cruise ship.
We think the highlight of this restaurant is their selection of fresh seafood. Their Raw Bar platter includes shrimp and crab meat cocktails, chilled oysters, king crab legs, and caviar.
The said selection is prepared classically to highlight the fresh taste of each dish. It’s better to sample the crab legs and oysters first before eating the flavorful cocktails and caviar.
Even though their seafood platters are to die for, the servers were a bit lax with some things, like providing refills. Some customers may be disappointed with this, especially because of the price of the food here.
The crab cakes were also a little salty and a bit mushy for our taste. Needless to say, it wasn’t a pleasant meal starter, in our opinion.
Regardless, we like how easy it is to book a table online at The Oceanaire Seafood Room Houston. Within minutes, their staff already has a table ready for us.
4. Loch Bar
Available Food Choices: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks, Happy Hour
Website: https://lochbar.com/houston/
Address: 4444 Westheimer Rd Suite G110, Houston, TX 77027
Contact Details: (832) 430-6601
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 11:30 A.M. – 2:00 A.M.
Saturday to Sunday: 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 A.M.
Google Reviews Score | 4.3/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 4/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4.1/5 |
Total Reviews | 5/5 |
Score Consistency | 4/5 |
Attentiveness | 4.5/5 |
Ambiance | 5/5 |
Seafood Choices | 4.5/5 |
Taste | 5/5 |
Pros
- Longer hours than other seafood restaurants
- The bartender is checking on their customers from time to time
- Delicious bar chow options
Cons
- The bar stops serving food at midnight
- Drinks take some time to make when there are many customers
Loch Bar is known for their upbeat happy hours and seafood bar chow you could munch down with liquor.
We love how this restaurant has longer hours than others, closing at 2:00 A.M. every day. This makes Loch Bar an ideal spot for late-night dinners and after-hours drinking.
During happy hour, we stayed near their dive bar. The bartender was courteous and chatted with us throughout the evening, checking on us from time to time to make sure we were okay.
We ordered their Moules Frites and Kampachi Ceviche as starters. Then, we also ate fresh oysters together with shooters.
Do note that the bar stops serving food at midnight. If you want some snacks, you better order early so you won’t feel hungry while enjoying your cocktails.
Also, some drinks take at least 25 minutes to make, especially if there are many patrons in the restaurant. So make sure to pack extra patience when coming here.
Still, we think the Moules Frites is one of the best bar chow in the Loch Bar. The aromatic white-wine sauce seeps into the mussels and is delicious when eaten together with french fries and baguette.
On the other hand, the Kampachi Ceviche pairs well with their bourbon drinks. Also, when you eat the oyster shooters, you can’t even taste the vodka in the shots.
5. Bayou City Seafood & Pasta
Available Food Choices: Entrées, Poboys, Side Dishes, Appetizers, Gumbo & Bisque, Fresh Fish Specialties, Cajun Toppings, Shellfish, Pasta
Website: http://www.bayoucityseafood.net/
Address: 4712 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77027
Contact Details: (713) 621-6602
Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Friday to Saturday: 11:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.
Google Reviews Score | 4.3/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 4/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4.2/5 |
Total Reviews | 5/5 |
Score Consistency | 4.5/5 |
Attentiveness | 4.5/5 |
Ambiance | 5/5 |
Seafood Choices | 5/5 |
Taste | 5/5 |
Pros
- Scrumptious Cajun seafood options
- Meals have big portions
Cons
- Hard to peel crawfish
- Doesn’t accommodate large groups
Bayou City Seafood & Pasta is known for their Cajun dishes, particularly their crawfish and gumbo.
The restaurant looks like a classic dining hall inside. The brick walls and wooden decor of the place made us feel like we were at home eating warm meals with the family.
When you plan to dine here, make sure you’re in a small group because the restaurant doesn’t serve groups of more than 8 people. The management does this to prevent delays in food service.
During our stay, we ordered crawfish, catfish, and oyster entrees. We also grabbed some shrimp po’boy and seafood gumbo to go
When the food arrived, we were in awe of the meal’s serving sizes. Each dish’s portions are big enough for two people to enjoy.
Fortunately, we finished the meal without leftovers. We especially loved the plumpness of the catfish and crawfish entrees, their meat juicy and flavorful with just the right amount of smokiness.
Although, we struggled in peeling the skin off of the crawfish.
Regardless, the seafood gumbo of Bayou City Seafood & Pasta has a rich soup base filled with shrimp and sausage. We were also satisfied with the po’boy with chewy bread and crispy, breaded shrimp, which we ate while drinking a tall glass of beer.