Just a good, no frills seafood restaurant. I love this place. Delicious oysters and great po boys!

I had the jalapeño bacon wrapped shrimp app and the stuffed whole flounder which for some reason took almost a full hour to prepare. The app was so salty it was almost inedible. The fish was tasty but small. Worst fifty dollar meal I have ever had. read more

I dont know where to start!!! I'm laughing as I write this. I was going to a different restaurant, but they were closed for memorial day, so I found this on a quick google search. Started with the worst oysters I've ever had. They tasted watery and  didn't look clean and felt super greatful for holding on and not ordering the shrimp. The broiled catfish was heavily buttered, but eadible. The sides were a vegetable rice that tasted like it was made a week ago and they just added some leftover (also week old) overcooked little shrimp and dried herbs. The hush puppies were not crispy, or tasted / were actual hush puppies but in a weird I liked them. The same weird way I think stale cheetos taste good. The slaw side was as bad of all of the above, but I had a salad coming over that I was hopeful for. Just to match the unfortunate meal, the salad was disgusting and I believe the lettuce was nearly rotten. It tasted like it. I ate the 3 cherry tomatoes on top of it. Ahh it came with a ranch packaged dressing on the side. Overall the meal was a nightmare, but I had fun. The lack of intuition of the server, plus not bringing plates to share the oysters, neither silverware, or knowing the menu all combined for a balanced  "you gotta be fucking kidding me" experience. The waitress or Captain Benny were nowhere to be found and we had to go inside and pay after a long wait and 200 flies surrounding the tables. I'll report back if I hot food poisoning, but fingers crossed I won't! read more

The food is something to come for alone. You will not be dissatisfied with the fresh taste of seafood and the ambiance that hits you when you walk in. Apart from the service being a little slow I had everything I needed or wanted from entrance to exit. read more

Captain Benny's Seafood - Shrimp Basket - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We came here on a Sunday afternoon it was all going fine until we asked a waiter if they can give us a spoon he said yes but never came back with it. We asked again just incase he had forgotten but he replied with "if we had one i would've given you one" we don't know what provoked him to reply in such a rude way so we said ok. Other than that our actual waiter was amazing. read more

Captain Benny's Seafood - He is the rude bartender. - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Solid two stars for a Togo Order. Boudin balls were very tasty and spicy, which we loved. The chicken and sausage gumbo had great flavor and a ton of meat. Hush puppies were yummy and had a nice jalapeño flavor. We ordered crawfish Étouffée and received shrimp with no rice.... so basically a shrimp soup... super disappointed. Last was the shrimp diablo... VERY shrimp tasting, indicating not fresh and the bacon was burnt vs crispy. Overall okay, wish the order would have been right, could Have earned a 3 maybe even 4 star. read more

Today I received TERRIBLE SERVICE at Captain Benny's. My raw bar oysters and baked oysters took over 20 mins to come out. Also, I had to cancel my entree because everyone at the table had already finished their food and my food still hadn't come out yet. Our server wasn't attentive and never offered to refills. read more

Holy smoking canola! If you want to indulge your deep fried cravings, look no further than Captain Benny's Seafood. Fried shrimp, fried oysters, french fries, hush puppies... these were what we ordered and shared. They're all done extremely well here. Large oval platters are generously loaded with these delights, along with the obligatory serving of cole slaw. Slaw is served cold and fried stuff is served piping hot with nary a stray drop of excess oil anywhere. The Captain's kitchen knows their stuff. We sat in the front of the boat and enjoyed the ever-changing view of 1-35. Our server Dallas was superb, providing better service than some of the other high-falutin' places around town. Prices were very reasonable for the amount and quality of food. If only this place seasoned their batter (please, just a little salt), and require regular cleaning of eating surfaces after customers leave (dirty dishes were cleared off but no one seemed to wipe down the actual counters), I'd give it that fifth star. read more

Happy hour monday through friday $1.00 ofd from the bar! Don't blink because you will pass the entrance and have to turn around! The big billboard in from of the entrance has your attention and overwhelms their sign. Walking in from the parking lot it doesn't look like much but they have a cute little patio with tables and tiki style umbrellas. It was rainy so we opted to sit inside but, people were enjoying the patio and cooler temperatures. Once inside we sat at a table not at their boat style bar where they shuck oysters in front of you. Next to our table we noticed they had another small side patio with 2 regular picnic tables. They also had flat screens which was nice because Eric wanted to watch the football game. The ambiance was that of an East Coast Crab House. It wasn't fancy but, you knew the food was going to be great. They only have a bottled beer and wine selection; no liquor and nothing on tap! We started with the shrimp diablos which were 3 for $3.99! They were really tasty and definitely had a kick to them. I ordered Broiled Platter $16.99 and it came with broiled shrimp and scallop skewers, broiled fish filet (white fish), veggies on the skewers (peppers and onions), coleslaw, garlic toast, drawn butter and shrimp with seasoned rice. Mine was really tasty. I wasn't so hot on the scallops because they were overdone and rubbery. The rice was to die for and I would probably order a big bowl of that next time. The coleslaw was different, it had pineapple in it and gave it a sweet burst of flavor. It wasn't bad, it was just different. Eric had the Captain's Platter $16.99 and it came with fried shrimp, scallops, catfish, stuffed and fried crab, fries, hush puppies and coleslaw. It was a huge helping of fried food and I don't think he really cared for it. Fried food is fried food if you ask me but, he kept staring at my plate longingly! The servers were friendly and I enjoyed the overall experience. I would come back but, I would bring a bigger appetite and I doubt Eric would want to go back but, that was his ordering mistake. read more

Captain Benny's Seafood - Inside! - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Loved the patio. Loooved how fast my food came out!! Steaming hot too. Loved how attentive and sweet Leo, my waiter was. Loved that they have a sweet potato fry option. So why 3 stars? 1. I don't like corn-mealy coating on my seafood, and that's what theirs is. Crisp, yes, but I prefer batter. 2. The shrimp were a nice full sz shrimp, 3 or 4 I think. But the fish was maybe a quarter of a filet. 2 pieces to the shrimp/fish basket + 2 jalapeño hush puppies, fries & a piece of garlic toast. I also got a piece of cheesecake... cuz I CAN!! And while huge and not from HEB, it was sadly lacking in taste! I'm glad I FINALLY checked out Bennys, but I prob wouldn't rush back. read more

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First time going and more then likely last time I had the catfish platter lg with sweet potato fries and seafood gumbo with a stuffed crab fries were great gumbo was ok fish fried to hard the crab was bready and taste like fresh water the crab fingers were horrible salty small Nd tough over cooked the fried gator was ok not what I was expecting read more

Since this was right by our hotel, I had to stop by and try this location out. The tempting sign out front with the dozen oysters on special for 9.99 was our first clue. We stepped right up to the bar and were able to find 6 seats in a row. Thats a first for me....It all went downhill from there though. Our server was either drunk or high and just didn't seem like he wanted to work that day. We ordered a couple micheladas and iced teas and a coke and that took forever, when the restaurant wasn't even that busy. He messed up the micheladas and gave us a shiner to go with it, then he didn't even give one of my friends the beer, only the mug with the tomato juice. For the food, he never gave us our dozen oysters. Maybe I'm spoiled by all the better locations of this establishment in Houston, or maybe this guy should just be fired!!! read more

Sit outside ! -Vidal is an excellent waiter! Honestly the service is even better than the food..That's a stretch because the broiled shrimp, oysters, & rice that accompanies your meal is top notch :) read more

Captain Benny's Seafood - Glenn loves catfish - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Was pleasantly surprised!! Oysters Parm were fantastic!! Glad they didn't add any butter. Parm and bread crumbs made them crispy and natural juice made them moist. Will order these again. Ordered broiled stuffed shrimp with a stuffed crab. Shrimp were slightly over cooked, but stuffing was good. Stuffed grab very average. Rice with shrimp and veggies should say shrimp and onions. That being said, the rice was delicious!! Garlic bread also good. Only beer and wine. Cab was average, could upgrade. I would return as the price is right for what you get read more

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I ordered the catfish basket to go and got a "craft beer" to wait for it. The foods came in about 10 minutes. Not bad. The fish was thin and battered a bit too thick. There were two pieces and with a white sauce that I cannot really fathom. The fish was fresh, just probably too thickly battered and over-fried. The fries were OK. The to-go box did not include ketchup. I would only come here if I have no other choices. read more

If i could give this 0 stars, I would.. it's place is horribly mismanaged. We waited OVER AN HOUR For our food and we never even got it. And we got there before the rush came in. Found a table fine. And still they couldn't get service or food to our table that they told us to sit at. We not only never got our water refilled but it took so long for anyone to come to our table. Our server, whom we saw ONCE, in the over hour wait, was basically not there. Ghost. So long story short, we never got our food after over an hour wait. Not worth going to this place ever . Save your money and stress and go somewhere else read more

Pretty dang good :) I was craving some seafood and this place hit the spot. Sat outside on a really pretty night with my dog. It's right next to the highway so might be a bit loud. I got the broiled seafood platter (skewer of shrimp and scallops and fish filet) it was very delicious. Also got the seafood gumbo, wasn't very much seafood in it for my opinion but it was very tasty and the Parmesan oysters, it took a very long time to come out and we only got the order of 6 but they hit the spot so I won't complain too much about it. All in all I would defiantly come back read more

Captain Benny's Seafood - Parmesan oysters :)) - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We shared the oyster po-boy. It was great. Lots of oysters & the bread was excellent.

Fresh seafood at a reasonable price. We visited on a busy Saturday night and, despite the crowd, we got prompt, friendly service. Captain Benny's is part of Houston-based fleet of restaurants -- all shaped like a boat -- although the Austin location also has an adjoining dinning room and outdoor patio. My friends, who were not familiar with Captain Benny's, were a little hesitant to dine here because they had never heard of it (or seen it -- it's hidden from the I-35 feeder road), but once the food arrived, there was no question that Capt Benny's is a great choice for seafood in Austin. read more

Capt Benny's is an amazing seafood place to eat with pretty reasonable prices. I live right around this area, and decided to pop in one day when my sister was visiting me from Dallas. I had the Nacho Oyster style. They had jalepenos on top. While I have never eaten cheese with Oysters I have to say this was surprisingly delicious. Fresh Oysters on the half shell. I added a little hot sauce and a Beer, man it was a good lunch. The second time I went was about a week ago and just ordered the GUmbo to go. It was hot, fresh, had plenty of meat, not too much rice at all, and tons of flavor. So far, so good. I will continue to return. read more

How can you resist eating in a boat on land? This is what my girlfriend said to me and I kind of had to concur, agreeing that it probably wouldn't be a good meal but would be a "bad decisions lead to good stories" moment. Well, I'm here to say it wasn't a bad decision but it was a good story. I'm going to start with the bad so I can close with the good. Here's why it's not a five star review: the restaurant is old and shows signs of its age. You will wonder coming in if you've made a mistake. Also, I feel you kind of have to sit in the "boat section" but this means sitting at the bar and the bar is ... weird. The design necessitates a sloping design that isn't entirely comfortable and you'll want to sit "upstream" toward the bow -- that way if someone spills their drink it doesn't run down to you. Now, the good. Mike the bartender is one of the friendliest waiter/bartenders I've encountered in Austin in a very long time. He really helped make the whole experience an excellent one. The restaurant has been around a long time, which means they've got their menu down and the food stands the test of time. Which it does, the seafood gumbo is second only to my stepmother's authentic Cajun recipe that's been handed down for generations. They even knew the secret to a good gumbo was in the roux. I had gotten a sample like I always do, expecting to pass on a larger order, as I always do. Instead, I found myself ordering a full bowl. My girlfriend found her meal enjoyable as well, but I was so lost in my gumbo, I can't remember what she ordered. There good beer on tap and great happy hour specials several nights a week. I'll be back for sure. read more

Today i went and omfg this place is disgusting. There food is super cold and i found cigarette ashes in my food. There is so many rat shits everywhere. This place is by far the most disgusting place ever. Ive never been to anything like this. There food is over priced for how disgusting this piece of shit restaurant . DONE FUCKING EAT HERE read more

This place is sickening, if you eat here YOU WILL catch covid-19 there is no question about that. Very unsanitary. The gumbo smells like someone sweated in it. The food is frozen, I can do a better job in my air fry machine I bought. They don't sanitize the chairs after somebody left, This is a good case for the health department. AVOID AT ALL COST!!!! read more

My husband called ahead to find out if they were serving red fish and i guess he was told they did. As soon as we arrived the owner or a really well trained manager took care of us. Excellent service, really good food. I know they were slammed but i still took a star just because i waited a while for drink refills and i wish they had a bit more options for the kids. Overall i do recommend this place. read more

Love this place. Day crew can be rude, so come by at night. Two patios. Large one up front. Small two table cozy one, past the dining room. Great fish and cold beer . A good meal and great service. read more

I am visiting Austin, and if I were here another day, I'd go to this little joint again! Like tomorrow! EVERY single thing I saw looked fabulous! I got a to-go order of boiled (size worthy) shrimp, a garden salad and fries. As I was waiting for my order, I saw bacon wrapped grilled shrimp, freshly breaded (cornmeal) catfish and shrimp and gumbo walking by me. It ALL looked so dang good! You can see in the kitchen from the bar area, and they cook (and bread the fish and shrimp) as it's ordered. I wish SO bad that we had a place like this in Bedford Texas! My food was good, by the way!!! Chow! read more

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The best thing on my catfish fillet plate were the fry's. The catfish fillets were 95% crust. It was like eating a catfish chip with very little flavor. The coleslaw was disgusting. read more

Best seafood gumbo!!!!! A bowl of that and a stick of boudin sitting at the angled boat bar top has been my spot for over 10 years now.

We haven't eaten at Captain Benny's for long time because its far from home. We happened to be in the area, so we decided to drop in. The place is set up for social distancing. There were a number of people eating outside on the deck. We sat inside. Our waitress gave us menus (something a lot of places could learn to do. I don't like having to negotiate a menu on my phone). We both ordered catfish baskets. The food was up in a reasonable time. It was delicious. First of all - everything was fresh and hot. The catfish was in a crispy cornmeal crust. It was served with fries, which were also fresh and hot. We order catfish out often and this was the best catfish we have had in a couple of times. In addition, there were a couple of flavorful hushpuppies and a nice piece of garlic bread. Our waitress dropped by at strategic points to make sure everything was good. As I told the manager on my way out, 'I wish you guys had a place closer to where I live.' We'll be back. read more

My fiancé and I are seafood fanatics with a specialty in oysters. This place is one of the best in Austin, great, prompt and friendly service with a simple menu that has amazing flavor and quality.. We were not expecting much being a seafood chain and all but were taken back. I fully recommend oysters, shrimp Diablo, seafood gumbo and fried calamari. Great job ! read more

Captain Benny's Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Me and my family went to eat here and we were really pleased! The food was great. We order two captain platters, two dozen raw oysters, 1lb boiled shrimp, and whole catfish platter. Everyone thought everything was really good! The shrimp were huge and had a notoriously bingey boiled shrimp eater full with half a pound left! The only things I'd say they could improve on are having the tables ready ASAP because you just walk in a pick your own table (waitress came and wiped our table down after we sat down), bigger/less wobbly tables, it took a little while for us to get a menu and the oysters were just a little bit on the slimy side but everything else was pretty awesome so I think they deserved the 5 stars. We'll be coming here again when we crave some good seafood!! read more

Captain Benny's Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Always loved this place always will. But the fish filet are getting so tiny and never give tarter sauce...I always ho back for the best fried shrimp ever! read more

Ordered 4lbs of crawfish and the majority of them were not cooked all the way through. I've ordered crawfish several times before without any issues, but one bad experience is enough. They did offered to replace the order or give me a refund. read more

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First greeting from waitress, "Sit anywhere you want, but I leave in 15 minutes, so you'll order with the next server." Welcoming. Ordered a beer anyway and paid so she could enjoy her night more than us. Next server is no better. Dennis. The menace, I would say, but he barely spoke to us, so I can't speak to his personality. Ordered a combo appetizer platter that included calamari, popcorn shrimp, bacon and jalapeno wrapped shrimp and jalapeno poppers stuffed with crab. Decent. Finished it. Was planning on a plate, but had enough of Dennis ignoring our table. Won't return and will definitely not recommend. read more

I'm actually a fan of this spot. This was my 1st time. Our waitress was very pleasant and provided good service (she was a black lady---missed her name) we started with crabfingers with drawn butter, I didn't like the over abundance of old bay, but once i got a little of it off and squeezed fresh lemon and dipped in butter it was pretty good. I got the fried shrimp platter which had a load of fries( wished they were hand cut fresh vs. frozen), hush puppies and cole slaw (which was pretty good). The shrimp was delicately fried and pretty good, I could do without the fries and wished they had more veggies in the place (like a baked potato for example, some green beans?) they have bottled beer and wine. No frills, Ill probably be back..but the prices are similar to Pappaeaux which is across the street....for what I paid for that platter I would have gotten at Pappadeaux complete with a huge fresh baked potato...I might come back if they were running a special tho. read more

My friends I were treated poorly. We were the only African American people in the restaurant. The host was very rude. Your employees need training on diversity and customer service. One of my friends food came out cold. My friend and I waited at least 20 minutes for our oysters, when people who were seated after us received their food in a timely manner. Our entrees took forever. My friends entree took so long she never even got it. This could have been a pleasant experience but our service was horrible! The food was great but service is trash. Would rather have mediocre food than eat here again. I would give a 0 if I could. You guys really need to train your employees better. Thanks for teaching me to face adversity. read more

Must try their gumbo! It's the best I've ever had! Their oysters are great too. It's a nice place to have lunch at. I enjoy sitting at the bar. read more

Captain Benny's Seafood - Gumbo & Michelada - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Decent seafood place at best. I wasn't too impressed. The service was great and very friendly but the food wasn't that great. I really liked the diablo shrimp. read more

Probably people that love The taste of Diet Coke -- wouldn't love the food here. That's for you Russ. I have been loving Captains all of my life, first in Houston, like 30 years -- then here in Austin for 3 - and I am picky about seafood. Growing up on the gulf coast this close to Louisiana has given me the right to pick and choose what is good. Now mind you I haven't had everything on the menu, I'm not a big fan of catfish unless it's perfect, can't speak of everything. But I can tell you that the stuffed jalapeños and bacon wrapped shrimp, shrimp Diablo, (crab claws -- oysters scallops)...keep me coming back once or twice or more, a week, every week of my life, unless I'm traveling! (which Is a lot as my job requires it.). Been coast to coast, up and down -- next to LA, Texas has the best seafood - and this is a tasty affordable place to get some.... The service is nice, the place can be rowdy in "the boat" but hey, they are just excited to be eating delicious seafood. Want something a little fancier or more options on the menu, can't go wrong with Pappadeaux--otherwise, give it a shot and enjoy some Captains! read more

First of all I don't live in Austin I was just in town on business so I'm not a regular. I had a taste for catfish and this was close to my hotel so I thought I'd try it even though the reviews weren't great. I sat at the bar and the service was great which is why they get 2 stars. A regular sitting next to me heard me tell the bartender I wanted catfish so he advise me to be careful because they will serve you Swai. So when I ordered I was very clear I wanted catfish and he even said it was farm raised catfish. Well... it wasn't they served me Swai. I am well aware they know it because of the change in demeanor and the cooks that are near the bar preparing food even looked at me funny to see if if I noticed. I didn't say anything I just figured the best way to address it is to do a review and now I see why the reviews are not good. I would not recommend this place because they don't serve what they are suppose to and that's just dishonest in my opinion. read more