Great food, amazing service. We love to stop in for drinks and desserts (my favorite part of their menu). Great bartenders (we love Alex)! Love the vibes read more

Caracol - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ambience is very nice and clean and modern. Service was good kind of hard to get our servers attention at times. Not pictured are the drinks which were amazing. My favorite was the coco rita. The ribs and the crab fried rice were the best thing I ate. read more

Caracol - Guacamole, Salsa y Totopos - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Very good food and nice staff. We had the fish and octopus, mole special and it was great. Advertised as spicy but it was spiced/well seasoned mostly. Well cooked. Just good. The octopus and shrimp ceviche (ceviche caracol) starter was good but needed acid. I asked for limes and when I added that to it it was great. The cocktails are good. The melon strawberry agua fresca was so so good. Our sister was nice and attentive. The water refills from staff were on point. Nice patio. Cute upscale, ambiance $30-$45 ish dishes. Overall, I liked our dishes and I would return to try others. read more

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I came here for happy hour a few days ago. The parking options are valet or parking garage. The restaurant itself has a cool ambiance in the bar area. You can also sit on the patio for those vibes. The food happy hour menu was okay. My favorite was the brisket sliders but I ask for no beans. I also tried the tacos from the happy hour menu which I didn't like. The drinks from the happy hour menu are a hit or miss. I tried the porque no margarita and it was very tart. I ordered an extra shot to add some kick. The spicy pineapple Paloma was delicious. It has a mix of sweet and spicy but in a good way. I also tried The Greatest Margarita which was $32. This margarita was a hit! Lastly, the kids churro with a side of ice cream was delicious! The service was okay. Our waiter didn't have much of a personality. read more

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I went for hh and I would go back. Just make sure you're not looking for your typical Tex- Mexican food. The drinks are great on the regular menu, but not as strong on the hh menu. I had the porque and the Paloma. The porque was super tart and I wouldn't recommend. The Paloma was a really good blend of spicy and sweet. But the regular menu mezcal margarita is my fave! The sliders are tasty, you can't tell is brisket, but be aware they have beans on them. The ribs were ok, very tender. The quesadilla are made with corn, not flour - very ok. I do like the seafood toastadas. Last but not least, they have a children's size churro. And I here they're delicious I always sit at the bar and get good service. The ambiance can be a little stuffy and I definitely wouldn't come in there if I'm looking busted. It's fine dining, but you don't have to be super dressy. I usually see a lot of business professionals read more

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This was HRW stop #7 for me. One of the best stops so far. We had a reservation for 6:30 but can a little early to enjoy happy hour. We sat at the bar for happy hour. Bartenders were very welcoming and explained the drink menu and offered suggestions. Once it was 6:30 we moved to our table with no trouble. The waiter kept the great service going walking us thru the different menu options and add ins available. This HRW menu is four courses and is preset. You do have a drink pairing add on option with each menu. I picked the Nuestro Estilo menu. The first course was Sope de Camote a crispy masa cake, sweet potato, queso fresco, crema, salsa macha. Many different textures going on at the same time. Lots of flavor and the perfect size for an appetizer. The next course was the Tiradito de Medregal which was sliced yellowtail ceviche, cucumber, roasted jalapeño, lime juice, mint. This dish was very refreshing. The flavor didn't pop as much as I was expecting. Not something I would order again. The third course was the main dish and was the Costillas de Puerco. This was boneless pork ribs, scalloped potatoes, mole costeño, greens. The meat was so tender and juicy. The scalloped potatoes were cooked perfectly. They had that crispy crust and soft inside. The greens soaked up all the amazing flavor from the pork ribs. Definitely something I would get again! Finally was desert. The coco ball, that's probably not the right name lol. So many jokes went around the table about this desert. If you don't know it's a chocolate ball that comes with a wooden mallet. You use the mallet to break the ball to reveal the creaming inside. You get an idea of the jokes at the table. Four grown men acting like 13 year olds lol. Overall it was a great experience and plan on coming back. read more

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I visited Caracol for the first time last week to celebrate Houston Restaurant Weeks. It was easy to make reservations several days before for our party of 6 and I liked the automatic reminder text system the morning of the meal. Parking is either complimentary valet or the attached parking garage which Caracol will validate for. From the HRW dinner menu ($55), I went with the seafood menu and chose the oysters for my first followed by fish tamal for the second course. The shrimp on rice was the third course with the lychee and raspberry mousse cake for dessert. Each course was professionally presented to me and my table mates in a timely manner. Those three oysters on the half shell made me wish I ordered a dozen. They left me wanting more being wood roasted in chipotle butter, cheese and toasted bread crumbs. Oh my! The fish tamal was served in an amarillo mole sauce and was so smooth and satisfying. I would have liked a larger serving. The third course was the sautéed shrimp in garlic sauce sitting on a bed of creamy corn bomba rice. I believe there were 4 shrimp on the plate and each one with the rice were delicious. Finally, while the dessert was small, the lychee and raspberry mousse cake with some white chocolate and cream made for a sweet ending. During the meal, I quickly realized the quality of a dining experience at Caracol. Prices here are above average and attract an upscale crowd. The food was delicious, the table service professional and a restaurant I would be happy to return to. read more

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Best Sunday brunch in Houston! We accidentally stumbled into it years ago during HRW. When we arrived, they only offered brunch rather than the HRW menu so we went for it. It offers high quality and delicious Mexican dishes. Tamales, Chile poblano, soup, ceviche, famous baked fish, mouth watering beef cheeks mole, fish collar, eat all you can oysters and a host of desserts including churros, tres leches, flan, macaroons and much much more. If you get lucky, they may serve lamb chops when dishes run out. Brunch include drinks (soda, ice tea). I always roll out of there. :-). Place is high end casual. Nice art pieces on the walls. Free valet parking. You can self park and your ticket validated. Service is always fantastic... they take away your plates promptly when you stand up for another round and fix your napkin. Price is reasonable ($42) considering the selection and quality of food being offered. read more

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I'm sad I've gone this long without reviewing caracol. This is one of my wife and I's favorite date spots. The Happy Hour is good value and the oysters are great. Honestly... I couldn't tell you if the entrees are good. But we've had almost all of the appetizers and I don't think there's one we haven't loved. We eat Tapas style when we go because they're all so good. Taquitos, ceviche, grilled oysters, all of it is amazing. This reminds me that I need to go soon... read more

So, PSA, why is no one talking about Caracol's Sunday brunch?! After my first visit, Caracol has slowly crawled it's way into my top 5 Mexican restaurants in Greater Houston (and being surrounded by Tex Mex and Mexican cuisine options, that says a lot). Thus far I've visited for a set menu Mother's Day brunch, dinner service, and most recently, their Sunday brunch buffet. Sunday brunch is offered at $42 per person ($15 for children), and for that price you receive live music, a beverage, and (of course) unlimited trips to enjoy some impressive James Beard award winning yum yums. To be fair, if you're a buffet enthusiast, you'll see a few of the usual fare. *The plates are modest in size *There are plenty of lower ticket items to fill up on (a few salads, lots of appetizers, guac, salsa, hot chocolate, and oh so many desserts) *the high ticket item selection was limited- fresh oysters and oyster shooters, a small scallop dish, ceviche, a few items with pork and 1-2 beef items (but high end cuts were not featured). So, why am I so jazzed about this buffet? The experience was perfectly choreographed. The waiters consistently removed and replaced plates and silverware. Waiters and waitresses waltzed the floor in pristine uniforms ensuring everyone was satisfied, everything remained fresh, and clean... no detail was missed, and above all, we were not rushed, but instead encouraged to enjoy each others company, and take the time to savor our meal. Although the high ticket items were limited, this buffet made it easy for attendees to try new foods by emphasizing familiar preparation for uncommon offerings, and elevating the conventional- familiar with beef cheek? Try it with OUR fresh homemade tortillas and freshly made habanero hot sauce, or mix it up with a few of our other offerings. Like fish? We're offering it in 4 different ways that may not cross your mind. Plus, everything, and I mean everything we had was elevated and delicious (even the complimentary birthday bread pudding, and I don't eat bread pudding)? Overall, if you love to sample, and you're a pinky's up kind of human, know that this is not your average buffet, and it's certainly worth a try! read more

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Great, service, lively atmosphere as well as great food. Good variety menu and very easy to go outside your comfort zone and try something you haven't tried before. It was a great experience. We will definitely be back. read more

I've been here multiple times to celebrate special occasions with my family. Food quality and flavor, freshness, have always been excellent. Only the raw clams from the brunch buffet were a bit fishy, but aside from that, I've never had anything bad here! read more

I have liked Caracol on previous visits, but of the four Hugo Ortega restaurants in town that I've visited at least a few times, this one consistently gives you the least amount of food. It's like they're determined to skinnify the Houston population. Thanks? Drinks here, like other restaurants in the group, are delicious and pull their weight. Their palomas are weak, but palomas are supposed to be weak, er, refreshing. Their peach margarita is both refreshing and punchy, pun unintended (read: not like fruit punchy, just decently strong). Let's talk about this year's Restaurant Week menu. I do feel a little catfished because their menu on the Restaurant Week website shows the pairings but doesn't mention additional cost. Obviously they would charge extra - but surely they would mention that, no? No, no, they didn't mention it anywhere. And in case you're wondering, it's $32 additional for the pairing, which is about the price of two and a third cocktails at Caracol. My friend and I both got the middle course - Entre Las Ondas, or the seafood selection - because of the oysters, and because the left course's main was pork ribs (not really worth it for a $55 dinner in my opinion). And while the presentation is beautiful and I'm sure the ingredients fresh and top quality, that's unfortunately my main impression of this summer's Restaurant Week menu at Caracol: Not worth it. The most enjoyable part of the food and drink was the margarita (not pictured) with the oysters second in tow (although... do you see how tiny one of my oysters was?). The dessert had a weird undertone to it. As for the service - I have to say the hostess made me raise an eyebrow. I walked in, and she didn't acknowledge me for a full thirty seconds. She wasn't on the phone, there was no one in front of me or near me, and she couldn't bother to smile or say, I'll be right with you. Just flat-face, unwanting to be there. Bad first impression for the night. That said, the waitstaff is excellent. Our waiter was particularly classy. In summary, I would say: 1 star for the hostess, but 5 stars for our waiter; 3 stars for the food and 5 stars for the drinks, and that averages to be 4 stars for a $193 dinner for two people with 3 drinks after tax/tip. Free garage parking with a validated ticket. read more

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I had the pleasure of dining at Caracol during Restaurant Week, and it was an ok experience! The ambiance was lively and vibrant, setting the perfect tone for a girls lunch. I was happy to see they were also baby friendly. The Restaurant Week menu offered a great selection of dishes that showcased the best of Caracol's cuisine. Props to the chef. We liked the food. We started with the ceviche, empanadas, fish tacos, and tuna which was fresh and bursting with flavor--a true highlight of the meal. For the main course, I opted for the elote soup, chili relleno and steak which was cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. The accompanying sides complemented the dish wonderfully, adding depth and texture to the plate. The dessert was a delightful ending to the meal--a decadent and rich tres leches cake that was just sweet enough without being overwhelming and the chocolate ball was fun but not edible. Service was friendly but sketchy. The waiter gave us free items in hopes of a big tip! They also Forgot our oysters we ordered. Other than the weird service Caracol made Restaurant Week special, offering an outstanding food experience. read more

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Our server, Jose (sp?) delivers care and service beyond expectations. We felt special when the manager, Humberto, came by to show his appreciation and he even shook and poured my margarita! Wonderful evening for both of us. read more

The wood grilled makes the food taste amazing, Luis did awesome service and the place is beautiful, music was at perfect level, I will visit again read more

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Absolutely fell in love with Caracol. We decided to give it a try for date night and we are so happy it did not disappoint. It is a bit pricey but we thought it was worth it. Although the food portions seemed a tad "small", we were all satisfied at the end of dinner. Ambiance was nice. Busy Saturday night but our server was very attentive. They constantly worked on cleaning our table as well as refilling our water. For appetizers we got guacamole as well as Ostiones Asados. They were so freaking good. The chips that came with the guac, also very good and tasted very fresh. They were also sweet enough to make two little tacos out of the lobster taco they offer and it was amazing. The tortilla was also great, can def tell it was homemade. Although I can't remember the exact names, we ordered the whiskey sour, ranch water, mezcal drink as well as 2 different margaritas and no one had anything negative to say. Entrees we're delicious!! Desserts were wonderful! All in all, we'd be more than happy to go back. Thanks Caracol for a great dinner. read more

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We came in at 6 (had reserved ahead of time), so we had the option of ordering from the happy hour menu. Our server was really nice and checked in on us frequently. It wasn't loud/noisy for the time, so it wasn't hard for me to engage in & understand conversation. We got the Ceviche Trio from the happy hour menu (tortilla chips w/ snapper ceviche, traditional ceviche, and shrimp ceviche) and the Pulpo Ahumado (smoked octopus w/ corn tortillas) as appetizers. The octopus was amazing and the ceviche was refreshing and delicious. I got the Mariscos al Ajillo as my entree and my dining partner had the Robalo con Mole Amarillo, both of which were really good. The salsa verde on my entree complemented the seafood perfectly. For dessert, we got the famous El Coco (a coconut-chocolate ball). We expected it to be 'heavy,' but it was much lighter than what we anticipated and left us feeling very fulfilled. Delicious food and great service! read more

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We just ate the Sunday brunch buffet during Valentine's Day weekend and it was delicious. The barbacoa, guacamole and homemade tortillas were my favorite but everything I tried was good. I'm not a big dessert person but they had an impressive dessert section. Service was excellent. Definitely recommend trying the Sunday brunch buffet. read more

Outstanding service and food quality. The atmosphere was extremely welcoming. The camarón con crema plate was exceptional

Friendly service, happy hour is the bomb! Classic mojito $8! It's light and refreshing. We ordered a lot (maybe a bit too much, I blame "happy hour") we had Baked Oysters, Ceviche De Chile Canario, Crispy Rolled Pork Tacos, Oyster Shooters and more. We love PULPO AHUMADO, we ordered it twice! The octopus was really tender, the corn tortilla was soft, warm and flavorful. My partner and I were fighting over the sauce, it was smoking with a small kick. Be careful with the oyster shots, it's pretty spicy. The only thing that I will skip in my next visit is the crispy rolled pork tacos. Sorry... other than that, I'll definitely come back for the food and the service. read more

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This review is for their Sunday brunch. My family was in town in Houston for the week during New Years and we wanted to start off the year right. So on 1/1 we made brunch reservations at 12:30pm for 4. We arrived at 12 and they were able to sit us right away. I love that they offer handbag holders so we didn't have to put our handbags on our chairs or on the ground. The brunch buffet was amazing. They had a huge variety of seafood and Mexican food. My family loved their raw seafood bar which included oyster shooters and raw oysters. We also loved their ceviches, tamales, chilaquiles, and eggs Benedict on top of a corn bread. But honestly everything was so good, done right, and full of flavor. My parents absolutely loved it. Even their desserts were good. I love that they offer Mexican hot chocolate which was delicious. For desserts, there were scones, chocolate truffles, mexican flan, tres leche and sweet fresh fruit. We were all very happy. We paid about $200 for 4 people. We thought pricing was pretty fair. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful. Service was excellent. We got a smaller table for us 4 but they were really good about clearing our tables and getting whatever we needed. My husband wanted fresh made eggs and they made sure to cook some just for him. They also noticed my birthday we a few days ago and got me some ice cream with strawberries. It was nice. Parking is valet or your can park in the structure and get it validated. read more

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Great place for a brunch or lunch with friends. The place is chic, quiet atmosphere and lots of light! Love it! Food was very good and lots of gluten free and vegetarian options. read more

Caracol - Zucchini tacos - gluten free. - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Returned to this location after couple of years with a positive attitude, but this time the food wasn't as fresh as expected (the lobster). Tried the recommended dishes. The desserts however were as good and creative as I remembered, saved the day! The staff and ambience were ok. read more

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I thought the food here was overall fantastic. We starred with the ribs, octopus and chorizo tacos, and the oysters. The oysters were hands down my favorite of the three with the ribs coming in a close second. The oysters had a nice crunch on top that took away from the sliminess of the oysters. The ribs were fall apart good. I was glad that the sauce was on the side because a little bit went a long way. I liked the octopus more than I thought I would. It wasn't chewy at all. It was definitely some of the best octopus I've had. For a main dish, I had the creamy shrimp and lobster. This dish was amazing! The shrimp were cooked perfectly and paired great with the creamy rice. I could eat it all day long! For dessert, we had the chocolate ball (I never saw the name of the dish and I didn't order it. My friend did.) It really wouldn't have been my pick as I'm not a huge fan of coffee flavor. But it was good for what it was. It was very rich and I was stuffed at this point, but I was able to have a few bites. For drinks, I had the sangria. While tasty, it didn't stand out to me. I would try a different drink next time! The hot chocolate was fantastic though. read more

Food, Service, Ambiance? Yes, yes & yes!!!!! From the chargrilled oysters, to the entre comprised of shrimp, clams, mussels, lobster, shrimp, scallops, and octopus, to the dessert and coffee; OUTSTANDING! read more

I took my fiance here for their Happy Hour during Latin food week and overall the experience was delightful. We got the quesadillas, mussels appetizer, Brussel sprouts, and the seafood platter which were all amazing. The seafood was extremely fresh and one of my favorites from around town. The Brussels were top notch as well with the seasoning that didn't drench the Brussels like some spots. The quesadillas were also a good bite but the squash is definitely an acquired taste. Overall food was 9/10 with the highlight being the extremely fresh seafood. Onto the drinks which were honestly lackluster. We ordered the Xochi margarita from their National Tequila Day menu and the Paloma and the La Mezcalita off the Happy Hour menu. All 3 drinks tasted underwhelming in terms of actual liquor taste (the mezcal notes were buried by their side ingredients and only slight smokiness was brought through) and featured very straight forward taste notes. For the description and list of ingredients we honestly expected more, especially as both with backgrounds (and taste palettes) in cocktails and bartending. Overall the drinks fell bland with us even returning one drink (their Rose wine sangria) and was an overall sour point to what was otherwise a beautiful vibe accompanied by good food. read more

Amazing food, sat at the bar had amazing service and drinks made by Kelly, great Ambiance, felt welcome to be eating in such a great place! read more

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I absolutely LOVED this restaurant. We had initially had reservations for a table but decided to sit at the bar. Happy Hour is an amazing deal. The bar staff is so friendly and offered great advice on what to order. My favorite was the ceviche, absolutely melt in your mouth and the pork ribs were too. Highly recommend this place for service, atmosphere, the works. And go during happy hour - you can't beat it. read more

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If you are hungry and do not like the wait than this is a great place to come . They have cover parking which is very convenient specially if it rains . There is good food, great music and excellent customer service read more

Caracol - Delicious , great service - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

Caracol is a place I will take people when I want to show what Mexican cuisine can be. The food is another level to be followed with service and smiles. Take your friend's food great food and drinks. Gracias read more

Caracol - Spicy margarita with oysters - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This was difficult to review. I'm torn between great food, drinks and great atmosphere vs not so great service overall. I would give 3 and a half stars if I could. At first look..The decor is beautiful and with a very nice atmosphere. Valet was also great. Very fast and friendly. We were seated quickly by the manager who was very nice to talk with. But...It took at least 10 minutes to get a server to the table (enough time to notice) and they weren't too busy for a Friday night, which surprised us. When she did come, she was very friendly and knowledgeable. She also never rushed us to order as we sat and talked. So that was all very positive. Where it goes down was after the order was placed. It was also strange that she wanted our entree order when we placed the appetizer order so I rushed to choose. I was 95% sure what I wanted and glad I ordered the stripped bass. It was very good. But she didn't ask if we wanted any sides and I hadn't gotten a chance to look over them, so I didn't think about it and missed out. The bigger issue we had. While waiting on our food to come, one of us spilled a drink, luckily most stayed on the table. But as their partner got up to clean the bit that got on him and some ice from the chair no one came over to help. Even a lady who was sitting by us offered napkins from their table to clean with. At this time 2 guests were standing wiping the table. We finally saw and flagged down our server. She was then trying to get the attention of two of the staff to help who were standing over by the wall talking. They could have easily seen that we needed assistance before our server got there if they were paying attention to the floor and not talking and laughing. They had been standing there a while just talking. I did feel bad for or server. Spilling your drink is always embarrassing, but having to clean it yourself because no one on the floor was paying attention, even while being flagged to help shouldn't happen. It was pretty obvious when two people were standing up wiping the table and chair. Finally the table was cleaned but there was no offer to replace the drink or dirty water nor was he asked if he wanted a new one. One of the glasses of water needed to be replaced which didn't happen until someone came around to refill our water. They actually tried to pour the fresh water in with cloudy water from the drink spill It was clear that something was not right with that glass of water. The drink that spilled was a white coconut pineapple drink (very good by the way) that spilled over the water glass. So it was very cloudy looking Weird that they didn't notice it. It should have been replaced right away though. Anyway.. moving on.., Our food comes out and everyone liked their choices. We had stripped bass, short rib, chicken enchiladas and the mixed seafood dish. All excellent! Like with everything I've ever had at all their restaurants the food was top quality and delicious. I did ask for some white rice when the food was delivered since I realized I never ordered a side. I just asked for rice thinking it would be a quick get. It never came. I kept looking for our server but we didn't see her for a while. I was disappointed. After getting home I went over the menu again realizing there were a couple sides I would have gotten if I had more time to look over the menu before ordering the entree. We also got churro's and hot chocolate to share for dessert. Oh So good!!! It's true Mexican hot chocolate but without the chili. It's made table-side. I highly recommend that! All the food was very tasty and beautifully presented as you would expect from this chef! If the service would have been as good, this would easily be 5 stars (as you can see most people give 5 stars, i was actually confident I would have a 5 star experience). I'm sure we will come back someday and I'm hoping I can give those 5 stars. The restaurant and chef both deserve that rating. If I could have broken it down by category I would given 5 for food, 3 for service and 5 for ambience. A little more attention to the floor and more visits or walk bys from service would have helped a lot. Do not let the 3 stars detour you at all. The place is very good overall with amazing food quality and creativity! I don't think the issue with service is common. Just not the best tonight. read more

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Beautiful bar, excellent food. Liked the layout and the woodwork. Food was great and good service.

Outstanding food! Delicious and tasteful. The octopus is one of the best I have had! The service was outstanding. Patricia our waitress was very knowledgeable and gave us excellent recommendations. The margarita with Mezcal and jalapeño was phenomenal!!! Must try this! read more

Caracol - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

I love a good Sunday brunch, especially it's only around $45 per person for unlimited food from the James Beard Award winning chef. I couldn't stop eating the raw oysters and roasted cauliflowers. The food was very good, live music was a nice touch, the ambiance was every relaxing. I would definitely come back. It is in the BBVA building with complimentary valet parking. read more

Caracol - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Yum! Elote soup delicious! Empanadas smaller than expected but interesting that the outside is made of plantains. Fish tacos could use more flavor and was a little tough. The brisket enchiladas were pretty yummy and had a kick. read more

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Amazing variety at the New Year Day Brunch! Their service is always good. Not sure if the New Year Day Brunch is still offered for 1/1/2026?

We've been to Caracol last night, the same group of people plus a messy baby, and everything was as excellent as the last time. I want to acknowledge the wonderfully attentive and helpful service, and thank everyone for accommodating our needs, such as preparing a non spicy guacamole for baby and grandma... Thanks everyone! read more

Went for restaurant week one year, I also hear they have a good brunch. Loved the ambiance and service! It was a great experience, valet parking available as well. Make reservations they get packed! read more

We are so happy we found this amazing brunch. We were supposed to go to their other restaurant, Hugo's, but Hugo's had power issues due to Hurricane Beryl. We've been to Hugo's before and loved it - but we agreed that we liked Caracol even better. The brunch buffet had everything we could possibly had wanted. A fantastic mix of raw bar, seafood, chicken, pork and beef - all with a Mexican flare. All the meats were tender and flavorful. The dessert bar was plentiful and delicious. Our service was impeccable. We can't wait to go back! read more