FOOD: The bread was delicious, and overall we really enjoyed our food! Our only complaint was the lump crab topping we added to our fish. Unfortunately, there were quite a few shells mixed in that we had to pick out, which made it a little frustrating and less enjoyable to eat. SERVICE: The service was excellent! Our server was super cool, gave us great recommendations, and was very patient with our larger party. They were pretty busy, but he still made sure we were taken care of and made our experience great! AMBIENCE: We came here for my father's birthday, and making reservations online beforehand was super easy. The inside is so cool and has a very upscale feel. We loved learning about the history of the building and restaurant, and with all of the pieces and decor on the walls, it almost feels like a museum. Definitely take a few minutes to walk around and look at everything while you're there! read more

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Went back with the wife as we were on a small vacation in the island. Service - 5 stars Ambiance - 5 stars Food - 4 stars Service and ambiance were as excellent as always. The food was much better this time. I will be back and it is recommended. I wish them the best, and they have been there a long time. read more

My normal modus operandi is to use the overall Yelp rating as a benchmark for my choice but I rarely read the reviews. On this one though, given the "local institution" the restaurant is, I chose to read some comments because the rating seemed lower than the reputation would imply. The service was methodical but underwhelming. The fried seafood platter was edible and bland. My ladies had the crab stuffed shrimp and the blackened redfish and they both rated theirs above my rating for my plate. Sadly, underwhelming, especially when considering the price. read more

Gaido's on the Seawall was highly recommended to me by several of the locals I met while on my trip and it truly did not disappoint. If you can only visit one restaurant on the island, I would highly recommend dressing up and stopping by Gaido's. The serving sizes were large, the drinks were strong, and the service was amazing. We ordered the locally caught crab cake, brooks gumbo, crawfish asiago, and seafood pasta. Each dish was just as flavorful as the last. Even the complimentary bread was a tasty addition! read more

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We came in a day early before our cruise and stopped in here for dinner. We did make reservations ahead of time. I would recommend that since this place was packed. Our server was Donovan, he was very friendly and attentive. He did a great job. To start we had the shrimp cocktail and we had a half dozen oysters. Both were very delicious. The vinegar that came along with the oysters was phenomenal. For dinner, we both had the shrimp I had it grilled my husband had fried shrimp. We both enjoyed our dinners and I think the best part of the evening was the bread pudding for dessert. I think it might've been the best bread pudding I've ever eaten in my life. I would definitely recommend coming here. We didn't have any issues with the service like other reviews had noted. The food was great. Flavors were on point. I would definitely come back here. read more

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This is a causal, family style favorite along the seawall. Service, food, and prices were good. Our party of eight meals came out together, hot, and liked by all. Highly recommended. read more

Gaido's - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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Lovely historic restaurant... Beautiful decorations, with historic elements abound in this gorgeous location right on the sea-wall!!! Good service, Geraldo was kind, courteous, efficient, and provided nice recommendations based on our ask. Hearing his growth from greeter to busser to bartender and server is such a great story, and one that shows a restaurant that cares about their people. The food however is a 2-Star at best! Expectations at this level are extremely high, and crunchy undercooked rice, seared tuna with no sear, and a burger without a toasted bun for my son... just doesn't cut it. They fixed the burger with adding a bit of cheese, but didn't replace the rice on my BLACKENED YELLOWFIN TUNA, unsure if the concern was escalated properly, as we were in a later seating. This place is basically a good deep fryer place, as the only people who truly loved their meals were my wife with the FAMOUS FRIED PLATTER and my younger son with the kids chicken nuggets... Even my meal where the fried potato wedges were the highlight and not the fish. To their credit, the portions are very good, and the TWO CHOCOLATE MOUSSE was divine.... I think the kids polished the glass to a radiant shine! It's unfortunate, as this had all the makings of an epic family night out... only to become a bit of a downer. read more

Gaido's - Seared yellow tuna - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

Such a great birthday celebration for me! Matt was awesome and really took care of us! I'm a die hard fan of Gaido's but I just have to acknowledge when there's good service. Love love love the food here! read more

Gaido's - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

I normally take photos of anything & everything but I DEVOURED it all before I could. I did take a photo of the beautiful Gulf! Service was slower (island time? lol) but it was quite alright with us since it was a holiday & nowhere to be! We are a younger family of 3 so it was time well spent not being at home. This was our first time to Gaido's, 468983479th time to Galveston. What a treat it was to not have any expectations! The seafood was beyond fresh tasting. The staff was friendly & patient. Highly recommend if you want local seafood & want to support local! :) read more

Gaido's - Gulf view from Gaido's :) - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

Food was fabulous. Server seemed liked she didn't know anything about the menu or drinks and just seemed unaware of anything. It's looks super fancy but there were people in shorts and others in dressy clothes. read more

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Serving amazing seafood since 1911. I always look forward to coming to Galveston and when I do I have to come eat at Gaidos. We enjoyed their herb bread and ordered the onion stack and gumbo for starters. I cannot say enough amazing things about their pecan crusted mahi-mahi. They have many toppings that can be added, but I love the beurre blanc sauce with shrimp or crab. My mom loved the shrimp stuffed with crab cakes and my hubby had the shrimp and grits. Dining is like walking back in time with a white tablecloths and music from the 40s 50s and even some current Jazz. I wish I could tell you about the many different desserts that they offer but I was just too full. They do have a full bar and extensive wine list. Gaidos is a piece of Texas history which must be experienced. read more

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The food was bland , the waiter was very polite and professional. But, for me I will not come back..... read more

This place is a true establishment. The service is four star all the way from the time you walk in until the time you leave. Excellent! I love the old world feel and the vintage pictures on the wall that tell the story of the island. The food is good. I love the homemade salad dressings. The steak was good and sides were plenty to share. The only true disappointment was the gumbo which had small frozen shrimp and gummy rice. Everything else was on point! It is a great location to celebrate rate a special event. read more

Gaido's - Blackened shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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This is absolute dog poo I would rather rip my eyes out and squeeze a lemon in my eye sockets than eat here one more time

First off - since 1911 - the heritage alone = a must try. Nice spot with views of the Gulf. While dated (one might think) - it just adds to the charm and experience from my perspective. Our granddaughter on the other-hand - (9) - exclaimed upon walking in that she thought she was on the Titanic ; ) I found the wood finishes and vintage photos rich and nicely done. Granddaughter thoroughly loved her oysters for dinner and our grandsons raved about their dishes too. My wife and I shared the Gulf Shrimp and Catfish platters - both fresh and fried to perfection. Appetizers of fried crab fingers and the lump crab meat with avocado had us from the start along with the starter bread - which one could eat their weight in - so pace yourself - wonderfully delicious. Pleasant attentive staff and hostesses. Highly recommend you enjoy this Galveston landmark ! read more

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If you're ever visiting Galveston, I highly recommend a visit to Gaido's! They've been around since 1911 and still going strong. My experience here at Gaido's was what makes me want to come back over and over again. From service to food, to the overall experience. You're greeted with soft complimentary bread and olive oil in herbs. Love a good soft bread that can soak up herb-y olive oil goodness. They have an excellent menu with fresh and hot seafood dishes that make you want to come back. Spinach and Crab dip - whoa. I loved this dip so much. I'm a huge fan of spinach dip, and when it's fresh, its even better. There were huge chunks of crab meat that just made it worth the money. They did not skimp out. Chargrilled oysters - I've never had a chargrilled oyster to the point where I wanted to drink out of the shell. These oysters are a must have. They sitting in a sizzle bubble of butter, filled with garlic, herbs, and Parmesan. I literally drank it up. Redfish on the halfshell - I was persuaded to get this dish and I'm so glad I did. The redfish is so tender, the flavors they had were out of this world. I'm now a huge fan of redfish on the half shell. Once you've had it good, you don't go back. Peach bellini - I'm not much a drinker but I loved this drink so much. It as peachy, frozen, and delectable Mojito - Refreshing, not to strong, just a perfect drink Pecan Pie - look I do not like pecan pie, but I felt compelled to get it. Even the server highly recommend pecan pie. The moment I took my first bite, I was shocked. It was soft, It was sponge-like, I even said out lout "This is the best pecan pie I've ever had and I don't even like Pecan Pie." I think about it often too. Experience at Gaido's is a special one and I highly recommend making reservations. read more

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We have been told by many people that you have to try Gaidos. But, many people have also said it's a tourist trap. Well we did and it was sub par at best. The shrimp bisque was so horrible I couldn't eat it. It actually tasted like thick horrible tomato soup. The crab cake was so full of shell plus the sauce on top was just sour and nasty. Husband had the special red fish. He could hardly eat it, too char grilled and mushy. The a-gratin potatoes were sub par at best. We could tell they weren't "real" potatoes. Everything came out so fast that honestly it wasn't hot but just luke warm. The waiter wasn't that great either. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND FIND A BETTER PLACE!! read more

Gaido's - Jumbo crab cake, shrimp bisque, bread w olive oil and herbs, a-gratin potatoes, special for the night red fish. - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

In 2013, I swore I would never return to Gaido's. Seems in that time I've softened a bit and while in Galveston decided to give them a second chance. After all, one of the best appetizers I've ever had came from this kitchen. This time the restaurant is fully staffed as we arrive just after before noon. Don't know if there are still issues between lunch and dinner service. Greeted in a timely manner, I immediately order the Crabmeat Cheesecake. I had a similar dish in NOLA awhile back that didn't compare to Gaido's version. And, it seems looking back a photo comparison this is an improved version. Every bite savored even chewed a bit slower for the pleasure of this sweet and savory dish. Didn't have a big plan for the rest of the meal but she had the Calamari and a small salad with Ranch. I kept the Crabmeat menu going with the Shrimp Stuffed option. Perhaps my only complaint was lack of side options. I realize this is an old school restaurant but Parmesan topped Tomatoes, Steamed Asparagus (had it the day before), and tater wedges didn't exactly excite. But, there wasn't Rice Pilaf (boring) so there's that. I actually drove all the way over from Austin area to eat at another restaurant. Don't know why I exactly switched up my plan but I'm glad I gave Gaido's a shot at redemption. Congratulations on your recent James Beard win for American Classics. read more

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My shrimp salad was great. The Chicken Parmesan I had was on the salty side. My two friends enjoyed their fish dishes. Servers were great but it did take a while for the main dishes to come out. Large windows that provide a great view of the sea. Not sure if I'd come again, prices were steep. read more

What a gem. The Red snapper was so fresh and the lump crab topper was delicious. Try their Lemon Radberry Martini...so good. Sinatra music playing so nice. Service was outstanding. This place is a must visit when on Galveston island. read more

Gaido's - Red snapper - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

1/3/2026: Very pleased with our dining experience. Victor was a wonderful waiter. The portions are large enough to split. The decor is steeped with history of the Gaido family. The restaurant was clean. The linen tablecloths make it feel even more fancy. We were dressed in business casual attire, but others came in wearing shorts. As we are having a very warm "winter" here in the south, I think shorts and flipflops work anywhere, especially a beachside restaurant. My friend and I split the crab avocado appetizer and then we split the grilled shrimp entree. Everything was wonderful! We had a party of 4 in our group. In all my travels to Galveston, I cannot believe I have never been to Gaido's. What a treat! It's funny.. I've been to their gift shop located in the restaurant but this was first time eating at said restaurant. Kind of backwards. Ha! The gift shop is really nice, so don't forget to stop in there after or before dining. read more

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I have come here once i was a child and always had so many memories of the food and the service. We arrived a little early for our reservation but they sat us early. Tables set just like i remembered and my son loved having his own water in a wine glass. We got the famous bread and herbs in oil. We ordered my son the grilled chicken and it came with rice and fruit. They sent out salmon at first on accident but it didn't bother us because they let us keep it. My pecan crusted fish was so good. They said Mahi was not available - out of season maybe? So i got the snapper. It doesn't come with sides so we ordered the baked potato which was big enough to my husband and I and they stuffed it full of toppings. The only thing that disappointed me was no lemon water at the end. I asked our server about it because i wanted my son to have the same experience i had as a kid and she said they still do it but our table was in a far back section and its way up by the front. I'm sure she could tell i was disappointed but didn't offer to do it either. Not enough to change the 5 star rating i assume it was just a one off and it won't change us coming just thought management might want to know. read more

Gaido's - Pecan crusted Snapper - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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My wife and I had a reservation from OpenTable. Of course the restaurant was selected for fine dining, it's historical significance and location. Price was not a consideration for our date night. Problem number one was there was no oil for the bread, then we were asked if we wanted any rather than them kindly bringing it out for us. We would need the bread because with a reservation it took over an hour for the food to come out. After taking a ten minute walk to the seawall, the wine had finally arrived, ridiculously priced. By the time the food came out, it was nothing you could find any place else. My wife ordered the sampler platter, and it was bland and frankly just not very good. It came with a large portion of rice, I guess the wanted to fill you up on rice. I just ordered a Greek salad and a dozen grilled oysters, after asking for Oysters Rockefeller, they said they didn't have but it was quite identical. Yes, it was the off season but it was horrible. They delivery boy even failed to bring a fork for the oysters. Again, this is after waiting for an hour and $164.00 later, it was far from what I had expected at that price point. I don't like to leave "bad" reviews, but this is a matter of fact. It should have so much better. I would have picked the San Luis. read more

Classic Galveston restaurant. Entrance had a funky smell but the rest of the restaurant was clean and didn't have that issue. We had the crab spinach dip, raw oysters, wedge salad, stuffed shrimp, and the kids pasta. The oysters were the best we've had in a long time and from many places and travels. The kids loved the pasta and cleared their plates. Our waitress was a gem (Devin?) the service was spectacular! Definitely recommend! read more

Gaidos is old school cool! We came here to celebrate my birthday dinner, and we both ordered from the Restaurant Week menu. We started of with calamari and it was lightly breaded and delicious. For dinner, we had gumbo for an appetizer and it was delicious. He had the bacon-wrapped shrimp, and I had blackened Mahi Mahi with crawfish topping. Yum! Our server Darryl took great care of us, too. He paced the meal just right so we had a lovely evening. read more

Gaido's - Pecan pie à la mode - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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Historic. Classy. Oldest continuously operating restaurant in Galveston, started in 1911. Current building isn't quite that old but pre-World. War II, 1936 vintage. The dining here is more of an old school experience, and expect it to take time. The bread they bring out before the appetizers is delicious. The waiters are in starched white shirts with ties and black vests. surf and turf, seafood steaks and a couple of pasta dishes. The onion stack appetizer was universally praised as the way onion rings should be, with a spicy horseradish sauce. The Gumbo was fine but had a lot of cooked celery... my wife thought that was heavenly. The mains were outstanding. I had to adjust my pallet to the shrimp and grits with copious amounts of blue cheese and roasted zuchinni, reflecting the blend of German and Italian heritage. The pecan crusted Mahi Mahi was unique. This place is not Sea Galley, it is a chef's zone. pricey but worth it. read more

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Delicious quiet lunch for two on Friday afternoon at 12:30. They accepted reservations. The spacious dining room was light and bright. We enjoyed great service from our server, Christa. She explained the menu specials and what Gaido's is known for in their fresh signature crabs too. The cocktail shrimp was fresh and crab-cake a hearty entree. The lump crab asiago sauce over blackened halibut over rice with asparagus was as delicious as Christa described. The fresh baked bread and herbs with olive oil topped our meal. The dessert menu was tempting with many choibut we were too full to order any this time. We look forward to coming back again. read more

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Ambience was nice, server (Jamie) was pleasant and attentive. However, the food was not the "Wow" factor we have experienced in the past. We started with the Crab Cheesecake, which was very tasty however, we felt the Creole meunière was a tad heavy and overpowered the crab flavors. I ordered the combination, grilled seafood platter, substituting with mahi-mahi and asparagus. The platter was good, but nothing more exceptional than I've experienced in other restaurants for less cost. (I will say the mahi-mahi was phenomenal, but the portion was small.) My husband ordered the fried shrimp platter and same as the previous comment. Gaido's is where we ate on our honeymoon and has always been a special place for us to visit, as it is two hours away from our home. We were a little disappointed on this trip, however, we are excited to try their sister company Nick's right next-door on our next visit to Galveston. Gaido's will always hold a special place in our hearts however, this visit was not our most memorable one. read more

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What everyone else said. You're here for the vibe and I'm still glad we came through for a historic staple, but all food was simply mid :/ read more

Gaido's - Red SNAPPER - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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The food, the ambiance, the staff that seem to care deeply for the place and people they serve, all brought forth a memorable experience for me. I had the swordfish over a rice dish that was so good. A gin cocktail that tasted great with a Jazzed Cocktail constructed of crab and shrimp, so good. I finished with a great tasting cappuccino. REAL FOOD. read more

Small portions, not that good, three times as expensive as I remember. This used to be a great restaurant. Maybe Covid killed it. Not sure. Won't be back. Sorry read more

Great spot to grab seafood. Had a large party, so had a later reservation (8:45pm). We were sat by 9. Waiter, Alex, was super friendly & knowledgeable about the menu. He had great suggestions. Service was a bit slower than anticipated, so don't expect to get in and out super quick. Calamari was fabulous and the shrimp (grilled) platter! Can't leave out the complimentary bread - sooo good!) Also tried the tuna tartare - it was just okay. If you find that you saved room for dessert - can't go wrong with the cheesecake or crème brûlée ! You could definitely split them with someone. read more

Gaido's - House Made Cheesecake - definitely a shareable slice - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

My husband and I just visited Gaidos for lunch. The place is so beautiful inside, impressive; with lovely music, and great service. We had some complimentary bread, that's always nice. We started with some parmesan oysters, they serve 6 for $20, a little expensive but I would order them again, they were that good. Then we had the jumbo crab cake, with beurre blanc, the crab cake was good, but I've had better, the sauce wasn't good. Then we had the American Red snapper Michael, with a side of parm tomatoes. This dish was a total bummer, it was mushy, and felt like pre frozen, out of a bag. The tomatoes nothing special really. It was a good experience, but they need to make a few changes. I don't care paying $$$ but the quality and presentation are everything, and this was just disappointing. read more

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We had reservations here at 7:30 tonight. Food was good but the service was very very slow. We spent an hour waiting on food. Total time was an hour and half. Don't go here unless you want to spend the whole evening here. read more

Once again.. Eat Like a Local and Chris Shepherd come through with this gem!! Might be the best seafood experience I've had since moving here 4 years ago. The atmosphere is formal..but the staff is relaxed and really make you feel welcome! The food..amazing Home run of the meal..Crab Cheese cake ..so inventive and savory..definitely a shareable appetizer! Crab ceviche was great..could have used a touch more acid..but that's nitpicking! Grill seafood platter was phenomenal..all the fish was well cooked and flavorful read more

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I was having lunch with my wife, service is terrible the server was rude and no customer service skills , terrible education manners, the food poor quality and terrible, after 10years being a loyal customer never again quality and service is gone all management team they dont care and respond to my complain specific Nancy at Human Resources and management team after several call they dont returned a phone call read more

Overall a great experience. The restaurant is massive! Went on a Wednesday for my mom's birthday and had a red snapper that was one of their catch of the day items. I like the history of the place and the historical images all over the restaurant. They have a cool gift shop at the front too. Our waiter was pretty solid too. He even hooked my mom up with a dessert of her choice for her birthday which was a nice touch. Overall a great place to celebrate a birthday. The place was full of families enjoying a nice quiet dinner. Definitely come give his place a shot if you want some of the freshest seafood in TX. read more

Great food and service. We loved the upscale vibe and all the pictures from the last 115 years on the walls. I ordered the Shrimp and grits. I've never had blue cheese grits before, and they were delicious. 5 grilled large shrimp with some roasted vegetables and a chipotle drizzle (not spicy at all). My husband ordered the crab cake stuffed shrimp. 5 jumbo shrimp each stuffed with crab and a side of asparagus. Great meal and atmosphere. read more

Gaido's - Crab stuffed jumbo shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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Absolutely Superb!! I consider myself a foodie and have eaten at amazing restaurants in my 46 years, but this was by far the best dining experience I have ever had. We had a reservation at 7:00 pm, but arrived at 6:20 pm and we were immediately seated, our server, Larry, was so nice and made us feel at home. My husband order oysters for an appetizer and it came with cocktail sauce, a red onion sauce, and horseradish, he said the cocktail sauce was the best he has ever had. They also brought us warm bread with olive oil, the bread is made fresh daily and it was delicious. For dinner my youngest daughter ordered chicken Parmesan, my oldest daughter ordered oyster, and shrimp stuffing balls, I ordered the shrimp and blue cheese grits, and my husband ordered soft shell crab with asparagus. Everyone absolutely loved their food, the shrimp and grits were sweet and creamy, I will be dreaming about this dish until the next time I visit Galveston. For dessert we split the chocolate brownie cake and the white chocolate cake, both were delicious, my family loved the raspberry sauce on the white chocolate cake, and the brownie chocolate cake was served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Larry, our server was so kind and talked to my daughters and husband about he became a waiter at Gaido's and about the history of Giado's. He was so kind and answered all of our questions. The restaurant was also beautiful and we loved our table overlooking the beach at sunset. As I said it was N absolutely superb dining experience. read more

Seafood pasta was great but the tuna tartar and crab cake were disappointing. Service was extremely slow. Slightly disappointed as it was my boyfriend's birthday and the first night of our vacation. Very expensive as well for what we got. read more

Gaido's - Bread budding - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas