It has been a tradition for us to eat here every time we come to Galveston. Some traditions need to be broken. We started with the wedge which was swimming in average oily dressing. The fish Michael was a breaded piece of bland fish and the presentation was awful! My husbands tuna was average at best. We grill it so much better. All this for 80$ plus tip. Waste of hundred bucks!! read more

This is best seafood I've ever had!!!! Tried Grouper for the first time and it was delicious!!! My husband has the Swordfish and it was also delicious!!! If you're on Vacation in Galveston and want to eat an excellent meal, try this place out!! I only gave it 4 stars because the alcoholic beverages were a little pricy. read more

I have not visited Gaido's in over 20 years and since we were there celebrating we decided to splurge. They made it a point to express they were proudly in business for over 100 years. The exterior gives the unsuspecting guest no hint that this is a sophisticated dining experience. It is tastefully appointed with polished wooden walls and trim, sea-faring historical decor, leather chairs, white table cloths and large windows that give you the ambiance that you are dining with the Captain of an old ship. We arrived on a Friday around 5pm and were greeted and seated right away. The restaurant was nice and quiet at that time. We began our experience with drinks and an appetizer. My husband ordered a Bloody Mary and I decided on a glass of Riesling after consulting with the Sommelier. The wine list is extensive but very limited for a single glass. His Bloody Mary arrived in a rock glass filled with ice. It was the smallest one I have ever seen. Our waitress brought the wine in a tiny carafe and when she poured it into the wine glass, it filled it less than 1/3 full. Very disappointing. Right then I knew I would want another and was sorry I hadn't ordered a bottle instead. So I did. Our server, Bailley, was very sweet, efficient and cheerful. The bread was homemade, soft and tasty when dunked in the olive oil/spice blend. (We went through a loaf and a half by the time dinner was served.) She described a few appetizers and we asked if the Asparagus Michael was big enough to share. Her words: "Oh yes, it is huge!" When it arrived via another server, we were a bit taken aback. It was 7 slim asparagus, coated with a partially crispy coating and had one little dollop of crab flakes in a Beurre Blanc sauce - less than 2 tablespoons with sauce and crab. Almost totally devoid of crab. This is huge? I was hoping this was not a sign of things to come... Bailley returned to the table after we had finished it and was shocked to hear how it was served. She said she would speak to someone about it, but never mentioned it again. She advised us at that time that our order had a glitch and hubby's entree was ready but mine had gotten "lost". I advised her to serve him his now while hot. Fifteen minutes later they both came out together (and his was not hot but warm and no longer very crispy). We both had ordered the Combination Platter - His fried, mine was grilled. The side choices were very limited - Parmesan Tomatoes; Steamed Asparagus; Steak Fries or a Baked Potato for $1.50 extra. (The menu online has many more choices for sides and I am curious as to why it wasn't offered.) The meal included Grilled Shrimp, Sea Scallops, and Golden Tile. His side was the Parmesan tomatoes and were very good; his seafood served over french bread toast (not mentioned on menu). I opted for the Baked Potato - not knowing that the grilled meal came with Rice Pilaf. There was no mention of this on the menu and she never mentioned it. I would have opted for the Parmesan Tomatoes had I been informed. The seafood was fresh and delicious. The Tile fish was scrumptiously buttery. The Scallops were huge and tender. The Shrimp were large. The accompanying butter mixture was tasty for dipping. Everything tasted very good. I noticed that hubby received four large scallops and I three (all same large size) - and he thought that because his was fried was the reason. So we asked Bailley if that was so. She said "No, they should come with the same amount as they are the same platter" and said she would check on that. She never mentioned it again either. We had our leftovers packaged to go and she was kind enough to throw in another loaf of the bread. It was now almost 6:30pm. Total cost before tip $139.11. We just couldn't fit dessert after all the bread we consumed before the meal. It was a good dinner; but with the issues that were left unaddressed, the tiny portions of drinks and meal issues at those prices- I can only give them three stars. I hope they address these issues as I would like to return. read more

Service was great, food was great, atmosphere was GREAT! Blackened scallops were worth writing this review!

Good Seafood option on the seawall. Crab asparagus dish was excellent. Avocado/crab dish was light and refreshing. Scallops were mediocre at best. They were small and burned and not worth the cost. Otherwise the experience was very good. read more

The server was very kind. We ordered the spinach deep with crab and the gumbo. Then the crawfish linguini, with the fried shrimp topping. The food was plentiful, and the service was fantastic. We really enjoyed the view out the window as well. read more

Nice people and food was okay. Dining room needs and update. Will give it another try.

Seafood was excellent; however the waitress did not speak a lot of English and misunderstood our order. My husband did not even get his meal at all so we split my meal. I could hear all the other waiters and waitresses ( whom were not from here also) explaining the special and going over the history of the restaurant. Our waitress never ask us once if it was our first time there nor did she take time to go over specials like the others. They were quickly discussed. Also my silverware was dirty had to ask for another one. Then when she brought out a plate (after she missed up our order) to share the plate was dirty with food and hair. VERY disappointed and will NOT be back. read more

First time in Galveston and the only reason I would travel back. Food was fantastic, was attracted to the blue crab, but was pleasantly surprised that the food was great! And the service was great, even though me and my family was there almost at closing time they took care of us as if we were the first customers to come in. Great experience, great people- highly recommended!!! read more

Friendly staff, awesome fish. White linen tablecloths, even at lunch. I don't know why their yelp rating is under 4 stars, we have eaten here everytime we come to Galveston and it has always been good. read more

Me and my dad sneak away from the pack and stepped in to this restaurant for coffee and deserts. Key lime cheesecake was very delicious and the mouse chocolate was as great as the cheesecake! Best key lime cheesecake I ever tasted! read more

Enjoyed a nice night at Gaido's. The food was very good and the wait staff was excellent. I would highly recommend you visit if you are in Galveston. read more

Awesome food, service, and dining atmosphere! Steak and seafood prepared exquisitely! I'd put this place on par with Ruth Chris or Morton's; quite surprising for Galveston, TX. Excellent family-owned entity that takes pride in their business and patrons. read more

Our party of 5 stopped by on a busy summer Saturday night. With our reservations, we got right in. I first dined at Gaido's at a 3rd grader in 1963, and have visited on average once every decade when I visit Galveston. I can tell you one thing hasn't changed - the decor. The entire building could use a substantial remodel;. But given the constant crowds and designation as a local institution, why spend the money if you own the place? You really can't complain about the portion sizes here. Texas-sized indeed. Our server was a young lady from Ukraine who spoke English very well. She was fantastic and tried to make our meal seem like a special occasion. But the main reason we were disappointed was the "taste" of the food. Except for our friend's crab dinner, there was no standout dish. It was all just OK - nothing memorable. That was the biggest disappointment for us. Maybe the menu should be pared down to focus on quality preparation?? I'm anxious to explore other restaurants in Galveston for a better meal. read more

Fabulous dinner! Our waitress, Dori, took great care of us and we enjoyed our meal. Highly recommend the raspberry lemon cosmopolitan, the catch of the day, calamari and the Pecan crunch dessert. read more

We waiting 1 hour and half on food. But worth the wait food was excellent. The Au gratin was my fav.

My wife and I ate there Thursday night. Half dozen raw oysters. They were very small and just ok. The red sauce was very small and looked like it was in the little ramekin for several days in the cooler. My soft shell crab was very tough and just warm. My wife had grilled shrimp that was good and not over cooked. The plate was served with rice that wasn't on the menu and my wife ordered some grilled potatoes. If she knew that then she would have ordered a vegetable. Overall we were disappointed especially with the prices. I have been going to Gaido's off and on for 40 + years. Seems the wait staff and chefs have changed. Food quality needs some improvements. read more

Food is terrible. Fried shrimp has more batter than shrimp. The service is nonexistent. They get by on longevity.

Wow wow and wow. Crab spinach was the best I've ever had. The snapper was grilled to perfection. The Greek salad was delicious and so fresh. The service impeccable. Coming back to try award winning desserts later, but now that beach calling from across the street... read more

The food and service was pretty spectacular. I almost didn't come here due to the 3.5 star rating but I must say that I am glad I did. I consider myself quite selective with what I consider good food and this was excellent. We had the calamari and the crawfish hush puppies? The crawfish was spectacular especially with the chipotle sauce it's served with. For dinner we had the charcoal salmon and the chicken dish. The flavor and smokiness of the salmon was one of a kind and the Cajun rice was delicious. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

The food is great! I tried the stuffed flounder and it was delicious! Our waiter was knowledgable and friendly! I make my reservations through Opentable and I am very please because I never have to wait. We are seated within minutes! Will recommend reservations. read more

We didn't even make it to dinner. It smelled like cat pee in the lobby. Not kidding. I almost gagged. Ok. We'll chalk that up to the fact that it's an old building. $30 for two drinks isn't unusual for dine dining. But when the whiskey is served in a dirty glass?! Nope. We're out. read more

Okay, over the years I have heard great things about this family owned restaurant. We decided to eat here tonight with the family while visiting Galveston. Went with waiters recommendations for some entre's and were severely disappointed with his recommendations and our selections! The food was chargrilled to the max, so much so you couldn't even taste the fish, shrimp, or scallops. The rice taste like a burnt fajita grill. The fried shrimp was barely fried, looked raw. Overall, save your money and go to a cheaper place down the road, we wish we would have gone to CFA. Not sure how they have such a high rating?! The majority of our food was left on the plate! read more

Such a wonderful meal!! I had the scallops. They were large and cooked perfectly! The bread was wonderful even the beer and orange juice was perfect. Our server Valeria was just precious. She knew the menu and answered all our questions with knowledge. I can't wait for our next trip to Galveston!! read more

I come here when I go to Galveston. I love that it's over 105 years old and I like to see the history on the walls. It has a nice view across from the beach but what doesn't here? The service was incredible last time I was here. Mostly because the waiter was an older gentleman who had been there for like 30 years and worked only Fridays and Saturdays now. He was pretty impressive. Walked us through the menu and made incredible recommendations. This time we had just a typical waiter on his 3rd job of his life or whatever and didn't have a good knowledge of the menu and also I found that the online menu which was accurate last year was not at all accurate at this time and was full of items not even available in the restaurant. So all and all I was pretty disappointed. The food is still good and they have within the top 2 or 3 best pre-dinner bread and oil preparations I think I may have ever had. read more

A classic place to eat that never disappoints. Our party enjoyed a variety of dishes and everyone remarked on how fresh and delicious their seafood was. The service was as always superlative. When you want s guaranteed tasty meal, Gaido's is it! read more

Wow the food was delicious and the service was excellent! Cheese cake was to die for! Definitely going back!

Sorry, I didn't like food in this restaurant. I was disappointed. I have believed the reviews, but I was not satisfied a food after visiting this restaurant.The food is not tasty and overpriced. Waste money. Never coming again . read more

We drove here from Houston to celebrate Valentine's Day early over the weekend. The space has an antique vibe, and is welcoming while still being white-tablecloth classy. Our server was extremely attentive--almost too much so. We could have used a little more space to look over all of the many menu options the restaurant has too offer. The restaurant has fresh local fish daily, and you could definitely taste it in the food. The scallops and tuna were both incredible. Also, if you save room, the pecan pie was outstanding! Overall a good experience--we will return for the fantastic seafood. read more

Impeccable service in a historic restaurant. We started off with the homemade bread that is addicting. It was like dessert before the main course...hot, perfect texture and dipped in herbed olive oil. We could have eaten a loaf each. My husband ordered the seafood combo and I ordered crab stuffed shrimp. It was all amazing! Just a wonderful date afternoon. Thanks Gaido's read more

Overall our experience was far below our memories of this historic restaurant. Started with an error on our martini order. Avocado Crab app. was delightful. House specialty Pecan Encrusted Snapper was good on flavor but much more pecan than snapper. Side order showed up after our meal was nearly complete. read more

Gaido's has potential to be one of the great restaurants in the Galveston area. Great food, some of the most diverse seafood dishes and specials around. Don't forget the desserts! Of course they are to die for. Sadly though, the one thing they lack is the one thing that will make or break a restaurant's reputation, that is good customer service. Out of the many times I have been to Gaido's and have enjoyed the food, I've only had good service once. Overall the service is extremely slow. Today when I went, 6/16/19 on Father's Day at 3:20, I couldn't even get service at all. It's not like the place was busy, it was rather slow. Seeing as I was dining alone, I decided to sit at the bar. 5 minutes goes by and there was no bartender to be found. I leaned over and asked the hostess (the hostess stand is right next to the bar) if they had a bartender working. She replies yes I'll go get him. A few minutes later the bartender, a heavy set guy with long hair and a pony tail peeks around the corner and yells out, "I'll be right with you!" Okay.... Another ten minutes goes by and he finally appears but goes right to his computer screen and doesn't even look our way. (By this point two ladies had sit next to me at the bar). One of the ladies asks me if I had been taken care of yet. Of course not. I wait patiently for a few more minutes and then walk out. I went down to Landry's Seafood, sat at their bar and was greeted and had a drink in front of me in less than a minute. I had my appetizer in less than the 15 minutes I was ignored at Gaido's. Customer service.... it will make or break you. I'll not return to Gaido's, rather next time I will go straight to Landry's. read more

This beautiful find was built in 1911 and still owned by the same family. It's a huge establishment with the freshest seafood in Galveston! Also heard that it's the second biggest kitchen in Texas! The food was amazing. It's definitely a savory place. Only come if you are very hungry! Most dishes have cream, Parmesan, or cheese over their seafood and that's what makes it amazing! The ambiance is of a old time fancy restaurant. Patterned carpets, wood walls, and white linens. Very nice place to come for lunch or dinner. Our waiter Luis was super friendly and catered to anything we asked for! Prices are actually reasonable! My husband and I will definitely be back :) read more

Fantastic food and great service. Always the first place we go to when in galveston.

Fancy digs but not over the top expensive. Great fish of any kind. No crablegs so save that for another time. Excellent service.

I came here a while back because it was top rated in the area. We were seated & then we never received service again. It was pretty empty when we got there, a few more tables got filled after we'd already been sitting their, they were brought their beverages & their orders were taken but we still hadn't recieved any service. We'd asked for a waiter but we were just told they'd be right with us. A total of 30 mins passed by & still no service. It doesn't even deserve 1 star the one star i gave. read more

We arrived at around 4pm on Saturday before the dinner crowd. We waited about 10 min for our table for 2. Richard was our server and was very enthusiastic and efficient. My wife had the Blue Mojito and I had a glass of the La Crema Sonoma chardonnay. Both were very good. The soup of the day was a chicken creole and was outstanding I had the soup combo which included the chicken creole , gumbo and the house bisque, all excellent. I had the seared tuna, with a creamy crawfish sauce very good My wife had the grilled mahi The wedge salad was average Overall, very good food and service read more

I was lucky enough to dine at Gaido's in Galveston recently, and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I recommend the Pecan Encrusted Red Fish. The beautiful filet was cooked perfectly and paired wonderfully with the roasted corn topping. The entree portions are extremely large, so you may want to share with someone or opt for the half entree, side, and dessert option. The restaurant is very pretty and the service is attentive, yet the atmosphere is quite laid back. Head to Gaido's if you are looking for some excellent, simply and well-prepared dishes which showcase the fresh, local seafood. read more

I've been a fan for decades now. The menu is far easier to navigate these days. Last visit on Aug 5, 2011. The bar was giving generous pours of wine and stiff drinks. I believe their Red Snapper preparations are some of the best I've ever had. Thick, moist portions of snapper, and whether Wade, Sapporito, or straight up the delicate fish always comes through. Other must haves: seafood bisque (always); house salad with the chunky blue cheese dressing (kinda french style vinaigrette with chunks of bleu rather than a creamy style); shrimp pegues if you want to go all in. Avoid: crabmeat cheesecake app. good amount of crab but lower quality with 'extra' crabby taste. Not exciting after the 2nd bite. Enjoy. read more

Our mid-day meal was enjoyed at a impromptu stop at Gaidos of Galveston. This was one of the best decisions we made during our entire journey to Texas. Our meal began with oysters on the half-shell. And we all agreed that this was the perfect way to start our culinary experience. Fresh from the Gulf, just outside our window, these beauties still had living barnacles clinging to the pearly casings. When our entrees arrived, Ben enjoyed stuffed shrimp and asparagus. Elliott and I savored the shrimp and grits with roasted, sliced tomatoes. We finished the meal by splitting a slice of cheese cake and cups of coffee. We received two extra treats during our visit. Adam Vargas, Galveston historian and Gaido's marketer, shared with us a brief but enjoyable history of the island and some of the high points to visit during our brief stay. He was informative and friendly. It made our time on the island even more enjoyable. The service was extraordinary. The meal was one we will always remember. The atmosphere was stunning, even in the face of construction to upgrade. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Texas. Growing up in Indiana put limits on the amount of fresh seafood we enjoy. We're chicken and beef kinds of people. A lunch at Gaido's was more than we could have hoped for. It was southern hospitality combined with the best food we've enjoyed during our entire trip to Texas and an elegant setting. Thank you read more