After spending a few days on Crystal Beach, the wife and kiddos wanted to head over to the island…read more Off to have some fun and hit The Strand. Accompanying us were our good friends from home. After a long wait on the ferry to get over to the island, we worked up quite an appetite. Build a bridge already, TXDOT. I digress.. We were in search of a new lunch spot on the island. After polling the audience, pizza is what the fam wanted. After a little searching, we decided on Mama Teresa's Flying Pizza. Many moons ago they had a location on the Bolivar side, but I never had a chance to try it before Ike. After a small journey to find a parking spot, myself and my party of 10 strolled right in. The atmosphere walking in was pleasant and had the old pizza parlor feel to it. Luckily they had a big round table that accommodated comfortably. Greeted by a waiter with menus and a smile, we ordered our drinks and perused the menu. Lots of very yummy looking dishes. In good time our drinks arrived and appetizers were ordered. For my troops, we ordered the garlic bread with cheese for the table, a large pepperoni and black olive pizza for the wife and me; baked ziti for kiddo #1; fettuccine Alfredo, sans ham for kiddo #2; and spaghetti with garlic and oil for the kiddo's friend who joined. I didn't hear what the other family ordered. The appetizer took just a minute, but it arrived. Simple bread with simple cheese. Simple, but delicious. The basket was obliterated and went quick. The one piece I had was delicious. If you have a small family, one basket will suffice. Anything more than four people, I think you will need a second basket. Now with the bread gone, we were left to chat and enjoy each other's company. While waiting, we saw why the name for the place. One would think it was just a cheeky name for a pizza joint, but they actually throw the dough here. The folks back in the kitchen were making the dough fly. Literally. We all found it very entertaining. Our food arrived and we got to work. The pizza was delicious. The perfect balance of gooey cheese, yummy red sauce, crispy pizza, and perfectly cooked pepperoni. Kiddo #1 said her baked ziti was delicious, but would not offer up a sample. Boo! Kiddo #2 offered a taste of the fettuccine Alfredo and it was dreamy. A tad different tasting from your typical Alfredo sauce, but it was amazingly excellent. The kiddo's friend inhaled the spaghetti. I am not sure she even tasted it. We paid our bill and were on our way! I highly recommend Mama Teresa's Flying pizza. The service (considering our party of 10) was amazing, the food was excellent, and our overall experience was outstanding. From now on when the fam and I come to the island, this will be a mandatory stop. Give this place a try. You will be glad you did! Enjoy!

It was the start of a holiday weekend, so we anticipated having to wait to get in. It was great…read morethat they take your phone number and text you when your table is ready, as we were able to stroll around the neighborhood while we were waiting. The interior of the restaurant is small, but interesting. The pizza making portion of their kitchen is visible from the tables, so you can watch them as they make the pizzas. Our waiter was super friendly, and the service was excellent. We started off our meal with the fried mushroom appetizer. Usually, when you order fried mushrooms, you get an entire mushroom dipped in breading and fried. Here the mushrooms are chopped into chunks before breading and frying. It came with both marinara and ranch for dipping sauces. We loved having the smaller chunks, because if you've ever eaten fried mushrooms, you know that when you bite into them , the juice can sear your mouth. By using smaller chunks, it was much easier to eat, especially when piping hot. We were surprised that they didn't carry banana peppers as a topping for pizzas, but other than that, our pizza was fabulous! We deliberately bought a larger pizza than we needed, because we were looking for leftovers. The pizza heated up well the next day! We would highly recommend visiting Mama Teresa's!

You park across the street in a lot and if it's busy be prepared to wait (we waited 30 min)…read more We were seated and the service was great, checked in with us, and I was able to secretly coordinate a birthday song with the waitress. If it's your birthday you get your choice of gelato from the front counter. The birthday girl chose the key lime pie flavor. I ordered the Nonna's Soup listed here as the Pastina soup. It was delicious and had a home cooked feeling to it. After a few bites it felt like my grandmother had made this for me before. I'd come back to try the pizza because it looks like they had good deals. I wish they had more drink options.

Iconic for its Leaning Tower of Pisa, Mario's Seawall Restaurant is the perfect stop for Italian…read morefood on the island. Plus the restaurant has a lovely view of the ocean! Keep an eye out for the Wednesday special! Prices are significantly cheaper. Every Wednesday evening, the large pizzas are only $9.99. I've tried both the Chicago Deep Dish and regular pizzas. Both were rich in flavor with a generous amount of sauce and cheese. Highly recommend!

So disappointed!!!…read more I've been coming to Riondo's since 2013. What was once a delightful Italian retreat with exceptional homemade seafood ravioli and attentive service has, unfortunately, lost much of the charm and value that kept me coming back for years. I was excited to introduce my sisters-in-law to one of my longtime favorites, but after spending nearly $400 for lunch for three adults and two children, I left disappointed. The service was average, the prices felt excessive for the quality, and several dishes were heavily oversalted. My $42 Diablo Cioppino was particularly disappointing. Not only was it nearly inedible due to the overwhelming heat and spice level, but it also contained surprisingly little seafood for a dish at that price point. The Gulf Shrimp Carbonara featured overcooked shrimp, and nearly every entrée suffered from excessive salt. While the homemade seafood ravioli remains a highlight, it wasn't enough to offset the overall experience. After more than a decade of loyal visits, this was the first time I questioned whether Riondo's still delivers the quality, consistency, and value that once made it a destination restaurant.

We went to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Incredible service and the food was delicious…read more We sat in the vault area. Very private and quiet. I'm fascinated about the history of the building and many years ago worked for a safe company. Mosler out of Hamilton, Ohio. The setting was magnificent. And we tried a new wine.

It is a romantic and beautifully authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of the historic area of…read moreGalveston. The food was incredible! All homemade pasta. Delicious sauces. Authentic preparation. And a simple menu, not pages and pages of dishes like other places. The wait staff were friendly, professional, accommodating, helpful, and made the dining experience that much more pleasant. We will definitely be returning!

Excellent. Easy five stars. The best way to ensure high quality and consistency is to have the…read moreowner and head chef present in the restaurant. Chef Pina came to our table to make sure everything was up to her very high standards. We had white bean soup, which was phenomenal, the recipe is vegan, only four ingredients according to Chef Pina but tastes so rich and delicious you would think it was based on a hearty bone broth. Crisp Caesar salad lightly dressed, eggplant Parmesan, tender and delicious, and the veal osso bucco, which to me is always a measure of how a less expensive cut of meat can be (and was) transformed into something utterly delectable. A light and creamy panna cotta with a tart mixed berry topping for desert, very delicate and not too sweet. We chose a crisp sparkling Prosecco from the extensive wine list to accompany a truly memorable meal. The restaurant is attractively decorated despite a slightly awkward layout due to the historic nature of the building it is housed in. Prices are in line with the stellar quality of the food, and our service was excellent. Oh yeah, the bread and oil are as good as everyone says. Special occasion or midweek lunch your dining dollars will be very well spent at Trattoria La Vigna.

We have tried in past to visit Grotto in other sites but due to limited hours (many are closed…read moreMonday, tues, weds) and finally found what we have been missing. Do yourself a favor and find one open next time you have the opportunity. This one is located inside San Luis Resort. Valet parking is free with a stamp they will place on your valet ticket. The restaurant is small and cozy. Sitting next to the Cove pool at twilight was very nice. We had the antipasto (italian charcuterie board) it was loaded with meats and cheeses and shared with bread on our table of 7. A little on the spicy side. We had our 3 older teen/young adult boys who came with us to the beach. 5 boys between 17-24 and they all got some bites in. For drinks the older had peach Bellini (which is frozen) and the martini. For seconds we had espresso martini and the sour. I personally liked the drinks not too sweet and the martini was dry with the espresso martini heavy on the coffee side. For entrees boys did some pizza the boglonase, Alfredo sauce with crab (they can customize a dish) and the chicken Luis was mine and delicious 10/10. Husbands had the shrimp Rocco a newer dish which was 11/10 for flavor and style Our server was super attentive and perfect. Now dessert. They have a large cart overflowing with deliciousness. Please ask to see the cart. We ended up with 5 items shared (there were more to choose but everyone has their limits) the triple chocolate was one of the most moist and chocolatey cake ive tasted. And a huge oversized slice. My foodie son could not eat it all! Key lime pie, brownie and tiramisu (also a huge serving taken for a midnight snack) Overall we definitely found out what we've been missing and will be back sooner rather than later.

Great experience overall. We started with the appetizers and they were a highlight of the meal --…read morethe antipasti, calamari, and bruschetta were all excellent and a great way to kick things off. Our table ordered a wide variety of dishes including steak, salad, pasta, and the Snapper Romano. Overall, everyone was happy with their meals except for the snapper. While the crab topping was delicious, the fish itself had quite a few bones, which took away from the experience. The atmosphere was also a positive. Even though it was crowded, it never felt too loud, and our group of six could easily hear each other throughout dinner, which made for a really enjoyable evening. Overall, we had a great experience and would definitely return to the other Houston locations -- we'll just skip the snapper next time.

This place was cute. They helped me select the perfect dish and it was amazing…read more The food was fresh, flavorful and not oily. We ordered at the counter inside. Or you can pick the QR Code at the table. I enjoyed the entire experience.

Birthday dinner at Gonzalo's! I can cheerfully report that we had the usual excellent food,…read moreservice, and ambiance this evening. We, like many other diners, ate outside - the window for eating al fresco is narrow so we do it while we comfortably can. We were tempted to get Roman artichokes for our appetizer knowing how delicious they are, but instead we ventured out and got the calamari puttanesca. Good decision? Absolutely! The squid was tender, the capers lent delightful brininess to the intense-in-a-good-way San Marzano tomato sauce. The only thing that would have improved the dish is if we'd had the smarts to order bread with it to sop everything up. Next time, next time... Dan being Dan had to have Greek salad. We shared it and I must say that I really appreciate their approach to this ubiquitous offering. It has feta, but its presence is not heavy handed. Don't get me wrong - I adore feta but sometimes it overtakes a salad. There were Persian cucumbers, small yellow tomatoes,thinly sliced onions, very fresh, crisp lettuce, and no pepperoncini! Now you might think the absence of peppers would be a bad thing but I beg to differ. Too often restaurants use them and they turn out to be tough and woody. For the record, of all brands we've bought, DeLallo is consistently the best. For mains, because I am just about incapable of not getting it, I got the boscaiola. If you haven't had it, get it! It's a stunningly well balanced dish of pappardelle, mushrooms, and confit chicken. It is perfection in a bowl. Dan got the rigatoni alla vodka with confit chicken. The rigatoni entree is what we saw on Facebook some time back that made both of us think that we really, really needed to give Gonzalo's a try. Pro move, y'all, pro move! Drinks: old fashioned for me and a whiskey sour for Dan and glasses of Pinot grigio. Did we have room for dessert? No, and that made me a little sad. But we'll be back! Dan has a birthday coming up...

from start to finish I loved my experience here. we always have the hardest time finding good local…read morespots to eat on vacation but this place was better then expected. our waitress was so sweet and all our food was amazing and you could tell the fish and crab was fresh . everything was as made from scratch and the deserts were amazing! the Italian cream cake slice was the size of the plate and the best I've ever tasted! I will come back and eat here every time I come to Galveston . they also have the seating set up so no matter what table your at you can see the ocean which is very nice .

Food was excellent. Blackened Balsa fish was awesome! Only $17.99 for over 65. Came with baked…read morepotato and cole slaw. We started with 18 cold peel and eat shrimp! Wonderful! Husband had Gumbo and enjoyed it as well as the fried shrimp. Took home a slice of chocolate pecan brownie. Absolutely decadent! Food was served quickly. Server was fun and friendly!

Authentic muffulettas and a true taste of history! The Maceo…read morefamily's history and recipes are unique and well worth experiencing. We traveled to Galveston to visit the store and restaurant firsthand. For years, we followed Ronnie Maceo's story and were saddened by his passing. Thankfully, his daughter, Concetta, has continued the family legacy. We were fortunate to meet her during our visit. She was incredibly gracious, and spending time with her made the experience even more memorable. The food was absolutely delicious, and we couldn't leave without stocking up on spices and sauces. It's amazing how much history, culture, and tradition are packed into this one place. The gumbo roux is the perfect rich, dark color, and the flavor is everything you hope for--authentic, hearty, and reminiscent of New Orleans. Concetta also shared the weekly specials, giving us even more reasons to return. Needless to say, every future trip to Galveston will include a stop at Maceo's. I highly recommend adding Maceo's to your bucket list. See you there!

I don't get down to Galveston very often, but as soon as I heard about Maceo Spice & Import…read moreCompany, I knew I'd be making a trip. My wife and I ordered a muffuletta and a turkey sandwich along with small cups of gumbo and red beans and rice. All were excellent. The service was a bit slow, but we arrived about the same time as the Sunday church crowd, so I think that's to be expected. The restaurant is also a store, and they have a good variety of products, despite being rather small. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the Galveston area!

It embarrasses me as a BOI who lived in Galveston for 27 years to say that the first time I ever…read moreate at Mario's Ristorante was a few nights ago. I've gone down 61st countless times, but not once have I ever set foot inside this longtime Italian culinary institution. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ordered from here, either. Mario's was on my radar for the evening on Wednesday after I toured the new Ball High (Class of 2000). I failed to resist the siren song of the dinner buffet, which takes place every Wednesday from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. For about $17, diners could have their pick of the five or so pizzas in addition to entrees, pasta, salads, and deserts. I decided to have a slice of each pizza -- cheese, pepperoni, supreme, meat lovers, etc. -- since I was a newbie to the establishment. The slices were the usual hand tossed and not too thick. The cheese-to-toppings ratio was pretty even. Fortunately, I enjoyed each, so much so that I felt stuffed as I worked on my third slice. After pizza, I assembled a plate consisting of fried fish, potatoes, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken pasta. My taste buds were continuously treated to straight-up Old World Italian deliciousness. I couldn't get enough of the fried fish and chicken pasta. It took me a while to finish the spaghetti because I was beyond the point of full. I had no choice but to forego the chicken masala and seafood rice pilaf. Mario's, which has existed since 1967, has the undeniable feel of an old school pizzeria. Guests can actually feel the warmth emanating from the kitchen as well as the staff. When dining in, be sure to ask for Wyatt. He'll make you feel right at home. Whitney is another person you ought to get to know also. I believe that a lot of my Wednesday evenings will be spent here.

My husband and I came here after our minimoon in Galveston. He grew up coming to Marios and it was…read moremy first time! The food was tasty, large portions and fairly priced we thought! We split a bottle of wine! The service was great but we also went in September so it was pretty dead around the island. The ambiance is a small town/island/Italian feel and close to the water! I'd go back!

Had dinner and it was so so good and my wife who is a picky eater afinished her order and had…read moreanother dish to go Home made pasta Home made sauce Pizza from scratch and very nice atmosphere

Came in with the family for a super late dinner. The food was really good. And we had great…read moreservice. The atmosphere is family friendly. Would come back here again.