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    Waterman's Restaurant

    3.2 (482 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Steakhouses
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

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    Waterman's Restaurant Photos

    WATERMAN'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Waterman's Restaurant

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    Martini
    Melanie K.

    Seated immediately on a Sunday evening at 7:45. Sat outside but the wind came up and we were easily seated in doors. Nice waitress that allowed us to divide the check easily. I had the crab cakes, salad, and crawfish Mac and cheese. Food was nice and hot and we were able to finish up right before closing. Got easy to go containers. It was Father's Day and my dad's 85 birthday. My dad fell down the stairs onto my sister and two employees quickly came to his aide and help him up. Of course that's when we saw the elevator!! Nice place

    View from our table
    Elise M.

    Underwhelming experience. We came back to Waterman's during happy hour and were told they were not doing happy hour during spring break. Doesn't make a lot of sense when they were completely empty and over staffed but ok. Maybe use some of that staff to put that information on your website so that people know not to come here. They were also out of a number of menu items. Despite being one of the only tables, service was slow. Food was nothing special. The best part of Waterman's is the atmosphere and views. Otherwise, go somewhere else for good food and happy hour.

    Salmon and shrimp Alfredo
    Chris G.

    The food is a little overpriced but decent. Typical Galveston prices for the summer season. Service was slow at first but they picked up the slack. Inside is very casual but you over look the bay and the sunset is amazing!

    Blackened Red Snapper with green beans and cheesy jalapeño grits
    Mark G.

    This is our second visit to Waterman's in 30 days. We had such a good experience the first visit that we were drawn back when visiting Galveston again. For starters, the ambiance is fishing lodge nice. Nothing stuffy since it is at a marina. Lots of wood and space. The views are great and we saw a gorgeous sunset on our first visit. Regrettably there were too many clouds on our second visit. No fault of Waterman's. The service is generally attentive and knows when to leave you to your conversation or drop by to take your order. Overall, the food is good. I had redfish for my first visit that was cooked properly with good seasoning. My second visit I had the Seafood Treasure Chest which is angel hair pasta with a lemon caper sauce and topped with shrimp, scallops and lump crab meat. Lots of food and no skimping on the seafood. Other guests had the grilled shrimp with cilantro rice and vegetable of the day (green beans). Appetizers were a small miss and I might just skip them next time. Wine list is sufficient with good prices. We will return and hopefully get the sunset we saw the first visit.

    Ahí tuna appetizer
    JoAnna D.

    The food, atmosphere, and service were all fantastic. The crab cake appetizer was absolutely incredible - the best crab cake I've ever had! We also really enjoyed the ahi tuna appetizer and the filet mignon with crab topping, lobster ravioli, and pecan crusted red snapper with lump crab topping entrees. Everything was delicious!

    Lauri B.

    This place is big! A great spot for live music, water views and a comfortable atmosphere. We sat downstairs in the main dining area. They were setting up for a wedding, so I couldn't see the top floor. At the entrance, they have an outdoor side bar area which I would assume is for overflow on busy days. I was surprised how much space they have at the place! The service was a little slow, especially for not being busy. It seems like it was more in coordination with the drink orders. It took way too long to get a wine, a beer, and a Bloody Mary to our table. I would have ordered a third drink, but it was seriously getting on my nerves that it took so long. I gave her 2 tries, but it seems there was an issue of some sort. She looked to be very young, so maybe it was a generational thing. The food was great. I had the coconut shrimp, one friend had the fish and chips and the other friend had the regular shrimp. We all enjoyed our meals. Everything was delivered promptly to our table. Big portions, hot and fresh. Their fries are extremely good! Best fries I've had in a long time! The water view is fantastic! The downstairs is completely shaded, so you don't get too hot. I was very happy with the ambiance. The live music was awesome. Don't forget to tip your entertainment! Ryan Guidry was on point with a great mix of songs with an excellent voice. Thoroughly enjoyed his music. They have a tiny t-shirt shop at the main entrance, a small marina, rocking chairs in the shade near the dock, and multiple dining spaces. People launch their boats here, and if you catch fish you want cooked, they will prepare it for you for a cost (don't recall the price; I just remember seeing it noted on the menu.) For all 3 of us, with 5 drinks total, our bill was $109.51. I thought that was pretty good for the view, live music, and good food. Side note: they are dog friendly. I saw one person with their pooch. Love dog friendly places. They are family/friends too!

    Me and my son.
    Mike C.

    Great place for some afternoon snacks and cold beverages. Came by boat on a beautiful summer day. Live music is really good. Service is very attentive and friendly. Coming back for a nice dinner soon!

    Grilled shrimp
    Genille R.

    Celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday at Waterman's. The menu was limited, but the food was good. For the price, thought the food would be a bit more flavorful. I was expecting that after reading the other reviews. Service was friendly and accommodating. There are not many dining options around Galveston, when looking for somewhere nice, versus a dive bar. Ambiance was great. The 1st floor is more of an open seating outdoor dining experience. The 2nd & 3rd floor is more comfortable seating and air conditioned. Parking is located across the street. They do offer indoor & outdoor seating, all with water views.

    Amazing crab cakes

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    6 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Excellent bisque and Shrimp and Grits! Great service. Perfect place to sit and relax!

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Best seafood in Galveston! Service was top notch and we loved the outdoor seating. We will definitely be back.

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    11 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Best food on the island! Excellent service, highly recommend for enjoyable evening. Mix drinks were awesome.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Expensive den a mf. 50 bucks for a small ass fillet of red snapper and some lil spinach leafs and mac n cheese. Go somewhere else.

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    10 months ago

    food is meh, the service is pretty good if your not in a big hurry. but the perfect place to sit and have drinks and watch the sunset.

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    4 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Waterman's Restaurant

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    We had the Wagyu flight and it was outstanding -- probably the best Texas Wagyu I've had anywhere…read more The quality and flavor really stood out and set the tone for the whole meal. Our table also had the East Coast oysters. As expected, East Coast oysters tend to run smaller, but these seemed even smaller than usual. That said, they were still fresh and tasty. The deviled eggs were decent, but with how phenomenal some of the other dishes were, it's probably not something I'd order again. The butter served with the bread deserves a mention because it was excellent. The poke bowl was another standout, and the wontons were perfectly crispy. Service timing was a little slower than expected, but the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive throughout the meal. I went back and forth between 4 and 5 stars mainly because of the exterior surroundings. The inside is very nice, but the outside atmosphere initially makes you second guess whether you're at a higher-end steak restaurant. In the end though, the food quality won me over. The meal itself was excellent, and I'd absolutely come back.

    I went for dinner and on the outside, it's not a very impressive establishment. It sort of looks…read morelike any other generic spot of the water. At the entrance doors, you can see the attached bar called, "The Hideout." There are these very tacky wooden mermaid statues that made me raise an eyebrow. The outside decor seemed more fitting of a tourist spot on Seawall than a more upscale dining experience. I suppose the place is meant to be a combination of the two so in that regard, they were on theme. Just threw me off that's all. On the other hand, there are a lot of parking spots. The inside atmosphere looked a lot better. There were lots of seating with large windows that spanned half the restaurant looking out on the water which let in natural light. Service was good, staff were kind and conversational. I got the 6 oz filet ($49), mac & cheese ($15), & the broccolini with bernaise, shallots, buttered breadcrumbs, & serrano ham ($17), and the strawberry basil cocktail (I don't recall the price, perhaps ~$16). We were given complimentary popovers and butter to start, which was a pleasant break from usual bread options from other establishments. I ordered my steak medium rare but it came out medium well and SUPER FIBROUS. It took so much effort to cut into it. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it but it was incredibly bland and disappointing. My friends ordered other steak dishes cooked at the same requested temperature, including the 16 oz bone-in filet ($92), but did not have a similar experience. My friends thought I was exaggerating initially when I complained, but when they tried my steak they said even the best part of my steak did not compare to the worst bite of theirs. At that price point, I was very unsatisfied because it essentially tasted well done which isn't my preference. The price really rubbed the salt in the wound though. Per my friends, the 16 oz bone-in filet was good but not anything to write home about. The side dishes were made with good quality ingredients and well seasoned. When it comes to mac & cheese, I can be a bit of a critic but this met my basic standards. The sides were on par with other good restaurants I've went to but nothing unique or notable. The mac & cheese & broccolini serrano were not so great that I would seek out this restaurant again to eat them again though. I did enjoy their strawberry basil cocktail though; it did not taste incredibly alcohol forward. Overall, I'm glad I got to try one of the most popular spots on the island but I don't see myself returning or recommending it to others.

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    Sebastian was great..... Food was delicious!!! We had the Korean short rib, salmon. A+++. The…read moreHearsay Smokey Old Fashion was amazing!!!

    We were in Galveston for Memorial Day weekend and we came here on a Sunday night…read more They were shortstaffed so thank goodness I made a reservation so they seated us right away but if you did not make a reservation, they told you it was a 25 minute wait even though there were seats available. So other than the service being a little slow, the place was really cute. The ambience is amazing. I love the big chandelier. It gives you old-time rich vibes. Their menu has different options. They do have a vegetarian portion. The samosas were kind of like beef, taco mimosas that's what it taste like to me. They're red fish was really good cause the crab crusted on the outside and the sauce mixed together. I definitely recommend getting that if you like fish. I got it with a side of mac & cheese. It does come with veggies, but they let you change out the side. My mom got the margarita pizza and I've had pizza for sure but they do have five or six options of pizzas to choose from. And all the best thing was the bread pudding. Definitely get that save some room. It was warm with ice cream and the perfect bread pudding. I've ever had get it. There is street parking after six. It's free. There's a garage parking too. I don't know how much it costs. Besides the service, everything was really good. It took them a while to fill up our waters, but I did notice they were shortstaffed.

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    Cutting across Texas to New Orleans, I knew we would be skimming the shore of the Gulf of Mexico…read more Shut up. My review, I can call it what I want. That being said, it had been some time since I've gotten some proper fish-n-chips. I had to remedy that. Especially since the BBQ fiasco the other day, I was going to go on a hunger strike, but once I made the sign, I got potato chip fingers on it and started to eat it. So, I decided to fight fire with fire, and figured I would eat myself happy again. Which I'm never mad about. Sometimes I make myself angry just so I can eat myself happy. And now, the rest of the story. I have learned that I enjoy Cod fish for my fish-n-chips. And I think also Haddock. I am not a fisher nor a fish. So it's hard for me to say. But I know Cod is one for sure. I also sometimes have baby mouth and am afraid of new things. I do know I love my fish battered and deep fried. I also know that Shark Shack had good reviews for their fish, so, that was all I needed to hear. Plus, it was a perfect little eatery with bar seating, table seating, and gifts! So you can bet your bottom dollar tomorrow I ordered the English fish-n-chips. Boy oh boy. Just like how Britain colonized all those countries back when it was the cool thing to do, these fish and chips colonized my taste buds. Respectfully. This plate came with FIVE logs of fish. FIVE! Maybe they were tubes of fish? Honestly, I don't care what shape they came in, they looked perfectly crunchy and perfectly brown and perfectly fish. The super cool extra bonus? These fish came with CRISPIES! I've only ever seen crisps with fish from Long John Silvers, whose fish is probably as far from Cod or Haddock as legally possible. I actually think one of my pieces of fish from there had shoelaces. Didn't matter. Still ate it. Respectfully. (If you aren't privileged enough to know what fish crispies are, there little batter pieces that fry or fall off the fish as they cook. Basically little crumblies. If you make a wish over a fork of them and get the forkful in your mouth without dropping any, your wish will come true). Homemade tartar sauce was good, but there was a certain flavor profile that I wasn't a fan of. It was still good to use on the fish rods, it just tasted a little too much out of the tartar sauce field for me. The meal was wrapped up nice and tight with lovely square-cut fries. Perfect doneness. Perfect Ketchup vessel. I could just stare at a pile of them all night. Mostly because I'm weird. Perfect Fish Capsules: 12/10 Ideal Fry Sticks: 12/10 Times I Would Re-visit: Infinite

    It has taken me a little while to write this review purely because I am so torn on the rating. Some…read moreareas of our visit warrant a 3-star rating, and some a 4-star. I decided to lean more toward the 4-star side, so here we are. While in Galveston for a quick weekend getaway, we wanted to go out for dinner. Katie's was my first choice, but the wait was too long, so I pulled up Yelp to see what else was recommended. Shark Shack had great reviews, and when we arrived there was zero wait, so we went for it. The one area where I docked a star was the service. We were seated immediately but waited quite a while for our server to appear, and then even longer to get our drinks. I was so excited for a margarita, but when it arrived in a plastic cup, I was immediately disappointed. Plastic cups are for the beach and nightclubs, not a restaurant with a bar. And that's not where the awful drink experience ended -- it was so weak and just not good at all. Our server seemed so disinterested in everything: taking our order, answering questions, and when it came time to pay, we had to wait ages to see him and wave him down. The food was decent with no major complaints. It wasn't "blow your mind" amazing, but it was good. The owner -- well, I assume he was the owner -- came and spoke to us when he found out my husband was military, and he was really nice, friendly, and very supportive of the military community, offering a very generous military discount. That definitely raises the rating and is much appreciated, so thank you. Overall, the big fixes for me would be the service and the drink situation. I can't say we would rush to come back just because we love Katie's for the service, food, and drinks..

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