Went to Caracol for the first time since I thought Houston Restaurants Week would be a good time to try it. After having dinner here I realize we should have come here a long time ago! Very nice setting and the vibe reminded me of a high-end restaurant that would be in Mexico City. I had the carne asada and my husband chose the striped bass wrapping a banana leaf. The flavors were outstanding as was the grilled oysters and ceviche. Service was excellent and with a smile. This was a great introduction to Caracol and we'll definitely return. There's valet parking but also free parking on 2nd (or 3rd?) floor of the garage there's a sign marking the area. Parking is validated upon checking in at hostess desk. read more

We went here for HRW. The grilled octopus was amazing, ceviche was refreshing and balanced, and the mango mousse was light. The value for HRW menu was ok, and our waiter did forget to bring my drink, but overall it was a pleasant experience. Other waitstaff were very attentive with water refills and silverware/taking away plates. Nice and warm interior with an upscale feel without being intimidating. read more

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(Day before) No one picked up the phone for 15 minutes ringing straight. Eventually got an answer. I came to Caracol as part of the Houston restaurant week lunch menu. Not the most worth it. $25 for an appetizer and entree is an ok deal for great quality food albeit tiny portion sizes. Ensalada de tomate- a very fresh mixed green salad with juicy tomatoes. Stand outs were the mixed seeds coated in sugar/caramel. Salad came with 75% of a tomato. Plated beautifully. Taquitos de Papa. A decadent potato taco with a great salsa. 2 pcs, each were about the size of my thumb. I liked the salsa more than the Taquito. Tacos de Pescado- well-balanced season and perfectly fried fish taco. Milder flavors but overall a good balance between veggies and meat. The meal came with two tacos on blue corn tortillas about the size of my palm. My cat could finish this and still be hungry. Rice was overdone. Torta De Res- a solid prime rib sandwich. Steak fries were thick, cut and properly crispy. I was surprised it was only half a sandwhich. Indoor is much nicer, outdoor patio did not have any fans, chairs were a bit dirty, but not an unenjoyable experience. Parking gets validated at the hostess desk! read more

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I went here for another restaurant week try! Came here for a girls night and we have been wanting to try this place for some time. For starters I ordered the flemeado which was okay. The cheese was thick and some bell peppers and onions were baked into the cheese. It was very oily but the taste was good! Main course I ordered their mole. I have never tried fish mole before but the flavor was pretty great! Not traditional in any sense when it comes to Mexican mole but the flavors were awesome. I ended with their coco loco. There is something about cracking open a coconut like chocolate ball and devouring the inside that had me at Coco loco! LOVE IT. My friend ordere the churros and I have to say, both go together great. Service was awesome and overall we had a great restaurant week experience! read more

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Sunday Brunch at 10am for four. $48 per person. Live music starts at 11am or later. Free valet or garage parking. Food - not as good as we had remembered - we paid extra 6 grilled oysters and they were overdone so we were sad about that - the buffet was not fully out by 10am and by 1100 it was mostly empty and not restocked - my sister was missing their fresh guacamole - I wanted to try the menudo soup, but they ran out and had some green soup replacement instead - desserts were fun - hot chocolate is lukewarm Service - okay, could be improved not enough servers for the room Ambiance -casual It was just okay today. For the price point may be better to just order the meals separately. read more

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Excellent food, perfect for a formal gathering or a party. The service was good for how busy they were on a Wednesday for dinner. Really loved the calamari and shrimp over creamy rice...but their desserts were next-level. I cannot recommend the chocolate cake enough. Divine. The tres leches was also amazing. The churros are filled with dolce de leche. Their Mexican hot chocolate is perfectly not-too-sweet and slightly savory. I would come back just to get desserts, they were THAT GOOD!! Also PSA there is a parking lot next to the restaurant and the restaurants in the complex can validate for free! In case you don't want to do valet. read more

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Double dated here for a Houston restaurant week dinner. We shared everything and wow! We all truly loved our experience here at Caracol. The ambiance is great like the usual of chef Hugo's restaurants. The main focus here is seafood and all the seafood dishes were out of the park amazing. The apps were delicious. The favorite was definitely the calamari. The entrees were great too! The shrimp with bomba rice was great, the octopus was spectacular with great texture and flavor. The seafood with rice was amazing too! The seafood here is just so fresh tasting and delicious. All the desserts were so thought out and yummy too. 10/10 read more

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Extremely disappointing!!! Who serves prime rib medium or medium well? Yes, the manager eventually came to check on me when I told the waitress that my meal was "okay". The manager agreed that the meat was overcooked & assured me that I would quickly receive one cooked the right way. It was not MR either. He never came back to check on me. I expected more from a restaurant like Caracol. Not only that, my "torta" had almost no flavor. The menu stated that it came with chimichurri which sounded so yummy. My $12. cemita at Puebla was a much more satisfying flavor experience than my HRW lunch at Caracol today. read more

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Service was excellent and we had outside seating which was very pleasant. We had a large group meal but were all served adequately and the water glasses were managed well. I did try the 32$ margarita.... Not worth it. Like a mimosa but had smooth tequila. The highlight of the meal was the beef taquito appetizer. I didn't get a good look at the menu for what it was. Best thing I tried. The shrimp was well cooked and the rice had some flavor but was overall something I didn't feel the need to finish. Not impressive. Some folks ordered the tuna tacos and steak. They were all eaten quickly. The steaks ordered medium were on the medium rare side so cooked appropriately. Oysters were good. Scallops were okay. Chocolate cake just okay. Churros were great. If I were dining here again I would probably just do dessert and appetizers. The flan paired well with their decaf coffee. They were out of the French toast. The flan was VERY good. Not the best thing and the table but it was good. read more

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Best food in town highly recommended for the family and friends of the area and the community read more

Caracol - Bar Área - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We always frequent this location in the galleria for our Sunday brunch rotation. I like that options are always seasonal, so they add or switch dishes out based on what's in season. They have plenty of outdoor/indoor seating and are perfect for groups. There is something for everyone:salad, fresh seafood, chicken, pork, soup, tamales, desserts. Service is always attentive and efficient. Just slide your plates to the edge of the table when your ready for another round and they make sure to pick them up and replace your silverware. Be sure to stop by for their amazing Sunday Brunch Buffet. Enter freely, they've been approved read more

Caracol - Fresh oysters & scallop shooters - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Best happy hour in town! Check everything I got on a Friday happy hour 3-6:30pm Service is excellent, very single item was delicious and on point! This place always makes me want to go to oaxaca!! I recommend the Zacahuil is like a tamal but with mushroom and it's on a banana leaf that gives the tamale a soft and moist finish. read more

Caracol - Hugo Rita - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

Overall a good experience, really great service but just okay food. Cute spot and walkable to the galleria Saturday happy hour is a great addition but if you order off the normal menu, you'll get chips and salsa. read more

Caracol - Papas Martajadas - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The brunch buffet here is HANDSDOWN a banger. Although it is on the pricier side, you are definitely getting your moneys worth with the food. You get unlimited oysters, lamb chops, ceviche, and just so many more meat and seafood options. Let's also not forget about the unlimited guac they have on deck. The food doesn't taste like it's been sitting out for awhile like how typical buffets do. It tastes as if just fresh and made for individual tables. The flavors are amazing, and taste authentic. The dessert table just left me lost for what I should try. My favorite thing was the creme brulee and tres leches. Service was amazing there was always someone there to clear the tables and check in on us to make sure we have everything we need. Already planning my next trip back on a Sunday. read more

Caracol - Brunch buffet - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

I always enjoy going to Caracol, from the atmosphere to the great service, to the delicious food! read more

Caracol - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

We have been to Caracol many times. We love the La Pureza margarita because it is not too sweet and has great taste, and we prefer the small plates for sharing. Ceviche, pulpo, empanadas are some of our favorites. We'll be back soon! read more

Loved the breakfast buffet. Unlimited oysters? Ceviche for days? Loved it! Service is amazing. The second i finished a plate it was gone. Everyone was very professional. Classy sea vibes. Really feel this is a great place to have a fun dressed up brunch. read more

Caracol - Oysters and scallops - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

Amazing food, excellent service, and inviting bright modern decor. I can't believe it took me so long to finally eat here. I have been to all of Chef Hugo's properties over the years, and it's always excellent. The margaritas are insanely good, and every plate of food was beautiful and exciting. There are so many items on the menu, I would have to come here 20 more times to try all of it! Anyway, yes I have to come back, because there are so many plates I want to try. read more

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​Phenomenal dining experience! ​We had an incredible time at Caracol. The crawfish was easily the best I've ever had, and their attention to gluten-free options was a huge plus. We sampled several appetizers and two desserts, but the standout was definitely the beef skirt steak--it was succulent and absolutely to die for. ​We spent over two hours just relaxing, talking, and enjoying the atmosphere. The flavors are phenomenal and the service makes it easy to lose track of time. We will definitely be back! read more

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I have been wanting to try this, so my husband ordered their Thanksgiving meal. The turkey and ham were good, but I was disappointed in their brussel sprouts. Jalapeno cornbread and tiramsu was FIRE. I think the price was high for the portion, but I guess it beats cooking when you're tired. I have to try their happy hour or brunch! Definitely will put on my list to try. read more

This food is absolutely amazing. My date ate many things she never ate before. And she absolutely loved it all. Very fresh. High high quality. Very creative. Hugo Ortega is the master of quality restaurants in Houston !!!!! read more

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Stopped in for a nightcap & a lil snack! I tried their oysters which were good, a lil small but very tasty! I also need some hot sauce & some crackers or bread but I worked it out! read more

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The food was fantastic. And the looks is great and beautiful! We ate the Houston Restaurant week. Great choices - especially for vegetarians and gluten free. read more

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During my process in hunting a place down to host a work dinner event, I landed on Caracol with their unique coastal Mexican charm. It's in the Post Oak area and their valet is complementary, which is super nice. We arrive during lunch and we loved how everything was so bright in the restaurant, and our server was such a gem! She did such a great job, introducing the menu to us, recommending us dishes, and just a kind person in general! I only remembered to take a photo of one of the appetizers, but we ended up doing their two for 30 appetizer and each ordered an entrée which was more than enough food! The two appetizers we ordered was the tuna tostada and the ceviche. The tuna tostada was definitely a smaller portion than I was expecting. It was only three tiny tostada chips. However, it was phenomenal and the same can be said about the ceviche! This place is definitely a bit upscale so I guess you're paying more for the quality than the quantity. For my entrée, I chose to get the fried fish tacos, which had such an amazing coleslaw in it and was very crispy! Overall, it was such a great lunch and the service was amazing. We are very excited to host a dinner event there soon as well! read more

Caracol - CEVICHE DE CARACOL - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

A trip to Caracoal is always an adventure. The Ostiones Asado are a must try and you can't go wrong with the variety of dishes. Happy hour is the way to go! read more

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Came here for Houston Restaurant Weeks because it's always a win. Drinks were solid both alcoholic and non alcoholic. They always get this right. Service was top notch. Parking was in the garage behind and validated for free. Yay for a covered spot in this heat. Place is beautiful and the ambiance was on point per usual. The appetizers were all great. The potato taquitos were amazing. The squash soup was good too. Brisket enchiladas were tasty. The arrachera made me sad. It had this weird smoky burnt flavor like they had added smoke flavor on top of it. It was too much like it was too close to the burning wood as it was being cooked. My friend didn't even finish her meat and when she told the guy why, they comped it which was a really nice gesture. Passion fruit flan was delicious too. Overall a great meal and place and it wasn't crazy loud. read more

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Excellent food, quiet atmosphere and the air conditioning was perfect! No need to reach for a wrap. I ordered the white fish with mole which was absolutely delicious! Better than my Mexican mother could make! Work the price! read more

Extraordinary plates, well designed, executed perfectly. Extraordinary service and beautiful layout which you want to be there all day. read more

Caracol - Chicharron Calamari ... 5/5. Tiradito... very very good. Soft in acidity and creamy sauce! 5/5 - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

Went here for Mother's Day and can't say it was the best experience. There was a line out the door and the lady in line in front us said "they have no clue what they're doing." And she was right. We were able to get seated quickly because we had reservations but it was chaos inside. Wasn't at all a relaxed Mother's Day brunch that we were looking forward to. It was horribly overcrowded and hard to even walk over to get food from the buffet area. As for the food, it's comparable to a breakfast at a low/mid range all inclusive resort. There were dishes they ran out of but did not bother to refill. Lastly, they claim to validate parking and our waitress "validated" our parking ticket but we couldn't get out of the parking garage until we paid. Not assuming any bad intent and perhaps was an error. But overall, not the best experience and won't be returning. read more

We had the most amazing meal and service here 9 years ago, and I still remember it and realized I never reviewed it! Happy to see they are still open, I would definitely check it out again when we come back to Houston! read more

Caracol - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I hate to sound like an old grumpy man. . . but it takes a special experience for me to sit down and write a review. I don't do it often - mainly because there are so few dining experiences that move me to the point that I have to let others know. Caracol was one of those experiences - in the best possible way. On our visit, Caracol was offering a 4-course dinner (2 appetizer courses, a main dish, and dessert) for $75 per person. We took the bait. Good move on our part. First course was a crab meat tostada. It was delightful. Plenty of fresh crab meat and spiced to perfection. And the tostada itself? So good! Probably due to the fact that Caracol grinds their own corn and flour in house. They don't just make tortillas, they make their own masa. Outstanding! Next came 2 shrimp tacos. Crunchy, melt in your mouth, well seasoned, just right. At this point, we were starting to get full, but there was plenty more on the way. Main course was a 7-ounce ribeye served with an authentic Northern Mexican cheese enchilada. The enchilada was filled with fresh Mexican queso blanco (no yellow cheddar in sight) and topped with a delicious rojo sauce. One of the best I've had. The ribeye was perfectly cooked to medium rare, and it was topped with a smear of what tasted like chimichurri. Scrumptious. And don't forget to taste their beans and rice. Wonderful stuff. By the time dessert came out, we were fairly stuffed. But when someone places a homemade cookie topped with Mango mousse in front of you - you've got to try it. WOW. So good. Dessert was served with Mexican hot chocolate prepared table side. Yes, they make their own chocolate at Caracol, and it is beyond delicious. The manager asked if we had ever been to Caracol and we said no. So they decided to bring us an order of churros on the house. Friends, it is no exaggeration to say that these churros were on a whole other level. Light, fluffy on the inside, served hot and fresh. Melt in your mouth delicious. My wife ordered the optional "Drink Pairings" - they brought her one specialty cocktail with each course. We shared them. We were afraid that with the fresh fruit juices would make the drinks too sweet for our tastes. Nope. Each one was a balance of sweet fruit flavors that were tamed by smoky, spicy chipotle, tajin, and other spices. We liked the drinks - a lot. If you are in the Galleria area of Houston, and the thought of another "Prime Steakhouse" meal sounds kind of boring, try something different. Try something that will challenge your perception of what real Mexican food is. Spoil yourself in a place with excellent service. Challenge your taste buds with unexpected flavors and spices. You will be so glad you did. read more

Excellent service, great atmosphere, Delicious guacamole and fresh seafood. There's valet and self parking garage right above the restaurant, which the restaurant validates. read more

Caracol - From my table. - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Fresh seafood, wonderful service, another great restaurant from the Hugo's group. Duck with mole was DELICIOUS, would go back for that alone. The ceviche and tostadas were lovely. My least favorite dessert menu I've seen from this group so far, but that doesn't take away from how delicious the food is. There is a parking garage to park in around the corner and they validate parking inside the restaurant. read more

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Been here for happy hour and really enjoyed it so I thought I try out their Thanksgiving couple dinner set. Was really disappointed with the amount of protein that came for the price. Received only couple slices of ham and turkey which were really good. However, the sides were plenty but wasn't proportion to the proteins. The best side hands down was the jalapeño corn bread. The Brussels and sweet potato were okay. The tres leches were phenomenal! Would definitely order that again by itself. Overall, dinner was good but not sure for the price. Will come back for happy hour! read more

I came here again on NFL Draft night ordering the Chicken Enchiladas of the Day. Very delicious, great flavored chicken filling, great tasting cheese, great tasting red sauce n cream sauce on top as well as soft corn wraps. It was a bit sweet, tart and smoky all in one. The enchiladas weren't too greasy or wet like some can be either. The black beans were thick and savory while the rice was fresh and buttery like a pilaf almost. The service this time was good enough I can say. read more

Great restaurant with really nice woodwork, especially the Bar and the huge glass rack and the backbar shelving and cabinets. And of course Hugo Ortega is a fabulous cook and the food is excellent and exquisitely presented. read more

Amazing...just amazing...service food drinks, every single thing was fantastic! They have valet and a garage available. The ambiance was pampered, not pestered. Highly recommended. The grilled oysters & the pina colada margarita (which I didn't know was even a thing) were my stand outs for the meal. read more

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Another great Houston Restaurant Weeks dinner. Thanks to Jason D. and Zain R. for including us in your annual tradition. I've been to Caracol several times for their Sunday brunch but never for dinner, so I was really excited to experience HRW here. We came with a group of 9 and were promptly seated with our reservation. Tip: happy hour is Mon-Fri 3:00-6:30pm with good deals on cocktails, beer, wine, and bites. So of course we came a little early before our reservation to enjoy this! Caracol's HRW dinner menu ($55) is a little different: rather than selecting your choice of dish for each course, they have 3 prix fixe menus that have each course's dish pre-selected. The first focuses on meat, the second on seafood, and the third for vegetarians. If you want to swap any of the dishes for another, I believe there is a small upcharge. There is an optional wine pairing that comes with 3 different wines for an additional $33. I went with the Nuestro Estilo ("our style") menu, the one focused on meat. First course was the same across all of the menus, elote soup with plantain empanadas. I enjoyed the corn flavor of the soup and dipped the cheese-filled empanadas in it, which made for a good pairing. My second course was fish quesadillas. For quesadillas, these were actually much smaller than I expected. They were basically mini-empanadas with a bit of fish, served with tomatillo salsa. It did come with a small side salad though. My friends' shrimp & octopus ceviche did look like a more generous portion however, and came with a side of tortilla chips. My third course was carne asada with mole. I am a big fan of mole, so this was part of the reason I went with this menu. The carne asada cut was strip steak, so was not as tender as I would've liked and a bit tough to cut. You do have the option of upgrading your cut of meat to tenderloin for an additional $20. The mole sauce was on the lighter side in terms of boldness. I did appreciate the scalloped potatoes and spinach that were served with this course. The final course of dessert was chocolate & chipotle cake served with coffee-cinnamon ice cream. The cake was very fluffy and had the consistency of a mousse. It was on the richer side, so the ice cream balanced it well. I really liked the coffee flavors in the ice cream. Maybe the caffeine boost we need after this grand tour of food! Service was a little slow. While our HRW dinners had 4 separate courses, each one came out quite far apart from the others. After we all had finished each course and the plates were cleaned up, we waited at least 15 minutes before the following course came out. Also, even though the menus indicated no split checks, our server Victor agreed to split them but warned it would take about 5 minutes. It took much longer than this. He seemed confused on how to split the checks, but we all got the HRW dinner so I'm not sure why it took so long. At least 20 minutes to get the checks split, and then another 15 to get our cards back. Our entire dinner lasted over 2.5 hours. Caracol (and Chef Hugo) proved themselves again in the quality of their food. While I enjoyed this HRW dinner, I'll surely be back for brunch where I can sample a variety of their offerings (and be it my only meal of the day). read more

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We got the campechana, the ostiones asados, and the mariscos Al ajillo. The campechana was super fresh and served with chips, definitely satisfied my ceviche craving. (8/10) The ostiones asados were a bit too cheesy in my opinion, I felt like the toppings overpowered the flavor of the oyster instead of complemented it. (5/10) The Mariscos Al ajillo was very tasty and the seafood was fresh and they have a generous portion, enough for 2. (8/10) Overall, it is on the pricier side but it was worth a try for houston restaurant week. The service was good and the staff were very attentive. Also, the parking is garage parking. read more

Caracol - Mariscos al Ajillo - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I had been begging my fiancé to have a date night and it turned out this is just what we needed! The food was incredible and that were very helpful with the menu. All of our food was fresh and very flavorful. My fiancé had been here a handful of times before and had had similar service. We will be back! read more

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