Came by with a group for a weekday lunch. Located near uptown business district, parking is available via valet or a parking garage. Note that the restaurant will waive the parking garage fee if you give then your ticket. The food here is an upscale seafood/Mexican inspired style. Interior is modern and corporate. We got a few apps, with the favorite being the ceviche and grilled oysters. The squid chicharron app was a little bland. The mussels were a little disappointing with the actual portion size but the soup base was very delicious. Mains were solid in terms of shrimp and pork tacos. Flavor was good and the food was well cooked. The burger was however disappointing. The seasoning was bland and the bun was a little bit stale. Overall, seems like a solid upscale option for the area that focuses more on the seafood trend. Pricing is definitely for the higher end price point. read more

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This is for HRW: The service was good, but the food just left a lot to be desired. Pork was super salty and i missed the concept of Mole in the dessert. I didn't take a photo of the Brussel sprout sope, which was good, but a tad small read more

Caracol - Pork carnitas on a salad of stewed greens and cheesy potsto gratin - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Caracol was a nice spot for a group brunch, but for the price I was not overly impressed. One thing I did like was the availability of a full vegan / vegetarian menu - not many places do that! However, my $20 deconstructed enchiladas was basically just a handful of chopped vegetables with queso fresco, I left still feeling hungry. They had a nice selection of oysters, so I would recommend those! Overall, it was an average experience. read more

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Had a great experience here. At our initial reservations we asked for outdoors though since it was a cooler night they had covered and enclosed there outdoor seating so figured that was the same as sitting indoors so switched to indoors. Drinks - I'm more of bourbon/whiskey drinker so my eyes automatically hunts out those types of concoctions. At first glance I had seen the old fashioned which I normally get, but had just came from the Cellar which had a pretty good one there. Try something different so I read the Bruno DF and it had a drink I used to have when I spent time in Spain called Licor 43. Very sweet syrupy drink on its own, but they said it was only a small amount added so I tried it. I would rate it 3/5. Most of the ppl with me seemed to have been truly enjoying their drinks so I decided to try one of the ones they had. It has mezcal in it and i am definitely not a fan of mezcal, but gave it a try. Wowzers it was delicious and spicy and rimmed with chamoy and only a smoke hint of smoke - Shared Spice definitely the drink of choice for the table. Bruno DF - 3/5 Shared Spice - 5/5 From there we family style the rest of our dishes. Will say if you get any meat dishes definitely order them before the seafood dishes. Just a way to elevate the food tasting experience. We tried the short rib in the midst and it was good, but definitely would have been better at the beginning. If ordered first Costillas A Las Brasas - 4/5, after seafood 2.5/5 Camarones A La Lena - 3.5/5 Ceviche De Chile Canario - ***6/5 delicious we ordered these 2 dishes 3 times Ostiones Asados - ***6/5 Enchiladas de Pollo w/mole - 5/5 Pulpo Ahumado - 3.5/5 - missing something, tortillas it came with definitely diminished any flavor it had Tostadas De Atun Crudo - 4/5 be smarter than us...lay tuna flat so you can have a fighting chance of making a mess Caballeros Pobres - 4.5/5 thoughts Bread Pudding Tres Leches - 3.5/5 Parking Valet or Free Garage parking with ticket validation. Warning don't put ticket after its been validated near phone or it will get invalidated. read more

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I came to Caracol on a busy (Astros game) night and we conveniently parked in the (free!) parking garage to the right of the restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised at that option given the park of town we were in - figured we would need to valet or street park. Since it was a busier day, we ended up sitting in the bar section. We were told we could wait there until our reservation (granted we arrived very early) so we decided to get some appetizers to start. We never got updated on our reservation and ended up spending the rest of the night at the bar section at one of the high tops. Our servers were excellent, and while it seemed like there were two servers attending to that area, both were able to assist us any time we needed. NOW. On to the food. We ordered a LOT and it was ALL good. Apps: lobster ceviche (10/10, I don't even like lobster like that but it was so good), taquitos (can't go wrong there but not super unique), and the soup (a little creamy for my taste). The pulpo ahumado was one of my favorite dishes, especially with the blue corn tortillas. We also got the ostiones asados and I really felt that the cheesy breadcrumbs on top complemented the oysters themselves. For the meals, we got the duck and higo mole (pato con mole de higos), costillas de res, callo de hacha and the the carne asada con mole negro. All entrees were very large portions, so if you don't eat a lot I suggest sharing! Maybe it's also because we went a little crazy with ordering ahhahaha. For dessert, we had the el coco (which was fun to break with the hammer) and they also offered a birthday dessert for my boyfriend's mom. Overall the experience was great and I especially liked the blue corn tortillas as they tasted handmade and fresh! The front desk service could use some work but the food and overall experience was great. I'd definitely come back for brunch or another special occ read more

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Amazing service, great food and good ambience if youre looking for a date night spot. read more

Caracol - Great food and highly recommended if you are looking for a a quiet setting. - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

Brought my mom in for Mother's Day. We had a reservation, so there was no wait time. Our server was pretty nice. It was a busy night, so he had a bunch of tables to serve. We started off the dinner with a Taquito de Langosta (lobster taco) it was absolutely delicious. It's only one taco, so you definitely have to get multiple for the table. We also ordered guacamole and chips, their quac and salsa were very good! Then, for our entrees, my dad ordered the ceviche de coco he said it was delicious, just small portioned. My sister ordered the enchiladas of the day, and she said they were good, nothing crazy. My mom and I both ordered the cremoso de mariscos, and it was OUTSTANDING. The lobster and the shrimp were cooked and seasoned perfectly. Lastly, the churros and hot chocolate were very tastey, they were not too sweet, just perfect! read more

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If you're looking for a lively and flavorful dining experience in Houston's Uptown foodie scene, Caracol is a must-visit. This vibrant Coastal Mexican kitchen offers an abundance of fish and seafood dishes that will leave you craving for more. Caracol is also a great choice for business meetings, as the ambience is just as lively as the staff who are attentive throughout your meal. The drinks were upbeat and served frequently, making for a great addition to the meal. During our visit, I opted for the 2-for-$30 lunch appetizer deal which was perfect to whet the appetite in preparation for the main dishes. The Pulpo Ahumado, in particular, stood out as it was meaty and palatable - a must-try for seafood lovers. The Enchiladas Del Dia were also a standout dish, smothered in flavor and bursting with authentic Mexican spices. Overall, Caracol is a great choice for anyone looking for a flavorful and lively dining experience in Houston's Uptown foodie scene. The only thing that kept this from a 5-star review are the dish portions for the price tags on their menu! read more

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*BRUNCH REVIEW* During a recent visit to Houston, my friend picked Caracol as our Sunday brunch spot and it was a selection that absolutely knocked it out the park. The service as absolutely superb. Everyone we interacted with from the Valet to the hostess to our amazing server - was efficient, friendly, and completely accommodating. More importantly, however, the food was AMAZING. It took me a while to decided on an entree because there were SO MANY options that sounded amazing. And every dish I was being served at tables around me looked absolutely delicious. After much deliberation I settled on the Pollo Pibil dish and my friend the Arrachera con Huevo dish with a shared flan dessert between us. When I say the food was AMAZING - it's no exaggeration. My chicken dish was hands down one of the best meals I've had a Mexican restaurant. AND the serving is so huge that I had enough left over for dinner later that night. Add Caracol to your Houston dining list. You won't regret it! read more

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Took a colleague to Caracol for a business dinner meeting. As usual the ambiance is wonderful. I have been to Caracol as well as all of Ortega's restaurants many times and I go to Caracol every year for my birthday. On this occasion I was somewhat disappointed. After raving about the Pulpo appetizer to my colleague we ordered it. What was brought to the table left me wondering what had happens to the quality. The appetizer was mostly small potato wedges, onion pieces and small chunks of sausage and VERY FEW pieces of Pulpo. So sad. We also ordered the scallops and these were to standard and tasty as always. We also ordered the lobster taco and this was the winner! Wow!!!! I could have eaten 5 of these. Anyway, i hope they return to their delicious Pulpo. read more

10/10!! Love this place. I can't think of not one thing I didn't enjoy. The corn bisque is to die for!!!! The oysters are truly so delicious I could finish a full order by myself and wouldn't feel bad about it! We came for happy hour, left way after dinner because we couldn't stop trying more things on the menu. The Cauliflower and Chicharrón Calamari really sealed the deal for us. The flavors are rich! Wish I remember the name of our server, she was attentive and patient as we asked a lot of questions and suggested most of the plates to us. Beautiful bar area and dining room had soft lighting and upbeat music. Owner if you see this, sponsor me I'm your biggest fan. Haha read more

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My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our two year anniversary. Our server, Steve, was very spectacular and had the BEST customer service skills we've ever had. He truly created an unforgettable experience. Our food came on time and was so delicious, he was very pleasant in greeting us, and walking us through the Caracol journey. He even made our anniversary more special with the complimentary sweet dessert and Prosecco to toast our occasion. *The ceviche de caracol melts in your mouth with blooming flavors from the pineapple and papaya. One of the BEST ceviches I've ever tried. We will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu! If you're in Houston/Galleria area, this is the place to go! read more

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I love this restaurant! The food, ambiance, and service are top notch. They have a wide variety of food choices. I especially love the options they have for vegetarians and vegans. The guacamole, salsa, and chips are amazing as well as the mushroom tamale with mole. The refried beans are some of my favorite beans in the city of Houston. Do yourself a favor and go to Caracol. You will not be disappointed! read more

While in Houston with family, my sweet sister in law made a dinner reservation for us at Caracol. Thank goodness she had the foresight to reserve a table, because this is a hotspot. We valeted and made our way inside. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and as it was a little chilly, we chose to sit inside. The hostesses were very welcoming and our table was ready so we were seated. The food: We ordered the crispy roasted potatoes and they were delicious!! I could've eaten the whole bowl! We also ordered the roasted Brussels sprouts. They were very good, but were sort of basic. I decided to order an appetizer - campechano estilo - good, but I found the sauce a little sweet, and a small plate - calamar y pulpo ahumado - delicious! Tender calamari, octopus and other yummy grilled seafood. And the house made tortillas were killer good. Oh, and it was happy hour too. There were several small bites and cocktails on the menu that sounded amazing. I went with a $7 mojito. I love a drink special, especially when it's this refreshing. This place is hopping for a reason. Good stuff. read more

Caracol - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was excited to try the Sunday brunch buffet, but was left very disappointed. Most of the food was cold and I noticed flies on and around the dessert table. read more

Warning! The 4 and 1/2 star here is completely misleading. I do not know about the lunch and dinner but the brunch is No.No.No. I made the assumption that because this restaurant was located in post oak and with all the great reviews that it would be somewhat classy and I made big fat mistake. 90% of the patrons were in jeans, T-shirts and sneakers, so if you are planning on going, go in your casual best. The restaurant is small and cramped. You are constantly bumping into people, making your way back with your plate. The seats are uncomfortable and cheap. Add some Asian decor and you have yourself an classy Asian buffet down Hilcroft. The worst part of it all was the food. Mexican food at it's worst! Buffet didn't have great options, the salsa is too spicy (no mild options available) , the desserts were just as bad. The ONLY reason you are paying $42 per person is because of the unlimited oyster bar, even that was a thumbs down. The oysters were not chilled, just sitting on ice, they were covered with pico. They had ceviche and spoons of scallops that had a fishy taste, like they scrapped it from the bottom of the ocean. If you are a foodie and have high expectations on food, STAY AWAY! 2 people, food and drinks $101.00 tab, money down the drain. read more

Our server was so attentive and sweet! He recommended the fresh guava juice and it was the perfect refresher to start off Sunday brunch. The restaurant was bustling and we were seated right next to the live band! There was a vast array of seafood, Mexican breakfast/lunch dishes, and even fresh Mexican dessert. I wish I had a bigger stomach to try more food so I was honestly torn on what to eat because everything was just so delicately curated and fresh. I'd definitely recommend coming for special occasions and celebrations. read more

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A fancy spot just on the other side of a shopping plaza! Upon arrival, we were seated right away (made reservations for 6pm on a Saturday) and they had very tasteful decorations (a few weeks before Halloween). The service was awesome - we were offered the choice of still or sparkling water upon seating. We took advantage of the HH and ordered some items from the HH menu and appetizers from the main menu. Started off with a half dozen of Ostiones En Su Concha, raw oysters. They were okay! To be fair, we recently went on a trip to Cabo and had really delicious oysters so it was not a fair comparison. However, we were telling our server of a habanero sauce we had in Mexico and he brought a little dish out for us to try. I felt these were a bit on the small side but nothing we can do about it! Tostadas de Campechana - I thought these little shrimp tostadas were excellent! It was a big pile of seafood on a little chip so upon first bite, everything fell over but the flavor was so fresh, I liked it a lot. Ceviche de coco - a unique ceviche dish in a half coconut shell. The snapper was soft without being so soft I fell apart when it was picked up. The tangerine added a tang that cut through the coconut cream. Yum. Tostadas de atun crudo - refreshing little bite but with a big ol piece of tuna atop. It was a fresh bite with flavors that complimented the fish well. We asked our server what tapas style dishes we had to try on the menu and he recommended the ceviche de coco and the ceviche de Chile Canario so we got that one as well. The sauce in this dish was awesome, I used the chunks of snapper to sop of the sauce. The bites of tomato and cucumber added a pop of freshness to the creamy sauce. We finished off the meal with a great slice of.. I believe it was a tres leches. I honestly can't remember the name but I know it was delicious. The menu had a great variety. Service was on point. I would recommend for a special occasion or a nice dinner! read more

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Amazing food, service, and ambiance. I ordered striped bass, it was fantastic! I highly recommend and will come back here when I'm in Houston area. read more

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Date night for the hubby and I, boy am I so happy he chose this restaurant! All the food we ate here was out of this world! We started with the popular Ostiones Asados (wood-roasted oysters) and the ceviche for our appetizers. Then for our entrees we split the Mariscos Al Ajillo and the Callo de Hacha (scallops). Everything was so tasty and super fresh. The sauces in the dishes complimented the seafood so well. For our dessert we chose the churros; best churros I've had in years. And to make it even better it comes with the Mexican hot cocoa! I really like the concept of this restaurant; Mexican Seafood. You won't find this just anywhere you go. Everyone has to experience this at least once. I can't wait for another date night here. Tip: Parking is free with validation. read more

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It was my first time experiencing the Sunday brunch buffet. The food was decent but I wasn't amazed by anything in particular to make the price worth it. Not many kid friendly items unless you count the dessert bar which had great options. Our waiter was awesome especially with a big party like ours & offered recommendations. The tables seemed too clustered and the food sections seemed too chaotic without efficient crowd flow. Unfortunately, I don't think it would be worth trying again. read more

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Definitely want to try again. Just classy and service is prompt. The ceviche Caracol was excellent. Grilled oysters were good but probably wouldn't order again. . The coco dessert was fun to break open but only really enjoyed the shell. Inside was ok. Nice place and atmosphere. read more

Everything is fresh, perfectly timed, and the staff is lovely. The private room experience was glorious! Cannot recommend this place enough. From ceviche to margaritas, every possible shrimp dish, and overwhelmingly delicious dessert. we feasted like monarchs. read more

While in Houston for work, I was craving Mexican seafood and found Caracol. First, it's not super visible from the street and very hidden but I love that it's a hidden gem. It's super modern inside and has a beach y vibe but with a mina minimalist vibe. I was in luck that it was Houston restaurant week and so I got to pick from that menu. It was a ton of food. This was a unique restaurant as it wasn't your traditional Mexican cuisine, there was not a lot of citrus or spice but everything was delicious and savory. Can't wait to come back read more

Came here on a Sunday for their brunch buffet! The atmosphere here is so welcoming/relaxing. There might be a long wait so I would recommend making reservations. They offer both inside/outdoor seatings as well as the bar (first come basis). This place is a more upscale Mexican restaurant and offers oysters as well (so damn good). They offer live music on Sunday and the vibes are so chill. I haven't tried their dinner menu yet, so I can only speak for their Sunday brunch. Come check out this beautiful restaurant! Valet is available and free, they only get tips so make sure you bring cash! read more

Caracol - BlackBerry mojito - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Good ambience. Food was ok. May be we ordered the wrong dishes. Will give it another shot someday and update review.

Happy hour is menu has great options for both food and drinks. Love the ambience also

Beautiful place, with great food and good service! You really can't ask for a more from a restaurant. If you like fish and seafood this is the perfect place for you. I will be back for sure. read more

Husband and I had a date night here on a Friday. The food was 10/10...everything from the appetizers, main course, and desserts were delicious. The drinks, while a bit pricey were spectacular. The service was PERFECTION! Everyone was extremely attentive and friendly, without being intrusive. They were efficient and timely. They have valet parking available and also the parking garage, which is directly behind the restaurant. The restaurant provides a complimentary voucher for the parking too. So it's free! Nice touch, indeed. Highly recommend! read more

We came here for their specialty Dia de los Muertos fixed-menu dinner, including an elote tamale, braised short rib main, and bread pudding dessert (mine was subbed for the churro dessert since they ran out of the bread pudding). We sat out on the patio and had plenty of space - we were the only ones out there since it was a bit drippy and chilly. Service was friendly, but sometimes sporadic - I think it is hard to manage tables both indoors and outside. Overall, the food was high quality and tasty. Sort of blows my mind that a fancy place like this doesn't include chips and salsa for the table like almost every other Mexican/Tex-Mex place in town...guess that is not the vibe here (you can order some as an app for $$). This is a good spot to come if you are looking for an elevated, fancy Mexican dining experience. read more

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Came here this past weekend with some friends for dinner. Food was great, waiter and servers were friendly. There's only a thin line keeping this place from delivering a 5-Star experience. So here's my verdict: Let's start with the food. For dinner, I decided on the Canita de Puerco, bacon wrapped pork shank on top of mole with carrots on the side. The entire dish was incredibly delectable! The pork shank was perfection. The meat was seasoned well and very tender; the meat basically fell apart with my fork and just slid off the bone with total ease. All complementing accents were well. The mole added a nice balanced flavor and wasn't overpowering and the multiple colored carrots were not only pretty on the plate but were cooked perfectly and tasted great. They also brought out some soft tortilla shells. It was like having some elegant pork tacos. My wife got the enchiladas of the day, brisket; which I almost got myself. The enchiladas also tasted great. For dessert, we split Churros. The churros were great, nice crunch on the outside with a nicely soft inside. It came with some chocolate ice cream which was brought out to us a little melted but that's ok and some homemade hot chocolate which was excellent, very rich. The service from the waiter was good. He was friendly and helpful with our questions about menu items and one of my friend's Gluten-Free needs. There's only one negative to the service. They don't split checks. There was 6 of us, 3 couples so we needed 3 checks. Upon request, we were told they don't split. They did, however, accept multiple payment methods so we had to do a little math to get it figured out. At this expensive of a restaurant, I don't see why they can't accommodate something even cheap restaurants can do. But whatever, just be prepared for that. Otherwise, good experience. read more

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At first I was worried as the restaurant was empty on arrival at 7 but slowly filled up as it got later. Everything was fabulous. Loved the ceviche, chips, salads, entrees and desserts. Sangria was very good! Highly recommend and can't wait to go back. read more

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My colleagues and I came here this evening on the recommendation from a local since we were in town for a work conference. We were very impressed with the food, beverages, service, and atmosphere. We would highly recommend Caracol to those living and visiting the Houston area! First, I would highly recommend Caracol for the service. We were assisted by a number of servers throughout the evening, and each were extremely helpful and charismatic. In addition, the extra touch when making some of the speciality drinks (i.e. La Puraza or La Chocolat) really goes the extra mile. In addition, the food here is excellent. We especially liked the Mariscos al Ajillo and Calle de Hacho. The cauliflower itself was particularly excellent, and the cook and accompaniment to the scallops in both dishes could not be beat. We also ordered the Ostiones Asados (along with a few other items), and also enjoyed this dish. However, I felt that this ended up tasting like a chipotle spiced "oyster parmesan" due to the tomato and bread crumbs where the oyster was a bit lost. Not a disappointing dish as I still enjoyed it, but I preferred the other more seafood-forward dishes more. For dessert, we enjoyed both the flan and the churros. The hot chocolate was also a wonderful end to the meal. If I find myself back in the Houston area anytime soon, I look forward to returning to Caracol for the enjoyable food and fantastic service! read more

You. Know. I jus wasn't impressed. Looked amazing. Ambiance. Very nice. Playing beautiful. Service amazing. Food. Jus didn't hit like it should have. I enjoyed it. But I couldn't rave about it. Things felt so..... Eh... Nothing popped! Nothing screamed! No fire works . I didn't feel the depth . I should have felt new flavors developing as I chewed. I should have felt the development as the meals went on. read more

First timer and by no means the last. Best oysters I've had in a long time. Definitely better than Clark's and Willie G's. Other food items ordered were the ribs which the table raved about and some type of beef enchiladas. Looked like short rib maybe? I took a bite and it was delicious. The dessert was pure chocolatey decadence. Decent cocktails except the espresso martini. I switched to dirty martinis after that first one and they were much better. They need a little help at the bar - although the elite bartenders probably work at night. This woman seemed slightly overwhelmed and it wasn't even very busy when we first arrived. It took 20 minutes to take my drink order (we started at the bar and my friends and I were the only ones at the bar) and another 10 to make the drink. I asked if she could make a creamy espresso martini and she literally put cream in the espresso martini. Yikes! Pro tip: stock some bottles of Godiva liqueur. That's how you make a creamy espresso martini: 2 oz Tito's, 2 oz espresso, 1 oz kahlua, 1 oz Godiva liqueur, shake! (yw* lol) Otherwise, nice ambience, good service and a really fun time. Adding this restaurant into rotation! Excited to have a pretty new place to drink and dine:) read more

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Cleanliness: 5 Quality: 5 Service: 4.5 Taste: 5 Updating my review because of the new menu item (Braised Short Rib) that is only available on the restaurant week menu! It's served with a plantain stuff with fresh cheese from Oaxaca, on a bed of mole and side of Brussels sprouts. I ordered it a la carte (as the staff was so generous to let me) and so I got 2 plantains but I noticed that those who went with the HRW only got one plantain. The taste rating for this dish is 5 out of 5! To give you an idea of just how tender the rib is, I ate the entire meal with just my fork and never once used a knife. The savory mole and the sweet and creamy plantain work together so well for a balanced experience of flavors. Luckily, HRW has been extended till the end of the month. If you're wondering what is the dish to try and happen to be a omnivore, then this review is here to recommend the Braised Short Rib dish. read more

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Another great time at our favorite Mexican restaurant with good food, drinks, service and ambiance. read more

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This was a very nice dinner spot! I went during restaurant week and was pleasantly surprised. I've always heard good things about this restaurant but I finally got to try it. I'm not a huge fan of oysters, I prefer cooked oysters, but these oysters were amazing! I only wish they served more. I ordered the catch of the day, I can't remember what fish it was, it wasn't familiar to me, but it was tasty! The portion size was on the smaller side, but it did come with a bowl of rice. I would definitely love to check it out again! read more

Caracol - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Houston, Texas

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amazing food ! I love the style of the restaurant. Service was good too they were really nice :) read more

I love trying new restaurants , and this one was at the top of my list. We made reservations and when we got there we were seated right away. The restaurant is beautiful and the service was fantastic. We decided to order numerous appetizers instead of a single meal in order to try as much food as possible. All the food was well prepared, fresh, and delicious . The only thing that wasn't good was the water down sangria, but other than that this was a great place! read more

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