First off - since 1911 - the heritage alone = a must try. Nice spot with views of the Gulf. While dated (one might think) - it just adds to the charm and experience from my perspective. Our granddaughter on the other-hand - (9) - exclaimed upon walking in that she thought she was on the Titanic ; ) I found the wood finishes and vintage photos rich and nicely done. Granddaughter thoroughly loved her oysters for dinner and our grandsons raved about their dishes too. My wife and I shared the Gulf Shrimp and Catfish platters - both fresh and fried to perfection. Appetizers of fried crab fingers and the lump crab meat with avocado had us from the start along with the starter bread - which one could eat their weight in - so pace yourself - wonderfully delicious. Pleasant attentive staff and hostesses. Highly recommend you enjoy this Galveston landmark ! read more

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Lovely historic restaurant... Beautiful decorations, with historic elements abound in this gorgeous location right on the sea-wall!!! Good service, Geraldo was kind, courteous, efficient, and provided nice recommendations based on our ask. Hearing his growth from greeter to busser to bartender and server is such a great story, and one that shows a restaurant that cares about their people. The food however is a 2-Star at best! Expectations at this level are extremely high, and crunchy undercooked rice, seared tuna with no sear, and a burger without a toasted bun for my son... just doesn't cut it. They fixed the burger with adding a bit of cheese, but didn't replace the rice on my BLACKENED YELLOWFIN TUNA, unsure if the concern was escalated properly, as we were in a later seating. This place is basically a good deep fryer place, as the only people who truly loved their meals were my wife with the FAMOUS FRIED PLATTER and my younger son with the kids chicken nuggets... Even my meal where the fried potato wedges were the highlight and not the fish. To their credit, the portions are very good, and the TWO CHOCOLATE MOUSSE was divine.... I think the kids polished the glass to a radiant shine! It's unfortunate, as this had all the makings of an epic family night out... only to become a bit of a downer. read more

Gaido's - Seared yellow tuna - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

My shrimp salad was great. The Chicken Parmesan I had was on the salty side. My two friends enjoyed their fish dishes. Servers were great but it did take a while for the main dishes to come out. Large windows that provide a great view of the sea. Not sure if I'd come again, prices were steep. read more

Serving amazing seafood since 1911. I always look forward to coming to Galveston and when I do I have to come eat at Gaidos. We enjoyed their herb bread and ordered the onion stack and gumbo for starters. I cannot say enough amazing things about their pecan crusted mahi-mahi. They have many toppings that can be added, but I love the beurre blanc sauce with shrimp or crab. My mom loved the shrimp stuffed with crab cakes and my hubby had the shrimp and grits. Dining is like walking back in time with a white tablecloths and music from the 40s 50s and even some current Jazz. I wish I could tell you about the many different desserts that they offer but I was just too full. They do have a full bar and extensive wine list. Gaidos is a piece of Texas history which must be experienced. read more

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Historic. Classy. Oldest continuously operating restaurant in Galveston, started in 1911. Current building isn't quite that old but pre-World. War II, 1936 vintage. The dining here is more of an old school experience, and expect it to take time. The bread they bring out before the appetizers is delicious. The waiters are in starched white shirts with ties and black vests. surf and turf, seafood steaks and a couple of pasta dishes. The onion stack appetizer was universally praised as the way onion rings should be, with a spicy horseradish sauce. The Gumbo was fine but had a lot of cooked celery... my wife thought that was heavenly. The mains were outstanding. I had to adjust my pallet to the shrimp and grits with copious amounts of blue cheese and roasted zuchinni, reflecting the blend of German and Italian heritage. The pecan crusted Mahi Mahi was unique. This place is not Sea Galley, it is a chef's zone. pricey but worth it. read more

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I normally take photos of anything & everything but I DEVOURED it all before I could. I did take a photo of the beautiful Gulf! Service was slower (island time? lol) but it was quite alright with us since it was a holiday & nowhere to be! We are a younger family of 3 so it was time well spent not being at home. This was our first time to Gaido's, 468983479th time to Galveston. What a treat it was to not have any expectations! The seafood was beyond fresh tasting. The staff was friendly & patient. Highly recommend if you want local seafood & want to support local! :) read more

Gaido's - Gulf view from Gaido's :) - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

We have been told by many people that you have to try Gaidos. But, many people have also said it's a tourist trap. Well we did and it was sub par at best. The shrimp bisque was so horrible I couldn't eat it. It actually tasted like thick horrible tomato soup. The crab cake was so full of shell plus the sauce on top was just sour and nasty. Husband had the special red fish. He could hardly eat it, too char grilled and mushy. The a-gratin potatoes were sub par at best. We could tell they weren't "real" potatoes. Everything came out so fast that honestly it wasn't hot but just luke warm. The waiter wasn't that great either. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND FIND A BETTER PLACE!! read more

Gaido's - Jumbo crab cake, shrimp bisque, bread w olive oil and herbs, a-gratin potatoes, special for the night red fish. - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

Gaido's is one of the oldest and most famous restaurants in Texas and also usually makes it way on many best restaurant 'lists', so just ignore the 3.7 rating it currently has. This building has been remodeled many times, and it shows on both the inside and out. I've visited a handful of times over the years, but each time the food is always memorable and delicious. On a recent visit, I was actually one of the last customers to even arrive before closing. The hostess indicated it would take 45 mins to get a table even though the restaurant clearly had numerous open tables. Maybe they were just short staffed, but we decided to sit at the bar area for immediate service. It didn't turn out to be any quicker as it took a while for a server to come take our drink order, then even longer to take our meal order. From then, it took nearly 45 mins to bring out the entrees, which was absolutely ridiculous, and we almost walked out and just ate somewhere else. However, we decided to stay, and the food did finally come out, and it tasted so delicious. We were actually very glad we waited as strange as that seems. Gaido's is just one of those type places. read more

What a gem. The Red snapper was so fresh and the lump crab topper was delicious. Try their Lemon Radberry Martini...so good. Sinatra music playing so nice. Service was outstanding. This place is a must visit when on Galveston island. read more

Gaido's - Red snapper - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

This place is a true establishment. The service is four star all the way from the time you walk in until the time you leave. Excellent! I love the old world feel and the vintage pictures on the wall that tell the story of the island. The food is good. I love the homemade salad dressings. The steak was good and sides were plenty to share. The only true disappointment was the gumbo which had small frozen shrimp and gummy rice. Everything else was on point! It is a great location to celebrate rate a special event. read more

Gaido's - Blackened shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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1/3/2026: Very pleased with our dining experience. Victor was a wonderful waiter. The portions are large enough to split. The decor is steeped with history of the Gaido family. The restaurant was clean. The linen tablecloths make it feel even more fancy. We were dressed in business casual attire, but others came in wearing shorts. As we are having a very warm "winter" here in the south, I think shorts and flipflops work anywhere, especially a beachside restaurant. My friend and I split the crab avocado appetizer and then we split the grilled shrimp entree. Everything was wonderful! We had a party of 4 in our group. In all my travels to Galveston, I cannot believe I have never been to Gaido's. What a treat! It's funny.. I've been to their gift shop located in the restaurant but this was first time eating at said restaurant. Kind of backwards. Ha! The gift shop is really nice, so don't forget to stop in there after or before dining. read more

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Gaidos is old school cool! We came here to celebrate my birthday dinner, and we both ordered from the Restaurant Week menu. We started of with calamari and it was lightly breaded and delicious. For dinner, we had gumbo for an appetizer and it was delicious. He had the bacon-wrapped shrimp, and I had blackened Mahi Mahi with crawfish topping. Yum! Our server Darryl took great care of us, too. He paced the meal just right so we had a lovely evening. read more

Gaido's - Pecan pie à la mode - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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If you're ever visiting Galveston, I highly recommend a visit to Gaido's! They've been around since 1911 and still going strong. My experience here at Gaido's was what makes me want to come back over and over again. From service to food, to the overall experience. You're greeted with soft complimentary bread and olive oil in herbs. Love a good soft bread that can soak up herb-y olive oil goodness. They have an excellent menu with fresh and hot seafood dishes that make you want to come back. Spinach and Crab dip - whoa. I loved this dip so much. I'm a huge fan of spinach dip, and when it's fresh, its even better. There were huge chunks of crab meat that just made it worth the money. They did not skimp out. Chargrilled oysters - I've never had a chargrilled oyster to the point where I wanted to drink out of the shell. These oysters are a must have. They sitting in a sizzle bubble of butter, filled with garlic, herbs, and Parmesan. I literally drank it up. Redfish on the halfshell - I was persuaded to get this dish and I'm so glad I did. The redfish is so tender, the flavors they had were out of this world. I'm now a huge fan of redfish on the half shell. Once you've had it good, you don't go back. Peach bellini - I'm not much a drinker but I loved this drink so much. It as peachy, frozen, and delectable Mojito - Refreshing, not to strong, just a perfect drink Pecan Pie - look I do not like pecan pie, but I felt compelled to get it. Even the server highly recommend pecan pie. The moment I took my first bite, I was shocked. It was soft, It was sponge-like, I even said out lout "This is the best pecan pie I've ever had and I don't even like Pecan Pie." I think about it often too. Experience at Gaido's is a special one and I highly recommend making reservations. read more

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In 2013, I swore I would never return to Gaido's. Seems in that time I've softened a bit and while in Galveston decided to give them a second chance. After all, one of the best appetizers I've ever had came from this kitchen. This time the restaurant is fully staffed as we arrive just after before noon. Don't know if there are still issues between lunch and dinner service. Greeted in a timely manner, I immediately order the Crabmeat Cheesecake. I had a similar dish in NOLA awhile back that didn't compare to Gaido's version. And, it seems looking back a photo comparison this is an improved version. Every bite savored even chewed a bit slower for the pleasure of this sweet and savory dish. Didn't have a big plan for the rest of the meal but she had the Calamari and a small salad with Ranch. I kept the Crabmeat menu going with the Shrimp Stuffed option. Perhaps my only complaint was lack of side options. I realize this is an old school restaurant but Parmesan topped Tomatoes, Steamed Asparagus (had it the day before), and tater wedges didn't exactly excite. But, there wasn't Rice Pilaf (boring) so there's that. I actually drove all the way over from Austin area to eat at another restaurant. Don't know why I exactly switched up my plan but I'm glad I gave Gaido's a shot at redemption. Congratulations on your recent James Beard win for American Classics. read more

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I have come here once i was a child and always had so many memories of the food and the service. We arrived a little early for our reservation but they sat us early. Tables set just like i remembered and my son loved having his own water in a wine glass. We got the famous bread and herbs in oil. We ordered my son the grilled chicken and it came with rice and fruit. They sent out salmon at first on accident but it didn't bother us because they let us keep it. My pecan crusted fish was so good. They said Mahi was not available - out of season maybe? So i got the snapper. It doesn't come with sides so we ordered the baked potato which was big enough to my husband and I and they stuffed it full of toppings. The only thing that disappointed me was no lemon water at the end. I asked our server about it because i wanted my son to have the same experience i had as a kid and she said they still do it but our table was in a far back section and its way up by the front. I'm sure she could tell i was disappointed but didn't offer to do it either. Not enough to change the 5 star rating i assume it was just a one off and it won't change us coming just thought management might want to know. read more

Gaido's - Pecan crusted Snapper - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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We went in for lunch at 2:30. The restaurant was about 10% occupied. We were seated immediately but after 20 minutes we still had not been waited on. Tremendously disappointed. Ended up at Fish Tales but not happy with Gaido's. One star because no stars are not an option. read more

Ate there last Sunday waited over a hour for our gumbo and bisque then another hour for our entrees. A floor manager came by and offered to comp our meal and just take care of our waiter and I said I would rather just pay for the food we ate and leave and he insisted for us to stay because the food was coming right . The offered again to pay for it however when we finished we got a bill for $75 and he only took 15% off our bill. Basically he lied to us and so much for their so called great service. Also my bowl of gumbo was only warm had and only 3 shrimp as compared to others who had 5or6 read more

Old school all the way! We were in Galveston to board a cruise ship and Gaido's was recommended. It reminded me of the steakhouses from my childhood. It was busy, almost festive. We were seated quickly, service was very good and the food was just as we expected. I wouldn't rave about it but it was typical of those old school steak houses from yesteryear. It's certainly worth of visit, nostalgia at its best. read more

Gaido's is an amazing place. Everything about this place's food and service was amazing. Our Server Justin Bennet really cared about this place, he gave us recommendations about food and told us the ways they make it. I tried the food he told me and it was really great. Gaido's food is fresh, like really fresh, you could taste the passion of the cooks who made the food in every bite. Their food comes straight from Galveston Bay and comes to the restaurant fresh every morning, which you can taste. Gaido's is a must come when you come to Galveston, i'll make sure to stop by this place next time for sure. read more

Delicious quiet lunch for two on Friday afternoon at 12:30. They accepted reservations. The spacious dining room was light and bright. We enjoyed great service from our server, Christa. She explained the menu specials and what Gaido's is known for in their fresh signature crabs too. The cocktail shrimp was fresh and crab-cake a hearty entree. The lump crab asiago sauce over blackened halibut over rice with asparagus was as delicious as Christa described. The fresh baked bread and herbs with olive oil topped our meal. The dessert menu was tempting with many choibut we were too full to order any this time. We look forward to coming back again. read more

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Ambience was nice, server (Jamie) was pleasant and attentive. However, the food was not the "Wow" factor we have experienced in the past. We started with the Crab Cheesecake, which was very tasty however, we felt the Creole meunière was a tad heavy and overpowered the crab flavors. I ordered the combination, grilled seafood platter, substituting with mahi-mahi and asparagus. The platter was good, but nothing more exceptional than I've experienced in other restaurants for less cost. (I will say the mahi-mahi was phenomenal, but the portion was small.) My husband ordered the fried shrimp platter and same as the previous comment. Gaido's is where we ate on our honeymoon and has always been a special place for us to visit, as it is two hours away from our home. We were a little disappointed on this trip, however, we are excited to try their sister company Nick's right next-door on our next visit to Galveston. Gaido's will always hold a special place in our hearts however, this visit was not our most memorable one. read more

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Great spot to grab seafood. Had a large party, so had a later reservation (8:45pm). We were sat by 9. Waiter, Alex, was super friendly & knowledgeable about the menu. He had great suggestions. Service was a bit slower than anticipated, so don't expect to get in and out super quick. Calamari was fabulous and the shrimp (grilled) platter! Can't leave out the complimentary bread - sooo good!) Also tried the tuna tartare - it was just okay. If you find that you saved room for dessert - can't go wrong with the cheesecake or crème brûlée ! You could definitely split them with someone. read more

Gaido's - House Made Cheesecake - definitely a shareable slice - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

My husband and I just visited Gaidos for lunch. The place is so beautiful inside, impressive; with lovely music, and great service. We had some complimentary bread, that's always nice. We started with some parmesan oysters, they serve 6 for $20, a little expensive but I would order them again, they were that good. Then we had the jumbo crab cake, with beurre blanc, the crab cake was good, but I've had better, the sauce wasn't good. Then we had the American Red snapper Michael, with a side of parm tomatoes. This dish was a total bummer, it was mushy, and felt like pre frozen, out of a bag. The tomatoes nothing special really. It was a good experience, but they need to make a few changes. I don't care paying $$$ but the quality and presentation are everything, and this was just disappointing. read more

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Once again.. Eat Like a Local and Chris Shepherd come through with this gem!! Might be the best seafood experience I've had since moving here 4 years ago. The atmosphere is formal..but the staff is relaxed and really make you feel welcome! The food..amazing Home run of the meal..Crab Cheese cake ..so inventive and savory..definitely a shareable appetizer! Crab ceviche was great..could have used a touch more acid..but that's nitpicking! Grill seafood platter was phenomenal..all the fish was well cooked and flavorful read more

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Overall a great experience. The restaurant is massive! Went on a Wednesday for my mom's birthday and had a red snapper that was one of their catch of the day items. I like the history of the place and the historical images all over the restaurant. They have a cool gift shop at the front too. Our waiter was pretty solid too. He even hooked my mom up with a dessert of her choice for her birthday which was a nice touch. Overall a great place to celebrate a birthday. The place was full of families enjoying a nice quiet dinner. Definitely come give his place a shot if you want some of the freshest seafood in TX. read more

Great food and service. We loved the upscale vibe and all the pictures from the last 115 years on the walls. I ordered the Shrimp and grits. I've never had blue cheese grits before, and they were delicious. 5 grilled large shrimp with some roasted vegetables and a chipotle drizzle (not spicy at all). My husband ordered the crab cake stuffed shrimp. 5 jumbo shrimp each stuffed with crab and a side of asparagus. Great meal and atmosphere. read more

Gaido's - Crab stuffed jumbo shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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Really lovely experience. Old place with lots of history and it's presented well. Great service. We had excellent gumbo and the snapper Michael. Perfect amount of breading. The potatoes that came with it were amazing also. read more

Gaido's - Red snapper - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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We had a great dinner at Gaido's! Service was solid, and our server was on point with recommendations. One hiccup - the salad had some brown lettuce, but they took care of it right away. What really made the experience was the history and story behind the place - loved the ambience! Definitely a splurge, but worth it for a special occasion or night out with friends . read more

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Delicious food with a nice view. Relaxing lunch today. Server was a little rude everytime we asked for something he seemed irritated and told us to give him a minute but other than that prob one of the best restaurants in Galveston. The bread was amazing read more

The seafood was super fresh and flavorful! This is a more upscale restaurant with a very nice dining room with lots of historic pictures. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and made great suggestions. read more

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I've been coming to Gaidos since I was a kid, so I definitely know a thing or two about it! The restaurant is very upscale, so dress accordingly at least around dinner but they're more chill/casual with lunchtime. The food is incredible! I always get their calamari for an appetizer, and I get their Michael style with any dish I order that's seafood and allows it. The service is always decent and professional! It's on the pricey side so prepare for that. Overall, it's definitely a great place to go! read more

Located on Seawall this classic spot is the pinnacle of Galveston fine dining. If it's a fishy dish you're having, get it pecan encrusted. Service, ambiance, the Gulf! read more

Gaido's since 1911 ! What a long lasting legacy to be in Galveston that long! This was my first visit to Gaido's and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Calamari for appetizer, blackened red fish with loaded baked potato for main course, then pecan pie for dessert!!!!! Wow Our waiter was very helpful in giving us some recommendations and was there when we needed him. Being a restaurant since 1911, it almost feels like a museum too. Old photos and dishes....... Displayed throughout the restaurant are fun to look at. The traditional warm water with a slice of lemon to wash your hands was a classic treat! When in Galveston, try Gaido's. Go get Full!! read more

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The pecan-crusted red snapper was a nice lite order of food. It was full of the nutty sweet flavor.

I love the fact it's such a historical icon to Galveston but it saddens me it fallen so far. The server was nice but very slow. We then noticed she was having to do everything from being the waiter to cleaning tables and floors so it wasn't her fault. The food was mediocre at best and I'm being kind in saying that. Not sure we'll be back because this isn't the first crummy experience. Management,,, do better read more

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The food here is fine, but it's the service and atmosphere that are the real winners. I made a reservation some time ago for an anniversary dinner, and they gave us exactly what I asked for -- a table in a dark corner. Our server, whose name I do not remember, was spectacular. He was prepared to answer any/all questions, and he always seemed to show up at the right time. His demeanor and expertise reminded me so much of some of the higher-end restaurants in NYC. Gaido's is quasi-dark, and the views of the street and ocean beyond are good. While the food was good, it wasn't executed nearly as well as the atmosphere or service. Still, a wonderful experience. read more

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Year 3 Summer Family Vacation to Galveston! 1 elegant dinner is required at Gaidos! Things we love: quality service, traditional feeling of the past decor, delicious food and family atmosphere. Our server was awesome! She was attentive and sold us on the special- Halibut. Wowza it was delicious. The crostini appetizer is to die for! My fave is the Mexican Martini! Oh my! We celebrated a birthday with chocolate brownie cake and bread pudding! Both so decadent! Looking forward to our next trip to Galveston & Gaidos! read more

Gaido's - Fam Bam! Look at that bread pudding & brownie chocolate cake! - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

Picked up $40 in Gumbo this evening 1/2 gallon shrimp gumbo. There were TWO shrimp in the ENTIRE 1/2 gallon! Such a rip off!!! No okra... no veggies, just blended rice and flour. So pathetic! Calling manager in the morning. I want a refund! read more

Gaidos is such a good place to eat when you come to visit Galveston The food was amazing,the service was top notch,and the atmosphere was amazing. I love this place,and so will you. Five stars! read more

My partner and I made a reservation for Gaido's for 9:15 on thanksgiving day. When we came in on time, the host told us that we were "next in line" which was sort of odd. Maybe 25 minutes goes by and 3 other families that came in told them they did not have reservations and got sat before us. As you can imagine, this was pretty upsetting. We had to say something in order to get sat despite having a reservation and coming in on time. Despite this restaurant being labeled as upscale, our server was not presentable and wasn't very friendly. Definitely a "I'm not happy to be working on thanksgiving" kind of feel. Which is understandable, however, reciprocated kindness should still be expected. Our food was simply okay. Not bad, but not good. The oysters had a weird texture and temperature; we couldn't even finish them. The mahi mahi was slightly overcooked. But my asparagus! Incredible! Haha. Overall, would not come back. read more

Gaido's - Mahi Mahi - Seafood Near Me - Galveston, Texas

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