Gorgeous ambience with amazing vibes under the oak tree but service was so poor it was the only bad experience we had our entire weekend. Service is painfully slow and at one point it was even rude. The staff did not engage with us or demonstrate welcoming behavior. The menu is stellar with great seafood options but expect to be at a leisurely pace on their time. read more

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First time here and they did not disappoint! The service was stellar and the food was phenomenal. Bursting flavors and seasonings on fresh seafood and steak made each bite delicious and exciting to eat. The octopus appetizer was a delightful combination of flavors from spicy to sweet and savory. The sea bass was buttery in each bite. Excellent meal and atmosphere. Can't wait for another excuse to go here! read more

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Austin institution, but definitely in need of an update. We've been coming to Perla's for years , and service is always terrific as well as ambience, but have noticed in recent year the food is just not all that special!:( definitely good, but not worth the price tag unfortunately. Especially the fish/shrimp was kind of mediocre. will say the oysters are always terrific. Highly recommend the wellfleet. read more

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Never ever again!! So let's just start by saying that the food is mediocre at best!! To make things worse, the food is incredibly overpriced for the crappy food they serve. How do you burn fish and not notice?? There is some serious cross-contamination happening here, as even the French fries had a fishy taste to them. Lastly, since when do servers have the choice to say no when you ask for a menu item because they simply didn't feel like retrieving it? read more

When I'm jonesing for real oysters (not the warm gulf variety) it's either Perla's or Clarke's for me. Both offer fresh NE and PEI harvested oysters. We recently found ourselves on SoCo on a beautiful afternoon and decided on Perla's for a lite lunch. Yes they were crowded and there was a 45-minute wait but the host told us that tables were clearing fast. We received a text about 15 minutes later that we were in! Our initial order of Fire Lake, PEI oysters, and New Orleans-Style BBQ Shrimp arrived as we were enjoying our martinis. Fire Lake oysters are sweet as sugar and need zero help from horseradish or cocktails sauce. The BBQ shrimp arrive large and included the head (sweet meat resides there). This is a spicy dish and the garlic bread is perfect for sopping up the wonderful broth. Nice touch - hot towels and lemons arrived between courses! Since this was a lite lunch we split the lobster roll and I ordered a cole slaw side. The lobster was cooked perfectly and included both claw and tail meat. Perla's is always crowded and it's not lite on your wallet but the wait and the cost are worth it. Pro tip: No tables, then ask to sit at the bar as there is usually an empty seat to two. Be sure to first check in at the host desk. read more

Perla's - Martini Time! - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

service is amazing,food is so good, i would recommend the calamari! Such a good place to go for your birthday or dinner with friends or partners. read more

You're buying the brand not the product here. Oysters and fried food are good. Sea Bass and other fine filets are thin & overcooked. Service is good and atmosphere is excellent. read more

Struggled between 3 or 4 stars. If I'd gone 4 it would've been for the moderno South Congress location & ambiance plus a nice hostess putting our two tables/reservations for dinner together over the phone. I called the day of and they could seat us together if we took a later time. Bravo. Sold. The food left us full yet unsatisfied. My crispy Texas gulf snapper was boring. Oysters were fine. Best dish was probably the lobster bucatini but mainly because of the bucatini. Or burrata because of the burrata. On and on. Young promising staff, we just didn't receive it during our visit. Our server was casual and whatever: not bad, not great, closed and standoffish. It was casual and whatever all around: service, presentation, taste, overdressing in a long satin blue cowl neck dress. read more

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In our experience, Perla's had good ambience, but the food was underwhelming, and definitely not worth the prices charged. We dined on a Monday evening, and dinner for two, with one cocktail and a nonalcoholic beer, without dessert, came to $150. I don't mind paying these prices for an exceptional dining experience, but this fell far from the mark. In my opinion, Pappadeaux's or Eddie V's beats this restaurant hands down for food quality and service for about the same price. read more

Stopped in here with a friend for a light din. We were able to sit on the patio which was so nice considering the heat and humidity in Austin today! The patio is huge, spacious, and has a number of fans with misters to cool it down. We started with drinks - the SoCo Fizz and the Landfall. Both were very good! We shared the fish and shrimp ceviche app - which was delish. We also shared the Crab Wedge Salad. They were thoughtful enough to split it for us. I wasn't crazy about the thousand island dressing but thought the salad was really good! We skipped dessert since we had other destinations but don't doubt the desserts are great here. Loved the service and atmosphere here. Highly recommend! read more

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I dined here with my coworker during my recent work trip to Austin, TX and it was such a delicious meal! Since it's a seafood and oyster bar, the menu is heavily populated with those options but there are also salads, steaks, burgers, and a variety of sides for sharing! We went with two of each oyster on the menu (there were 10 different total from all over North America!) and split the following appetizers and sides: salt and jalapeno fried calamari, hand cut shoestring fries, oak grilled brussels sprouts, and ahi tuna tostadas. The oysters were delivered with crackers, horseradish, migonette, hot sauce, and cocktail sauce and ranged from salty, briny, and subtle. I was a big fan of the brussels sprouts (which were served on a skewer!) and ahi tuna toastadas which were basically perfection in terms of flavor, texture, and taste. The portions were shareable for two people and we left full and happy. There were thunderstorms on and off throughout the day so the patio was closed, but we were able to snag a nice corner table indoors. Our service was attentive and friendly throughout our meal. We were able to continue our great conversation while having our drinks refilled and being checked up on from time to time. I'd definitely recommend reservations since this is one of the more popular restaurants in ATX! read more

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I had the lobster roll, an espresso martini, & oyster shot! Perfect spot for a weekend brunch! Right next to south Congress shops! read more

Perla's - Lobster Roll, Bibb Lettuce, House Mayo, Drawn Butter - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

This restaurant has an agreement with the parking garage on Eva St. They offer two hours of "free" parking. The problem is if you are even 1 second longer then the two hours you will get a ticket for $60.00. It happened to me. I was 1 minute 42 seconds over the two hours and I just got a ticket for $60.00 read more

Great atmosphere food was on point and fast service for a Friday night would definitely go again any night

As a seafood lover, I was glad to have been introduced to Perla's during my first week living in Austin. We visited during dinnertime and were quite pleased with the whole experience. Their outdoor patio area is nice, especially with all the string lights adorning the trees, while the inside has more of a nautical vibe. Mint salad (4/5) - Light and refreshing, good for sharing to whet the appetite. Creole oysters (1/5) - Overcooked and excessively dry, too much breadcrumbs used. Spanish octopus (4/5) - Good texture and flavor, enhanced even more by the citrus. Grilled swordfish (4/5) - Cooked very well, but the red chimichurri sauce was too overpowering. Glad it was served on the side, as the fish tasted better on its own with a little lemon. Peach cookie w. ice cream (4/5) - The perfect way to end our meal on a sweet note without anything too decadent. Their price point matches the quality and service provided, which is such a rarity these days. Would love to return for lunch at some point in the near future! read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Such a cute birthday spot, definitely not the most budget friendly but worth it for special occasions! We came for my friend's birthday and they had prepared a little birthday card for her which was very sweet. Service was great and very understanding with some friends arriving some later than others and they gave my friend a free birthday pot de crème dessert which she loved. I tried a few varieties of fresh oysters ($4 each) and asked the waiter to surprise me with a few that were small, fresh, and not too fishy and they were some of the best oysters I've had in Austin. We also got the cornmeal fried okra ($10) which were decent but I feel like could use a little more seasoning. The spicy sauce the okra were paired with was a bit too spicy for me I opted for ranch as well. The star of the show was the Nova Scotia Lobster Bucatini ($51 and worth every penny) and the Pot De Creme dessert was phenomenal as well. Definitely could be a good date night spot for a fancy dinner. Would highly recommend! read more

Perla's - Fresh oysters & Cornmeal Fried Okra with Remoulade - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

absolutely amazing meal, my favorite seafood restaurant in town hands down. i am blown away with how FRESH AND FLAVORFUL everything was! ceviche : 10/10 it was so fresh, filling, and perfectly paired with avocado! i'd say this was one of my favorite dishes i've had thus far oysters: we got a variety of oysters (3 different types) and wow, FRESHEST OYSTERS IN TOWN. all for $4 a piece which is definitely worth the price tartare: the garlic on it really pulls the dish together. it was fabulous. so fresh, so tangy, a little spicy, but amazing. grilled octopus: this was also one of my absolute favs. the octopus was cooked perfectly! and perfectly paired with some greens and toppings to balance the flavors. probably my top octopus in town now too. just blown away with how amazing this place is! i've come here before but this time was truly different. the service was also amazing! quick! the food all came out SO quickly!!! we did walk in but i'd recommend a resy since they seated us outside (we didn't mind, but if you don't like 100 degrees - i'd definitely plan ahead). if you are sitting outside though, they do have TONS OF FANS WITH WATER MISTERS. don't be afraid to sit outside, it was definitely bearable and enjoyable when we went!!! 10/10 experience, food, service. great place! read more

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We had lunch there while visiting Austin. OUTSTANDING! We split the Tuna Tostadas and Lobster Roll ! Service was also over the top great!! read more

Perla's - Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Great staff, especially our server who was super friendly, provided good suggestions and helped us with cocktail orders. A full star just for the server The environment was good but not anything over the top: we sat inside and the decor fit with the seafood focus of the place. We started with 3 types of their oysters (they had 6 types to choose from when we visited). The oysters were good, but the "mookiemoto" were excellent. Next we had the octopus appetizer which was delicious. The brussel sprouts were good but couldn't hold a candle to the squash (one of the best things we've had recently). We shared the red snapper which was very good, and shared the scallops (fantastic). We had a few of their cocktails, but the frozen daiquiri was (unexpectedly) the best. We would definitely come here again and try more of the menu and maybe try to sit outside. read more

As with many Austin restaurants lately, Perla's is overrated. The fried okra was stringy and overly salty. Both the oysters and fish were mediocre at best, and the service left much to be desired. read more

I love coming here for lunch!! It's between 3-5:30 pm. The vibe and atmosphere is amazing, very relaxed and welcoming. It's perfect to catch up with an old friend and order a few tapas to share. I like to request the patio "blue comfy booths." The service is very good, the staff is very at tentative. We got oysters obviously. 10/10. I requested a briny oyster and a cleaner fresh one:) read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I am the biggest Perla's fan. I actually visited twice this week and realized I owe them a review - I brought friends to sit on the patio on a Friday and again to the bar on Tuesday. We all loved the amazing vibe and food. This is definitely the best shrimp cocktail and oyster bar experience in Austin and everyone agrees the location is supreme - sit at the bar with Chris for amazing service and conversation. Cannot recommend this place enough. read more

The best seafood lunch spot! My dog and I sat out on the covered patio area on a slightly rainy Wednesday for lunch - there were heaters so we stayed warm and had the entire section to ourselves. Kristen was absolutely amazing - she was knowledgeable about the wine options and helped me make a great choice, made sure Rio had a bowl of water (and even refilled it!) and made sure we didn't feel rushed. The food was incredible (seriously, the raw oysters were great!) as was the ceviche and crispy hamachi. Wonderful spot for a calm, cozy afternoon out - I will definitely be back! read more

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Perla's is great! I've been dying to try this well known Austin spot and finally did! To start, the hushpuppies were insane... like seriously amazing. Then we had fried oysters which were scrumptious. Everyone told us to get the lobster bucatini so we did and it was really good BUT the lobster was kinda tough. It was delish but if I went back I think I'd do a crab cake or try something else (but don't listen to me I'm not the biggest lobster fan to begin with)!!! We also got the scallops which were really yummy. Allegedly their patio is first come first serve every night so don't wait on a reservation and come eat at least the complimentary hushpuppies!! read more

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Fantastic outdoor patio to sit on a beautiful day. Great service. The redfish crud o is one of the best dishes in Austin. Never hear anyone talk about it, but my god its fantastic. The oysters are great obviously. Really great location. A little pricey, but worth it if you got it. RED FISH CRUDO. read more

The pearl of Austin. Let me take it from the top: Stunning location on Soco, with a large, outdoor patio lovingly shielded by a large pecan tree* dotted with twinkle lights. Complimentary hush puppies and aioli. To die for. God, I know I'm going be dreaming about those hush puppies. We got oysters, Brussels, shishito peppers, squash, Mac and cheese, fries, fried shrimp, and grouper for the table. Every dish was impeccable, but I especially enjoyed the shishito peppers and squash, which was served with a kind of yogurt sauce. I had to stifle an audible moan upon taking a bite of the squash. Dinner was punctuated with rich espresso, a brown sugar cube, and a pear tart with ice cream. Service was on point at every turn and the manager went out of his way to check on our table and say hi to us personally. Will be returning. read more

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Food is great! My husband loved the burger and I really enjoyed the swordfish. Drinks were also tasty, I had a frozen banana daiquiri. It was 3 adults and between food and drinks we spent a little over $200. Biggest drawback was after we ate, my sister and I went to the bar to grab a quick shot, she was visiting from out of town and we wanted to have a quick one while my husband went to the bathroom. The bartender was a complete knob. "This isn't a shot bar. Try across the street." Pretty annoying after spending money there on lunch. We weren't some college kids looking to get wasted, we're in our 30s. Really lame guy. read more

I went there alone on my birthday specifically for the oysters. I went at 4pm. I was the only one in the restaurant. This is the second time I've been here in the last month that the young girls at the hostess were very unfriendly with no smiles or greetings. My waiter put a little sign reading happy birthday on my table. Unfortunately that was about all they did. The waiter took my order and brought my oyster and that was literally it. I received more welcoming and birthday wishes every other place I went that day. This restaurant caters to a higher end clientele and with that comes the expectation of exceptional hospitality and service from EVERY SINGLE worker who comes in contact with the customer. That's customer service 101. This place false short of that. I suggest you train your employees how to go above and beyond your basic standards and requirements of customer service. Go back to the drawing board. read more

A great place for a gals brunch, bachelorette, birthday, etc! Very calming chic vibes and delicious food. Highly recommend the shrimp cocktail and of course the oysters. Ask your server which oysters to try, she recommended a lot of variety! read more

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Service was excellent all around. We love Perla's. Food was delicious and presented well. We can't wait to return and sit on their welcoming patio read more

We went here for drinks and an app prior to dinner. Our party of seven was able to walk in on a Thursday and be seated immediately at one of the couches. We really enjoyed the outdoor ambiance and the cocktails. The calamari was great too and came with a unique sauce we all loved. Highly recommend this stop. read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

We have been walking by this corner "spot to be seen" for three years now, without ever stopping in. I'm not sure if it's the fact that we aren't usually searching for seafood restaurants (we love seafood but it isn't ever on our "what do you want for dinner tonight" answer list) or what it was that kept us from coming here, but alas, here we are. My husbands birthday has found it's way into our dinner plans and I decided to surprise him with something new, Perla's! He was certainly surprised and excited to sit on the patio that was made for people watching. Unfortunately, they sat us as far back in the corner where we couldn't people watch, not to mention the people sitting next to us had brought two dogs with them that were barkers. Peaceful. Romantic. Not quite. The night wasn't set up for success from the jump, only because I was fighting a cold and was trying hard to enjoy myself despite feeling like I was being suffocated with every bite of food I took. But, I love food. I love trying new places and I love spoiling my husband on his birthday so I was all in. He opted to start with a cocktail, while I went with the mint lemonade. I appreciated that both drinks came out looking tropical and boozy, although mine was nonalcoholic. It's nice to not feel singled out with no flower or umbrella simply because you don't want alcohol, so that was a big plus. We had an array of items: oysters, ahi tuna tostadas, calamari, crab cake, and the lobster roll with fries. We also got a special birthday dessert (a small layered cake bite) and then ordered two desserts to finish it off... I don't even know what my husband got, but I got the salted butterscotch bowl of YUM and it may be the reason I go back. I skipped the oysters, I had enough I was dealing with, with my cold... the tostadas were absolutely DELICIOUS. The jalapeños had a great kick to them and everything was so flavorful. Highly recommend. The calamari was also served mixed with fried bell peppers which I absolutely loved. There were two sauces, both very tasty and I enjoyed both equally. As good as the calamari was... it was calamari. I'd skip it next time or go for the snapper tartare instead. I really regret not ordering that. The crab cake was divine. I would 100% eat that, maybe even two of them. Back to back. Well done, Perlas. Well done. My husband absolutely melted over his lobster roll (his first one ever). He did give me a bite and my eyes may have popped out of my head... I was not expecting all of that flavor! We can finally cross Perla's off our list! It won't be a place we frequent often... mostly due to price, but if you do spot us there, you will more than likely see me eating that delicious salted butterscotch bowl of YUM (I should note that that is not what it is called) and my husband will most certainly be eating the lobster roll. Oh and we won't be tucked in the back corner by barking dogs. read more

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Ambience : 10/10 Food : Honestly, it is good, but not $30 portion worth. You are definitely paying for the location and the view. Take a look at the menu and see it for yourself. Drinks: Was kind of bumped that they don't serve fresh juice or coffee beverage here, though, stand right next to Jo's maybe that's why. Parking : It's South Congress parking bb, come with a leap of faith in mind. It's a beautiful view and ambience, but wouldn't come here by leisure. read more

Been waiting a while to go here, and finally got to make it while it was still nice out; We thought there was supposed to be a happy hour, but it turns out/doesn't seem like there is one anymore unfortunately. Naturally, we got a few appetizers, oyster shooters and oysters, plus the octopus that came with a savory sauce and potatoes. I'm not a fan of bloody mary's so the shooter wasn't my favorite since that's how they were prepared, and kind of spendy at that. The oysters were a small bit still good; again, no happy hour pricing. The octopus was my favorite, grilled perfectly, same as the potatoes, covered in herbs and a butter/mayo sauce that paired nicely. We both got fish, mine had a bit of spice to it, and the ahi was very nice and fresh; Overall, pleasant meal, more expensive than we would've liked but glad to have tried it. Personally, I think it's better to just get some appetizers/drinks and save the entree for somewhere else; while it's definitely good, I think it's overpriced and could make something comparable for a fraction of the cost. read more

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Succccccccked. Flies and birds. Loud music. Basic food. Gumbo had no soul. Seafood was not shocking. I was interrupted for refill while busy just bc I finished my tea .5 seconds prior. Expensiveeeee. Dessert was pretty but also not shocking. read more

10/10 - Wood-grilled Creole Oysters - Oak Grilled Whole Red Fish w/ Blue Crab Fried Rice and Herb Fries - Frozen Watermelon Margarita & Marina at Dawn (Mango Margarita) Where do I start? Perla's was hittin on all cylinders this night . We sat outside and it was a little humid but it was giving ocean vibes especially paired with the fresh seafood and cool breeze. The drinks were strong and the Blue Crab Fried Rice was to die for!Anyways, our waiter was nice and had a great mustache lol. If you looking for some fire seafood, Perla's is definitely a top choice! Instagram: @marcoeatinggood read more

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I visited Austin, TX in February of 2023. Prior to arriving my partner & I laid out an itinerary of places to eat, things to do, etc--and I must say, from a dining standpoint, I was most excited to go to Perla's. Based on the nearly 2,000 reviews and average 4 star rating, I expected more. Parking was easy. The restaurant boasts a large selection of spaces directly in front of the restaurant/on the main street. The ambiance is nice. The exterior is inviting, affixed with hanging lights. The interior also had nice design about it. The food, on the other, hand unfortunately left much to be desired. I. Calamari Underwhelming. Not enough squid. Included breaded vegetables that didn't add anything to the dish. The sauces paired with it also weren't very good. II. Crab cake Overpriced and also underwhelming. Came with a single crab cake for $26. Came with grapefruit if I recall correctly which I found to be an odd pairing III. Lobster roll. Bland, nothing special. The fries paired with it were fine. IV. Lobster bucatini My partner ordered the $51 lobster pasta which she said was "okay." Overall, love the idea of this place. The menu is beautiful from a theoretical standpoint. But the food is quite mediocre and not deserving of the price tag attached. Nothing really quite hit the mark here for me. I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed any thing I tasted here. Wouldn't return if I had the opportunity. read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Brunched on the patio at Perla's this Saturday morning. The service was great and the waiter was super helpful filling us in on crowd favorites. The fans and mist kept us cool and the beautiful trees above the patio created shade. We were also entertained sitting near the street. The Tres Leches French Toast was so unique and delicious!!! A must try. Great place for an outdoor brunch. read more

Perla's - Tres Leches French Toast - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Service was good. Food was mediocre and way overpriced. Atmosphere is what you come here for.

Erin, GM, was amazing from pre-arrival, arrival and departure. What an amazing young lady! Thanks Erin, for the reservation accommodation and delicious bite. Jacob, my server, was incredible and every dish he recommended was beyond amazing! It was totally worth the flight. This is huge for me because customer service in my opinion, has declined drastically, so when I rave about an experience such as Perla's, it's #facts! This evening I enjoyed some glasses of Chenin Blanc, from South Africa, some delicious oysters (Jacob chose all of them), fried okra, crab cake and the famous potato crusted sea bass and a sea salt dessert! Thanks Perla's for the amazing experience! Thanks for the warm welcome from the staff outside and the lovely hostesses inside. I'll certainly be back and cannot wait! Be safe. Be blessed. Be kind and enjoy good food! Perla's read more

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