We almost passed this restaurant by based on the 3.5 star rating. Thank the god of the cornucopia that we stayed! Forget the standard bread basket. Perla's features unlimited hush puppies in a basket. A hint of jalapeño, infused with actual corn and buttery soft on the inside. Chef's kiss. Perhaps the highlight is the homemade tartar! Just the right amount of lemon zing. While our waitress was perhaps A *wee bit* distracted, that didn't take away from our experience. The little gems salad was perfect. (Added shrimp) The dressing was the highlight! Speaking of highlights, the blue ribbon goes to the ever loving French Toast. My my my. Get you one for the table. read more

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Perla's on Congress was the perfect spot for a birthday dinner. From the moment we walked in the ambiance set the tone warm lively and upscale without feeling stuffy. The food was absolutely amazing fresh flavorful and beautifully presented and every dish we tried exceeded expectations. The service truly stood out. It was attentive friendly and thoughtful especially for a special occasion and made the night feel celebratory without being overbearing. If you are looking for a place with incredible food excellent service and a great atmosphere for a birthday or special night out Perla's is a must and we will definitely be back. read more

If you're looking for legit seafood in Austin, this is the place. It's pretty expensive, so don't go in expecting the best bang for your buck. We really enjoyed our seabass and scallops. So it's worth the money if you're willing to spend it! We sat inside due to weather but the outside patio is an absolute dream. Try to sit out there if you can! read more

Curren and Rachel gave my friends and I the most incredible service and experience for our group girls dinner in Austin. I've been to Perla's several times and it's always a great time, food, and atmosphere, but what made this visit stick out was the thoughtful care and personable touch that was put into our dinner. Rachel went out of our way to make sure we were enjoying our dinner without interruption, Curren was friendly, helpful, and fun. We have all discussed how it's one of the most memorable experiences we've had in a bit and would love to come back together! Thanks for making our trip! read more

We met a friendly person in Houston who insisted this was the spot, so we stopped by. It was Saturday brunch time on Congress Ave, so the place was packed, but we were able to snag a table near the kitchen. With the caveat that we had to eat quickly, we sure did. The selection of fresh oysters were great and we got to try some new ones. We also had the world grilled oysters that were so-so. I had the shrimp and grits which was very tasty but light on shrimp and heavy on spice. read more

This place sure is popular! The wait time was less than they quoted on a Friday evening. We got to sit outside which is more than perfect on a warm evening - the lights are super cute! Our waitress was really helpful with cocktail recommendations- I loved the frozé! For food we shared the calamari and the lobster roll. The calamari was perfectly cooked - not soggy or super chewy and even tho it was fried it still felt super light and airy. The lobster roll was more than amazing and an easy sharing portion. The bun is super buttery and the lobster was plentiful I would 10/10 get this again. I can't wait to come back and explore more of the menu! read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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If you're looking for a catch of the day type of restaurant, this is it. They change their menu daily based on what fresh seafood they have picked for the day. They do have staples that they keep on the menu also. We started with fresh raw oysters from the East Coast. Hubby and I split 1/2 dozen Sandspit, MA oysters and 1/2 dozen Big Gulp, FL oysters. They were a pretty good size and tasted great. I liked the Sandspit ones were a tad bigger and thicker in size. For my entree I had the butter poached halibut and ordered a side of the blue crab grits. I really enjoyed the crust on the fish and it was light. The sauce paired really well with it. The crab grits made a really good side and it tasted good together. I would have wanted to see more crab in the grits but they were creamy and flavorful. Our server was excellent. He was the one that suggested we try the halibut since it was one of those daily catch of the day options. FYI, they do have a parking garage behind the restaurant and they validate for two hours. We did not know this and had already paid for street parking. We say the sign for the validation when we walked in to get a table. It is an expensive restaurant and sides are not included with your dish. The food is great, but in pricey side. read more

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We love this place so much - Jackson was incredible!!! We come all the time and this has been one of our favorite experiences. Food was incredible as always and Jackson had great recs read more

The ambiance was great. I forgot my phone at the vacation rental house so I didn't get a photo of the app my husband and I shared recommended by our server when we said we really just wanted a cold drink/cocktail/beer and something very light to share. She told us the taco on the app menu was really delicious and light and she was right. They were perfect, came 2 one for each with salmon crunch greens and pickled red onions on a crispy tortilla was amazing and satisfying as a snack. I had a blood Mary which was super filling and my husband had an IPA I also ordered a ginger beer which was so nice and refreshing. I've noticed ginger beer is much more popular in Austin than ginger ale, I love it so thats great. Perla had a beautiful patio facing the main road with great people watching on S Congress. It's in the heart of the area and truly feels special to sit there with beautiful striped umbrellas and the city going on around it. So nice. read more

Good and service excellent Had a great dinner on the patio last night oysters scallop entree and grouper entree were all great ! Paige did very professional job serving us Thank you read more

Perla's patio is one of my favorite spots in Austin. Truly, the patio is so good that the food at Perla's could be mediocre, and I'd still like Perla's, but Perla's food is fantastic. We had an appetizer of biscuits, served with strawberry honey butter--just fantastic and the perfect way to start brunch. I had the gumbo, which was the most over-the-top gumbo I've had, very delicious. The gumbo was served with the usual white rice, plus a grilled baguette and fried egg, just delightful. Perla's--Perla's patio in particular--is fantastic! read more

Always Outstanding!!! From service, to food to ambiance, this place is top tier! Go see Louisa, Curran & Kas at the bar!

We had reservations at Perla's last night for my birthday dinner. When we arrived we were taken to our table and I had a birthday card signed by several members of the staff waiting for me. A nice surprise. Our server, Travis, was outstanding. He took time to explain the menu and to make suggestions. He was always close by even though the restaurant was busy. We ordered a dozen oysters and got one of each kind they had. Travis even took the time to write down each type of oyster and its place on the tray. We shared the oysters, and each one I had was splendid. They went down smooth, and even though they were on ice, the oysters were not ice cold. I had the red snapper with beans. I'm not sure the name of the bean, but they resembled lima beans. In any case, the fish was grilled and served over some saucy greens. The beans were not mushy but had a good texture and flavor. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. It was nice and cool inside and outside they were spraying mist to keep it cooler. The atmosphere is casual and still elegant. There is a parking garage behind Perlas, and the restaurant will validate your ticket for 2 hours if you use that garage. It was a wonderful birthday dinner with delicious food and outstanding service. read more

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I'm frequently in Austin and this is one of my go-tos. The food: excellent. I just ate a life changing swordfish skewer that's marinated in a magical cilantro situation and with a little dollop of some kind of Thai curry aioli. Comes with sumptuous crab fried rice deliciousness. I might come back for it again tomorrow. Bar: mixed cocktails are on point Vibe: upscale, romantic, low lighting, but modern and chill. Music is loud enough to hear but not so loud you can't carry on a convo. Personally, I like sitting at the bar and talking to the mixologists and the guys shocking oysters but outside is also great as are indoor tables. I love everything about Perla's. Also: you can hop across the street and see amazing music at Continental Club , no matter the act. I live in the NYC area and this is as a good , if not better than most places - hands down. read more

We were looking forward to our visit to Perla's, but ultimately underwhelmed. The ambiance is that of a more casual nature, which is to be expected as a SoCo restaurant, however, the food was quite disappointing considering the price. I had the Lobster Thermidor, which was very pedestrian, and my wife had the Sea Bass, which was quite dry, and telling that my wife didn't finish it. We also had a Chocolate Layer Cake for dessert, which was quite well presented. The service was pretty good, friendly, and quite competent, without being overbearing. Over all we didn't feel that the experience warranted the price, it's maybe a better choice to drop in for a drink and a few appetizers, other's perception may vary. read more

Perla's... one of the true loves of my life. This is a phenomenal restaurant, and it's remained that way over the years. The service is always spectacular, the food never misses, and the atmosphere is upscale coastal without being stuffy. You can't go wrong with their fresh oysters, lobster roll, and their gumbo and grits (for brunch only). Probably our top spot in Austin! read more

Perla's is a very cute restaurant on South Congress with a large shady patio which makes it perfect for people watching. We arrived on a Saturday around lunchtime without reservations and were able to snag some seats at the outdoor bar. It was rather warm outdoors in June but there was some shade. Between the two of us, we split the Vine Ripe Tomato Gazpacho, Little Gem Salad, and the Grilled Mahi sandwich. All of the items were very fresh, the lettuce in the salad was crispy, and the fish was grilled perfectly. I enjoyed the little piece of bread that came with the gazpacho. It was also very nice of our server to notate that we were splitting each plate so everything was cut or portioned in half on our own plate when it came out. We also ordered the Fish & Shrimp ceviche but it never came out. Our server took off a few of the drinks we ordered for this, which I appreciated. Perla's is a cute brunch spot but I would come back in the future for dinner. read more

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Perla's is one of the best spots on SoCo. The burger and scallops were the stars of the show. The outdoor patio is such a vibe. A place that can do it all - bachelorette brunch or outing with family. Make a reservation in advance. read more

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Perla's is officially my favorite restaurant in Austin! Every entree we ordered was divine. I loved everything and the flavor of the dishes was out of this world. We ordered oysters, grilled squash, redfish, crab cakes, and the lobster bucatini. My favorite dish was the lobster bucatini. The portion of the lobster in the pasta was plentiful. It was such a savory dish! I liked that the crab cakes were served alongside apple slices. The flavors complimented each other nicely. The oysters were very fresh! The grilled squash made a great side, and the redfish was cooked well! It had a nice crisp to it. I would definitely come back here! read more

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Food service and ambiance were all 10/10 The fish and oysters were delicious Cake was good but wouldn't order again read more

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Maybe it's because we went for 4th of July, which also happens to be our wedding anniversary, but it was extremely meh and I wished we had chosen a different space for our staycation for this meal. We made reservations and walked over from the Hyatt and they did provide a lovely card signed by all the staff that made me smile, they also stowed away our stroller we brought as we had our toddler at the hostess stand. The table next to us had an extremely large and loud party and if I had known, I would have requested an alternative table situation so it wouldn't have been a screaming session to talk to my husband and toddler. Our waiter was fine, I feel like he was on the best of his game (or could have been) he took our drink orders and then when returning proceeded to spill the iced Paloma I ordered all over my dress and my toddlers seat, I get it mistakes happen. But I didn't want to make a big scene for my expensive outfit and toddler being doused in alcohol and all over the floor. We ordered several appetizers and I absolutely loved the grilled oysters, the calamari was a big miss, maybe I was mislead but I couldn't stomach this. We also ordered the mac and cheese for my toddler and as that was the first thing we put in upon getting there they were able to serve it to us to get kiddo situated. The tostadas were a huge hit for us as well, and my oyster poboy was a good comfort eat. I'd mark this as a non memorable meal on SoCo and for HH can see this being a fun place, but meh. Won't be back as there's better places in the area to get better services and memorable vibes especially for a celebration meal. read more

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Perla's is pretty delicious! I loveee their herby salad, it's actually my favorite in austin. It's a fun place to bring people from out of town. Great lobster roll! read more

Perla's - Sauted Shrimp Caesar - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Such a pretty restaurant! We ate outside on the couches so our table was a tad small but no real issue. It was quite hit outside but the huge trees they have over the patio area really made a difference. It felt really nice to sit out there. It has a really nice family friendly feel to it. It was super crowded but we didn't have a wait to be seated. Our server was super nice and helpful as it was our first time there. It was just a tad difficult to get his attention at times. The food was great. We were given complimentary hush puppies before we ordered and they were so good. The calamari and friend peppers were so good and I think my favorite thing we got. Would love to come back again! read more

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Everything was amazing- cocktails, entrees and oysters. Server was very gracious and helped us pick oyster "flights" based on our preferences. Very cute spot with a beautiful and ginormous fish tank by the entrance. If I lived in Austin I'd 100% be a regular. read more

Great location and very cool Austin neighborhood. Snapper was great as was the Lobster roll. Oysters were great. We let our server select different types. Calamari was great too. Food on other tables looked great so from what I saw anything on the menu is a good choice. We walked around Congress after dinner. Look forward to returning. read more

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I keep coming back to Perla's for one reason: the food. The menu is consistently delicious. The atmosphere is lively, the patio is gorgeous, and the wine list hits the mark every time. That said, the service doesn't match the quality of the food, and it's becoming a pattern. On my most recent visit, the first course, fresh oysters, took over 30-40 minutes to arrive, and not once did the server acknowledge the delay or check in. It left me wondering if I had been forgotten altogether. My experience here ended abruptly when the server removed my dessert plate without asking, while there was still food on it, and then promptly dropped the check without a word. Felt like the next step was for them to pick up my chair and put it on the sidewalk. I'll probably be back if a friend wants to come here specifically but I wouldn't on my own. I really wish the service would rise to the level of the food. Until then, it's a frustrating mix of culinary highs and hospitality lows. read more

My friend suggested this place to me to visit in my quick 1 day stop on Austin. I made reservation even though it was just a solo dining I already saw that the options for dinner was a bit limited already so I decided to do that. I arrived in the area about 3hrs earlier and the restaurant was already filled with vibrations of people. Having already previewed the menu, I knew I was going to get the cerviche and the lobster roll. Cerviche was just to my liking. It had a little kick up it with the Jalapeños, and a good amount of fish and shrimps. The accompanying chips paired well. It is a nice shareable size so eating alone, it could have prob just been my solo meal. By the time the lobster roll and fries came out, I was midway thru being full. The fries were crisp, a bit too on the verge of being too salty. It was a lot of fries that I could not even finish. I ate half the lobster roll on whole but then I picked out the lobster and just ate that. I was too full. The restaurant also had a nice ambiance. The outdoor dining was not an option for my because it was a bit chilly so I am glad i chose to sit inside. read more

Perla's - Mock tail - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Perla's made our anniversary dinner truly special! From the moment we sat down, we knew we were in for a treat. The oysters were absolutely divine--we did an oyster flight hand-picked by our waiter, and every single one was incredible. If you go, don't miss the Pink Moon oyster--so fresh and flavorful. They fly in their oysters daily for the best possible quality. For entrées, my husband had a hot lobster roll, which was buttery, rich, and loaded with lobster. I went for the fish and shrimp ceviche, and it was bursting with bright, fresh flavors--definitely close to my favorite authentic ceviche in Mexico. Mock-tails were fresh and flavorful as well! The combination of incredible seafood, impeccable service, and a charming atmosphere made this our favorite meal in Austin. If you're a seafood lover, Perla's is a must in Austin. The food was so good I forgot to take pictures. read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Lovely vibes in SoCo. Hostess did her best getting us in quickly on a busy Saturday night. Loved the hush puppies and calamari. Companions did the burger and raved. One had the lobster roll and described it as a little chewey....as lobster can be. Great evening. read more

Great restaurant! Wanted seafood and was not disappointed at all. The simple garden salad was the highlight and absolutely divine with the lemon vinaigrette. The octopus appetizer was really as was the sea bass with babaganoush and shishito peppers. Outstanding service and nice atmosphere. Huge outdoor patio seating area. read more

What a wonderful experience we had on both visits to Perla's. Had brunch on the front deck and enjoyed the eggs Benedict. Went for an amazing dinner again on the front deck (had drinks first inside at the bar - ate the best Cadillac oysters and had fun conversation with the bartender) and everything we ordered for dinner was divine! Service was impeccable on both visits. read more

Perla's - Brunch on from deck. - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Y'know when I saw the lunch menu prices I was shook! But the service and the endless hush puppies reeled me back in haha! The patio is excellent now that the weather is warming up. The trees give you amazing shade and the cocktails cool you off. Our server, food runners, and bussers were experts at what they do. Our table was never dirty, our drinks never ran dry, and anytime we needed something, someone was always at an arm's reach. The food itself is of great quality and seasoned well. The shrimp caesar came with FOUR big ass shrimp. The cheeseburger was huge. This is a nice restaurant to take out of town friends to, it was even nice for our group who lives in town lol. Be prepared to splurge a little, though. For drinks and food for 4 people, it averaged out to $70/pp. read more

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First time at Perla's but definitely not my last! We found Perlas on Yelp, but we were a little nervous because we went on Tuesday, which happened to be Fat Tuesday, and we didn't know how crowded it was going to be. My friend made a reservation, and I got there first and realized that they would validate your parking for 2 hours if you park in the parking garage, which was awesome. Because there is limited street parking around the restaurant because it's so close to downtown. The host greeted me immediately. She told me that she would sit me even though the rest of my party was not there yet. My party slowly started to arrive, but our waiter, Reuben, came to get our drink orders and answered our questions about the different cocktails and brought us waters. Once my last friend arrived, Reuben quickly took her drink order and brought her water as well. We then ordered appetizers, and we got calamari. I have to tell you, this is some of the best calamari I have ever had. It was fried perfectly, it was light, airy, crispy all at the same time. They also bring out complimentary hush puppies to the table and they were very good. They had a hint of jalapeno, but they were not too spicy. I wanted to figure out what entree, I was going to eat, I was going back between 2 options and Reuben told me I could not go wrong with the sea bass, so that's what I ordered. When my food came out and I looked at the size of my food compared to everyone else's food, I was a little apprehensive. Rueban didn't lie. Ya'll, when I bit into the sea bass with the spinach and risotto, it was like heaven OMG! I've had good sea bass before, but I definitely think this is the best sea bass I've had. Finally, we finished off with dessert. I don't remember what it was called, but it had pears, crust and ice cream. How do you go wrong with that? You don't! Our service was exceptional. (Thank you, Rueban!) The food was exceptional. I would give this a 10 out of 10 stars. Can't wait to go back!! read more

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Met some girlfriends as we were all in town at the same time. Someone mentioned getting reservations and I highly recommend this as well. They validate 2 hours of parking in the garage, so don't get overwhelmed about parking. We were seated at a table near the kitchen. It was slightly dark where I had to pull out my phone to read the menu. The music also was a little loud but not loud enough to take away from us enjoying the moment. (Note: they also have outside seating with heaters should the weather be a little cool). Ruben was our server and I must say, he was AWESOME! From the recommendations made to the knowledge of what each item had. He was also super friendly and attentive! They brought some hush puppies to the table for us to snack on while we decided what we wanted. The hush puppies were good by themselves and didn't really need the tater sauce which is always nice. We started with drinks and everyone liked their drink, I ordered the calamari as the reviews suggested it. Y'all, the calamari was seriously the best I've ever had. It was not greasy or over battered, it wasn't chewy or tough. Seriously, I'd go back just for the calamari. We also got the okra, it wasn't what I was use to but it was good and the dipping sauce was nice too. I got the prawns and I will say that although it was good, I enjoyed the lobster (which my lovely friend shared with me) even better. I also tasted the sea bass and that was tasty as well. We finished with dessert and I wasn't fond of my dessert (pear tart) but my friend liked it. The butterscotch dessert was a huge hit. This was a great experience and I'd definitely come back - especially before 5:30 as I wanted to try something on the other menu but was told that it's only available until 5:30. read more

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Great seafood on South Congress in a stunning courtyard location. We come back for the staff and the fish but be prepared to pay high prices as MML raises them every week. read more

The food here is great! I had the sautéed shrimp Caesar salad and split the lobster roll. The salad came with four or so large leaves on top which made it a little bit difficult to get to the bulk of the salad and mix it up, especially because we were splitting it. The lobster roll was good, but in my opinion it could have been a little more flavorful. Service was very quick and our waiter was very polite. The interior was cute with Polaroids on display and an aquarium. The only thing was that there was a bit of a wait for a table when the restaurant was only moderately busy, but this could've been a staffing thing. All in all, I would go back! read more

Perla's - Sauted Shrimp Caesar - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

We went on the weekend crazy busy! Staff was still super quick and attentive. Food was excellent and filling. A little bit expensive, but was worth the money. read more

Perla's - Beer Battered Fish n' Chips - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Great visit to Perla's on a Sunday after church! Overall, it was a beautiful day to sit outside and . They've got an extensive menu for folks interested in beverages (wine, cocktails, and beers on draft) and plenty of great seafood options. We shared some biscuits (~$8), calamari (~$25), and complimentary hushpuppies for appetizers. The favorite main was the fried shrimp poboy, but our table probably wouldn't order the gumbo or salmon entrees again. Service was very kind and friendly overall, but wait time was about an hour at lunch, so I highly recommend a reservation. If you park behind the restaurant in the garage, you can validate 2-Hr at the check in kiosk with the waitstaff. You do have to pay first, and then you apparently get a refund to your CC in 3-5 business days. read more

Perla's - Patio Seating (covered) - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Outdoor | Broccoli + Salmon| Mocktail Outdoor - perlas is a nice place to be because of its spacious outdoor seating area that provides great coverage during sunny days. However, the only downside is that the acorns fall from time to time, posing a health hazard as they can hit you in the head. Broccoli + Salmon - i had the broccoli and salmon for dinner. The salmon weighed a solid 8 ounces and was seasoned mildly. It was served with a variety of sauces and salsa verde, along with some type of crema and two other sauces. The combination of these sauces made the dish even more delicious. The broccoli was one of the most amazing I've ever had, seasoned and topped with a creamy sauce that was just perfect. I highly recommend trying it out. I also had the Brussels sprouts, which are twice as much as the broccoli, but it is only half as good, so the best value for sides is 100% the broccoli. Mocktail - since I'm on the 75 Hard diet, I opted for their mocktail. The drink was a refreshing mix of lemon and other citrus flavors, resembling a mezcal. It was quite enjoyable and perfect for a hot or crisp evening. I highly recommend giving it a try. Pro Tip - get table away from The acorn tree. Pro tip - add 5-10 minutes for parking because there is not a great deal of street parking. read more

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My absolute fav spot on congress who dosent love Perla's. Great vibes. Great indoor outdoor. Great service. And most importantly great food! We can into town for ACL and we're celebrating our anniversary. They celebrated with us! And gave a card with champagne... so special. We always get the seafood tower and it never disappoints. This time we also had the butterscotch dessert and oh my! I need that every day !! Service is always too notch! read more

Perla's - Butterscotch - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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