Our server disappeared... maybe because I'm black I'm not sure why she disappeared but here I am waiting. The people who aren't black are having a great time. Overall my experience was trash and would never come here again! read more

What a fantastic seafood restaurant. Upscale cuisine with a nice twist. Fresh innovative ingredients added to tasty varieties of seat. Attendants friendly servers and ambiance is artful. Prices reflect the vibe of this SoCo restaurant. We ordered a cerviche to start...octopus and red snapper. Loved the layered clear taste of ingredients. I had the Potato Crusted Sea Bass!!!! A winner winner for sure. Others in our group raved about their plates...Ahi tuna with two variety of sauces...salsa verde a big hit. Highly recommend this lovely places. You won't be disappointed. read more

Perla's is a top 5 restaurant for me in Austin. The food, atmosphere, and location make it a great date night, happy hour, or place to impress travelers or clients. The food is delicious and you receive great service consistently. I appreciate the oyster selection and my go-to is always the crispy snapper. They also have a wide variety of drinks, too, that appeal to many tastes. Don't skip the oyster shooter - it's a must! Overall, this location never disappoints and makes for a great starter to a nice night out on South Congress. One tip - I generally recommend reservations as this place is always packed, and the wait can be apparently hours. If you don't make reservations, put your name on the list and go chill out at San Jose Hotel or South Congress Hotel for some pre-drinks. read more

Stopped in for a mid-day snack of oysters and rose! Our waiter was a delight, friendly and made sure our wine and water glasses were never empty. We started off with a dozen oysters (four different kinds), but of course a dozen is never enough. We told our waiter our favorite two so he included those in our next dozen with oysters that matched those two favorites in terms of flavor and brine. The second dozen was a HOME RUN! We all loved every one of them. This was a beautiful afternoon stop to sit out on the patio and enjoy people watching, rose, and delicious oysters! Would definitely come back. read more

This place was so fun. We got here at 5 pm, and started with drinks and oysters before dinner started at 5:30. For starters the ambiance was class, yet laid back. There's lovely outdoor seating (where we opted to sit) and inside has a beachy vibe and you're greeted by a beautiful big fish tank. For a started my husband and I got 6 oysters to split. Then for dinner I ate the seared ahi tuna. Wowowwowow! I can't tell you how delicious this was! It was so flavorful and delicious! My husband got the rib eye which was delicious as well. Then we got a side of shoe string fries and it was delicious and never ending! It took 3 of us to eat the side and even still there was a ton left over! One of the best dinners of my life and I will recommend everyone here! The service was great as well. They use latex gloves at the restaurant, and I am allergic. The waitress was so great at communicating that to the chef so they could prep my food without gloves. Thanks to the chef and waitress for taking my allergy seriously and making it so I could eat this delicious food! read more

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I got a $40 lobster roll. It was the worst lobster roll I have ever had...drinks are good, but food at this place ..WAY over priced

We ate outside and the atmosphere was great. Under these big old oak trees with the water spray cooling us off. The waiter, Zachary, was super. Ordered a prickly pear margarita and an IPA beer, along with fried calamari to begin with. Calamari was Delicious!! I ordered the crispy snapper and wife had shrimp and gumbo. It was okay. We swopped because my wife's gumbo was too spicy. I was a little disappointed with the small size of the red snapper, and the greens it came with. And, the gumbo was "oily". Maybe it was supposed to be. Take out the Oil!! Over all it was a good place to enjoy our 47th anniversary! The covered parking behind Perlas was taken care of by the restaurant. Yay! read more

As I said in an earlier review impossible to make a reservation. Open table didn't work and they never picked up their phone. Horrible customer service. Showed up at 4:30 with some out of town friends because I figured they wouldn't be much of a wait. Correct on that front. But the hostess was quite pretentious, looking down her nose at us. When we asked for table for six he said well maybe I can seek you outside at a picnic table. Fine it was a beautiful day. But the food is priced at twice what it is worth. My wife ordered a Long Island iced tea and she likes it fairly sweet. So she asked for a little bit of coke to add to her drink. The waitress charged us four bucks for a shot glass full of coke. Again if your Uber rich this place is fine but if your middle class save your money. More for the people in Austin who want to be seen on South Congress as opposed to a good place to go eat. read more

Confessions of a first time mom: I so need to eat more seafood, and Perla's made me realize why. I mean don't get me wrong, I eat fish regularly. It's just usually in sushi form. On a trip to Austin with family, we had reserved a table at Perla's to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. The restaurant has a large patio, and on this perfect weather weekend, we chose to sit outside. It was a little chilly for our 3 month old, but they set our table near some heating lamps. The staff was friendly and helped us make some decisions as far as what to order. Well we definitely did some damage, and would be happy to do it again! For the table, we ordered the salt and jalapeno pepper fried calamari, grilled octopus and papas bravas, ceviche, shrimp cocktail, and oysters. Unfortunately, they ran out of the wood grilled oysters which I would like to know how that's possible when you still have fresh oysters to work with?...That aside everything was delicious! The octopus was cooked perfectly and not rubbery at all. I loved the additional of fried jalapenos to the calamari dish. The ceviche and shrimp cocktail both tasted fresh and great, and I'm not a raw oyster kind of gal but I heard that was good too. We also had sides of the brussel sprouts, lobster fried rice, and lobster mac and cheese. The lobster fried rice was amazing! The mac and cheese was good, but I could do without. The brussel sprouts had great flavor. For mains several of us, including myself, ordered the pan roasted mahi mahi which has a curry sauce, clams, and leeks. It had a light sweetness but was perfect! Many of us also ordered the crispy Texas gulf snapper. The hubby ordered this dish, and I loved it! It's probably what I will order for myself next time. Regardless of what we ordered, everything was excellent. The extra nice thing--baby slept the whole time. Mama was happy! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Best oysters ever. And the lobster roll was divine! Such a cute spot. We also had the shrimp cocktail. Server was the attentive and prices were reasonable for the quality. read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Very good service and nice brunch a bit pricey I had the frittata and it was bland, I'll be back for the ambiance though such a cute spot!

Trendy atmosphere, outdoor seating with misting. Ordered 3 items from the "snack" menu. The burger was good but not a $20 meal. The french fries were cooked perfect, nice and crisy. My calamari was not so flavorfull and the avocado pepper sauce served with is VERY spicy, contrary to the servers description. I loved the Gazpacho. It was refreshing in this hot weather. A bit pricey for the average food and mediocre service. Never got a refill on the drinks. For $56. I would expect more. read more

Perla's - Nice fishtank info the entry of restaurant. Divides the bar and dining room - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Atmosphere and feed were excellent! We got the cheeseburger and the shrimp cob - delish! Great service - type of place you can't go wrong with what you get! read more

Everything was delicious. The potatoes nicely complemented the octopus. The butterscotch dessert was memorable. I'd go back again just for that. Didn't catch the server's name, but I asked for her guidance and she delivered quite nicely. read more

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OUTSTANDING FOOD!!! A little pricey but worth every penny. My friend ordered half a dozen of oysters (able to pick 6 different ones off the menu) and the grilled octopus, and I ordered the lobster roll. All 3 dishes (AND the hush puppies they start you off with) were absolutely amazing, 10/10 for every single dish!! The lobster roll was one of the best I've had-and it was STUFFED with meat ($34 worth of lobster 100%). REALLY cute atmosphere too-inside is very nautical, while the outside patio has a cute ambiance with hanging lights and big trees (and don't worry, plenty of misting fans and shade, actually makes it bearable even in this hot Austin weather). LOVE this restaurant!! Hard to get a reservation at, make sure you book one on OpenTable ahead of time!! read more

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This was our 2nd visit to Perla's and after giving it a 2nd chance we had a similarly disappointing experience as the 1st time. The front staff hostesses were too busy chatting it up to greet us and surprisingly had a bit of an attitude... we felt that was a bit uncalled for, but shook it off. Our waiter was great and we enjoyed the cocktails as well. I had the watermelon marg and with the mezcal smokiness, it's a winner. Calamari was a pretty solid appetizer. Mac n cheese pasta was undercooked, underneath the crispy top side. Disappointing for a $14 side that is supposedly their star. Sea bass was disappointing. Steak was nicely cooked but it was covered in sauce like a Salsbury. It was filet mignon fah cryn' out loud. Be prepared to shell out some serious cash. We dropped about $175 for two people with one drink each. I really wanted to like Perla's but I have to say, there are better options value-wise, and the hostess experience needs a serious upgrade. read more

I haven't had much of the actual food here, but the oysters have always been amazing! They are extremely fresh and you have so many options. I don't know how the crowd is during the winter, but you definitely need a reservation during the warm months, otherwise it's basically impossible to get a seat on the weekends. This place is pricy, but if you love fresh seafood, keep it in mind. read more

Awesome food and atmosphere. We loved it. It's the quintessential SoCo experience. The fish was outstanding. We splurged on fries that we all shared and said we'd only have a couple. We ate the whole thing ‍. So good!!! read more

The brunch here is AMAZING. I always order the crab benedict service is good, a bit pricey but quality of food is great. read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

I visited Perlas several times this last legislative session and every time it was a delight! Beautiful atmosphere! It was refreshing just sitting outside under the gorgeous trees watching the world go by. Customer service was good, signature drinks fun and yummy and everything we tried on the menu was delicious. I love the ceviche here! This is a must while in Austin! read more

Super impressed! Perla's has great curb appeal, so it's easy to get you in the doors. We arrived around 6pm on a weekend--over an hour wait time for a table, but were lucky enough to find a couple spots at the oyster bar and we were glad we did. I forget the gentleman's name, but he seemed to be in charge of the raw bar, was new to Austin, and had a sleeve tattoo (only describing him so Management knows what an amazing job he did). We weren't in the mood for a full meal, just grabbing a drink and some appetizers. We were assigned a server who took our drink order, but he kind of disappeared after that--this is my only complaint. Other than the server, this was a 5-star experience thanks to our service with the gentleman at the raw bar more than making up for it. I actually asked if I could tip him instead of our server. Anyway, back to the 5-star review... the selection of oysters is phenomenal. I recently moved here from the San Francisco Bay Area (thriving oyster scene), and our experience at Perla's did not disappoint. The guy taking care of us at the raw bar offered detailed suggestions and helped choose a nice mix of different kinds of oysters. We also orders the fresh cut fries which were perfect! We will definitely be back to order a seafood tower from our new friend at the raw bar. Looking forward to visiting again. read more

Catch a vibe, eat delicious food& create a wonderful experience with your people. This place is bliss. Nothing short of spectacular.

We ate at Perla's twice in two nights. Both nights were excellent. I highly recommend the Wedge salad. More than enough to share. The first night my wife had the crispy snapper fish and she declared it to be right at the top of the best fish she had ever had. Based on the buddy-bite she gave me, I would agree. I had the Pacific Yellowfin Tuna Seared Rare a la Plancha which consisted of 4 medium medallions of rare tuna with a very good flavor. The stuffed tomato was nothing to write home about. Likewise for the Yukon Gold Griddle Cakes, which were not exciting at all. The service was excellent; attentive and accommodating. The second night we cancelled our reservation at an outlying restaurant because we were kind of tired after a full day exploring Austin. But we were staying very nearby, at the Kimber Modern hotel, and so we walked a short distance back to Perla. This time we had no reservation but quickly found two seats at the friendly bar. There we ordered two dry martinis that were made to perfection and of descent size and in real martini glasses that 007 would have looked debonair holding. The rest of the meal was straight forward consisting of a dozen delicious East and West coast oysters; small but tasty. They came with a mignonette sauce. I also had a shrimp cocktail with 5 jumbo shrimp with mix your own red horseradish sauce. Perlas was really bustling on Saturday and we had a great time and meal. read more

Disappointed regular. We were disappointed with our last Perla experience. As frequent Perla's customers, we were underwhelmed on multiple levels. To start, our waiter entered our entrees incorrectly. What was supposed to be a Lobster Omelette came out as the "Lobster & Egg White Frittata". --- There's nothing worse than having to watch your date eat their meal so it doesn't get cold and then have them watch you eat yours. Our server was "nice", but I expect that a complimentary drink would have been offered for the mess up while I waited a solid 10 minutes for my omelette to arrive. Once it did reach the table my disappointment continued as they've changed their recipe and the omelette was over salted and lacked lobster. Also, the green salad that accompanies the entree was also underwhelming and sadly also changed. Overall to pay $200+ for BRUNCH it was NOT worth it for the overall experience. The waitstaff was inconsistent. We typically are offered their homemade hush puppies but were not, however, we did watch both tables to either side receive them without asking. As someone who loves seafood, I have always raved about Perla's, but after our last experience, I'm sad to say we will not return. Prices are just too high and service can't seem to get it together. read more

The food is amazing and great atmosphere except I was seated next to maybe the owner and manager. They discussed business and staff thru my entire meal. Enjoyed the ahi tuna tartare not the seating and discussion. read more

Came here with a large group (six people) of friends. We had a wonderful time. Sat in the outdoor patio, as you do during Austin's beautiful sunset golden hour weather. Had some of the best seafood of my life. Everything, from the cocktails, to the truly excellent service, to the wonderful flavors of all the dishes we shared and tried from each other, fit the great atmosphere, the laughter, and the funny stories shared around the table. This is a great place for a relaxed dinner, with food and drink that will "wow" you. The amazing service rates a repeat mention, since it's notable - it's that good. We all raved about this restaurant, and all had a wonderful time. It's walking distance to other places nearby, but you may not want to leave. read more

I am confused -- I went to Las Perlas last night, and now I'm at Perla's. Same ownership? Unrelated? Anyway, our server seemed nice when she introduced herself to us, then when she came back she told us she was no longer our server -- but she'd still be around. Our current server took our drink order, looking forward to getting our drinks. read more

I don't want to leave a bad review because this place was very cool but I got the WORST food poisoning of my life here after eating oysters. My meal was awesome but I will say it's super pricey - the cheapest meal is $18/19. Even then, I don't mind splurging from time to time and dropped $100 but to spend it only to get food poisoning sucked. I've had it for about 36 hours now ongoing and can't even hold down toast. We didn't eat before that day so I know it was from there unfortunately. Very nice server and good food, I'd just recommend staying away from the raw oysters! (Also just want to point out - there was about 4 or 5 other reviews regarding food poisoning and all of them mentioned oysters so that's definitely my guess) read more

This place is next level 1000!!! Enjoyed the vibes and food!!! Service was great and on time!!! Sun Kiss drink was sooooooo gooood!!!! Lobster pasta was very good along with the oysters yum yum!!! If your in Austin you gotta get dressed up and go to Perla's good seafood for sure read more

Perla's is an amazing date night spot for many reasons. The staff is accommodating, the food is tasty, and the environment is welcoming. I would definitely come back! read more

Love to sit outside under the big tree and people watch in SoCo. Fantastic location. We enjoy lunch outdoors in the Spring & Fall. Their lobster rolls are all the rage! Great little place! read more

Meh. I'd been hearing so many raves about this place that I had high expectations. Went with the family (3 people, including 1 child). The wait time for a table and the prices on the menus did not lower my expectations of quality. What I got was some half decent oysters, a drink or two, a couple of fried po-boy sandwiches, and a grilled fish that was a little better than the rest of the dishes, for almost $200. Yikes. Wait staff did not make the experience special, ambience was casual not fancy. It wasn't BAD food or bad service, it just wasn't $200 food or $200 service. Unlikely to return. read more

In Austin. Co worker (not from Austin) called me and said go to Perla's if you like fish. (then he spelt it but I was on a plane so I forgot it). Hunted it down on yelp and it was good. Good for someone eating alone. The groups looked like a lot more fun than me alone. Had the Mahi, the Brussels and the Mac and cheese (too much for one person). All awesome. Waiting on the apple pie and ice cream... Other that the Fasten driver nearly killing me on my way here and eating alone the place is great. Outside. Warm. Nicely lit. Not Toronto in December. Would I come here again / tell a friend or call someone on an airplane and say eat here? Yes for sure. Or text my wife and say wish you were here. I did that too. read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Beautiful dish presentations - octopus was phenomenal. Our server Stephanie made our experience a 10/10. She was very attentive and gave great recommendations. We'll be back! read more

Perla's - Spanish Octopus - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

We made a reservation and were seated quickly. We arrived between brunch & lunch which made the menus somewhat confusing. Due to the popularity and close seating it is loud inside but better than 100 degree outside on patio. Our waiter Joel was very knowledgeable and attentive regarding menu selections & our needs. Food ordered off Brunch menu everyone enjoyed their selections. No free parking is the reason for 4 stars. The parking lots are costly & finding street parking on Sunday afternoon is a challenge. Wear comfortable shoes because you may have to park a distance. read more

Amazing food amazing service. Medium rare NY steak was full of flavor and exercised to perfection. The oysters were off the charts . Always amazing . read more

I'm could not have been a better experience. Honestly. The food was incredible. The drinks were incredible. The service was INCREDIBLE!!!! Jess was an absolute sweetheart. Next time we are in town we are 1000% coming back ! read more

I love Perla's! Hadn't been in a while, but my boyfriend took me on a date the other night and we had a fabulous experience. We got oysters, both raw and fried, ceviche, tuna tostadas, octopus, crab cake, some cocktails... Teal was our waiter and she was great - very friendly, super attentive to our tables, and gave awesome suggestions. I'm very excited to go back to Perla's again soon! read more

Perla's - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nice restaurant in the middle of Congress Ave, If you are strolling the street and getting tired and need some time to set and relax enjoy a drink or a small bite so this is the place for you I hit the place during happy hours so they have $.50 off oysters and $2 off cocktails I got some oysters and a drink both were good But I would say it's a little on the higher price side comparing to other places here in Austin but not bad They have a really cool outside seating which I loved The only downside for me is they took a while to serve me A little bit slow but the stuff are really friendly read more

Delicious! Fresh! Super friendly service and cute outside seating. Highly recommend. The green beans are a sleeper hit.