Was very pleasantly surprised by this place. I have no idea what this space used to be but loved the aesthetic of the restaurant, probably my favorite in Austin. From being able to see fish being prepped fresh, from jars of rice and beans dotting the walls, to fish/octopus lights, turquoise napkins, this place screams date night. Food is also good. They start you off with some tostadas and salsa, as well as a cup of their fish soup, which honestly still might be the best thing we had all night. That soup has it all - deeply savoy, umami, seafood breeze without being fishy. Warms the soul in every best way. Pro tip - free ceviche tostada with check in, which is totally worth it. I got the fish tostada (they also have shrimp and octopus), and it was perfectly cured and fresh. For dinner, my wife got the mar y tierra and I got the Fileta del rey. The steak on the tierra was a bit overcooked, but the chimichurri was good, as were the plump shrimp. Loved the sauce on the fileta del rey. Both come with rice and veggies and they were a perfect accompaniment. read more

Food was good, great service and good atmosphere, margaritas fantastic definitely give them a try

Customer service was the best! The food looks and tastes great! Their aguas frescas taste amazing! Overall the atmosphere was great. 10/10 recommend going to Simar! read more

Simar - Tacos Gober - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Just go. Don't wait. Don't wonder. Stop reading and go. Best seafood experience in Austin in 20+ yrs of living here. The service is also great. read more

We were dying to try a new seafood restaurant and be wowed. This place WOWed us! It's Caribbean style seafood and they hit the flavors for this style of cuisine. The Garlic shrimp were spectacular. Huge shrimp dripping in their deep garlic sauce. Delicious! The Coconut shrimp were perfect. Plump and coated in crispy coconut goodness. Just perfect. The Cocktail Simar is reminiscent of shrimp cocktails from the Yucatán. Huge shrimp as well as smaller shrimp in the soupy sauce. Delicious! Service was friendly and attentive. Will be back. read more

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Wow amazing! Great ambiance and delicious food our server was very friendly and had great recommendations it's a beautiful restaurant we will be back for sure! read more

The service is great and the experience feels very thoughtful. I love the coconut shrimp! Everything else I have tried has been fair to good, but the shrimp is fantastic! read more

Love this restaurant! The food is amazing! Super fresh and unique dishes. I always leave very satisfied! The staff are friendly and provide great service. The paella is one of my favorite dishes. They just changed the recipe and now it's even better! Great place for parties or happy hour with friends. Attended a party they threw in honor of their new paella recipe. It did not disappoint. Highly recommend coming here for lunch or dinner. Bring your friends and family for a lovely dining experience! read more

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Delicious food, friendly staff...this place is such a gem. Everyone is so lovely, my Palomas were wonderful and the Camerones were perfectly cooked. Can't recommend enough. read more

Pleasantly surprised! From the outside it doesn't appear to be as good as it is. We came in for lunch. The service was outstanding. Everyone there seemed to be happy and professional. The star of the show is the food. I had possibly the best verde enchiladas I've ever had ( not trying to overstate it). My wife had the Simar Poke. It looked and tasted amazing. We are going to come back again and sample the dinner menu. read more

Simar - Simar Poke - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great food, service, ambiance, and pricing! They even have a playroom for when we bring our kids!

-The staff was really nice and super accommodating. -The atmosphere was good overall. The lighting in the patio is intense so I would recommend sitting inside at dinner time. -Guava Simar marg: 10/10. Will be coming back for more! -Fillet Rey: Delicious. -The ATX aguachiles verde: would not recommend. Note to cook: Looked delicious however I was a bit disappointed. It was bitter. Not sure if the juice was infused with lime peels or if the prep was sitting in the fridge for days. The dish was loaded with black pepper; therefore unenjoyable. The essence of the dish was lost with the overpowering flavors. (Credibility: I'm Mexican) read more

Simar - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Really great food and service. Went there for pulpo. Great ambiance as well. I will always recommend.

Awesome delicious seafood! We have been there twice and have not been disappointed. The food is fresh and well seasoned. We had an assortment of appetizers and they were all excellent, especially the grilled octopus. The drinks are also great! Love the ambience and the restaurant is neatly decorated. It's beautiful for a Seafood Mexican Restaurant! read more

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Dined at Simar Seafood Cocina today. Ate incredible fillet of snapper with several of their in house sauces. The server was prompt and friendly. The Mohito was fresh and tasty. Expansive menu with great seafood choices. Fish soup was a winner. Kudos to them for great food and service. read more

This was an interesting choice that I made last minute. It was close by my hotel on valentine's day and fortunately they had an open seat at the bar. Margaritas are great and the bartender was attentive. I ordered their version of a shrimp cocktail (ceviche) and was very satisfied with the flavors. I also had the salmon. It too was very good. As I sat there eating I was reminded of my trip to Cozumel. Also was able to catch a ballgame On the television at the bar and the live music was a a mix of acoustic classics that everyone really enjoyed. It's Just a very authentic Mexican seafood house and well worth the experience. read more

Outstanding service! Was visiting Austin and this place was close to my lodging. Drinks were ok, food was good. Oh, the seafood soup appetizer was great! Unexpected and so flavorful. But the service is really what stands out to me. Great place, recommend to anyone. read more

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5 stars for the complementary lobster bisque, salsa, margaritas, and happy hour specials! The aguachile and shrimp/guac appetizers were also phenomenal. The entrees were good but not quite as strong as the start of the meal. Filete Rey was a little chewy and too heavy--there was too much sauce and the fish was over cooked. Paella and fish tacos were pretty good. Desert was fine. Our server was really nice and helpful. Will def come back. If I could give it 4.5 stars, I would! read more

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Lackluster service. Place smelled of spoiled fish. Waiter missed our order of ceviche for starter and was vacant for most of our meal. Also, had to ask for chips for the ceviche after he brought it without them. We ordered the Red Snapper Veracruz and Grilled Octopus. Both were highly overcooked and hastily plated. Why plate a salad on the edge of a plate so that the dressing flows onto and under the fish, making it taste like salad dressing? Crab bisque tasted old and bitter. I grew up on the Gulf Coast where we caught and cooked our own crabs. I know old crab when I taste it at a restaurant. Octopus ceviche (though missed in our original order) saved this from a two star review. It was good. My wife's Berry Cocktail was mostly ice, little to no alcohol and flavorless. Served in a water glass. Bottom line: For the price, MUCH more was expected. We will try it again because it could have been an off day, but one more "meh" and we're done. Edit; Owner states in response to other reviews that the odor issue was resolved in May of 2022. Well Ma'am, I and a lot of other displeased customers can assure that it is not as of Dec 13th 2022. In fact, if we return and it still smells like this, it may be prudent to involve the Health Dept. read more

Simar - Red Snapper Veracruz. Poorly plated. The Snapper has no room. - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I love this place! 3rd time here and this time brought a group. We started off with the tuna nachos. Spicy with the jalapeños but could easily be removed to make it mild. Comes with an order of 5. Also the got the octopus ceviche to start but couldn't take a pic before my party got into it. I think the tropical ceviche is probably my favorite tho. I got the tres amigos and saved the ribs for the next day so I wasn't messy eating with my hands. All of it was really good. The lobster that my friend ordered was probably the best thing on the table but that seafood soup was also really good too. Must save room for that banana cheesecake. Very mild on the Banana flavor and doesn't overpower the cream cheese flavor read more

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Customer service was good, but the food was spicy and expensive. The restaurant was very clean but they had small quantities. My girlfriend and I were not impressed. read more

1st visit, Friday date night. Made a resy for 2 same day, 7:30pm. We were greeted and seated immediately. There was live music, man on a marimba and a couple of keyboards. I believe it was Calypso style music. Our server was so nice and attentive! I had the house margarita on the rocks. Next time I'll ask for less ice . We were served complimentary mini cup of the lobster soup (great flavor with a littleheat), as well as some dips and crackers. I really liked the cucumber dip. Delicious! We started with oysters. They were served with a sweet chili sauce and some type of sweet vinegar sauce. I really liked it. We were then served house salads, that was unexpected. The salad had mixed greens, pecans, strawberry, raisins and onions with a ranch dressing. I had the lemon pepper flounder, it was good. Just watch out for them tiny bones. You are able to sib sides. They have veggies and they are good with that yellow rice. Anywho, I look forward to eating here again and again. The service was friendly and prompt. The food was delicious and the music was great. read more

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Great place for a business lunch or happy hour. I've taken clients and friends and they are always impressed with the food and service. I love the menu options and the attention to detail. Highly recommend. read more

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I usually enjoy dining at Simar. However, tonight the live music was so loud that my dinner companions and I had difficulty conversing. It was so unpleasant that we do not wish to return. read more

Inside decor was both unique and impressive. Ceviche tropical looked better than it tasted, a little bland. Shrimp taco and octopus tacos were outstanding! Fish taco was ok but not enough for me to even eat it. Prices were a little higher than it should be, it was not a $75 meal for tacos in ceviche. They do add a credit card service fee, which is very annoying. Our server Mariana , was awesome! read more

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Food: 5 / 5 Service: 6 / 5 Cleanliness: 4 / 5 Parking: 4.75 / 5 Price: 5 / 5 (Priced perfectly!) One of the BEST customer service experiences I have ever had. They went up and beyond to make sure my girlfriend and I had a really good experience and it did not disappoint. The food choices here... just WOW. Might be the BEST seafood spot I have ever had in Austin so far. The margarita they offer is kinda pricey but man, it DOES THE JOB! Check out my video review: https://www.tiktok.com/@gillynova/video/7255815133518204202 Highly recommend this EASILY! - TikTok/YouTube: @gillynova read more

I've been eyeing this place for over a year now and finally had a chance to come here with my husband. WOW, everything we got was so yummy! From the complimentary tortilla chips with salsa, cucumber and a sample of their fish & shrimp broth, to their ceviche de pulpo (grilled octopus) Pescado Dorado (fried tilapia) and Paella Simar ....everything was soooo delicious!! Portion sizes were great and the presentation of the food looked fantastic! Will definitely be back soon! read more

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Best ceviche I have ever had is the aguachiles dish here! The cocktails are small but tasty. The place is very big so comf for social distancing. The deco here is very insta worthy. They have live music on Fridays! read more

Simar - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Really impressed about the quality of the seafood. Incredibly fresh, and the aguachile is the closest we've found to true sinaloa aguachile (a bit spicier would have made it perfect). We found the place after someone recommended for paella, while not the traditional Spanish paella, it was really tasty. Service was outstanding, appetizers were ready almost as soon as we finished ordering and recommendations were spot on. Casual ambiance with live music was just what we needed to unwind at the end of the week. We are for sure coming back soon and hopefully we'll update the review with the rest of the dishes we wanted to try. read more

Simar is a good find. The free ceviche with Yelp check in is a winner and an awesome first exposure to the Mexican seafood specialties. We visited during happy hour (Monday - Friday 3-7p) and enjoyed the discounted guava margaritas. I would skip the pepi sushi as it's mainly just cucumber. Our waitress was genuinely so sweet and made our dining experience a pleasant one. She recommended the filete rey and it was an excellent choice - savory and filling. The tiny garlic bread wrapped in foil that comes with the entrees was a fun and tasty surprise. I made a reservation for Simar via OpenTable and I was surprised when later that evening my reservation had been cancelled even though I had already dined there, reservation placard and all. Perhaps still working out some issues. read more

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Great Menu... excelent services. Una exquisita comida de mar con productos frescos. La variedad de los platos y el precio lo hacen el lugar ideal para grupos y familias. read more

Simar - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Excellent new seafood restaurant in northwest Austin! A hidden gem that hasn't gotten overcrowded yet. We got the guacamole with shrimp as an appetizer, then the shrimp salad and grilled octopus entrees. Simar is setting the bar on grilling octopus, it's usually hard finding a place that does it right. Servers and hosts were super friendly and helpful. Definitely planning to return soon. read more

Simar - Grilled Octopus - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Went in on a Saturday, made sure to check their online specials before going in for happy hour! When I got there and ordered my solo taco on the printed happy hour menu the bartender said they only had drinks on happy hour cause they were working on changing the menu. I said okay the only reason I came was for happy hour and their online menu should be more specific or changed. Then he went to the kitchen to talk to the chef, they were nice enough to make me a taco but it was not the happy hour taco I've came and ordered many times before that. I then just cancelled my order cause I had to go to work. Nothing on the bartender but they need to be more clear about what they are serving or not serving, especially to repeat customers who have been accustomed to certain items previously on the menu. I will go back in again but not until they figure out what their new menus will be. I appreciate the place and still left a good tip just expected more from an establishment I've already been to many times. read more

This place is amazing and unique! It's my first time dining at a Mexican seafood restaurant, and it absolutely blew my mind. The paella got plenty and a variety of seafood. The grilled octopus comes in generous portion. And the Simar Caldo that's on the house has amazingly rich seafood flavor with a good blend of spice. The server is amazing, explaining each dish in detail (we can't read Spanish unfortunately) and offering a refill for caldo. The ambiance is top notch as well. A lot of decors center around the seafood theme (e.g. tentacle lamps, fish scale wall, fish bamboo light shade). Along with the chill Latin music, it's one of the best Mexican restaurants I've been hands down. read more

Simar - Caldo Simar appetizer - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Outstanding food. Delicious and a nice change from Tex-Mex. Simar is Mexican Coastal cuisine. Mostly, fish, and very well prepared. I had Pescado Güero, and my guy had Lonja Florentina. Both were nicely plated and tasty (I will say my snapper fillet was a bit on the thin side, and my guy had to order three different times as they were out of his first two choices). In both dishes, the fish was moist ( there's nothing worse than overcooked fish), and had very good flavor. That's the good news. The bad news is this place has nice decor, but terrible lighting. It's too bright. If you've read my reviews, you know atmosphere is an important element for me. "Hole in the wall" places can be forgiven because they generally have great food at low prices. Simar's prices are average to high. They need to dim the lights and add tablecloths- or at the very least, cloth with white paper on top ( like Macaroni Grill used to do). Currently, it feels like you're in a fast food joint with a play area for kids. The service was also lacking. While our server was polite and smiled (a lot), she was not informative or proficient. I realize there is a shortage of staff everywhere, and hopefully with some experience, our server will improve her skills. With all that said, I hope Simar survives and thrives. Just a few tweaks will improve the experience. I hope you'll try it based on the delicious food alone. Let me know if you do, and tell me what you think. read more

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Honestly probably my favorite seafood restaurant in Austin. We had the Primavera ceviche, tacos tri Mariscos, and paella and all were 10/10. Primavera ceviche was refreshing and came with a side of tostadas. Tacos were delicious... I think my fav was the octopus. Paella is a large portion and filling, had to take leftovers home! Waitress was nice and answered all our questions. Food service was pretty fast too. The restaurant has an upscale beachy resort restaurant vibe. read more

Awesome. Randomly stopped by after shopping. Ate alone so didn't get to try much but it was all great. Used the yelp free ceviche tostada expecting a dinky thing since it was free but it was really big! Forgot to take a pic. Had the whole octopus, they have 1 or 2 lb options. I got the 1 lb since i was eating alone but it was awesome, tender and crispy exterior. read more

Simar - Octopus 1 lb - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

First time we are having dinner and we got seated pretty quick. We ordered ceviche and mussels as appetizers. baby octopus ceviche was too sour and mussels are too tiny and no meat at all. For our main entree, we ordered paella, fried tilapia and sword fish grilled. We also got kids meal of grilled fish with fries. Entrees were tasty and big portions. I ordered guava margarita and it was pretty good. We will try desserts next time!! read more

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What an amazing surprise! I hope everyone finds out about this place because it's one of the best restaurants in NW Austin and they deserve the business. The first thing you notice walking in is how bright, sunny, and beautiful everything is. I can't believe this is the same building that was occupied by the dank, cavernous Marie Callender's for most of my life. Our server brought out little espresso cups with lobster consume, and big tortilla chips with salsa and diced cucumbers as soon as we sat down. For drinks we got a Simar Reviver, the restaurant's take on a mescal michelada, and a guava margarita. For entrees we got the paella and the swordfish al tajin and both were amazing. We finished up with banana cheesecake and choco flan. Everything was incredible, lovingly prepared, and beautiful. We'll come back as often as we can! read more

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This is a great place to eat , I love this restaurant food is great , drinks are amazing and great customer service , bartender Isabela dir a great job taking care of us , definitely I will be back. read more