As soon as we walked in, we were greeted super kindly and taken right to our table. The host/server immediately acknowledged that my wife is pregnant and even offered different seating options to make sure she was comfortable -- really appreciated that. They told us about all the specials right away and brought our drinks out fast. The service here is top-notch every single time, and the seafood never disappoints. I had the fish and chips -- crispy batter, fresh fish, and the tartar sauce was amazing. My wife had the shrimp gumbo and said it was delicious. We also got a pound of crab legs, and they definitely didn't skimp, especially with the Monday special they were running. The ambience is really cool too -- big open layout, surrounding patio, and two large bars on each side of the restaurant. Great experience all around. Highly recommend! read more

The Boat - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Sam's Boat has officially lost the plot and it's name. This used to be my go-to: casual, simple menu, not pretentious, not pricey, and consistently good. Today? Fuhgeddaboudit. It's crawfish season (my favorite season), so it was time to revisit The Boat. I'll let the crawfish slide since it's early in the season, but the redfish? Overcooked, dry, and honestly should never have been served. The most flavorful thing on the table was the green beans that came with it. And the price? $26 for that sad little piece of fish. $26.00. I'm guessing the Domain-adjacent location is why the pricing is so outrageous, because the quality sure doesn't match it. Service was basically nonexistent -- having to go to the bar to grab my own beer is a real turn-off when I'm sitting in a dining room paying sit-down prices. This restaurant is understaffed, overly full of itself, and I've had my last meal here. I'll stick with places like Shoal Creek Saloon and Deckhands -- places that still know how to serve good food at reasonable prices. read more

My wife and I have been regulars since Sam's Boat days. The service and food is always amazing. Michelle, Sara, and Josh always take great care of us. My only complaint would be about the manager, don't know her name. Ate there around 9pm 29th of April. She was very unprofessional as she was yelling at her servers in front of customers and made the whole vibe of the restaurant change. I would recommend that the manager take a conflict resolution class. This would help her properly address her concerns with others. read more

The boat is a great little Cajun place with real good food. I had he blackened chicken and my partner had shrimp gumbo. Foods was great. Cold beer went down smooth and they have great desserts. The atmosphere is fun and bright with sports on all the TVs. Service was fast and the server did a great job. They have a bunch of video games for kids and adults. We come here often and are always happy we stopped by. Also they have a huge outdoor patio for when the weather is nice and sunny ! read more

Known for their seafood, we come for the blackened chicken breast which is delicious. Normally quite busy but a small crowd tonight. Server was attentive and knowledgeable. Order came out perfectly! read more

The Boat - The Boat - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Went in on a Wednesday evening to celebrate a birthday and was immediately put off by the vibes. A customer sitting at the bar near the back entrance was heavily intoxicated and immediately made inappropriate comments to my friends and I, while this isn't the business fault he was still be served while we were there and I definitely think he needed to be cut off. Luckily staff was accommodating and sat us on the opposite side of the room. Shared 3lbs of crab and 1lb of shrimp between friends and it was pretty delicious. I was a little thrown off that we weren't given crackers for the crab and when asked it took forever to finally get them. Spent $250 for the 3 of us, and honestly the experience was pretty mediocre. Was happy to go and celebrate a birthday but won't be returning anytime soon. read more

We came to The Boat because we were craving a seafood boil and had a great dinner! We ordered a pound of crawfish and a half pound of shrimp with sausage to share. We got it medium flavored and I wish we got it spicier because it wasn't as spicy as the waitress said it would be. Personally I didn't think the seafood boil was as flavorful as I'd like but my boyfriend really enjoyed it. We got chips and guacamole that was really good but nothing out of the ordinary. I ordered a house margarita with tajin and thought it was way too strong. I love a strong margarita but there was hardly any lime flavor and it reminded me of my cheap college days . (Of course I still finished it though ) Overall the food was good and the inside made me feel like I was at the beach. It's family friendly but also a great place to watch a game with a full bar. They had live music outside on the patio and all of the staff was incredibly friendly. I would definitely come back but just order a spicier flavor and different drink read more

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We were looking for a nice place to eat while in Austin and were directed to the Boat. I must say I am quite disappointed now, because there is no Houston location! The place was bustling, and for good reason! The interior was fun and clean, with tvs showing various sports games. Despite being busy, our server was pleasant and courteous, making sure we had a place to wait while our takeout order was being completed. The food was well packed and easy to carry. And the food was amazing! From the fettuccine Alfredo to the hush puppies to the quesadillas to the seafood platter, everything was so delicious! And the quantity matched the quality! I was surprised by how various types of cuisine were all made so well by one restaurant. And the brownie dessert was the symbolic icing on the cake! Can't wait to go back there when I'm back in Austin! read more

The Boat - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We stayed across the parking lot from the restaurant and decided to check it out.. it was GREAT! Everything from the food to the service, we enjoyed every moment here. The restaurant itself can be a little rowdy, but that's expected at a place like this as people were all laughing and having a good time. We saw a sign about live music, but we missed out due to timing. Our server, Beth S. (with the alien tattoo) was a delight. Since we sat down she was on it when it came to drinks and customer service. She really contributed to our experience here. Next time we come to Austin we will definitely be coming back! Side note: we recommend the happy hour $1oysters. Get them while they're available. read more

When I first walked in the hostess made me second guess me coming to this spot that I made a last second decision on. Once I got past the gate keeper I headed to the bar , which was a litte to close for comfort for me but I got over that inconvenience and order a drink. The ambiance of that place was that of a typical mom & pop casual sea food joint watering hole. The food was the Shrimp and Grits were slapping, could've used a little more seasoning but it was great. The red beans and rice were some of the best that I have experienced in AUSTIN. I will be going back for those dishes. read more

The Boat - A beautiful, tasteful bowl of a fine southern cuisine shrimp & Grits. - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Stopped in for crawfish and drinks with friends last weekend and we really enjoyed everything. The crawfish tasted fresh and were well seasoned, with plenty of boil juice in the pan that was perfect for dipping. I especially loved that you can add mushrooms, my favorite, along with sausage, which made the meal even better. We mostly stuck to beer, so I cannot speak to the cocktails, but they looked good and were reasonably priced. Highly recommend this spot if you are up north. read more

I want to start by saying the food here is actually very good. We came the night before and had a great experience--good crawfish and great service. Because of that, we decided to come back the next day. Unfortunately, our second visit didn't go as well. My girlfriend ordered a strawberry margarita and asked the waiter not to include triple sec or any extra ingredients because she doesn't like it that way. When the drink came out, it didn't taste right to her, so she politely asked if it could be remade. The second one still seemed off, so we just wanted to get her something she would actually enjoy. We had no issue paying for the drinks--we simply wanted the order to be correct. At that point the general manager came to the table, which surprised us since we didn't feel like we had made a big deal about it. The conversation quickly became uncomfortable. She suggested that we hadn't been specific enough with the waiter, even though we had already explained that we did mention not wanting triple sec. When we clarified that we had said it, she responded with "Are you sure?", which came across as dismissive. When she went to take the drink away, I tried to explain that I didn't mind keeping the first one so it wouldn't go to waste, assuming the corrected drink would still be brought out. Instead, it felt like we were being treated as if we were trying to get free drinks, which was frustrating. That was never our intention. In fact, we would have gladly paid for any remade drinks as long as my girlfriend eventually received something she actually liked. I tried to address how the interaction made us feel, but the conversation didn't go anywhere productive. At that point I simply asked for the check and explained that we didn't want to continue the discussion. Unfortunately, as we were trying to close things out, the manager raised her voice and said, "Well why did you call me over here then!" which only made the situation more uncomfortable. Between the two visits we had spent around $200 each time and had no interest in asking for anything removed from the bill. We just wanted the interaction to end respectfully. Again, the crawfish and food here are good, which is why this experience was disappointing. I'm sharing this feedback not to cause trouble, but because the way the situation was handled by management made us feel judged and unwelcome. I hope this is something the restaurant can improve on, because the food and service we had the first night were great. read more

This restaurant was nice, the staff was kind and the service was quick. We were able to sit outside and enjoy the music and ambiance in the evening. It felt like we were out on the coast and we were confused that there wasn't any water off the patio! Our only complaints came with the tables being a little dirty and quite high for the seats outside, and the food was pretty alright. We were a little disappointed with the fried pickles and the gumbo, but the burger was tasty and the crab pops were pretty good. read more

Crawfish was super yummy here! I ordered it with mushrooms but unfortunately they did not have ravioli (2 things i need when eating crawfish) it was pretty dead so the service was fast! read more

A unique restraint with a fun boat theme. From the decor to the vibes, the whole place felt like you entered a boat. The food is a mix of Cajun and casual dining. Overall the flavors were pretty normal, nothing too special but standard food is sometimes what you need. Definitely a unique experience and seemed like a great place to bring kids as there were lots of families. read more

The Boat - Grilled Fish Tacos - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

service was great. my waiter and especially the manager. although i was stunned at paying $97 for six lbs of crawfish, it felt good to treat myself read more

I wanted chargrilled for my birthday so I came here. My oyster were decent, no real complaints. One of my friends had the blackened chicken pasta and she hated it, she said no flavor at all. Another friend had the redfish pontchartrain and she didn't eat much of it due to lack of flavor. My wife had the fried shrimp and fish and said it was too salty. Our waitress was great. The restaurant was very bar like with people yelling and taking shots. If that's the vibe you're looking for, you'll love it. read more

The Boat - Rockefeller Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food is good - Reading is fundamental people complain about gratuities but it's posted so not an issue when you pay mind to those things beforehand. As for the service : Cass! (I believe is her name) is very attentive and friendly it felt as if i've known her for years considering how busy it was yet she still managed to tend to my party and everything came out in a timely manner. very happy with the service she provided and will be requesting her in the future! read more

Wonderful late crawfish late in the season . Service was quick on a lunch date . Yea it was C spicy & knowledge staff. read more

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What a disgrace!!! Seasoned the crawfish way too heavily!!! Almost had a heart attack trying to freaking eat here! Asked to remove the seasoning and they didn't listen!! Made it more spicer!! Horrible customer service!! DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU DONT WANT TO GET POISONED!!! Should have filed a formal complaint after I was in the ER for 5 hours!!!!!!!! read more

The food was great, but if you spend $100 they will charge you 20% gratuity. It does matter of you are dining alone, the 20% still applies to you read more

It took a minute for us to get served. But once we did everything was great. I had a beer flight. The first two beers were delicious. The other two is an acquired taste! The food was so good we didn't leave any crumbs! read more

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While the food was well prepared (everything was fried), the service was poor. But that's not the reason for the low rating ... When I received the bill there was an automatic $20 tip added for bills over $100 - the reason was printed on the register slip. While I expect (and am happy to give) an automatic 18-20% tip levied when it's a large table (6-8 or more), we had exactly 3 people in my party. Three. The total bill was $150+, and under normal circumstances I would have tipped 20% of that higher figure ($30). But for 3 people? And with poor service? I admit I've given as much as 15% for poor service. But when I see *unjustified* automatic tips for *poor service*, it's a deal breaker. It just makes me think management can't keep good servers, so instead maintain their staff by implementing automatic tips. I'm guessing their bad servers got tired of getting poor (or no) tips, complained, and management took the easy way out vs. training their staff or hiring good people. I'll never be back, and will tell others not to go. To The Boat's owners and managers ... best of luck. read more

The gm was extremely unprofessional, we were sitting at the bar top and asked the bartender to turn up the volume for the half time show.. we then saw the gm purposely turn the volume down.. I looked around me and saw that the table behind me also asked the bartender if he could turn it up.. I looked back at the gm and saw that she turned it down again.. the bartender tried to get her attention but while he was walking towards her, she walked away from him to the back room. We left shortly after since we couldn't hear the music.. the people around us were also complaining. Do better as a gm. read more

We were in the mood for some seafood tonight. I ordered the catfish plate. It came with three good sized fillets, fries, and a couple of hush puppies. The fish was freshly prepared and was piping hot when delivered to the table. The fish was delicious and way more than I could eat, thus I had leftovers to take home. The fries and hush puppies were crispy and good. My hubby had a cup of seafood gumbo which comes with garlic bread and 1/2 dozen of boiled shrimp. He said the gumbo was delicious and he thoroughly enjoyed the bread too. The boiled shrimp were much larger than what he expected. They were plated with plenty of ice to keep them cold. If you like horseradish in your cocktail sauce, ask for some extra on the side. You will not be disappointed. Our wait person was extremely friendly and came by often to check on us. They had live music outside in the patio. read more

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Shrimp quesadillas - VERY generous portion! Shrimp on the small side but cooked perfectly. Avocado ranch - good choice as a dipping sauce. Cheese curds would be so much better without the spicy heat. Too hot for everyone in the house. read more

The Boat - Shrimp Quesadilla - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

I have eaten at the Boat four or five times over the past five years after taking a job across MoPac from them. I am a fish and chip kind of guy. Within that five years I have had fish and chips across Texas and by far the best fish and chips I have eaten is at the Boat. Their batter is very thin and light and the fish is perfectly cooked and flaky. And their chips are very good also. In my fish and chip travels across Texas I find that most fish batters are too thick and sometimes mushy or the chips are too thick and not crispy enough. The Boat has really dialed it in on their fish and chips. I can't speak for anything else on the menu since I am a fish and chip guy. Oh, their service is spot on also. read more

Food was good, service was great, crawfish was a bit pricey but overall flavor was good! read more

The Boat - 1lb of crawfish - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

I really enjoyed my experience here. The food was not the greatest but it wasn't the worst either. There were a few items that were just a bit under seasoned for me but really not that big of a deal. It seemed to be a great family environment. Our server was attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu which was a great help! The drinks were also good here. It's definitely worth a try! read more

The Oysters Rockefellers were the bomb! What a pleasant surprise! The combo basket was full of flavor. Chose fried catfish and fried shrimp with Onion Rings and Hush puppies. Huge portions, can be shared with 2 people. The seasoning was simple but effective. It wasn't as bland as I was expecting. Everything was really tasty. Service was excellent. There's a patio with a stage for live music on some evenings and a playscape for the kiddos! Food was pricey considering the location but still less than some places closer to the city. Definitely will be back once it gets nicer outside and can chill on the patio while kiddo plays. If only the highway view could be replaced with water and boats!! read more

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As I have a Cajun background my wife as part of my Birthday brought us here since we have never tried it. It was a fun place, some nice and interesting decor both inside and out. I had the gumbo and we tried their Boudin balls. The service was fast, both in seating us and getting our orders an food. The drinks were fine, which is my overall feeling about the place. It was not the best but no where near the worst. It was middle ground, this is of course from one visit on one day. These are the hardest reviews to do as nothing really stood out good or bad. It was average. The food was fine, the drinks were fine, service was fine. Not a bad place for some Cajun style food on an average day. My wife has a different opinion, she got the shrimp and grits and really enjoyed it. I admit I tend to be more picky on Cajun food then other types so take that as you will. But still overall the experience was pleasant, the food was fine and I wouldn't say no to another visit and try. read more

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Love this place so much! The staff is sweet and they make sure you're happy with everything. My go to bartender is the one and only Randee, my husband and I know her from many years. We don't consider our selves as regulars but we are regular seasonal patrons because we LOVE the crawfish here! I like that they have bands playing on the weekends and sometimes during the week. Perfect outdoor seating for a fun spring lunch or dinner. read more

The Boat - Crawfish, shrimp and eggs - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Good food but missing items on pickup. Entrees were good but the side of Cole slaw was missing.

Months later I realize I my original review autocorrected to The Dominion instead of the Domain. The Boat is still cool! read more

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Great place. The customer service was great. Our waitress Cassidy was super friendly. Their crawfish prices are a bit crazy though haha. But this is a really cool place to hangout. I never knew it was so active inside. We ate outside and just missed out on the nightly activity (it was a band our night but they also do game nights and trivia nights and more). I'll def be back. read more

The Boat - Red Fish Pontchartrain - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nice place to grab some seafood, I've been here several times and it's always a pleasant experience. Several TVs located inside to watch sports, live music on the patio, and great service. Such a chill spot to bring friends or family. read more

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Wednesday night, date night, party of 2. Not busy at all, maybe 5 or 6 other parties were there. We were seated immediately but took our server a bit to greet us. The menu is large! Once we ordered, our food came out promptly but again, our server did not check in on us in a timely manner. The food was good. I ordered the hush puppies and the shrimp platter - great seasoning. My boyfriend had the redfish platter and he said it was good. Overall, it was a good experience. Will be back to try more off the menu. read more

The Boat - Shrimp platter - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place has really upped their game. Ahi Tuna Salad is terrific, love their fried shrimp, grilled shrimp, roasted garlic potatoes. Super casual, great outdoor deck. Just wish they'd invest in new outdoor furniture. Most uncomfortable chairs & tables in Austin. I carry out a chair from the dining room and all is good. Service is excellent, tho. Especially Henry. He's my fave. read more

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I've been coming to 'The Boat' since it was 'Sam's Boat', how I haven't written a review here beforehand is beyond me. I was reminded to write a review as I was looking through my phone and found some photos from my last visit here. For the purposes of this review, I am solely reviewing my last visit where my friend and I enjoyed Oysters David. This is a starter that is made up of fried oysters on tortilla chips topped with pico and avocado-serrano sauce. The oysters for this starter are not of the highest caliber but do the trick when looking for a bite to go with a beer or cocktail. The kick from the avocado-serrano sauce pairs nicely with most beers on tap at this location. During my last visit, the server that my friend and I had was a riot. He had us in stitches and his service was prompt and courteous. Overall, this is one of those types of places where the food is often mediocre at best and all of us locals know and go to if for nothing else a good time. read more

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It gets 4 stars only because of the price of crawfish. I know it's a rough season for the mid bugs but the price didn't scare me from ordering my favorite treat! Best crawfish in Austin! The tuna sashimi salad is yummy! read more

The Boat - Yum yum yum - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas