Having a craving for some oysters and drinks, we stopped by here. We sat outside on the big patio where you will find a smoking section and a non smoking section. The only complaint I had about sitting outside on the patio is that the chairs are uncomfortable and way to short for the tables. Customer service was good and the nice waiter answered all my questions including giving me recommendations on what to order when asked. We ordered a couple dozen oysters on the half shell and these were delicious. We also ordered the shrimp cocktail which came with huge shrimp. Both dishes were delicious and I would order them again. The drinks were also good and decently priced. I would recommend this place to anyone and we will definitely be back. read more

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They started off strong after taking over from Sam's Boat; unfortunately, the food & service has gradually gone downhill while prices go uphill. Some examples from our most recent visit: (a) order was wrong, (b) shrimp was over cooked; (c) there was no salt or pepper on any of the tables in spite of it being early afternoon. We had to ask for it; (d) we had to ask for tea refills even though tea is $4.00 -- one of the highest prices in town, and then (e) the nail in the coffin -- and watch out for this one -- they charged more than what was listed on the menu. Even worse (f) when I caught it and pointed the mistake out before paying, they acknowledged the mistake but wouldn't correct the charge. Instead, they said "oh yeah, the menu is out of date and is wrong". It was only a couple of dollars, so we didn't want to make a scene. Instead, we deducted it from the gratuity and left with the feeling that we had been taken advantage of. They have now lost a long and good standing customer that has tried to be loyal. Bye Bye. (P.S. - the "out of date" menu was/is the QR code one scanned at the table. The wait person said they no longer have printed menus). read more

When I tell you the fried oysters were finger licking good. The crawfish were good a little salty. I shouldn't ask for spicy it was more salty Waitress was alright. read more

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Excellent service, even though we sat on the patio in 55 degree weather. Our meals arrived in good time. The shrimp quesadilla was incredible! Crisp tortilla, good balance of cheese with shrimp. The fish and chips was disappointing. The fish was soft and greasy. The fries, however, were nice and crunchy. We will definitely be back. read more

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Well this place is a little run down but I really enjoy the food and prices! Service is fast and efficient.

2 stars for several reasons. The first one was, the service was horrible. Our waiter took a very long time to bring out our drinks and never really came to check on us once we received our food. Second, we were told they had just run out of crawfish, but someone who walked in after 20 minutes after us, got crawfish. That was annoying because we went for crawfish. Third, we only ordered ONE LB of the shrimp boil, and ended up getting 2 lbs. We didn't mind, only cause it tasted good but mind you, each pound isn't cheap. So that added an additional $19 to our tab. Fourth, We ordered sausage for our boil which wasn't brought out until we completely finished our meal, (approx 30 mins later). Which was super annoying, because the whole point of getting sausage was to eat with our boil. We also ordered some fries, which came out with the sausage, which was late. As I stated earlier, our waiter didn't check on us at all after our food was brought. We had to tell the host about our missing items. We were told, "something happened with the sausage and it was getting cooked now." The sausage didn't come out for 30 mins. Not sure if we will be going back. read more

The Boat - Chips & queso - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Not a bad place, I just came after crawfish season. Waitstaff was good and handled a large party with easy. Live band, good Weiss bier and decent chow. read more

The Boat - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Service was friendly and attentive but just wasn't crazy about my meal (the fried oyster basket) A lot of fried and not a lot of oysters. Fries were "ehh" as were the chips for the queso. We ordered the shrimp boil and the shrimp were done perfectly and the redfish plate was pretty good. They did have a full bar and naked my cocktail. So a 3.5 may be a better score but I left feeling a bit heavy and of course, I can't blame myself read more

4 of us had Sunday lunch after church and left pretty satisfied. The restaurant is not too busy nor loud at that time and only one waitress, Mary. She was nice but made me feel rushed to order as she's bit inpatient. But overall experience at this time period was not bad. They seem so have live music in evening and kids play ground... not sure how busy or how attentive the staff will be? Your average expense are $20 per person w/o any drinks. read more

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Let me start out by saying, I am from Louisiana, so I have an idea of what seafood and especially catfish should taste like. This was horrible, undercooked, fishiest catfish I have ever had. The calamari oh lord it was obviously frozen as it was so damn chewy. I even mentioned the taste to the server and she said "oh yea the catfish is hit or miss" sad... Will never return. Hush puppies were wonderful though ‍ Decorations also good but come on dont freeze your food. I just emailed as asked, we will see what happens. Updated 10/10 read more

So loves I met up with a friend for drinks in thirsty Thursday. Didn't drink really but did grab some yummy cod fish and shrimp. read more

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The crawfish is good, the workers are nice, and the whole place is just a nice little vibe, HOWEVER it seemed like the policy has changed, my total was 94.24 but it seems like they charged me 44 dollars and then 50 dollars, TWO separate transactions I guess, and I don't understand that read more

This replaced Sam's Boat and the menu is largely the same. The decor is exactly the same. I recently went with a small group of folks and my favorite thing about the place is there's something for everyone. Unlike a lot of Cajun/seafood places, there's plenty of other options here. I really like their BBQ burger with the crispy onion strings, bacon, and spicy BBQ sauce. Others at the table raved about the gumbo as well. Our service was excellent, especially considering that we had a large table next to us, which we expected to create havoc. However, our server handled both our table and the large group expertly. Definitely a great option with something for everyone. read more

I rarely give 5 stars but this place was 4.75... why? Because we had a party 14 and had a great time with amazing food. The food was amazing. We had about everything on the appetizer menu & the oyster Rockefeller was on point. The tuna & Pontchartrain red fish was prepared really really well. The kids had the spegetti and they all but licked the bowl read more

So I have a confession. When people would suggest The Boat (what I still think of as Sam's Boat) for crawfish, I would see it and think....meh. I am here to say I was wrong (please don't tell my husband I know how to say that). I have had crawfish three times back and the old Sam's Boat and all three times was very let down. I felt as though the crawfish were either previously frozen (and this was during the season), or cooked much earlier and then heated up prior to serving. All three times they were mushy and hard to peel. Not trying to be snobby, but we just know our crawfish...we eat them and lot and cook them a ton. We were craving crawfish Sunday with some friends and our favorite spot for mudbugs (Pappadaux) was not serving them yet. Our friends suggested the Boat and I was not excited but went with it. Well, it was easy to see that The Boat made some changes after we had the crawfish...they were very good! I was surprised to see another review that said they were mushy, because not our experience at all. They were done in a cajun style as opposed to some places that do an Asian type preparation, of which we are not a fan. We got middle of the road spice, and when my husband and I go back alone, we will kick the spice up a bit. They were still medium sized, a few big boys in the batch, but we are still a little early in the season, so to be expected. Our waitress (Sarah) and other servers was super attentive, and man they were PACKED! Our beer was always fresh and she checked on us while we devoured our crawfish. We are really looking to going back. read more

The Boat - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is so good. My only problem is watching the Redheaded waiter play with his hair and serve the food.

They have a sign that says they are short staffed. Be patient. It was 5 o'clock, not even a quarter full. After 20 minutes with no one coming to my table, my patience wore out. Not busy and couldn't help me. I definitely wouldn't go during normal hours. read more

Not what it use to be that's for sure. BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU ORDER because what's on the menus is not what you get!!!!!! read more

The Boat - What I got - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Randee and Nikol and Katie are awesome. The food has been great over the last few weeks! Highly recommend. Randee is BARELY cooler than Nikol . Nikol is amazing best bartender in the world read more

The Boat - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Literally ALWAYS delicious seafood boils Quick service, whether dining in, taking out & they deliver!! read more

Our go-to for crab boils. We had a terrible experience though recently with some chick we've never seen who acted like a hard ass instead of projecting professionalism. We miss the lady with short curly purple hair! Please continue to be the face of this restaurant. We need you! Lol Also, we were a large party and I'm sure the waitress did her best to help us out but maybe we needed a 2nd waiter for our large party. Would of had a much better experience as well. read more

Ambience nice. Good place for cocktails and appetizers. Dinner is terrible. Ordered the shrimp salad which was supposed to include boudin and 4 shrimp. Got a huge plate of lettuce with 1/2 small avocado, one tablespoon of shredded carrot and bits of tomato, and 4 boiled shrimp. No boudin. When I asked about it I was told by waitress Alicia that boudin didn't come with shrimp salad. When pointed out that it was clearly stated in the menu she replied it was a typo and probably should be corrected on the menu by the owner. She also said they probably should start telling people who order the shrimp salad that it doesn't come with boudin. Basically paid $10 for a plate of lettuce and 4 boiled shrimp. Left hungry. read more

I found this place by accident. My GPS on my phone has been misguiding. I was hungry and I passed this place right off MOPAC. Saw it was a seafood restaurant and thought....give it a try. I started with the Shrimp Brochette. Was very good. But I am a sucker for a good crab cake! I tried the Crab Pops (8). Surprisingly, this is not a coastal location, the crab pops were amongst the best crab cakes I have ever had. See the pics. I had to share them with others sitting around me at the bar so not to eat so much I am sick or in pain later. fyi....I was dining alone. The service was what you would expect in the south, very friendly, but they went beyond expected to make me feel welcome, comfortable and met all my needs. This place has a laid back atmosphere, big TVs around to watch your games, a deck for nice evenings and is child friendly. I will definitely return again the next time I am in the Austin area. read more

First off let me state iv been coming here for over 7 years ! My mother is actually a regular... here ... so it's sad to say this was the WORST EXPERIENCE IV EVER HAD AT A " mom & Pop" Place ... Me and my husband came in on Sunday to watch football and have a few beers and eat some food ! Ordered, everything's going great server is awesome ! ( Heaven ) we decided to order my food first I wanted a Catfish plate ! Which is fried catfish some hush puppies and french fries everything was amazing. My husband decided he wanted to order now so we decided on. The caliente burger ... The burger comes out ! Let me state I love all food lol and definitely burgers so I know a good one on my first bite ... anyone does ... The burger was burnt on the top and bottom ... not " charred " like the General manager ( Heather) said it was and was overly spicy for my husbands taste .... We both tried it because sometimes I believe he overreacts ... but no the burger was not good at all ! LONG story short I asked for another burger offered to pay for the new burger the first one was not to my liking and she proceeded to tell us WE DONT DO THAT HERE!!! She was rude she was yelling I was so embarrassed for the company to have someone like that represent such a great establishment. And then she took the burger that was bunt, and said IF YOU DONT TAKE THIS ONE WE WILL NOT MAKE YOU A NEW ONE . She argued over and over and my husband repeatedly told her this nothing to argue about could He please the order she refused took the burger we didn't like and said we will not receive another burger. I was fed up with the way she had treated us I ask sweet heaven for our check and we left. Needless to say I'm more sorry for the company than I am for her or myself! read more

I've been a frequent patron ever since Sam first parked his boat here 20+ years ago in the middle of this building and shucked oysters from it. But alas, Sam jumped out of his boat, swam a few feet away, then was promptly eaten by a huge shark and Sam's Boat was never seen again. But it's all good, I guess, because the food quality here at THE BOAT has greatly improved since Sam's demise! In fact, you would have to go all the way to Alabama to get better shrimp & grits. They're freaking incredible here. I'm not kidding when I say The Boat is currently serving THE BEST SHRIMP & GRITS IN THE ENTIRE STATE of TEXAS! Also, they're calling crab balls "crab pops" for some reason, and the recipe changed slightly to make them even better than they were before (albeit, more expensive, but definitely worth it). Anyway, I'm going to keep coming back to THE BOAT (formally owned by Sam) again and again! read more

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First time at The Boat. This place definitely has its regulars. Being a Austin native, those are the kind of places I like. The bartender is engaging. Didn't take long to order a draft and it was cold. The kegs are in 55 gallon brute trash cans covered in ice! How Austin is that?!! Well, the old Austin I remember. Well, it didn't take long before the first mistake... ordered the cup of gumbo. Should have ordered the damn bowl!! The gumbo was full of flavor and ingredients. It must be made fresh because some of the vegetables still had a little crunch to them. Not raw crunch but freshly cooked gumbo crunch. Wow!! Seafood basket was spot on. Nice big catfish fillet and fried shrimp. Two hush puppies and crispy fries. The catfish fillet definitely reminded me of the fish fries up at the lake house. While sitting at the bar I overheard they were adding to their menu soon. Well, it'll only be an added bonus to their current menu. If you're looking for comfort seafood, this is a place worth spending some money. And it wasn't even that much. Pretty much on par to a neighborhood seafood joint. These "fancy" restaurants need to stop trying so hard. You're screwing up my Austin. The Boat is what Austin use to be like. I'll be back. With plenty of friends. read more

Went last night. 4 of us. It wasn't busy at all on July 4. Didn't have beer we wanted on tap. Ordered other beer and asked if it would be cold. It wasn't. Food a bit expensive for what you get. Asked for two tartars when ordering only got one. That would have been tolerable but when the check came she informed us there's a 20% mandatory tip on orders over 100. Ended up being a 30.00 tip. I can somewhat understand mandatory tip on parties of 6 or more but not on the total amount. And they really need to do something about the odor back by the restrooms. Not pleasant. read more

Great service and food .... Started off slow but then happy hour was awesome ...........,.......... read more

The Boat - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Excellent food, excellent service, excellent choice of beer. What more could you ask for? Everything our table ordered was delicious and came out of the kitchen very quickly. The servers were very attentive. I will definitely be coming back whenever I have the opportunity next. Get the spicy crawfish! read more

Very much what I was looking for! I enjoyed a dozen oysters and some crawfish/shrimp boil. Multiple beers on tap plus many cans/bottles options. The atmosphere is casual and they had really good throwback music playing. The staff was friendly. Will definitely go again! read more

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

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This place has always been a favorite but has gone downhill recently. Bring back the old fries, they switched them for cheapo ones. read more

The Boat - Kids pasta, for some reason they added Cajun seasoning to a kids dish. Not inedible but too spicy for a kid. - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

I ordered shrimp quesadillas using Door Dash and instead received chicken quesadillas which was $3.00 less than the shrimp quesadillas that I had ordered and paid for. I tried calling the restaurant for a refund during business hours and was sent to voicemail. I won't order from this restaurant again. read more

Some of the best seafood I've had in my 8 months of living here. The beer was cold, the crawfish were spicy & came out hot, the calamari was great, and the boudin balls were fantastic. Great experience and looking forward to making this my Sunday crawfish spot! Shoutout Travis from Corpus! read more

The Boat - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We came here while staying in Austin bc this was the closest thing and it was a little late... OMG IM SO GLAD WE CAME! Some of the best flavored shrimp and crawfish I've had and the pasta was amazing! All the shrimp were huge! The live music was awesome also! Definitely recommend coming here! read more

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

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Honestly, I'm so mad right now because I had such a long day and I just wanted to come by and maybe eat a fish taco or two. I got there before 10 PM. It says they close at midnight. wonderful. my boyfriend. Well, I think he's my boyfriend. What are we? Anyways, we come in and the host says that the server is not serving anymore but we can sit at the bar and order food as per normal so I set my ass at the bar and I was looking at the menu and me being indecisive I was like I don't know what I want but then I will. I had my eyes on the fried pickles and the fish tacos and I got my belly hyped for fish, tacos and fried pickles and then come to find out that the kitchen is actually not open and we were bamboozled and so we sat there for a good I don't know 10 minutes before we found out the kitchen was closed and I just don't like being gaslit by the attendant at the front that's just not nice like if your kitchen closed just say that so then we don't says the bar and think that we can order food only to be diverted. Anyways, I don't wanna ruin the review average, so I'll give three stars because I'm feeling generous. read more

My husband had the Catfish Po'boy and I had the shrimp Po'boy both were delicious. As a side we both had the gumbo. It was the best gumbo we'd ever eaten. Staff were very friendly. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

The Boat is what you would expect from a cheesy looking location serving seafood hours away from the Coast. The appetizers were the best part of the meal. We got half a dozen oysters on the half shell and they were really fresh, or so it seemed. I was sick all night so I'm not sure if it's from the oysters, but keep that in mind. The Boudin balls were excellent, and paired well with the two sauces provided. One seemed cocktail sauce based and the other salsa verde based, both super tasty! This wouldn't be my first time ordering frozen crawfish because it's not in season, and these guys boiled the crap out of it till it was rubber. It was kind of a sad experience for someone I had with me who has never had crawfish before! I've had lots of fresh and frozen crawfish, and it can be really good either way if it's done right. The seasoning was really spicy and pretty good, so that aspect of it was good. The Crawfish was just overcooked, and I suppose it can be done easily if you don't know what your doing. Last time the blackened chicken tacos were much better, so maybe this place is a hit or miss. The service was pretty good, the people seem pretty nice. We ended up spending more than we usually do, and we didn't even drink that much. So this place really isn't that great considering how much we were charged for sub par food. read more

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Great food! I have ate here multiple times and everything was delicious. The service is friendly and nice. More food then you can eat and nice atmosphere read more

They removed the best part on the menu.. the blue crab. *ugly cries* We have settled for their expensive crawfish, although Good yet too salty. But they are good. I crave them in my sleep. Lol not really. The raw oysters are fresh and delicious, we've ordered oysters from the boat like a dozen times, all great but one time they stunk. Good luck with getting to belly up at the bar between opening hours to 4pm-ish m-f, the boat has about a dozen regulars who meet up and camp out in the bar area. When paying for the bill they give you a handheld CC machine and give you the bill verbally. Sometimes the machine is greasy and gross as every customer/ employee touches it. Overall the boat is a chill spot. Day time and nighttime vibes are definitely different. Bartenders are pretty sweet and attentive. The boat issa vibe. We enjoy coming here read more

Had oysters Rockefeller. Very good! Ate on patio. Interior dining was loud. Music was loud inside. Had to move outdoors in order to hear!