Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Galveston

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Galveston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Riondo's Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (1125)

$30 and under

Italian

Galveston

About the restaurant

Riondo's serves a casual lunch and upscale dinner with unmatched hospitality on the strand in Galveston. Riondo's also provides a private banquet room for rehearsal dinners, small weddings and all your special occasion needs. Chef Rico provides housemade pastas, mozzarella cheese, artisan breads and Gulf Coast Fresh Seafood, Wagyu beef and local farm to market produce from Moon Dog farms. Located in the historical Strand District in Galveston, come enjoy a romantic night at Riondos.

Top review

EllenVIP

Dined 3 days ago

The service was excellent. Ruben our bartender took great care of us. Food was delicious. The best Happy Hour on the island.

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Popular dish

Tiramisu Crepes

Grotto - Galveston - San Luis Resort

4.8

4.8 (1430)

$30 and under

Italian

Galveston

About the restaurant

Located inside the San Luis Resort Galveston, Grotto offers an Old Country trattoria ambiance & classic Italian cooking with recipes made on premises. Creations include many “Old World” signature dishes such as Neapolitan thin crust pizzas, Snapper Siciliano, Veal Parmigiana, Braised Pork Ragu & Pappardelle, Antipasta, and house-made pastas & fish selections. Enjoy Grotto’s famous Peach Bellini or an extensive collection of Italian and domestic wines while overlooking the pool at San Luis Resort.

Valentine's Day Dinner
Celebrate your love with a romantic three-course dinner with Gulf views, the finest wine, and an intimate ambiance.
($74.95 per person)

Top review

Vivian

Dined 6 days ago

The Grotto never disappoints! The food and service was excellent.

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Shrimp & Crab Capellini

Number 13 Prime Steak and Seafood

4.8

4.8 (2387)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Galveston

About the restaurant

Welcome to Number 13 Prime Steak and Seafood, where every bite is a masterpiece! The only restaurant in Galveston awarded with the prestigious "Two Glasses" Best Of Award Of Excellence by Wine Spectator Magazine.
Nestled in the heart of the Pelican Rest Marina, our culinary haven, helmed by the talented Chef Diego Rueda, offers a journey of flavors.

Enjoy panoramic water views, creating an unforgettable dining experience where warmth meets sophistication, perfect for sharing moments.

Our commitment to quality resonates in carefully selected ingredients, ensuring each bite is a blend of freshness and flavor. From sizzling steaks to succulent seafood, our menu celebrates culinary expertise. Indulge in our award-winning wines, featuring ultra-rare and premium beef from around the world, fresh local seafood, and savor the most unique bourbon selection.

Number 13, is your lucky number for unparalleled dining.
Join us—where cuisine, views, and warm hospitality converge into magic.

Top review

WendyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

So amazing- ambiance, food & service were all perfection! Love it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Popular dish

32 oz 30-Day Porterhouse

Popular dish

Thursday Prime Rib Night

Popular dish

Prime Rib & Eggs

BLVD. Seafood

4.8

4.8 (2081)

$30 and under

Seafood

Galveston

About the restaurant

BLVD. Seafood is a new casual dining restaurant on Seawall Boulevard. Featuring fresh seafood and steaks.

Top review

TimVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Always a taste treat here. New Sweet Ginger Octopus appetizer was amazing! The Bar staff are first class, and our wood Smoked Old Fashion and Dirty Martini were spot on. BLVD is in our personal top 3 go to places on the island.

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Popular dish

Crab Stuffed Shrimp Bites

Willie G’s Seafood & Steakhouse - Galveston

4.7

4.7 (1813)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Galveston

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined on 13 Dec 2024

Very enjoyable meal. Robert was friendly, informative, and an amazing server. The location was busy but relatively quiet considering. This was a random selection for a pre-vacation dinner and we were extremely pleased.

Hearsay on The Strand - Galveston

4.7

4.7 (1492)

$30 and under

American

Galveston

About the restaurant

Located on Historic Galveston Island, our On The Strand location offers an evocative ambiance perfect for unforgettable dining experiences, featuring creative American cuisine and handcrafted artisan cocktails. This coastal resort city boasts top attractions and distinctive museums, providing visitors with truly unique experiences.

Top review

Darlene

Dined 1 day ago

Molly was our server and she was fabulous! We were celebrating my birthday and she made it extra special!

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Popular dish

Texas Charcuterie Board

Popular dish

Charcuterie and Crudité

Popular dish

Blackened Salmon

1817 Steak & Seafare

4.7

4.7 (181)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Galveston

About the restaurant

Welcome to 1817 Steak & Seafare, nestled in Evia on Galveston Island, where culinary excellence converges with the freshness of sea and land. This upscale dining destination boasts panoramic lake views and stunning sunset vistas. We are committed to a scratch kitchen philosophy, using only fresh, never-frozen ingredients. Each steak is a prime, hand-cut selection from the choicest center cuts, ensuring the finest quality. Our seafood is sourced directly from the Gulf, delivering unmatched freshness. Complement your meal with our extensive selection of craft cocktails, premium spirits, and fine wines.

Due to high demand, we recommend reserving your table at least two weeks in advance. For bar reservations, please call us at 409-765-1817.

Top review

Annie

Dined 1 day ago

Our server was very attentive and outstanding. The steak was okay. The tuna was very good. Sides were good. Dessert was very good.

Rainforest Cafe - Galveston

4.6

4.6 (532)

$30 and under

American

Galveston

About the restaurant

You don’t have to travel far to dine in a tropical rainforest, It’s a safari for the senses. Our menu contains an array of delicious items and tropical treats you’re sure to go WILD for. End your journey with the out-of-this-world VOLCANO dessert. Discover the rainforest, complete with cascading waterfalls, tropical rainstorms, trumpeting elephants and entertaining gorillas. It’s not just another meal; it’s an adventure! Don’t forget to take a journey through our Retail Village and float through an EPIC excursion at the Rainforest River Adventure Ride right next door!
CAUTION: Flashing lights and thunder sounds inside restaurant and Rainforest River Adventure Ride. May cause discomfort and/ or seizures for those with photosensitive epilepsy.

Top review

melanieVIP

Dined 7 days ago

The Galveston rainforest cafe location is the best we have visited… it surpassed both Disney locations. Thank you.

The Fancy at Hotel Lucine

4.6

4.6 (104)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Galveston

About the restaurant

An American Fine-ish Dining establishment where the menu is full of fancy comfort food with a French twist. Think dinner party hosted by your Aunt who summers in Provence and says Paris like “Pear-REE” – but also drinks beer only from a can with a koozie.

The Fancy at Hotel Lucine sits neatly at the intersection of 10th & Seawall Blvd - we're about as close to the water as a hotel can get without high tide lapping at your bedside.

Top review

SophiaVIP

Dined on 11 Dec 2024

Oysters and all food delicious! Ambiance .. . so good!!

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Experience

Brunch in The Fancy at Hotel Lucine

Experience

Christmas Eve Feast of Seven Fishes

Experience

New Years Eve Dinner

Landry’s Prime Seafood & Steaks – San Luis

4.4

4.4 (1365)

$30 and under

Seafood

Galveston

About the restaurant

A Galveston Island mainstay since 1994, Landry's has unveiled a fresh, modern look, where true flavors of Gulf Coast tradition are all about family, warmth and exceptional seafood and steaks. The all-new Landry's Prime Seafood & Steaks is located in front of the famous Seawall in Galveston, Texas next to the San Luis Resort, Spa and Convention Center. Landry's Prime is a waterfront getaway where you can dive into fresh flavors, unique table-side cocktails, happy hour, and spacious private rooms - all fit for any occasion for you and your family to enjoy in Galveston. You'll do enough tasting, laughing and living for an entire lifetime.

Top review

Melissa

Dined 2 days ago

Thomas was an amazing server. Food was great! Drinks were awesome!

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Popular dish

Fish + Shrimp

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