Though the temperatures dip a bit in the fall, it’s still a great time to converge on this captivating Gulf Coast barrier island and let its comfort food soothe the soul.
With 32 miles of coastline and a vibe that exhales serenity, Galveston is an island town with art galleries, historic architecture, chic boutiques and an exuberant dining scene featuring succulent seafood that is sure to please even the pickiest eaters!
Fall comfort foods are all about family, traditions, and memories from gatherings, Thanksgiving, and changes in the weather.
Brett Otteman, general manager of Katie’s Seafood House
There are a range of mouthwatering dishes that qualify as Gulf Coast comfort food, from red beans and rice to rib- sticking shrimp ’n grits to lithe crab cakes laced with just a touch of breading— pure mom and apple pie comfort. Then there’s gumbo, that viscid and murky mother of all stews.
Also emerging out of the comfort food kettle are etouffees, chowders and jambalaya, which is a stew-like Creole and Cajun rice dish with meats and vegetables sassed up with herbs and spices. Though not necessarily comfort food, Gulf Coast oysters on the half shell are in their prime in the fall and winter months.
Oysters grow like kudzu in the Gulf, where they never go dormant due to its warm waters. But they’re at their best in the raw from November 1 through April 30 in Texas, though several spots in Galveston serve raw oysters year-round from the cold waters along the East Coast and Canada.
Oysters from Waterman's Restaurant
Oysters come in several semblances: Rockefeller, chargrilled, BBQ, baked, shucked, and prepared Toreado style. You’ll even find them in gumbo for a double-comfort whammy. Stop by these selected seafood locales and dress your palate in Gulf cozy.
A gleaming example of casual dining on the Island, BLVD Seafood hugs the Galveston seawall, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Think about that while you’re forking their flagship shrimp ’n grits with sauteed shrimp, andouille sausage and cheesy grits all washed in Creole sauce. Established in 2015, BLVD Seafood features some of the best ocean fare the warm waters of the Gulf dispense.
Savor BLVD’s famous crab cake with honey lemon tartar and a red bell pepper coulis; or “The White,” a comforting, rich coconut- and cream-based chowder delicately embracing fish, shrimp and clams bobbing with potato and bacon. Or skip the shucking and savor the chargrilled Gulf oysters in chili butter.
Since 2019, Katie’s Seafood House has been a popular waterfront dining destination brimming with “right off the boat” seafood opulence. Their menu is sourced from Katie’s Seafood Market next door, a purveyor founded by Buddy and Katie Guindon. It has been furnishing quality seafood to Galveston locals and visitors alike for more than 20 years.
Diners seeking the best in seafood comfort can indulge in oyster stew with butter-poached oysters in a pleasing milk broth laced with oyster liqueur and bits of potato, carrot and onion; or the butternut crab bisque with fresh crab and savory roasted butternut drenched in cream and spices. And don’t miss Katie’s dazzling portfolio of oyster concoctions.
Located next to the Grand 1894 Opera House, Rudy & Paco’s is billed as Galveston’s most unique dining experience, an Island dining gem exuding a romantic ambiance. This upscale steakhouse features grilled meats and seafood prepared with South American and Central American influences. Here, hungry diners will find ceviche, plantain-crusted Gulf snapper and a selection of delicious steaks.
Indulge in the lusciously rich sopa crab bisque, generously strewn with nuggets of jumbo lump crabmeat. Another standout is the ceviche corinto, a marinated Gulf snapper filet sectioned into pieces and marinated in lime juice and a blend of spices. And don’t miss their signature lobster tempura.
Located in Galveston’s Historic Downtown District, Saltwater Grill serves a wide variety of rice dishes, beef and recipes imbued with fish and seafood. The setting is vibrant with open kitchen theater to boot.
Among Saltwater’s signatures are its “kettle” recipes, renditions of bouillabaisse, a French-style soup with seafood and vegetables; cioppino, an Italian seafood soup; and Little or Big Daddy Gumbo, a deep roux stew with shrimp, oysters and crab. Dive into the shrimp and crawfish fondue in a delectable cream sauce and baked with pepper jack and cheddar cheeses. Or try the chardonnay mussels steamed in a white wine pesto cream broth. There’s also baked or freshly shucked oysters, and the corn and crab chowder, a New England-style chowder stock with fresh lump crab and roasted corn.
Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar celebrates Gulf of Mexico comfort food as unleashed by steam kettle cooking, a process that yields tasty options such as traditional gumbos, seafood stews and cioppino. The gumbo fare is broad and includes prime rib gumbo, chicken and sausage gumbo and seafood gumbo. But the mother of all gumbos at Little Daddy’s is Mumbo Gumbo, a bit of culinary gibberish with shrimp, crab, oysters, chicken, sausage and prime rib—kitchen sink stuff.
That’s in addition to red beans and rice and the crawfish etouffee, topped with a scoop of white rice. But Little Daddy’s isn’t limited to stuff that can be had with a spoon. They also serve oysters in three guises: BBQ, chargrilled and on the half shell, along with a whole cadre of poboys served on fresh baked baguettes and sassed up with a cream burn of Tabasco-infused mayonnaise, adding a punch of fire to your warm soul comfort.
While oysters are the mother tongue of Shucks Tavern & Oyster Bar, the Shucks’ menu has a profusion of other fruit-of-the-sea options, including snapper ceviche, seafood po'boys and red beans and rice slow-cooked with ham hocks. Shuck’s also features an oyster BLT with bacon and jalapeno mayo and serves shucked oysters year-round from the East Coast and Canada and the Gulf when in season.
Their robust portfolio of oysters includes grilled with spinach parm and bacon; toreado with pico de gallo, cheddar and a sliver of jalapeno; and parmesan panko with garlic, herbs and butter topped with panko breadcrumbs.
Lodged on the ninth floor of the Moody Gardens Hotel, Shearn’s Seafood and Prime Steaks is cast in an elegant dining room featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic seascape views. Signature dishes include shrimp de Jonghe and the luxurious lobster bisque, comfort food for the silver spoon and silk pocket square set.
Take in stunning views of the Moody Gardens Pyramids and Galveston Bay sunsets while sipping single malts in Shearn’s Lounge, the bar just outside the restaurant. Relish the jumbo shrimp cocktail with cocktail and remoulade sauces; the East Coast cold water oysters with mignonette and horseradish sauces; and the soothing French onion soup with a baguette and layers of gruyere cheese. Rib-sticking tranquility.
Author
Visit Galveston
Visit Galveston is the official destination marketing organization for Galveston Island, Texas.
