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Galveston Capital Tourism and Marketing Lunch Restaurants: 10Best Restaurant Reviews


Going out to eat isn't always about cravings. Often enough, mealtimes dictate our choices, limiting restaurant possibilities. When circumstances narrow the options, let 10Best help. We'll direct you to the best Lunch restaurants in Galveston and save you the hassle of calling around for business hours. 10Best readers find much to enjoy at Mosquito Cafe thanks to its all-around good offerings. It's also hard to beat Gaido's Seafood Restaurant, which serves just what you're looking for when you're in the market for a great Lunch.

10 FISHERMAN'S WHARF

There are no trappings of pretension at Fisherman's Wharf–just great food at a reasonable price. The fried calamari or red snapper dishes are excellent choices, and a wide selection of pasta, beef, and sandwich plates are also available. An extra perk is the restaurant's location on a restored pier where diners can eat outdoors and watch the shrimp boats return home with the day's catch.

9 GAIDO'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Ever since its opening in 1911, Gaido's has been concerned with freshness and a personal touch. Chefs shuck, peel, and filet by hand, giving each dish the special attention it needs to come out perfect. Garlic snapper, crab cakes, and shrimp bisque are just a few of the succulent menu items diners enjoy. The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic evening or a business dinner.

8 LANDRY'S SEAFOOD HOUSE

Landry's has become a seafood staple in Galveston and all along the Gulf Coast. One of the main reasons is the vast seafood menu comprised of dishes like shrimp Creole, herb-crusted red snapper, broiled flounder, gumbo, clam chowder and grilled mahi mahi. There are plenty of other choices as well, including salads, pastas and steak for the landlubber. Casual and family friendly, the restaurant is great for groups.

7 RUDY & PACO

Rudy & Paco takes traditional seafood staples like flounder and crab and turns them into something special thanks to South American culinary touches. Try crab or shrimp antojitos (appetizers) before moving on to a main dish of seafood, steak, or chicken cooked with Nicaraguan flair. Large and inviting, the restaurant becomes packed on weekends, so make reservations.

6 SALTWATER GRILL

In-the-know locals swarm to this hip restaurant to enjoy stylish seafood prepared in an open kitchen. Always concerned with freshness, the chefs serve a variety of seasonal dishes. Notable selections include grilled yellow fin tuna with chili sauce, "Big Daddy's Gumbo," pan-seared red snapper, and herb-crusted halibut. Homemade desserts are an added plus.

5 WILLIE G'S

Willie G's is an institution in and unto itself and is recognized not only in Galveston but also across the US as a top destination for seafood. Choose spicy blackened snapper for a real treat, or go with an expertly prepared favorite like grilled flounder, gulf shrimp, or a grilled tuna sandwich. Juicy Angus steaks are also available.

4 DI BELLA'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Every Italian restaurant has its specialty, and locals might testify that Di Bella's Italian Restaurant is justly famous for its Alfredo sauce. To see if they're right, try their shrimp fettuccini Alfredo, or go for something different like veal piccata. Made-to-order steaks are also a favorite on the menu, and the portions are large, so bring your appetite.

3 MARIO'S RISTORANTE

The full Italian menu at Mario's Italian Ristorante has built up quite a following in the restaurant's 33 years in Galveston. With dishes like Veal Marsala, Chicken Picata, and Seafood Fettuccine, the restaurant's longevity is not surprising. The hand-tossed pizzas, seafood bisque, and blackened snapper are also taste-bud pleasers.

2 MARIO'S SEAWALL ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Mario's serves classic Italian dishes like spaghetti and lasagna, as well as great seafood entrees teeming with fresh shrimp, snapper, and crab – but the main draw is pizza. The New York-style pies have kept patrons returning again and again, and now Mario's serves wood-burning gourmet pizzas to tempt a new generation. The restaurant's family atmosphere is great for the entire clan.

1 TIKI BAR

Diners with a taste for home-style cooking or American favorites will find The Spot's full menu to their liking. Burger and hot dogs pass out the doors with frequency, but there are also plenty of dinner plates if you want to sit a spell on the patio with your meal. Don't fill up too quick–The Spot also serves heaping mounds of ice cream to help you cool off in the Texas sun.