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Perla's Austin Reviews
It was very busy.
Had a 15 min wait as a walk in. The grits were very good and the shoestring fries. The gumbo didn't have that much flavor.
Perla's is a great restaurant, hospitality is top notch!
Perla's is a great restaurant, hospitality is top notch! Restaurant has outdoor & indoor seating. Outdoor has fans with mist. Seafood was fresh, & great priced ! Highly recommend the fish & shrimp ceviche! Also enjoyed the jumbo shrimp cocktail & little gem salad.
This place is amazing! The oysters are fresh and the
This place is amazing! The oysters are fresh and the entrees are well put together. I had the crab florentine and my fiancé had the tres leches french toast. Everything down to the mimosas were absolutely perfect. Our server was attentive and very sweet!
Everything is too salty at this place.
As a tourist one should not really have seafood in Austin. My better half said let's have seafood I was okay -- that was totally my responsibility.
Food service and ambiance were all 10/10 The fish and
Food service and ambiance were all 10/10 The fish and oysters were delicious Cake was good but wouldn't order again
Maybe it's because we went for 4th of July, which also
Maybe it's because we went for 4th of July, which also happens to be our wedding anniversary, but it was extremely meh and I wished we had chosen a different space for our staycation for this meal. We made reservations and walked over from the Hyatt and they did provide a lovely card signed by all the staff that made me smile, they also stowed away our stroller we brought as we had our toddler at the hostess stand. The table next to us had an extremely large and loud party and if I had known, I would have requested an alternative table situation so it wouldn't have been a screaming session to talk to my husband and toddler. Our waiter was fine, I feel like he was on the best of his game (or could have been) he took our drink orders and then when returning proceeded to spill the iced Paloma I ordered all over my dress and my toddlers seat, I get it mistakes happen. But I didn't want to make a big scene for my expensive outfit and toddler being doused in alcohol and all over the floor. We ordered several appetizers and I absolutely loved the grilled oysters, the calamari was a big miss, maybe I was mislead but I couldn't stomach this. We also ordered the mac and cheese for my toddler and as that was the first thing we put in upon getting there they were able to serve it to us to get kiddo situated. The tostadas were a huge hit for us as well, and my oyster poboy was a good comfort eat. I'd mark this as a non memorable meal on SoCo and for HH can see this being a fun place, but meh. Won't be back as there's better places in the area to get better services and memorable vibes especially for a celebration meal.
I had the poco platter and I can't stress enough how
I had the poco platter and I can't stress enough how wonderful and amazing this is. Just melt I your mouth goodness. Each bite was better and better. Just writing this review makes me want to Uber over to Congress again. Delightful experience and a true Austin must.
Such a pretty restaurant! We ate outside on the couches so
Such a pretty restaurant! We ate outside on the couches so our table was a tad small but no real issue. It was quite hit outside but the huge trees they have over the patio area really made a difference. It felt really nice to sit out there. It has a really nice family friendly feel to it. It was super crowded but we didn't have a wait to be seated. Our server was super nice and helpful as it was our first time there. It was just a tad difficult to get his attention at times. The food was great. We were given complimentary hush puppies before we ordered and they were so good. The calamari and friend peppers were so good and I think my favorite thing we got. Would love to come back again!
Amazing meal at Perla's.
Loved the ambience. We got Oysters, Ahi Tuna Tostadas, lobster roll, & the burger. Everything was delicious. The service was outstanding. They really celebrated my boyfriend whose birthday it was and it made his day! We were in town visiting and would definitely recommend this spot!
Loved the outside seating, our server was very nice and
Loved the outside seating, our server was very nice and friendly! Food was delicious and they were able to make a gluten free option for the Benedict which was amazing. Overall great vibe and I would come back!
Wonderful food and atmosphere
Food, ambiance and waitstaff was amazing! Showed up extremely early for our reservation but they were able to seat us immediately. We both ordered a cocktail which were well made and dressed and our food was divine! I ordered the lobster bucatini which had full claws of lobster and just enough spice and my mom ordered the scallops. We definitely will be recommending for friends visiting.
Book a reservation! This place fills up quickly (yes, even
Book a reservation! This place fills up quickly (yes, even on the weekdays) Our indescive group opted for the chef's selection oysters bc there are 8+ to choose from. Great choice. So many different to try from across the country. Knowledge server. The table had a lobster roll (served cold - wasn't expecting this but a solid 4.5/5) lobster Mac (6/5), clam chowder (5/5) and grilled Brussels sprouts (5/5). Every item was delicious. The vibe was great. Def recommend for a girls happy hour or date night.
Had a lovely dinner here.
Ordered the wedge salad and the fried prawns. Both were excellent. Service and interior styling were both top notch as well. We dined inside, but the patio looked awesome. I'll be back.
I used to love this restaurant, but we recently had a
I used to love this restaurant, but we recently had a terrible experience there. We were a party of 6, celebrating 2 birthdays. We ordered drinks and oysters to start, which was great. Then it all went wrong. A runner brought out just 3 of our 6 entrees early, without the sides we ordered. After 5 minutes of waiting, we decided we might as well begin eating before our food got cold. The other entrees eventually ariived from another runner. We had to clarify who ordered what. After that, someone else brought the sides. Our waiter never asked us how the food was. The waiter did ask later if I wanted another drink. I said yes, and he grabbed my half-finished drink and began to take it away. I had to stop him. He returned later and asked my mother-in-law if she'd like another drink. She said no, but the waiter didn't ask my father in law, who did want another drink. I eventually flagged down our waiter 10 minutes later to get that order in. At the end of the meal, we sat looking at empty plates. A bus boy took some of them. Much later a hostess picked up the rest. I saw our waiter, overwhelmed at the wait station as he ignored us and dealt with other tables. We had hoped to order dessert, as it was a double birthday celebration, but by the time our waiter finally checked in on us, even our 11-year old daughter, who always wants dessert, gave up. We asked for the check, which was over $500, including an automatic $80 tip. As a former waiter I would have paid that voluntarily, but I found it ironic that I was being charged involuntarily for some of the worst service I had ever experienced. Perla's has been one of my favorite restaurants. That changed tonight.
Food is mid over priced and mid.
Flavor just isn't there and there is nothing creative or interesting about the menu. Nice patio and service though.
Chill and eat oysters in Austin!
For our first trip to Austin I did not plan on eating seafood. Perlas was near our hotel so we tried it. First it has a great outdoor patio under large trees. The staff is very friendly and really hustles to provide great service. The variety of fresh oysters really surprised us - and they were very good. We also had the scallops which were done just right. Drinks are a bit expensive but you pay for the relaxed atmosphere. We went back the next night for more oysters. Highly recommended.
Make your reservations early! We were in Austin for a
Make your reservations early! We were in Austin for a weekend and couldn't get in. Lucky for us, our call and a plea resulted in a table by the kitchen that actually turned out to be a great table in the restaurant! Three diners. Fish and Chips, Scallops and Halibut. Not a lick left on a plate. Food was fabulous, service was stellar and the ambiance is fabulous. Highly recommend if you are in town!
Let me tell you, at first glance looking at the menu you'll
Let me tell you, at first glance looking at the menu you'll be shook by the pricing - especially for lunch, but once that oyster and red snapper hit your tongue you'll be a happy camper! This place is great hit with outdoor and indoor seating. The menu has a great quality of fish on the menu, smaller bites and larger ones. We ordered oysters and Stephanie was great at guiding us through the menu on what else to order as we wanted to keep it light for lunch. We ordered the red snapper ceviche and it did not disappoint. We did have to order chips on the side for the crunch but they happily provided. Went there for a birthday and Stephanie gave my gf a cute bday surprise and candle dessert. So cute! She made our day super special! If you're going in for specials or deals don't , because the pricing is not cheap but you won't be disappointed on the flavors.
Y'know when I saw the lunch menu prices I was shook! But
Y'know when I saw the lunch menu prices I was shook! But the service and the endless hush puppies reeled me back in haha! The patio is excellent now that the weather is warming up. The trees give you amazing shade and the cocktails cool you off. Our server, food runners, and bussers were experts at what they do. Our table was never dirty, our drinks never ran dry, and anytime we needed something, someone was always at an arm's reach. The food itself is of great quality and seasoned well. The shrimp caesar came with FOUR big ass shrimp. The cheeseburger was huge. This is a nice restaurant to take out of town friends to, it was even nice for our group who lives in town lol. Be prepared to splurge a little, though. For drinks and food for 4 people, it averaged out to $70/pp.
My husband and I came here for a last minute date night (we
My husband and I came here for a last minute date night (we rarely get these as parents) and we were delighted to eat here. The service was great and friendly, the food was great. My husband ordered the lobster bucatini and I only had an assortment of oysters. We will absolutely be back as it seems a great place for a group of friends.
Great oysters, octopus and steaks.
Ambiance a 5 Wines by the glass a little weak, steak sauces get a c+
First time at Perla's but definitely not my last! We found
First time at Perla's but definitely not my last! We found Perlas on Yelp, but we were a little nervous because we went on Tuesday, which happened to be Fat Tuesday, and we didn't know how crowded it was going to be. My friend made a reservation, and I got there first and realized that they would validate your parking for 2 hours if you park in the parking garage, which was awesome. Because there is limited street parking around the restaurant because it's so close to downtown. The host greeted me immediately. She told me that she would sit me even though the rest of my party was not there yet. My party slowly started to arrive, but our waiter, Reuben, came to get our drink orders and answered our questions about the different cocktails and brought us waters. Once my last friend arrived, Reuben quickly took her drink order and brought her water as well. We then ordered appetizers, and we got calamari. I have to tell you, this is some of the best calamari I have ever had. It was fried perfectly, it was light, airy, crispy all at the same time. They also bring out complimentary hush puppies to the table and they were very good. They had a hint of jalapeno, but they were not too spicy. I wanted to figure out what entree, I was going to eat, I was going back between 2 options and Reuben told me I could not go wrong with the sea bass, so that's what I ordered. When my food came out and I looked at the size of my food compared to everyone else's food, I was a little apprehensive. Rueban didn't lie. Ya'll, when I bit into the sea bass with the spinach and risotto, it was like heaven OMG! I've had good sea bass before, but I definitely think this is the best sea bass I've had. Finally, we finished off with dessert. I don't remember what it was called, but it had pears, crust and ice cream. How do you go wrong with that? You don't! Our service was exceptional. (Thank you, Rueban!) The food was exceptional. I would give this a 10 out of 10 stars. Can't wait to go back!!
Worst hospitality in Austin
Was setting up reservations for a group of 14. We were all coming into town from around the country to celebrate 4 birthdays. Called Perla and was told we each had to spend something close to $200 per person to sit next to one another. We just made 3 reservations per 4, 4, and 6... since a portion of our group wasn't drinking. When we arrived the venue was 25% full with plenty of open seating near one another... we didn't ask them to combine tables, or do something to warrant what happens next... we ask for tables close to one another so we can possibly chat across the way and enjoy company and laughs together. Instead, what we received was a cold shoulder and the staff seating us purposefully at all corners of the venue. I was at a table almost in the kitchen, the other at the door behind the welcoming station, and the other group was placed in the remaining corner next to the bar. This was so absurd we decided to eat and leave... had we not been snubbed in what was a 75% empty establishment, we all agreed we would've done what we always do... spend time eating, drinking, desserts and generous tips... instead we ate and left... spent our time giving White Tiger across the street our cash and tips for alcohol and great service and hospitality. Considering Perla, the food wasn't anything but normal... and hospitality was the worst! Thanks for checking this off of our list... we'll stick to Uchi, The Corner, Aba, etc... all of them know how to treat a customer.
The mahi mahi sandwich is divine
I visit Austin periodically and make a trip to this place each time. I love the outdoor dining space in my fav area. The food is fresh and delicious. I love the oysters and mahi mahi. We were here at a busy time, but our waiter made up for it w a free drink and cocktail sauce to go to avoid us having to make another trip to the grocery store. These kind of little touches make it a 5 stars restaurant for me !
Great Food and Service.
Excellent food, great friendly service, would highly recommend. Our small family of three, enjoyed each dish. We would definitely return when in the Austin area.
A great place for an afternoon!
A great experience. Drinks were a little expensive but normal for Austin. Very good margaritas. My wife ordered a lobster roll so I did too. Excellent. And t h e atmosphere was incredible. A wonderful experience. A little pricey, but an excellent experience.
Delicious food and great al fresco dining!!!!
Our co-worker suggested we try Perla's based on the food and location and we told her she nailed the recommendation!!! The cocktails and food were delicious and the waitstaff were warm and helpful with options.
Would return for the seafood.
The red fish and oysters were awesome. Hamburger was good if you don’t like fish. Waitress was awesome. Outdoor seating options. Recommend reservations.
So who needs oysters?
My wife and I don't eat oysters. So why do we go to oyster bars? Because they usually treat their customers to many varieties of seafood. And we adhere to a more fish/less meat diet. That's why we found ourselves at Perla's in Austin, Texas. Located at 1400 South Congress Avenue in the city's most popular tourist destination, Perla's is a place where fresh fish and oysters are flown in daily from both coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. Chef/owners Larry McGuire and Tom Moorman, who founded Perla's in 2009, have fashioned a laid-back restaurant with an airy dining room, a huge saltwater fish tank, a poured concrete oyster bar, an open kitchen and oak-shaded patio. Not to mention free two-hour validated parking in a very busy part of town. And very creative desserts. Open from 11:30 to 10 Monday through Friday, 10:30 to 11 on Saturday and 10:30 to 10 on Sunday, Perla's satisfied our wants and expectations. We started with a jumbo shrimp cocktail and a bowl of coconut curry clam chowder with house bacon. For an entree, my wife chose fish and chips with beer battered Icelandic flounder and house fries. I opted for Gulf snapper with lemon spinach. We shared a side of hand-cut shoestring fries and charred carrots. Dessert? For one of the only times I can remember, I passed up a dish with the name key lime on it. Instead, we shared salted butterscotch pot de creme with whipped creme Fraiche and a macadamia cookie and a flourless chocolate torte with pistachio ice cream and raspberry caramel. Believe me, they both tasted as good as they sound.
I come to Perla's for 2 things - seafood and scenery.
And what a time to visit adjacent to Hotel San Jose for SXSW! The fried oysters are classic, a fave among failed attempts, and the wine list always impresses. Zach offers up the kind of service Austin is known for - friendly, attentive, but unimposing.
food was so good but was service ok until it wasn't.
The manager approached our table and told us we wouldn't receive our third bottle of wine, which we did not order!! Cut off when we didn't order anything....?!?!
Ambience was good due to clientele and service.
But the food was more than disappointing. The $44 " potato crusted sea bass "with chard was maybe 2 oz. sliced no more than 3/16" thin and 2" x4.5". With potato overlay and extremely dry, not like sea bass at all. The shishito pepper appetizer was doused heavily in chili powder and not at all appetizing. After coming here for years, I will not return. Would never recommend.
Perla's is the perfect spot to grab a leisurely sun soaked
Perla's is the perfect spot to grab a leisurely sun soaked brunch under a gorgeous oak tree with twinkle lights. The Crab Florentine and Crab Omelette with Blue Crab were amazing, barely any shell which speaks to the extra effort in carefully picking the crab. Could have spent the whole afternoon chilling here and can't wait to come back! The staff is also all super kind and cool
Perla's is fabulous! We ate here the last night we were in
Perla's is fabulous! We ate here the last night we were in Austin and loved every minute. We made a reservation and were seated right away. They serve you hushpuppies before ordering. Everything including the service was wonderful!Food: The food was very nice! We started with the grilled oysters. My husband and I shared them. They were wonderful. We each ordered fish and chips. Our server said that was a great choice. They were wonderful and the portion size was large. You will not leave hungry!Drinks: The drinks are also very lovely. I ordered the bonfire on the beach and loved it. My husband ordered the Maverick and the Black Pearl. The Black Pearl is to die for! Everything was mixed together perfectly.Service: From the moment we arrived until we left, we had the best service. Everyone that works here was very pleasant and seemed to enjoy working at Perla's.I am glad that we saved this restaurant for our last night so we left with a wonderful dinner experience. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who visits or lives in Austin! The decor alone is something to come visit to see! Thank you for a wonderful dinner and evening!
great food and atmosphere
This restaurant is in a great location. Beautiful outdoor seating. Highly recommend the Fish & Shrimp Ceviche with Avocado & House made Tostaditos. Grilled Mahi sandwiches just OK. Good oysters. Good food but a bit over priced.
my wife found this place off of tiktok.
Bartender was friendly and attentive moved to a table for dinner. Server was just an order taker, no welcome no recommendations, Greeted us with are you ready to order. Food was delicious we had octopus, baked oysters, sea bass and lobster pasta. My only criticism was the lobster was over cooked. I would recommend and return, will stay at bar next time.
Amazing couples dinner
Wonderful couples dinner inside. We had snapper and rare ahi tuna. Side was okra. All fabulous. The watermelon margarita is a specialty and very delicious. Dessert was fig bread pudding…amazing. Alex, our server, was friendly and attentive. We would definitely come back.
Excellent!!!!!! Run! We happened upon it looking for
Excellent!!!!!! Run! We happened upon it looking for something else that night but when we saw how many people were waiting outside to get in we decided to try it and it's fantastic.
Beautiful lunch outside on the patio yesterday.
Awesome oysters, shrimp and red snapper tartare.
Such a fantastic restaurant on the corner.
Definitely make sure to make your reservations! All the food we ordered was absolutely phenomenal:- Shrimp Cocktail- Crab cake- Nova Scotia Lobster BucatiniOnly reason I didn't give it a 5 was because we were seated RIGHT NEXT to the kitchen. While the kitchen was immaculate, the waiters walking in and out and being seated right next it, I think we could have had a better experience if we were seated somewhere else.Second, most of the lobster pieces were still attached to its shell, requiring extra work. Considering the bucatini it was in, it made it quite messy. For most dishes I eat like this, you just have to pull it out of its shell.Other than the above, we would definitely come back and give it a second try!
This food is DELICIOUS.
We've been here several times and it's consistently so so tasty. This last time we had the snapper tartare and thought it was one of the tastiest dishes we've had in a while. Ok top of that, service has always been great, the patio is stunning and makes me feel like I'm on vacation, and the drinks are tasty too!
All we ordered were mimosas and fries but this place is in
All we ordered were mimosas and fries but this place is in my top five favorite places in ATX bc of the ambiance and location.
Excellent food & service
My family & I had dinner there on Sunday, January 29 & it was a truly fantastic experience. Our waiter, Zach, was delightful & extremely helpful navigating the menu & wine suggestions. All the food we had was outstanding! Atmosphere & decor were lively & well-appointed! I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're in Austin.
Pretty good, but not great.
Perla's is one of the more upscale restaurants in the South Congress area and has what appeared to be a wonderful oyster and seafood menu. I made a reservation weeks before we were set to visit Austin. When we arrived the only available seating was inside and we were told it would be an hour wait for outside seating. So with a reservation soon after they opened for the dinner hours, you would assume you could pick inside or outside. Who wants to wait an hour after your reservation for your desired seating? That defeats the purpose of even taking reservations! Inside the restaurant has poor ventilation and the place wafted of smoky, deep fried food. When the central air finally came on to clear the smoky smell, it was freezing in the restaurant. Our server was very kind, knowledgeable of the menu and did as best as she could. It seemed there was a lot of staff, but yet they all seemd to have too big of service area to be attentive to all their tables. The food was good, not anything to write home about, but good. Everything is ala cart/family style sides that you have to order separately which can really run up your tab if you want 2 sides. If I had it to do all over again, I probably would have ventured a bit away from S. Congress to a different seafood restaurant.
Do not miss this place when in Austin!
Great menu, food quality, oyster freshness and service. Really enjoyed this place with the family and tried many of the menu items, from rock fish chowder, variety of oysters, tuna, ceviche and potatoes, everything was excellent.
Connect with users posting reservations for Perla's Austin
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If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Perla's Austin at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Perla's Austin page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* DistinguishedTree58, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* DistinguishedTree58 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to DistinguishedTree58 for any questions Peter may have as DistinguishedTree58 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* DistinguishedTree58 now uses their connections at Perla's Austin to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If DistinguishedTree58 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, DistinguishedTree58 receives the $200 reward which is credited to DistinguishedTree58's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Perla's Austin!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
