Sam's Boat - Austin

I ordered a catfish plate, which included fried catfish, hush puppies, and French fries. It was delicious! Afterward, my husband decided to order a caliente burger. When the burger arrived, I was excited; I love all kinds of food, especially burgers. However, upon the first bite, I realized it was burnt on both the top and bottom, not just "charred," as the general manager Heather described it. It was also too spicy for my husband’s taste. We both tried it because I thought maybe he was overreacting, but unfortunately, the burger was not good at all. To make matters worse, when I requested a replacement burger and offered to pay for it since the first one was not to our liking, the manager rudely informed us, "We don’t do that here!" She raised her voice, and I felt embarrassed for the establishment to have someone like her representing it. She then took back the burnt burger and insisted, "If you don’t take this one, we will not make you a new one." She continued to argue, while my husband repeatedly asked her to just process the new order, but she refused and took the burger we didn’t like, stating we wouldn’t receive another. I was fed up with her treatment, so I asked for our check and we left. It's a shame because I feel more sorry for the restaurant than for her or myself.

Fantastic experience! The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was truly unique. We visited the coast a few weeks back, but none of our meals there compared to this one. I had the fried catfish and shrimp combo, and my wife chose the redfish plate. Both dishes were outstanding and reasonably priced.

We started with six boiled shrimp, which were HUGE and perfectly cooked. My husband ordered the oyster Po’ boy, and he raved about the large oysters, saying they were breaded and cooked just right. I opted for the crawfish platter. Although the crawfish were frozen rather than fresh, giving them a slightly different texture than what I’m accustomed to, they were still enjoyable—very garlicky and spicy! Our server, Sarah, kindly offered a free sample before we placed our order to ensure we would enjoy it, which was a lovely touch. We finished off our meal with the Key lime pie, which was absolutely divine—perhaps the best I've ever had! And I’ve had my fair share, as my waistline might suggest! I really liked the overall ambiance of The Boat. Having football on all the TVs was fantastic; as a football enthusiast from South Austin, I felt right at home. The other diners were pleasant, and it wasn't too loud. A few families had kids who were captivated by the pinball machines, adding to the joyful atmosphere. It’s the small details that can make a dining experience memorable, and Sarah was certainly not small in any sense. She was the highlight of our lunch because we all know that a mediocre server can really dampen a meal. On top of everything, we didn’t have to ask for beverage refills—one of my pet peeves! We were even given fresh glasses with new tea and lemon, which was a nice touch. Sarah also generously offered me a to-go iced tea, which I gladly accepted. Her wonderful personality shone through in our conversations, and she has a fantastic sense of humor, making her an outstanding server at The Boat. I really hope she’s working the next time we visit! As someone from South Austin, I don’t usually venture north of the river, but The Boat is definitely worth the trip and the traffic. Photos: a pound of crawfish, corn, potatoes, mushrooms; Key lime pie; and of course, the boiled shrimp—though they were so delicious, I ate them before I thought to take a picture! They were truly HUGE and tasty.

This restaurant was bustling with activity when we arrived. We made an online reservation, which was surprisingly quick and easy, so our table was ready right when we got there. If a place is as busy as Pappadeaux, it usually indicates that the food is top-notch. Our server, Bailey, was incredibly sweet and attentive. The food was fresh and arrived promptly, especially considering how crowded it was. I highly recommend this spot for families or a nice date night with a partner. This was our first time visiting, and we thoroughly enjoyed it!

We had a wonderful meal here. The Gulf oysters were large and beautiful. The boudin balls were good. The butterfly shrimp and catfish were exceptional!