Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar Reviews

Ambiance was great and food was wonderful. Our table had oysters, Ahi Tuna, seabass, and lobster roll and it was all amazing. No complaints and would go back.

Dinner at Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar was fresh, original and had great presentation! Service was very good and the restaurant did a good job with social distancing seating. Staff all wore masks; guests are required to wear masks until seated. We had Ahi Tuna, Crab Cake, grilled brussel sprouts, Mexican corn ... and finished with a lovely layer cake....all excellent. Would definitely recommend this restaurant and turn.

Unfortunately the seafood we ordered was close to worst we've had in a while. Both bouillabaisse (absolutely the worst I ever tried) and the snapper were spiced up to such extent that made them almost uneatable. On the contrary the calamari appetizer was as plain and tasteless as one can be. This restaurant was recommended to us by a friend and we ended up being very disappointed. The service was average as was the ambiance.

Loved our waitress Lindsay. So kind and had warm conversation! Great food. Loved the seafood and brunch mimosas! Great windows and airy restaurant. Highly recommend!

On two separate dinner experiences in the past couple of weeks, my family and I had delicious dinners at Perla's. The cocktails, fresh oysters, salt & pepper shrimp, and grilled octopus were excellent starters. And, the ahi tuna tostadas, scallops with curry sauce, tilefish, and street corn were tasty main courses. The bottles of 2013 Gusbourne Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine from England paired well with our food and were virtually indistinguishable from good French champagne. Although each bottle tasted slightly different from the other; still both good. Our servers, Teal and Tony, did an outstanding job of making us feel comfortable, answering our questions, and serving us efficiently but not hurriedly. Perla's did a good job of requiring masks away from the table and of socially distanced seating. If you want fresh, creatively prepared seafood in Austin, I highly recommend Perla's.

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.

I’m an idiot. For years my friends have been telling us that we needed to try Perlas. So today was the day. Right place, right time. My recommendation is to not hesitate. Our food was amazing. And our server, Ellie, was delightful and so knowledgeable. We enjoyed the best fried calamari in Austin, hands down. We’ll definitely become regulars. The crab cake was perfect, the baked oysters were sinful and the lobster bisque was the best ever, in our lives. And we’re nowhere near an ocean. We asked to meet the manager, and he was lovely as well. Dining at Perlas today absolutely made our Sunday Funday! Enjoy!

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.

It was like the Chef had spoken to my deadly departed momma and asked her how I liked my food. The sea bass was amazing. The beer was cold and the atmosphere was cool. Recommend.

Great food and atmosphere. Friendly staff. Great music with fans dispensing mist under the shady trees. Beautiful people all around with smiles on their faces seem to enjoy every minute of it

I had been here a couple of years ago and LOVED this place. My friend and I sat outside under a huge tree and watched the super hip Austonians go by. The white wine was super dry and the oysters super fresh!! Same with the food this time but it was too hot to sit outside. It is very popular so we had to wait a bit for a table....I can’t wait to go back!

We had an enjoyable luncheon here. My husband selected the shrimp po’boy and I had the coconut clam soup with bacon. My soup was very tasty. The po’boy had many shrimp but the bread was just ok. We may definitely try this place again next time we are in Austin.

Loveeeed this place! We ordered a lobster roll, oysters, mac and cheese, potato crusted sea bass, lobster fried rice, and the frozen painkiller. All, amazing. The oysters were awesome, ordered half a dozen "dealer's choice" and got great picks. Lobster roll was fantastic, and the frozen pain killers were strong and yummy! We sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the fans and misters on a hot day, but were not uncomfortable. The food came fast and our waiter was very attentive. The food is pricey, but worth it.

Had a casual dinner at Perla’s and lucky we reserved a table! Full house and we can imagine why. Relaxing service, yu can sit in & outside and food was great. Not really cheap but affordable & value for money. One minus; no XO brandy in stock :-(

A wonderful place to eat in the evening, especially if you sit outside. It's not cheap but the food is amazing - I'd never had redfish before and it was perfectly cooked - the flesh just fell apart. Highly recommended but you need to book.

Perla's isn't a place to put on your must do list in Austin. The food was fine. That's it. Not really any better than any other seafood I've had. The service was fine. Menu was fine. The outdoor patio ambience was very romantic.

But server brought the bill before he cleared the lunch!!! WHAT????Lunch was delicious, Lobster roll was perfect, lunch side salad was light, tasty perfect. Server seemed anxious to turn table inspite of 40% occupancy ... never offered coffee or dessert.

Real people, very willing to visit with you, give you directions, etc. Food was excellent. We were only in town two days and had lunch and dinner there. The bouillabaisse was outstanding. I went back and has the lobster for dinner. Amazing.

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.

Appetizers were great,Curry Clam Chowder spicy and smooth a little bite but delicious. A half dozen Oysters selection of 3 different of the dozen different on the menu, all fresh and delicious and when they say the horseradish is hot, it's an understatement. Entrees consisted of Filet Minon, cooed med rare to perfection and the scallops were also cooked to perfection, seared but moist and tender. Coffee & Espresso to finish the meal. There is parking right behind the resturant but fortunately we parked a few blocks away a beautiful night for a little walk after a gret meal. My compliments to the staff & chef, our best meal in Austin!

Everything here tasted so great! I split the crab Florentine and the brioche french toast and both were amazing. My friend had the banana maple bacon pancake and lobster grits and liked it. I can't wait to come back here!

Walked in late on Wednesday night and grabbed a huge booth, though there were only 2 of us. Great Start. Plenty of elbow room. Our server, Bobbi, was really helpful with our wine and food ordering. Started with the cold seafood platter, which was unbelievable. Followed with a nice wedge. I had the Texas snapper for main course, that was also very good. Spent a good buck but can honestly say it was well worth it.

Stopped here for drinks and appetizers while wandering around on South Congress Street. They have a good selection of oysters for those that enjoy them (not me) and the staff did a wonderful job of describing the different options. They have a nice shaded patio for those days when you just want to sit back and watch the world go by.

This is one of the best 'casual' restaurants in Austin. Great food, excellent service. Busy place but worth the wait. We would recommend Perla's for sure

With a spectacular location, located on an ironic avenue in Austin. They serve excellent quality seafood and of course the star dish are the oysters they offer of various types and regions It is always very full and you have to wait to get a table, however it is worth it. High prices that you will gladly pay.

We stumbled upon Perla's shopping on South Congress. We weren't sure if we could get in for dinner as the restaurant was busy, but were were able to get a table outdoors. I was told indoor tables were reservation only. The outdoor seating area is quite nice. Great scenery, close view of the action of South Congress and if it's hot, they have misters on to keep you cool. The food is quite expensive so be prepared, but it was good! We had the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer. HUGE shrimp..yummy! For dinner, two of us had the grilled salmon and one other had the ceviche. All was very good, except the salmon was basically raw. I hate to complain at restaurants, but in this case, we had to say something as the salmon wasn't edible. Our server was horrified and immediately removed our plates to remedy the situation. We received correctly cooked fish fairly quickly and went about with the rest of our meal. For our side, we ordered brussels sprouts which were delicious. Service was very friendly, not super quick, but we weren't in a hurry. This restaurant was very nice with good food and service, it was just expensive!

I have mostly good things to say. PRO'S ** Delicious, fresh seafood, with interesting preparations ** Attentive waiter who was patient enough to answer all our questions and help us decide between menu items CON'S ** Seemed pricey for Austin, even for seafood. $39 for Scallops & Risotto. $109 + tip for dinner for 2 with 1 entree and 1 drink each. ** Tables are small and a bit cramped together.

Went for dinner- Service was friendly and attentive. Food was nothing special - I had the scallops and my husband had the seared Ahi Tuna - I have had better on both counts. Wasn’t awful just wasn’t really good either. With all the restaurants in Austin I would try somewhere different.

My daughter and I came here for dinner. The weather started to turn, so we decided to dine indoors. Otherwise, they have a beautiful outdoor dining. We sat at the bar and had a pleasant conversation with the server preparing the fresh seafood. Very nice older gentleman. We shared an order of the jumbo shrimp. I had the crispy Texas fish which I truly enjoyed and she had the bouillabaisse. It must have been good since she ate everything! Great service despite the busy evening. Would definitely go back, although this is not an inexpensive place.

Crab grits for $11 had $10 worth of butter in them. Gazpacho at $12 has a tablespoon of crab sprinkled on top. With lunch entrees in the $20 to $35 range it is obvious why they do not post their menu like most every neighboring restaurant does. If you’re wealthy and craving fresh seafood it is better than Trulucks in a much funkier venue.

Fantastic neighborhood restaurant in Austin, booked a table for three, great service very clean and popular. We ordered a watermelon margarita and an Irish mule cocktail, followed by appetizers of skewered brussel sprouts, green salad, gazpacho with a crab topping. The sword fish dish was amazing and scallops that were tender and cooked to perfection. For dessert we selected a slice of layer cake and ice cream with assorted crunches, followed by Cappuccino al la Austin. Lots of street parking nearby, and in the cooler months great outside dining on the patio. TIP: You must call for a reservation it gets really busy.

I reserved a table for brunch. Two greeters, neither actually welcomed me, did not crack a scale. Greeter who took me to my table did not say a word to me. My table was on the terrace, next to the serving collection area, very noisy, high traffic, I asked to move since there was room on the sofa area. Ordered an oyster shooter, two poached eggs and Redfish sandwich. Shooter came after 5 mins, it was fine. 25 mins later my server comes and asks me if I have eaten yet. 'No'. By this time I have seen two couples arrive after me and already be served their main meals. No one had topped up my water, so I ordered a bottle of Perrier. Eggs promptly arrived. Raw inside, undercooked. Did not eat them. Perrier arrived ten mins later. Fish sandwich arrived 5mins later. I also ordered a side of grits. Both were very good. No one queried my eggs being left untouched. Finally I asked for the cheque, it had not arrived after 15 mins. I went to the restroom and on my return there it was. I left payment inside it and left, no-one offering thanks for coming etc. Great location, good food (apart from my eggs which were obviously rushed when they realised they were forgotten) let down by very unfriendly greeters and poor service in general. Avoid.

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.

Met a longtime friend at Perla's for our weekly 2-3 hour luncheon. It was cold and rainy and Perla's offered the perfect environment to escape the elements. The place was busy, but we were greeted and seated quickly and courteously, and we soon had cocktails to enjoy while we studied the menu. We each enjoyed a delicious bowl of lobster bisque, which could only have been enhanced with a slight shot of port or cognac, something which we have each enjoyed in other restaurants. I followed up with a shrimp Po Boy sandwich which I was really looking forward to. When my sandwich arrived, I was surprised at its size, huge! Unfortunately, what made it huge was a large quantity of "popcorn" shrimp bites, piled high, on a bed of greenery in a bun. The greens, dressing, and bun were tasty, however, each shrimp was encased in as much or more dough than the size of the shrimp itself. The result was more bread than shrimp. Maybe this is Perla's version of a classic Cajun sandwich. But, Po Boys I enjoy in other restaurants (and which I was expecting better than, because of Perla's reputation), have larger shrimp and considerably less breading surrounding them. Personally I think the kitchen should rethink this dish and try again. Otherwise, the ambiance, service, and other food, drinks, and wine we had were all excellent. We will definitely be back, just not for the shrimp Po Boy.

Have eaten several times. Food has always been excellent. Fish is fresh. Cost is high. Service is average. Order with one server. Drinks arrived with another server. Food delivered by yet another server. Had to search out waiter to get the bill. Would probably choose another seafood restaurant next time.

Amazing outside seating with an incredible menu. 93 degrees outside & the misting fans made it manageable. Service is great and food is amazing. A must visit if in SOCO area of Austin

This is a good choice for seafood in Austin. We did not need reservations and the menu had plenty of choices. Deviled crab was good. Seating is indoor or outdoor, but Texas heat is tough outside.

Our group booked a dinner here and were so thrilled it was back open. Every course was better than the last. Octopus, oysters, sea bass, halibut, scallops-everyone's dinner WOW'ed us at the table. The service was terrific and our waiter was very knowledgeable. First rate flavor in every dish and truly worth it. We had made a reservation for the patio far in advance, but once there it was full and had to sit inside, that was the only pinch, but otherwise a terrific experience we were very lucky to have!

On a recent visit to Austin, we were exploring the South Congress Street area and happened upon this restaurant. It was busy, so we were expecting a wait. We were told 15-20 minutes. After 30 minutes, we asked and were told. "oh, you are up next." Then we were given a table that had been empty for 20 minutes. So, we sit down and were brought water, no menu. After 15 more minutes, when no one acknowledged our presence, we just left. Bad service is no way to run a restaurant. I gave the food a 3, only because it looked decent, on other tables.

Went there on our walk on Congress st. We sat at the bar. It was a Sunday and this place was packed,. Nice patio are and the weather was fantastic. Food was amazing. I got there shrimp cocktail. WOW!

The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated and welcoming. We sat outside on our visit and we loved the fresh air and open deck. The food was lovely, but I felt like it was overpriced for the amount of food. We ordered an appetizer and a main and I was still slightly hungry by the time I left. This seems like a nice date night place but pretty overpriced.

Thought the food, drinks, and atmosphere were all excellent. Located on SoCo, it's walkable from most of the popular places and in middle of a great, lively area. We tried to make reservations and couldn't get them, so do it early, or just go to the bar and wait for a few minutes and something is bound to open up. Well worth the wait.

The reason I wrote see food is because the food here is just as nice to look at as it is to eat. Professional and friendly staff provide you with a very nice experience. However, most people will get sticker shock when the bill arrives. Parking somewhat of an issue

Seafood was delicious Patio dining right on South Congress had good music and people watching. We were there during Austin’s water boil order and they took good care of us with bottles of water

A quick stop in to the restaurant for a late lunch as we strolled along South Congress was a wonderful addition to our afternoon. We had oysters on our mind, and Perla's did not disappoint. My wife went with a plate of oysters (Irish Point, Wellfleet & Spencer's Cove) and the Iceberg Wedge Salad, and I had the Oyster Po-Boy--we were both very pleased. It was extremely hot the afternoon that we visited, so we stayed inside--there is an oyster bar, seats at a regular bar and individual tables--lots of great choices depending on your mood. In addition, there is outside seating under the tress that I would bet is glorious at night.

Amazing! The food was so delicious. My husband and I went for a nice lunch and sat at a cute bar type table. We had the wood grilled oysters for starters. They were cooked perfectly. The combination of the lemon, bread crumbs and parmesan filled our mouths with great flavors. Then the crab cake and iceberg wedge. Both were not your traditional crab or wedge ;o). The crab cake just bursted with flavor and the wedge was topped with a ton of tomatoes, lump crab and thousand island dressing. The drinks were so good too and came in the cutest “glasses”. Amazing experience. This will be our first stop when we return.

Wonderful outdoor dining. Excellent and FRESH raw oysters on the half shell recommended by our server Isabel. Followed with Ahi Tuna tostadas: Chipotle Aioli, Avocado, Serrano, Citrus Ponzu...most delicious! And Crab Cake, Fresno Chilis, Castelvetrano Olives, Bay Leaf Aioli. Highly recommend this place when you're in Austin.

Had a group of 10, called ahead for reservations but they couldn't seat us before 10pm but she said show up and they could probably handle us. Got there and was very icy and made us feel like we just needed to leave, finally a second woman come up and was much better, if we were willing to split into two groups they could seat us in 45 mins. We went to the bar, while I asked one of the servers if the one hostess was always that unfriendly. She wanted to know what happened, she said "oh my, someone should know". Nothing more was said. We were seated in 30 mins. While we were sitting at our table deciding what to order one of managers walked out with two trays of oysters, said he heard that there might have been an issue when we were at the hostess stand, apologized and said the oysters were his compliments. Our food was excellent, highly recommend the bouillabaisse. Oysters and calamari were great apps.

We went to this place as a recommended Austin seafood place, but I was not impressed. The service was average and the restaurant nothing special. The menu is as expected, with a daily selection of fresh fish at a not very cheap price. The plates are small, and with no sides included in the price. The sides offered are big though, and can be shared between 3-4 easily. The beer was also super-expensive ($9/glass).

Perlas was recommended to us before we arrived. I was told there is always a long wait so I did make a reservation. We had lunch before heading back to the airport. We started with 4 types of oysters- be careful with the horseradish it is HOT! Then we had the lobster roll, shrimp po-boy, Oyster po-boy, and steak rancheros. It was all amazing. This is located on South Congress. try not to miss this restaurant!

We had dinner here, and my wife started with some oysters, which the waitstaff knew all the ins and outs, which helps. She was happy with his recommendations. Our dinners were noth well prepared and staff was very attentive. Would go back.

We had four types of fresh oysters from Canada as appetizers and they were as fresh as we've had anywhere and they went well with a couple of expertly made cocktails. Our server was helpful and only there when we seemed to need something. The wine list had some great choices and the grilled gulf swordfish was outstanding! Swordfish often dries out but this preparation was moist, tender and flavourful. Add in a casual atmosphere with a friendly vibe and Perla ended up being the best meal we had in a five-day visit.

Good food, Good service, great outdoor dining, good people watching, diverse menu, full on Tuesday, I recommend reservations, expensive

La Perla Restaurant has a nice but casual atmosphere in the very happening South Congress St. entertainment area. Specializes in seafood, which is the reason we came here. Great attentive waiter, good wine selection. Food was very good, but a bit overpriced, yet when we come back to Austin, we will probably return to La Perla.

One of best seafood restaurants I’ve been to recently. Oysters were good, diverse variety. Absolutely phenomenal grilled octopus appetizer, and the best redfish I’ve ever had.

We agonised over booking Perla's vs Clark's oyster bars for this, our first visit to Austin, so ended up booking both - and Perla's wins out! The patio was a stunning spot for an early evening dinner and the food, cocktails and service were tremendous; we are huge foodies and rate this as one of our best US dining experiences ever. We will 100% be back if we visit Austin again - perhaps every night!

We only stayed one night in Austin so we wanted something nice. The atmosphere of the restaurant was great. Since it was a little loud inside we opted to eat outside and enjoyed a nice breeze while eating. We started with an oyster sampler and they were okay. The star of the meal was the seared scallops done to perfection. I had the gazpacho with crab and that too was excellent (cheese toast was good too). Our server was fantastic and it was he who made the evening memorable.

We started by sharing a great crab cake, my friend had snapper and I had the scallops with sunchoke rosotto. We shared a side of broccolini - all were perfectly done, delicious, and beautifully presented.

This is a great restaurant when the weather is beautiful and South Congress is packed with people. My favorite dish is the octupus, and the simply grilled fishes are scrumptious! And, I always order the french fries, yum! They also have a great winelist with interesting wines from around the world; not your run of the mill list. Reservations are recommended and highly suggested especially if you want to sit outside under the Mediterranean style umbrellas. I'm local and love this restaurant.

Really not very tasty for those ridiculous prices on the "grande platters" and the personal main dishes, everything is pretty fresh but they really need to up their flavors and add something to the seafood.

Food, atmosphere and service was the best! Perfect for a business dinner, Opentable app for reservation. Scallops were prepared to perfection and the grits-perfection!

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.

We sat outside on a lovely warm early December night, a treat for a couple Ohioans. My husband got the filet with mushrooms, it was outstanding. I got the Lobster roll, it was full of lobster but just lacked the lobster flavor. The margarita on ice very good.

If you’re a seafood lover YOU HAVE TO VISIT this restaurants. Food, atmosphere and service is on point. Thank you Jacob for being a great waiter. Octopus and Oysters were delicious!

First off, the interior of the restaurant has a beach vibe which made the food experience a bit more colorful and exciting. The oysters I got was fresh and the lobster roll was full of lobster and well-portioned. The bread part was a bit too buttery, but overall it was good. My fiance is allergic to shellfish but he was able to order something else on the menu. We had a 5:30 pm reservation on a Friday evening and we couldn't be seated until it was that time, since that is when the restaurant portion actually opens (the outdoor patio was open, but we didn't want to be out in the humidity). So, we ordered drinks at the bar until then. Service was generally attentive. It's a bit pricey, bu it's a good spot to get your seafood fix!

We went there ... for a little while before dinner it was just so pretty and so fun looking, that we felt like we need it to stay for a little while and it was so fun I am so happy we stop for a while even though we had our baby with us it was very yummy and very beautiful and the servers were super sweet and super helpful, definitely is worth seeing if you are in Austin you have to come ...

Perlas is definitely a must if you love seafood. We ordered the seafood tower and it had 3 types of oysters, mussels, crab legs, lobster knuckles, and ceviche. It was to die for ❤️ I ordered the crab Florentine and it was also fabulous. The Shrimp & grits were also great. I will for sure be back on my next visit to Austin.

Food was decent, but the parking situation ruined our experience and we likely won’t return as a result. There is a parking garage behind Perlas where they supposedly validate your parking. Apparently there is a new system in place in the parking garage that requires you to scan a QR code to pay for parking then somehow you get it validated at the restaurant. However, when you pull into the garage there is no QR code. So I walked to the restaurant to ask how to validate parking. They gave me the QR code but I had to have my license plate. So I had to walk back to my truck to get license plate. By the time I got back to my truck there was already a parking ticket on my truck! I reached out to the manger of this parking garage, Travis, to explain the situation, but he refused to waive the parking ticket even though I showed him a copy of my receipt from Perlas which proves that my parking should have been free not to mention the confusing process.

I loved the patio atmosphere but both the food and the drinks were average at best. For what you get, the prices are outrageous. It was recommended by our Uber driver but I can't say I'd recommend it to anyone else.

Wow! This spot was a breath of fresh air during a brisket-focues weekend. From the outdoor seating, to the interior decor, this place offers a respite from the usual fare offered in Austin. Homemade hush puppies are complimentary, which is a nice start to any meal. When we were there, they offered no fewer than 8 varieties of oysters, along with other small aquatic bites for starters. The fish entrees were to die for, especially the sea bass and red snapper preparations. A small, but well-matched wine list compliments the meal nicely. Fun fact...my wife and I liked dinner so much, we returned for lunch by ourselves a few days later. JUST AS GOOD AS DINNER!

Our original destination was full so, disappointed and with low expectations, we walked over to Perla's. Thank God we did! We were three and we each ordered different entrees plus French toast to share. Everything was absolutely delicious. Although the place was full, service was great and the food came out perfectly. Highly recommend.

We went here on a recent Saturday night to celebrate an important birthday of my daughter. We were visiting from Colorado. There were three of us. I already had perused the menu, so I knew what to expect, price wise. They have a nice outdoor patio, and walking through it to get to the front door, we noticed that it was pretty noisy from the diners and the street noise from South Congress. Since we had lots catching up to do, we decided to dine indoors. I am not so sure we shouldn't have tried outdoors after all. We were seated next to a 16 person bachelorette party on one side and the busser's station on the other. Nothing quite says quiet like an alcohol fueled celebration. I don't think I heard more that half of the conversation between my wife and daughter. The food is exceptional, if not expensive. We had a couple of appetizers along with our drinks. Wife and daughter both had the scallops and I had the bouillabaisse. We shared a mac and cheese that was exceptional. I was unable to finish the bouillabaisse, so it went home with the daughter. We shared an exceptional cheesecake for dessert. Our server was very good, and coursed the meal with attention to our plans to relax. I would return just as soon as I can pay off the cost of this meal on my MasterCard.

This was our first trip to Perla’s. It was recommended by close friends who visit Austin often. We had the calamari and BBQ shrimp appetizers while we waited for our reservation. Both were excellent, however leaving the head and shell on the very large shrimp makes for a nice visual effect but a sloppy dining experience. They should give you a wet towel or extra cloth napkins. For dinner we had two orders of the bouillabaisse and one order of the ahi tuna. Both were excellent. I am a big eater and I could not finish the bouillabaisse. Again I encountered the “shell on” shrimp. I can pick my way through the mussels and clams in the dish, but dealing with the shrimp gets messy. My only comment to Perla’s would be to ditch the photographic esthetic of the whole shrimp and make it easier for your client to partake the amazing meal. I will return, but hope they make their shrimp dishes more “user friendly.” Service was great. Very nice atmosphere.

We started our evening with cocktails/wine with the smaller cold bar platter -- it was fabulous for our group of 4. Other yummy items were the Ahi Tuna, New Orleans Shrimp (with bread that was amazing!), and crab cake. Also enjoyed side orders of grits and grilled asparagus! All was perfectly prepared and delicious.

I came when they weren't too busy during covid and it took about 30 minutes to get a drink. Food came before my drink. The bbq shrimp app was way overpriced and messy. The lanai cocktail sounded good but was way overpriced and not very balanced--very acidic and not very tasty. All in all, I was far from impressed. The only good part about the experience was the misty fans on the patio and the view. The server was nice but awkward and slow.

My sister and I were going to lunch and stumbled across this place while we were looking for another place, we loved the look in side and checked out the menu and like what was offered. I ordered Fish & Chips and my sister had never had Fried Oysters and wanted to try them and she love them. The waiter Alex, was very nice and helpful with our decision making prior to our order. We had a few questions regarding some of the dishes and he was very kind answering every questions before we made our selection. The two ladies at the front greeted us with a smile, we told them we had stumbled upon their restaurant and they were so eager to help us check out the menu. The food was great, the price was good and the decor made me feel like I was in the Caribbean!

While my food was great (the lobster with pasta), and definitely something I would recommend, the place was overpriced and my friends food was not good (scallops risotto). The waitress never came back to check on us, not realizing we ended up sharing our dishes. She was more upset (with us) that we didn’t like the dish, never acknowledged and was unprofessional just pretending nothing happened (although did not charge for it at the end). We were hoping this was THE place to go for dinner but ended up being a disappointement given the service our waitress provided...sometimes just checking back how customers are doing, and apologizing could (have gone) a long way.

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.

My friend and I stopped in earlier this evening on the recommendation of our tour guide. It took a long while for anyone to come to our table and greet us. Then, even though it was a few minutes early, our waitress said the dinner menu wasn’t ready to look at despite all of the tables around us already having the dinner menus. The prices are expensive but we were able to get a great deal on a lobster roll during happy hour. After happy hour, due to the pricey food and absentee waitress, we chose to find another restaurant for dinner. Cocktails were tasty.

Whenever we visit Austin, our son takes us here. It is consistently good. The service is point on and the wait person is very nice and friendly. We always get our usual... the seafood stew/bouillabaisse , New orleans style bbq,grilled octopus was so tender, and wedge salad. We always come away happy and satisfied.

Loved this place. Great patio and people watching and our food was also really good. Had rose and the red fish sandwich. Will be back! You should probably make reservations, by the way, there was nothing open, but we got lucky and sat at the outdoor counter which is open seating.

We had one of our favorite and most memorable meals at Perlas in Austin last night - started with wood grilled creole oysters and grilled Spanish octopus then moved to Grilled Texas Mahi with sides of King Crab Meat Grits, Mexican Street Corn, Five Cheese Baked Macaroni. The spice, heat, texture combinations were magical - cannot remember a better meal! Love this place!

Came for my birthday. Party of 5. Had heard so Many amazing things and reviews of Perla’s. We are foodies from Chicago that have been in Austin for 2 years and this was our first time here. Mostly good food but overall a bit disappointing. Here is is: The good: the place is beautiful. Great fish Tank in front. Beautiful patio that I’ve heard is the place to be in warmer weather. The ambiance and vibe is funky and cool . We loved our booth...a nice big round booth near the back . Our server Justin made our experience pretty wonderful. He was friendly , offered pretty good service, and answered all of our questions and connected with the group. We have noticed some really bad service and servers in Austin and he was definitely an exception to the rule. The drinks were also great. We had a few old fashioned’s and a few of another bourbon drink that was quite good. The menu was also laid out nice and selections were good. I had the swordfish which was amazing and my partner had the scallops which were phenomenal. Our other friends had a dish that was lobster, pasta , and shrimp. The appetizers were all good. Amazing ceviche and great calamari. The bad : there were a few things that were definitely not good but not “ ugly “ which will be the next section. For starters, the lobster was not fresh. We have lived in Florida and been to the Caribbean and Hawaii enough to know what is legit and it wasn’t happening tonight. Some of it was tough and rubbery. The other thing they really bothered us is that empty drink cups and plates sat on the table for extended amounts of time. Even when food runners dropped off food, they did not take empty plates away. This is not good at this caliber of a restaurant with this price point. Other than that, our server was amazing. The ugly : i feel bad to even have to call out someone like this but I will. We arrived about 15 minutes early before the rest of our party was there. We went to the bar and was going to have a drink. The bartender, Marina was clearing off some plates and asked if we were eating dinner or having drinks. Casually tossed a few menus down. No hello. No smile. No friendliness. So it was our first time there and after looking at the menu I asked said bartender if there are any martinis she suggested or were her specialty. She non -chalantly said “ everything’s on the menu right there “ . The attitude. The coldness. Then i said that i was just trying to get some recommendations and she was so Not engaging or approachable and attempted to ask a few questions in a monotone voice. I told her i Would look at menu some more after she was snarky. She acted as if we were annoying her and like she didn’t want to be there. Mind you the bar was not busy and she was talking and laughing with two other bar attendants to the right of the bar. We ordered two old fashioned’s and then our friends came and she gave them attitude and unfriendliness also. I had already sat down at our table for our 8 p reservation but when everyone sat down, they were talking about how non-engaging and rude “ the blonde bartender with her hair pulled back was “. Where is the customer service ? The smile ? The friendliness ? This was our first time in this restaurant and this was our first impression? We spent over $500 for dinner and this is how you get treated. Left us feeling uncomfortable and uneasy. The food and our server made things 100% better but this restaurant needs to check Miss Marina. Get some customer service experience....act like you care or even give a damn... and a smile wouldn’t hurt either. This restaurant needs to check out all the unfavorable reviews that deal with service and step it up. The food is not the problem... it’s some of the service team that need help. We would come back but I hope things get better.

Sat on patio ..ceviche, crab wedge and halibut. Lovely sav blanc ..great service, great oysters ...if you want great beach feeling rustic ambiance, freshest seafood, wonderful Wine or cocktail accompaniment in heart of trendy hip soco -this is your ideal

2nd time here....really enjoy this place....our waitress was exceptional...really knowledgeable and very helpful. We started with the Cornmeal Fried Oysters with Chili Morita & Slaw...a nice large portion...enough for two of us...really tasty. For our entree, we shared the same thing we enjoyed the last time we were here....Oak Grilled Texas Gulf Redfish on the Halfshell. Again, a portion large enough for two, but a bit disappointed in the presentation. The last time we were here, the fish was presented as described on the menu...on the half shell...this time, as you can see from the picture I uploaded...the fish was not served as described....we really enjoyed the previous version more (it looked really cool that way). We also ordered a side of the Yukon Gold Griddle Cakes with Crème Frâiche & Chive--these were really good...crispy outside...soft inside...pretty decadent... We both enjoyed a cocktail...the Mean Streets is a play on an old fashioned--, Old Forester Bourbon, Amaro Nonino, Cocchi, Americano, Black Walnut Bitters. The drinks were well made, strong, and flavorful. One other note...I was amazed at how fast the service was...we were there early on a week night...so it wasn't super busy...and they had an abundance of staff....but their speed was pleasantly surprising. This place is great…we took advantage of the cool evening weather and ate outside…I’d make this a must visit restaurant if you are in Austin (but go back to serving the redfish the way you did last year—much better presentation).

How should I put this...? Oysters? Yes please. Bourbon beverage? Check. Add some calamari and a side of French fries to complete the perfect midday snack. Tasty treats like this and more await you at this popular Austin post-up. Make sure you stop in.

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.

We just had a superlative meal at Perla. Now living on the Jersey Shore I am suspicious of a restaurant in Texas claiming to have fine seafood. But of course the Gulf is just a few hours away and what with our air transport system, seafood can be delivered within hours of being caught. Anyway we had a number of great sides, fried okra. Also fried green tomatoes. Even French fries were excellent. Main course was A-Crispy Texan Red Snapper with lemon baby spinach and a tomato sofrito. WOW. Others had similar experiences with their dishes Try this establishment!!!!!!

We all came here for a nice dinner and that's what we got. Is it pricey? Yes, but come on folks, you can checkout the prices on that smartphone you're probably reading this review on. The food is WELL worth the price. The specialty cocktails were AMAZING! The service is 2nd to none. We will come back on our next visit to Austin!

Went here for my spouses birthday dinner. She got the lobster bucatini which she said was phenomenal ( if a tad heavy ) As a vegetarian I ordered all the sides available including a delicious watermelon, tomato and burrata salad (Sooo refreshing in the Austin heat). The star of the show though was the BEST Mac and cheese I have ever had in a restaurant. By far. So delicious. Go now. We also enjoyed roasted carrots, a potato cake and sampled every dessert on the menu. Stars all around. Shocking high quality for being in such a touristy part of town. Only downside was our server messing up our drink order, and not being able to cork our wine to go. Lol so we had to down the bottle. Also it's extremely pricey, don't go here for a cheap date, expect to drop a couple hundred dollars. * my spouse also had oysters and all were delicious , try the baked oysters

Stopped by for brunch on a lovely Sunday afternoon, as we were drawn to the beautiful trees shading the outdoor area. We had the most fabulous server, Mark. Who, when we ordered Mimosas suggested a specialty drink…like a Mimosa but with vodka added. Delicious! I ordered the fried oysters…never having experienced fried oysters, but loving oysters, and figuring everything is better fried! Wow! Possibly the best thing I have ever eaten…until I got to the biscuits, which Mark proclaimed they were famous for. OMG! As Marks said, “ Welcome to the South!” Served with the most delectable jam! Here’s how great the customer service is….when my husband’s cheeseburger was delayed, Mark brought out a complimentary dish of Calamari to keep him busy as I enjoyed my oysters. Seriously, the delay was not that long and we were not in a hurry but that is A-one customer service! And the burger was worth the wait! A fantastic experience.

After walking from the Driskell Hotel, where we had a filling lunch, we stopped by Perla's for a drink. We were ignored, probably because we weren't ordering food, and eventually got our beverages. It was under the trees, had the vibe of a big city, and yet I'm not sure I would go back due to poor service.

My opinion in a nutshell: Good food, VERY bad pricing, mediocre service. I am a German who has twice visted the Austin metropolitan area as a tourist. Since my girlfriend currently works in that area, I have been to quite a few local restaurants. This is the first time I went to Perla's. The food itself was good; however, in my opinion, the quality of the food still did not justify the price. In Western Europe, one would probably only pay half the price for seafood of comparable quality. I found the service, at least for US standards, only mediocre, if at all. If you want good seafood in the Austin metropolitan area, I personally think that there are places which offer higher quality for much lower prices.

We popped in here for lunch during the week and had a lovely meal! We started out with the Tuna Tartare which was a great light and fresh appetizer. Then for a main I had the Shrimp Cobb Salad. It was very fresh and a great portion! It’s also nice to sit outside on the patio on a nice day and enjoy the weather.

Had a great time here a couple weeks ago. Cocktails are refreshing and the entrees are outstanding. The oysters stole the show. I would advise anyone who loves high quality raw oysters to get a table here and don't leave until you've all that you can take.

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.

The food is good, as is the service. I didn't find that the quality justifies the prices. It is a lovely restaurant and has a beautiful patio.

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.

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.

Absolutely loved my experience at Sunday brunch. The poco platter was delicious with crab claws, crab legs, fish, shrimp, oysters, mussels and clams. The maple bacon donut was a beautiful balance of salty and sweet. The crab Florentine was absolutely divine and my favorite part of the meal. Shrimp and grits packed a punch but really great flavor. The chocolate peanut butter bar with salted Carmel ice cream for dessert was rich and delicious. They have a nice inside seating area and a fabulous outdoor seating area under the shade of a large oak tree. Top notch service and meal- highly recommend!

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.

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.

We had a great seat outside on the patio. Our server, Travis, did a wonderful job taking care of our dining experience. The crispy snapper was delicious and cooked to perfection. The price was worth the experience as the food and service were excellent.

Holy moly! This place was fantastic. We had great service. The teamwork approach worked really well and aided in making our experience amazing. The place was packed on a Friday afternoon and the kitchen was totally up for the challenge, our food came out so fast. We had the Ahi Tuni Tostadas (MUST HAVE), the Fish n Chips (not super thick breading, flaky deliciousness) and the Yukon Gold Potato Cakes (so incredibly flavorful). Overall, I 100% suggest you make this a stop on your Austin visit. Also, DOG FRIENDLY!!! 🐶

The ambience service and food were excellent! I definitely will come back and recommend this place. The new Orleans shrimps as appetizer was to die for ! The taste is rich and u can get messy but its worth it! They provided u with hot wet cloth to clean your fingers. The pasta with lobster and lobster roll were delicious and generous too! My drinks were perfect and my servers were very attentive! Seat outdoors to gave a full dinner experience!!

My husband and I visited Austin a week ago and wanted something nicer for dinner and preferably seafood. Perla's was suggested so we walked over. The atmosphere was great, we sat outside. Our server was very knoledgable and the food was outstanding. We were leaving and this women was walking in with 2 friends and said "it's their first time in Austin, I have to take them to Perla's right?" I looked at my husband and said well I guess we found the rigth spot!

I don't eat seafood, but my friends tell me this is great. I love the atmosphere, particularly when the weather is good & you can get one of their few outside tables.

We were looking for a place to grab some apps and cocktails, specifically without outdoor seating area. Perla's did not disappoint!! We were seated almost immediately on a busy Friday night. Service was prompt. The food was excellent!!!!!!!

Stopped in for app and a beer. Nice big tree shaded patio. Our server ken was very friendly. I had the octopus. Very tasty. Good seafood menu. Higher end prices tho. Not sure if you need reservations. Place was packed inside and patio was busy. Would i eat here again ? YES

We were in town visiting for 2 nights and we told by many people you have to walk down Congress Avenue, have dinner at Perla’s and see live music at The Continental Club. We did it all and had a blast. Being from NY we are food snobs, Perla blew us away. Great staff, very knowledgeable and a wonderful, creative menu. Don’t miss sitting outside in nice weather.

Quick Drink and Oysters at the bar during our walk. Nice atmosphere and drinks were very good. Bartender was kind to offer water as he saw we were hot. Oysters were very delicious with great choices to choose from.

Solid standard downtown with a standout seafood menu. The predictably overpriced seafood tower was quite a lot of shellfish and fun if you are on an expense account (we were). Word to the wise, it’s a lot for 4 people and you might be overly full for dinner. The entree fish selection was outstanding for a non-coastal spot. Service was good and unrushed. Good energy without being noisy. Great for a business dinner or a two-couple get-together.

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 !

The website clearly states to call to order or make reservations. NO ANSWER tried 10 times all morning. If you're not open, then have a message on your phone. I imagine you all think you're having such awesome business who cares. No, that is no way to do business. This was a special occasion we will be spending elsewhere . I am not driving in from out of town on a hunch.

Stopped here with friends when I wasn’t that hungry. Our waiter recommended a refreshing drink for me. I went for the Shrimp Cobb salad. I ended up eating all of it. It was so good. I enjoyed the patio seating also.

Very small portions and very expensive. The food was tasty, however Husband and I felt ripped off. We will not be back. One tea, one appetizer, red snapper the size of small hand, very small side salad, brussels sprouts and one desert. cost with tip was $92.

We loved dining here, the food was outstanding, the drinks were great, and we loved sitting outside - such a wonderful ambience - chill, laid back yet great service. Really excellent, definitely worth making time for!

Perla's has great food. Great food. And great cocktails. Try the octopus. Even if you think you won't like it. It is tender and delicious. I almost always get the Pozole Verde. Oysters are excellent. There are many delicious items to choose from. Save room for dessert. You'll love it.

Perlas seafood and oyster bar has a great ambiance inside and outside fresh seafood and especially freshly chucked oysters friendly staff well worth the visit

You can choose indoor or outdoor seating with misters in hot weather. The oyster creole and ahi tuna tostada appetizers were excellent. The octopus appetizer was good but not great. The semolina prawns were good but only had 5 shrimp. The German chocolate cake was a nice spin on the dessert. Prices are high but the service by Josh was exceptional. Would dine again.

My wife and I chose the city of Austin for our vacation. We are foodies and Austin has been prominently featured on the FOOD NETWORK for it's cool restaurants. We stopped by Perla's on our first day there. They are known for their drinks and seafood. Here's the thing : my wife and I do not drink. After we were sat on their spacious patio that over looks the street, our server introduced himself and told us about the drink specials. When we ordered a couple sweet teas instead, the server rolled his eyes. You could tell he was not happy with us. I get it. They make money on their alcohol. So the server ( I cannot remember his name. He had a beard and a man-bun ) probably determined that we were a waste of his time and didn't deserve decent service. We ordered the calamari and also the fried oysters ($16 and $17). The oysters were wonderful. The calamari was very good. We never saw our server again until check time. Nobody offered to refill our drinks. It's as if because we do not consume alcohol, we just didn't matter. I waited tables for over twenty years before I got into car sales. I would have been ashamed to treat my customers the way we were treated. Great food. Crappy service.

We waited for a table for about an hour and half. It was a busy Saturday night and I can respect that. The food was ok. I’ve had far better seafood though. We ordered fried calamari, and that was good. I got the scallops with risotto dish. The dish was good, but nothing I would crave and need to go back to eat. They have a wonderful patio,however. And, I know this contributes to the longer wait time. I might try it again for lunch or a Sunday brunch. We walked by on Sunday morning and there was a line of people waiting in camping chairs waiting to get in.

The food was terrific, I had the lobster Bucatini. It had a rich sauce, and lots of lobster. We also had a chefs sampler of oysters all we’re fresh and delicious! They have a wonderful strong horseradish that mixes perfectly with their cocktail sauce. I also tried their red fish on the half shell with a green tomatillo sauce which was cooked to perfection. Their South Congress cocktails were refreshing and great for a warm summer evening or brunch.

Beautiful patio, great drinks and huge portions of food (in my opinion). Everything we had was delicious.

Mark provided exceptional service. Wonderful suggestions on cocktails and meals that hit the spot. Delish meal with an excellent ambiance. Get here early worth the wait

Perla's is my favorite place to eat!!! The food is always awesome, drinks are perfect. Love to eat outside under the trees, you could not ask for a more perfect place to eat, drink and relax. The employees always make me feel very special and that they are glad you are there. :):)

We enjoyed Perla’s across the bridge from downtown on South Congress. Modern; dining inside or out. Enjoyed the fried oysters and grilled redfish, nice tartar sauce. The fish and chips could have been more crispy, i.e fried hotter oil perhaps, with fries that were oversalted. Excellent service. Reasonable wine list and local craft beers.

Really fresh seafood and extremely good service! This is a fairly expensive restaurant but very casual vibe. I love being able to get really fine food but not worry about dressing up! Our waiter Travis was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive without being disruptive to our dining and conversation. Happening patio scene--great for people watching, though we chose to sit inside. Got lots of plates to share at our table and everything was tasty and fresh. Would visit again and enthusiastically recommend to others.

Great outdoor patio dining, the oysters shooters is a must. The tuna Tartare and shrimp poboys were also flavorsome and full of meat. The oysters were large and delicious. Love the atmosphere.

We dined at Perla’s during our recent stay in Austin. We liked the ambiance for the restaurant. It was very lively and the decor was very nice. However, our food was somewhat disappointing for the price that we paid. I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant as we dined at other better restaurants during our stay !

The place was packed so we ate at the bar. The seafood was quite good. The prices were a bit expensive.

The food was good and we had an excellent server. The whole restaurant staff had been over worked due to it being the last day of South By Southwest Music Festival. That being said they still managed to give good service.

I was in Austin on business and was looking for a place to eat that was walking distance from my hotel. When I did an internet search, Perla’s came up as a top five and less than a mile from my hotel. The walk up South Congress was pleasant and was lined with restaurants and shops. When I got to Perla’s I had a short wait, but the hostess was pleasant and checked on me several times. I waited at the bar for my patio table and enjoyed a cold beer and pleasant conversation with the bartender. Once at my table the waitress was helpful and knowledgeable. I ended up getting a half dozen raw oyster and the wood-grilled creole oysters. They have a large selection of East and west coast raw oysters. I was uncertain so my waitress suggested I let the chef selected an assortment for me. Both the raw and grilled oysters were fantastic. I would recommend this restaurant to friends and family members. I will definitely eat here again on my next trip to Austin.

Perla’s is fantastic! Great food, wonderful outdoor deck and excellent service! If you like seafood you need to try Perla’s! We visited three times during our 5 day stay- that’s how much we liked it. They do not rush you to finish like some other restaurants do!

Recommended by a friend that used to live in Austin. If you want a little bit more formal (yet still relaxed), make a reservation. Otherwise, during good weather the casual patio is great. Food great, servers informative; prices good for a special night. Server was a little shy on personality, but informative on menu. We enjoyed the night!

My sister and I stopped here for a late lunch and cocktails after a day of shopping. Our service (Rachel) was great, the cocktails were fantastic, and the food was perfection. Definitely recommend

If you love high quality, absolutely fresh raw oysters there is no better place in Austin than Perla’s. The sides and main courses never disappoint but I usually stuff myself with the oysters before I can get to the main course! The toffee sea salt dessert is also mouth watering and never lasts as long as I want it to. Best seafood in Austin HANDS DOWN!

Great restaurant. Service and atmosphere were great. Hush puppies to start we’re perfectly done. Grilled oyster appetizer was delicious. All meals that we had were done to perfection. Grouper, Texas red fish on the half shell and scallops with risotto were all delicious. Side for the table of pasta shells was perfect. Great meal. Thank you.

It was a lovely dining experience on a beautiful night in Austin in Spetember. I have lived here for a very long time and it was my first visit to Perla's! I had two friends visiting from the UK and we had a fabulous time and the food and wine were incredible. We started out with a dozen oysters (which were pricey) but divine. We also had the grilled octopus and ceviche appetizers as well as a wedge salad with lump meat crab. One dining companion had the halibut entree. We also ordered a side of herbed fries and the portion was huge! Way more than enough for three people! While I can say the prices are not for the faint of heart, the location is incredible and the seafood quality is top notch. Expect to pay a minimum of $100 per person. Reserve a table outdoors during cooler seasons in Texas as it is a great spot for people watching on Soco. Nice staff and good service. Highly recommended.

Somewhat typical of places in area. Crowded with young people during happy hour then lightens until dinner hr Suggest reservations Drinks.a bit expensive Food mediocre Active

Had really nice oyster combo dozen, cheveche, and Escobar. Really tasty. Busy but service good. Nice location on S Congress. Good drinks. Recommended.

This was my first visit to Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar; it will not be my last. The seafood is fresh and the service is friendly, attentive, and helpful. The oysters are flown in fresh daily and they were excellent. The snapper, boulliabaisse, scallops, and the friend prawns were all delicious and prepared to perfection. Dress is casual. This is a popular place; reservations, particularly on a Saturday evening, are strongly recommended.

This restaurant has a great ambience and exceptional service. The food was really delicious such a cute setting. They served me these complementary delicious little fritters with my lunch.

My wife and I were visiting Austin for the first time and were looking for a lunch spot. We came across Perla's and sooo glad we did. Food was great and service was even better. We would recommend this spot to anyone visiting Austin.

I was shocked at botht the prices and the portions at this restaurant. The roasted oyters were excellent and the cheesy grits, the bomb! However, at these prices I did not expect to leave hungry! The gulf snapper was delicious but sized as a child portion for $34!?!?

Average food at high prices in nice surroundings. My partner got the coconut curry chowder, we asked the waiter if it was spicy and he said not at all. When it turned up it was ridiculously spicy. My burger was ok, looked better than it was. Was very greasy and salty. Would not go back.

I went in, not wanting seafood but the restaurant was nearby. I ordered the Little Gem salad (sans mint) which was exceptional. My entree was the seared Maine scallops and summer squash risotto. OMGoodness...it was truly delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Our group of six went to this great seafood restaurant that came highly recommended. We had had drinks in our hotel beforehand, so we all chose not to drink more with dinner. When we did not order alcohol, the mood of our server changed a bit and the service was a bit spotty. Nonetheless, we had great food and enjoyed the place. When we were done, we asked that the bill be split three ways and each couple put down a credit card. It was quite dark at our table and we could barely see what we were signing. We all left generous 20% tips on each portion of the bill, neglecting to see that the automatic gratuity of 18% had already been added to parties of 6 or more. Our little table candle was all we had for lighting. When we returned to the hotel and discovered our error—that the tip was nearly as expensive as the meal—we called. The person to whom we talked was nice enough and said the extra tip would be removed from our bill. Well, our statement came and that did not happen. This is a lovely place, but that experience took my five stars down a notch. When gratuity is added by the establishment, go ahead and remind us, ok?

The red fish and oysters were awesome. Hamburger was good if you don’t like fish. Waitress was awesome. Outdoor seating options. Recommend reservations.

It's probably the place with the worst waiter service in Austin (and that's saying a lot). Although the food and drinks are appropriate for the price, the service of their waiters is quite aggressive, unfriendly and very slow, I would not recommend coming except for the location, it seems that these people are paid to give bad service.

My friend and I stopped in for brunch, not knowing anything about the menu, other than the fact that Perla's brunch showed up on her gluten-friendly menu items app. We were shown to a table on the patio right away, and promptly ordered a couple of cocktails. For food, I went with the Steak Ranchero - a hanger steak served with eggs, ranchero sauce, and a griddle cake - and my friend ordered the Lobster Omelette (after much internal debate and a long discussion with our waitress). It was a beautiful morning, which made sipping our drinks and hanging out much more enjoyable. Their outdoor patio is large and was pretty packed, but we never felt like we had to raise our voices to talk to each other, and we well-looked after by the staff. The Steak Ranchero was very flavorful. The eggs were served over-easy, which, when the yolks were broken, added another layer of flavor to the ranchero sauce. The griddle cake was served with a large dollop of sour cream on top - it was too much for me, but I appreciated the effort. The steak was a bit overcooked, but not to the point where I had to send it back. My friend did enjoy the omelette, but at one point wondered aloud if she'd made the right decision, passing up the lobster frittatta. They did fill the omelette with lots of lobster chunks, and she said the eggs were perfectly fluffy. We stuck around finishing our drinks and chatting until we realized that the restaurant was starting to fill up. Grabbing up the tiny plastic mermaid that came in my drink, we vacated the table to give another group the chance to enjoy a hearty brunch under the shade of that giant tree.

First time eating at Perla’s during my business trip to Austin. The first reason I chose Perla’s because it’s dog friendly which was proven to be true as the restaurant provided nice and shaded outdoor seatings. Another reason was the good reviews about their seafood which was also true. I had the fish and shrimp ceviche, oysters on the half shells, and grilled brussels sprouts. All dishes were great and I think they were worth the price. Parking could be a bit tricky to find on S. Congress but there was a small parking lot on the street next to the restaurant which didn’t cost much (I paid $6 for 3 hours). Ken, our waiter, was very friendly and even brought a big bowl of water for my dogs. Overall, I really appreciated the great food, friendly service and nice outdoor area the restaurant provided. Will definitely be back.

Snuck off here for a shellfish-centred lunch with a friend's husband (whose wife is allergic to shellfish), and Perla didn't disappoint. Had a great server (Nick) who recommended great dishes and wine - we shared the smaller seafood platter, some grilled oysters and some fried oysters. Hey, when you can't normally eat shellfish, you gotta gorge when the opportunity arises! Cilantro tastes like soap flakes to me, but the kitchen were able to keep it off the dishes we ordered, which was great. If I was back in Austin, I'd return to try other dishes on the menu, as there was lots of stuff which looked great.

Great big scooner of beer & a fun cocktail menu, complete with umbrella! Great vibe & interior. Yes, hidden gem: Cheeseburger & Shells and Cheese! Get it, it’s the best. Great fish & chips, had to asked for hot/fresh fries as the ones they served were not. Super friendly staff. Lobster bisque needed a bit of S&P. Inside was cool & comfy (A/C)

We dropped in on a sunny Monday afternoon on a busy Formula 1 weekend and quickly got a communal table seating. Service was a little slow but still pleasant and professional. Our server shared plenty of thoughts on various dishes which helped us with making choices. There are couches in the outside area that are limited menu seating so make sure you are aware of that if those are all that are open. Salsa were great, as were the roasted oysters. The menu is broad but seafood centric with a distinctive New Orleans / creole bent. The gumbo was excellent!

Walking around SoCo with my friend, looking for someplace to eat, I pointed at Perla's. He told me it was expensive, I didn't care. I was very hungry after serious exercise and wanted to treat myself. We had to sit at the bar, but it was nice and we were served quickly. I spent $38 on a lobster roll, but it was worth every penny. It seemed like the meat from a decent sized lobster, lightly mayo-ed on a nice fresh roll. Lobster doesn't need anything to jazz it up, it's one of the tastiest meats there is and they didn't overdo it at all. It was perfect! My friend had walleye and enjoyed it, but he said next time he'd have the lobster roll too. Definitely worth a visit if you're able to get in.

We visited our friends who have lived in Austin for seven years and they insisted that we try Perla's. Great vi be to this place. Thursday night plenty of activity and all tables and bar full. Had some terrific oysters and and fish en trees. Red Snapper "in the shell" - Awesome. Mahi was tasty too. But the Octopus - wow - just do it. Service was careful and fun. Extensive drink and wine menu, Beautiful outdoor setting if it's not too hot. Overall - highly recommended. Pricey - but what isn't when going to upscale dining spots.

If it's not raining, try to sit outside. The breeze and the misters keep you comfortable. The SoCo atmosphere is another great bonus. The wife and I had a great red snapper dish and our guest had Diver Scallops. Both were wonderful. The table weren't clearing as quickly as thought, so the wait for our reserved table was about 30 minutes. The restaurant comped us an appetizer for our wait. Overall great service.

Promptly seated in the screened portion of the front porch. Perfectly curated wine w seafood. A delightful ambience where strangers become friends 🥂

I've been to Perla's before and it is good, but as of right now they're not accepting reservations on the patio - which TBH is the only reason to eat here. The indoor seating isn't anything to write home about. I made the reservation weeks in advance not knowing this new rule, only to find out that they could not accommodate seating us outside and were going to put us at the bottom of the waitlist if we wanted to sit outside. To top it off, there is nowhere for you to wait!! If the bar was open and I could grab a drink that would be one thing, but expecting us to just stand around on the sidewalk like homeless people without a cocktail or an appetizer is a little unsettling for the pricepoint. Especially during covid? I ended up leaving to go to Fixe which was great! I probably will go back, not until they start accepting reservations for the patio (Which they were doing in May I know for a fact).

The worst thing about leaving Austin was not being able to eat at Perla's until our return. Menu was diverse and delicious! Customer Service was outstanding and genuine. Our server was Alexander who was amazing with his knowledge of the menu, friendly demeanor and professionalism! Wish there was a Perla's in Nashville!!! Unbelievable Oyster Bar!!!!

Ceviche and oysters were fresh and wonderful. Had a drink and light snack.. wonderful with a great outdoor patio and beach vibe inside..rivals Neptune oyster in Boston-our fave... hotel San Jose next door such quaint cottages..new music row is so cool.l w great shops and places to pop in. They validate for the lot behind Gueros.

Stopped by for a late lunch on a warm Friday afternoon. Very open and airy place with a very nice outdoor seating area right on Congress. Extensive seafood menu with lots of choices. We enjoyed an excellent ceviche and shared an oyster Po boy sandwich and a side of grilled Brussel sprouts. Plenty to eat for the two of us. Highly recommend if you are looking for seafood and are in the South Congress area.

Perla's is expensive, but the owners do have to pay for this prime location on Congress Avenue in the middle of a lively night scene. Our group of eight ate on the patio, and we were kept comfortable with fans and mist, and we enjoyed the food. The appetizers were all top notch if you like fried food, and I do. The okra and the oysters were particularly tasty. My Atlantic swordfish was good, but there wasn't enough of it for the price

Stopped here while visiting South Congress with family. Stopped in for Brunch at Perla’s. Wait was an hour so we ate at the bar. Brunch was great. The drinks were very good. Mimosas. Bloody Mary. Bourbon drinks. The food was very nice. They had the thickest piece of French Toast I have ever seen! Was huge! Crab Florentine very nice. Lobster roll great. Redfish sandwich was very nice. We would certainly come back.