The Captain's Seafood & Oyster Bar Reviews

Way too small to really make a good restaurant, but it certainly had good food.

We haven't eaten at Captain Benny's for long time because its far from home. We happened to be in the area, so we decided to drop in. The place is set up for social distancing. There were a number of people eating outside on the deck. We sat inside. Our waitress gave us menus (something a lot of places could learn to do. I don't like having to negotiate a menu on my phone). We both ordered catfish baskets. The food was up in a reasonable time. It was delicious. First of all - everything was fresh and hot. The catfish was in a crispy cornmeal crust. It was served with fries, which were also fresh and hot. We order catfish out often and this was the best catfish we have had in a couple of times. In addition, there were a couple of flavorful hushpuppies and a nice piece of garlic bread. Our waitress dropped by at strategic points to make sure everything was good. As I told the manager on my way out, 'I wish you guys had a place closer to where I live.' We'll be back.

Clean, not fancy, paper napkins... BUT the food is fresh and well prepared, the staff is friendly. Don't expect an elegant place, but for good food you can't beat it.

It has some Texas charm —fried catfish, gumbo, shrimp — all southern comfort food done well. That being said, not done exceptionally or distinctively. I had fried catfish— but the chicken and sausage gumbo stole the show!

Food is good. Slightly pricey and as for the service, they are very friendly. Is a nice place to hangout.

We were in Austin for the weekend and in th midst of our back to school shopping we got hungry so we stopped by Captains to take a break from the heat. The outside of the restaurant has a tiki Hawaii feel. However, upon walking inside the heat hit us, I think it was cooler outside. We snagged a seat by the window and got ready to order some oysters but we were told it would be a 20 minute wait. So, we ordered two dozen oysters ($9.99 ea) and a glass of Vigilance Chardonnay ($5). About 30 minutes later our oysters arrived. Most of them were pretty small-- darn near invisible but still they were fresh. We were off to our 2nd dozen but unfortunately we had to wait another 20-30 minutes. Our waiter was a cool and personable guy, he did a great job with keeping us informed on the status of our oyster order. Our second set of oysters finally arrived and this time they were a tad bit bigger. My husband and I indulged ourselves--drunk our drinks and headed off into the sunset for some more hot and sweat back to school shopping. Big suggestion Captains.....It's HOT outside......CRANK UP THE AC!!!!

This is an extremely casual place on the IH 35 service road surrounded by chain motels. But the fried shrimp and oysters are cooked perfectly. The raw oysters are also excellent - and they give you extra horseradish to heat up the cocktail sauce. If they had draft beer it would be perfect - but the bottled beer is nice and cold.

These folks really know how to prepare fresh seafood------mainly fried. The batter is cornmeal based and the lack of a greasy result is amazing. For those looking for a real treat try the usually plump and juicy oysters on the half shell. The restaurant offers daily specials and all dishes are reasonable. The hush puppies, slaw and fries are excellent. Service is friendly and efficient.

Worth checking out if you are staying in one of the local hotels. I had the shrimp appetiser, followed by the redfish, which was great. Good value too!

Just like others have reviewed... the gumbo is GREAT! Everyone having the oysters said that they were GREAT also! Really good prices for the amount and quality of food you get!

This is an OK restaurant with a reasonable menu in terms of price and choice. Plenty of fried stuff on the menu but broiled too, so you can be a bit healthier. The gumbo was good.

Sits close to a Marriott hotel. Relatively easy to get to off the I-35 service good. Plenty of close by park (rare in Austin). The Captain is very unpretentious. The focus is on food versus facilities. It is not fancy, but suffices. Decent outdoor seating is available. The food is very good and reasonably priced. Service was reasonably attentive and efficient. I tried the Captain's Special with Stuffed Crab, Shrimp, Hus Puppies and Fries. Everything was hot and fried to perfection. A very good alternative to a more expensive and fancier seafood establishment.

We must eat here everytime we go to Austin. Best boiled shrimp in town by a landslide. Love the oysters there too. Nothing fancy, just good food. Fried shrimp and scallops are really good too. Seafood gumbo starts your meal right too.

We walked over from the Marriott, that was awesome in itself. Loved the outdoor patio area, relaxing and the beer was cold!

I stop by for a later than normal dinner, ordered a combo plate which included fish, shrimp. scallops, fries and hush puppies. I also got an appetizer of a sausage of some type. It was great spicy and very full of flavor kind of reminded me of a crab cake in a sausage casing. Waiter was very nice and helpful.

I took my wife, two young children and a good friend to enjoy oysters and a nice seafood meal. After spending over $100 on oyster appetizers we ordered multiple meals and asked them to bring it family style so we could try a little of every thing between us 3 adults and 2 children. A few minutes after we ordered the guy and his girl who rode up on bikes decided they wanted to smoke. I told the waitress and she said they allowed smoking. I canceled the rest of my order ( about another $100 worth of food). Finally, the manager decided he would come out. He said there was nothing he could do or would do. He made no effort to fix the situation other than to offer our dinner to go in a box. Smoking ruined what was a fun family night up to that point. I guess to the management of Captain Benny’s thinks it is better business to allow bikers to smoke than protect small children and run a family who would have spent over $200 off forever. I paid the bill for the appetizers but the entire event left a nasty taste in my mouth on the 25 mile trip home.

I have been to this restaurant probably 40 times over several decades, but it is not my favorite. It doesn't offer many choices for extras. Most entrees are minimal with a mound of french fries. Since I don't eat the fries, it is too expensive for just the fried entree.

First off, this place is 🔥. We typically stay down town, but hotels were booked so we ended up in the north-end. Crazy hungry, we took a chance on Benny’s. Ramona (our server) was an absolute sweetheart. I didn’t wait more than a minute for a cold beer. Food tasted great and the atmosphere is super laidback. I highly recommend!

Oyster is pretty cheap and a walking distance from the hotel and the highway. The grilled Tilapia and Gumbo was really tasty. The atmosphere was not rowdy, restaurant was clean and wait staff were very friendly. You will save a lot eating all kinds of seafood in this restaurant, compared to some other chain restaurant.

While in Austin on business last week we had the opportunity to visit Captain Benny's. It was conveniently located next to the Courtyard University Area Hotel we were staying at. The waiter seemed a little out of touch but he did his job. We began with an appetizer of a dozen boiled shrimp and they tasted very good and fresh! I ordered the fried shrimp and they were very tasty as well. My co-worker had the fried catfish and he said that it was pretty tasty. I saw they had a Happy Hour going on but we did not partake on this visit. I would definitely recommend and return to this restaurant!!

Stopped here for dinner on a NOT busy night. Everything about the place was mediocre, the service, the food, the drinks... not really sure why, but I'd blame it on poor management. The staff was bickering, few people seemed to just wonder around, the hostess was spending most of her time on the phone (when she wasn't flirting with waiters). It took them 15 min to get our drinks (and we were sitting at the bar) and almost 30 min to get one appetizer... Not coming back.

Stopped for lunch. There's a lunch n dinner menu n one for the kids. Reasonably priced. Since I didn't want 2 big pcs of catfish, waitress suggested I get child's portion n just add the shrimp. Excellent idea! Was good n the place is right on I-35 frontage road.

We stayed at the hotel next to this restaurant and after a day touring UT thos was a convenient, no driving option. Once in the smells were amazing, only to be surpassed by the flavor. We had crab fingers and stuffed jalapenos for starters, both were good portions and very delicious. For dinner it was shrimp etouffe and catfish with hushpuppies and fries...both were huge and flavors were simply off the charts great. We would go back in a heartbeat if we lived in the area or visit again!!!!

I was staying at a hotel that was within walking distance and decided to give this establishment a try. I'm glad I did. The service was quick and friendly and there is a wide selection of both grilled, broiled and fried foods. Oysters on the half shell as well. I sat at the bar and the two bartenders were friendly and helpful. I ordered the broiled stuffed tilapia with the shrimp flavored rice.....delicious.

We went there for Valentine's Day. We had great service from our waitress, the food was excellent and the price fit our budget. Can't wait to go have some more seafood there.

We ate so much here, we felt like ticks! lol They have the best fresh and fried oysters anywhere! They also take a lot of care to really rinse them so there is no grit. And talk about service, these folks are really attentive and so sweet!

I have bee a regular at the rankin rd location for years up to now. This last weekend I came in and ordered my Regular starter a dozen on a half shell oysters and a michelada this guy took my order oysters took a bit longer to be ready but they were a tad busy so I thought no big deal. I asked for condiments because they did not provided any, a few minutes went by then this girl passed by and I asked very politely for some crackers she graved one single cracker and said we’re are short on crackers when you finish this one if you need more ask for more. Apparently she was the new manager or floor manager-What kind of service does she provide that gives one single cracker to a customer who asks for crackers n proceeds to say you can only have one at a time as if I was a child. At the end of my meal she got what she deserved I told her off. I became a street thug as ghetto as I could and told her off. I will not be coming to this location any more .

Stayed at the Fairfield Inn and this seafood restaurant is just across the parking lot. The Seafood Gumbo was excellent and filled with shrimp and the broiled platter was an excellent combination of fish, scallops and shrimp on a bed of shrimp fried rice. The entire meal was excellent and I certainly recommend The Captain's to anyone looking for good seafood at a reasonable price.

cold beer, cheap, yummy oysters. Fun staff. 'nuff said!

Another delicious meal at Captain's. Had fried shrimp & oysters. In my top 5 seafood places. I don't spend much time in expensive places--- Captain's exceeds taste, presentation, casual atmosphere and price! Thanks for the fresh, tasty supper!!!

As I’m writing this review I’ve been waiting for drinks for 20 minutes. I was sat at a table in the middle of the room so I’m not in a dark part of the restaurant, so I’m not sure what their issue is. But their service is very bad tonight. I hope this is a singular issue, as I really enjoy their food when I’m able to come here.

we ordered oysters on the half shell then whole catfish, fried dinners. The service was excellent. the catfish was hot and tasty with good sides. the cole slaw was a bit too creamy and sweet for my taste but everything else was better than the average catfish dinner! oysters were good also and food was served promptly

Do yourself a favor and don’t miss this little spot. The food is amazing and the people are even better!! Order a Michelda with a Modelo!! ❤️ Oysters ❤️❤️

Walking distance from several hotels near airport in Austin off IH-35. This is a really good thing because the hotel I stayed in didn't have a restaurant open for dinner. I ordered boiled shrimp and stuffed jalapeños. The shrimp was good size, cleaned well and seasoned. The stuffed jalapeños left something to be desired. The jalapeños were missing from one of the order of three. The bacon was nonexistent. They were wrapped in a primitive flour coating. The crab stuffing was full of shells. Will not order them again. Had to wait for several minutes for some to let me know I could seat myself. My table needed to be washed off one more time. Bottle beer was cold and went great with my shrimp. Will look for another place to try next time.

I was born and lived in New Orleans. The seafood Gumbo at now Captain Benny's is the absolute best in Austin. They have numerous choices of appetizers from several types of oysters, delicious shrimp diablos (wrapped in jalapenos then bacon and fried) all the way to alligator. All the fried dishes...shrimp, oysters, catfish, etc. are all in a delicious lightly breaded cornmeal coating. The whole fried catfish is delicious as they slice it on either side of the backbone so it is basically deboned but frying it with the bone some how makes it the best catfish I have ever eaten. They make their own tartar sauce and you can spice up your own red sauce with as much horseradish as you can tolerate! Beer cold and kept on ice. The place is right on the access road of IH 35 and is shaped like a ship, so if you sit in the bar section where they shuck the oysters, you can be tilted just a tad, but it is worth it to watch the crew work their magic with the oysters. You can see the kitchen from the bar section or you can sit in the more sedate restaurant section. They also have a mid-sized outdoor patio for those who desire to eat outside or to smoke. Try the gumbo...........you really cannot go wrong!!!! My brother who lives in NEW JERSEY insists on eating here every time he visits since he says it is better than the seafood where he lives!

The food was good. We were really surprised, it's been tough finding good seafood spots were you can order and go. We ordered quite a few dishes and everything was good. We had the stuff jalapeños, stuffed shrimp, fried shrimp, fried scallops, a dish that had calamari and veggies. We will definitely be going back to this spot.

Very good food, fast service even during peak business hours. Always nice service.good prices. Inexpensive.

Recommended by hotel, which was just short walk. A couple of other guests recommended this also. Said they had been there twice and was very good; recommended oysters. I'm not fond of oysters, so got the gumbo and shrimp basket. Gumbo very good. While the light breading on the shrimp was tasty, shrimp were butterflied which made them very thin. Sweet potato fries were also good. Asked for a side of cole-slaw; came in a large container, enough for at least 3 people. I'd suggest they do a smaller portion. Service was good; reasonable prices. Nice patio. If it wasn't for the shrimp being so thin, I'd rate this good. Would like to see whole shrimp served.

We’re traveling & went the wrong direction, thank you GPS. Stopped-into Krispy Kreme for redirection, and the Doughnut Goddess appeared. She called the Seafood Goddess, at Captain Benny’s boat for their dock/boarding address.... I overheard heard her say “Santa Claus is bringing you a package”. I had a good time the whole time. MHSW (Ms Claus) ordered for Mr Claus: Gumbo, Scallops Kebabs & Shrimp Kebabs. Wish for that entrée for Christmas! The experience was First Class and all staff are on the “Nice list”! Good job, good service, good vibes! Keep partying, Santa’s making the list, & those sleigh taillights are Santa Claus!

So the restaurant is right next to my hotel, so I call over an order an appetizer and a combo seafood basket with fried catfish and shrimp. I either had two cooks on my food or a chef with two personalities. First off, their idea of seasoning is cayenne pepper. That pretty much seems to be it. Their spicy calamari was seasoned with just that and whole lot of salt. WAAAAY too much salt. First time in my life I've ever thrown out calamari. Sadly, the rest of the appetizers were equally over salted. It's was so bad, I couldn't eat them. The fried seafood combo, on the other hand, had no flavor whatsoever. The catfish tasted like it had been dipped in unflavored corn meal and then fried. So did the shrimp. I ate the catfish and picked at the shrimp because I was really hungry, but gave up about halfway. The french fries were soft an not worth the effort. So, sorry folks, but either I got them on a bad night, or this place is just far below average.

We've been dining at Captains for over 10 years and the quality and food are always fantastic! The oysters on the half shell and the fried shrimp are my favorites, so rarely do I try anything else.

This is my favorite restaurant in Austin for fried shrimp. I like the casual atmosphere.

Finally a place that has some of the most freshest oysters we've eaten in a long time with reasonable prices. We got lucky and checked this place out. Oysters were $7.77 a dz. this past weekend. 3 dz. later and still wanted more! The shrimp and catfish was lightly breaded and tasty. Even our 8 & 11 year old girls loved them! Can't wait for another road trip to Austin for more great food!! How we miss this beautiful city with all the great food it has to offer!!

The oysters were great and the prices were reasonable!

Oysters were fresh and seafood poor boy hot. Beer was cold and service was great. The bar was full of nice friendly people eating and having fun, and we were able to watch our oyster being prepared in front of us. This place has great prices and fresh seafood cant say much more then had a great time and will return.

Stayed @ Courtyard & planned on taxi to Pappadeaux. But this little gem right next door with a crowd so we just walked in to give a try. Tables full & luckily found seats @ bar. Entertainment was the kitchen 😳. They were amazing to watch. Had the seafood platter & beer out of the bottle. Relaxed fun. Would love to go back.

Great place for fresh seafood. They cook it fried or broiled. I had the special of the day, which was the fried shrimp platter. This was a great choice, the shrimp was lightly battered, moist and tender. My husband had oyster poboy, which was excellent. Oysters on the half shell were available & at a great price. We will definitely return to try other menu items.

Always busy on a Friday night, I suppose, and with good reason. Lots of great seafood at reasonable prices. Excellent service and great local ambiance.

what can i say i'm a sucker for fried fish.

I have been going every week to Captain Benny's for about 20 years. We have our family gatherings out on the patio at least 4 times a year. Today it all changed. We were served miniature oysters on the half shell, our shrimp diablos were chewy and the catfish was thin and overcooked. We informed the waitress but nothing happened. At the end of the meal we asked for a manager who said he just came on duty and it was the other manager's responsibility. He gave us a $7.99 refund for the diablos and told us to contact corporate.

Quirky little 'boat' restaurant with really helpful staff. Food was served quickly, but you can eat at your own pace. Reasonably priced and great tasting food.

Seafood gumbo is best in town. Good price for oysters on half-shell. Fried shrimp meal is perfect! Eat your heart out for less!

They dumped a TON of their “special Benny’s seasoning” on the baked oysters, so much that you couldn’t taste the oysters and they were gritty. Also the seasoning was extremely spicy, neither the menu nor the waiter had that information provided.

One of the best values - and has the BEST GUMBO in Austin (in my opinion). We've been going to Captain's for over 20 years. It's always the same! My husband was born and raised in Austin, and when we come back to visit we ALWAYS go here for a bowl of gumbo and some fried shrimp and fries. What a fantastic taste of home - so inexpensive and delivered with a smile every time. I don't enjoy oysters, but the oyster bar is always packed. Just go...it's delicious! P.S. For some reason it always looks closed when you're driving by from outside (it's a big boat shaped building) - but take it from me, it's open!

If you want seafood southern style, look no further. Make mine fried (shrimp, oysters, catfish, etc.). With French fries and hushpuppies. Cardiac health ignored but a wonderful, indulgent experience. Delicious, corn-meal coated fried oysters. Mmmmm.

The inside was comfy, clean and the staff was super friendly. Loved the music playing...90s & 2000 rock. Our waitress, she didn't have a name tag, was ever so helpful and kept our drinks full. (My big pet peeve). The menu was simple. We ordered popcorn shrimp...just a little salty but otherwise delicious. Gumbo was right on the mark! I'm normally a little leary when it comes to restaurant gumbo. Our main dishes were comprised of a fried platter and a broiled platter. The stuffed crab was right on with taste...the scallops were wonderfully grilled...the rice had chunks of tiny shrimp...how awesome!! It was a are at ecperience that I would highly recommend to everyone!!