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Aquarium, The

MY REVIEW: This place is over priced & poorly managed. We have been here before & just thought we had 1 bad experience. But no no no; this place has gone to the bottom of the barrel. They were understaffed, overwelmed, unfamiliar with not only thier menu but with the daily specials "We don't really have specials; we just pick stuff we like & tell you about it" you would expect a SEAFOOD house to be able to properly cook lobster, scallops, & shrimp.....again no. The Lobster was rubber. The Scallops were crisp (but they did face that side down for presentation). The Shrimp had enough garlic to keep Dracula away for milles. All of this was on one plated meal.

Then after the meal my 11 year old said "Daddy are'nt they going to sing the birthday song? The manager said "We don't do that any more since I took over".

Really Tillman.. Get a grip on this place or expect more of these from others.

NAME: Cliff
SUBMITTED: 4/1/2013   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/1/2013
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Please do not go to the Aquarium, unless you want to scare your date half to death. The hostess are rude and level by the lowest common denominator, the tables, glasses and the entire restaurant looks and feel greasy. Noise, bad food and expensive for the horrible below par service you get.

We ordered one plate, and some wine in consideration to the poor waiter, who was nice but clueless of what Lobsters they served or even if they served them.

Very sad and embarrassing. The only saving grace the poor fish swimming in circles.

NAME: texasv
SUBMITTED: 4/11/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: April 2, 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I took my wife to Kemah for her birthday. We intended to go to the C*hart House but it had been replaced by another restaurant so we decided to give the Aquarium a second chance after not liking it on our first visit. First of all, I must say that the service was excellent. Our waitress was very attentive and visited the table many times to check on us. The view was nice too (we sat by the windows looking out at the boats coming and going. BUT...the food was only okay at best. The bruscetta apetizer was incredibly yummy and beautifully presented on the platter (and was a LOT of food). We then shared the big broiled seafood platter and we were both very disappointed. The plate was just a mushy, greasy mess. The shrimp had a very odd bubblegum aftertaste?? and the crab stuffing tasted odd too (like disinfectant??). We probably won't go back, which is a shame because it really is a pretty restaurant.

NAME: Derek
SUBMITTED: 7/14/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: June 2010
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: I'm suprised to see a few bad reviews here, as my husband and I had a great time. I was a little hesitant at first about eating at the aquarium as I was hoping to eat at a non-chain restaurant, but seeing as most places at Kemah are, I decided we may as well.

We arrived on a Saturday for a late lunch, and asked to be sat outside as it was such a lovely day. We ordered the bruchetta (sp?) appetiser, wow this was fantastic - a HUGE tower of tomatoes, mozarella, oil and toast which was really tasty and I highly recommend this.

For our mains, I ordered the Greek shimp salad - I thought this was really quite unique and very filling. My husband had the gulf snapper, again, excellent.

The only downside was that the cokes tasted a little flat. Other than that, I thought the service and quality of food was great. As for the price, its pretty much what you expect to pay at Kemah - our total was $55 before tips.

The service was good, our waiter was friendly. The greeter was not so friendly, but she was VERY busy and was efficient non the less.

Ladies bathroom was very busy, but kept clean.

NAME: LoveGoodFood
SUBMITTED: 3/24/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: FOOD/DRINKS were very tasty, chef seems to handle seasoning very well (if you like well-seasoned food which we do). I highly recommend the Pinot Noir wine (Meridian (sp/) brand) that was recommended by the waiter at $7.00 per glass.

ATMOSPHERE/AMBIENCE - very nice though we had especially good seating (table for 6 near the corner near the window). Also, very importantly we went on a Saturday at 1:00am before main crowds, there were empty tables, it was a lot more crowded by the time we left. But apparently this is a good time to avoid the kids (I was leary because of all the reports below of noise.) Not noisy at least on this Saturday. Love the aquarium and love to watch the fish.

PRICE/VALUE - definitely very pricy, my grilled/broiled atlantic salmon with mixed vegetables (thank goodness no half head of broccoli here) with rice was 17.99 (didn't include a salad). Considering the ambience and location on the Kemah boardwalk, I didn't really think this was exorbitant though not a price I would like to pay when looking for a good value inside the loop. My husband had some type of pasta dish. Don't remember the prices of the two couples with us. Our bill for two was $66 (including 17% gratuity) and that included two glasses of wine for me and tea for my husband. Wine was $7.00 per glass but was exceptional.

SERVICE - very good and attentive. Liked the waiters recommendations though I decided to keep it simple this round given the terrible reviews below. Next time I may experiment a bit more.

PARKING - parking is free in the garage not too far away. Though it looks like this garage could fill up during busier times.

We definitely plan to go back especially on a nice fall afternoon (sunny weather makes it even better) when it is fun to walk the boardwalk afterwards and watch the boats and feed the fish.

NAME: cilantro
SUBMITTED: 11/14/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: Nov/2007
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Nice view, food was awful. I was served a half a head of brocoli with my soggy fish. The brocoli wasnt even cut up into pieces you could eat, and it was practically raw. My wife ordered thai shrimp. She only ate one and we got the rest to go (which eventually got thrown away). There are better seafood restaurants in Houston. WHy do you have to ask for water. I know they make a lot of money on drinks, but how many drinks can you afford to put down (in order to get the bad taste out of your mouth). I know Landrys is owned by the same company, but at least I can say I never had a bad meal there.

NAME: TokyoEdo
SUBMITTED: 12/29/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/05
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: My wife and me went at about 4:00pm on a Friday. We figured we could beat the crowd and eat a good meal. Well we beat the crowd, but the meal was far from good. Im not sure what happened to this restaurant. The appetizer (crab and shrimp wontons) and good, but our dinners were pretty bad. I had a redfish fillet that came with white beans (?) and half a head of brocolli. I have never been served brocolli that came out in a giant head in my 48 years of living. They could have at least cut it in bite sized pieces. My wifes thai shrimp was mediocre. She ate one and got the rest to go. Over priced food, over priced drinks. Next time, I would probably just get an appetizer and go somewhere else for quality seafood. I wont be going back to this restaurant. Too many other good choices in Houston. TIP TO RESTAURANTS>>>> I realize alcohol is your big money maker, but at least give us water with our meals without having to ask.

I would still have a drink or two with dinner.

NAME: TokyoEdo311
SUBMITTED: 12/23/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2005
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Over rated, over priced, poor to average food, watered down drinks, good service, unique decore. I would not go back for the food or drinks.

NAME: pisted
SUBMITTED: 7/12/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/05
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: My boyfriend and I visited the Aquarium for Valentines Day. They had a special room setup on the third floor with a four course meal. Although there werent any fish in the room the atmosphere was very romantic. It was nice and quiet and very seperate from the screaming kids on the floors below. The filet was awesome. Tender and cooked to perfection. Oh and the dessert was evon better. We payed a little over 100 dollars for 4 courses, 17% grat., 2 glasses of wine, and a frozen drink. If you go to this restaurant defenitly take advantage of the private rooms to get away from the aquarium on lookers.

NAME: Jess
SUBMITTED: 2/13/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/2005
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Overrated, much overpriced... typical of Landry's. Food was not that great - equal to J*oe's with a more quality presentation. Nice atmosphere on boardwalk, but not worth the $$.

NAME: LGCTY
SUBMITTED: 2/2/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/05
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: The Aquarium restaurant was nice inside but way overpriced. You get better food at Red L*obster for lower prices. We were mad because they charged us for each refill of lemonade so we ended up paying $8 for lemonade. We weren't told we would be charged for refills. We aren't charged for refills on lemonade anywhere else. I told them I thought they should take it off but they didn't. Good thing they already added in our tip or I would've deducted it from that. We had a large group so they automatically added it in. We won't be eating there again. The food wasn't that great. We enjoy going to Kemah but won't go to that restaurant again. It was way overrated. It was nice but not that great.

NAME: ksand
SUBMITTED: 1/12/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/04
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: First time at this restaurant. We went there to celebrate a brithday. I was concern with the previous reviews about under-par dinning at high prices but I have to say that the experience was great for a once-in-a-while special ocassion. There were 6 adults at our party and with appetizer and dessert, our tab was about $180. Appetizer was plentyful, salads were big, must dishes were tasty, only a few of the side items were a bit bland. Althought it was not the greatest meal in the world, it was ok for the ocassion and the experience in the dinning room was great. The staff was very knowlegeable about the menu and the fish in the different aquariums, he was attentive, friendly nad efficient. I have family visiting during the holidays and I will probably take them there, the food was ok but the atmosphere is worth it...

NAME: impressed by the fish
SUBMITTED: 12/2/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/28/04
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Out of this world! You ain't been to Texas til' you try their salmon. I dont' know what put in it, but I would sure like to have that receipe.

NAME: Louis White
SUBMITTED: 12/1/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: july/2002
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: We went for a light meal on a Wednesday at 5 pm but our goal was to see the aquarium. We were very impressed with that feature of this restaurant, and were lucky that feeding time was at 5:30 which added to the experience. Our waiter was excellent, informative, attentive, friendly. Our food (from a soup to an appetizer to an entree) was good, if pricey. I think we were fortunate to have selected a quiet day of the week, but I do agree that the atmosphere was a bit like a Chucky Cheese :-) (excited kids), yet that was what I would have expected. I'd go back again.

NAME: JoanneM
SUBMITTED: 7/14/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 07/2004
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Well I love this place. Good food. Even better service. It's the best food on the waterfront in my opinion.

NAME: jon
SUBMITTED: 5/31/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/10/04
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

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