This page Sponsored by Mucho Mexico Restaurante Reviews     Profile     Menus     Breakfast     Lunch     Dinner     Daily Specials     Website

Benno's on the Beach

MY REVIEW: It's been so many years since I ate here, that I'm counting this as a 1st visit. Our party of 9 ate on the front deck overlooking the Gulf and had mostly good things to say about their orders.

Probably the least favorite was crawfish etoufee--texture was off, vegetables such as celery were cut too big and there weren't enough crawfish for $15. Garnering rave reviews were: fried soft-shell crabs; broiled whole flounder; and my personal favorite, the grilled Cajun platter. Good (but not great)reviews went to: shrimp poboy; boiled shrimp; and boiled crawfish (good, but not worthy of $23 for 3 lbs.).

Most of the food is Cajun-inspired, so it tends to be a bit on the spicy side. Even hushpuppies have some kick. I like the heat, but it was a little too much for some in the group who hail from Idaho.

As for sides, stay away from weird-tasting coleslaw and standard frozen fries.

Still, there's enough to like about Benno's to keep me coming back and keep me wondering why I stayed away so long. Favorites such as fried soft-shell crab (my order), broiled whole flounder and especially my son's order--grilled (was it blackened??) Cajun platter. And the server (order at the counter & they bring food to the table) mentioned bread pudding with bourbon sauce, which none of us had room to try.

Long tables with red & white checkered tablecloths and killer views make this little seafood hut a fun place to chow down on Cajun seafood.

NAME: Sandy from League City
SUBMITTED: 4/11/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/12
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Just ate there last night(sunday), and WE LOVED IT! Have to say, had I read the below reviews I may have been taken aback, but a friend highly recommended they place, did not make any specific recommendations, so we went for it.

I ate the butter pepper shrimp and they were amazing - who would have thought to add tarragon, very uniquie indeed. My husband ate the stuffed shrimp and they were good too, not greasy at all. The crawfish looked/smelled great too!

Great food great value - will definitely go back!

NAME: phrringa
SUBMITTED: 6/7/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: The worst food I have had on the Island, it's expensive for the quality and service is non existent. you are better off skipping this one unless you like food that can come from a box,a can or frozen. If the seafood was fresh you would never know it certainly tastes frozen.

NAME: Tiffany Y.
SUBMITTED: 8/13/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Never thought I would write a bad review of this place, since we have liked it for years. Unfortunately, our last 3 visits have been absolutely terrible. Since re-opening after IKE it's like a totally different restaurant & not for the better.

Last weekend 7 of us unanimously voted the seafood meals we were served as some of the poorest we have received in Galveston. Barely warm, lukewarm, limp & undercooked french fries, even though all 7 of us "specifically" asked that they be cooked very brown, almost burned, due to prior disappointment visits, & the counter lady personally made that request to the kitchen, to absolutely no avail.

The crab balls on the seafood platter were cold in the center, but we could have cared less since they were so totally tasteless. Was there any crab at all? Only Benno's would know. The fish/shrimp platter included 5 just-OK shrimp & 2 small fish fillets that, like the french fries were barely still warm. The oysters & soft shell crabs? A disaster. We could hear the 5 persons at the table next to ours complain about their food, & left at least 1/2 of it on the plates & walked out.

Come on Benno's -- pull your head out. The kitchen staff is totally asleep at the wheel. Our last 3 visits have been far below par of the pre-IKE days. We want to support you & continue to return, but the inferior meals we have gotten on our last visits is not reassuring.

NAME: SHOU
SUBMITTED: 6/29/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: June 09
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: I have to admit that I write this review with sorrow about a restaurant that used to be my FAVORITE on Galveston island. The last 3 visits have been so disappointing. I am referring to the food. Portions have grown smaller, food has gotten greasy, and last night our seafood platters were very disappointing. The fried shrimp were mangled and about a inch in length. We got one-half of a fish fillet, and the seafood crab balls tasted "fishy". I have gone back three times hoping things would get better, but as you can see they haven't, so this is the last time for a long while until we return to Benno's, which makes me sad.

NAME: Van
SUBMITTED: 5/17/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: May 16,2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Great, fresh seafood. Head and shoulders above the chains and G*aido's. Never had a problem with the service. Cajun items are delicious and quite spicy.

NAME: Bean
SUBMITTED: 4/16/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: April 2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: For year, Benno, his son Tracy, and his son's wife Mary Jane have been carefully watching over this great Island restaurant that serves seafood straight from the Gulf of Mexico.

Until I moved to Dallas, I ate there at least once a week for many years. I've experienced some slow service from time to time, but it was always worth it when "dinner was served."

Islanders -- we call ourselves BOIs for "born on the island" muse at tourist and newcomers who'd rather eat "plastic" seafood at the local branches of the chain restaurants. We never darken those people's doors. Does Benno's have ambiance? It does for me, but then I like places like this.

NAME: Billy Sea
SUBMITTED: 2/16/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/07
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Awful service! We waited an hour for our food. Other people asked for their money back the wait was so long. I can't explain why the wait is so long. It's not like anything is custom made. Every plate, sandwich and side is exactly the same. I can't imagine why they can't be more efficient in the kitchen unless they fry every oyster and shrimp one at a time. The food was good but not worth the hour wait. I'll go to C*asey's next time.

NAME: Alva Joe
SUBMITTED: 6/4/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: June/ 2007
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: I have been going to Benno's for a long time and it hurts me to say that I had back to back bad experiences. They were out of crab when other local restuarants and seafood shops had crab in ample supply. I paid $6.00 per pound for mushy crawfish, and we had an inexplicable wait for our fried foods. Hopefully this was just a glitch and they will return quickly to form.

NAME: Rdptexas
SUBMITTED: 4/24/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 3/2006
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: I have been going to Benno's for probably 15 years or so. The food there is the best . The prices are resonable and the employees are very freindly and helpful.

We used to go to G*aidos when Benno managed it and G*aidos is still a good place to eat but for my money you will find me at Benno's . Yes , they get awfully busy there and sometimes it may take a little longer to get your food but that anywhere you go when the price is right and the food is Great! Sometimes you have to have patience no matter where you go to eat.

For my money its Benno's, try it and you will see. I Love to sit outside and eat while throwing down a really cold beer.

NAME: Mike
SUBMITTED: 10/15/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/13/05
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: I have only been about 5 times, but this is only because I discovered this place recently. I have been going to G*aido's for years, but this place takes the cake now. My boyfriend and I were addicted to the crawfish, he would practically drive down from Austin for it. The season is over now, but everything else there is awesome too. I miss the crawfish though.

NAME: bennobuddy
SUBMITTED: 7/12/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/2005
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Over the weekend we came to Galveston and on the advice of friends, tried Benno's seafood and I am glad we did! I found the counter service to be friendly and efficient, and while we waited a bit too long for our food, once we got it we knew it was worth the wait. The fried seafood platter that I had was delicious - it has a little bit of everything and most of it was outstanding (except for the crab balls). Tasty and not greasy at all. A friend had the shrimp po' boy and loved it... we heard that these are the best po' boys around and now we believe it. All in all, a great casual seafood place with the added bonus of a patio overlooking the beach. We'll be back!

NAME: Jim A.
SUBMITTED: 5/9/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: May 2005
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: The food was good but the people were rude. It took a LONG time to get our food.

NAME: bogcmamma67
SUBMITTED: 1/21/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: summer 2003
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: i have given this place numerous tries, and although some things have been pretty good, i really do not like it on the whole.it is impossible to get a cold beer here, you have to wait in line, and the last time i went, the place was inundated with flies. gross. the prices are too expensive for you not to get waited on,and standing in line to place your order is a major bummer. would NOT recommend- however, if you want a great fried flounder, i would suggest calling in an order to go, and taking it home!

NAME: lindsey
SUBMITTED: 6/29/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/2004
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Benno Deltz learned the business from Galveston legend, Mike Gaido. He started working at the famed Gaido's in the early 60s. Consequently, most of the sauces and breading are, quite frankly, Gaido's original recipes. What a plus! The fried shrimp here are fabulous. The prices are low. The counter service has always been a nightmare, but as we say on the island, "That's Galveston!" Benno's on the Beach is his only restaurant. It's run by his son Tracy and his assistant, Mary Jane. Benno has an enormous catering business that he oversees. Frequently serves the Bush family (as in President Bush) and every other Houston mover and shaker. Galvestonians love Benno's food.

NAME: Billy Sea
SUBMITTED: 6/15/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/04
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

If you don't agree with these comments, agree with them or have additional comments,
click here to Add Your Review.