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Pier 8 Seafood

MY REVIEW: We discovered this gem when we went to the Christmas Boat Parade in Kemah. My wife suggested we pop in to see what the seafood market downstairs offered. They have fresh fish and shrimp on display and you can pick your size and either take it home raw or for a small fee they will cook it for you. Since it was late we opted for a pound of xl shrimp cooked and it was so melt in your mouth good we have talked about many times since. On our recent day trip from our home in Sugar Land to Galveston we made a side trip just to have the shrimp at Pier 8 for dinner. The second visit was as delicious as the first! And the staff was very friendly.

NAME: Gene Sandefur
SUBMITTED: 7/31/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/2012
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Found it by accident and it was great! We went to the buy and fry section and had the shrimp and it was worth every penny. Everything they served looked good and the the other people appeared very happy. We Will deffinitely be back.

NAME: Peter
SUBMITTED: 6/3/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/3/2012
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I was so impressed with you-buy-we-fry seafood in the fish market downstairs, that I organized a social for my church. Forty two of us met there on a pleasant Friday night and enjoyed ourselves on their spacious patio overlooking water.

Come to find out, they use jumbo shrimp when you order a shrimp dinner or combo dinner. I incorrectly assumed they gave you medium or maybe large, if you were lucky. It seems like a shrimp dinner with fries is about $13. The shrimp are so big and there are so many fries that 2-3 couples split an order and had plenty.

When you go, ask for Virginia. She served our group and is a delight. She reserved an area for our large group and had flowers on each picnic table. Thanks to everyone at Pier 8 for making our social a success!

NAME: Sandy from League City
SUBMITTED: 10/22/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/11
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: The BEST, the BIGGEST fried shrimp I have ever had!! I've eaten upstairs at the buffet/stir fry restaurant at lunch, but never knew they cooked in the seafood market downstairs till Clint mentioned it in a previous review. I agree with him, this is the freshest, most well prepared fried seafood you may ever find in these parts.

You can select from different sizes of shrimp fresh off the boats and they will expertly cook them in the lightest, best tasting batter I have ever had.

I chose jumbo. They deveined them and fried them on the spot. I've never had better. I can't believe I never knew this was anything but a fish market?? They have a few tables inside the market area, but many more on the outdoor patio out back overlooking the water.

You can purchase individual dinners, but I'm not sure what size shrimp comes on the dinners. Or you can purchase the size shrimp you want by the pound and they prepare them and present them on a big serving platter with fries, family style---to me, that's the way to go. This will be my go-to place to bring family & friends to sit out on the water and gourge on serving trays laden with the biggest, best fried shrimp!

NAME: Sandy from League City
SUBMITTED: 9/17/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/11
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: I was the 1st customer for lunch today so the buffet was well stocked with just prepared (mostly fried) seafood and it was great. I've never been at dinner, but apparently that's when SAD (see previous review) went and the buffet must've been continued from lunch. But hit it @ 11am like I did and you will be rewarded with excellent fried seafood. Yes, the shrimp are small but they are fried perfectly. I agree with Clint, the breading on the shrimp is light & crispy. I knew they have a seafood market on the 1st floor, but didn't know it is a you-buy-we-fry operation---I will return for some larger shrimp than what's offered on the buffet upstairs. Good fried fish and calamari (not many buffets do calamari as crispy as this one). Shrimp fried rice is excellent when it's as fresh as it was today at lunch. Gumbo is very tasty with lots of fish and some, but not a lot, shrimp. One feature of this restaurant that's not getting a lot of play is the stir-fry, which I enjoyed very much. There were about 6-7 meats to choose from, many vegetables and noodles. They cook everything on a large grill and bring it to your table. And did I mention oysters on the half-shell? I didn't order a drink so my bill came to about $11. It's probably a little higher at dinner, but I think I will take SAD's advice and skip dinner. But hit this baby at lunch when everything is just cooked and you'll feast on some darn good buffet food (but skip the salad bar, not very good).

NAME: Steve D.
SUBMITTED: 9/16/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/11
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: For $12.95 cents, VERY BAD! I will never set foot in there again! Very small selection. Small Fried shrimp, little bigger than popcorn shrimp. Fried rice was Hard as a Rock. There was 2 pieces of fried fish that been smashed to nothing. egg rolls, Gumbo, Rice, Boiled shrimp, French fries. For 12.95. DONT DO IT!

NAME: SAD Customer
SUBMITTED: 2/11/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: Feb 10 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: The upstairs restaurant is "ok" and I agree with the previous poster's review, so I won't go into detail. I wanted to focus my review on something that the pervious poster missed. Their seafood market on the 1st floor also will cook anything they have. More than a year a go, I decided to have them cook a pound of their large shrimp. I was amazed at how good it was! I'd say it was the best fried shrimp I've ever eaten! Of course, the shrimp itself is extremely fresh, but they are careful not to bury each shrimp in batter. No, they butterfly it, clean it, season it and roll it it some very light batter. When fried, the batter coating comes out thin and crispy, adding just the right amount of flavor and crunch to the naturally delicious flavor of shrimp, without overpowering the shrimp flavor like a lot of places do. I go there every chance I get. Watch out though, it's addicting and VERY fattening...if you eat as much of it as I do. One time, I had them fry 2 pounds of it and I ate every bit of it!

When you get there, ask for "Nestor" and tell him "Clint" the fried shrimp eater sent you! :)

NAME: Clint, the fried shrimp eater
SUBMITTED: 1/27/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: January/2011
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: As you make your way up the stairs to the second story restaurant, you notice some of the concrete ballisters are in disrepair, the koy pond has no fish and the garden area is more hodge-podge than garden. Then you enter the restaurant which has uneven floors and air conditioning that is struggling to barely keep up. I've never been to a Vietnamese fish camp, but this is what one must look like.

But then you're greeted by a pleasant Asian lady who seats you at a table overlooking the bay across the street. You notice fans are moving the air around the room, so it doesn't feel too hot. Sensing it's your first time, the nice lady gives you a tour of the two food sections: the prepared foods and the Mongolian stir fry.

In the prepared foods section there are things to avoid (potato & mac salads); but the winners are fried shrimp (small, but well seasoned and well prepared), steamed crab, fried chicken wings, eggrolls, fried fish, fried calamari and boiled shrimp. And gumbo---well, maybe it should be called seafood soup---is full of fresh seafood. This place is located above a seafood market and everything tastes like it's fresh caught.

Same with the Mongolian BBQ section---fresh caught. White shrimp (small, but did I mention fresh?), bay scallops, chicken, noodles and all the veggies you can think of.

Meal with drink and tax was about $13. Worth every penny. Sure, this place has character, but it's got good grub too.

NAME: Sandy from League City
SUBMITTED: 7/15/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/10
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I personally overall think that this is a great place to go eat, ive been going there since I was a little girl, now I have a family of my own and Im still going.... Even though the place isnt all that great looking doesnt mean the food isnt great, as far as prices its not the cheapest place to go eat but its worth it. If you think otherwsise you dont know what your missing...

NAME: Its me
SUBMITTED: 9/5/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/2009
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Its unfortunate that few people don't like this restaurtant, you get all you can eat seafood, tropical atmosphere, attentive servers and best of all an amazing blend of taste. Every time you get another round of the mongolian bbq you get different flavors since you make your mixture of food.

My advise to all, if you go to a restaurant at least try it more than once since there are ocasions that you might not like it at the begining because of certain factors. You are missing out once you make your decision base on that one occurance. I personaly go to a restaurant two times even if there are unpleasant factors involve to determine if that restaurant is up to my standards.

If you have not eaten here, try it a few times and then determine if this is for you, instead of having someone tell you not to go based on their experience.

NAME: MS
SUBMITTED: 7/3/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/1/08
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Everytime we got to Galeveston we take a trip to Pier 8. We choose a few pounds of shrimp and red snapper downstairs and they clean and fry it for us right there. It is a great place. Old but clean inside. I highly recommend this place.

NAME: Muhammed
SUBMITTED: 12/14/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/17/07
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: This food here is awesome! There is not much ambiance and the restaurant needs a major facelift (some may call it a hole in the wall), but if you can get past that, you are in for a great meal.

The restaurant is on the second floor. There is Mongolian BBQ, where you fill a bowl with whatever fresh seafood, veggies and sauce you want from the buffet. There is also a small salad bar and all you can eat seafood (fried shrimp, raw oysters, peel and eat shrimp, fried fish).

The Mongolian BBQ was awesome. The all you can eat seafood was great, the food was all fresh and was probably caught in Galveston bay that day. The Mongolian BBQ/Buffet is $10.95 M - Th and Fri lunch; $13.95 Fri night, Sat - Sun.

Me and my husband will be back. If you are not adventurous and only eat at predictable chain restaurants then this place is not for you.

NAME: TexJess
SUBMITTED: 7/27/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 07/2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Well I have to say I was very surprised. This place is a diamond in the rough.

When I pulled up I had my doubts. But was surprised quickly. Some great young man directed me up the stair to the resturant. It was a buffet style Mongolian BBQ and all the steamed shrimp raw oyster, fried food you can it. The Mongolian BBQ was the best of all. My waitress was a very friendly and outgoing person. She showed me what I need to do and made sure everything was great. Down stairs it looks like you pick out your seafood and they will fry it up for you. With all the fixins. And the view from our table was fantastic open bay. I will be back

NAME: barmatta
SUBMITTED: 2/25/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: What a fabulous place -especially for the price. I'm not big on seafood to begin with, but this is one of my favorite seafood places, and the one I enjoy the most. My husband and I always love bringing other friends with us, particularly on Sundays (after a fun weekend) to mellow down and eat good seafood. I love the fact that we pick what we want cooked. Everyone we have taken there loves this place. I always tell them it's nothing fancy, so wear your most casual gear (shorts, tanks and flip flops in the summer). We enjoy sitting outside under the shade of a not-so-beautiful palm tree and having our meals with cold Corona's. The best part is the price. Last time we took my parents and paid $75 plus tip. This included a round of beers, food for 4, and my father really counts for two people. I do recommend tipping. The service isn't excellent, so don't set yourself up for failure by expecting a high end seafood place (as far as service is concerned), but the tipping helps. Just as an example, we tipped our cook/waiter and then added a 1/2 dozen oysters to our order once we were already seated. He came back with 8 oysters for $4. After we ate we headed over to the Boardwalk for some drinks. My husband ordered a 1/2 dozen oysters again at one of those franchise restaurants. This time he paid $8! I can't stop raving how awesome this place is..The food is great and the price is amazing.

NAME: Stephanie
SUBMITTED: 8/21/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/2005
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Very simple. Reminds one of eating in a different country. The idea of seeing the raw food is wonderful. It lets you know what you are getting before it is cooked. The only way a person would not enjoy this palce is if they think they are to good for it. Serve yourself and pick your unprepared food.

NAME: dennis
SUBMITTED: 6/2/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/04
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

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