I went here today, thought it was going to be really good. Uhm- I was disappointed. I walked in and felt out of place, while some of the front people were super nice and welcoming, the rest of the staff made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.They gave me judgmental stares and acted as if my label was “Poverty Inc.”; doesn’t leave the best taste in my mouth. Anyways, the atmosphere… uhm… let me be honest: people just seemed snobby and like they were gonna spit in my food or something. Not the restaurants fault for other people’s behavior, but some of the employees looked at me that way as well.The food came out awhile later, it was okay, not a very good portion for the price but okay. The crab cakes I would never order again, it just felt as if the restaurant owner ran out of ideas and decided to fill it to the brim with nonsense. I don’t mean to be rude, but well, it’s food, not a child’s coloring book.I payed and left, not really wanting to return, but maybe it was just that day. So I looked online for anything like my experience. All I can say is: people have had the same experience. The owner has some SERIOUS anger issues and needs management. In some of his replies, he becomes EXTREMELY unprofessional (he literally doxxed a guy in one of his replies). Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll return, especially if the owner can act childish. This is a business, not some pre-school
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Stuart Royal
Top Notch! Always!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Dirty Dozen, Crab Cake
Austin J
Best seafood I've had in Texas. Was blown away by the freshness and taste of everything. Highly recommend this
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
sean raspberry
Enjoy the entire
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Franklin Bidwell
Food and service are excellent but prices are rising quite a bit making it harder to recommend outside of special occasions.They do have a happy hour oyster deal that is worth checking out.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laurie Grizzard
Came here a year ago, and the food was wonderful!Tonight was a miss.Great service - great bottle of wine.The cevichee on the cold fish tower was aweful. Oysters were ridiculously small and unimpressive. ( coming from the east coast, we know good oysters, and these were subpar). We have garlic allergies, and the chef was unwilling to make a basic 2 minute wine sauce for the halibut - really? This is a first high-end restaurant where the chef was not helpful in this area and left us with plain halibut and ruined it by soaking it oil- wasn't the worst but only salt and pepper would have been fine. Learned Jake, the prior manager who was exceptional, had left - that explained it all and why it was just an 'eh' experience compared to what we used to get. It was disappointing other than the attentive waiter and the expensive bottle of wine. The chefs main talent is potatoes and should stick w that. A good diner would love him!!!Last, what has happened to the class of the patrons? When did dressing 'nice' to go out to an upscale restaurant, turn into 'let's put on a wife beater shirt and torn jeans and go to Waters' happen? Does anyone have any self pride here?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Grackles Rule Texas
Incredible food and service. The wait staff was attentive to every detail.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
JoeS
Food portions were too small. We ordered the lump crab & avocado salad. We shared it and it was divided before serving us. The two portions, combined, would not have been enough salad for one person. And it was very poor value at $36.
Glenn Cutinello
We expected a lot more. Went because my wife loves seafood. Our usual is Papadoux or Eddie V's. But my wife wanted to try it. We had an 8pm reservation. We arrived on time and were told our table was not ready. They then pushed us off to the bar area to wait. We got to the only open spot at the bar. I ordered a razzle dazzle and an espresso martini. Then we were told we can't stand where we were during our wait because the spot at the bar was reserved. But there is no one there. So the bartender took pity on us after watching his coworkers shuffling us around like we were vagabonds instead of paying customers. He let us wait, and after asking again, they finally had our table ready. Finally, we have enjoyed many a dinner at Bonnell's off Bryant Irvin. Even have his autographed book. So again, high expectations. Started with some appetizers. Now if it's from the sea it's not for me. Here I am at a fish place. There are not many options for me. My wife had the dirty dozen oysters. That night had some from Australia. So very nice variety. She did enjoy them. Then we had the fried feta cheese on a bed of arugula. Definitely needed to be more of that than the one little deep-fried circle. I had gotten an order of hush puppies, which were good but very dry. So we move on to dinner. I had the only thing I could, which was the steak. 8oz filet. When cooked was like something, I would serve my kids. Just tiny. Remember everything is a la carte. We had the Haricots Verts ( fancy way to say green beans ) barely enough for one person. Not very good. Also, the Kennebec Fries ( French Fries) Cold at the time they hit the table. My wife had the crab cakes. Now she had heard good things and that is her favorite. Well, she was disappointed. They tasted frozen and not very good at all. For a Bonnell's restaurant, it was sad. The only way I could or would recommend this place is if they change many things. Not to sound cheap but to add some perspective. I don't have a problem spending $ 300.00 on dinner. But at least make it worth it. We honestly left with the never again after thought instead of can't wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
The food was excellent. I had the surf and turf, which is their filet mignon and lobster tail. My husband had the fish and chips. We both got Caesar salads, and lobster Mac n cheese as sides. We also got to meet Mr. Bonnell, the chef, himself. They have a lot more wine choices there than you'd expect. It was a great night. The only critique I have is that there was not enough pieces of lobster in the lobster Mac n cheese. We had to hunt to see or find them. I'm sure we will be back.
One of our favorite places, Janelle is a fantastic server and the management is always attentive and super friendly. The food has always been exquisite.. Your have to try the Dirty Dozen!
Peabrainchemist
Went to Waters Restaurant prior to an evening event at the Bass Performance Hall. Our server inquired almost immediately if we had any time constraints. When we let her know we did she say it would not be a problem and she would make sure the evening was perfect. We started with the Tuna Tartar and a bowl of gumbo. Both were delicious. We split a lump crab and avocado salad. Again just perfect. We order the Branzino and also the Halibut. Both prepared expertly. We decided to treat ourselves to after dinner drinks. It was a cold evening and my wife wanted something warm. Again our server made a suggestion of a coffee drink that was exactly what we wanted. Dinner finished perfectly on time. Overall a spectacular meal and experience.
Server repeated her spiel about the specials and oysters multiple times after we told her we had been there before and were ready to order. Told her we didn't brought bread as our table was small and we already ordered two starters, and it was brought anyways. Just felt like she wasn't even listening to us. Very annoying
We went here for my significant others 30th birthday. The food was really good, I had the gumbo and would definitely recommend it! Friendly staff and a quiet and relaxing ambiance. We will certainly go back.
Foodie
Food was very good. I don't usually order gumbo in restaurants because I don't care for the very dark roux, but this gumbo was perfect. Service was excellent. It was somewhat chilly when we arrived soon after opening but warmed up as more people arrived.
I went here today, thought it was going to be really good. Uhm- I was disappointed. I walked in and felt out of place, while some of the front people were super nice and welcoming, the rest of the staff made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.They gave me judgmental stares and acted as if my label was “Poverty Inc.”; doesn’t leave the best taste in my mouth. Anyways, the atmosphere… uhm… let me be honest: people just seemed snobby and like they were gonna spit in my food or something. Not the restaurants fault for other people’s behavior, but some of the employees looked at me that way as well.The food came out awhile later, it was okay, not a very good portion for the price but okay. The crab cakes I would never order again, it just felt as if the restaurant owner ran out of ideas and decided to fill it to the brim with nonsense. I don’t mean to be rude, but well, it’s food, not a child’s coloring book.I payed and left, not really wanting to return, but maybe it was just that day. So I looked online for anything like my experience. All I can say is: people have had the same experience. The owner has some SERIOUS anger issues and needs management. In some of his replies, he becomes EXTREMELY unprofessional (he literally doxxed a guy in one of his replies). Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll return, especially if the owner can act childish. This is a business, not some pre-school
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Top Notch! Always!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Dirty Dozen, Crab Cake
Best seafood I've had in Texas. Was blown away by the freshness and taste of everything. Highly recommend this
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Enjoy the entire
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food and service are excellent but prices are rising quite a bit making it harder to recommend outside of special occasions.They do have a happy hour oyster deal that is worth checking out.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here a year ago, and the food was wonderful!Tonight was a miss.Great service - great bottle of wine.The cevichee on the cold fish tower was aweful. Oysters were ridiculously small and unimpressive. ( coming from the east coast, we know good oysters, and these were subpar). We have garlic allergies, and the chef was unwilling to make a basic 2 minute wine sauce for the halibut - really? This is a first high-end restaurant where the chef was not helpful in this area and left us with plain halibut and ruined it by soaking it oil- wasn't the worst but only salt and pepper would have been fine. Learned Jake, the prior manager who was exceptional, had left - that explained it all and why it was just an 'eh' experience compared to what we used to get. It was disappointing other than the attentive waiter and the expensive bottle of wine. The chefs main talent is potatoes and should stick w that. A good diner would love him!!!Last, what has happened to the class of the patrons? When did dressing 'nice' to go out to an upscale restaurant, turn into 'let's put on a wife beater shirt and torn jeans and go to Waters' happen? Does anyone have any self pride here?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Incredible food and service. The wait staff was attentive to every detail.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food portions were too small. We ordered the lump crab & avocado salad. We shared it and it was divided before serving us. The two portions, combined, would not have been enough salad for one person. And it was very poor value at $36.
We expected a lot more. Went because my wife loves seafood. Our usual is Papadoux or Eddie V's. But my wife wanted to try it. We had an 8pm reservation. We arrived on time and were told our table was not ready. They then pushed us off to the bar area to wait. We got to the only open spot at the bar. I ordered a razzle dazzle and an espresso martini. Then we were told we can't stand where we were during our wait because the spot at the bar was reserved. But there is no one there. So the bartender took pity on us after watching his coworkers shuffling us around like we were vagabonds instead of paying customers. He let us wait, and after asking again, they finally had our table ready. Finally, we have enjoyed many a dinner at Bonnell's off Bryant Irvin. Even have his autographed book. So again, high expectations. Started with some appetizers. Now if it's from the sea it's not for me. Here I am at a fish place. There are not many options for me. My wife had the dirty dozen oysters. That night had some from Australia. So very nice variety. She did enjoy them. Then we had the fried feta cheese on a bed of arugula. Definitely needed to be more of that than the one little deep-fried circle. I had gotten an order of hush puppies, which were good but very dry. So we move on to dinner. I had the only thing I could, which was the steak. 8oz filet. When cooked was like something, I would serve my kids. Just tiny. Remember everything is a la carte. We had the Haricots Verts ( fancy way to say green beans ) barely enough for one person. Not very good. Also, the Kennebec Fries ( French Fries) Cold at the time they hit the table. My wife had the crab cakes. Now she had heard good things and that is her favorite. Well, she was disappointed. They tasted frozen and not very good at all. For a Bonnell's restaurant, it was sad. The only way I could or would recommend this place is if they change many things. Not to sound cheap but to add some perspective. I don't have a problem spending $ 300.00 on dinner. But at least make it worth it. We honestly left with the never again after thought instead of can't wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
The food was excellent. I had the surf and turf, which is their filet mignon and lobster tail. My husband had the fish and chips. We both got Caesar salads, and lobster Mac n cheese as sides. We also got to meet Mr. Bonnell, the chef, himself. They have a lot more wine choices there than you'd expect. It was a great night. The only critique I have is that there was not enough pieces of lobster in the lobster Mac n cheese. We had to hunt to see or find them. I'm sure we will be back.
Restaurantji Recommends
One of our favorite places, Janelle is a fantastic server and the management is always attentive and super friendly. The food has always been exquisite.. Your have to try the Dirty Dozen!
Went to Waters Restaurant prior to an evening event at the Bass Performance Hall. Our server inquired almost immediately if we had any time constraints. When we let her know we did she say it would not be a problem and she would make sure the evening was perfect. We started with the Tuna Tartar and a bowl of gumbo. Both were delicious. We split a lump crab and avocado salad. Again just perfect. We order the Branzino and also the Halibut. Both prepared expertly. We decided to treat ourselves to after dinner drinks. It was a cold evening and my wife wanted something warm. Again our server made a suggestion of a coffee drink that was exactly what we wanted. Dinner finished perfectly on time. Overall a spectacular meal and experience.
Server repeated her spiel about the specials and oysters multiple times after we told her we had been there before and were ready to order. Told her we didn't brought bread as our table was small and we already ordered two starters, and it was brought anyways. Just felt like she wasn't even listening to us. Very annoying
We went here for my significant others 30th birthday. The food was really good, I had the gumbo and would definitely recommend it! Friendly staff and a quiet and relaxing ambiance. We will certainly go back.
Food was very good. I don't usually order gumbo in restaurants because I don't care for the very dark roux, but this gumbo was perfect. Service was excellent. It was somewhat chilly when we arrived soon after opening but warmed up as more people arrived.