Shucks Tavern & Oyster Bar — Restaurant in Galveston

In the heart of Galveston, just off the Strand and near the well-known Rudy and Paco’s, Shucks Tavern and Oyster Bar stands out as a vibrant new addition to the local food scene. We wandered in on a whim and were immediately charmed by its clean, industrial modern decor. Fresh oysters on ice greet you upon entry, setting the stage for a delightful culinary experience.

Cozy and inviting, with a hint of modern edge. The ambiance is perfect for a relaxed meal or a casual evening out. The bar area is especially welcoming, with friendly staff ready to make your visit memorable.

The Oysters: A true highlight. The variety is impressive, featuring Gulf Coast favorites as well as fresh imports from the East Coast, West Coast, and Canada. On the recommendation of the oyster station attendant – who was both knowledgeable and personable – we opted for a dozen small, sweet oysters.

House-made horseradish, addictive with a serious bite, pairs beautifully with their equally impressive cocktail sauce. The combination elevates the already fresh and flavorful oysters to another level.

Shucks Tavern is a must-visit for oyster lovers. Its combination of excellent service, top-notch oyster selection, and cozy atmosphere makes it a standout in Galveston's dining scene. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this is the place to indulge in some of the best oysters around. This will definitely be my go-to spot for a...

Beautiful and delicious food. No complaints on food whatsoever.

The issue is more planning/management. If it’s a Tavern, why are the waiters doubling as bartenders or vice versa? If it’s an oyster place, why did they “run out” of Gulf oysters on a festival weekend? Not sure if I actually feel worse that they had Gulf oysters, but were “saving” them for oyster dishes (fried oyster po-boy, etc.). Very tight quarters — seats under 50 (maybe 40) and that’s with a full bar seating 12 small people. Not for the faint hearted as that slender walkway leaves little room for anyone to maneuver, much less don’t let anyone sneeze or cough in there. Was very disappointed they didn’t serve sweet tea — it’s unsweetened iced tea that you need to add sweetener to after the fact. Shrimp po-boy was flavorful. Not dressed like a New Orleans po-boy — they had a mustard based remoulade and slaw. Very different from a real po-boy, nonetheless the shrimp was delightful. Shoestring-ish French fries. I wasn’t a fan (I don’t like cold fries), but my partner really enjoyed the taste. If you tend to get cold—bring a wrap — tons of vents that blow on you...

Small place with cute decor. Clean, spacious, stocked restrooms.

I was disappointed in the food and service. It’s Fisherman’s Warf prices but not FW quality of food ingredients, flavors or preparation of the food.

The redfish was way overcooked and tough, hard and chewy. The broccoli mix was hard and lacking flavor.

I did not like the lobster roll at all. The bread was dry. The lobster filling bland and dry. The lobster was cold and inside the lobster meat was wet and mushy.

The fried fish poboy was ok.

The onion strings were good but didn’t see any jalapeno with those.

The chicken and sausage gumbo was good and full of sausage chicken and veggies, had a good dark color and flavor, but very heavy on the okra. The thin fried bread pieces served with the gumbo was a nice spin and tasted good alone or dipped in the gumbo.

The service was miserably slow. No pace at all. Waited too long for drinks. Waited too long for boxes and the check. Watched them drying glasses and putting away dishes while waiting on drinks and refills.

They charge extra for using...