Tommy's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar — Restaurant in Houston

Near NASA's sprawling complex, where rocket scientists punch clocks and astronauts train for Mars, Tommy's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar serves a different kind of mission-critical fuel. Happy hour runs Monday through Saturday, 4-6:30 PM, featuring $8 per dozen oysters on Tuesdays and Fridays, plus $3.50 domestics, $4.50 imports, and $6 wells.

Owner Tom Tollett opened Tommy's original concept (Tommy's Patio Café) in 1994, evolving through several incarnations—Tommy's Seafood Steakhouse in 2001, finally becoming Tommy's Restaurant & Oyster Bar in 2009. This family-owned operation has deep Clear Lake roots spanning over 28 years, with Tollett spending 18 previous years in area restaurant management.

The real drama unfolded during Hurricane Harvey. When 75% of Galveston Bay's oyster population was lost, Tollett was forced to buy from Mississippi and Louisiana, but refused to serve spawning oysters that were "more translucent and watery," choosing instead to lose money rather than compromise quality. "Frankly, in my opinion, Galveston Bay oysters are the best oysters in the United States," declares Tollett, the consummate bay ambassador.

Tommy's serves around 10,000 oysters per week, with experienced chefs fascinating to watch as they shuck at the prominent oyster bar. The signature "Tommy's Trio" offers 4 oysters Rockefeller, 4 shrimp Au Gratin oysters, and 4 Mexican-style oysters—each preparation so distinct it's "hard to pick a favorite."

Each spring, the Galveston Bay Foundation hosts an oyster tasting event at Tommy's, allowing guests to taste oysters from up to 12 appellations, showcasing how fresh water, salinity, tidal flow, and mineral composition create distinct flavors from different reefs.

Tollett's conservation crusade runs deeper than marketing. He serves on the Galveston Bay Foundation Board of Directors and created an Oyster Recycling Program that has recycled over 1 million pounds of shells back into Galveston Bay over 10 years. Tommy's was one of the first Clear Lake restaurants to recycle oyster shells as part of ongoing reef restoration efforts.

Thanks to proximity to NASA facilities, Tommy's has become the preferred "NASA seafood restaurant," serving "movers and shakers in astronautics and aeronautics." Louisiana native Tollett has achieved "legend" status in the industry, with his son Nikolas now joining as beverage manager after graduating from Le Cordon Bleu and University of Houston's Hilton College.

The upscale-yet-casual atmosphere features white layered tablecloths and "black tie waiters doing 1000%," while maintaining the welcoming vibe that's made it a neighborhood institution.

This isn't just happy hour—it's a masterclass in resilience, where a restaurateur's refusal to compromise quality during natural disaster has created Houston's most principled oyster...

I had dinner there with my brother in mid-June, based on recommendations online. Waiter was very good and knowledgeable. He said he had been there 12 years. I was strongly considering one entree, when the waiter suggested their "special"... their normal Chilean Seabass, but the special was that is was topped with crabmeat for $42. OK... you talked me into it. Our dinners came out. By the time I was a few bites into the meal, I realized there was no crabmeat... which was a big part of the whole selling point. Of course, the waiter was not pleased and went back to speak with the chef. It really was too late now to fix it, so he said "I'll take $3 off of your bill, since that's what the crabmeat adds to it". Really? Keep the $3! That's not the point. I changed my order based on the waiter's recommendation... and the kitchen didn't deliver what I ordered. Do I expect them to pick up the tab? No. But simply saying "We will knock $3 off" is not the way a Fine Dining restaurant handles this. Of course, the manager came by our table to apologize. Nice (and expected) touch, but nothing was done or offered by him. It's a nice restaurant, and I was there with my brother on a special occasion... so the last thing I want to do is have an extended discussion on the issue. I figured a top-rated restaurant would know how to handle this... though it appears I was wrong. It was not worth the time or effort at that moment. Plus sides: food was delicious. Nice presentation. Great service. My gin martini was excellent. Other negative: ordered a glass of Cabernet, and it was entirely too warm. C'mon folks... keeping red wine at the correct temperature just isn't that difficult. And it really sets the tone. It's a basic detail that needs to be done right. I can see the potential where this restaurant is rated well above 4... but it didn't quite happen on my visit. I'd give them a 3.5 (though this is my first rating, and I don't see how to give the extra .5). Will I go back? Yes... I'll give them another shot, and see if it goes better. But I will not recommend them to my friends in Clear...

Update 4-25, new happy hour menu some changes in prices and options and some things same price and option.

Went for my birthday. We had a lemon drop martini, the famous and delicious Cosmo, the Tomatoes with Shrimp Creole, the Voodoo shrimp, side salad, creme brûlée.

Still phenomenal food and service. Every drink and every bit e was amazing. Such a classy place to enjoy a fantastic meal.

First of all, a very friendly and welcoming restaurant. We sat at a high top in the bar area. A sweet waitress waited on us and she was a drink master, she made my cosmos so yummy. The food is DELICIOUS, amazing flavors and high quality ingredients. The fresh baked bread is so soft and yummy and oil is the best I’ve ever had anywhere. We will be back!

We’ve been here so many times now, I just add new photos to the review if it’s something new we ate and I remember. The friendly welcoming staff has held true every visit. The manager is amazing and friendly, always checks on all us customers. The wait staff have a dress code and it really elevates the experience.

We are usually here early so never have an issue getting a table but we brought friends here for Happy Hour recently who wanted to try it after hearing us talk about it and we found out you need a reservation on a Friday night. Tommy’s was packed, and rightly so! We got lucky and got a table that night so our friends could try it, but did have to wait a bit for it. They had open tables but not enough wait staff.

We ate here for Houston restaurant week and the food was amazing, that was the first time I tried the crème brûlée and Tommy’s is the best I’ve ever had, so creamy, not overly sweet, and the shell is crunchy.

We got some different plates last time that were amazing, seafood cooked to perfection and seasoned deliciously. I got the broiled seafood and they ask how you’d like it cooked which I’ve never been asked before but really appreciate. They suggest medium but I asked for medium well because I don’t like any wet or squishy seafood, I like mine more done. It...