Topwater Grill — Restaurant in San Leon

My wife and I have been coming to Top Water Bar and Grill off and on for about 18 years now if my memory serves me right. The food and service have improved with time. I was really glad it opened again after Hurricane Ike and I remember driving there off and on to see the progress they were making to re-open. My wife and guests always order the lunch special catfish and shrimp with two or three hush puppies, cole slaw and french fries for around $10 and at the time back in 2019 was a very good value for the quantity served. I always placed an order for three more pieces of fried catfish for a few dollars more. In November 2020, I posted that I was saddened to say that "lunch specials" are no longer offered. As of July 2025 I discovered once again the lunch menu is back but with some new changes on their menu. So the 3 piece fried cat fish and "large" Gulf shrimp are not on the lunch menu, but it is still offered at its regular price of around $17.99. They now have the "popcorn" shrimp & fried fish, coleslaw, french fries, and 2 hush puppies for $11.50 Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Covid seems to have had a lasting negative effect and is still making it difficult for both restaurants and customers to benefit anymore. I tried the Grilled Tilapia Los Sueños for the first time back a few years ago, and I was left "very" disappointed in the overall flavor and presentation. In my opinion, there are some things that just don't go together like black beans with grilled fish but to each his own. I know I probably could have substituted the beans for something else like I did with the steam veggies instead of rice, but my real problem was the missing flavor of spices on the fish. Adding salt only enhanced the tomato flavor. The chopped tomato overpowered any chance for flavor the fish had to offer. In fact, the baked fish lacked any seasoning at all. The small chunks of what seemed like tropical fruit did not give the meal any chance for flavor either. On my most recent visit, though, in 2025, I did not notice this dish on their menu, but then again, I didn't really search for it due to my earlier disappointment. On the plus side, the fried appetizers we "always" order like the crab meat stuffed pickled jalapeño covered in a batter called "torpedos" with a side of ranch dressing, is still consistently very good. I always order a side of their homemade tarter sauce to dip the torpedo Jalapeños. We also ordered the mushroom tops stuffed with crab meat and covered in what looks like mozzarella cheese. In the beginning, we had a problem with our grilled orders and alcohol drinks, but they are better today. The blackened redfish and grilled snapper with veggies and wild rice is my wife's favorite. The Mahi-mahi avocado is basically seared on the outside with a raw pink center like sushi but good quality, no fishy taste at all, and sliced avocados. The gumbo is consistently good, but I don't care too much for lobster etouffee... a little too salty for my taste. While I really love to eat good scallops, the scallops I ordered here were just a simple dish of 4 seasoned scallops that lacked something to be desired. I hope in the future they are more creative with this dish by adding lemon buttered grits as a bed or filler on the bottom of the scallops or even add garlic mashed potatoes to this dish just like many other restaurants serve to enhance the flavor and delicious experience. The staff is friendly and very attentive to keep your drinks filled. Overall, Top Water Grill remains, as before, hurricane Ike, a favorite place to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with a scenic view of the bay at April Fool Point. It is also a place with good food, friendly service, and hand crafted drinks. Although I don't come as often as I wish due to the distance I have to travel anytime during the year, I discovered recently that sometimes it is worth making the trip to experience something new. Fast forward to July 4th. 2025 was not a bad place to visit for the fireworks celebration minus the...

This was by far the worst service I have ever experienced before. Where do I even start with this serves attitude??? I genuinely do not get how someone can be so rude for absolutely no reason right off the bat. I also didn’t know someone could be so LAZY to do their job. What kind of server just throws the food and drinks around, doesn’t say what any of the drinks are or who they’re for (alcohol drinks so yes you should say what is what) , asks the customers to do her job by passing around the drinks in our table because she’s too lazy to hand them out and walk around the table herself, slides the food across the table instead of setting it down…. how professional. When she was taking our drink orders she was extremely rude and her tone was very unpleasant and unwelcoming, I asked her for a sweet tea she says “we don’t have that” in a rude voice and doesn’t proceed to mention any other drink options or ask what else would you like. What kind of server asks “I hope I wasn’t rude to yall or did something” why would you ever think that unless you were genuinely being RUDE which she was being EXTREMELY RUDE THE WHOLE TIME. I’ve never in my life met such a rude sever and as someone who works in the industry it’s very upsetting and insane to see how people act and treat others. Let’s also mention how horribly she got all the checks mixed up NUMEROUS times after being told MANY IF NOT MULTIPLE TIMES how each check was going to be split between who and not to mention we also told her MANY times before she even started taking anyone’s order so she would know but somehow she didn’t register it even after telling her at the end as well. She ended up mixing up 3 different checks between 6 people and made people pay more for their orders because she added other people’s orders on others checks which caused people having to get refunds which she didn’t even take the cards back so not sure how that works. In the end, im very disappointed with how my family and I were treated today at this place by this ONE person. One more thing I forgot to mention, we went out for my grandmas birthday, my dad MENTIONED MANY TIMES it was her birthday to the server and she didn’t seem to give a care in the world. Which is funny enough because she didn’t even get a celebration for her birthday like they always do for people’s birthday??? And you wanna know why because the server didn’t CARE AND WAS RUDE THE WHOLE TIME and didn’t say anything. Her name is Brit A. on the receipt I got from her after paying. She had short darkish brown hair was wearing red tank top and shorts. I would hope to see a response back from you guys especially after spending a HEFTY amount just to get rude and disgusting service by Brit A. This happened today on 6/18/25 around 6pm...

As an expert food blogger for the Galveston coast, I've had my share of seaside meals, but let me tell you, I recently discovered a spot that truly captures the relaxed, delicious spirit of our island town. This isn't just a meal; it's an experience, and one you absolutely need to check out. From the Gulf to Your Plate I started with what I consider the true test of any coastal eatery: the fish tacos. And these? They soared past my expectations. The fish was perfectly flaky, encased in a light, crisp batter that wasn't greasy at all. They came topped with a bright, tangy slaw and a drizzle of creamy cilantro-lime sauce—it was a symphony of textures and flavors. Each bite was fresh and vibrant, the kind of taco that makes you close your eyes for a moment. They're easily among the best I've had on the island. Next up was the shrimp Alfredo. While fish tacos scream "Galveston," a perfectly executed pasta dish speaks to the chef's range, and this one was spot-on. The sauce was rich and velvety, clinging beautifully to the perfectly al dente pasta. But the real star, of course, was the shrimp. They were huge, plump, and clearly fresh, cooked just until tender. It was comfort food elevated, a generous and satisfying plate that felt like a warm hug. To wash it all down, I opted for a simple soda, a classic Dr. Pepper, which arrived perfectly chilled and fizzy—a small detail, but it just added to the overall sense of hospitality. The True Star: Caleb Speaking of hospitality, I have to make a special note of Caleb. Folks, this young man is the definition of excellent customer service. He was attentive without hovering, knowledgeable about the menu, and genuinely enthusiastic about the food. When I was deciding between two dishes, he gave a thoughtful recommendation that wasn't just a canned line. He checked on us exactly when we needed him, and his warm, friendly demeanor truly enhanced the entire dining experience. Management: give Caleb a raise! He’s a treasure and a credit to your restaurant. The Verdict: If you're looking for fantastic seafood, rich comfort dishes, and service that makes you feel like a valued guest, this place is a must-visit. From the killer fish tacos to the decadent shrimp Alfredo, and especially thanks to Caleb's excellent service, this spot has shot right up to the top of my Galveston favorites list. Have you ever had a server make your meal absolutely unforgettable? Let me know in...