Baytown Seafood Restaurant — Restaurant in Victoria

Ate here the day of this review. The food was ok. Nothing special in terms of seafood. Everything was hot, cooked decently, & it came out fast. I do have to say as a fisherman who occasionally catches red snapper that this fish was NOT the red snapper we ordered, though - but they claimed it was. We were so incredibly hungry & had a previously bad day - so since it was fresh enough we just ate it. But the big problem came when we got the bill, & its at that time we realized that we should have NEVER excused this seafood fraud, not eaten it, and walked out right then & there.

This is how the visit went: When we entered the restaurant @ approximately 2:45pm there was a board in the foyer area that listed their "specials". We took note that their grilled fish was on special for $2 off per plate. We asked if these plates were still on special, were told yes, & ordered 3 plates. When we were given the bill after finishing the meal, we saw we were charged full price. When we inquired about what appeared to be an error, the waitress brought it to the supposed manager, who we saw make a phone call. After the call this person came to our table & stated her boss said the system wouldn't allow them to to change the price - that the specials are only good until 3pm & that the price changes automatically @ 3pm & they could not do anything to adjust the bill. When we pointed out that we sat down around 2:45pm, asked about the specials, & ordered shortly after sitting down, we were told our order was not put into the system until 3:07pm and they could not do anything about adjusting this "because of the computer system". We weren't even offered anything else in compensation for this extra $6 for 3 meals we did not anticipate. I consider this an error of all staff. Either the manager/maître-d' &/or server should have informed us that all specials were only good if our orders were put into the system before 3pm when we sat down...AND/OR the sign in the foyer area should have been removed before 3pm (maybe 2:45pm-ish??). None of that happened, & we had no idea the specials were only good until 3pm. But once this error was discovered, & if it is true that their system doesn't allow for adjustments (really??) the person the manager/maître-d' appeared to call for guidance should have instructed the staff to offer us something in compensation....a desert, side dish, or anything. But I find it hard to believe there is no way this restaurant cannot adjust an incorrect bill. What if a server accidentally enters something into the system the person never ordered & never recieved?? There's no manual over-ride to their computer system? So would they just tell that patron that they had to pay for something they never ordered or received? I find this very unlikely. The food was ok & came out fast - that's why we gave this place a 2 & not a 1...But I can guarantee we will never return here. Besides, what if I was allergic to the fish they served me that was supposed to be red snapper, but was not???? I'm surprised this dive has stayed in biz as long...

Amber: The Origin of a Hero

It started like any other evening. I walked into Baytown Seafood, expecting a simple meal. What I didn’t expect was to witness the rise of a legend.

The moment she appeared, I knew something was different. Amber moved faster than any ordinary waitress. Before I even sat down, my drink was already on the table—refilled before I even knew I was thirsty. It was then that I realized: I wasn’t just in the presence of a waitress. I was in the presence of a superhero.

She weaved through the crowded dining room with the grace of Black Widow and the speed of Quicksilver, dodging rogue toddlers and spilled drinks like she could see the future. She carried trays piled high with seafood as if she wielded Thor’s own Mjolnir, effortlessly balancing what should have been an impossible amount of food.

Then came the true test: the children. My kids—who are normally chaos in human form, capable of turning a peaceful dinner into a full-scale battle—were no match for Amber’s superhuman abilities. With the precision of Hawkeye, she anticipated every meltdown before it happened, arming herself with crayons and jokes before the kids could even think about causing destruction.

A fry was about to be launched across the table? Amber swooped in like Spider-Man, disarming my child mid-throw with a high-five and a perfectly timed joke. A drink teetered dangerously on the edge of the table? She had already set a fresh napkin down before a single drop could spill.

She was more than a waitress. She was the Guardian of Baytown Seafood.

By the time we finished our meal, I wasn’t sure if we had dined or just experienced an Avengers-level event. Amber had saved dinner, restored order to our table, and ensured that not a single glass sat empty under her watch.

As I left, I glanced back, half-expecting her to rip off her apron and reveal a superhero emblem beneath. But she simply smiled, already moving on to the next table in need of saving.

Amber isn’t just a waitress. She’s a hero. And if the world ever finds itself in danger, I can only hope she’s the one answering the call.

10/10. Would dine in her...

Don’t be fooled by the outside (or the inside) when you walk in… This was a fantastic seafood meal. I have to admit, I almost thought about walking out when I was first seated because it didn’t look like much of anything on the inside, including no bar area: traveling alone on business, I usually just cozy up to a bar in a corner and enjoy a beer or two and watch whatever ballgame might be on TV while I have my meal. in this case, I was seated at a booth adjoining another booth of three older, very loud patrons that kept me from having a peaceful meal. There were two TVs in opposite corners of the dining area, and I couldn’t hear or really see either one of them well. The dining area was rather cavernous, and all seating for this Thursday evening was limited to the middle part of the restaurant.

Service was quick, and I really wanted a beer, but there were no draft options (and no craft options, just the usual domestic caps), so I settled for a water. When the server came back, I asked about the seafood Po’boy, and she told me that she’d never seen anyone actually order one. I asked her what people usually get, and she mentioned a few of the combo plates, but I really didn’t want a fried fish unless I could have it in a sandwich… so I ordered the blackened red snapper with shrimp étouffée, with a baked potato and grilled veggies on the side, and a side of coleslaw.

It may have been one of the best fish dishes I’ve ever had, the étouffée was perfect. Even the baked potato, just with butter and sour cream, was perfectly cooked, very soft. The coleslaw was also outstanding. It was all a very generous portion, well worth a $20.99 price.

Based on the food alone, I would definitely come back to this place. It was recommended by my hotel, and worth the 10-minute drive...