Captain Tom's

Unforgettable experience. I hesitated to give this review because I like it so much that I don't want to have to wait in line because people might read this and start to come there and mess up my favorite oyster hangout.

I recently dined at Captain Tom’s, situated at 20525 Katy Fwy, Katy, TX, and it was a delightful experience. The standout dish for me was the oysters on the half shell. They were incredibly fresh, with a clean, briny taste that only the finest seafood can offer. Each oyster was expertly shucked and presented, making it not just a dish but an experience to savor. The gumbo soup was another highlight. It was rich, flavorful, and packed with the right amount of spice, reminding me of the authentic Southern comfort food. The depth of flavors in the gumbo was impressive, indicating skilled preparation and quality ingredients. Every item I ordered was delicious, demonstrating consistency and culinary expertise. From the starters to the main courses, each dish was a testament to the quality and freshness Captain Tom’s is committed to. The ambiance of the restaurant added to the experience, with a nautical theme that perfectly complements the seafood fare. The staff were friendly and attentive, enhancing the overall dining experience with their excellent service. For anyone in the Katy area looking for top-notch seafood, Captain Tom’s is a must-visit. Their dedication to serving fresh, delicious seafood in a warm and inviting setting makes for a memorable dining experience. Highly recommended for seafood lovers!

Loved this place so much I ate it two nights in a row! Food for me is sometimes much less about ambiance and more about quality and value. Captain Tom's is very small, charming, and lively. ...a true oyster bar. A dozen fresh was just $15.95 and they do have happy hour where they are cheaper. Seating is around the serving area. Small place. People sit elbow to elbow enjoying a great value, seafood meal. Loads of options, really good pricing, and cold beer! This place ranks very high on my list. Such a simple place but great food at reasonable prices. The staff is very friendly and accommodating too. If its about the food and a good experience, you have to check this basic but fantastic place out!

My husband and I love coming to this place to relax 😎 the atmosphere here is great and no one cares how you dress or anything! And the beer always are Very very cold 😋🤩

I like this place because they are cheap and have good portions. It reminds me of a neighborhood restaurant, everyone is nice, nothing fancy about it at all. I always get the whole fried catfish and fries.

If you're looking for that old-fashioned seafood meal, this is the place! Everything was on point! The food was delicious, and the service was fantastic! You have to try their phenomenal gumbo!

I used to go there for lunch when I worked in that area before Covid. An errand nearby brought me back and I was glad I did. I had thought the price would have gone through the roof because of inflation, but to my surprise, it was quite reasonable as before. The food - oysters, seafood platter, stuffed crabs were as good as the impressions I had had before. Will come again whenever having a chance.

Food was great. Service was ok. Atmosphere was ok for a small little place. Not a place for a big family for sure. Would be nice if there was more lights in the parking lot and cameras because apparently there have been a lot of break ins and I was a unfortunate victim of this. NO cameras is crazy. Absolutely dangerous to come here.

The Food was fresh. The service was excellent. Yet very loud., Fast service and I do highly recommend.

Decent pricing, good portions, and quick service!! It's great to stop by for a quick lunch be wanted of the limited parking cuz it gets extremely packed at lunch time. It's kind of counter service like a bar like setting where you sit at the counter with a lot of other guests around you and the waiter noticed you and lets you order off a menu that's on a board. I enjoyed the concept, made it super fast For the food. The shrimp was really tasty and full of flavor and fried very well. The fish though was so flavorless. I was itching for way more seasoning and more complexity. It was fried to an enjoyable crisp, but that was the most I got of it Hush puppies were SOOO good and had some slight heat. Love it It was also kind of dirty on the floors and you're sitting on a bar stool so can only put backpack on the floor and there was a lot going on down there lol

Food 4/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Always consistent! Captain Tom's is your blue print oyster bar. Shaped like a boat on the outside. Inside you'll find the oyster bar smacked in the middle and seats along the perimeter. Service is always great. Where else can you find a bowl of gumbo for $5? The micheladas are a must have!

This one of favorite places to eat seafood in Houston!!! Every thing is fresh and tasty. I love the Tex mini (2 shrimp and 2 fish) The price can be beat! It's a simple place! Employees are always nice!!!

Captain Tom's Seafood & Oyster is an amazing dive bar vibe. Don't expect a fine dining atmosphere here. You walk in and wait for an empty spot (this will be difficult during the weekends but to me it was worth the wait). Their fried oysters and fried frog legs are amazing! We usually order their frog legs which need no additional seasoning. Super hot and freshly made! It is hard to secure parking on weekdays. So pack your patience and at times people get creative making their own spots at the parking lot. So if you can carpool it would be the best!

The oysters were really good!!!! Fresh and juice, with very good price, highly recommended!

If you're looking for a place to keep the night going with more beer and are 'drunk' hungry....this is the place for you. that being said, you'd have to pay me to eat here again!

Great food!! And Drinks! The atmosphere is hustle bustle and seating is cramped but I think it adds to the experience!!

Went there the other day to try the gumbo let me just say I won't get the gumbo again, the fried shrimp were good. Everything else was about what you would expect no real arguments at all just disappointed in the flavor of the gumbo.

SHEEEEEESH. This isn't 5/5 this is like 10/5. I can't talk about this place enough. The food - spectacular. The service - quick and direct. The restaurant takes the shape of a boat!!! I think we spent a total of $47 and we got a dozen of oysters, 2 seafood gumbo soups, catfish fillets w/ fries, and 2 micheladas. I simply want to go back immediately I leave the restaurant. It's that tasty. As you walk in you see a central bar that everyone sits at and it's almost like you get dinner and a show. There aren't enough words to describe how amazing this place is. Do yourself a favor and go!!!

Service is so fast! My go to order is a pint of gumbo with dozen cocktail shrimp & an order of hush puppies. The gumbo is always good. I rarely eat hush puppies, but I always eat there. I prefer take out because it's not much seating as it's actually shaped as a boat! I've been eating here for yearssss and it's always packed.

The food is hit or miss depending on who's cooking that day. First visit was a 9/10 second visit was a 3/10. My date and i both had to return our food and witnessed others doing the same thing.

Captain Tom's Seafood Restaurant was my pick for our Friday night dinner. The parking lot was full and this place was packed until they close. Be prepared to sit close to the next group of guests. Like elbow close/ to each other..... They may have had helpful waiter's / Our waiter was (no help) on anything. Also did I say he never came back to check on what we may have needed through out our meal. We had to get up and ask for a Tea refill and extra tartar sauce. We got their hot freshly fried seafood platter, with fried catfish, shrimp, oysters,& stuffed crab which however had to much breading in it to tease the crab meat and also French fries It was $19.xx /(BUT) the menu said $17.55 but who's arguing (Hahahahaha) Okay! plus tax Total bill was under 45.00/ for 2 people without a tip. You can Substitute certain seafood on the platter. Surprisingly they don't make or serve any frozen drinks, basically they have Beer, lots of beer, and they're famous for their Michelada's other than that have a Coke product because the Tea was basic and had no flavor or no sugar and they were out of lemonade. They serve (No) desserts either. Captain Tom's would not be my first seafood restaurant choice , but I definitely would go back for their fried fish, shrimp and oysters. It was delicious.

Who? And I mean WHO gave this anything better than a 1 star?! Yelp, you failed us. Tried to come here two weeks ago on a Saturday and it was soooooooooo packed. They don't have any seating support so it's a dog eat dog for around a bar type seating. Ended up leaving and low and behold tried again today. Far, far less people today. The seafood platter is what we both ordered. Bland, like no flavor or seasoning. Literally fried food. Service? What service. Talk about not really having to do anything but take an order. SUPER filthy! The worker in front of us was chucking oysters. Took the gloves off. Dug through and SMASHED the trash. Then continued to get peoples drinks and handling by the mouth of the drink, and cutting limes. ZERO HAND WASHING. Then watched one of the females cooking in the back, eat something while cooking, hands touching mouth and continue handling food. This place is out of control. If you're good with no service, bland overpriced food, and extreme filth and unsanitary practices...this is your place! You couldn't pay me to go back here. Try at your own risk. Lol

Capitan Toms is a must for me when I go to Houston. There are many places to eat in Houston but this is our favorite. My wife introduced me to Captain Toms over 20yrs ago now that I think about it. Sheeeeesh. They have good seafood such as oysters , crab, shrimp, fish, gumbo and much more. They take your order and make it fresh. You can actually see the cooks in the kitchen getting down. The prices are amazingly reasonable for the food you are getting. When I get my food I usually get a handmade in house micholada. They are great a go with the ambiance. It is very loud at Capitan Toms. But a good loud like you know everyone is having a great time. Stop in of you have a chance.

Captain Toms is an amazing spot for oysters!! Prices raised up to $16 for a dozen but price isn't bad at all. This restaurant is shaped like a boat which is pretty cool. The only bad part about this place is their limited seating. There's a bar space wrapped around the place for customers to sit at. You'd have to wait for spots to clear up and you're able to sit anywhere you like on a first come/serve basis. Definitely a good spot to come for seafood!

They are the best seafood place if you want catfish or fried flounder even some fried shrimp I highly recommend them. Oh yes, the oysters are fresh and don't forget the boiled shrimp but they do have their favorites when their customers come in so fight your way to the front of the bar.

Off the Charts for the best very fresh seafood anywhere in Texas. Im one who has been here since the 60s and eat at 100s of restaurants as my hobby and joy! Dougk Katy Tx

Nice place to eat must check them out Been there a few years ago an the food was great

Food is amazing. Fast and delicious. Great customer service. Everyone is very friendly Fun place to be and enjoy conversations and food. Fun atmosphere. Will def coming back.

Captain Tom's is where it's at. To me, they have the best oysters and fried seafood around, hands down. And they also have great prices. Oh, and let's not forget the michelada's. You just really can't go wrong with this place IF you like raw oysters and fried seafood. I would recommend going at an off time though, because it's a small place and it get's really crowded. Oysters - Fresh and juicy! They shuck them right in front of you. Boiled Shrimp - Plump, tasty and never dry. Gumbo - Not your traditional gumbo, but it's still really good. Stuffed Jalapeno's - LOT'S of crab meat and very tasty stuffing. Texas Mini - Fried Shrimp and Fried Catfish. Both breaded perfectly with cornmeal breading and fried to perfection. Whole Flounder - Only available certain times of the year. Always fried perfectly and very tasty. It also comes 2 ways. If you haven't been and love raw oysters and fried seafood as much as I do, give this place a shot. It's not much to look at from the outside, but in this case, don't judge a book by it's cover.

Tight seating. Best fried shrimp around the Houston area and anywhere else I've ever been. Parking is real tight at times, we normally call and go pick it up. We love Captain Toms food. Lots of people like their Michelada's.

no wait on a Saturday! On Memorial Day weekend. quick service. food never disappoints.

walked in and then right back out...dirty! Reminds me of an old dive bar and smells like it too. If you're ok with that, then proceed with your order.

I absolutely love this place.. It's my go-to when I'm craving something simply "good" and quick. The prices have increased but are reasonable as inflation is inevitable. The service is always nice and friendly each time I go. Although, it can get really packed and chaotic so be prepared to wait and experience the hustle and bustle. The wait isn't unbearably long as the service is pretty efficient. I wouldn't recommended going in a large group. Get a to-go order if that were the case, it's best to go in a pair of two. It's a bar style type of establishment with a table that circles around the bar. Overall, it is a hole in the wall type of place. I love getting their stuffed shrimp which is a deep fried shrimp + jalapeno stuffed with their crab filling. WOW! delicious. I also get their gumbo every time. Always has good chunks of crab meat and shrimp with amazing flavor. It isn't a traditional creole type of gumbo. It's their own "captain tom's" style. Their michelada's are personally average to me. Their fried seafood taste fresh but it is plain. It's a simple batter that's deep fried, no taste of seasoning. Hence, the lemons and hot sauces to marry everything together.

Someone recommended me to come here and I certainly wasn't expecting such a restaurant. The place is counter service and there are no individual tables. You just choose a seat on the ring on the outside or the inside. It was completely packed when I went in so I had to wait for some seats to clear. Once you sit down, you look at the menu and then literally yell at the people working in the middle. There are no servers so you have to ask for utensils, drinks, everything.The tables are quite unsanitary with a bucket of lemons, lots of sauce bottles, piles of napkins, and crackers. The problem is the buckets of lemons had used and unused ones and the cracker basket had unopened and opened ones. It's just not very sanitary. Oysters are priced decently, apparently they used to be very cheap. It has gone up but it's still a good deal at 6 for just under $9. They tasted fresh but sadly it came with ketchup and not cocktail sauce. The gumbo was fantastic! Lots of seafood and not overly salty. The seafood platter was meh. I only really loved the stuffed crabs. Everything else was incredibly bland.. I was kind of surprised that they didn't season the breading. Anyways I was eating fried shrimp, oysters, hush puppies, and fish and it had no flavor even though I dipped them in ketchup.

Can't beat $8/dozen raw oysters. I love how their prices have stayed the same after all these years. Fresh and huge! Gumbo is also good, and I like their fried fish/shrimp platters. Service can be pretty terrible at times, seating can get a bit crowded, and parking can be tight, so come during non-peak times!

I can't believe I hasn't tried this place before. The oysters were huge, juicy and fresh! The gumbo is pure perfection (I've craved it 3 times this week... I had it last Saturday!!). The fried items were good but I'd go back in a heartbeat for everything else! Oh! Did I mention that they have thee best Micheladas in the area?? Well, they do!! I highly recommend this place. When y'all try it, I recommend you're ready to bump elbows, shoulders & space with all of the other patrons as there aren't any tables, just a bar style surrounding the oyster checkers and kitchen. It's fantastic!!

Tom's alsways has great food, cold beer, and an awesome staff! This is one of my favorite seafood restaurants and my main stop during oyster season.

Captain Tom's is the definition of chaotic good. The boat exterior and decor is campy, it's a tight squeeze, and ordering is always a chaotic process (and somehow, they always get it right!). The oysters are SUCH bang for your buck. Without exaggeration, they are practically the size of my palm - I have to eat some in three bites because it can't physically fit in my mouth in one. And they're always juicy and fresh!! I also love their Texas Mini with 2 fried catfish fillets and some fried shrimp. The fish is crispy without being too greasy, and it's the perfect chaser after downing a dozen raw oysters.

My go-to for oysters. It's good for a single person, I can always able to get the sheet the right way.

Best fried seafood in West Houston. Best cooks and very gracious. I recommend this place and everything on the menu is super delicious. For the beer drinkers the beverage is ice cold.

Love their micheladas! Haven't been back in years but still running like normal. Chaotic and unorganized but somehow it works for them. Don't recommend going in big groups here. Order at the bar with someone/anyone that's willing to take your order. Their oysters used to be dirt cheap but have raised the price since I've last been. According to recent reviews they went up to $9.95 but today was $15.95 not sure if it's different during the weekdays? But since we were in town, why not. Not sure if I would come back for the price of oysters since $16 is somewhat normal at regular seafood place.

Delicious seafood! Fun place to go for casual meal and good oysters. Pleasant servers.

This restaurant has had the same employees for 30+ years. Very friendly & hard working people. They have NOT increased their prices & the quality of food is always fresh. Best friend fish, oysters, shrimp & hush puppies. If you've never been, you should.

One of my favorite places in Houston for fried seafood. Their tartar sauce is so delicious for no reason, and their Micheladas are the best in town. The oysters are pretty good too. Gumbo is a must every time. Seating can be a bit tricky, so larger parties might have a hard time. Service is good.

We love the oysters here !!!!! everybody's always hustling and bustling around. However, the atmosphere is very jovial and it makes you feel that welcome.

Fresh food. Complete chaos. Like 8 have no clue how this place operates. No tables just bar type seating. You flag down a bartender type person and he takes your order on post it notes.

The last couple times we've been back at Captain Tom's hasn't been the best experience. First of all, their prices almost doubled! A dozen raw oysters is now about $16. Also we ordered crab fingers and was given frog legs instead. When I politely told them we had ordered crab fingers not frog legs, I was just told "no crab fingers today" with no solution offered. Their fries used to come out hot and crispy, but it was only warm and stale when I last visited. We went around 7pm at prime dinner time and expected them to be packed as usual with a line out the door, but they were not even as busy as we expected. I'm still giving them 3 stars because their micheladas and gumbo still hit but everything else is not near as good as before!

Best short seafood menu in Houston Katy Texas area. Reasonable prices great food. Having a Dos X Michalada and Gumbo to start the day.

Gumbo is so good as well as their fried seafood, boiled seafood & raw oysters! Friendly staff & ready to serve you the minute you sit down.

There's another review here that describes it perfectly. It's complete chaos in there. The order is written down in a post it. And when I went up to pay I had to recite my order from memory. When you sit, it's first come first served and it's tough with a larger group (more than 3 people) to hold a conversation But! I went on a Sunday for lunch. It got super packed as we sat there. The oysters were fresh and great gulf oysters. And for that price you can't complain. Also enjoyed the michelada, but I've had better. I also got the gumbo. I'm from Louisiana so I've had my fair share, this is fine for what you're getting outside of LA. Mid dark roux and hit the spot with lots of fixins. But I could see where someone else would turn their nose up at it.

Excelente sea food restaurant the food is delicious the staff is great the service is really fast been coming here since 1999 Glad to see some of the staff still here working

Oh Captain Tom's! What can I say about this restaurant that is not outstanding. Their food is absolutely scrumptdeli-icious ‼ I have been frequenting this particular Captain Tom's for the past 30 years and they have always been spot on with their food! I don't know what they do with their batter that makes it so amazing but it's the best! They serve crab fingers, boiled shrimp, whole catfish, catfish fillets ,fried shrimp, stuffed crab, And several other delectable items. All entrées come with delicious french fries. Flounder is a special item that they have often but not all the time. If you go there and they had a little flounder sign hanging from the center menu, you should order it it's fantastic! And let's talk about the oysters OMG. As you can see from the pictures they're ginormous! They always a nice size but today they were exceptional some more as long as mine pointer finger. They also serve beer. Corona, Modelo especial, Dose XX And a few others. I always order Modelo especial with a oyster on the bottom and make it a Michelada. Can I tell you at slap your mama good! This was the first place I ever got a Michelada and I have never tasted any that have outdone them. Some thing about the recipe for the Mitchelada sauce is in a class of its own own. As you can see from the pictures, the restaurant is actually in the shape of a boat. When you walk in the front door there are the interior seating at the bar that surrounds the workers that are serving the beer and the food. It is the central hub. They also have seating on the exterior looking out the windows. All seating is bar top seating. I have never seen this place when he has not had at the minimum 10 people. Pricing is very reasonable as well especially for the quality of food. If you Love seafood and have not visited a captain Tom's in your area, I HIGHLY recommend Captain Tom's. Hands-down They have the best oysters I've ever had. That includes in Florida. This location and Katy is right off of the feeder road between Fry Road in West Green.

This is my go to place for Michelada's!! I crave it, I dream about it, and I always want it. Same with their gumbo, it is amazing. If you're looking for affordable prices for oysters this is the place for ya. Comes in all different sizes. You're gonna get plump ones and small ones. There's no limit to how many dozens or half dozen you want to order. Sky's the limit my friends. I've ordered 6 dozen myself one time and it was oh so yummy. How it is served isn't the cleanest but you get the bang for your buck. The seafood platters they serve are also amazing. Gosh the fried catfish. Shrimp, and crab It does get busy and the line can go out to the door. It's open seating so if you see open seats for your party go ahead and grab them just make sure to ask the people in front of you if they want those seats or not.

During peak hours, this place is a war zone, but the service is fast and accurate. I love the fried foods.... all of them, and of course the Michelada. It makes for the perfect pig-out if your in the fried food mood.

If you are looking for fine dining this place isn't for you. If you have kids don't bring them. This place is a bar setting. It's a giant horse shoe shaped bar with some of the fastest service you'll receive. I have been to Captain Tom's before, but it was years ago. I have been craving some oysters and my husband does not eat them! It drives me crazy, but we all can't be perfect beings. I finally convinced my sweet friend to come with me and I find out the poor girl has never had oysters before. I was blessed by my mother and experienced all sorts of food from a young age. I was slurping down oysters at 7 with hot sauce. We got a dozen half shell oysters, 2 bowls or gumbo, micheladas (I forgot how many), the stuffed crabs, hush puppies, and 2 pints of gumbo to go. The food here is amazing if you can make your way to a seat and eat here I highly recommend it. I am not someone who eats light colored gumbo. If you grew up in the south and go crabbing for fun you probably wouldn't look twice at a bowl of light gumbo. A light colored gumbo to me means you got tired of cooking your roux and just wanted to slap something together quickly. Let me assure you that this gumbo "Slaps" as the kids are saying. It's creamy and rich with seafood flavor and will make you want to order another bowl. Do yourself the favor and do it. You won't regret it. Add some Texas Pete to it and you got yourself a meal (has to be Texas Pete. I don't write the rules I just enforce 'em). Their stuffed crabs are incredible! But just be warned they are savory and a little bit sweet, so if that ain't your thing get to stepping. The oysters tasted fresh and they had a ton of sauces for those of y'all who need them. My friend had fun trying different combos and getting comfortable with the taste and texture. This place is awesome. You don't go here for a fancy meal. You come to drink and eat. My mouth is watering just writing this. I'll be back Tom.

This has been our go to spot for a very very long time. Absolutely the best place for gumbo & stuffed crabs. I have tried stuffed crabs at other restaurants and none come close to being as good as these! Love the food, my father loves the micheladas lol. Overall a great seafood joint.

The only way you are going to enjoy the food here is if you are in-fact totally inebriated. If you're looking to get drunk with your buddies and kick it shoot the shiz lathering up your taste buds with booze in order for the food to taste good (because we all know once your buzzed everything taste awesome ) this place is for you! Service is on point- other then that the place needs to sink. Never have I had oysters that literally have no taste. None. It's a hustle and bustle vibe think of the movie "the perfect storm".. the bar the crew hangs in. Which is cool but please for the love of all that is holy don't go here sober and expect good food. It ain't gunna happen!