Topwater Grill

I absolutely loved this place! It was our first time visiting, and my wife and I were blown away. Our server, an older gentleman whose name I unfortunately can't remember, was outstanding—he anticipated our needs and we didn't have to ask for anything. Though the restaurant was packed, I initially thought we would be there all day. However, everything came out quickly, and the food was fantastic. The margaritas were perfect as well. We requested a seat outside to enjoy a nice ocean breeze, and that’s exactly what we got. I highly recommend this place!

Topwater Grill completely stole our hearts. There’s something magical about dining by the water, the breeze, the view, and the calm all made it feel like a little escape. The food was delicious, the drinks were perfectly made, and everything was surprisingly affordable. Nicole took such good care of us with his warm, friendly service. It was the kind of night you don’t forget peaceful, romantic, and full of good vibes. We can’t wait to come back. 💙🌅🍷

We were recommended this place by friends who have eaten here before when in town so we decided to drive out here give it a try on a Friday evening. We were seated outside right away and then waited, and waited, and waited for someone to at least acknowledge us. Finally after waiting 15 minutes, I called the front desk to ask if they could send someone out to take our drink order. After another 8 minutes, Nicholas came out. He apologized for the wait, took our drink order and offered a free appetizer. Mind you, the table next to us was seated a few minutes prior to us, were acknowledged and served immediately by their waitress. Not sure if she couldn’t handle more than one table at a time or if they were under staffed. The table seated next us on the other side had to wait too until Nicholas came out. I don’t believe he was the normal waitstaff for that area. From that point, our service and food was good. My husband had their gumbo. He gets it where ever we go and said this was the best by far! I asked Nicholas if the grilled red snapper and shrimp were good. He said is the top dish ordered there. So that’s what I got. My husband ordered the 12 piece fried shrimp - was good but he couldn’t finish it all. Took the remaining pieces to go. The red snapper and shrimp was good too. At that point we requested our tab. It was brought to us and then we waited AGAIN. After 10 minutes we finally took our tab to the inside bar to ask them if they could ring it up there. They did. I forgot to mention that the booth they sat us in outside was a pretty cool glider but it was broken like an overweight person had sat in it. See photo. In conclusion; the food is great! Service, not so much! Will not be back with so many other options around!!

Food has always been very consistent and very good. Great views of the sunset if you walk to the end of their pier but unfortunately you can't see it from where you sit and eat.

This is my husband and I go to place since it's so close to home. All the grilled plates are great especially if you sub the rice pilaf for coleslaw ❤️ they give you so much food, I typically eat like 1/3 of the plate and take home the rest. This is a must go when you're in the area!

Service was top notch! Food was Devine! Hands down best seafood I've ever had! Been here many times and have never been disappointed! Would recommend to everyone! Leave the high price restaurants in Galveston and come to San Leon and taste what fresh seafood is supposed to taste like! The will even cook what you catch!

A hidden gem is you are outside of the area. We came for the Royal Red shrimp and they did not disappoint. Outside covered seating has you right on the water. Staff were fantastic and very friendly and attentive.

--- 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Topwater Grill – A Hidden Gem on the Water! Absolutely phenomenal experience from start to finish. Topwater Grill delivers that perfect mix of laid-back coastal charm and seriously good seafood. The views alone are worth the drive — dockside seating with boats rolling in, seabirds gliding by, and that salty breeze that just makes food taste better. The seafood was on point. We tried the blackened snapper, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and oysters — all fresh, flavorful, and cooked just right. The green sauce they serve with the shrimp? Addictive. And the crab-stuffed jalapeños were gone in seconds. Service was friendly and fast. Our server knew the menu and didn’t steer us wrong. Even the drinks were cold and strong — perfect with the sun setting over the water. This place feels like a slice of old-school Gulf Coast heaven, the kind of spot you stumble into and immediately want to bring friends back to. Highly recommend if you’re anywhere near Galveston, Kemah, or Houston. Topwater Grill nailed it. We'll be back soon — and next time, bringing an even bigger appetite. — A happy family of five, full and smiling all the way back to the farm 🚜🐟🌅

Hidden Gem in San Leon Top Water Grill is hands down one of the most hidden gems in San Leon. Despite the abundance of seafood eateries in the area, this place stands out as top-notch from the moment you walk through the doors. You are greeted by a professional and welcoming staff that makes you feel right at home. The food is absolutely delicious and fresh, with mouth-watering dishes that make you want to come back again and again. If you are a local, you'll most definitely find yourself returning frequently. And if you're just passing through as a tourist, you will never forget this place. A special shoutout goes to Charlie, the manager. He is by far the nicest gentleman you will ever meet and truly has everything running smoothly, from the attentive waitstaff to the incredible freshness of the seafood served. With the best curb appeal in town and stunning views of the bay, Top Water Grill is hands down one of my favorite go-to restaurants in San Leon.

Awesome place to eat lots of seafood and other great food! Server was fantastic and always making sure we were take care of! Spacious restaurant on the water! Lots of good drink options too!

Excellent restaurant, near the sea and raisonnable prices. The service is excellent and you can see it's not a tourist spot where it's expensive for nothing. Always ask locals for restaurant, cause the places they suggest are always good and less expensive. I ate shrimp and scallops and it was excellent and fresh. I recommend this restaurant ! Excellent restaurant près de la mer, avec des prix raisonnables. Demandé toujours aux gens qui habitent la ville que vous visiter pour des suggestions de restaurants. Le service est excellent, et les prix abordables. J'ai mangé des crevettes et des pétoncles, et c'était très bon. Je vous recommande ce restaurant !

There are indoor and outdoor seating options along with plenty of free parking. We chose outdoor near the waterfront, Johnny was our waiter and he was very attentive and friendly. The food and drinks were delicious with reasonable prices, I would certainly recommend if in the area.

We haven't been here in over 10 years since we moved away from the area. Came back for a bday dinner and found it to be just as good as when we left! I usually get coconut shrimp cuz i wont make that at home, but they have so many good fish options its hard to chose just one. I went with the Chili Pepper Red Fish and was not disappointed!!! Veggies were cooked great on the side. The bobbers (crab cake balls) were good and enough for 2-3 people to share. Calamari was enough for 3-4people, but my son ate that as his meal and loved it. My husband got the mahi fish tacos and said they are the best! Large chunks of mahi (no skimping here) Water front property. Plenty of parking. Indoor and outdoor seating. Bar seating as well.

11/07/24 - Updating my review! After a morning of fishing, we came back here to have our catch cooked three ways for $14.99 (can't remember how many lbs per order) with sides--such a steal! We got pecan-crusted, battered, and blackened, and everything was so good! The service was top-notch as always, and our server was super accommodating. With the cooler weather (and no mosquitoes!), we decided to sit outside and enjoy the breeze. Perfect day!

Blackened mahi fish taco and fried fish taco with fresh pico, hush puppies and mashed garlic potatoes. The food was delicious! It came out warm and very flavorful. Service at the bar was excellent and our server was friendly and welcoming. We will definitely be back soon! One of our favorite spots by the water. Usually we sit outside but it was drizzling and wet.

Came with my daughter for dinner and both of our foods were delicious. I ordered the chicken fried chicken and it was battered and fried to perfection. I also loved the flavor of the white gravy. I had string beans and mashed potatoes for the sides and they didn't disappoint. The garlic bread was toasty on the outside and soft and buttery on the inside. My daughter ordered the boiled shrimp. She enjoyed her meal as well. I like trying different menu items when we come and so far so good I love the location by the water . Super friendly staff and very clean restaurant.

Second time eating here, the food was all fantastic and wait staff was wonderful. I liked so much I bought one of their tshirts.

What can I say....AMAZING! We're from Kansas City. I'm not a corporate fan and was ready to eat on the waterfront and get some fresh good food! The blackened chicken pasta was absolutely amazing! Husband had the fish platter and said it was delicious, and my son had fried shrimp and he ate almost all saying best meal on trip so far! Beautiful place to eat. Sit outside on the water and rock in the the rocking chair/tables! Great date night or family night! Make the drive and go!

Everything I have tried was so amazing love the fried soft shell crabs. Absolutely wonderful. You have the choice of sitting outside and eating under a canopies or you can go inside. Plenty of parking and wheelchair accessible.

Wow the grilled red snapper and jumbo shrimp plate was amazing! Don't expect a great bar drink, my mojito was bad. Once it cools down I will have to try the rocking chair seating outside. The service is hit or miss... I heard some great ones at the tables nearby.

Deanna was awesome to a group of 5 rowdy gals who ordered many different, particular drinks, lots of appetizers and lots of food. She let us talk and visit but kept checking in. We shared stuffed mushroom caps, crab balls, shrimp cocktail and stuffed Jalapeños and then ate grilled shrimp, fried catfish, fried oysters, Caesar salad with shrimp and fried shrimp. The crab balls and jalapeños were my favorite and half of us took food home. She wins the prize for patience and personality. Every time I've been to Topwater it's been a fabulous experience! The Cole slaw has baby shrimp, so good! And Gulf seafood! Very cool inside oo7/20/24. 3-5:30 Mr you cann opt for an outdoor experience with the swinging picnic tables. Great atmosphere, locals know and go.ive had the oysters Rockefeller before and the lobster bisque , both amazing. Probably my fourth time here.

After our fishing charter experience, our captain cleaned our trout and before we knew it, we had our fresh trout fried and served in front of us. The steamed shrimp was so so so good and I would return for that alone. I loved everything except the fried oysters (ask for the off-menu $40 appetizer where you get a little bit of everything). Our service was lackluster but it felt like we were on island time so there were no worries. The restaurant was clean! I would not recommend any drink including their Bloody Mary mix as it was just tomato water. Tourist trap? Maybe? Food to make up for it? Absolutely.

One of my favorite water front spots when visiting back home! Something for everyone: good service, cold drinks, fresh seafood and uninstructed bay views. They'd be smart to install more fans (& table top fly fans) to help detour the flies & give more relief from the humidity - but if it's too bad - you can always go inside and enjoy all in the a/c. Worth the drive every-time!

I came here on Mother's Day and was very impressed with the organization of seating to eat at restaurant. We checked in with the hostess and waited for the next available table alert by text. Even though, there was a bit of longer wait for an inside table we were able to sit down outside and had the option to be seated quicker in an outdoor table. The hostesses were very kind and made sure we were called in a timely manner. Once we were seated, the waiter was very quick to take our drink orders and appetizers. We had the mozzarella cheese sticks, artichoke dip, and torpedo and were all scrumptious. If you have more than 3 people I would recommend the artichoke dip because it comes with plenty of chips. I order the fried fish and shrimp and it was so tasty! The meal came with french fries, hush puppies, cocktail sauce, and tartar sauce. We also ordered the grilled red snapper and shrimp with vegetables and rice pilaf and it was finger-licking good. I would recommend if you are wanting something more on the healthier side. Our waiter went above and beyond to take care of our table! Everyone at the table said how much they loved the restaurant and will be back to try more food. Please note they have a bar to enjoy drinks and have a lunch menu as well.

Love to eat here every time we come to Galveston. The servers are excellent! Thank you Lorenzo! It is so beautiful looking at the water and enjoying the food. I am so full and happy!

Fantastic! If you're near San Leon, TX this is the place to get your seafood! Our server was Daniel and he was super attentive. The water view is totally relaxing! Happy Father's Day to my sweet hubs!

I came here about 10 years ago, trying to find something new away from Clearlake and had a great meal and drinks so I came back for more. Big place actually but I sit at the bar with the locals and listen to the fishing updates and boating news well, sipping on my favorite beverage, either a cold beer or a painkiller and deciding what to get off the menu. I started with the fried crab balls or bobbers which were fantastic and very filling! My entrée was the catfish étouffée with rice, which was fabulous, and all more food that I could eat but I hate it anyway. This is basically sitting on the water with outside seating along the dock side, pelicans on the post, boats, pulling in and out, grabbing some food. Love the atmosphere, love of food, worth the drive out to make a visit to the point where this is located north of Galveston. Highly recommend.!!

Excellent food and great atmosphere. The coconut shrimp was the best I've had. The service was on point as well.

It's on the water. A cool breeze is blowing. Music is blasting. Pretty girls smiling. Liquor is pouring. Cold beers are being served. You can smell the Cajun and Creole spices and the fresh seafood being fried up. Life is good in this moment. The food is just a bunch of OK. Gumbo, fried shrimp, fries, hush puppies, boudin balls were all just OK. Nothing to write home about. Service was great. Fun atmosphere. Clean restaurant. A couple of things that really bothered me: 1.) The gumbo - They achieved a nice, dark roux. They threw in a little andouille sausage and chicken along with the shrimp. Not sure if there was crab. The small shrimp were not properly deveined and butterflied. One shrimp still had it's shell. I hate biting down on that. It should never happen. I've actually encountered this at some of Houston and Galveston's finer seafood restaurants. Not that it's an excuse. It shows a lack of kitchen supervision and quality control. 2.) Boudin balls - They put American cheese inside the boudin balls. That's just not right. It's a weird clash and does not go well together. For a second, I thought I was at Kolache Factory. Other than that, it's an OK place. It might be just a good place to drink.

We visited Top Water Grill on a busy Saturday. Ryan H. provided exceptional service. The weather was perfect and the restaurant was very clean. We enjoyed some of our favorite dishes. The food is always exceptional.

Been here half dozen times. I have no idea why. Last time few weeks ago I got the grilled oysters. They cooked the juicy right out of them. The grill vegs soggy and tasteless. Corn and crab chowder had near zero carb.

Excellent time at TopWater Grill. My Dad was in town and wanted some good Seafood. And TopWater gave us damn good Seafood . We sat outside in the swing tables for the nice water view ambiance. Such a great place. Service was on point. And the food was well seasoned and delicious as always. Always a good time at TopWater grill. Forks up!!

We had become regulars at Topwater but I will never go back after my experience on Tuesday. Going out is a treat for us and we were treated horribly. We walk to our outside table with server. I notice a large dead fish in the water. She says they clean fish at the dock and throw parts in the water. No apology for our lunch view. It was downhill from there. App plate was dirty. I didn't even say anything. Figured it was a fluke and moved on. When I told server I was a vegetarian and gave my usual order, she sighed and rolled her eyes. But the icing on the cake was what looked like mold at the bottom of the glass of wine I just drank. No manager on duty. I had to text him. He called back and offered me another glass of wine. Ummmm no thanks. Waitress sent someone else to drop off and collect check. I was HORRIFIED they didn't comp meal. This is such a cool spot. I hope they get it together. But I will not be going back.

Our first time here and we loved it !!! I would recommend friends & family to come. Definitely coming back for the vibe and the food ! Great service - Johnnie our server was very tentative . We happened to come on a hot day where they had a two day fishing tournament and bikini. Parking was good for us didn't have a problem . Food was delicious it was hot and fresh and salad was fresh you could taste the freshness. Oyster was nicely hot and the mini sliced breads were hot nicely hot baked ! Very thoughtful putting some effort into the cooking and presentation.

So this place is so awesome, they offer a, you catch they cook special because they're located right off of the water. Drive your boat up with your fresh catch, and they will cook it for you. My husband and I ordered the calamari appetizer, and it was fried perfectly. We both had the Malibu coconut shrimp and were very pleased. The shrimp were big and didn't have too much breading, which was perfect. The hush puppies were seasoned so deliciously as well as the French fries. The habenaro mango sauce is pretty spicy. It's almost too spicy for the dish. It kind of kills the flavor of the Malibu coconut flavor. Our waiter was the absolute best. Ask for Ryan, and you will be well taken care of.

I genuinely wanted to like this place, but I just can't. I am not sure if it was just that day or if it is just me, but their food was just super bland. It had absolutely no flavor. Not even the dessert was good.

Thank you Aurora for recommending. On the water (Dickinson and Galveston Bay meet). You have choices of where to sit. I chose "rocking chairs" outside. A very good menu to choose from. My hostess recommended the Jumbo Shrimp and Snapper, oh my, so juicy, tender. Loved it. It was very windy that afternoon. I almost went inside. Will be back for their Po'boy.

Love sitting outside on the waters. So relaxing. The food and drinks are always so good. Waiters are always paying attention.

Came here for my mom's bday dinner. They were very busy as usual but still managed to accommodate us well. We initially sat outside but it was too windy and chilly and asked to move back inside. There was 6 of us and quickly accommodated us. We ordered half dozen oysters Diablo and another half dozen chipotle Charlie oysters. The Parmesan on the chipotle oysters was our favorite. We weren't a huge fan of the Diablo topping with jalapeños. I shared the Caesar salad with my fiancé and it was lacking in Caesar dressing. My fiancé and I shared the drunken redfish, my mom ordered the grilled red snapper and jumbo shrimp, and my dad got the catfish ettouffe. There was plenty of food and my mom ended up taking some home as leftovers. Everything was seasoned well. This is one of our staple to-gos to celebrate occasions. It is a bit out of the way and a drive but usually worth it.

We usually love dining here but not so much this evening, sad because it was my husband birthday. We had the grill red snapper & shrimp, it was so dry, cold & not fresh at all. Very disappointed in our service as well. Just a very bad experience with your establishment. Over a $60. + tabs for a terrible dinner!!!!!!

Been many times but no more. The food is ok but the last 3 times we have gone, the waitstaff seems so stressed that I feel like I'm imposing on them by being there.

This place was awesome!! SERVICE WAS THE BEST...Demi was the best waitress ever!! Food was awesome!!

My family took me there yesterday. For Father's Day Weekend. Food was okay. The waitress was super. We sat outside close to the door. As soon as our food was delivered all the flies came, and landed on our food. The waitress went immediately to the hostess and asked for us to be moved inside. The hostess said to bad the tables are full. . They had a lot of tables that vacant inside. Which was a lie on the hostess part. We have to box our food, and take it home to eat. But, decided to throw it away. Due to the flies. Paid $116.00 for the worse experience. I wish I can change this star to a negative 1000 stars. Crappy experience EVER!

When they are not over crowded can't beat this place. Fried shrimp was cooked perfectly, just pulled easily from the tails. The calamari was hot fresh crispy!!! Shrimp Bobbers are not explainable and taste is out of this world. Onion Rings are the best is Texas hands down. Freshly battered in flour not beer battered they are seasoned perfectly not covered in spices hot and fresh.

Just went to Top Water with my son on a Monday evening. It was not real busy and there were empty tables. We were seated in between two occupied tables. We waited over 10 minutes and no one ever checked on us. One server checked on the table next to us, but didn't even acknowledge us. So we left, 10 minutes is about my limit, especially if you're not that busy.

For our corporate event, the staff was very accommodating and attentive! Whatever we needed, they were on point, particularly Charlie, the manager, who personally took charge of our needs, making our event a success, and one we will continue! The restaurant was very clean, and cozy, located on the waterfront in San Leon, with a perfect waterfront backdrop. The food was quite flavorful and affordable. We will definitely be back-not only for corporate events, but also for personal ones!

We were enjoying ourselves so much this evening I didn't think to take one photo. Greeted with a smile and seated on a Saturday night with no wait. GREAT service from Jeffrey. Food order was filled promptly and we'd ordered a-lot: Torpedoes, Fried Mushrooms; raw oysters on the half-shell, Fried Shrimp with French fries; hushpuppies; Grilled Shrimp; Oyster Po-boy; SHRIMP BURGER (Fantastic. Will be back for another soon.) Finished with Blueberry Bread Pudding and Pecan Pie a la mode. Very chill, family-friendly atmosphere. Great being on the water. Looking forward to next trip.

This is one of the restaurants in our area that we bring visitors to. The Royal reds are so good! Everything we've eaten here has been good - good food, drinks, service and a great atmosphere for just hanging out with friends and family.

Food has always been good. The fried shrimp are huge and very good. Our server Daniel was perhaps the best we have had in a long time. Just a really nice and caring young man. Thank you Daniel and the rest of the team at Top Water Grill. Y'all rock.

Pasta was amazing, service was good, and the place is one of a kind, wish we lived close enough!

Good food off the beaten path. Portions are very generous. Unfortunately was not a fan of the seafood gumbo.

My Dad came into town (Tuesday 8/1) for a short visit and I know he loves fresh seafood. We came to Topwater Grill because my wife and I come here for the good food and enjoy the view of Dickenson and Galveston Bays. We enjoyed some Bobbers with drinks while waiting for dinner. I ordered the Chili Pepper Redfish, my wife ordered the Grilled Red Snapper with the Drunken Sauce on the side, and Dad got the Soft Shell Crabs. Once dinner was served, there was silence at the table. Everyone was eating until the food was gone. The food was fresh, spiced just right, and portions were right. Our waiter was attentive, but not hovering. Available when we needed him. I've always had good service here, even when the restaurant is packed. That shows some good management.

I have been coming for years because there is great food & service consistently. Fresh seafood & great desserts!!

Generous servings. Been going here 20 years and never have had a bad meal nor poor service. Beautiful view. Great staff. Try the stuffed mushroom caps and lobster bisque. Oh Lordy I'm already craving this place again

Nice chill vibe on the water. Lots of boats and fishing, super lowkey compared to clear lake/kemah. A legit hidden gem, tucked away behind rows of trailers and cancelled businesses. Anywho, the first time I went here in the spring, the food/drinks/service were great. Today, everything lacked. Everything fried had a nasty after taste. As if the oil used was old. The drink was off and the Swordfish salad dip? For the life of me, I can't understand why this was a "must have"...it was extremely dry and had globs/bits of some unexpected gelatinous chewy texture that made me gag. I'd come back to drink bottled beers and swing on the deck but that's about it

Food was just ok. Service was great, the wait staff was attentive- our waitress was friendly, and the busboys stayed on top of clearing our table and removing our finished drinks. Ambiance was nice. Overall- the place felt dirty, the table was sticky and really needed a good wipe down. The whole place needs a good deep cleaning. We had the Chili Pepper Redfish Deluxe (fish was too dry) Rice Pilaf was hard. The boudin balls were the best thing.

Yummmmm! Great water side dining experience! We will definitely be back in the future