Tortuga's Saltwater Grill

I am visiting from Austin Texas, and I came here for dinner with my parents on our last night in town!! We had Pete as our server and he was PHENOMENAL!! So friendly and kind, very attentive to us and our needs, and he truly loves what he does!! His positive energy just rubs off on you!! The food was excellent as well; one of the best seafood places I have ever eaten at! Will definitely be coming back here each time I come into town!! Thank you Pete you were THE BEST!! ❤️❤️❤️

If the owner/manager sees this please talk to your hostess regarding professionalism. We reserved a table for 9 and were told a wait time of 1 hour and 45 min, which is understandable for a busy Saturday in summer. We went to the hostess to ask for an update regarding the wait time and were told at the 1 hour and 30 min mark that there would be ANOTHER 1 hour and 45 min wait due to our party being 9, really Tortuga? You couldn’t just tell us that in the beginning and not waste our time? Oh and your hostess could learn a thing or two and not just roll her eyes when we simply ask for a wait time. How rude, sucks that a host can make a 1 star be given to such a nice place.

Best stop we've made so far. Truffle fries, lobster bisque, lobster roll & poke bowl. So great. The bisque was done right with a whole claw. Horseradish Creme fresh with the lobster roll. So delicious. Very cozy, clean patio, which is quite the change from all the surrounding places. Thanks for taking great care of us, Mariah!

To start the restaurant is very clean and well decorated. I had the shrimp and grits and it was by far the best shrimp and grits I’ve ever had. The corn grits were amazing and more like a moist cornbread. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable. My only complaint is we were only visiting the island for the day and couldn’t come back for more!

The was really good. We sat at the bar, and that's where the real treat of the evening occurred. Fantastic bartender recommended the dinner and made drinks from his own recipe book. Which were super tasty. Cannot wait until I go back and have his Bloody Mary that he created! Thanks, Tortuga, for a great evening.

I never write reviews unless I am super impressed with a restaurant and want to give a positive review. But today I am very disappointed. We ordered a dozen oysters and they were delicious- $3 a piece which is pricey, but this is a tourist area, so we were okay. We each ordered a meal and 2 beers each. We got the check which was a high price for just an okay atmosphere and a little better than ok food. We tried to pay cash with a 25% tip. We were then told that after we sat down, they posted that they can’t take cash because the internet is down?…. But they can take cards?…. Okay, we used our card and got charged extra for using a credit card! No apologies. We are on the island two weekends every month and will not be repeating this restaurant.

Awesome restaurant! Incredible food and drinks! Recommend making a reservation during peak season in Port A. Ruben was the absolute best wait staff... friendly, knowledgeable and made excellent recommendations. We come to Port A often and were very sad when Shells closed, but this is our new go-to!

Really cute place, service was great, my husband loved his shrimp, steak was ok but the mashed potatoes tasted like instant potatoes. The only thing that really made our experience bad was getting charged to NOT have vegetables. Not only was I charged extra to sub potatoes for asparagus (which was fine, I’ll pay extra for that) but to also charge to not have something on my plate??

I've been coming to Port Aransas for the past 4 years. Every year I look for some really good seafood. Found it! Tortuga's was excellent! Fresh fish, large portions, friendly staff and served quickly (though we did go at 4:15). The place is small and nicely done. You can sit outside or inside. We will definitely be back next year! *Make your reservation a day or two in advance.

Port A isn't exactly overflowing with fine dining options, so Tortugas feels like a bit of a gem on the island. The vibe is definitely more upscale than most spots around here--think beach‑town laid‑back but with a touch of polish. Our waitress was friendly and made the evening feel easy and enjoyable. The cocktails? Expertly crafted. You can tell someone behind the bar cares about their craft. Food-wise, everything we ordered came out fresh, flavorful, and clearly handled with care--seafood done right, which isn't something I say lightly. One of my favorite parts: they actually take reservations, which is a rarity in this area and makes planning a night out so much less stressful. All in all, Tortugas is a solid choice if you're in Port A and want something a step above the usual island fare. I'd happily recommend it and will definitely be back.

IMO, These are the ratings: Food: 4.86/5 Service: 4.75/5 Ambiance: 4.60/5 Total: 4.73/5 THE FLOUNDER! I repeat! GET THE FLOUNDER!

The staff was super friendly and attentive. The interior clean and cutely decorated. The food was good-shrimp and grits are more of a grits cake. The grouper tacos were large and delish. Skip the fries. Taste like frozen and over done in the oven.

Way overrated & overpriced! Food is good, restaurant is not as fancy as the prices. We celebrated my birthday here, youll be paying $60 for a steak and 40 for a fish filet...on the other hand there are not many good options in the area, I liked the menu options and variety and my baby girl love the tortugas. Service staff were super friendly

Every time we have come to Tortuga's, the service and food are equally amazing. We are usually seated pretty quickly and it doesn't take long to be greeted by the server. My favorite dish is the crab crusted fish and it never disappoints. I cannot wait to come back.

Service was slow. Sat outside so a little warm. Fish and chips were great! Boudin pretty good. Chimichurri steak was tough. The Golden Grove drink was perfect esp for hot front porch seating. It was mediocre night but served our purpose.

This is a "nicer" place, so if you plan to jump pop in for lunch after the beach, you'll feel under dressed. Outside sitting for walk ups. The food is delicious, and you get a lot of food. We split two meals and and appetizer for 3 people and it was too much food for us to finish. Very pricey though. So be prepared for that. The staff was so friendly, and checked on us a few times while waiting.

Service was fine for our table. But some of the staff was seen being rude and cold to some of the other patrons. Food was delicious, though! Careful ordering their "key lime pie"; the drizzle is green apple flavored, not lime. It was a bit chilly that day but they turned on the heaters!

We were here a few years ago and it was okay. They must have made changes because this time it was great. Nice inside and tables outside. Rueben was our very nice server with lots of info to answer all the wife's questions. We started with a marg. Boudin balls for appetizer. There were 5 and large so we each ate one and took the rest home. The wife got fried shrimp and oysters and substituted a delicious kale salad for the fries. She gave me her hushpuppies. All good, even at home the next day. My dish was absolutely one of the best things I have ever eaten. Parmesan crusted flounder with a lemon wine sauce, risotto and asparagus. That fish was delicious.

I'll start with the prices... it is a bit overpriced. Now the rest of the story. The food was fantastic!! Charbroiled fish of the day, was cooked perfectly and was freaking amazing. Wife's side salad was great. The risotto was absolutely delicious. Some of the best shrimp I've ever had in my life, big fat and juicy! Our server Alison (I think) was amazing! They had quoted an hour and 15 minute wait but we actually got in half that time. We sat outside so I don't know what the inside looked like. I definitely highly recommend this place if your budget allows.

One of my favorite places on the island. We like to sit outside on the patio. Food is some of the best, if not THE best, in Port A. And they have really good cocktails.

Terrible food On the positive side the boson balls we're good On the negative the shrimp and grits were ridiculous - a hard yellow hockey puck was called "grits" , small shrimp and cheap pico de gallo adorned the joke. A fish of the day was a muddled tasteless mess and came cold. And finally their best margarita was bitter and all ice. Eat anywhere else !!!

We didn't have a reservation but they were able to get us a table right away. Server was great and the food was excellent! Their lobster bisque is incredibly delicious!!

Food was super tasty. I got the Lemon Flounder and enjoyed every bite. Our server Laura was the absolute best and soo kind and great at her job.

My new favorite in Port A! The cocktails are stellar. We both had the jalepeno cucumber marg. Very nice. We ordered the shrimp cocktail that came with 6 shrimp. Well that was not enough and we had to order two. The shrimp were so fresh and had a nice snap when you bit into them instead of the under or over cooked. Absolutely perfect shrimp cocktail and I requested remoulad sauce in addition and it was delicious. We split the Snapper Pontchartrain with the cheddar grit cake and the most amazing tomatoyyyy sauce that was incredible. It had a nice fresh serving of asparagus with it and it was plenty for the two of us.....Perhaps because we ordered two shrimp cocktails! ;) Our server Emily was amazing and we will definitely ask for her next time. The service was super friendly. It was July 4 holiday when we were in and the guy who greeted who seemed like he was the manager was wearing an Uncle Sam hat and beard and the tables had patriotic centerpieces. It was a fun place and I look forward to returning.

There was a wait. The told us it may take an hour and there was no other place I wanted to try except here so we decided to wait. But actually, they texted us in 30 minutes so it wasn't too bad. We got seated outside and ordered the choice of the day (fish) as well as the pasta Acadiana with shrimp. Both were okay, but I didn't get the hype with how this got a TripAdvisor recognition. It's not a restaurant I would wait in line for and the prices are more on the expensive side.

We had reservations for dinner but decided to go early, we arrived at 2:30. The staff was completely accommodating by letting us order appetizers until they switched from lunch to dinner menu at 3 PM. I had the lemon Parmesan. Flounder, my husband had red fish ponchatrain, our oldest (19) had the Thai tuna, and our youngest (17) had the ribeye and shrimp. All were delicious! Service was excellent. Definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a nice meal.

Tried just about every restaurant on the island and this one was the best so far! Great tasting food and excellent service. I also really like that you can make reservations so there is no waiting for a table. We will be back next year!

Service was good. The margarita I received was overwhelming with grenadine. I had to get another shot of Don Julio to soften it up. Ribeye steak and shrimp was split between two of us. It was supposed to be medium rare but came out medium /medium Well at best. The meat was very poor quality. Mostly fat. The wine from Oregon was Pinot Nior - they have so many good wines from there but the bar served one of the worse ones. It tasted extremely fruit forward. The red fish was fantastic!

Tortugas is a great option while visiting Port A. Their menu is eclectic and the food is tasty. Our service was top notch. My son and I both had the snapper with crab. Portions were generous, and that cheese, grit cake was divine. We started with oysters which were clean and freshly shucked. Thanks again, I will be back.

All the food choices are fabulous. Shrimp and grits are one of our favorites. Service was a bit slow and the waiters were not a team covering down for each other. Appeared they were short staffed. The first time we went here the service was great. Be sure to make a reservation for dinner.

Service was good, place was packed but we didn't have to wait long for seating. Food was good, but I was pretty disappointed in the amount of protein for the price. We had a Benedict with the thinnest crab cake ever, and there were very few shrimp with the grits.

Terrible customer service. Hostess and wait staff were incredibly rude. Save yourself the trouble and head over to Trout Street where your money and patronage is welcome.

Dinner in a Thursday. We had a reservation at 6:30, and they were quite busy when we arrived. Got seated right away. Got in our drink orders. Lots of wine by the bottle and a reasonable number by the glass. I got their margarita-good, but not my new fav. Comes in a unique glass! For dinner I got the Snapper Ponchartrain. Delicious!! Meaty piece of fish with a great Cajun crawfish sauce, tasty asparagus, and a cheddar grit cake. My wife got the Yellow Curry Shrimp. Flavorful, without being spicy. Service was very good. Food came out very quickly and was very fresh and hot. Really a solid meal. Recommended!!

The food was delicious! A bit pricey but what isn't now a days. The kids had the pasta with chicken and a cheeseburger. My husband had the car boiled catch of the day and I had the fried mahi mahi.

Came to Port A for a weekend away and chose Tortuga's to celebrate a birthday. We enjoy good seafood and have had seafood all over the world from bar menu fried fish and shrimp to Michelin starred creations. The shrimp that came with my corvina are probably the best cooked shrimp I've had anywhere. Cooked through but not a second more - absolutely melted in my mouth. Both my fish and my partner's fish were perfectly done as well. Mastery of technique is evident. We weren't in the mood for island fried fish but it's on the menu here and I had to wonder why. We ordered the hush puppies to see how that technique was. Turns out the fried fish is there for tourists that don't like seafood any other way. The hush puppies were cooked perfectly and a medium texture - finely ground but on the thicker side. Interestingly they were sweet, almost like yellow cake, and in a place with creole influence it would be interesting to see these made with vanilla and lavender and sprinkled with powdered sugar as hushpuppy beignets (or maybe with apple and caramel). The food here is elegant. Definitely high quality and cooked with finesse.

Extremely busy restaurant on a Saturday night so we sat at the bar. Chelsea ordered a signature cocktail but I chose to abstain since I had a couple before and I was driving. We ordered the Crab Cake for an appetizer which was shareable and well prepared plus a side salad. We decided to share an entree as well and ordered the Snapper Ponchatrain. It was a large portion of snapper topped with a Creole Crawfish Sauce. This dish was excellent. I almost forgot to take photos...the Snapper picture was taken after sharing. Tortuga's is a little pricey but well worth it. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

Solid lunch option in Port A - probably the best from what I've seen. The service was excellent, every single one of the staff were very sweet. For those of you with four-legged friends, the patio is covered and dog friendly! We had lobster bisque and then I had the lobster roll and my date had the fish and shrimp combo entree. All were tasty! I'd eat lunch here again when I'm in town.

After trying to avoid backed up traffic from the beach, we pulled into this spot. We were seated quickly and ordered. Food was quick to come out and was packed with flavor! Everything we ordered as delicious! And might I add, the place was decorated nicely with lots of coastal themes. Plenty of seating inside and out. So if you're looking for somewhere to stop after a long day at the beach, you can go wrong here.

We found Tortugas on a recent visit to Port Aransas, I had the fish tacos and my wife had the Boudin Balls both were very good! Our waiter Brendan? was excellent!!

Food is AMAZING. Most of the available seating is outside and that's unfortunate as I'm sure it gets really hot in the summer. It was pleasant while we were there and o was thankful for that. Boudin balls are highly recommended!

Disappointing. Taste is not good. The steak got burnt. Service is slow and not good. 2 pieces of steak, 1-2inches in length and less than an inch in width. 4 small shrimps. The crab cake is ok but dry.

Probably some of the best oysters I've ever had! I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu!

Phewwwww is this place good, from the espresso martini, to the catch of the day, shrimp, service, everything! Glad we could try this place out

Great service today. Cold beer and glass! Just a quick stop in for a drink and appetizer.

Went here for my birthday the service was great. The food was delicious I got the fried shrimp plate super delicious. I will definitely be back when visiting Port Aransas.

I was dismayed when the host was going to seat a party of older ladies inside with a dog. But they went outside (as dogs prefer) Our server was efficient and island level professional. The fish was fresh and well cooked and my goat cheese salad was good. The margarita was Chili's quality and our key lime pie came with some green goo. It's pricey for its level of excellence. We'd probably go again if we wintered there, but as occasional tourists we'll pass.

I made a reservation for my family we were a party of ten and they were busy. They said they couldn't sit us together but side to side. We didn't get that though. They sat us back to back. We weren't happy about that and the manager basically told us to deal with it. The food was meh at best but so is most of the Port A food. Except they are charging premium dollar for bland food. I wouldn't spend 400 dollars there again

The food was excellent. The crabcakes were worth every penny and the crab bisque was excellent. It's such a wonderful old-fashioned soup and this did not taste too heavy or fatty. It was a pleasant surprise. The service was wonderful. The waitress seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the food. I had a Caesar salad. The dressing was excellent. It didn't taste like it came from a bottle. The ambience was OK. Nothing special but all in all, A really nice place to go for dinner.

We ate here early last night, met a couple for dinner and enjoyed it very much! (Visiting from the Austin area). We have been here a few years ago, still very good!! First, we loved our "Pain Killer" cocktail to start. Rum, pineapple, OJ... yum! We all ordered the Crab crusted fish with a Caesar salad. It was a big fish so my husband and I shared it We liked our server and service, but I forgot her name.

The wife and I were in Port Aransas celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary. We made reservations for Tortuga's Saltwater Grill and they did not disappoint. We made reservations to sit outside knowing at this time of the year it would be a beautiful night once the sun goes down. Our waitress was excellent, she knew the menu and was very knowledgeable about the local catch and what was imported. The food and beverages were excellent. The wife chose to eat the seafood pasta and I got the black and blue fillet. Excellent place to celebrate our anniversary. Thanks Tortuga's

Service was great and the food was delicious, Ordered the low carb breakfast and turned it into an omelette mixed with spinach and onion's and added a hint of cheese on top, it was perfect. The restaurant was clean, comfortable, and well put together. I would definitely return to this restaurant.

I've eaten here 4 times in the past few years while visiting the Island. The last two times, we ate at the bar and were served by Roy. She (named after her grandfather) was one of the most knowledable and enthusiastic bartender/servers I've met. My wife and I had the Shrimp n Grits, Crusted Tuna w/braised kale (normally don't like kale). Tuna had an Asian flair and grits was more of a gits cake/cornbread. All food was Excellent, the clams are awesome too. But Roy made it a great experience. Fast, kind, knowledgeable , and engaging . Can't way til next trip.

The food and cocktails were tasty (specifically the southern fried shrimp, cucumber vodka martini, and espresso martini). I enjoyed that they had Christmas decor up at the end of November. It was nice sitting on the patio with the decor and Christmas music playing in the evening. Ambience was fantastic!

Tried to pop in here for an early dinner on a Tuesday. The hostess was not accommodating or friendly and were told it was a 3 hour wait. What stuck with us was the strong smell of seafood gone bad mixed with sewer. Not a pleasant experience. We took our service elsewhere.

If I could give this location a 10 star review, I would. This is our second time here & whenever we come back to Port Aransas, we will for sure stop in. I really wish I got our waitresses name, because she was fantastic. She was patient & kind with our kids, and when our baby started to fuss she played with him for a bit to get him to smile. She was very attentive & made our experience all the better. The food was absolutely delicious. My husband got the seared tuna & I got the lobster mac. Everything was cooked to perfection. Keep in mind, they have a breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menu. I'd love to come back and try out their offerings for breakfast/brunch.

Loved this restaurant! The food and the service were amazing. I had the lemon fish, and it was simply amazing! It came with risotto and asparagus that were very flavorful. I loved every bite. Everyone else was also pleased with dish, we all thought our own dish was the best. The cocktails were yummy here too. I had an espresso martini and loved it. We got a reservation for our party of five, and got our table very quickly. There's outside seating and indoor seating.

This place was amazing ! We ate there twice once outside and Alex was our waiter and he did a great job, he's very knowledgeable about the menu . We had the fish of the day with shrimp. It was so good the sauce was amazing!!! The crab imperial for an appetizer was really good also . The second time we sat inside at the bar and had Roy as a server . We had drinks and the shrimp cocktail. Food and service were great . We will definitely be back !!