Tortuga's Saltwater Grill

From the moment we walked in, Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill struck the perfect balance between upscale atmosphere and warm, beach-town charm. The staff greeted us with genuine friendliness, and the service remained attentive and friendly throughout our evening. The menu offers a delightful array of fresh seafood and prime steaks. We began with the truffle fries and were hooked—they arrived crispy, flavorful, and generously portioned. For our main courses, the surf & turf and blackened fish of the day both stood out: the seafood tasted vibrant and fresh, and the steak was cooked perfectly. Sides and accompaniments complemented the mains without overpowering them. Ambience here is a subtle strength. The décor is refined yet relaxed, and it never felt stuffy. Whether you’re visiting for a special dinner or a casual night out, the setting fits perfectly. The patio seating is a nice bonus for enjoying the Gulf breeze. Highly recommended.

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!! ❤️❤️❤️

This is one of my favorite restaurants on this earth. I travel and love to eat at different restaurants. The fish is so delicious. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. And, I LOVE their t-shirts. I get a few every time. My friends and family love them too. I highly recommend this place.

Wow wow wow! Where do I even start! Best Bloody Mary I've EVER had! The house made mix is insane! I'm from Mississippi and I've never had eggs Benedict on a biscuit (and it comes with crab) take me now Lord! The painkillers! Well let me say my husband is feeling no pain and volunteered to carry me to the car! Thank you Roy for a great bar brunch! Will be back forever, because how could we leave here!

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.

Wide selection of seafood choices. If you have grown tired of fried catfish and hushpuppies, this the place for you. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the menu / specials for food, wine, beverages and even local entertainment.

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.

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.

I began with the Poke'! It was awesome. I loved the sauce, it was very fresh. Then I tasted the crab dip. It to was delicious, as was the steamed clams. I tried the truffle fries and thought they were as good as any other truffle fries I've ever had. That includes the Capital Grille. For my entrée, I had the blacken and red fish , with a étouffée sauce and lump crab. The fish was seasoned perfectly, I would've liked to have seen the sauce with a little bit more spice. It was still great. We were celebrating a birthday, so several desserts were ordered, you could not go wrong with the chocolate cake or the caramel cheesecake. Finally, the service was as good as any other restaurant that I've ever been to. The waiter was knowledgeable, but more important than that he was nice and had a wonderful attitude. It was crowded, but I did not take away from the ambulance.

Food was good Service was good and location was great The portion size was perfect I recommend the gumbo

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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!

Great restaurant, the staff is friendly and engaged. The blackened snapper is my favorite, either just the blackened snapper or the Pontchartrain version, and the Tortuga pecan chocolate cake is devine. Tortuga's is our go to restaurant when in Port Aransas.

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 dined here for dinner during a family vacation. Everything was amazing, but my personal favorite was our waitress Laura, who made sure our dining experience was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. Her recommendations and detailed descriptions of the dishes made it easier to narrow down what to get on a many where everything sounds delicious. You can tell she's passionate about her job and happy to be there. For me, a waitress like that makes the whole experience go from good to a lasting memory in which you look forward to returning in the years to come. I got the lemon pepper flounder which was delicious, my husband got the ponchartrain which he also devoured. The cucumber martini was the best!! So refreshing and delicious! Then for dessert we got the chocolate eruption with the Goodfellow martini (if I'm not mistaken!) It paired wonderfully together and it was a perfect ending to a delicious meal with perfect service. 10/10 chefs kiss!

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.

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

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.

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.

Tortuga's is the spot you want on the island. The seafood tower was fresh and tasty, packed with flavor from start to finish. The drinks were just as impressive and made the night even better. This is the kind of place where you meet great people, enjoy incredible food, and leave already planning your next visit. Highly recommend.

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.

My husband Dr. John Schmitz and I went to Tortuga's for my birthday lunch today (we had our elderly Bichon Frise Tucker with us and were happy to sit outside.) When we first walked in, an elderly customer and her dog greeted us warmly and the dogs were happy to sniff one another and wag their tails. After we ordered our lunch, another couple came up the staircase and their aggressive pit bull attacked our dog. Thankfully, Tucker and the other dog were NOT injured. As a lifelong reporter and news anchor, I have covered many stories about the severe injuries and deaths that untrained pit bulls can cause. As we awaited our lunch, the manager came out and falsely claimed that our dog "got off his leash twice," which is a complete lie. He then asked us to LEAVE the restaurant. This experience ruined my birthday and I would never recommend Tortuga's to anyone. We are guests at Cinnamon Shores condos and we were warmly welcomed to Doc's restaurant last night and other restaurants like Trout Street, the Roosevelt and Snoopy's for fun, safe dining experiences. We were shocked by the Tortuga manager's false claims about our dog (and even the native of Port A with the friendly dog) told me how shocked she was to see us kicked out of the restaurant when it was the pit bull that caused all the chaos and dissension. We are from San Antonio and will let everyone know about this VERY disturbing dining experience.

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.

9/04/2025: The 2 stars is for the manager's give a sxxx attitude about the servers cleaning the Resturant at 4:00PM before the Friday crowd comes in. We have been to Tortuga's many times in the past and have enjoyed it, but never again. Who wants to have a late lunch when EVERYTHING from ceiling fans, to windows, to light fixtures are being cleaned? No thanks. On the other hand, our server Christina, as always, was terrific. Too bad the manager doesn't observe and follow her lead.

Went for an early dinner / late lunch and enjoyed the Fish Fry and the Crab Crusted Red Fish and a Calabrian Spritzer - perfect refresher for an afternoon at the beach. The ambiance was beautiful, soothing, and calm. The staff are friendly and the food was so good and it was in walking distance to our rental! The portions are generous, especially with the fish fry!

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 !!!

I was so looking forward to eating here...unfortunately it did not turn out to be a pleasant experience. The waiter was basically absent. Totally ignored us after taking our order. Our food came out and everything on my plate was cold, my husbands was ok. Had to finally ask someone to find our waiter who was nowhere to be found. He said he would let the manager know and took my plate. Brought my refire out and the only thing that was hot was the fish. Manager still didn't come out to talk to us. Again we had to flag the waiter down to get our check. Will not return.

So after the restaurants from absolute hell we made our 3rd and last attempt at dinner. Its turned out awesome. Brian our waiter was amazing. We were hangry and he handled us amazingly. The food was good the service was great. If your waiters and hostesses take care of your customers, your customers will post fabulous reviews.

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.

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.

Love the vibe in this restaurant, I have been before and recall the great cocktail at the bar area. Just wanted a light meal and they nailed it with the crab cakes! Yummy!

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.

Ate here for Sunday brunch after an unsuccessful morning of fishing. Pleasant interior with a decent covered patio eating area if you prefer. They have a special brunch menu with a number of dishes that sounded great. I opted for the steak and hash, and my wife the migas. Great quality food, tender steak tips, and good portions. A little pricey, but maybe not for Port A. Server was great and had good recommendations. I would say it's a little higher class than a normal beach bar, but I was incredibly casual and felt completely welcomed. Highly recommend.

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!!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Brian was our waiter and he was awesome! Food was delicious and delivered within a reasonable amount of time. Great place and would come here again!

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!

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

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.

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

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.

Perfect dinner spot on the island! Great food-- had the poke, pasta, and fried fish! Also the service was even better! Brayden made our evening so special with his charming personality and excellent servant heart! We couldn't have left happier! Shoutout to Dayana too for being a pleasant host with a great attitude! Will be coming back!!!