TopWater Grill
This entry was posted on 1/20/2007 11:32 AM and is filed under Seafood, Hidden Gems, Out of Town Destinations.
We had heard this restaurant was written up in Southern Living, and friends who live in the Clear Lake area had recommended it. It took us an hour to get to this hole-in-the-wall seafood restaurant in San Leon, Texas. We figure an hour one-way road trip warrants categorization as an Out of Town Destination. Be sure to go on MapQuest to get directions or look at the map on the website, or you'll likely get lost.
Housed in a ramshackle wooden structure, with lots of outdoor seating, the restaurant is located directly on the water. To suggest there's no dress code is an understatement. Anything goes. The dress of the hostesses and wait staff was so casual, we couldn't figure out who they were. We hear bathing suits are just fine when the weather permits. Boats can dock right at the restaurant.
The menu is quite large and varied. Although seafood predominates, there are choices for non-fish lovers. We started with the 2+2+2 baked oyster sampler. There are a number of styles from which to pick and we liked all the ones we selected -- garlic butter, rockefeller, and crab au gratin. We then tried the seafood gumbo which was the only disappointment of the evening; nothing to write home about, stick with Goode Company. We moved on to the Florida stone crab special -- 10 meaty claws for $20, which was quite a bargain. Served with a remoulade sauce, they were delicious. We then shared the whole stuffed flounder. Topped with a pink creamy sauce (called Pontchartrain on the menu), the fish was wonderfully fresh and flavorful, although we would have preferred a stuffing that was less gooey with more discernible ingredients (i.e., the billed crab). The mixed vegetables were fresh and appropriately cooked.
We had good service, even though the waiter seemed a little anxious to take our order, asking us a few too many times. And the place wasn't crowded. That being said, the food arrived hot from the kitchen. And the waiter and manager were quite helpful when the clutzy one of us slashed her finger on a stone crab claw.
If you find yourself in the Kemah area or you're looking for a restaurant on the water and want an alternative to the commercial and crowded Kemah Boardwalk, this place definitely deserves a trip.
815 Avenue O, San Leon, Texas
281/339-1232
http://www.topwatergrill.com/
