Dining In Style: The 5 Best Waterfront Restaurants in Houston

With 4 franchises all over Texas, Sam’s Boat’s Richmond Ave. location stands out from other waterfront restaurants in Houston thanks to their delicious food and wonderful atmosphere to match!

We have to give it up for their diverse menu. There’s something for those who want seafood and those who are allergic to it as well. They’re not as cheap as we want them to be, but if you’re willing to fork over more than $10 for an appetizer, then you’ll like it.

Their Fresh Catch Flounder with the Lemon Butter and Veracruz topping tastes really good, and the butter complements the fish and the crabs (yes, the butter toppings come with crabs) well. 

We really liked their entertainment, as well! They don’t have an active band as of the time of writing, but there were performers over the Christmas holidays and they made the experience that much more fun for everyone inside!

But where Sam’s Boat falls short of being a waterfront restaurant is in the fact that the waterside seats are difficult to come by. You’ll have to reserve a seat first, or you’ll be sitting somewhere far from the waterside, which can defeat the point.

You can still have fun and enjoy your time at Sam’s Boa though! t Their Happy Hour starts at 11 AM ‘til 7 PM, and we suggest visiting them on Tuesday for their Texas Tuesdays for $5 Texas Pints and a dollar off drinks with Titos and Deep Eddy Vodkas.

There’s a lot to choose from, but we suggest you try out the Sam’s Lemonade specialty drink. It’s simple compared to their other drink options, but the sweet and sour goes well with the Deep Eddy Lemon, and the Sprite balances it all out nicely.

What we liked the most about Aquarium Restaurant is that they take “waterfront restaurant” to the next level. You don’t just eat near the water- you eat “inside” the aquarium itself! 

The atmosphere is thanks to the fact that the restaurant itself is in a functioning aquarium that you can visit and take trips in – but you can still visit them if you want a different kind of waterfront restaurant in Houston.

Their food option isn’t half-bad either – they have both seafood and non-seafood options that are as tasty as they look! We suggest ordering their Shrimp Platter, or you can also get the Gator & Shrimp Tacos if you’re up for a challenge.

Yes, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you – Gator & Shrimp Tacos. It’s fried alligator and shrimp with rice and seasonal vegetables. The gator tastes like a mix of chicken and fish, and it doesn’t overpower everything in the taco itself.

The Shrimp Platter is just a shrimp fiesta with three decently-flavored shrimp dishes. The shrimp en brochette is the clear star for us, since it’s perfectly cheesy, and eat it along with the rice and veggies – thank us later.

However, we have to mention that these delicious options do come at a price. The Gator & Shrimp Tacos costs $21, and the Shrimp Platter comes in at $29. Though the prices are a bit extreme, the portion sizes are huge which justifies the price.

Visiting them for more than their food is worth it though – even with the expensive prices. There are lots of events that you can take part in, and you’ll have lots of fun! 

As of the time of writing, you can take part in their Zoologist for a Day event on January 27th, 2024 where you can learn how to take care of animals, both in their aquariums and in their zoos!

A steakhouse that deviated into a waterfront restaurant, Brenner’s on the Bayou offers a different twist by serving you their steaks right beside Houston’s Buffalo Bayou.

Brenner’s takes pride in their steaks, and rightfully so. There are plenty of steak cuts available, but we recommend the 16 oz. USDA Prime Ribeye for the best experience, and order it medium well – it comes out really juicy!

Their seafood options don’t fall short, either! The Miso Glazed Sea Bass is our top pick if you’re craving for fish. The miso isn’t too overpowering and really compliments the freshly caught bass well.

We have to commend their expansive wine list, too! The Marques de Caceres goes well with their steak, and it has great legs that both wine connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike will enjoy.

But their fancy-sounding food does come at a fancy price. The 16 oz. Prime Ribeye costs $63. Yes, it’s as eye-watering as much as it is mouth-watering. The Miso Glazed Sea bass doesn’t even have a price, so you just know it’s pretty high up there, too.

However, their prices make up for it by being one of the most picturesque waterfront restaurants in Houston. You should visit them on Valentine’s Day, too – they turn the entire restaurant into a very intimate place and a perfect place to propose (*wink, wink*)

A riverside hotel located right beside Houston’s East River, Riverhouse Houston is a must-visit for Houstonians who want a waterfront restaurant with an overall wonderful dining experience!

Riverhouse Houston’s overall vibe is really chill and pretty, and it’s a relaxing place to be in. You also get to see Houston’s beautiful cityscape if you’re facing the right direction – which can be really pretty during the sunset.

Pair that beautiful view with their Charnoiled Chicken Craft Sandwich, and you’re in for a great time. The chicken breast is cooked just right, and the pepper jack cheese and avocado really help bring out the flavor of the chicken nicely.

Though their food is good, Riverhouse Houston falls short compared to other waterfront restaurants in Houston is that they don’t have plenty of seafood options. There are some, like their tasty Cedar Plane Salmon – but there’s not a lot to choose from.

But if you don’t mind their lack of seafood, then you should give them a visit on the weekends – especially if you’re a fan of live music! They have a live band performance every weekend starting at 9 in the morning, which really brightens the place even more.

And if you like being active, then Riverhouse Houston also has sporting events on the weekdays, too! They usually have Open Play Pickleball every weekday. They also have golf on certain days if you’re interested as well.

An upscale, conveniently located, all-American style bistro, Raffa’s is a great place if you’re looking for a waterfront restaurant overlooking Houston Lake while enjoying great food, too.

The view from Raffa’s is breathtaking. If you sit outside, you’ll have a premium seat overlooking Houston Lake. Breathing the fresh, lake air can help you enjoy your food to another level. It’s exactly what we expected when we heard “waterfront restaurant.”

But one thing we didn’t expect was their price! Most of their menu items are a couple of dollars cheaper compared to other waterfront restaurants in Houston – and as far as we can tell, it tastes like it can cost more than their price!

The Fillet Mignon is tender and tasty, but if you don’t want to spend $33 (and nobody can blame you), then the Chicken Under A Brick is great, too! It costs $25, and it’s grilled just right and comes with creamy grits that goes nicely with the chicken itself.

But we also strongly recommend that you make a reservation if you want to try them out. They have plenty of reservations at any moment, and if you try to go there on a whim then you’ll see at least a 30-minute wait, especially on a busy night.

If you do get a reservation though, then it’s completely worth it – especially since you can get a better deal for you and your family if you order their family pack! It’s a large serving of their regular food, and it’s all served with this delicious house salad!

Out of all of them, the Asian Salmon Pack is the one that’s most worth it, it’s grilled just right, and the Champagne Risotto really helps liven up the dish even more, too!