I am so disappointed....ambience is great, Hostess was friendly, & the waiter was attentive.....but the food was a disappointment. My seafood gumbo was adequate, but the rue left much to be desired. The fried shrimp was perfectly formed and patted like Mrs. Paul's frozen shrimp would look & taste. The cole slaw was bland. The French fries were probably the best part of the meal, & they weren't that great!
(1)
Karen C.
A Houston landmark! One of the best fried shrimp in town, if not the best! One of our celebration restaurants! I have tried a few items but love the fried shrimp, stuffed is Quite tasty!
(5)
Angel H.
Always our go to place for special occations when you are looking for a really great meal. We think they have some of the best fried shrimp in the city. Their sauces are home made as well as their dressings. I always have to get double blue cheese on my salad because it is so yummy. Sometimes when they are super busy (i.e. holidays) the service can be slow; but give them a break, it's a long busy day. If you need something, ask for it, and the waitstaff will happily accommodate.
(4)
Kate R.
Best fried shrimp I've had in years! Steak was also great. Daughter loved the dessert. Best part? The staff! They were so funny and nice. We were headed to Pappadeaux's but there was a long wait. So we tried Christie's. So glad we did. At Christie's there were no huge crowds, no wait, and no "chain" atmosphere. Family-owned restaurant with fantastic food. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Erika V.
I had dinner here for the first time a few weeks back with my daughter and a friend.. I liked the fact the the restaurant was hardly crowded and our food arrived quickly. Everything we ordered was wonderful!! They do indeed have the best fried shrimp that I have ever had, but that wasn't even the star of the meal. I ordered the Christie's Pride, which is a piece of white fish covered in crab sauce, yum!!!! We also had a dozen oysters which were fresh and delicious! The service and the decor were ok, but were by far out shined by the excellent food.... This is currently my favorite spot to eat past the Galleria :)
(4)
Rhonda C.
The fried shrimp is awesome!!!!!! I would highly recommend the raw oysters as well. The waitstafff is very friendly and accommodating. This is a hidden jewel.
(5)
Bill Z.
Excellent fried shrimp, though disagreeing with an earlier reviewer, you can do better at home (I prefer beer-battered fried shrimp). The crispness of the batter and taste was spot-on, and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. We got a nice deal on raw oysters (12 for 6.95), and we enjoyed them immensely. One star gets taken off because the seafood gumbo was a miss. The rue lacked the Cajun flavor and spice I expect in Gumbo. The service was top notch.
(4)
Butch T.
The flounder dish was huge and perfect cooked. Our waiter was quick and attentive. Nothing but good things to say about the food and service and cleanliness. However, the environment is very dated and dark -- a put off when you first come in -- sort of like a Ramada Inn restaurant in 1977. We ate early in the evening, so I imagine that it is more busy and lively later in the day.
(3)
Carlos S.
The overall service is ok. The restaurant was less than half full but still had to wait over to minutes for our food. I asked for red snapper but instead got catfish. It came with dirty rice but it was actually mexican rice. The food tasted ok but I did not get what I asked for. Will not be coming back.
(1)
Kendall G.
Like other reviewers have said, this is the best fried shrimp in Houston. We checked in and received a complimentary crab ball appetizer - it was really creamy, flavorful, and full of crab. We also had the fried calamari - it was average. The fish sandwich was large and very good, as well. Service was attentive but not overbearing. The atmosphere is fun - fish and old pictures of Houston on the walls. This is our new favorite spot for fried seafood.
(4)
M L.
My Family has been eating at Christies on Bellaire and now on Westheimer since we were kids. Employees are always friendly and great service! The shrimp dinner is Awesome! Way Way Better than Pappadeau's. Keep up the good work Christies!
(5)
Tiffany B.
This is one of the top seafood restaurants ever! No joke. Just left and had the Old Fashion Fisherman Platter. It comes with everything fried- catfish, scallops, shrimp, stuffed crab, and I substituted the oysters with more scallops. You also get the choice of a bake potato or fries with a salad. The staff is very professional and courteous. Plus it is family owned and operated since 1917, so they have a lot of experience.
(5)
Chanel J.
This was my first experience and will be my last. The service was mediocre not rude by far, but where is the seasoning. The flavors are underwhelming and the presentation left much to be desired. When we pulled into the parking lot it was very empty for a Friday evening, but decided to give it a try. As a native Houstonian I had not never heard of Christie's but we wanted to try a new place. Needless to say with these prices and taste, we should've turned out the half-empty parking lot and went to Pappadeaux!
(2)
Leslie M.
My bf and I were searching for a good happy hour to go to. We passed by Christie's and thought we'd give it a try. MY OH MY was it worth it. We started off with half a dozen oysters. Those have been the best oysters I've had in a very long time. We ordered two more along with their fried shrimp which was exquisite! Bf had their Moscow mule and i had a mango margarita. They were both delicious and perfect amount of liquor! Lastly we tried the shrimp etoufee... amazing, delicious etoufee!!! & the service was fantastic! Christina was very attentive and gave the best recomendations. Definitely an underrated rest.! Can't wait for us to go back!!!!!
(5)
Nik S.
Well it's just one of those places you grow up eating at. It's a Houston must visit just so you can. I grew up in the Houston area and am familiar with Christi's. It's the same now that it was when I was 10 no surprises. Visit so you can say you did and enjoy the food. It's not bad and it's not greAt.
(3)
Mike J.
The crawfish bisque is incredible. Its on par with Damian's lobster bisque and is SO much better than the crawfish bisque at Pappas. The crawfish tails were cooked perfectly and the bisque was very creamy but retained a nice strong flavor. As for the main course, the fried shrimp were also standout. The actual shrimp were of high quality: large, sweet, and the right texture. The catfish was perfectly cooked and not over done. The stuffed crab was ok. I'd be really curious to see how they do their scallops. For nice seafood at the $15- $25 per plate price range, this place is definitely 5 stars. I will come back.
(5)
Dre C.
Went there because of the fantastic reviews on yelp.... but was rather disappointed. The fried shrimps are large and good but nothing out of this world. It is also a bit on the pricer side of things. Other people in my party got the steak, which was not worth the price.
(3)
Monica L.
Have heard great things about this place, hence my friends and I decided to visit Christie's on Saturday night. The staff was friendly. The mini french breads were delicious. The gumbo was sweet which is just strange. The calamari in the calamari salad was underdone. The grilled seafood platter, was overcooked, and it was not grilled. Unfortunately, we will not be returning to this restaurant.
(2)
LOLA L.
We have been coming here for years, even before I was married. We always get the same- fried shrimp, side baked potato. The shrimp is consistent- fresh with a light batter. Never over crusted. The potato is always soft. And a must try is the remoulade sauce on the side! I only wish the onion rings were a bit more flavorful- but with the shrimp and potato, we are stuffed. The staff is always attentive. The ambiance is cute too. This is a great Houston landmark.
(4)
Lea P.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Christie's!!!! The best tarama in the world!!!
(5)
Max H.
I'm from San Antonio and as a child, my family use to go to Christie's on weekends. I'm not 100% positive the same owners of this Christie's and the now closed Christie's across from the museum in SA. are the same but i would not be surprised. Anyway, Christie's is definitely old-school. And they know what they are doing. Service is great. Fish is fresh. Try the crab balls, which are just smaller crab cakes. They have an awesome creamy texture. (I got them for FREE.!! Thanks to Yelp and the popup coupon on my iPhone app! ) I had the red snapper which was great. My side of green beans sauteed w bacon was refreshingly crisp not overdone . But as I looked around, I noticed most of the people were ordering jumbo fried shrimp. As the food envy built to a crescendo, I made a promise to myself that I would order those on my next trip.
(4)
Lee D.
Well reading mixed reviews being as old as it is, it must be doing something right and it is! First called to check if parking can handle large cars and has wifi. Answer yes and yes! So already who's answering the phone knows. Had a lunch seafood plate, shrimp cooked prefect, dam good! Stuffed crab actually Had lots of crab in it and crispy outer skin and moist inside, catfish done right crispy outside and moist inside and not the fishy taste most catfish has! Yep it was good too, had all three sauces and so good, each one had its own taste! Tarter, Cocktail, and remoulade. And fresh tea not the watered down pitchers that sit there. Also Italian dressing on house salad very tasty with fresh veggies. Service was spot on not over done and kept up! Jose was great server, and Maria came by and spoke with me as well and was very sweet and explained menu as well. Thumbs up!!!!
(5)
Jay Y.
Christie's is a classic seafood restaurant that has been around in the Houston area since the early 1900s. Its menu boasts a proud roster of traditional American seafood dishes, including its signature fried shrimp. Despite of its distance from Galveston, the restaurant decor will make you feel as if you are dining by the Bay! The southern hospitality and the attentive service from the waiting staff will make you feel at home. Unfortunately, Christie's food was bland in flavor and unimpressive in presentation. Christie's signature fried shrimps were as large as its reputation and fresh judging by the texture, but sadly they were lacking in flavor. The onion rings were also strangely bland too. I thought it was disappointing that the cole slaw was the only thing that tastes like something. The bottom line is that Christie's, especially its fried shrimps, is an experience that should be had at least once if you are into the Houston dining scene because of its history, but do not expect anything surprising from the food here. *Go during weekday lunch or happy hour for cheaper pricings. You can secure an entree of six signature fried shrimps, which includes cole slaw and fries (Substitute it for onion rings if you like) for $13.95. --- tl;dr version: 1) Nice decor that tricks you into thinking you are close at Bay 2) Southern hospitality = Pleasant dining experience 3) Bland and disappointing seafood
(3)
Robevra S.
I went to this place for the first and last time. I don't understand how the food could be worth the price they are asking. Please understand I am speaking the truth it was so bad the manager gave me my money back the taste of this restaurant food was terrible don't waste time or money going there.
(1)
Amber E.
My husband and I are not happy campers. The service was so slow in regards to attentiveness that we decided to order appetizers and leave for another restaurant. The shrimp cocktail was fresh, and the crab balls were good. Unfortunately, we will not return.
(2)
Carl R.
The decor was nice and what you'd expect from a seafood restaurant. I went when there wasn't much of a crowd so the waiter was accommodating and attentive. I ordered the 14oz sirloin strip with a baked potato and a cup of gumbo on the side. Everything was hot and tasted fresh. The steak charred nicely but was a bit bland in my opinion. Not a total loss seeing as how adding table salt and pepper easily fixed it, but I do like the seasoning charred into the meat. I don't normally order baked potatoes as sides as it tends to be a bit much, but the size of it was perfect especially considering the gumbo. Again, that too was a bit bland even with the sour cream, butter, cheese and chives. I'm a bacon bits fan so that may have been the letdown for me. The gumbo had the most flavor but it was something different about it. I kind of smelled and tasted like they put curry in it. If they did, it wasn't necessarily bad as it was different. Overall it was a pleasant dinner but my only gripe would be that for what you get, it's not worth the price, which from what I can see, rival that of a Pappadeaux.
(4)
Yolonda K.
Decided to give this place a try for Restaurant Week, great disappointment. Started out with a garden salad which was composed of iceburg lettuce, croutons and 1/8 piece of a tomato. Being served iceburg lettuce at restaurant that charges up to $30 for a meal is very surprising...can we step it up to spring mix. For the meal, I ordered the Trout and my husband ordered the Salmon Royale. The presentation was decent but both lacked flavor. We rounded off the meal with a slice of key lime pie and bananas foster which was the best part of the meal. Their menu for Restaurant Week is a bit of a rip off because some of the meal options you can put together actually total less if your ordered them off the regular menu. If I can order chicken, salad and a desert for $28, why are you charging me $35 for it? I guess these selections are for the people who can't add. The restaurant seems ideal for an older clientele that may need simpler food options with less seasoning. In my opinion, it is entirely overpriced for the experience and quality of food.
(2)
Maureen S.
We have been coming here for years. In fact, 5 generations of our family have been enjoying the fish sandwich and the fried shrimp almost from the inception of the restaurant. The plump, juicy fried shrimp are some of the best around. And, I love the fact that it still is owned by the family that originally started the restaurant.
(4)
Jamey W.
Great hole in the wall seafood and steak house. It is deceiving from outside but take one step in and you won't be disappointed. The Athenian Tilapia was amazing and I will have to have it again.
(4)
Naomi A.
To me, it was bland and boring. Just like the date who took me! Nothing special, interior was good at nostalgic, bad way out of date.
(2)
Rebecca N.
Christie's is what Houston is all about. My mother (from Iowa) told me once that she married my father because she knew she would get to live in Houston and eat fried shrimp. I've no doubt she meant at Christie's. (1940's) I remember as a child going to Christie's when it was in what is now the Houston Medical Center. (1960's) It was the only place that had white table cloths that my parents would take me and my four brothers. All these years later and I can swear that the service and the food remains as high quality as ever. (They've been at the Westheimer location just west of the Galleria since 1965). You can not buy tartar sauce as delicious as their tartar sauce. It is amazing. Pass me a spoon. Now they are serving salads that fit perfectly with the summer season. There is a lump crabmeat salad with avocado and mango with the perfect mix of fresh peppers, onion, and vinaigrette. Wow! This restaurant is the best!
(5)
Hot M.
Awesome , authentic, feels like Florida seafood. We had three drinks , all were carefully crafted. Steak was ok however , everything else was a 10 . Service , check. Food, check. Parking, check. It was a great experience from beginning to end. Try the frozen margarita with grand marnier, your husband will thank me later.
(5)
Keith M.
What a disappointment... I am an avid Yelp user as I travel a lot and always use Yelp to find a good restaurant close by; however, this is the first time I've been let down. Recently moving into the uptown area, I noticed this place and all the cars out front. Decided to Yelp it and was impressed with reviews and history. Started tell my friends that we needed to make a visit here. Last night had friends over and made reservations. All looked well, the menu looks great but having read the reviews, many of us decided on the house favorite, fried shrimp. Received the free crab balls appetizer... yuck. If you like stuffing, you will love these. The shrimp came and the first thing my guest said was that these looked like they were Gordon's frozen shrimp. I think he was right. Just plain old box frozen shrimp. No way you can hand bread and fry shrimp and they look like all identical and the texture of shrimp were mushy. Yes, I need a doggy bag to bring many home because I wanted to post a picture of them so others won't make same mistake (if I can figure out how to do a pic upload!). $150 disappointment and embarrassment! At least the two bottles of wine and company was great. In retrospect, we should have tried other items and not all settled on the shrimp. Maybe the other menu items are worth it. Keith
(1)
Chris L.
My girlfriend and I went for a nice dinner here and were disappointed. We ordered Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer, they were mediocre. We both ordered specialty seafood, once again disappointed. The place isn't "bad" it just isn't very good. I wouldn't recommend it and won't be returning.
(2)
Thuy T.
Decided to finally try Christie's after being avid Roula and Ryan show listeners. We came in pretty early on a Saturday - about 5:30pm and there was only one other table there. It was very dim and nautically decorated. Could use some updating. We ordered the Oysters Rockefeller to start. They were just okay; needed some more texture. The salads were typical, nothing to comment on. I ordered the Beluche and he had the Christie's Pride. Unfortunately neither of these dishes were much to be proud of. They were both terribly bland and required a lot of salt, pepper, lemon, and tobasco to make them tolerable. We both got asparagus as a side and thankfully they were fine. We decided to pass on dessert after our disappointing entrees. The service was alright, friendly enough. They have a bad habit of putting too much ice in your glass of water, in such a way that one sip immediately requires another refill. All in all, the food was bland and the value wasn't great. We don't plan on returning.
(2)
Gokhan K.
I have been seeing Christie's Seafood for a long time which is on my way to drive home. Finally I gave it a shot and it was not the last one. I loved service, appetizers and the options they offer with the main course. Raw oysters were very fresh and tasty. Fried calamari was really good. I ordered chargrilled salmon and it came with greek salad and baked potato. You can also pick different sides instead of baked potato as french fries or vegetables. Prices are reasonable according to plates and service. There is a modification at the outside of restaurant. I think it will have a better outlook soon.
(4)
Vic C.
It was OK, but I wouldn't drive 30 minutes again. YMMV if you live in the neighborhood - I think I'd probably eat here frequently if I did. Service 3 1/2 - standard well-meaning but semi-professional. Wait, what do I mean "standard" - well-meaning semi-professional is actually very good *for* *around* *here*. Food pretty good. Salad 3 - bleu cheese dressing OK, greens nothing to write home about, cornbread outstanding - the gritty, not-too-sweet kind I like. Fried shrimp 4, stuffed shrimp 2 1/2 - I don't know what the stuffing was intended to be, but to me it tasted like bread crumbs inside of breading- what's the point of that? Onion rings 4 - not the style I like (I prefer tempura style to the flat coating), but good for what they were. Baked potato 5 - fluffy with a tender skin (I like to eat the skin) and super-loaded as I had requested. Hubby said the burger was good. It was also more than he could eat. I had one of his fries to see how they were - 4 1/2. Crispy on the out side and fluffy on the inside, hot and tasty. I should have shaken a tad of salt on them. Well. I'm drawing the conclusion from my own writing that the food must have made a positive impression on me - when do I do star ratings? Never. The decor was old-fashioned (as well as just old) and cute. I liked it. The booths were comfortable. According to houston.tx.gegov.com/med… it is pretty clean. The view is of lovely Westheimer, and the sound system music is supplemented by the lovely sound of sirens, but what are you gonna do......? The wine list prices were also pretty good. I did start out with a bad impression, though, and it's probably why I'm three instead of four stars. I was served the worst martini I've ever had in a restaurant, and I've had plenty of bad ones. (I order them fully aware that it's a 40/60 chance, at best, of getting an acceptable one, much less a good one. I know, I should just give up. I just can't get it through my head that, yes, people can mess up something that simple. A lot.) (BTW, I do mean an actual martini, not some yucky concoction served in a martini glass.) It was water, basically. I had ordered it stirred (mentioning as an aside that that meant I did not want it watered down, even elaborating that the time in contact with the ice should be limited.) Then I hear from the bar stirring. A pause. And stirring. A pause. And stirring. A pause. I'm saying to hubby (as this goes on and on), "I hope that is not my poor martini." It was.
(3)
Concerned C.
One of my top favorite restaurants. They have the best crap cakes in the shell and super yummy fried shrimp, greek salad and onion rings. This is an old school seafood restaurant and if you have not been, you should go.
(5)
Falicia B.
I will never go back to this place. We went over there yesterday June 15th for Father's Day because my dad wanted to go there to try a different place. When we were ordering my dad wanted the seafood platter, but he wanted some of his food grilled. The manager and the waitress kept telling us they couldn't do that on yesterday because it was too busy, but if it was another day when it was slow then they could. Let's say it didn't really make sense to me given that we have gone to other resturants and not had this problem. So we chose not to settle and give them our money. And we left and went to pappadeaux's instead. Which is right down the street. We ate very well and my dad got what he wanted on Father's day.
I've been coming here for years and I have never had a a bad experience. Nice little seafood restaurant that offers an intimate atmosphere with no screaming kids! (At least when I've been there, knock on wood!) If you are greeted by an old man that smells of lavender and is super friendly, he is the owner -when he speaks to you...you cannot help but smile! I've always ordered the small order of fried shrimp. They serve the largest an the best tasting shrimp I have ever had. The small order leaves you stuffed! It comes with a salad and a baked potato too. So there is never any room in the inn to ever attempt a desert! Oh yah! We had the shrimp cocktail for the first time last night it was pretty good as well.
(4)
LaKesha C.
Mediocre at best....the best thing at this place is the crab balls and drinks. Poor food presentation, quality and taste. Probably not gonna head back to Christie's.....
(2)
Tony W.
Well, I sat at the bar on a slow night after attempting to dine across the street. The service was top notch. If you follow my reviews I eat out often due to business travel. Here is what I can say, I loved the service, I loved the oysters, I loved the company. I would return and will next time I am in Houston, anywhere in Houston. Me, I probably wouldn't order fried shrimp anywhere, but that's just me... I like my seafood fresh as can be and the oysters were excellent. Martinis were top shelf, better than across the street!
(3)
Arsalan K.
Just like the restaurant the decor is 100 yes old as well. Food is okay. I think the best thing they have is French fries. Bread is ordinary. Fried calamari was the best thing we ordered. Vinaigrette dressing is full of oil. Blackened Salmon which was very bland and boring. Shrimp with garlic sauce was average. Fried shrimp was average as well
(2)
Himanshu K.
The first look from outside might drive u to the nearby Pappadeaux :D !! But one u get in u feel comfortable about ur decision to go inside, the food is nice , tried Salmon . . . . was good at it best , but the accompanying side dishes and the salads were nice too so overall a decent dinner, The Almondine filet on on my friend's plate looked good as well. Value for money : Kind of , Yes Taste : Decent Service : Decent Ambience: Ok Overall a decent experience.
(4)
Justine H.
At first I didn't know what to think when I came in. The place was literally empty and it felt a little creepy like "The Shining" creepy. Then we sat down and looked at the menu, the prices seem steep but don't let that fool you! We ordered the Calamari Appetizer, Shrimp and Catfish Plate, and the Shrimp Alfredo. To be honest, the Calamari itself was so so, but the tomato sauce seemed fresh and there was a LOT of calamari. I nearly got full off the appetizer alone. Next, my boyfriend's salad and my crawfish bisque came. These came with our entrees. The crawfish bisque was d.e.licious and hit the spot. It was hot, creamy, rich, and the crawfish in it were great. And both were in generation portions. NOW... the kicker... my boyfriend's Shrimp and Catfish Plate come out. Huge shrimp and a generous portion of catfish. My Shrimp Alfredo comes out with huge shrimp but not the "Red Lobster" portion I was expecting. The surprise is that the fried shrimp is perfectly crispy and delicious on the outside without being greasy AT ALL. There's no weird oily residue! This is accredited to some kind of special oil that they use. If I recall correctly there is a whole story on the fried shrimp and oil on their menu. The shrimp was nice and firm like a lobster tail, and the catfish was buttery and flaky. HANDS DOWN BEST SHRIMP ALFREDO I'VE HAD YET. I know how to make alfredo dang it, but this one.... whew. The parmesan they use must be aged because you can really taste the nuttiness in the sauce. It tasted SO home-made. It was rich but not too thick. The portion doesn't look big but, I kid you not, I made the food last for 4 days just so I could taste it again and again. Maybe half because I was poor as well (ha ha). Surely you've passed Christie's up time and time again and never thought of going in. Trust me.. there is some incredible food inside once you get past the weird vibe of the place.
(4)
Dee H.
Challenge time. I am to try 5 seafood places here in Houston that are not chains that have good seafood. I think it would be easy. I mean we are the 3rd coast here right? We do got Cajun flavors. But since gas is kinda spendy right now and our place to beat is in Galveston, saving time and money to find a good enough place here seems to be a worthy investment. I decided to go with a living legend who had their origins in ... Guess where? Galveston! This spot is kinda deceiving from the outside with the lighthouse and white washed walls, inside it is all tablecloths and silverware. There is a bar that has happy hour specials too for the lush in you. On to the food. I had the catfish platter. It was a nicely sized portion, fried perfectly golden brown with fried and some pretty decent cole slaw. What irked me was the warm tartar sauce (maybe the heating lamp too high?) and the bland catfish. It was just okay and lacked any kind of oomph on the seasoning end. Ith fish sandwich was slightly better but still was lacking in the flavor department. So trial #1 ends in failure. Luckily I have 4 more chances to get it right.
(2)
Jessica B.
I literally threw up in the parking lot after eating here. Disgusting and overpriced.
(1)
Sean L.
Although I'm from Austin, TX I've been to Houston only a handful of times. Normally it's a layover on flights but this time I was actually sent here for company business. After a long day of work and heading to the hotel to change, I found myself down at the Medical Center area and was ready for dinner. My thought was to head to the Galleria area to find a place to eat, so I headed that way. After driving down Westheimer Road and seeing all the chains and regular resturants I decided to pull over and use my Yelp application on my HTC EVO. So I started my search and was in the mood for some seafood since I'm close enough to the ocean. I found Christie's. After reading some reviews I was hoping that they were right. I went in and immediately got greeted by multiple employees. As I looked around it looked like an older establishment, which I don't mind, especially if the food was good. While being seated by the hostess I was asked if I would like a drink while I waited for my waiter, which I appreciated. While I mulled over the choices I was taken back by the amount of good choices. Nothing fancy here as far as fowl or seafood from some tiny island in the Pacific. Just plain menu items that feature keywords like "Gulf Shrimp", "Canadian Sea Scallops" and the like. I can appreciate knowing where the seafood is from but they need not try to impress me with unknown locations for descriptions, I'll let the food do the talking. After a brief time, my waiter came to greet me and brought me a drink and asked if I was ready to order. I asked about the market price for the oysters and asked about a couple items on the menu. I told him to give me 5 minutes and he did. When he came back, I ordered the Crawfish Bisque and the Fried Shrimp and Oyster plate with baked potato. Sounded good to me. Off the waiter when to put in my order and then brought me bread and butter. Okay the bread was fresh crusty and good. The butter was plain jane, nothing special, not like it was whipped or honey butter. However the bread was pretty good and hot! When my dinner came the potato looked like a good size. A good amount of Shrimp and nice plump oysters. The breading wasn't too thick and it was just enough and light. Now the shrimp was incredibly good. Not overcooked, large, fresh and was downright tasty. I could eat a bunch of these puppies. Now the oysters were very good too. Not under or overcooked, nice light breading and was absolutely delicious! During the entire meal, my waiter was attentive and refilled my Diet Coke whenever it got low. Other wait staff would walk by and check on me too. Maybe it was because I am incredibly good looking but probably because they provide great service. I like this resturant, I'm glad I skipped the chains and tried something new. I would come back to this resturant any time. Enjoy!
(4)
Trish T.
My boyfriend and I met up here yesterday because it was Friday and I couldn't eat meat due to Lent. It was also convenient for me because I had to work down the street later. Keep in mind, I had to WORK later. Our waiter, Alberto, was TORTUGA SLOW. It wasn't peak hours and busy at all. I was there a little before 4:30 PM right in the middle of lunch and dinner. My boyfriend arrive first and had already ordered a drink. By the time I arrived, Alberto did NOT ask me if I'd like anything to drink. What if I was dehydrated and parched?! He never checked on our table and asked how the food tasted. But if he had asked, he would have known it tasted mediocre.
(1)
Wendy L.
The boyfriend has been dying to try this place because of the Yelp reviews and since it's in the area we live, we decided to go one night. I wasn't to fond of the atmosphere of the place. Definitely seemed like a little on the iffy side but that is very little to keep me away. As for the food, the boyfriend ordered crawfish etouffee, which was definitely good. But what blew me away was my entree, the fried shrimp. OMG the fried shrimps were the best I have ever tasted in my life. These shrimps aren't over battered and really fresh. Don't think anyone has a batter like Christie's. Definitely a seafood place you want to tried if you love fried shrimp!
(4)
Kim H.
Don't let the outside fool you. Great grilled shrimp, dirty rice , fried shrimp and crab balls. Generous portions too.
(5)
Gretchen P.
I have two very fond memories of Christie's. I suppose that's the type of place it is. Family owned, and full of warm service and great food. It's the perfect, "special occasion" restaurant. Oh, it's your step-grandparent's anniversary. Oh, you just found the perfect dress at Dimension's* for super cheap. Oh, you just landed your dream job after searching for ten years. Oh, it's 12:30 on a Tuesday. Rest assured, the service and food is not on par with the mildly dated interior. If you are looking for fried seafood with a kick of Louisiana, this is your place. Seriously. Many unknowing folk may be driving to Galveston to get something they can get in their own backyard. By all means, G-town needs our business (I am subtly referring to Ike's battering of Galveston's economy), but you really don't have to drive south on I-45 for roughly an hour to find some good seafood. Opened 93 years ago, this place knows what Gulf Coast residents crave. Seafood. And lots of it. Everything from Fried Oyster Po Boys to Lobster Thermidor to Oysters Rockefeller to Snapper to stuffed shrimp to shrimp made ten ways from Sunday to adding seafood toppings to the seafood. If you have not been, ugh, shame on you. Go! If you have not been recently, why are you still reading this review? *While here, make a point to head across the street to a great little hidden gem of a female boutique, Dimension's. No need for the ladies of the surrounding suburbs keep THAT gem to themselves.
(4)
Olivia K.
This was my second visit to Christie's and nothing had changed when it came to the service, atmosphere, and consistency of the food. You don't stay in business for as long as Christie's has without keeping your quality high. Christie's establishment has been on Westheimer for many years, which means that the building is a little old and the parking lot is in serious need of resurfacing and painting, but that doesn't take away from the high quality of service and food found inside. The restaurant features an oyster bar to your right as you walk in, and a water fountain and hostess stand to your left. There is nothing outstanding about the decor in this restaurant, in fact, it made me feel transported back to the 70's when this restaurant was probably last updated with new furniture and decor. It is all very clean, it just looks like they haven't changed much from the time I was born. Arrive early to sit in this cheesy lounge that will make you feel as though you have returned to a decade of polyester shirts, disco music, and the thick mustache worn by so many men. Don't mistaken the way the bar looks for the service you will get. The bartenders are incredibly knowledgeable and full of ability to make you whatever you would like. All of the staff from hostesses, bartenders, waiters, and busers are incredibly professional, friendly, and courteous. This is a classy restaurant that still has waiters in waist aprons, white table cloths, and cloth napkins. I've sat in a booth both times, and from the looks of the chairs, the booth is always a good idea. It hasn't been crowded on either of my visits, so a reservation may not be needed unless you have a larger party. I had the same waitress and same table on both occasions...very deja vu. However, the food choices were entirely different on both occasions. I sat down with the intention of being here for the long haul of a full 5 course meal. First course was the shrimp chowder. Typically when I think of chowder, I picture in my mind little bits of shrimp with too much corn. Not this chowder. It had large chunks of cut up shrimp, and hardly a piece of corn in sight. The chowder was very smooth, creamy, with just the right amount of seasoning, and served up steaming hot. Second course was their 6 boiled shrimp and 6 oysters on the half shell. The shrimp were not over boiled and had a hint of seafood seasoning and the oysters were plump and meaty. The cocktail sauce was probably four times the amount of cocktail sauce than I actually needed, but better too much than not enough. The only complaint I have about this course was that the price was listed as MKT (market) on the menu. Unless you ask, you don't know what you are spending on this otherwise inexpensive appetizer for the Houston area. Third course was the house salad. Nothing special to talk about. hard croutons, red onion slices, and green leaf lettuce with two wedge slices of tomato. I would have skipped the salad and opted for more veggies because it was very unimaginative and plain. Fourth course was dinner. I decided to indulge my need for fried food and ordered their famous fried shrimp of 4 fried shrimp and two stuffed shrimp. The shrimp was fresh and was just lightly breaded and fried just right. You would think it was easy to find good fried shrimp in Houston, but it's hard because so many restaurants aren't careful about the temperature when frying seafood. The shrimp were light and crispy on the outside while the shrimp were tender and flavorful. Absolutely an enjoyable and worthy way to send my calorie and fat intake over the edge. After four courses, I decided to go ahead and skip the fifth course of dessert. Nothing on the dessert menu looked appetizing as I had already stuffed myself. On my previous visit, I had tried the desserts. They are good, but nothing special to return here for. I'll stick to the oysters, shrimp, and fish at this landmark Houston seafood restaurant.
(4)
Travis A.
Food was mediocre, service was relatively slow, and it really wasn't all that busy.
(3)
Renee P.
I visited for the first time a few weeks ago. The combo of stuffed shrimp & fried shrimp was recommended to me by the waiter. It was okay. Fresh & hot. The fried shrimp had a little too much breaking for my liking. The breadcrumb stuffing for the stuffed shrimp could use more seasoning/ salt. Gumbo was good, had to put a little salt in it though. I decided to give the place another try with a girlfriend of mine. Order a Greek shrimp dish swimming in tomato sauce & feta cheese. Again, just OK and I noticed for the second time in a row my salad had brown edges and was not fresh. The homemade salad dressings were delicious, maybe they should marinate the food in them :)
(2)
Christy D.
I had dinner here after work one Friday evening. They were not packed at all and they had happy hour going on (it lasts till 7) with an appealing array of food and drinks. Crab balls, seafood fondue, all sorts of flavored margaritas...good stuff! After initial drinks of the house merlot and plain margarita (really good!!) my fiance and I split the 6 fried shrimp plate (came with salads and onion rings), seafood fondue and crab balls. The Greek salads we had were delicious! Not surprising considering this place is run by Roula's family (of Roula and Ryan show fame). The seafood fondue was pretty good...the oysters weren't the best though, but it's the start of the season and they didn't have any fresh ones so that probably explains it. The buttery dunking bread it was served with was not in hefty supply and they charge for extra so we subbed free hot fresh rolls after we ran out to dunk in the fondue. Both were fairly tasty, mostly because of the freshness factor. The crab balls were good...just like a balled up crab cake. Interesting remoulade too...good but appeared to have a lot of mayo. The shrimp were the star of the show though. Light and crunchy breading, almost like panko bread crumbs. These were no heavy thickly battered shrimp, but they were perfect in every way. Definitely a winner! Onion rings were aight. We split the strawberry daiquiri cheesecake for dessert and it was a great finish. Nothing out of this world, but still tasty. Service was excellent and well-paced. I love supporting family run business; I'd come back!
(4)
Stacy w.
There's a reason why Christie's has been around for so long - the seafood is awesome! I don't know if it's because I rarely get great seafood (living in Dallas) or what, but Christie's had the best stuffed shrimp I've had in years. It was so flavorful and filling. Even though I was full, I didn't want to stop eating. Their plates are huge. So ladies, you may want to split a plate with someone. I was very impressed. I didn't care for their fries. (They weren't out of this world, like the shrimp.) Next time I'll try a different side. Christie's is a bit pricey, but it's worth the money and you get a lot of food. Overall, I'd recommend Christie's. While I know there's some stiff competition when it comes to seafood in Houston, this place is worth a try.
(4)
Jill D.
The food was good and I particularly enjoyed the crawfish bisque and the fish in the grilled platter. There was a hiccup with trying to use the check-in coupon for the free balls. I showed the server when he brought the check and he said I was supposed to show him when the dish was ordered. He said he'd talk to the manager, but he never did and just returned and took the money from the two gentlemen at the table who were paying. Kind of ticked me off, it felt like they were ignoring the lady at the table with the coupon. It felt like he was too lazy to rerun the ticket with the app removed.
(3)
Bernice Z.
The first time I came here was for a friend's birthday. The service was excellent and the portions are huge. My husband ordered live oysters and they were very fresh. I read on yelp about their famous shrimp so I ordered the shrimp. My option on the shrimp would be that it is decent. The portion was so big that we ended up taking our sides home. Decent place and prices are good for the large portions.
(3)
Ed K.
the place is old but I already knew that and it was not an issue I come to eat not window dressing. But wow, this food sucks got the bisque for a starter, it tasted like watered down Velveta cheese nothing added to it but some seafood cant even remember what it was I sent it back. Got the gumbo in its place, the menu says it was made sometime like 1920. I have to say its time to bring it in to the modern era. It needs all kinds of seasoning it has potential but it really needs some salt, pepper, cumin, ect. The best way to describe this place is lubye's with a focus on seafood. Its made for an older crowd. I dont know why everyone is nuts for the shrimp or the sauce that comes with them. It again is in need of seasoning. I had fish too and well it all fit in the same area in need of flavor. The chick ate the shrimp plate she said it was ok and not to bad a bit over breaded but you could eat it. The service was nice and helpful. Thats about all that was good here. I left them comments on the ticket they have a survey on it. gave my email I will let you know if anything comes of it.
(2)
Sam W.
This place was great...I had a dozen oysters on a halfshell and a greek salad....Both were fresh and the salad was impressive....All of the staff were very friendly and professional...it was a great quite atmosphere...I will be back for sure!
(4)
SUMMER M.
After going bed shopping, my boyfriend came up with the idea of going to Christies. We ordered the Oyster Rockerfeller appetizer. So Delicious! (I regret only ordering a half dozen; should have ordered more). We then ordered one of the platters ( forgot the name) which came with scallops, catfish fillet, shrimp, stuffed crab etc. By the time the platter came, we were already full from the oysters, bread *love* and salad (eyes bigger than our stomachs) and took everything to go. Our server was extremely sweet and boxed up our food. In my opinion, this beats the hec out of going to Pappadeux's who enjoys giving you a pound of fries with your one filet and two scrawny shrimp platter.
(4)
Mark R.
Carrying on with my theme of trying out seafood this week we hit Christie's on our way out of town. We were not disappointed by the oldest restaurant in Houston (Since 1917). We started with calamari and fried zucchini. The marinara sauce for the calamari is a creation of Mr Christie and added a great flavor. The zucchini and accompanying sauce became a source of conflict as my family fought over the remaining slices. I had the fish sandwich which has been a staple of the menu since the beginning. The fish itself was light and flaky and the breaking was fantastic. I devoured the fish filet without even touching the toasted bun. We threw in an order of stuffed shrimp. While the taste of the shrimp was enough to make you want to steal a piece from your child's plate, the remoulade sauce stole the show. The garlicky zing of the sauce would be incredible on absolutely anything. The service was fast, polite, and professional. The food was delicious and the portion sizes were filling. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone in Houston. I know we'll be back.
(5)
Elliott B.
Went here as part of my parents' nostalgia trip, retracing some old haunts of theirs from the Bellaire they knew in the 50s and 60s. It was pretty quiet at 12:30 on a Saturday, which was a little foreboding. But what that really meant was that we had almost overly attentive service. Very friendly and quick. We tried the crab balls that were a bonus for checking in on Yelp; crispy and savory. Crab's not really my thing, but they were quite good. Two of us had fried shrimp, which, again, was crisp and tasted fresh, and another had the fried crab, which they enjoyed. And the place filled up. It took just a little long for the entrees to come out, but that's really the only complaint. I'm not sure that I'd drive past the numerous sea food places between me and this location to try it again, but I can say that I my parents, who started going there 43 years ago when they were kids, enjoyed the trip.
(3)
April M.
I'm hard pressed to find anything really good to say about the place. From the food to the service to the decor it was just....well boring. I wasn't really impressed and perhaps I had built it up to more than it could be since I've always heard great things. I ate my food, I paid, I left. Although part of me wants to give it a second try to see if I ordered the "wrong" thing or they were having an off night, I think I will just save my money.
(2)
David L.
BEST FRIED SHRIMP ON THE PLANET!!! The service has been excellent every time I have been there. Everything is good to very good. Did I mention they have the best fried shrimp I have ever eaten? The decor is very very dated and the place even smells old but still one of my favorite seafood restaurants ever.
(5)
Albert N.
Christie's has been serving up some of the best seafood in Houston for a few years... actually, since 1917. For many of us who grew up in Houston, Christie's IS Gulf Coast seafood done right. Where to start? If you've not tried their fried shrimp, you're missing a Houston institution. They're the benchmark; large, tender shrimp, so fresh that a good vet could probably revive them. They're paired with the classic onion rings, salad, and baked potato. Other choices not to miss (if you can pry yourself away from the fried shrimp) include any of the excellent red snapper dishes, or the decadent lump crab meat sautee. Service is very good; they've had over 90 years to get it right. If you want to learn how a restaurant manages to survive in this tough market for over nine decades, stop by and check 'em out. In this business, the newest isn't always the best.
(5)
Thefoodie F.
Today's feedback Christie's Seafood est 1917 in Houston Off to a good start ,The Greek salad was excellent ,spinach over the top good,the bread wow good & the service good, what gives it 4 stars ? The sea food was just OK shrimp batter not good ,batter on oysters too heavy ,fish fillet and scallop's good ,crab stuffing bland . OK in San Antonio Christies was the best sea food ,No wedge salad no Christie's salad dressing ,Not my old Christie's not close
(4)
John W.
I have only been to Christie's a few times, but their fried shrimp is awesome....never tried anything else though.
(4)
B K.
After reading all of these rave reviews, we decied to try it while we were in town It was okay - just okay. For the flavor, I thought it was over priced. I don't mind paying $$$ for a great meal, but not an okay one. The shrimp was large, but the breading was dough-y on the inside. I was hoping to find that elusive sweet flavor some larger shrimo offers, but no. The cole slaw had an unusual flavor. Two of us would not eat it, but I thought it was okay. There's that word again - 'okay'. The rolls were just plain old white bread - boring. Same with the house salad. The atmosphere? Unremarkable. I think if you've grown up with this restaurant, so there is an emotional appeal, then you would have a different opinion. We just wanted some great seafood! On our next trip, we'll look for a restaurant that is better than 'okay'.
(3)
Lam N.
May have just been an off night but the fish entrees we ordered were bland. The atmosphere and decoration is sort of drab as well. Server was great though.
(3)
Mauricio G.
It's a fancy place to eat more the most part. The food there is pretty pricey, but overall if you've got the cash, then it's a good place to eat.
(3)
Rose B.
You know, Christie's has been doing great seafood for many years. For some reason. Other popular chains with marketing departments make us think we need to go wait in line in order to have seafood. Well, I'm not waiting any longer. Christie's has award winning shrimp and excellent food. The green beans are Greek style. Yum! The snapper is delicious. The tarama is awesome. The hot dinner rolls and butter are what they should be...real! I wish I worked near by. I'd eat there everyday. Fresh, home made good at a great price.
(5)
Jeremy G.
Are decibels destroying your love of food? Is your dinner companion's conversation important to you? If so, this is the best kind of atmosphere for enjoying food and company. At slower times you will be welcomed with Greek hospitality and multiple visits will result in your becoming part of the family. It is strange that the food is not flashy, hip or anything but so good that you will wonder why you do not dine at Christie's more often. One warning, they can get very busy during the lunch rush, but if you have a little flexibility you can relax and enjoy some of the best seafood in the Galleria area.
(4)
Rhonda C.
Delicious seafood. Waiter honored my app check in for a free appetizer and was very helpful with the menu selections. The lobster bisque is about as good as I have ever had! This is a great local place to go for dinner!
(4)
CJ P.
Not a huge fan of the decor (seems a bit disney world pirate escape mixed with luby's cafeteria teal green lunch booths)... however, i will say that the food was impeccable. they had a decent wine selection. we definitely drank some white wine with our orders of various fresh fish. havent tried everything, but I'm sure all of it is good. service was excellent. It's definitely a good choice if you're looking for fresh, quality seafood.
(4)
Sally C.
This is my #1 Seafood place. Can't even tell you how many times I've been to Christie's since I was a kid in the 1950s. You can't get any better FRIED SHRIMP, even if you do it yourself. Don't expect that big battered, over cooked frozen junk found at those big conglomerates places. This is not a dress up place; but a friendly, quiet restaurant with good service and a straight forward menu. They've got homemade salad dressings, decent bisque, and, always, fresh food. We wanted to take Cousin Mary for her birthday dinner and offered several nice places on Westheimer. Once I mentioned Christie's, her eyes lighted up. Mary wanted to have her shrimp. I had the Greek fish dish, and he had the stuffed shrimp. It's always fresh. They have a small dinner salad with all entrees. Don't expect anything exotic. It will probably remind you of mom's. They offer several types of potatoes, too. Again, good, but not fancy. Service is always friendly and you can bring the family.
(5)
Cindy H.
At first, my boyfriend and I thought Christie's looked kinda shady. We passed by it a couple of times and decided to stop here to try their food. I'm glad we ate here because the food was delicious! We ordered the calamari and it was probably the best calamari I've ever had! The portion was big and they were not stingy on the sauces either :) My boyfriend ordered their spicy seafood pasta and it very savory because they used a really thick sauce in the pasta. Personally, I don't really enjoy thick sauces on my pasta but this one was pretty yummy! I ordered the Shrimp combo that came with stuffed shrimps + their original breaded shrimp and baked potato. Let me tell you, I stuffed my face with shrimp and I loved every minute of it! I'm pretty picky about my baked potato and the one that came with my food was cooked just right! I hate when my potato is brittle and not soft enough to eat. The portion at Christie's is HUGE!! My boyfriend and I ate the calamari appetizer and we were full even before we got our main course! The service was impeccable! The lady who served us was really nice and also came around to make sure we had enough water. This place is definitely a secret waiting to be found :) PS: Christie's has been open since 1917! This fact was the selling factor for my boyfriend and I to try this restaurant - and it was worth it!
(4)
John A.
Since 1917... And the decor is probably since 1980. But an extra star for bringing it back, right down to the Pat Benatar, brass rails, steerage chairs, ship's helm and blue marlin on the walls. But great food, great service at a great price. I see why this formula has worked since 1917.
(4)
Larry K.
I love going in this place around 2PM. The lighting is dim and relaxing. And the wait staff is the best part, conciliatory without all that chain restaurant in-your-face fake bonhomie. Russians, Koreans, Guatemalans, they seem unflustered and happy to be working here. The food is better than anything you can get at the more-popular faux-Cajun Papadeaux. The seafood alfredo is delicious, but you'd better not eat anything else for a few days afterwards if you don't want to blimp up.
(3)
Mia W.
Went during Restaurant Week at lunchtime. We were able to enjoy a two course meal. Since it was a prix-fixe menu our options were limited but it was still an enjoyable meal. Would like to go back and order from their standard menu. Great service, very cozy inside.
(3)
Melanie S.
I adore Christie's. I grew up eating out here with my grandparents and they knew a thing or two about fried shrimp! I too have eaten a lot of friend shrimp in my life and I truly think Christie's tastes the best and the freshest. Even though they're on Westheimer, not all that close to the Gulf... Besides the fried shrimp, the sides and bread are also pretty good. The service is always very professional and I love the 1960's feel of the restaurant. And Mr. Christie, before he died, was always very nice and friendly to my family. We've celebrated wedding anniversaries and birthdays here for years and I hope to keep coming back. :)
(5)
Larae M.
Ever since my dear boyfriend and I discovered this place last summer, this is our go-to spot to fill our bellies up with STUFFED FRIED JUMBO SHRIMP!!! It is to die for! The entrees come with salad w/ cornbread, your choice of baked potato, veggies, or fries , and onion rings. Believe me when I say that their plates are HUGE. The batter on the shrimp and onion rings is just DELISH! But seriously, if it'll be your first time to go there, you must order either their Fried Shrimp/Stuffed Shrimp combo or their Stuffed Shrimp platter. And if you're SUPER hungry, get the stuffed crab as appetizer. Not much for ambience, but we love how quiet this place is amongst the mess that's on Westheimer. And the service is spectacular! It's still family owned (by Roula of the Roula and Ryan show), so it keeps that type of family vibe as well. GO HERE!!!
(5)
Nancy M.
Had to order the fried shrimp because I had heard so much about them. The lunch plate comes with 5 and I was afraid it might not be enough because I can put some shrimp away but I was stuffed! These shrimp are meaty, light and crispy, awesome! My husband had a doxen oysters on the half shell and got 13, probably becuase they were a bit small. $12.95 was pretty pricey, expecially after we left and saw Pappadeaux had their oysters for 5.95. But his blackened fish was great and we both left satisfied and very full. Even at lunch service was pretty formal and attentive. Older crowd and quiet. I will return for more of those shrimp!
(4)
Lee M.
Visiting Houston over weekend and wanted seafood, did some online searching and happened upon Christie's, decided to make the drive over to Westheimer, and SOOO glad we did! Everything we had was absolutely wonderful - started off with the crab balls - yum! Then cornbread muffins served with our salads - were buttery and crumbly, perfect. Shrimp Salad with homemade remoulade sauce was perfect, huge shrimp, lightly tossed salad with dressing... Daughter had the fried shrimp, and were just as great as previous reviews - wonderful light breading, served with the yummy remoulade sauce..... My sister had the Bienville Seafood Fondue - Blackened catfish, shrimp and oysters covered with our chardonnay cream sauce, fresh spinach, cheese and baked. VERY rich and almost too much cheese, but fabulous! Service was impeccable, our drinks were replenished frequently and staff was very attentive. HIGHLY recommend.
(5)
Matt B.
Great restaurant, a little pricey but the seafood was really good. I had the thermidor oysters which were phenomenal and so was the fried shrimp grilled shrip, scallops, oysters, and the grilled snapper. I do have to say that the steak I had was a low quality cut and the seafood gumbo was nastey but all in all their seafood was great and service was descent.
(4)
Larry A.
Chrisites a real nice chill place. Its a lot bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. The food was really good, especially the cavier. I had fish stuffed with lump crab meat and it was awesome. The portions are really good so was the price. My g/f had the clam chowder and a garden salad, she loved it. We even met mama Christie our first night there. She was really nice and sweet. Reminds me of that super nice grandmother that always gives her grandkids friends cookies. This place is a def must go back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
John M.
I am so disappointed....ambience is great, Hostess was friendly, & the waiter was attentive.....but the food was a disappointment. My seafood gumbo was adequate, but the rue left much to be desired. The fried shrimp was perfectly formed and patted like Mrs. Paul's frozen shrimp would look & taste. The cole slaw was bland. The French fries were probably the best part of the meal, & they weren't that great!
(1)Karen C.
A Houston landmark! One of the best fried shrimp in town, if not the best! One of our celebration restaurants! I have tried a few items but love the fried shrimp, stuffed is Quite tasty!
(5)Angel H.
Always our go to place for special occations when you are looking for a really great meal. We think they have some of the best fried shrimp in the city. Their sauces are home made as well as their dressings. I always have to get double blue cheese on my salad because it is so yummy. Sometimes when they are super busy (i.e. holidays) the service can be slow; but give them a break, it's a long busy day. If you need something, ask for it, and the waitstaff will happily accommodate.
(4)Kate R.
Best fried shrimp I've had in years! Steak was also great. Daughter loved the dessert. Best part? The staff! They were so funny and nice. We were headed to Pappadeaux's but there was a long wait. So we tried Christie's. So glad we did. At Christie's there were no huge crowds, no wait, and no "chain" atmosphere. Family-owned restaurant with fantastic food. Definitely coming back.
(5)Erika V.
I had dinner here for the first time a few weeks back with my daughter and a friend.. I liked the fact the the restaurant was hardly crowded and our food arrived quickly. Everything we ordered was wonderful!! They do indeed have the best fried shrimp that I have ever had, but that wasn't even the star of the meal. I ordered the Christie's Pride, which is a piece of white fish covered in crab sauce, yum!!!! We also had a dozen oysters which were fresh and delicious! The service and the decor were ok, but were by far out shined by the excellent food.... This is currently my favorite spot to eat past the Galleria :)
(4)Rhonda C.
The fried shrimp is awesome!!!!!! I would highly recommend the raw oysters as well. The waitstafff is very friendly and accommodating. This is a hidden jewel.
(5)Bill Z.
Excellent fried shrimp, though disagreeing with an earlier reviewer, you can do better at home (I prefer beer-battered fried shrimp). The crispness of the batter and taste was spot-on, and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. We got a nice deal on raw oysters (12 for 6.95), and we enjoyed them immensely. One star gets taken off because the seafood gumbo was a miss. The rue lacked the Cajun flavor and spice I expect in Gumbo. The service was top notch.
(4)Butch T.
The flounder dish was huge and perfect cooked. Our waiter was quick and attentive. Nothing but good things to say about the food and service and cleanliness. However, the environment is very dated and dark -- a put off when you first come in -- sort of like a Ramada Inn restaurant in 1977. We ate early in the evening, so I imagine that it is more busy and lively later in the day.
(3)Carlos S.
The overall service is ok. The restaurant was less than half full but still had to wait over to minutes for our food. I asked for red snapper but instead got catfish. It came with dirty rice but it was actually mexican rice. The food tasted ok but I did not get what I asked for. Will not be coming back.
(1)Kendall G.
Like other reviewers have said, this is the best fried shrimp in Houston. We checked in and received a complimentary crab ball appetizer - it was really creamy, flavorful, and full of crab. We also had the fried calamari - it was average. The fish sandwich was large and very good, as well. Service was attentive but not overbearing. The atmosphere is fun - fish and old pictures of Houston on the walls. This is our new favorite spot for fried seafood.
(4)M L.
My Family has been eating at Christies on Bellaire and now on Westheimer since we were kids. Employees are always friendly and great service! The shrimp dinner is Awesome! Way Way Better than Pappadeau's. Keep up the good work Christies!
(5)Tiffany B.
This is one of the top seafood restaurants ever! No joke. Just left and had the Old Fashion Fisherman Platter. It comes with everything fried- catfish, scallops, shrimp, stuffed crab, and I substituted the oysters with more scallops. You also get the choice of a bake potato or fries with a salad. The staff is very professional and courteous. Plus it is family owned and operated since 1917, so they have a lot of experience.
(5)Chanel J.
This was my first experience and will be my last. The service was mediocre not rude by far, but where is the seasoning. The flavors are underwhelming and the presentation left much to be desired. When we pulled into the parking lot it was very empty for a Friday evening, but decided to give it a try. As a native Houstonian I had not never heard of Christie's but we wanted to try a new place. Needless to say with these prices and taste, we should've turned out the half-empty parking lot and went to Pappadeaux!
(2)Leslie M.
My bf and I were searching for a good happy hour to go to. We passed by Christie's and thought we'd give it a try. MY OH MY was it worth it. We started off with half a dozen oysters. Those have been the best oysters I've had in a very long time. We ordered two more along with their fried shrimp which was exquisite! Bf had their Moscow mule and i had a mango margarita. They were both delicious and perfect amount of liquor! Lastly we tried the shrimp etoufee... amazing, delicious etoufee!!! & the service was fantastic! Christina was very attentive and gave the best recomendations. Definitely an underrated rest.! Can't wait for us to go back!!!!!
(5)Nik S.
Well it's just one of those places you grow up eating at. It's a Houston must visit just so you can. I grew up in the Houston area and am familiar with Christi's. It's the same now that it was when I was 10 no surprises. Visit so you can say you did and enjoy the food. It's not bad and it's not greAt.
(3)Mike J.
The crawfish bisque is incredible. Its on par with Damian's lobster bisque and is SO much better than the crawfish bisque at Pappas. The crawfish tails were cooked perfectly and the bisque was very creamy but retained a nice strong flavor. As for the main course, the fried shrimp were also standout. The actual shrimp were of high quality: large, sweet, and the right texture. The catfish was perfectly cooked and not over done. The stuffed crab was ok. I'd be really curious to see how they do their scallops. For nice seafood at the $15- $25 per plate price range, this place is definitely 5 stars. I will come back.
(5)Dre C.
Went there because of the fantastic reviews on yelp.... but was rather disappointed. The fried shrimps are large and good but nothing out of this world. It is also a bit on the pricer side of things. Other people in my party got the steak, which was not worth the price.
(3)Monica L.
Have heard great things about this place, hence my friends and I decided to visit Christie's on Saturday night. The staff was friendly. The mini french breads were delicious. The gumbo was sweet which is just strange. The calamari in the calamari salad was underdone. The grilled seafood platter, was overcooked, and it was not grilled. Unfortunately, we will not be returning to this restaurant.
(2)LOLA L.
We have been coming here for years, even before I was married. We always get the same- fried shrimp, side baked potato. The shrimp is consistent- fresh with a light batter. Never over crusted. The potato is always soft. And a must try is the remoulade sauce on the side! I only wish the onion rings were a bit more flavorful- but with the shrimp and potato, we are stuffed. The staff is always attentive. The ambiance is cute too. This is a great Houston landmark.
(4)Lea P.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Christie's!!!! The best tarama in the world!!!
(5)Max H.
I'm from San Antonio and as a child, my family use to go to Christie's on weekends. I'm not 100% positive the same owners of this Christie's and the now closed Christie's across from the museum in SA. are the same but i would not be surprised. Anyway, Christie's is definitely old-school. And they know what they are doing. Service is great. Fish is fresh. Try the crab balls, which are just smaller crab cakes. They have an awesome creamy texture. (I got them for FREE.!! Thanks to Yelp and the popup coupon on my iPhone app! ) I had the red snapper which was great. My side of green beans sauteed w bacon was refreshingly crisp not overdone . But as I looked around, I noticed most of the people were ordering jumbo fried shrimp. As the food envy built to a crescendo, I made a promise to myself that I would order those on my next trip.
(4)Lee D.
Well reading mixed reviews being as old as it is, it must be doing something right and it is! First called to check if parking can handle large cars and has wifi. Answer yes and yes! So already who's answering the phone knows. Had a lunch seafood plate, shrimp cooked prefect, dam good! Stuffed crab actually Had lots of crab in it and crispy outer skin and moist inside, catfish done right crispy outside and moist inside and not the fishy taste most catfish has! Yep it was good too, had all three sauces and so good, each one had its own taste! Tarter, Cocktail, and remoulade. And fresh tea not the watered down pitchers that sit there. Also Italian dressing on house salad very tasty with fresh veggies. Service was spot on not over done and kept up! Jose was great server, and Maria came by and spoke with me as well and was very sweet and explained menu as well. Thumbs up!!!!
(5)Jay Y.
Christie's is a classic seafood restaurant that has been around in the Houston area since the early 1900s. Its menu boasts a proud roster of traditional American seafood dishes, including its signature fried shrimp. Despite of its distance from Galveston, the restaurant decor will make you feel as if you are dining by the Bay! The southern hospitality and the attentive service from the waiting staff will make you feel at home. Unfortunately, Christie's food was bland in flavor and unimpressive in presentation. Christie's signature fried shrimps were as large as its reputation and fresh judging by the texture, but sadly they were lacking in flavor. The onion rings were also strangely bland too. I thought it was disappointing that the cole slaw was the only thing that tastes like something. The bottom line is that Christie's, especially its fried shrimps, is an experience that should be had at least once if you are into the Houston dining scene because of its history, but do not expect anything surprising from the food here. *Go during weekday lunch or happy hour for cheaper pricings. You can secure an entree of six signature fried shrimps, which includes cole slaw and fries (Substitute it for onion rings if you like) for $13.95. --- tl;dr version: 1) Nice decor that tricks you into thinking you are close at Bay 2) Southern hospitality = Pleasant dining experience 3) Bland and disappointing seafood
(3)Robevra S.
I went to this place for the first and last time. I don't understand how the food could be worth the price they are asking. Please understand I am speaking the truth it was so bad the manager gave me my money back the taste of this restaurant food was terrible don't waste time or money going there.
(1)Amber E.
My husband and I are not happy campers. The service was so slow in regards to attentiveness that we decided to order appetizers and leave for another restaurant. The shrimp cocktail was fresh, and the crab balls were good. Unfortunately, we will not return.
(2)Carl R.
The decor was nice and what you'd expect from a seafood restaurant. I went when there wasn't much of a crowd so the waiter was accommodating and attentive. I ordered the 14oz sirloin strip with a baked potato and a cup of gumbo on the side. Everything was hot and tasted fresh. The steak charred nicely but was a bit bland in my opinion. Not a total loss seeing as how adding table salt and pepper easily fixed it, but I do like the seasoning charred into the meat. I don't normally order baked potatoes as sides as it tends to be a bit much, but the size of it was perfect especially considering the gumbo. Again, that too was a bit bland even with the sour cream, butter, cheese and chives. I'm a bacon bits fan so that may have been the letdown for me. The gumbo had the most flavor but it was something different about it. I kind of smelled and tasted like they put curry in it. If they did, it wasn't necessarily bad as it was different. Overall it was a pleasant dinner but my only gripe would be that for what you get, it's not worth the price, which from what I can see, rival that of a Pappadeaux.
(4)Yolonda K.
Decided to give this place a try for Restaurant Week, great disappointment. Started out with a garden salad which was composed of iceburg lettuce, croutons and 1/8 piece of a tomato. Being served iceburg lettuce at restaurant that charges up to $30 for a meal is very surprising...can we step it up to spring mix. For the meal, I ordered the Trout and my husband ordered the Salmon Royale. The presentation was decent but both lacked flavor. We rounded off the meal with a slice of key lime pie and bananas foster which was the best part of the meal. Their menu for Restaurant Week is a bit of a rip off because some of the meal options you can put together actually total less if your ordered them off the regular menu. If I can order chicken, salad and a desert for $28, why are you charging me $35 for it? I guess these selections are for the people who can't add. The restaurant seems ideal for an older clientele that may need simpler food options with less seasoning. In my opinion, it is entirely overpriced for the experience and quality of food.
(2)Maureen S.
We have been coming here for years. In fact, 5 generations of our family have been enjoying the fish sandwich and the fried shrimp almost from the inception of the restaurant. The plump, juicy fried shrimp are some of the best around. And, I love the fact that it still is owned by the family that originally started the restaurant.
(4)Jamey W.
Great hole in the wall seafood and steak house. It is deceiving from outside but take one step in and you won't be disappointed. The Athenian Tilapia was amazing and I will have to have it again.
(4)Naomi A.
To me, it was bland and boring. Just like the date who took me! Nothing special, interior was good at nostalgic, bad way out of date.
(2)Rebecca N.
Christie's is what Houston is all about. My mother (from Iowa) told me once that she married my father because she knew she would get to live in Houston and eat fried shrimp. I've no doubt she meant at Christie's. (1940's) I remember as a child going to Christie's when it was in what is now the Houston Medical Center. (1960's) It was the only place that had white table cloths that my parents would take me and my four brothers. All these years later and I can swear that the service and the food remains as high quality as ever. (They've been at the Westheimer location just west of the Galleria since 1965). You can not buy tartar sauce as delicious as their tartar sauce. It is amazing. Pass me a spoon. Now they are serving salads that fit perfectly with the summer season. There is a lump crabmeat salad with avocado and mango with the perfect mix of fresh peppers, onion, and vinaigrette. Wow! This restaurant is the best!
(5)Hot M.
Awesome , authentic, feels like Florida seafood. We had three drinks , all were carefully crafted. Steak was ok however , everything else was a 10 . Service , check. Food, check. Parking, check. It was a great experience from beginning to end. Try the frozen margarita with grand marnier, your husband will thank me later.
(5)Keith M.
What a disappointment... I am an avid Yelp user as I travel a lot and always use Yelp to find a good restaurant close by; however, this is the first time I've been let down. Recently moving into the uptown area, I noticed this place and all the cars out front. Decided to Yelp it and was impressed with reviews and history. Started tell my friends that we needed to make a visit here. Last night had friends over and made reservations. All looked well, the menu looks great but having read the reviews, many of us decided on the house favorite, fried shrimp. Received the free crab balls appetizer... yuck. If you like stuffing, you will love these. The shrimp came and the first thing my guest said was that these looked like they were Gordon's frozen shrimp. I think he was right. Just plain old box frozen shrimp. No way you can hand bread and fry shrimp and they look like all identical and the texture of shrimp were mushy. Yes, I need a doggy bag to bring many home because I wanted to post a picture of them so others won't make same mistake (if I can figure out how to do a pic upload!). $150 disappointment and embarrassment! At least the two bottles of wine and company was great. In retrospect, we should have tried other items and not all settled on the shrimp. Maybe the other menu items are worth it. Keith
(1)Chris L.
My girlfriend and I went for a nice dinner here and were disappointed. We ordered Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer, they were mediocre. We both ordered specialty seafood, once again disappointed. The place isn't "bad" it just isn't very good. I wouldn't recommend it and won't be returning.
(2)Thuy T.
Decided to finally try Christie's after being avid Roula and Ryan show listeners. We came in pretty early on a Saturday - about 5:30pm and there was only one other table there. It was very dim and nautically decorated. Could use some updating. We ordered the Oysters Rockefeller to start. They were just okay; needed some more texture. The salads were typical, nothing to comment on. I ordered the Beluche and he had the Christie's Pride. Unfortunately neither of these dishes were much to be proud of. They were both terribly bland and required a lot of salt, pepper, lemon, and tobasco to make them tolerable. We both got asparagus as a side and thankfully they were fine. We decided to pass on dessert after our disappointing entrees. The service was alright, friendly enough. They have a bad habit of putting too much ice in your glass of water, in such a way that one sip immediately requires another refill. All in all, the food was bland and the value wasn't great. We don't plan on returning.
(2)Gokhan K.
I have been seeing Christie's Seafood for a long time which is on my way to drive home. Finally I gave it a shot and it was not the last one. I loved service, appetizers and the options they offer with the main course. Raw oysters were very fresh and tasty. Fried calamari was really good. I ordered chargrilled salmon and it came with greek salad and baked potato. You can also pick different sides instead of baked potato as french fries or vegetables. Prices are reasonable according to plates and service. There is a modification at the outside of restaurant. I think it will have a better outlook soon.
(4)Vic C.
It was OK, but I wouldn't drive 30 minutes again. YMMV if you live in the neighborhood - I think I'd probably eat here frequently if I did. Service 3 1/2 - standard well-meaning but semi-professional. Wait, what do I mean "standard" - well-meaning semi-professional is actually very good *for* *around* *here*. Food pretty good. Salad 3 - bleu cheese dressing OK, greens nothing to write home about, cornbread outstanding - the gritty, not-too-sweet kind I like. Fried shrimp 4, stuffed shrimp 2 1/2 - I don't know what the stuffing was intended to be, but to me it tasted like bread crumbs inside of breading- what's the point of that? Onion rings 4 - not the style I like (I prefer tempura style to the flat coating), but good for what they were. Baked potato 5 - fluffy with a tender skin (I like to eat the skin) and super-loaded as I had requested. Hubby said the burger was good. It was also more than he could eat. I had one of his fries to see how they were - 4 1/2. Crispy on the out side and fluffy on the inside, hot and tasty. I should have shaken a tad of salt on them. Well. I'm drawing the conclusion from my own writing that the food must have made a positive impression on me - when do I do star ratings? Never. The decor was old-fashioned (as well as just old) and cute. I liked it. The booths were comfortable. According to houston.tx.gegov.com/med… it is pretty clean. The view is of lovely Westheimer, and the sound system music is supplemented by the lovely sound of sirens, but what are you gonna do......? The wine list prices were also pretty good. I did start out with a bad impression, though, and it's probably why I'm three instead of four stars. I was served the worst martini I've ever had in a restaurant, and I've had plenty of bad ones. (I order them fully aware that it's a 40/60 chance, at best, of getting an acceptable one, much less a good one. I know, I should just give up. I just can't get it through my head that, yes, people can mess up something that simple. A lot.) (BTW, I do mean an actual martini, not some yucky concoction served in a martini glass.) It was water, basically. I had ordered it stirred (mentioning as an aside that that meant I did not want it watered down, even elaborating that the time in contact with the ice should be limited.) Then I hear from the bar stirring. A pause. And stirring. A pause. And stirring. A pause. I'm saying to hubby (as this goes on and on), "I hope that is not my poor martini." It was.
(3)Concerned C.
One of my top favorite restaurants. They have the best crap cakes in the shell and super yummy fried shrimp, greek salad and onion rings. This is an old school seafood restaurant and if you have not been, you should go.
(5)Falicia B.
I will never go back to this place. We went over there yesterday June 15th for Father's Day because my dad wanted to go there to try a different place. When we were ordering my dad wanted the seafood platter, but he wanted some of his food grilled. The manager and the waitress kept telling us they couldn't do that on yesterday because it was too busy, but if it was another day when it was slow then they could. Let's say it didn't really make sense to me given that we have gone to other resturants and not had this problem. So we chose not to settle and give them our money. And we left and went to pappadeaux's instead. Which is right down the street. We ate very well and my dad got what he wanted on Father's day.
(1)Whitney N.
If you enjoy fried seafood, Christie's is your place! My husband and I wanted seafood for dinner, but we were thinking lighter/healthier and had a hard time finding something that wasn't fried on the menu. I ended up going with the greek salad and topped it with shrimp. It was huge, and it was really good! It was served with anchovies though, so beware! My husband had Almondine Fillet of Gulf Snapper- sautéed almonds in amaretto top our grilled snapper - which he didn't know was a cream sauce (heavy) and wasn't really into. He just ordered wrong though. We also had the mini fried crab balls for an app since they were free when we checked in on yelp! They were good and a nice little starter.
(3)Amanda N.
I've been coming here for years and I have never had a a bad experience. Nice little seafood restaurant that offers an intimate atmosphere with no screaming kids! (At least when I've been there, knock on wood!) If you are greeted by an old man that smells of lavender and is super friendly, he is the owner -when he speaks to you...you cannot help but smile! I've always ordered the small order of fried shrimp. They serve the largest an the best tasting shrimp I have ever had. The small order leaves you stuffed! It comes with a salad and a baked potato too. So there is never any room in the inn to ever attempt a desert! Oh yah! We had the shrimp cocktail for the first time last night it was pretty good as well.
(4)LaKesha C.
Mediocre at best....the best thing at this place is the crab balls and drinks. Poor food presentation, quality and taste. Probably not gonna head back to Christie's.....
(2)Tony W.
Well, I sat at the bar on a slow night after attempting to dine across the street. The service was top notch. If you follow my reviews I eat out often due to business travel. Here is what I can say, I loved the service, I loved the oysters, I loved the company. I would return and will next time I am in Houston, anywhere in Houston. Me, I probably wouldn't order fried shrimp anywhere, but that's just me... I like my seafood fresh as can be and the oysters were excellent. Martinis were top shelf, better than across the street!
(3)Arsalan K.
Just like the restaurant the decor is 100 yes old as well. Food is okay. I think the best thing they have is French fries. Bread is ordinary. Fried calamari was the best thing we ordered. Vinaigrette dressing is full of oil. Blackened Salmon which was very bland and boring. Shrimp with garlic sauce was average. Fried shrimp was average as well
(2)Himanshu K.
The first look from outside might drive u to the nearby Pappadeaux :D !! But one u get in u feel comfortable about ur decision to go inside, the food is nice , tried Salmon . . . . was good at it best , but the accompanying side dishes and the salads were nice too so overall a decent dinner, The Almondine filet on on my friend's plate looked good as well. Value for money : Kind of , Yes Taste : Decent Service : Decent Ambience: Ok Overall a decent experience.
(4)Justine H.
At first I didn't know what to think when I came in. The place was literally empty and it felt a little creepy like "The Shining" creepy. Then we sat down and looked at the menu, the prices seem steep but don't let that fool you! We ordered the Calamari Appetizer, Shrimp and Catfish Plate, and the Shrimp Alfredo. To be honest, the Calamari itself was so so, but the tomato sauce seemed fresh and there was a LOT of calamari. I nearly got full off the appetizer alone. Next, my boyfriend's salad and my crawfish bisque came. These came with our entrees. The crawfish bisque was d.e.licious and hit the spot. It was hot, creamy, rich, and the crawfish in it were great. And both were in generation portions. NOW... the kicker... my boyfriend's Shrimp and Catfish Plate come out. Huge shrimp and a generous portion of catfish. My Shrimp Alfredo comes out with huge shrimp but not the "Red Lobster" portion I was expecting. The surprise is that the fried shrimp is perfectly crispy and delicious on the outside without being greasy AT ALL. There's no weird oily residue! This is accredited to some kind of special oil that they use. If I recall correctly there is a whole story on the fried shrimp and oil on their menu. The shrimp was nice and firm like a lobster tail, and the catfish was buttery and flaky. HANDS DOWN BEST SHRIMP ALFREDO I'VE HAD YET. I know how to make alfredo dang it, but this one.... whew. The parmesan they use must be aged because you can really taste the nuttiness in the sauce. It tasted SO home-made. It was rich but not too thick. The portion doesn't look big but, I kid you not, I made the food last for 4 days just so I could taste it again and again. Maybe half because I was poor as well (ha ha). Surely you've passed Christie's up time and time again and never thought of going in. Trust me.. there is some incredible food inside once you get past the weird vibe of the place.
(4)Dee H.
Challenge time. I am to try 5 seafood places here in Houston that are not chains that have good seafood. I think it would be easy. I mean we are the 3rd coast here right? We do got Cajun flavors. But since gas is kinda spendy right now and our place to beat is in Galveston, saving time and money to find a good enough place here seems to be a worthy investment. I decided to go with a living legend who had their origins in ... Guess where? Galveston! This spot is kinda deceiving from the outside with the lighthouse and white washed walls, inside it is all tablecloths and silverware. There is a bar that has happy hour specials too for the lush in you. On to the food. I had the catfish platter. It was a nicely sized portion, fried perfectly golden brown with fried and some pretty decent cole slaw. What irked me was the warm tartar sauce (maybe the heating lamp too high?) and the bland catfish. It was just okay and lacked any kind of oomph on the seasoning end. Ith fish sandwich was slightly better but still was lacking in the flavor department. So trial #1 ends in failure. Luckily I have 4 more chances to get it right.
(2)Jessica B.
I literally threw up in the parking lot after eating here. Disgusting and overpriced.
(1)Sean L.
Although I'm from Austin, TX I've been to Houston only a handful of times. Normally it's a layover on flights but this time I was actually sent here for company business. After a long day of work and heading to the hotel to change, I found myself down at the Medical Center area and was ready for dinner. My thought was to head to the Galleria area to find a place to eat, so I headed that way. After driving down Westheimer Road and seeing all the chains and regular resturants I decided to pull over and use my Yelp application on my HTC EVO. So I started my search and was in the mood for some seafood since I'm close enough to the ocean. I found Christie's. After reading some reviews I was hoping that they were right. I went in and immediately got greeted by multiple employees. As I looked around it looked like an older establishment, which I don't mind, especially if the food was good. While being seated by the hostess I was asked if I would like a drink while I waited for my waiter, which I appreciated. While I mulled over the choices I was taken back by the amount of good choices. Nothing fancy here as far as fowl or seafood from some tiny island in the Pacific. Just plain menu items that feature keywords like "Gulf Shrimp", "Canadian Sea Scallops" and the like. I can appreciate knowing where the seafood is from but they need not try to impress me with unknown locations for descriptions, I'll let the food do the talking. After a brief time, my waiter came to greet me and brought me a drink and asked if I was ready to order. I asked about the market price for the oysters and asked about a couple items on the menu. I told him to give me 5 minutes and he did. When he came back, I ordered the Crawfish Bisque and the Fried Shrimp and Oyster plate with baked potato. Sounded good to me. Off the waiter when to put in my order and then brought me bread and butter. Okay the bread was fresh crusty and good. The butter was plain jane, nothing special, not like it was whipped or honey butter. However the bread was pretty good and hot! When my dinner came the potato looked like a good size. A good amount of Shrimp and nice plump oysters. The breading wasn't too thick and it was just enough and light. Now the shrimp was incredibly good. Not overcooked, large, fresh and was downright tasty. I could eat a bunch of these puppies. Now the oysters were very good too. Not under or overcooked, nice light breading and was absolutely delicious! During the entire meal, my waiter was attentive and refilled my Diet Coke whenever it got low. Other wait staff would walk by and check on me too. Maybe it was because I am incredibly good looking but probably because they provide great service. I like this resturant, I'm glad I skipped the chains and tried something new. I would come back to this resturant any time. Enjoy!
(4)Trish T.
My boyfriend and I met up here yesterday because it was Friday and I couldn't eat meat due to Lent. It was also convenient for me because I had to work down the street later. Keep in mind, I had to WORK later. Our waiter, Alberto, was TORTUGA SLOW. It wasn't peak hours and busy at all. I was there a little before 4:30 PM right in the middle of lunch and dinner. My boyfriend arrive first and had already ordered a drink. By the time I arrived, Alberto did NOT ask me if I'd like anything to drink. What if I was dehydrated and parched?! He never checked on our table and asked how the food tasted. But if he had asked, he would have known it tasted mediocre.
(1)Wendy L.
The boyfriend has been dying to try this place because of the Yelp reviews and since it's in the area we live, we decided to go one night. I wasn't to fond of the atmosphere of the place. Definitely seemed like a little on the iffy side but that is very little to keep me away. As for the food, the boyfriend ordered crawfish etouffee, which was definitely good. But what blew me away was my entree, the fried shrimp. OMG the fried shrimps were the best I have ever tasted in my life. These shrimps aren't over battered and really fresh. Don't think anyone has a batter like Christie's. Definitely a seafood place you want to tried if you love fried shrimp!
(4)Kim H.
Don't let the outside fool you. Great grilled shrimp, dirty rice , fried shrimp and crab balls. Generous portions too.
(5)Gretchen P.
I have two very fond memories of Christie's. I suppose that's the type of place it is. Family owned, and full of warm service and great food. It's the perfect, "special occasion" restaurant. Oh, it's your step-grandparent's anniversary. Oh, you just found the perfect dress at Dimension's* for super cheap. Oh, you just landed your dream job after searching for ten years. Oh, it's 12:30 on a Tuesday. Rest assured, the service and food is not on par with the mildly dated interior. If you are looking for fried seafood with a kick of Louisiana, this is your place. Seriously. Many unknowing folk may be driving to Galveston to get something they can get in their own backyard. By all means, G-town needs our business (I am subtly referring to Ike's battering of Galveston's economy), but you really don't have to drive south on I-45 for roughly an hour to find some good seafood. Opened 93 years ago, this place knows what Gulf Coast residents crave. Seafood. And lots of it. Everything from Fried Oyster Po Boys to Lobster Thermidor to Oysters Rockefeller to Snapper to stuffed shrimp to shrimp made ten ways from Sunday to adding seafood toppings to the seafood. If you have not been, ugh, shame on you. Go! If you have not been recently, why are you still reading this review? *While here, make a point to head across the street to a great little hidden gem of a female boutique, Dimension's. No need for the ladies of the surrounding suburbs keep THAT gem to themselves.
(4)Olivia K.
This was my second visit to Christie's and nothing had changed when it came to the service, atmosphere, and consistency of the food. You don't stay in business for as long as Christie's has without keeping your quality high. Christie's establishment has been on Westheimer for many years, which means that the building is a little old and the parking lot is in serious need of resurfacing and painting, but that doesn't take away from the high quality of service and food found inside. The restaurant features an oyster bar to your right as you walk in, and a water fountain and hostess stand to your left. There is nothing outstanding about the decor in this restaurant, in fact, it made me feel transported back to the 70's when this restaurant was probably last updated with new furniture and decor. It is all very clean, it just looks like they haven't changed much from the time I was born. Arrive early to sit in this cheesy lounge that will make you feel as though you have returned to a decade of polyester shirts, disco music, and the thick mustache worn by so many men. Don't mistaken the way the bar looks for the service you will get. The bartenders are incredibly knowledgeable and full of ability to make you whatever you would like. All of the staff from hostesses, bartenders, waiters, and busers are incredibly professional, friendly, and courteous. This is a classy restaurant that still has waiters in waist aprons, white table cloths, and cloth napkins. I've sat in a booth both times, and from the looks of the chairs, the booth is always a good idea. It hasn't been crowded on either of my visits, so a reservation may not be needed unless you have a larger party. I had the same waitress and same table on both occasions...very deja vu. However, the food choices were entirely different on both occasions. I sat down with the intention of being here for the long haul of a full 5 course meal. First course was the shrimp chowder. Typically when I think of chowder, I picture in my mind little bits of shrimp with too much corn. Not this chowder. It had large chunks of cut up shrimp, and hardly a piece of corn in sight. The chowder was very smooth, creamy, with just the right amount of seasoning, and served up steaming hot. Second course was their 6 boiled shrimp and 6 oysters on the half shell. The shrimp were not over boiled and had a hint of seafood seasoning and the oysters were plump and meaty. The cocktail sauce was probably four times the amount of cocktail sauce than I actually needed, but better too much than not enough. The only complaint I have about this course was that the price was listed as MKT (market) on the menu. Unless you ask, you don't know what you are spending on this otherwise inexpensive appetizer for the Houston area. Third course was the house salad. Nothing special to talk about. hard croutons, red onion slices, and green leaf lettuce with two wedge slices of tomato. I would have skipped the salad and opted for more veggies because it was very unimaginative and plain. Fourth course was dinner. I decided to indulge my need for fried food and ordered their famous fried shrimp of 4 fried shrimp and two stuffed shrimp. The shrimp was fresh and was just lightly breaded and fried just right. You would think it was easy to find good fried shrimp in Houston, but it's hard because so many restaurants aren't careful about the temperature when frying seafood. The shrimp were light and crispy on the outside while the shrimp were tender and flavorful. Absolutely an enjoyable and worthy way to send my calorie and fat intake over the edge. After four courses, I decided to go ahead and skip the fifth course of dessert. Nothing on the dessert menu looked appetizing as I had already stuffed myself. On my previous visit, I had tried the desserts. They are good, but nothing special to return here for. I'll stick to the oysters, shrimp, and fish at this landmark Houston seafood restaurant.
(4)Travis A.
Food was mediocre, service was relatively slow, and it really wasn't all that busy.
(3)Renee P.
I visited for the first time a few weeks ago. The combo of stuffed shrimp & fried shrimp was recommended to me by the waiter. It was okay. Fresh & hot. The fried shrimp had a little too much breaking for my liking. The breadcrumb stuffing for the stuffed shrimp could use more seasoning/ salt. Gumbo was good, had to put a little salt in it though. I decided to give the place another try with a girlfriend of mine. Order a Greek shrimp dish swimming in tomato sauce & feta cheese. Again, just OK and I noticed for the second time in a row my salad had brown edges and was not fresh. The homemade salad dressings were delicious, maybe they should marinate the food in them :)
(2)Christy D.
I had dinner here after work one Friday evening. They were not packed at all and they had happy hour going on (it lasts till 7) with an appealing array of food and drinks. Crab balls, seafood fondue, all sorts of flavored margaritas...good stuff! After initial drinks of the house merlot and plain margarita (really good!!) my fiance and I split the 6 fried shrimp plate (came with salads and onion rings), seafood fondue and crab balls. The Greek salads we had were delicious! Not surprising considering this place is run by Roula's family (of Roula and Ryan show fame). The seafood fondue was pretty good...the oysters weren't the best though, but it's the start of the season and they didn't have any fresh ones so that probably explains it. The buttery dunking bread it was served with was not in hefty supply and they charge for extra so we subbed free hot fresh rolls after we ran out to dunk in the fondue. Both were fairly tasty, mostly because of the freshness factor. The crab balls were good...just like a balled up crab cake. Interesting remoulade too...good but appeared to have a lot of mayo. The shrimp were the star of the show though. Light and crunchy breading, almost like panko bread crumbs. These were no heavy thickly battered shrimp, but they were perfect in every way. Definitely a winner! Onion rings were aight. We split the strawberry daiquiri cheesecake for dessert and it was a great finish. Nothing out of this world, but still tasty. Service was excellent and well-paced. I love supporting family run business; I'd come back!
(4)Stacy w.
There's a reason why Christie's has been around for so long - the seafood is awesome! I don't know if it's because I rarely get great seafood (living in Dallas) or what, but Christie's had the best stuffed shrimp I've had in years. It was so flavorful and filling. Even though I was full, I didn't want to stop eating. Their plates are huge. So ladies, you may want to split a plate with someone. I was very impressed. I didn't care for their fries. (They weren't out of this world, like the shrimp.) Next time I'll try a different side. Christie's is a bit pricey, but it's worth the money and you get a lot of food. Overall, I'd recommend Christie's. While I know there's some stiff competition when it comes to seafood in Houston, this place is worth a try.
(4)Jill D.
The food was good and I particularly enjoyed the crawfish bisque and the fish in the grilled platter. There was a hiccup with trying to use the check-in coupon for the free balls. I showed the server when he brought the check and he said I was supposed to show him when the dish was ordered. He said he'd talk to the manager, but he never did and just returned and took the money from the two gentlemen at the table who were paying. Kind of ticked me off, it felt like they were ignoring the lady at the table with the coupon. It felt like he was too lazy to rerun the ticket with the app removed.
(3)Bernice Z.
The first time I came here was for a friend's birthday. The service was excellent and the portions are huge. My husband ordered live oysters and they were very fresh. I read on yelp about their famous shrimp so I ordered the shrimp. My option on the shrimp would be that it is decent. The portion was so big that we ended up taking our sides home. Decent place and prices are good for the large portions.
(3)Ed K.
the place is old but I already knew that and it was not an issue I come to eat not window dressing. But wow, this food sucks got the bisque for a starter, it tasted like watered down Velveta cheese nothing added to it but some seafood cant even remember what it was I sent it back. Got the gumbo in its place, the menu says it was made sometime like 1920. I have to say its time to bring it in to the modern era. It needs all kinds of seasoning it has potential but it really needs some salt, pepper, cumin, ect. The best way to describe this place is lubye's with a focus on seafood. Its made for an older crowd. I dont know why everyone is nuts for the shrimp or the sauce that comes with them. It again is in need of seasoning. I had fish too and well it all fit in the same area in need of flavor. The chick ate the shrimp plate she said it was ok and not to bad a bit over breaded but you could eat it. The service was nice and helpful. Thats about all that was good here. I left them comments on the ticket they have a survey on it. gave my email I will let you know if anything comes of it.
(2)Sam W.
This place was great...I had a dozen oysters on a halfshell and a greek salad....Both were fresh and the salad was impressive....All of the staff were very friendly and professional...it was a great quite atmosphere...I will be back for sure!
(4)SUMMER M.
After going bed shopping, my boyfriend came up with the idea of going to Christies. We ordered the Oyster Rockerfeller appetizer. So Delicious! (I regret only ordering a half dozen; should have ordered more). We then ordered one of the platters ( forgot the name) which came with scallops, catfish fillet, shrimp, stuffed crab etc. By the time the platter came, we were already full from the oysters, bread *love* and salad (eyes bigger than our stomachs) and took everything to go. Our server was extremely sweet and boxed up our food. In my opinion, this beats the hec out of going to Pappadeux's who enjoys giving you a pound of fries with your one filet and two scrawny shrimp platter.
(4)Mark R.
Carrying on with my theme of trying out seafood this week we hit Christie's on our way out of town. We were not disappointed by the oldest restaurant in Houston (Since 1917). We started with calamari and fried zucchini. The marinara sauce for the calamari is a creation of Mr Christie and added a great flavor. The zucchini and accompanying sauce became a source of conflict as my family fought over the remaining slices. I had the fish sandwich which has been a staple of the menu since the beginning. The fish itself was light and flaky and the breaking was fantastic. I devoured the fish filet without even touching the toasted bun. We threw in an order of stuffed shrimp. While the taste of the shrimp was enough to make you want to steal a piece from your child's plate, the remoulade sauce stole the show. The garlicky zing of the sauce would be incredible on absolutely anything. The service was fast, polite, and professional. The food was delicious and the portion sizes were filling. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone in Houston. I know we'll be back.
(5)Elliott B.
Went here as part of my parents' nostalgia trip, retracing some old haunts of theirs from the Bellaire they knew in the 50s and 60s. It was pretty quiet at 12:30 on a Saturday, which was a little foreboding. But what that really meant was that we had almost overly attentive service. Very friendly and quick. We tried the crab balls that were a bonus for checking in on Yelp; crispy and savory. Crab's not really my thing, but they were quite good. Two of us had fried shrimp, which, again, was crisp and tasted fresh, and another had the fried crab, which they enjoyed. And the place filled up. It took just a little long for the entrees to come out, but that's really the only complaint. I'm not sure that I'd drive past the numerous sea food places between me and this location to try it again, but I can say that I my parents, who started going there 43 years ago when they were kids, enjoyed the trip.
(3)April M.
I'm hard pressed to find anything really good to say about the place. From the food to the service to the decor it was just....well boring. I wasn't really impressed and perhaps I had built it up to more than it could be since I've always heard great things. I ate my food, I paid, I left. Although part of me wants to give it a second try to see if I ordered the "wrong" thing or they were having an off night, I think I will just save my money.
(2)David L.
BEST FRIED SHRIMP ON THE PLANET!!! The service has been excellent every time I have been there. Everything is good to very good. Did I mention they have the best fried shrimp I have ever eaten? The decor is very very dated and the place even smells old but still one of my favorite seafood restaurants ever.
(5)Albert N.
Christie's has been serving up some of the best seafood in Houston for a few years... actually, since 1917. For many of us who grew up in Houston, Christie's IS Gulf Coast seafood done right. Where to start? If you've not tried their fried shrimp, you're missing a Houston institution. They're the benchmark; large, tender shrimp, so fresh that a good vet could probably revive them. They're paired with the classic onion rings, salad, and baked potato. Other choices not to miss (if you can pry yourself away from the fried shrimp) include any of the excellent red snapper dishes, or the decadent lump crab meat sautee. Service is very good; they've had over 90 years to get it right. If you want to learn how a restaurant manages to survive in this tough market for over nine decades, stop by and check 'em out. In this business, the newest isn't always the best.
(5)Thefoodie F.
Today's feedback Christie's Seafood est 1917 in Houston Off to a good start ,The Greek salad was excellent ,spinach over the top good,the bread wow good & the service good, what gives it 4 stars ? The sea food was just OK shrimp batter not good ,batter on oysters too heavy ,fish fillet and scallop's good ,crab stuffing bland . OK in San Antonio Christies was the best sea food ,No wedge salad no Christie's salad dressing ,Not my old Christie's not close
(4)John W.
I have only been to Christie's a few times, but their fried shrimp is awesome....never tried anything else though.
(4)B K.
After reading all of these rave reviews, we decied to try it while we were in town It was okay - just okay. For the flavor, I thought it was over priced. I don't mind paying $$$ for a great meal, but not an okay one. The shrimp was large, but the breading was dough-y on the inside. I was hoping to find that elusive sweet flavor some larger shrimo offers, but no. The cole slaw had an unusual flavor. Two of us would not eat it, but I thought it was okay. There's that word again - 'okay'. The rolls were just plain old white bread - boring. Same with the house salad. The atmosphere? Unremarkable. I think if you've grown up with this restaurant, so there is an emotional appeal, then you would have a different opinion. We just wanted some great seafood! On our next trip, we'll look for a restaurant that is better than 'okay'.
(3)Lam N.
May have just been an off night but the fish entrees we ordered were bland. The atmosphere and decoration is sort of drab as well. Server was great though.
(3)Mauricio G.
It's a fancy place to eat more the most part. The food there is pretty pricey, but overall if you've got the cash, then it's a good place to eat.
(3)Rose B.
You know, Christie's has been doing great seafood for many years. For some reason. Other popular chains with marketing departments make us think we need to go wait in line in order to have seafood. Well, I'm not waiting any longer. Christie's has award winning shrimp and excellent food. The green beans are Greek style. Yum! The snapper is delicious. The tarama is awesome. The hot dinner rolls and butter are what they should be...real! I wish I worked near by. I'd eat there everyday. Fresh, home made good at a great price.
(5)Jeremy G.
Are decibels destroying your love of food? Is your dinner companion's conversation important to you? If so, this is the best kind of atmosphere for enjoying food and company. At slower times you will be welcomed with Greek hospitality and multiple visits will result in your becoming part of the family. It is strange that the food is not flashy, hip or anything but so good that you will wonder why you do not dine at Christie's more often. One warning, they can get very busy during the lunch rush, but if you have a little flexibility you can relax and enjoy some of the best seafood in the Galleria area.
(4)Rhonda C.
Delicious seafood. Waiter honored my app check in for a free appetizer and was very helpful with the menu selections. The lobster bisque is about as good as I have ever had! This is a great local place to go for dinner!
(4)CJ P.
Not a huge fan of the decor (seems a bit disney world pirate escape mixed with luby's cafeteria teal green lunch booths)... however, i will say that the food was impeccable. they had a decent wine selection. we definitely drank some white wine with our orders of various fresh fish. havent tried everything, but I'm sure all of it is good. service was excellent. It's definitely a good choice if you're looking for fresh, quality seafood.
(4)Sally C.
This is my #1 Seafood place. Can't even tell you how many times I've been to Christie's since I was a kid in the 1950s. You can't get any better FRIED SHRIMP, even if you do it yourself. Don't expect that big battered, over cooked frozen junk found at those big conglomerates places. This is not a dress up place; but a friendly, quiet restaurant with good service and a straight forward menu. They've got homemade salad dressings, decent bisque, and, always, fresh food. We wanted to take Cousin Mary for her birthday dinner and offered several nice places on Westheimer. Once I mentioned Christie's, her eyes lighted up. Mary wanted to have her shrimp. I had the Greek fish dish, and he had the stuffed shrimp. It's always fresh. They have a small dinner salad with all entrees. Don't expect anything exotic. It will probably remind you of mom's. They offer several types of potatoes, too. Again, good, but not fancy. Service is always friendly and you can bring the family.
(5)Cindy H.
At first, my boyfriend and I thought Christie's looked kinda shady. We passed by it a couple of times and decided to stop here to try their food. I'm glad we ate here because the food was delicious! We ordered the calamari and it was probably the best calamari I've ever had! The portion was big and they were not stingy on the sauces either :) My boyfriend ordered their spicy seafood pasta and it very savory because they used a really thick sauce in the pasta. Personally, I don't really enjoy thick sauces on my pasta but this one was pretty yummy! I ordered the Shrimp combo that came with stuffed shrimps + their original breaded shrimp and baked potato. Let me tell you, I stuffed my face with shrimp and I loved every minute of it! I'm pretty picky about my baked potato and the one that came with my food was cooked just right! I hate when my potato is brittle and not soft enough to eat. The portion at Christie's is HUGE!! My boyfriend and I ate the calamari appetizer and we were full even before we got our main course! The service was impeccable! The lady who served us was really nice and also came around to make sure we had enough water. This place is definitely a secret waiting to be found :) PS: Christie's has been open since 1917! This fact was the selling factor for my boyfriend and I to try this restaurant - and it was worth it!
(4)John A.
Since 1917... And the decor is probably since 1980. But an extra star for bringing it back, right down to the Pat Benatar, brass rails, steerage chairs, ship's helm and blue marlin on the walls. But great food, great service at a great price. I see why this formula has worked since 1917.
(4)Larry K.
I love going in this place around 2PM. The lighting is dim and relaxing. And the wait staff is the best part, conciliatory without all that chain restaurant in-your-face fake bonhomie. Russians, Koreans, Guatemalans, they seem unflustered and happy to be working here. The food is better than anything you can get at the more-popular faux-Cajun Papadeaux. The seafood alfredo is delicious, but you'd better not eat anything else for a few days afterwards if you don't want to blimp up.
(3)Mia W.
Went during Restaurant Week at lunchtime. We were able to enjoy a two course meal. Since it was a prix-fixe menu our options were limited but it was still an enjoyable meal. Would like to go back and order from their standard menu. Great service, very cozy inside.
(3)Melanie S.
I adore Christie's. I grew up eating out here with my grandparents and they knew a thing or two about fried shrimp! I too have eaten a lot of friend shrimp in my life and I truly think Christie's tastes the best and the freshest. Even though they're on Westheimer, not all that close to the Gulf... Besides the fried shrimp, the sides and bread are also pretty good. The service is always very professional and I love the 1960's feel of the restaurant. And Mr. Christie, before he died, was always very nice and friendly to my family. We've celebrated wedding anniversaries and birthdays here for years and I hope to keep coming back. :)
(5)Larae M.
Ever since my dear boyfriend and I discovered this place last summer, this is our go-to spot to fill our bellies up with STUFFED FRIED JUMBO SHRIMP!!! It is to die for! The entrees come with salad w/ cornbread, your choice of baked potato, veggies, or fries , and onion rings. Believe me when I say that their plates are HUGE. The batter on the shrimp and onion rings is just DELISH! But seriously, if it'll be your first time to go there, you must order either their Fried Shrimp/Stuffed Shrimp combo or their Stuffed Shrimp platter. And if you're SUPER hungry, get the stuffed crab as appetizer. Not much for ambience, but we love how quiet this place is amongst the mess that's on Westheimer. And the service is spectacular! It's still family owned (by Roula of the Roula and Ryan show), so it keeps that type of family vibe as well. GO HERE!!!
(5)Nancy M.
Had to order the fried shrimp because I had heard so much about them. The lunch plate comes with 5 and I was afraid it might not be enough because I can put some shrimp away but I was stuffed! These shrimp are meaty, light and crispy, awesome! My husband had a doxen oysters on the half shell and got 13, probably becuase they were a bit small. $12.95 was pretty pricey, expecially after we left and saw Pappadeaux had their oysters for 5.95. But his blackened fish was great and we both left satisfied and very full. Even at lunch service was pretty formal and attentive. Older crowd and quiet. I will return for more of those shrimp!
(4)Lee M.
Visiting Houston over weekend and wanted seafood, did some online searching and happened upon Christie's, decided to make the drive over to Westheimer, and SOOO glad we did! Everything we had was absolutely wonderful - started off with the crab balls - yum! Then cornbread muffins served with our salads - were buttery and crumbly, perfect. Shrimp Salad with homemade remoulade sauce was perfect, huge shrimp, lightly tossed salad with dressing... Daughter had the fried shrimp, and were just as great as previous reviews - wonderful light breading, served with the yummy remoulade sauce..... My sister had the Bienville Seafood Fondue - Blackened catfish, shrimp and oysters covered with our chardonnay cream sauce, fresh spinach, cheese and baked. VERY rich and almost too much cheese, but fabulous! Service was impeccable, our drinks were replenished frequently and staff was very attentive. HIGHLY recommend.
(5)Matt B.
Great restaurant, a little pricey but the seafood was really good. I had the thermidor oysters which were phenomenal and so was the fried shrimp grilled shrip, scallops, oysters, and the grilled snapper. I do have to say that the steak I had was a low quality cut and the seafood gumbo was nastey but all in all their seafood was great and service was descent.
(4)Larry A.
Chrisites a real nice chill place. Its a lot bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. The food was really good, especially the cavier. I had fish stuffed with lump crab meat and it was awesome. The portions are really good so was the price. My g/f had the clam chowder and a garden salad, she loved it. We even met mama Christie our first night there. She was really nice and sweet. Reminds me of that super nice grandmother that always gives her grandkids friends cookies. This place is a def must go back.
(4)