The Black Pearl Oyster Bar

Reviews

• Wendy C.

  star star star star star_border 5 June 2026

  I'm the fresh oyster kind of person, I love good and fresh oysters. And this place definitely delivered that quality of oysters.
  Other seafood dishes were great as well. The amount of the food were especially satisfying. For my husband and I who have huge stomaches for food, we were full by our meals at the end.
  I loved the gumbo, it was great!!

• Becky H.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 4 June 2026

  I am really sad to be writing this review because Black Pearl Oyster used to be my favorite spot in Galveston. My bachelorette party was in Galveston last weekend, and of course, this restaurant was on the itinerary for Saturday's dinner.  My maid of honor called weeks before for a reservation.  Black Pearl said they don't take reservations so to come later because that's the best time to be seated without a long wait.
  
  So, we took their advice and my party of 10 arrived for dinner at 8:50 pm.  In our full bachelorette party gear, we were turned away from the restaurant because they refused to "seat anymore big parties" so that they could CLOSE ON TIME.  Are you kidding me? Closing time was 10 pm.  After they turned us away with the entire restaurant watching, they proceeded to sit two separate parties of 4 at tables right next to each other.  Tables they could have easily pushed together for my group.  So, Black Pearl, you decide to let 8 people sit down at separate tables but you tell a bride's party of 10 to leave at one of her biggest life celebrations?  When your employees are the ones who suggested we come later?  
  
  I have never been treated so poorly by a restaurant and will never go back to this place.  I am truly disgusted.  Thank goodness for Rudy and Paco down the road who were able to do some damage control and fix the big night that Black Pearl ruined because their employees refused to go the extra mile.  Just terrible.

• Andy T.

  star star star star star 3 June 2026

  Terrific service and friendly. Quality fresh seafood in heaping quantities.
  
  We showed up early at opening and the staff was having their lunch before service. They got up quickly and got to it with a smile.
  
  The portions of the poboys are huge, hot, and straight from the fryer. The fried okra was underseasoned but fine with a dip in catchup.
  
  The gumbo is a lighter colored, thicker roux loaded with generous seafood. It is tasty and the bowl is huge.
  
  The red beans and rice are delicious and even my 4 year old son couldn't get enough. The nice waiter even gave us a little more rice to go (after my son ate all of the rice off the top).
  
  Oysters (raw) were chilled, clean, no grit , and fresh (September).
  
  This is the place in Galveston for simply fresh seafood - maximizing quality and quantity in one -- it's not fancy and it shouldn't be.

• Melissa C.

  star star star star star 21 May 2026

  Brought a friend tonight for a last minute night cap. We had a cocktail and I had seafood gumbo...which had a good amount of shrimp and oysters in it. Two weeks ago, I had the shrimp cerviche....HUGE and to die for.
  
  BUY LOCAL
  SUPPORT LOCAL

• Jacky H.

  star star star star star_border 17 May 2026

  Solid seafood restaurant in Galveston. Came in for a late lunch on Labor Day and this place hit the spot. We shared some oysters and I ordered a cup of their gumbo- both were great. The oysters tasted pretty fresh and the cup of gumbo was much more like a bowl of gumbo. The serving sizes here are truly Texas-sized and I love it. The consistency of the gumbo was perfect for me and all of the seafood and meat inside- shrimp, crab, sausage etc- tasted really good. You should know that they have a separate lunch and dinner menu, with the dinner menu being far more extensive than the lunch menu, so come accordingly!