Gilhooley's Restaurant-Oyster

(281) 339-3813

222 9TH St
San Leon, TX 77539 29.4949 -94.9191

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Last updated 4.01.09

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Outdoor Dining, Hidden Find, People Watching, Lunch Spot, Happy Hour, Cheap Eats, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Seafood

Recommended Dish:

13

What People Are Saying About Gilhooley's Restaurant-Oyster

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Opt for a table on the tree-shaded outdoor patio at this Gulf Coast beer bar and seafood dive (the inside gets smoky). The "no kids allowed" policy is strictly enforced, so expect a lively atmosphere most sunny afternoons as tables of locals and the well-informed binge on tray after tray of the legendary oysters served raw, smoked with garlic butter and cheese, or the latter with shrimp on top. Other menu items include fried seafood baskets, burgers and assorted sandwiches. –

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
From S Hwy 146, turn left onto FM 646 and then right onto W Bayshore Dr for 3.6 miles. Turn right onto 9th Street, and you'll see a mini-golf-style whale and a gravel lot on your right.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. But the tables and atmosphere were very comfortable and the food was GREAT - it was a nice place to sit back, relax, and enjoy the food and company.
  2. If you want a low-key atmosphere, no pretense, just unpretentiously good food, this is the place!
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. The crab cakes were awesome as well.
drinks
50.0% positive
  1. havent tried their food yet,just went in to have a couple of beers and its a good place to hang out with your other half or buddies.
  2. This place is a true biker bar (bikes are every where) not fancy but the food is excellent and the beer is really cold.
  3. Of course we KILL the oysters and drink the cold beer!
  4. However, if you looking for a cold beer and probably the best oysters on the Gulf Coast, then Gilhooley's is your kinda place.
food quality
96.42999649047852% positive
  1. If you want a low-key atmosphere, no pretense, just unpretentiously good food, this is the place!
  2. It's toasted with butter, parmeson, and covered with big shrimp - to die for!
  3. But the tables and atmosphere were very comfortable and the food was GREAT - it was a nice place to sit back, relax, and enjoy the food and company.
  4. The crab cakes were awesome as well.
  5. Awesome food, even better oysters!
  6. The bartenders were nice and i'll come here and try their food next time.
  7. Great food, but no kids hampers this young parent
  8. The food is consistently great.
  9. This place is a true biker bar (bikes are every where) not fancy but the food is excellent and the beer is really cold.
  10. The food is good, with generous portions and reasonable prices.
  11. You can't go wrong with the raw or smoked oysters, and the balance of the menu is quite tasty as well.
  12. Love the food, but it is annoying that kids aren't allowed.
  13. The oysters are smoked in the shell and topped with butter, parmeson cheese, and shrimp - absolutely delicious!
  14. havent tried their food yet,just went in to have a couple of beers and its a good place to hang out with your other half or buddies.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. There were allot of tempting items on the menu and the prices are very reasonable.
  2. You can't go wrong with the raw or smoked oysters, and the balance of the menu is quite tasty as well.
overall
87.5% positive
  1. If you want a low-key atmosphere, no pretense, just unpretentiously good food, this is the place!
  2. havent tried their food yet,just went in to have a couple of beers and its a good place to hang out with your other half or buddies.
  3. However, if you looking for a cold beer and probably the best oysters on the Gulf Coast, then Gilhooley's is your kinda place.
  4. But the tables and atmosphere were very comfortable and the food was GREAT - it was a nice place to sit back, relax, and enjoy the food and company.
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. The bartenders were nice and i'll come here and try their food next time.
  2. (Saturday night March 13, 2010) I am sure the owner would not be happy if they knew what an awful manager Lacy is.
  3. We usually sit at the same table and have our same waitress Sherri take great care of us!
value
100.0% positive
  1. The food is good, with generous portions and reasonable prices.
  2. There were allot of tempting items on the menu and the prices are very reasonable.
2 Star Rating: Below Average

02/15/12

its ok but Tommyis in Clear Lake rocks

by foodie4live

The quality of Gilhooley's has diminished substantially since my first visit in 2006. The only perks is the BYOB policy and funny personal wait staff. Tommy's Oyster Bar in Clear Lake is 10X better, for a lower price M-F, and the restroom doesn't make you consider peeing in your pants as a cleaner option.

1 Star Rating: Poor

01/20/12

not a good evening at gilhooleys

by The Blue Ox

Was looking forward to going back to Gilhooleys,I have been there once and the food and service was good.On this second visit,I sat at the bar ordered food and drinks,asked the bartender for an ash tray.While she was bringing the ash tray,she noticed i had a small cigar.She said i could not smoke a cigar in here,it was not allowed.That was o k for me since i do not smoke cigars on a regular basis,it has been weeks since i had one.After about 2 minutes had gone by,I look across the bar and i see a man walking by with a lit cigar in his mouth.I say "Hey, he is smoking a cigar".He replied "I'm leaving,I'm leaving".The bartender replied that he needed a light before he left.I replied that she just got through telling me,you can't smoke cigars in here.(she lit his cigar)She then started throwing things around the bar area,making lots of noise and shouted, "o k i'm over it"and stomed off.Needless to say,it took along time for us to get our (warm not hot )food.Not once,did she ask us for another drink or if we needed anything else!Nobody, as a customer,should be treated like this anywhere!What she should have done is either give him some matches or went outside and lit his cigar.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/16/11

BEST DANG PLACE IN SAN LEON

by MandMGlenn

We can't get enough of this place! It's wonderful, no screaming, running around, whining, crying little kids to listen too. You can go as dressy, or as casual as you want to. The service is usually prompt, and the food is always great! You will be able to buy your meal, beer, and walk away with more change than you would get at McDonald's!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/31/11

Relaxing!

by Darla Fraietta

Great food, relaxing atmosphere, and hard working wait staff.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/09/11

GRILLED OYSTERS GILHOOLEY

by KWS

Great oysters. They were very big. Cooked just right. Service was slow, but it is a "kick-back" place. Don't go if you are in a hurry. Drink a cold beverage of your choice, and enjoy the laid back atmosphere .

The Details on Gilhooley's Restaurant-Oyster

Place Categories:

  • great food
  • best great oysters
  • nice place
  • cold beer
  • absolutely delicious shrimp
  • very comfortable atmosphere
  • pleasant outdoor deck
  • absolutely delicious butter
  • awesome better oysters
  • nice bartenders
  • very good gumbo
  • good restaurant
  • good man
  • great care
  • favorite shrimphooley
  • not big fan
  • best hamburgers
  • very comfortable tables
  • awful attitude
  • awful manager lacy
  • awesome crab cakes
  • quite tasty balance
  • absolutely delicious parmeson cheese
  • reasonable prices
  • not like smokers
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