Relax and unwind with your favorite cocktail while enjoying delicious Antojitos.

Rudy & Paco is located next door to The Grand 1894 Opera House, and is a great choice for pre-show dinner specials.

Note: Shorts are not allowed in main dining room at dinner, but are accepted at the bar. Lunch is casual and shorts are acceptable.

Reservations are recommended.

Galveston.com Review
Don’t let the simple exterior mislead you, this home of South/Central American fare is a place not to be missed. Mix the fashionable interior with an adventurous menu and you get a sophisticated dining experience usually reserved for larger cities.

We were there on a busy Friday and wait-staff met us graciously upon entry and attended to our every wish throughout the evening. Notable was their “synchronized serving” which would do Esther Williams proud. We enjoyed our meal at a leisurely pace and felt no need to rush. Lighting was low and the ambient 40’s big band music was a quiet accompaniment. The television over the corner bar was initially a bit distracting but we soon forgot it was there.

The fried plantain appetizers, provided with every meal, were plentiful and accompanied by the slightly sweet “Pico Paco” and chimichurri sauce. But we knew better than to fill up on those. We sampled the empanada appetizer, which came with a selection of shrimp, chicken and beef. The crust was deliciously tender and they were perfectly seasoned with or without the subtle cilantro cream sauce. Only the beef was a bit dry. Salad greens were fresh and crispy. The balsamic vinaigrette was light and tangy and the blue cheese was rich without heaviness. We chose an Argentine Cabernet from an extensive wine list to accompany our meal.

For the main course, I ordered the evening special of pan-seared red snapper with lump crabmeat and my companion selected the NY strip from among the two dozen choices. The snapper was perfectly done and complemented by a lemon butter sauce. The deliciously tender NY strip was grilled to medium-rare perfection. Both entrees were accompanied by the best scalloped potatoes we have enjoyed for some time, and a crisp-tender medley of fresh sautéed vegetables. Of course we had to complete the meal with a serving of classic Tres Leches cake, with texture that held up well to the milky sauce. We topped it all off with a dessert special, the “Paco Freeze”, a creamy cold concoction with walnut liqueur and creme de cacao.

Servings are quite generous so order carefully. Shared dishes add a $4 charge. Be aware that there is a dress code (no shorts, tank tops, or baseball caps) and reservations are strongly recommended.

Galveston.com Visitor Ratings & Reviews RATE AND REVIEW BY CLICKING HERE

Rating Rated by Date Review Patricia 9/18/2008 2:00:00 PM I went to Rudy & Paco's for my 8 year wedding anniversary. Best food I have ever had in my life. I strongly recommend to eat here. When the filled our glasses the did it at the same time. Service is above and beyond!! Brandy 6/22/2008 9:57:00 AM This place is fantastic!! We were celebrating our 3 year anniversary and wanted something a little different. The service was outstanding....the waiter we had was the best, even put my napkin on my lap. They served everything at the same time. It was amazing to watch how synchronized everyone was. And the food...well what a treat!! It was delicious. I don't normally eat fish, but wanted to try something new...so I tried the Filete de Pargo Simpatico. So wonderful!! My husband had the Filete de Carne Presidente and he said it was the best steak he had ever eaten. I would reccomend and visit this resturant again. Thanks Rudy & Paco's for making our anniversary dinner one to remember! chali 4/17/2008 1:38:00 PM It was our 2 year anniversary, and we chose Rudy and Pacos for dinner. Made a reservation and was seated immediately. Surprised how small it was, but the food and service and the quaint atmosphere made up for it. Delicious food, great service. Treated us to champagne after dinner for our anniversary. Wanted to dress up, and felt right at home in my fancy dress, husband in a suit. I will be going back and would reccomend this resteraunt to anyone! Helen Johnson 3/4/2008 5:33:00 PM A trip to Galveston would not be complete without dining at Rudy and Paco's. Outstanding service and the food is superb.