Comments on: Perla’s Restaurant Review by Guest Blogger Betsy Goldin Becker

By: Betsy

Betsy — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 04:11:22 +0000

Glad to hear about your recent visit. I am 100% on the same page as you with the lobster roll – expensive, but amazing – and the one item I've tasted there that justifies the cost. (Haven't tried their oysters, so can't comment on those.) On the other hand, I did give Perla's a second chance for dinner, but the unexceptional food and below-par customer service still didn't “wow” me. Their entrees just didn't compare to the outstanding seafood dishes I've enjoyed at other high-end local restaurants – Uchiko, Eddie V's and Fonda San Miguel, to name a few. Not to mention, all of these restaurants dish out fabulous food without the attitude. However….. the lobster frittatta on Perla's brunch menu DOES look intriguing, so I'll probably give it one more shot for the weekend brunch. Perhaps the third time will be the charm.

By: jodibart

jodibart — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:13:39 +0000

Thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience. While my friend Betsy guest blogged this post, I joined her for the meal and was on the same page. However, since then, I believe that she has been back and can probably share a bit more about her thoughts on Perla's. I'd like to go back myself to experience their brunch and give them another shot now that they have been open for a while longer. And, I don't even know if anywhere else in town serves a lobster roll!

By: Oysterriot

Oysterriot — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:51:05 +0000

I know i'm beyond late to this particular party, but just stumbled across this while trolling the archives and i'm going to have to defend Perla. It's definitely pricey — and we had an inexcusable issue upon last visit, when the waitress substituted (and billed us for) a $60 bottle of wine rather than the $30 bottle we ordered. (We did enjoy the wine greatly, as well as a few pre-cocktails, so we felt lubricated/generous enough to pay it without making a scene.) While I agree that the waiters could use some more professionalism and a little less frat daddy haughtiness, I'll fight to the death re. the cost of the food, though — i think it's completely justified. You can't compare a Perla lobster roll to one anywhere else in town, IMO. They use fresh lobster (not packaged/ frozen, and the difference is easy to taste for lobster roll enthusiasts). So think about the value proposition. Perla lobster rolls seem to use the entire lobster – whole claws + tail, and very little filler/mayo. A lobster at HEB is about $12/lb — and you're getting the meat from a 1lb lobster, plus the labor involved in picking the meat (not to mention making the salad). And i'll tell you i've paid more than that for lobster rolls at shack-y places in New England, where lobster is about half the price that it is here and the atmosphere is equivalent to a gas station. The same applies to perla's oysters. They aren't the cheaper (but still excellent) locally available gulf oysters. These puppies are sourced from Canada/Washington/Massachusetts/other cold water places, so naturally you're going to pay more because they were flown in. If you're looking for a gulf shrimp shack situation, this isn't it – head on over to Shuck Shack or Quality Seafood. If you're looking for the highest-quality seafood in austin, and a fancier atmosphere, Perla's your place.

By: jodibart

jodibart — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:13:39 +0000

By: Oysterriot

Oysterriot — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:51:05 +0000