When traveling to Galveston Island, you just must make time to dine at Rudy & Paco, which is widely considered to be among the most memorable restaurants in all of Galveston. This restaurant has won a number of awards and is known for serving grilled seafood and steak with a flavor profile inspired by South and Central America.

The Grand 1894 Opera House is located right next door to Rudy & Paco, which makes it a convenient choice for patrons looking for pre-show meal discounts. It is recommended that you make reservations. When traveling to Galveston Island, you just must make time to dine at Rudy & Paco, which provides the island with its most distinctive dining experience. Rudy & Paco, which was named one of the Top 100 Restaurants in 2017 and one of the Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in 2018, serves grilled seafood and steak with a flavor profile inspired by South and Central America. While you unwind and relax with your go-to cocktail and some delectable antojitos, you can’t go wrong. When you visit Rudy & Paco, you are guaranteed to have an experience that is unlike any other, regardless of whether you are there for a celebratory meal or just to get a drink at the bar.

The Grand 1894 Opera House is located right next door to Rudy & Paco, which makes it a convenient choice for patrons looking for pre-show meal discounts.

Rudy & Paco can be found on the Strand directly across the street from the Grand Opera House. This sophisticated establishment has garnered quite a bit of attention in recent years. In this book, you will find Latin-inspired recipes that are both innovative and perfectly executed. In addition to that, you can anticipate receiving service of the highest caliber!

The Beginning of Paco
The beginning of Paco’s career in the hospitality industry dates back more than 25 years. When Rudy and Paco arrived in the United States from Nicaragua, Rudy found a job for Paco as a busboy. He then proceeded to climb the ladder by moving into the kitchen and continuing his ascent there. His dedication to hard work earned him a stellar reputation and allowed him to enter many previously closed doors. To bring things up to date, Paco is the current owner of Rudy & Paco now that Rudy has passed away. In addition, Paco is the proprietor of Vargas, which is located directly across the street.

The Dining Establishment
The restaurant has a sophisticated and gloomy atmosphere throughout its interior. Your table will already be set with wine glasses, plates for serving, cutlery, napkins, and candles when you arrive. Plantain chips and a chimichurri sauce that will make your mouth water will be brought to the table as the meal’s first course by the wait staff. Be careful, these things are highly addictive! In addition to that, you can anticipate that your waiter will have extensive knowledge of the menu, the specials, and the recommended wine pairings. During the dinner service, it is important to note that there is a dress code in place, and shorts are not permitted.

In addition, one interesting feature of this restaurant is that they host a fantastic wine club. You are able to attend two tastings each month if you pay an annual fee of $1,000. In addition, you can purchase bottles at the going rate in the market. That is an excellent offer for those who enjoy drinking wine.

The incredible food at Rudy & Paco consistently earns accolades from critics, giving the restaurant ample opportunity to brag about its achievements. Naturally, the high standard of service that they provide is another factor that sets them apart. Just a few of their recent accomplishments include the following:

According to OpenTable, it is one of the 100 most romantic restaurants in the United States.
OpenTable has recognized this restaurant as one of the Top 100 Restaurants for 2017.
Tripadvisor ranked us as the second best restaurant out of 180 in Galveston.
The National Restaurant Association presented Paco with the “Faces of Diversity Award” earlier this year. This award recognizes Paco’s success in realizing the “American Dream” through his dogged determination and perseverance.
At Rudy & Paco’s, we strongly suggest you order one of the following dishes:
Pelo de Angel
The chicken breast used in Pelo de Angel is grilled, and it is served with angel hair pasta that has been tossed in a tomato basil cream sauce. The chicken and pasta go wonderfully well with the tomato basil cream sauce that was made from scratch in the kitchen. Your tongue and tastebuds will be grateful to you for doing this.

Lobster tempura that is Paco’s signature dish
This dish is going to steal the show at the dinner table. A sauce that is equal parts sweet and sour is used to coat one pound of lobster tempura. Due to the fact that it is served face-up in a lobster tail, it is certain to impress. Note: If your group has a decent appetite, this is the dish to order because the portion is big enough for everyone to have some.

The Pollo Empanizado dish features a plantain-crusted chicken breast that is served atop a sauce made from black beans. A combination of queso blanco, maduros, yucca, and sour cream are incorporated into the sauce. This dish has become synonymous with Rudy & Paco’s and is a fan favorite among customers.

Local Tips
It is highly recommended that you make reservations, and you can do so either over the phone or through OpenTable.
While shorts are not permitted in the main dining room during dinner, they can be worn in the bar area. Casual attire, including shorts, is appropriate for lunch.
In between lunch and dinner service, the restaurant is closed from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM.
For parties of 6 or more, an additional 18% gratuity will be added.
It is against the rules to split checks.