Best American Restaurants in Port Arthur

To start our experience, we tried the Lobster Escargot (delicious and light), and the Vin Scully Fries (flavorful and fun). We split the Dry-Aged Delmonico (Fabulous)! We indulged ourselves with 3 delightful sides, the broccolini, mac & cheese, and loaded mashed potatoes. The chocolate silk pie was a wonderful way to round out our experience.

Both the food and service were incredible. Management clearly embraces a serve first mentality when it comes to taking care of their customers and the entire team never misses a beat. They’re a machine! I highly recommend the Coconut Shrimp, Fried Oysters, Salmon and Crab Cake. The Crab Cake might just be the best in town. Balboa is easily in our top five Houston restaurants currently. It’s a must try if you haven’t been.

The atmosphere was great. From the decor, lighting, and sound of the restaurant. Together it all formed a dining experience I’ll remember for some time. And to top it all off the service was impeccable.

This is one of our favorite neighborhood Italian restaurants. Excellent, extra-mile-type service from real professional servers and delicious food. Buzzy ambiance with cozy spaces. (The lighting actually makes a big difference in this restaurant.) Excellent bar and wine list. Our server Parker willingly subbed out bucatini noodles for the polenta that came with the special Osso Buco. But then he brought out the polenta in addition and my husband was converted to a polenta lover! The Spicy Gemelli pasta is an awesome perfect comfort food for a cold night. The kale salad is my favorite side. The flourless chocolate cake with ice cream was also excellent. Parker actually brought a second chilled martini glass and replaced my husband's glass! I highly recommend this restaurant!

So my husband and I decided to celebrate his birthday in style, and WOW did we hit the jackpot with this place! From the moment we pulled up, we knew we were in for a treat. We valet parked for just $15—because who doesn’t love convenience?!—then we strutted in like VIPs. Since we went on a weekday, it wasn’t too crazy, but we were still greeted with champagne and smiles that could light up the whole room. We had a 7:30 p.m. reservation, but only had to wait about 7 minutes to be seated. No biggie—hello selfie time and soaking in the vibe! When we finally sat down, the table was set up perfectly—intimate, cozy, and just right for a birthday dinner. And what’s this? Complimentary glasses of wine and a birthday card for my hubby? Love that personal touch! The manager swooped in like a birthday fairy, gave us her warmest well wishes, and made sure we knew she was ready to cater to our every whim. Not even 5 minutes later, our bubbly waitress came by with water, menu tips, and a vibe so positive I thought she might actually be the happiest person on earth. Her recommendations? On. Point. We ordered everything she suggested, and let me tell you, everything was worth it. Then, as if by magic, our main waiter appeared—also sweet, upbeat, and looking sharp—and took our orders for appetizers and entrees. We started with the cauliflower, hibachi wings, and lettuce wraps. Babe, you ever had food so good you want to lick your fingers but you're too busy side-eyeing the people around you to make sure they’re not judging? Yeah. That happened. For entrees, I went for the steak and crab cake (flavor explosion, by the way), and my husband got the chicken parmesan. The chicken parm? He was in heaven. The tomato sauce was a little strong for me, but honestly? Still tasty! We skipped dessert—because, well, we could barely move after all that deliciousness—but next time, that butter cake is mine! Long story short: Joey Uptown? You did NOT disappoint. A perfect 10 from us, and we’ll