Bernardo's @ the Hotel Galvez - (409) 765-7721

The architectural splendors of the Galvez Hotel are fabulous. Unfortunately one can't eat the architecture. My waiter's appearance and demeanor almost made me mistake him for a busboy. Service was glacial even though there were only two tables occupied in the entire restaurant. The food was OK but not outstanding. Tea was served with a teacup but no saucer. I'm not talking about a mug here, but a teacup that usually comes with a saucer as standard equipment. I pressed my (used) breadplate into service as a saucer. Note that this tea for one costs $4.50. For that one would expect a saucer. When the bill came I was overcharged $3.00 for my entree. Naturally the waiter had totally disappeared. Rather than track him down I deducted the $3.00 from his tip... not that he deserved one. Galveston has other 3-diamond restaurants. Bypass this one.

Our party of 7 decided to try Bernardo's for dinner. We're sorry about that decision. The first disappointment was that the menu isn't the one they've posted online, at Galveston dotcom. The actual menu is abbreviated and less interesting. When asked why, they said, "Oh, we're working to change that." With average entree prices of $25, diners have a right to expect a trained waitstaff, but here, too, they came up short. Intrusive, overly friendly and uninformed about some menu items, she delivered the white wine at near room temperature. Food was generally ok, but not worth a return visit. 2 stars is about right.

This is a beautiful upscale hotel with a fantastic view of the gulf. At the end of the day you can lounge in the lobby and get a soothing drink to help you relax. Our room was a little on the small side but this is no surprise since it was built back in 1911. The bed was very comfortable and the Concierge was extremely helpful in helping us figure out what to do while we were there. We had a small problem with our room service order but the manager on duty took care of us as soon as we brought it to his attention. I’d love to go back soon.