James Beard America’s Classics Award recognizes locally owned establishments that have served high-quality eats while standing the test of time. Since its inception in 1998, more than 100 restaurants across the country have earned this distinction. This year, a Texas institution joins the ranks, and it’s no other than Galveston-based Gaido’s, a seafood restaurant that has been serving fresh Gulf catches since 1911.
Most recognizable by the large crab perched atop its roof, Gaido’s has been a Galveston staple for over a century. Its founder, San Giacinto Gaido, an Italian immigrant, was orphaned just two years after arriving on the coast. He worked his way through the service industry before first opening a sandwich shop and later, Gaido’s, which grew into one of the state’s most iconic seafood destinations. Today, the restaurant remains in family hands, run by fourth-generation Nick Gaido and his wife, Kateryna.
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Gaido’s menu changes daily based on the freshest catches, but one thing remains constant: the quality of the seafood. Locals and visitors alike make the trek to indulge in Gulf shrimp, catfish, snapper and redfish—always fresh, never frozen. It’s a fact that servers proudly remind customers, reinforcing the restaurant’s commitment to high standards. And while the seafood is the star, the experience is just as memorable, with sweeping ocean views and a signature dose of warm Southern hospitality.
Gaido’s joins five other winners in receiving this year’s America’s Classics distinction: Lem’s Bar-B-Q in Chicago, The Pioneer Saloon in Ketchum, Sullivan’s Castle Island in Boston, Lucky Wishbone in Anchorage and Dooky Chase in New Orleans.
The award confirms what Texans already knew about Gaido’s: it’s one of the best places to get fresh Gulf seafood.