Christie's Seafood & Steak

At Christie’s Seafood & Steak, the longest-running restaurant in the greater Houston area, the walls showcase over 106 years of history. Founded in 1917 by Greek immigrant Theodore Christie, the restaurant is now helmed by the third generation of the Christie family, with Alexandra as the owner and her daughter Maria as the general manager.

Originally named Christie’s Café, the establishment first earned acclaim for Christie’s signature trout sandwich. It’s the prototype of the menu’s current star: the fried Gulf snapper sandwich, which retains the original breading and seasoning. The restaurant has moved around a couple times across several locations, but, since 1965, the current Christie’s has existed on Westheimer Road.

Today, Christie’s continues to attract diners with its nostalgic maritime décor and a menu that bridges its Greek origins and local Texan flavors. The restaurant is still best known for its Gulf seafood, particularly its signature butterfly fried shrimp since 1917, which is accompanied by a unique garlic remoulade sauce made from scratch. According to Maria Christie, the restaurant gets many regulars who only order fried shrimp and have never tried anything else. 

The rest of the menu, however, is still excellent. Other highlights include po-boys, daily grilled snapper, and oyster stew—a favorite of former President George H.W. Bush. Christie notes that the stew is prepared simply: with only heavy cream, fresh oysters, and seasonings. On the steak front, find strip sirloin and rib-eye cooked to your liking.