01/21/07

Deep fried sea sadness served up daily

by xrisnothing

The biggest indication that you're in a horrible restaurant is the presence of refuse on the floor. For whatever reason, it has become customary to eat peanuts in family restaurants and then to discard the shells onto the floor. It's unsightly, disgusting and in horrible taste. The atmosphere inside of Castaway's is that of a trash bin. You'll even find an old discarded boat in front of the building. It's supposed to be kitschy, but it's just ugly.

The menu is atrocious. Nearly every offering includes catfish. You can have your catfish broiled, fried, fried or fried. You can have two pieces of catfish, three, or even four. The variety is astounding. Of course, they offer shrimp as well and even out of season frozen crawfish etouffee. Really, you'll be overwhelmed with choices.

I decided to go with the giant oversized plate of sadness that was the seafood platter. For $16.99 you get a plate full of luke warm catfish, fried shrimp, two soggy fried scallops, two fried oysters, french fries, and a "hush puppy." The food is served barely warm and is almost inedible. The fish is dry. The scallops were so soggy, it was like drinking a bit of the sea, if the sea were made of wet-packed chemical preservatives. The oyster I tasted was dry and bitter. I feared for my life too much to take another bite.

The service was mediocre. The great thing about eating at a nearly empty restaurant is that the wait staff has nothing else to do but wait on you.

I would avoid this restaurant like scurvy. If you're in the mood for eating a plate full of deep-fried sea sadness, walk the plank and go to Long John Silver's. Yes, I just recommended Long John Silver's over an actual restaurant.

• Pros: It's food, kind of
• Cons: Dirty, poor ambience, poor cuisine

12/30/06

Best Seafood in Round Rock

by christiedowning

If you're looking for a restaurant where you can bring the kids and still experience fine dining, then Castaways is the restaurant you're looking for. Big tables and chairs and the best seafood in Round Rock await you. We're Castaways regulars and often entertain our out-of-town guests at Castaways. Why? We have never, ever been disappointed by a single meal that we have ordered there. We've ordered shrimp, crab, catfish, steaks, burgers, you name it...and every time we leave raving about our experience. Even the taste of the rolls will leave you with a longing to return to Castaways. Personally, my favorite entree is Shrimp en de Bayou--huge, succulent jumbo shrimp wrapped with cheese, a pepper, and piece of bacon then grilled. You get four of these juicy big boys on a skewer. You have to try this specialty to believe it. Again--this is dependable fine dining in a family-friendly atmosphere. At Castways you can't go wrong!

• Pros: Parking, Family atmosphere, Kid Friendly, Fabulous Food

09/05/06

Best Service and Best Shrimp in town!!!!!!

by morgan8

I had heard that someone had written a bunch of negative stuff about one of my favorite restaurants, so I wanted to let everyone know not to listen to "I'm bothered by peanuts on the floor" and "Oh, BLAH BLAH BLAH." That's exactly what it is, just trash talking. I can't tell you how many times I have eaten in this restaurant,(I should own stock in the company) and have never experienced what this below talks about. He must have been in a bad mood, it seems like he's out to get them or something. Maybe he works for the competition, I don't know but we had dinner there tonight and AS ALWAYS, a pure delight. See for yourself, don't listen to BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!

• Pros: Great Oysters and Shrimp
• Cons:  none noted