Cedar Park has its fair share of chain spots and fast-casual comfort food, but C.R. Surf & Turf is where locals go when they’re craving oysters on ice, fried catfish, and a ribeye off the grill in one place—and they want it from people who actually remember their name. 🦐
This locally-owned seafood, steak, and oyster bar has been quietly winning over regulars since the mid-2000s with fresh Gulf and East Coast seafood, in-house steaks, and portions big enough that “just one more bite” turns into “I need a nap.” 🥩😅
How C.R. Surf & Turf won Cedar Park’s hearts
C.R. Surf & Turf didn’t arrive as a shiny new concept with a PR blitz. It opened in The Railyard back in 2007 with a simple mission: serve fresh seafood and steaks, cut in-house, with genuine Southern hospitality.
Owner Lien built the menu around American coastal flavors, bringing in shrimp from the Gulf and flying in cod, snow crab, lobsters, and clams from Maine, then pairing that seafood with homestyle gumbo, poboys, fried baskets, and turf options like flat iron steak and ribeye. 🦞
Features and community write-ups highlight how C.R. Surf & Turf focuses on fresh product and long-term relationships, with Lien saying they pick up seafood from the airport every other day and love watching families return year after year. 💙
Regulars rave about the oysters (raw and Rockefeller), black pepper calamari, Cajun fried rice, jumbo fried shrimp, crawfish, and that “market-price” ribeye that still manages to impress in a seafood-focused spot.
Reviews call it their “favorite seafood restaurant,” “go-to crawfish place,” and “never disappoints,” with guests praising friendly, helpful staff, fair prices, and portions that make it easy to turn a simple lunch into a full-on feast. 🦪🔥
Longevity has turned C.R. Surf & Turf into a Cedar Park classic.
Families who first came in with little kids now bring back college-age “regulars,” and locals point friends away from crowded chains toward this spacious, unpretentious dining room where the iced tea arrives in giant 40-ounce glasses and the calamari “is the best in the Austin area.”
It’s the kind of place you recommend with a knowing nod and a warning: come hungry. 🦐
Food Highlights
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Oysters (On the Half Shell & Rockefeller): Fresh oysters are a huge draw here, offered both raw on the half shell and as rich, broiled Oysters Rockefeller topped with crab meat, spinach, and cheese.
Regulars say the oysters are “out of this world,” juicy, and consistently fresh, making them one of the must-order starters—especially during happy seafood moods or crawfish season. 🦪
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Black Pepper / Salt & Pepper Calamari: Thin-cut strips of calamari lightly breaded and fried with onions and jalapeños, often called salt & pepper or black pepper calamari.
Diners describe it as “out of this world” and “absolutely the best in the Austin area,” praising the crisp texture, light breading, and addictive seasoning; many admit they order it every single visit. 🦑🔥
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Cajun Fried Rice: A hearty plate of rice loaded with sausage, shrimp, and crawfish, seasoned with Cajun spices.
Fans love the good spice level and generous seafood portions, often pairing it with fried shrimp or crawfish for a surf-and-turf situation. It’s one of the dishes that repeatedly shows up in “we always order this” reviews. 🍤
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Lobster Roll & Stuffed Crab / Stuffed Catfish: The lobster roll is a listed favorite, and seafood fans also call out stuffed crab and stuffed catfish fillet.
Reviewers describe the lobster roll as solid and satisfying, while stuffed items give crab lovers something richer and more decadent, making them popular picks for guests who want more than just a fried basket. 🦞
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Fried Catfish & Fried Shrimp: Crispy fried catfish and jumbo fried shrimp are two of the most-photographed and most-reviewed items on the menu.
Guests praise the “perfectly crispy” exterior and juicy interior, noting that the baskets arrive hot and well-seasoned, with enough shrimp or catfish to share—if you’re feeling generous. For many locals, these are the comfort classics that anchor their order. 🐟
Atmosphere
C.R. Surf & Turf has a spacious, casual, family-friendly vibe, more “local Gulf-coast hangout” than stiff white-tablecloth steakhouse.
The dining room is relaxed and unpretentious, with enough room for big groups, families, and date nights that still want to keep things low-key and comfortable. 🍤
The overall feel is lively but not chaotic: fried seafood arriving hot, crawfish platters hitting tables in season, and plenty of laughter and conversation floating through the room like a permanent happy hour. 🍻
Bottom Line
C.R. Surf & Turf is a locally-owned Cedar Park favorite serving fresh oysters, killer calamari, hearty Cajun plates, and solid steaks in a laid-back, family-friendly space.
Come for oysters and calamari, stay for Cajun fried rice and fried shrimp, and leave already planning the next crawfish or oyster fix with your favorite people. 🦪🔥
Address:
C.R. Surf & Turf
601 E Whitestone Blvd, Suite 200, Cedar Park, TX 78613
📞 (512) 260-0600
🕔 Open Tue–Fri, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM & 4:30 PM–9:00 PM; Sat–Sun, 11:30 AM–3:00 PM & 4:30 PM–9:00 PM (closed Mon)