I wish I'd taken a photo of our food. Absolutely delicious! I had a side salad and the ahi appetizer. The ponzu sauce was a little too spicy for me (but I'm from Indiana so I'm probably used to a dialed down version). It's the type that hits a few seconds after you swallow, right in the back of your throat. The tuna was juicy yet so so tender. It was falling out of my chopsticks! My parents and fiancé shared onion rings-said they were wonderful. Crispy, hot, and flavorful. They ordered a hamburger, fried oysters, and fried shrimp for their meals. The hamburger was juicy with just enough fat. The fried oysters were fresh, crispy, and yummy! The fried shrimp were perfect. We had a blast sitting outside on the water. Next time we're down at St George Island, we'll definitely be back to the Half She'll Dockside! Also, Emma C our waitress was wonderful. She was attentive but not hovering. She was sweet and kept our glasses filled up! She never let them get below 1/2 full. Thank you Emma for providing exceptional service! read more

This is such a great addition to Aplachicola !!!!! Love an older waterfront restaurant like this with wandering rooms of indoor and outdoor dining !!!!! Just a great place and I had a great grilled fish dinner too !!!!! read more

Quick service. Friendly staff. I had bbq ribs and they were great. Tv in back section to watch games. It's at the marina so beautiful boats to admire. read more

Okay, was here in January. All was great and wanted to come back with friends. Service was beyond disappointing. Had to chase down to get service. You would think there was a manager or runner to help out but alas, MIA (missing in action). Ordered the scallop poboy. Food sat in the window for awhile Not sure I'll return read more

The people were very nice (hence the one star) but I have never in my life wanted my money back on a meal. I am so mad I paid $81 (including a little over 20% tip) for a meal barely worth $20. Portions small, food barely seasoned, grouper was rubbery & mashed potatoes were gummy & meh. The second picture is 1/2 of a $28 grouper meal, the first pic is the steamed oysters. read more

Half Shell Dockside - Bars Near Me - Apalachicola, Florida

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We revisited Half Shell Dockside in Apalachicola Florida today. Read our Traveling Food Critic blog review at www.travelingfoodcritic.net read more

Half Shell Dockside - Bars Near Me - Apalachicola, Florida

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Very nice place on the water. The grouper sandwich and the grouper Reuben both were delicious. Our waitress was very friendly.

We always have to stop here to get a couple dozen raw oysters. We love to sit outside and watch the boats come in from a day out fishing in the Gulf. The staff is very friendly. Oyster hour is always at the right time to be outside enjoying a wonderful meal. read more

Y'all!!! Sit outside at the bar!! Ask specifically for Nicole!!! Omg!! Funniest and best server/bartender!! The drinks were outstanding and food was amazing!! Bit or service this is exactly Why we WILL make the 4 hr ride back!! She is the best!! We're from the east coast of Florida and have found our hide away getaway place!! read more

Half Shell Dockside - Bars Near Me - Apalachicola, Florida

Customer service died and care for presentation and quality of food went to the grave with it.

The food was very good. I had the blackened triple tail. We had a party of 6 people. We were the only people in the dining area. A few more people came in as we were finishing. We get added a $10 manager fee on a $70 check. We had 5 different checks all with at least $7 manager fee. Never even saw a manager. Not Reply: the waitress, who was very nice, said specifically it was not for her and we tipped he separately. read more

Gospel Bingo Sucks! We were not playing bingo and we were having a good time until we accidentally called Bingo - who the fuck comes up with the rule that you have to buy shots if you call fake Bingo and have the audacity to call it communion - that is an insult to my religious beliefs. It should be called cult bingo and the circus clown MC should be fired. He tries to Thank "our sister" for buying communion then he pissed in the bushes- that is messed up. Guess what they charged us for the "communion" but we didn't pay and now we know why he had to fight a customer last week - they didn't want to pay either - Fuck all Y'all and your fucking gospel communion! read more

We are from out of town and we have come to this place every time we are nearby! We have the same waitress every time (Deanna?) and she is so sweet! The food and atmosphere is wonderful!!! read more

Happened to eat here by chance because everything else was closed on Monday--best oysters and fish of the trip!!!

We spent the weekend staying at an Airbnb located in the Scipio Marina adjacent to Half Shell Dockside so naturally we had a meal at Halfshell. I am so glad we did the food was fantastic! We ate raw oysters, tried fried crab cake, fried grouper and fried oysters out side by the fire pit where the kids made s'mores after. I am a local from Ft Walton Beach and have access to alot of fresh seafood and this was the beast meal I've had in months! I typically don't order my seafood fried but I am glad I did here. It was perfectly done lightly breaded and crisp on the outside, not greasy at all. The fried oysters were delicious and cooked to perfection! We devoured all of it. The prices are great and the portions big. The bar was full of friendly locals and visitors alike. I highly recommend you check out this gem of a spot for your next meal when visiting Apalachicola. read more

I've eaten here three times and tonight was a completely reversal of two other nice experiences. We ordered three baskets of shrimp, oysters, and grouper. The shrimp had six tiny barely popcorn sized pieces. It's usually 10+ decent sized shrimp. The oyster basket had five giant oysters but they were severely undercooked and soggy. No crispness. And the grouper looked like a 6pack of nuggets from Chick-fil-A. For 19 dollars. The side salad was completely stripped down and basic. Sadly, the fries were the only edible, decent part of the meal. I don't know if this is covid, supply chain issues but I asked and the reply was "not really, it was just a rush." On a Tuesday before peak season? Hate to see it a month from now. read more

This restaurant is perhaps a step above your standard fried seafood and sides place. In fairness to it, we arrived in town for our usual winter week (December) and promptly went to the Owl Cafe only to discover it was closed for 2 weeks of cleaning and staff vacation. Half Shell Dockside was recommended to us as our best Sunday brunch option. We sat on the enclosed patio looking out at Scipio Creek. Food was good, not great: some raw oysters, then scallops for my wife and shrimp and grouper for me. Good choice of sides. Service was also good, not great. In short, this is not a place likely to wow you with either food or service, but it is a place where you can get good seafood with a very nice view. read more

The Mac and cheese is not very good but everything else was delicious if you want fish get flounder

We just had a wonderful lunch! Accommodated us with our fur baby for dining ninth bar area. The shrimp jacket, oysters and crab claws where delicious! We will be back soon! The atmosphere is everything you could ask for! Art is fantastic! Thanks Clay for her great service! Cheers! The Thornton Family read more

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Service was great waiters were very helpful and friendly and friendly. We love the horses on the half shell and fresh seafood. Had not one of the locals told us about this place we would never have enjoyed the food that you serve. We would highly recommend eating there and the atmosphere was nice. read more

Great band, great patrons. Awful owner and food is eh. Don't get the fries cause they won't be cooked and everything is overpriced.

Amazing food, fantastic views, and great ambiance. Would go back solely for the view and food.

Excellent food, amazing people, wonderful town. I was blessed with getting stuck in apalachicola with a broken down sailboat. Jordan and Trae and everyone in this town took such great care of me while I've been working out the boat. Food at this place is great. Live music it seems like every night. They have really top notch seafood and fresh creative dishes. Haven't found a bad thing about this place. Highly recommend! read more

Love this place! We ate here instead of at the Florida Seafood Festival. After enjoying the festival we decided to eat where we knew the price and comfort was the best. Service was perfect. We were seated right away and they were very busy. Had the shrimp basket and oyster basket yum! Had fresh shucked oysters and watched the college football games on a big screen with a great view of the creek. Great time! read more

Gave it a second shot to be disappointed again - the service is always horrible. My recommendation for where not to come when you're in town. read more

We've been going to St. George Island/Apalachicola for 18 years and this was the first time I tried Dockside. I will say I liked the location, the bartender and our server. That's about it. Getting a server assigned to us took a long time and she was definitely harried trying to cover so many tables. Took a long while to get our food delivered and when it came only three of the four meals came out. All the food was cold by the time it was served and it just didn't taste very good. Did not meet the standard for great seafood I'm used to in the St George Island area. I won't return. read more

Food was delicious but portions were horrible, ordered children shrimp basket for my grandsons 4 shrimp in one 6 in the other for $9.00 ordered adult shrimp basket for myself $17 with 7 shrimp! My husband ordered Blackened Grouper the nightly special for $28.00 and it was maybe 1/3 of a fish.... Not being greedy but we left a bit hungry. Brought to the attention of the very attentive waiter and he apologized but said he was not in control of the kitchen. Good luck to them, if your hungry choose elsewhere read more

This is a great place to go late night when all the other places start to close. Their chicken wings are great too!

Sat outside. Very busy on Sunday! Not a lot open in area on Sundays. Had oysters on half shell which were great. Hubbie had smoked tuna dip. Excellent! Only negative is they seemed to be hurrying u. Tab brought even before half finished! We ordered more wine & waiter glad to get it but was obvious they didn't want u to linger. Band started at 2:00 & were very good. Would go back. read more

Nice place by the water. Shrimp was fresh trading and kids loved the ambiance of pirates and fishing supplies. Service was friendly and fast. Would recommend read more

We take the scenic route up the gulf coast on the way home from Cape San Blas every time we travel home just to get lunch here. The crab cakes are always my go to meal for lunch *chef's kiss* read more

I have lived my whole life in Apalachicola/ Franklin county and so I've eaten a lot of seafood from our area. However my family and I ate here lastnight and both my husband and I had grouper. His blackened grouper dinner and I had a fried grouper sandwich. The absolute best grouper we have had in along time despit catching our own grouper and cooking at home. One of the best places around! Coming from a local. read more

This place is absolutely delicious! I ordered grilled sea scallops and they gave me six of them for $22! Plantains and fried okra were great. Melissa, our waiter, was very kind and accommodating. Highly recommend read more

The sun set on the british empire while we were waiting for our food and then when i got my burger it tasted so salty that it would make salt water taste like freshwater i have seen white crayons more useful than the staff there read more

It was a great experience. We sat on the patio in the bay. Food was great! Would definitely visit again.

Slow service and over priced mediocre food. The online menu is not followed at the restaurant, when asked the waitress bluntly stated "yeah I know, if it not on the menu we don't have it. $18 for a small basket of fries and six shrimp... they also allow dogs in the dining area . This actually seems more like a local's bar that serves food. I will not go back, and was sure not worth driving 40mins one way. read more

Excellent food, fast delightful service, beautiful setting. Top notch in every way. You will enjoy!

Horrible seafood. Terrible slaw, terrible hush puppies, and terrible mac & cheese. Everything came out cold. Do NOT waste your $$. Are there any good places around this part of FL that serve non-fried seafood? Starting to think not. You're better off cooking at home! read more

From the moment we walked in we should've known it was going to be a bad experience. The hostess gave us stank face and was yelling out to the other employees and did not even acknowledge us for a couple minutes. We were seated in the covered outside patio area but could not enjoy the view because the window coverings were so dirty and cloudy with sea spray. As we sat there 20 plus minutes waiting to have a server come take our drink order we contemplated just leaving. They had live music outside which we could hear a little bit but they had overhead speakers playing music. I stopped someone and asked if it was possible to have the speakers turned off so we only had one source of music instead of two competing ones. They said yes but never did. So we had to listen to two songs at the same time. . .At the 25 minute mark we finally got water. They brought out the drink order which was partially wrong. My drink order I was brought the wrong brand/type of drink. The Basil Gin Fizz my friend ordered was more basil than liquid. She had to use her fork to remove the obscene amount of basil from the glass and has basil in her teeth. It only got worse from there. Approximately 40 minutes in we received our appetizers and had not even been able to place our entree order yet. I ordered the sautéed blue crab claws. In what should have been a simple dish I received a bowl of garlic smothered cocktail claw. Like seriously 4-5 tbsp of garlic was left after I ate. We made the decision then and there that no entree would be ordered. We were ready to go. At 1 hour in the waitress finally came back to ask if we were ready to order. We said no thanks bring the check. We will not be back. We would not recommend. read more

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I have lived along the Gulf Coast since 1977 in these are absolutely the best raw oysters I've ever had. We came in right before closing on a Monday night and the waitress Kimberly was so gracious. We had the blackened scallops which were very yummy. I would definitely go back. We sat outside on the water so the picture of the oysters is very dark but believe me they are well worth it. read more

Half Shell Dockside - Raw oysters - Bars Near Me - Apalachicola, Florida