Half Shell Oyster House
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My group and I were the first to enter as they opened at 10a for brunch. Upon getting sat , the table was a little dirty but it was fixed immediately. Our server was great and served us quickly and had a beautiful personality. I ordered the oyster sampler as an appetizer and the seafood pasta with the sweet potato brûlée as my entrée. The food was amazing.
Upon answering, we were the first people to arrive on a Sunday. The table we were about to be sat at was dirty. The staff quickly came and cleaned it. I ordered oysters and the seafood pasta. The oysters were super fresh and full of flavor. The pasta portion was perfect for Sunday brunch. I even had some to take home.
While my friends came here for some delicious seafood, I came to try the red beans and rice. I already knew this establishment offers delicious seafood, but I wanted to sample their version of this staple cajun dish. My bowl of red beans and rice came with two small hush puppies. Then I ordered two additional sides of broccoli and sweet potato Brulé. The flavors of each item danced in my mouth. The red beans and rice tasted like an exquisite marrying of sweet, salty, pepper, spice all in the thick sauce. I closed my eyes with every spoonful. My only disappointment was that the bowl was not larger. The same wonderful feelings came from the butter-steamed broccoli. The broccoli was the perfect consistency. It was not too crunchy, nor was it too soft and limp. The sweet potato Brulé is a sweet purée of sweet potatoes with cinnamon, butter, nutmeg, vanilla and a dash of clove (I think). Did I say butter? There is lots of butter in this Brulé. Everything was delicious.! The atmosphere, our server, the food, and the presentation of the food, all combined to make a wonderful dining experience.
I feel like I'm a regular here. I really enjoy their Sunday brunch! Service is always good, and it's a very clean restaurant We got: Crab cake Benedict - so good Bananas foster French toast - if you want sweet, this is the move Shrimp and grits Benedict - I love the idea and flavor of this
This is one of my go to spots when in town for work. They typically have great fresh oysters. One of my favorite things is the royal red shrimp. They have such a great flavor, but they are sometimes gritty...like they haven't been rinsed enough before cooking. I always enjoy the gumbo here as well. Good flavor. Their half shell side salad is delish!! The menu has a lot of variety so is an ideal place for groups. Can get busy at times so make a reservation to be on the safe side.
The food, service and ambiance is always great at Half Shell. I frequent both locations, Mobile and Daphne. I have not had the oysters in a while and the Chef was beyond on point my recent visit last weekend. Delicious ‼
My brother and I stopped here while passing through on a road trip. Very quick seating, nice decorations and ambiance. The waiter came quickly and was friendly and we ordered raw and chargrilled oysters. My brother got a drink that was good. We ordered gumbo, which came a while later. The oysters still hadnt arrived but came after the gumbo, which is fine and they came with extra buttered toasted bread. The gumbo was fabulous, I wish that I had gotten a bowl of it. The meats were tender and seasoning was perfect with the right amount of spice. The raw oysters were a good size, but they were opened in a way that there was a lot of shell dust in them, and some werent even separated from the shell. The chargrilled oysters were great. We got key lime pie as a dessert and it was incredibly tangy and creamy with a nice thick homemade crust.
Rolled into Mobile around 8:30 and saw this on the way to my hotel. I was jonesing for some seafood and thankfully they were open to 10:00pm. I wanted to sit in the bar area but learned that the server there was already off so they weren't seating anyone else in that area. I never can understand why they can't just ask a server in a different area to cover a table where the customer wants to sit. The bar was literally full with only a few tables open and the bar itself was completely full, so it's not like there wasn't anyone working over there. I have to knock a star off for this. I won't blame the hostess cause I'm sure she was following orders. Moving on we did get sat in the back corner of the Restaurant. It's a quite strange set up with a wall that separates the bar from the long row of tables down the front wall. There's no view of anything along that area. Not sure what the designer was thinking. Nevertheless this place was full and busy and that was a good sign. I ordered a half dozen oysters that were on a special menu as an appetizer and then fried catfish for my dinner and my dining companion had grilled red fish. I must say that that oyster dish was excellent. It's like each oyster was set on a bed of cornbread dressing and there was about three different renditions . I wished I would've ordered a full dozen. My fried catfish was some of the best I've ever eaten. A very light cornmeal crust with a fine grind to it and nicely seasoned. Something I don't see back in Texas. I ordered grits and a salad as a side and the salad was very good and the grits were OK. They seemed a bit runny to me or thin. I'm not sure how to describe it. They weren't watery. They just weren't thick but they were quite tasty. I realized after I had gotten halfway through the meal that we didn't have hush puppies and I should've ordered a side of those. I don't understand why they don't throw those in with every dinner. My friend said his red fish was very good and he said the okra tasted extremely fresh, but he didn't care for the new potatoes. And left most of them on the plate. Our server was excellent checking in on us several times .
This place is located 5 minutes from our hotel and we to meet our son for dinner. He had already ordered an oyster platter that was waiting for us upon arrival. Our son was seated in a booth towards the back of the restaurant. I found the place to be very relaxing after completing a 15 hour flight .i was very hungry and the oysters were delicious! I did also order a small cup of seafood gumbo and a seafood salad. Service was excellent!
Ashley!!!! You were amazing you're recommendations were spot on everything was delicious I had the redfish it was very flavorful the grits were made to perfection and that's tough coming from me because I'm particular about my grits the boullon ball was good as well as the okra the sweet potato crem brule was also delicious hear me out though, offer it as a desert with a scoop of ice cream and it's a 1000/10 rating the red beans and rice was also good with the hush puppy to top it off I hate I was only in town for one night but I must come back to try the rest of the menu. You will forever have my heart. Thank you to the chef and staff for preparing such a delicious meal
I received the best service ever. She was so nice from her tone, willingness to help, and her recommendations. The ambiance was relaxing and laid back. The food and seasonal drink that I had was delicious.
5 years ago
Sons birthday dinner so really was hoping for some tasty fish with cajun flare. Snapper and redfish sauces and sides were great. Snapper was a bit dry. Redfish was good. Gumbo, voodoo shrimp and crab cakes were spot on. Service was great I had the portobello mushroom and shared with table. Service was five stars. read more
5 years ago
5 years ago
Out and about with Mrs Pug on a late Sunday afternoon. Decided on an early dinner. Short wait, about 15-20 mins to be seated. Nice atmosphere and good waitress, suggested the snapper that the Mrs ordered. From the oyster app to the chocolate cake it was all good. The fire grilled oysters stood out as our favorite. We both thought the redfish Orleans was the better of the two tasty dinners. My first time to visit and I am sure it won't be my last. Recommend for a nice comfortable relaxed meal. read more
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Kelsey G.
Franklin, we are so happy you and the Mrs. stopped in! Yes, the…
3 years ago
7 years ago
Margaritas was awesome. Piña colada was okay. Red shrimp slider appetizer was very yummy. Redfish Orleans was amazing hush puppies was a little hard but great flavor and the cheese grits was good as well. read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
The fish and shrimp had delicious flavor. The oysters are the only ones I've ever enjoyed! read more
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Kelsey G.
What a compliment! We are glad you enjoyed everything Hope! We look…
4 years ago
3 years ago
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Lauren N.
Thank you, Scotty! We appreciate you dining with us.
4 years ago
Business owner information
Lauren N.
Thanks, Hal!
8 years ago
I've eaten at three locations, including this one. I often bring guests and groups because Half Shell can be relied on for a good meal. However, I was disappointed here with my last meal. Service was great, as was the fried green tomato and crab cake stack. However, with my main, the royal red shrimp, at least half appeared to not be "deveined" or were poorly "deveined." Gross--and gritty. The goat cheese was also missing from my salad. So, while the Half Shell remains recommended, I really hope they'll improve quality control on those sweet royals. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Kelsey G.
Barbara, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We are…
6 years ago
5 years ago
Had lunch here for the hubby's birthday. Our server Caitlin greeted us right away. She was very energetic and friendly. We ordered some drinks and the oyster sampler. The oysters were fresh and amazing. Our entree was also very delicious. It was a very enjoyable family lunch and the service was excellent. They also have a nice happy hour during the work week. read more
5 years ago
The service was great. It probably gets slow when they are busy, but the Smoky Bacon and Shrimp Grits is worth it. My husband enjoyed the Seafood Pot Pie. We would definitely eat here again. read more
This is the half shell oyster house in mobile . It is smaller than the one in biloxi. The server were attentive. For appetizer I got the orleans style dozen oysters which was ok. The tuna salad was good. Nice Smokey flavor. The salad was fresh and crisp. My entree was the blacken grilled snapper. I was a little disappointed. A little over cooked, still good. I would say 6.5/10. My wife got the shrimp and grits . Shrimp was definitely over cooked and grits were very dry. The atmosphere was pleasant . They do have social distancing. My dessert was the sweet potato creme brûlée was not good. Did not taste like the one in Biloxi at all. It's a 3/5. read more
Really enjoyed the blackened snapper. Tried gumbo first and it was as good as any I've had recently. New potatoes as a side were seasoned very good. I was happy with portions today but agree as others have reviewed on the smaller than normal. Didnt have room for the cinnamon roll pudding. Wifey had house salad with seafood pasta as her entree. Highly recommend. Wish I had room for their baked oysters. Any variety. read more
Appetizer: yellowfin tuna tartare. It was delicious...the tuna was tossed in citrus lime mixture with diced jalepeno and green onions. It rested on top of fresh, diced avocado. Siraccha and sweet soy glazed accompanied this dish and wasabi. I loved it and wished it had a crunch factor to it. If some wonton crisp chips were served along side this dish, it would be banking money! My oyster sampler was delicious! I loved every oyster I had. The oyster chefs felt that some of the oysters did not look good, so he sent four more oysters to my table! Score! I have tried many different places, this is the best for cooked oysters! Hubby had the grilled shrimp po boy. Tartar sauce was definitely homemade. Sandwich was soft but not soggy. Nice flavor to the shrimp therefore no extra sauce is needed. Next time, I want to try dessert! Too full this time around! read more
4 years ago
Hubbalicious found this spot while driving from New Orleans back home to Greenville. It was worth the stop. Mikala (sp?) was our server and she was everything Southern Hospitality should be. We were in a bit of a rush because we were heading back home, but we wanted to enjoy seafood while near the Gulf and not have another Chick-fil-a stop. Mikala seemed to be unbothered by our super casual attire, two hungry babies, and desperate urgency to eat and run. She obviously had a standard of service that she prides herself in delivering and she delivered. Thank you, Mikala. We ordered half raw oysters, half dozen New Orleans oysters, a shrimp poboy, and chicken fingers for the kids. Everything was amazing and just under $40. The ambience is perfect for date night or family night. read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
I was puzzled walking in because this establishment did not match the reviews. I had in my mind that it was more upscale but no, it is a down home place, with friendly servers. The dark decor and music (nightclub/saxophone) reminded me of a 1930's Speakeasy! I liked it! One can't go to an oyster house without trying the oysters. But only two of our group of four like the bi-valves so we tried a variety of menu items. There is plenty to choose from. The raw oysters were small but fresh and satisfying. But the dozen variety of bienville, rockefeller, and steamed, not so much. The toppings are two salty and overpower the oysters. We also tried gumbo (had better), two redfish dishes (very good), fried crab claws (pretty good), and red shrimp (oh so sweet). We brought dessert home -- bananas foster cheesecake (good) and bread pudding (sorry but awful). Bread cubes were hard and the sauce was scant. I'm going to try to post pictures .... I would return now that I know what I like! And what to avoid. Oh -- good parking. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
Business owner information
Kelsey G.
Teresa, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I am…
Excellent service, fantastic food. Kudos to the two Mikes behind the bar. One Mike was working the grill, the other Mike was dispensing adult beverages and taking my order. Both guys were hospitable, affable, and made me feel welcome. So many great things on the menu to choose from. I couldn't decide on which kind of oysters to order, so I got the combo. It was the right choice. Three oysters from each of four unique preparations. Outstanding! And then for the main course, again, I was perplexed by a myriad of choices...so I went for a seafood combo platter. Shrimp, grouper, oysters, hush puppies, a crab cake, and TWO sides (I opted for the grits, and the asparagus). The seafood was fantastic, but the side dishes were thin. The asparagus spears were thin, but the Hollandaise sauce was awesome. The grits weren't as thick as I like, but tasty nonetheless. Thin is the operative adjective to describe the sides. The restaurant and bar area were bustling, no surprise considering the quality cuisine they're cranking out in the kitchen! The staff members make you happy to be there. The food makes you happy you were there too. Go, go, go to Half Shell! read more
10 years ago
Ate at The Half Shell Oyster House in Mobile for lunch. I am seriously impressed. The atmosphere is top notch, and I truly wish that I had tried this restaurant a long time ago. The menu is outstanding and the service and atmosphere are top notch. I had the Seafood Pasta in a lunch portion and could not have been happier. They used fresh ingredients, and believe me, I can tell. The dish was topped by lump crab meat....and I have eaten at many very expensive restaurants that use nasty canned claw meat rather than spend the extra on actual fresh lump. Kudos Half Shell. Well done!!! We will be returning within the next week to try out their filet topped with crab, and I will update my revue after. All in all, a tremendous experience that will have me returning numerous times. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Business owner information
Lauren N.
Thank you, Roderick! We appreciate you dining with us.
This is the third time I've eaten at Half Shell on my business travels and I've been blown away every time. Brent was my server for lunch. He was friendly and efficient and had the best recommendations. Listen to Brent! I had Oysters Orleans - a specialty of theirs that they've won awards for - charbroiled with Cajun seasonings they came out sizzling. Very tasty. Then I had the seafood portabella. A stuffed broiled mushroom cap - stuffed with seafood and breading and topped with a Creole Alfredo. It was delicious. I also had a side of sweet potato creme brulee- so good; like a dessert. It was a wonderful meal and I heartily recommend Half Shell. read more
Update Sept. 12, 2020: My husband and I went in today for lunch. The staff all had on masks. Even though they distance customer tables, we only had a five minute wait. The service was fast and friendly. Drinks stayed full, we never needed to ask for anything. All the food we had was delicious. The only issue - it was hot in there, and I mean HOT. I don't know if the air conditioner wasn't working or what, but my husband and I were both visibly sweating. You could see other guests were swearing as well. I felt bad for the servers and cooks whose uniforms were black pants, long sleeve black button up tops, and a long black apron. They must've been burning up with all those clothes, plus running around constantly. I can't even imagine. Yikes. We ate quickly and got out of there because of the temperature issues. I also overheard a lady complaining about the heat too, so I know it wasn't just us. Hopefully they get that fixed soon. read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
6 years ago
The food was amazing! I sat at the bar. My favorite spot in a restaurant when I'm dining by myself. They had the chairs social distanced so only 3 sets of people could sit. I was in town for work. Saw the name of the place as I was heading to my hotel. The name alone said go there you want charbroiled oysters. I checked in and headed out. I ordered 1/2 dozen charbroiled oysters and salmon with risotto. I should have ordered a dozen and just a side of risotto.. don't get me wrong the salmon was very good but I so enjoyed those oysters. read more
8 years ago
Half Shell for sure is a "go-to" when considering dining west of I-65 in Mobile! While the food is amazing, if you're like me and you value customer service, look no further than this New Orleans themed establishment! The wait is worth it! read more
5 years ago
6 years ago
8 years ago
Love the atmosphere here! This was our first stop, driving from New Orleans to our final destination of Atlanta. It's really close once you exit off the freeway. It is also walking distance to the casinos around the area. We tried the Oyster Sampler for appetizer and there were a dozen oysters that were chargrilled in 4 different ways. My favorite, ironically, was the New Orleans Cajun style, since I hardly get chargrilled oysters in Nola. Then the hubby got the surf and turf, and I got the Yellowfish tuna. Both entrees did not disappoint, each meat was tenderly cooked and well seasoned. This place is also baby friendly, each waitress stopped by and said hello! The baby even gave a smile to each greeting! read more
5 years ago
I go every Friday after work . You will have to just pop in and sit at the bar and have drinks sometime if you drink I will take a friend or my kid sometime but I love this place its friendly & clean ... read more
More info about Half Shell Oyster House
3654 Airport Blvd
Ste F
Mobile, AL 36608
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(251) 338-9350
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https://www.halfshelloysterhouse.com
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