The first restaurant we tried in B'more (when we came down to see if I felt called to move). Had the crab cake. Still think it's one of the best crabcakes in B'more! Ate at the bar with two ladies, who told us that we'd want to live in the Federal Hill area, and it turns out they were right. Have been back since for brunch--really great brunch too--although over the top rich! Fun atmosphere too! read more

The orange crush was lacking the carbonation. It tasted like it was only water and syrup with ice. 3 stars given for the food which was ok, not amazing as I had received in the past. read more

Love love love this place!! My family loves seafood and this was the perfect place to satisfy our craving. The restaurant has a downstairs and upstairs seating area, but we opted for the patio seating since it was a beautiful day. We had the Crab Dip, Stuffed Potato Skin, and a cup of Seafood Chowder for appetizer and the double Crab Cakes and Bouillabaisse for entree. We ordered more than enough for the four of us and had leftovers too. Everything was delicious. The sour dough with the Crab Dip was warm and fresh and the saltiness of the Crab Dip was balanced well with the bread and veggies. The seafood in the Bouillabaise was perfectly cooked and tender. The staff was friendly and attentive. I had a great memory of this place from when my uncle had taken us when I was younger, so I'm so glad I found this place again and it definitely lived up to that memory. I did notice that the raw oysters had some shell fragments (from another trip), but will definitely be going back again regardless. Overall, still had amazing restaurant experience here. read more

The oysters were super good. The drink was good too. I enjoyed the seared scallops with spinach and potato pancake. read more

We visited on Saturday evening around 7:30. The wait was about 35 minutes, but luckily we got a spot at the bar. I ordered the seafood club with no bacon and I had pineapple trulys to drink. The bartenders were attentive and our food came out fairly quick. The sandwich was tasty, but a bit difficult to eat, I guess that's a club sandwich for you. It was pretty busy in here, but I would return and try something else on the menu. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Menu - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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My family and I came here on a Thursday evening to celebrate my moms birthday. We were able to make a reservation online and were seated as soon as we arrived. It is a very intimate restaurant (typical of the Baltimore row home restaurants) and feels very cozy. We started with a bottle of wine for the table and the combination steamer. It came with steamed oysters, clams, and shrimp with potatoes and corn on the cob. BF and I also split a dozen raw oysters which were very yummy and fresh. For my entree I got a fried oyster po boy which was delicious! Service was very friendly and prompt. I would definitely come back for happy hour or a nice date night. Thanks for a great dinner Mama's! read more

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Omg first time in Baltimore and we stop here for crab cakes and baby !! The food was Amazon the service was A1 and busy but was seated right away . And enjoyed everything that came to the table !! If I ever come back this is where we are going . read more

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The service was excellent. Our waitress was attentive and helped us with our time in Baltimore. Mama's didn't fail to create an ambiance for a great date night. My wife and I felt at home. The main issue was the food. The crab dip was pungent with sour cream. Their opportunity is to focus on the basics. In addition, the lobster roll was not fragrant. The rockfish imperial was also poorly seasoned. I would suggest this place if you want a good bar environment. read more

I had the fried seafood platter of grouper, oysters, crab balls, shrimp with Mac n cheese and oysters Rockefeller. One of my friends had lamb chops with mashed potatoes and root vegetables. With cocktails and soda, the food had the potential to be great but was HORRIBLE. Our food had no seasoning whatsoever, it was all simply BLAND. No salt, pepper, old bay.... NOTHING. We had a bill of $171 and I still gave the server a nice tip for the mere fact she was a good server and it wasn't her fault that the kitchen doesn't taste their dishes and put out subpar food when we patronize local restaurants. Totally unacceptable. I could have received better food at a hole in the wall spot. I will admit that the oysters Rockefeller were delicious. read more

Had not been to Mama's in many. Food and service was great as we remembered. Can't wait to return.

My Fiancée & I came here to celebrate our recent engagement. The ambiance is nice and quiet. We ordered the chicken Chesapeake and wings with fries. The food was bland but we continue forward after putting salt and pepper on our food. My fiancée ordered an orange crush to drink. Once it came out we notified the waiter that we did not like it because it was just too strong for her. The manager instantly came over and said if nothing is wrong with the drink then he will not take it off the tab (As you can see in the photo the drink barely was touched) His demeanor was rude and from that moment forward we did not want to dine with them further. Thank you to our waiter Elena for her service and kindness, however rude and unsupportive management out-weighs the experience. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I am still kicking myself for not coming here much sooner. Came here for a quick bite to eat, it was kinda late so we pretty much went straight to entrees and kept it moving. Tried the seafood club(Crab cake, shrimp salad, lettuce, tomato, mayo, bacon & swiss on farmhouse white), which was very delicious and huge. Only ate half and took the rest home. My boyfriend had the fried oyster po boy, which he stated was very good. Service was really good and our server was very attentive. Will definitely return for happy hour or brunch, next time I am in the Canton section of town read more

I enjoyed the ambiance in the restaurant, and the food and service was very good. I started with the soup ( Baltimore style with the crab and chowder mix) and had the streak. I wasn't impressed with the sauce that accompanied the steak-it seemed to work better with a lamb dish. The drinks were very good. I ordered the John Daly. If I was in the area, I would return. read more

Food was amazing! The clams casino, shrimp cocktail and soup all were fabulous. Steak was cooked perfectly and service was fast and friendly. My husband had a crab cake that he enjoyed. The only thing I noticed was the ladies bathroom was badly in need of being cleaned. read more

Had the Seafood salad sandwich, it was massive, to say the least! It was good, but needed more Old Bay on it and was quickly remedied. It is very filling and I could eat only half of it, the rest went home to my husband. It was served with french fries which arrived barely warm, the server promptly replaced them with fresh hot ones, in my opinion, there is not much worse than less than hot and fresh fries. The other 2 in this party had the French Onion soup and it was good a side of grits. The grits were in the shape of a large column in a bowl, nothing else on them. The 3rd had the Oyster Po Boy, it came with coleslaw on it, so if that is not your preference, the coleslaw can go on the side, only 3 fried oysters were on it, but the flavor was very good. The decor was perfect for Christmas. Service was excellent. read more

After driving across the city and sticking out a 1 hour wait, I can tell you that Mama's on the Half Shell has earned its hype. I was a bit skeptical when we entered and the hostess staff was not the most welcoming or accommodating, but we had good faith in the stellar reviews and snagged a place at the bar for drinks. Pro tip, they do not accept same-day reservations. The restaurant is cozy with not a lot of standing room but it certainly has a cozy Baltimore charm along with a beautiful upstairs wooden dining area complete with a fireplace. The pomegranate crush was simple, refreshing, and delicious. My coworkers weren't willing to order the $16 crab cake, but I know good cakes come with a price. I can vouch for this one, which comes with lots of crab, minimal stuffing, and perfectly crisp. The seafood steamer was delicious. It was a generous portion of mixed clams, mussels, and shrimp with delicious onions, potatoes, and corn. Definitely recommend if you are a seafood lover and want to try it all. My coworkers loved their swordfish and one said it was the best she's had! The best part about these items is they all come fairly priced. Both entrees were about $24. For the portions and quality I would say this earns Mama's five stars. Worth the wait! read more

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We were asked by the hostess if we wanted upstairs or outdoor seating. We chose upstairs and I loved the ambiance. There were cool things on the walls to look at. The lightning was low and it was a casual place. Highly suggest starting with several appetizers as the menu has so many choices. I got the oysters Rockefeller (which our waitress Isis recommended) and my friend got the beer mussels (which a friend had recommended). Both were outstanding. The beer mussels could have been a meal. The bowl was huge and it was served with half a loaf of bread to soak up the savory broth. The oysters had lots of melted cheese and the spinach was so finely cut that it was unrecognizable. It wasn't mushy. Delicious! Next we split a cup of the creamy crab soup which we still did not finish. It was tasty and the sherry flavor came through. But very rich. We shared a crab cake. Totally awesome and one of the best crab cakes of the weekend. The salad was one of the two sides for each of us. We chose Caesar. It was huge and served as a separate course. We could have split one. It had s large weird crouton in top. I didn't try it- I had to pace myself. My other side was the Mac and cheese which came with the meal. It was good! They were out of the rockfish so I had the salmon. Delicious, fresh. I would order it again. Dessert was delicious but the bourbon whipped cream on top could have been another meal ;) I want to try to make it at home sometime. The place was packed by the time we left. Tables are close and we chatted up the table next to us. Service was attentive. read more

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My GF & I decided to hit up Mama's for date night. Our server was awesome, recommended items, drinks. I had the classic combo( crab cake, shrimp, fish, scallops, oysters) to get a sampling of all the dishes (broiled crab cake) everything from the scallops to crab cake was amazing. Also a house Caesar, fries and house tartar and cocktail sauces are tasty. My GF had the steamed shrimp and house salad. Huge shrimp and a large salad. We both had drinks the classic orange crush was good and a solid beer list. Overall Mama's is a Gem in canton. Amazing crab cake & shrimp. Great service and staff. it's about a 3 min walk from my residence. I will be back in the near future for sure. read more

I have to say we were extremely happy with our visit to your restaurant. I came here at the request of my son who had never been but is a resident of Baltimore. He, my husband & 3 of my childhood friends all met for dinner, drinks & desserts & you did not disappoint. We tasted each other's food laughed & enjoyed the night. Our server was wonderful. I highly recommend read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Childhood friend, high school friend & my son - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Stumbled in around HH time on a Friday afternoon, no wait, no crowd, sat at the bar. My hubby and I have been here multiple times and this is one spot we will always keep coming back to and recommending, the food and customer service is ALWAYS A+. We shared the following foods: Classic combo, grilled oysters and raw oysters. The combo was fried to perfection and piping hot, it was love at first bite. Both sets of oysters were delicious and left me wanting more. The bartender was friendly, humorous and attentive, what more could you ask for!! read more

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This place is awesome! Has a bar feel, a bit small but there might be more tables upstairs. Oysters: Decent selection, nothing too special but good. Red soup: Has bits of crab, tomato base, a bit spicy. Think salsa soup. Not my favorite. Clam chowder: Bits of clam, shrimp, bacon, and potato. Very salty because of the bacon. Crab dip: Awesome and great for sharing. Goes well with the carrots, celery, and crackers. One of the best dishes we ordered. Mac and cheese: Not my favorite. Very dry. Coleslaw: Loved it. Nothing special but a little bit sour maybe because of lemon or vinegar. Crab Cake: Amazing. If I come here again I'll order several plates of this and be happy. read more

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Waited an hour for this, and let me tell you--the hype is real. Food was amazing. None of what we ordered disappointed. The mussels were so delicious I wanted to try all the flavors! Raw oysters were fresh and had the perfect sweet finish that I love. And don't get me started on the Rockefeller!! Omg. I know the pasta looks super underwhelming and my initial thought wasn't positive. But after asking a bit of chili pepper flakes, this turned out great! I can see why this place is the busiest in Canton. Definitely will be back! read more

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Having come to canton to eat with a friend I decided to try out this restaurant for dinner. Situated right on the corner of Canton Square makes the location noticeable. Having always passing by and seeing people eating outside I chose this place. When inside my friend and I were seated pretty quickly, however, I believe that was due to the fact that I was only with one other person. The waiting staff was really nice and made sure our table always had a refill on water and asked if we needed anything else. I ordered calamari to start, a oyster po boy sandwich as my main dish, and my friend got the chicken Baltimore which was on a separate dinner special menu. The calamari came out pretty quickly and was one of the softest calamari that I ever had. The calamari after one bite felt like it was melting in my mouth. The oyster po boy comes out with fries and a cocktail sauce in a cup. The oysters were perfectly fried and paired perfectly with the coleslaw, bread, tartar sauce, and the cocktail sauce. The chicken Baltimore was the dish that peaked my interest the most though. It was chicken breast, shrimp, lump crab meat, mashed potatoes, and asparagus topped with a white sauce. The portion was very generous and each protein as well as the vegetables and mash went perfectly with the white sauce that was used. The chicken was juicy and the lump crab meat was abundant. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Chicken Baltimore and Fried Oyster Poboy Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Now I remember why I won't eat cab cakes any where but Baltimore, they were great more can then stuffing, the rest of the meal was fantastic, service was 5 star, can't go wrong at Mama ,we are back and it's just as good as I remember,on our way to Virginia had to stop bye for a fast lunch salmon BLT yum read more

Pictures of food can't do this spot justice. Popped in this spot mid Saturday afternoon in the middle of the Maryland March Madness game so the bar area downstairs was very lively to say the least. I was quickly seated upstairs where a lot of patrons were already enjoying beautiful looking meals. I let my server Isis know that I was in town visiting for my friend's art event and I had to get some Baltimore seafood but didn't know what to get. She was extremely friendly and helpful in providing lots of suggestions and continually checking up on me at my table. The food.. I ended up going with the single crab cake after my small fried calamari app (which wasn't so small).. I was skeptical it wouldn't be enough but couldn't have been more wrong. Although it doesn't look like much from the picture, it packs a lot of meat. To tell you the truth this was the best, freshest crab meat I've had in my life. Idk if it's a Baltimore thing but it was euphoric. If you order the entree it comes with 2 sides. I wanted the asparagus but they charge an extra $3 for some reason so my dumb self went with 2 starchy ass sides in mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese. The potatoes were standard but the Mac and cheese was soooo good. Perfect crispness of breadcrumbs on top and the perfect amount of cheesiness when you dig into. Oh my goodness I would come back just for this. Needless to say I could only finish half my meal and took the left to go as some of the most elite leftovers you could ever have. Excellent experience. 5 stars read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Calamari, Mac & Cheese, crab cake, mixed potatoes - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Not really impressed here. This was a business meeting for potential clients and none of us were impressed. I gained a new client but the meal wouldn't bring me back here. What I did like upon entry was the text when ready seating notification! They get your phone number and text you when your table is ready! No more little vibrating/blinking coaster things. The waitress was a little off beat we all wondered if she had been sneaking behind the bar during her shift. I won't complain but we weren't impressed at all. When we return to Baltimore ESPECIALLY for clients we will probably skip this one read more

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Food was great! My family and I were in Baltimore and decided to eat lunch. I picked Mama's on the Half Shell based on Yelp reviews, and it did not disappoint! We got the Fried Calamari and Crab & Artichoke dip for appetizers. The Fried Calamari was awesome--crispy and nicely flavored. The Crab Artichoke Dip was nothing to write home about. For my meal, I got the Fried Shrimp with french fries and a Caesar Salad as my sides. Be forewarned, the portions are huge. I couldn't finish my salad and I didn't finish my meal either. The shrimp were big! All-in-all, I would recommend this restaurant and would definitely revisit if I was in the area! read more

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Good vibes! Great neighborhood. We went for lunch during the week. Cream crab soup was delicious, hit the palate just right. Lobster roll and seafood club sandwiches. You won't leave hungry. Had 3 from the raw bar, well done! read more

Although rated highly for service, the food was great for bar food, but not a go to destination for crab cakes after savoring other Maryland crab cake venues. Perfect for the atmosphere, but high end bar food, which is great for the setting, but not to be a tourist destination for those specifically seeking top Maryland crab cakes. read more

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atmosphere: dark, sticky, fake service: server never asked what we wanted to drink, appeared confused when asked about dishes on the menu food: the dish that was to have been hot was cold to the touch, looked under cooked and smelled sour management: better suited to something, anything not requiring a positive customer experience read more

I dined here on a Friday night for 2 and had a marvelous experience! I had a prior reservation about a week and a half here. We started with their crab dip, which was decent. The cheese was too overwhelming for me. We also had their Maryland crab soup which was AMAZING! The best crab soup I HAVE HAD! We had never been to Maryland and love seafood, and this soup really impressed us! The soup came with a soft shelled crab, that was fresh and delicious! My husband and I had shared a bowl and were getting slightly full after eating it, but we just couldn't stop, ti was that good! We also had their Classic combo which was very big! Highly recommend sharing this plate, since its a very big plate. All of the food was delicious, fresh and perfectly cooked. I had never had cooked oysters before and these cooked oysters were to die for! The sauce the oysters were cooked with was marvelous. As for the service, the service was fantastic. Our cups of waters were constantly refilled and our server was very attentive, everyone was very attentive to our table despite the restaurant being very busy. Overall, we had a fantastic experience here! Their food is delicious and FRESH! You HAVE to try their Crap soup! You will not be disappointed! We will definitely be returning here in the future when we come back to Baltimore! read more

The food was ok but expensive and the service was horrendous. I have never been to a restaurant in my neighborhood that asked for a credit card BEFORE you ordered your meal. In addition, after the food arrived at the table, they said did not have the wine we ordered and asked if we wanted a different bottle. We said yes. When we got the bill, it was a higher price and typically if they don't have what you want- they still charge you for the bottle you ordered. She argued with me. Even though she never said the price of the new bottle. We are NEVER EVER going here again. Oh and they served wine in a plastic cup. read more

I chose this restaurant based on reviews on Yelp for my birthday brunch, and it surpassed my expectations. I had called around to a few places which required me to submit an online request for large groups (23 people) and/or a deposit. I wanted to just quickly make a reservation, and was able to at Mama's On the Half Shell, which was nice and easy. We were seated upstairs on one long table and were even given an additional table because I had miscounted my party size. They were so nice about it, and added it with no problem. The restaurant as a whole is super cute and I love the servers outfits with fun ties, it definitely has a Baltimore vibe and is decorated well. Everyone was very friendly. Now the brunch, it was amazing. They had a great deal on Mimosas, Bellinis and Bloody Mary's, and no one ever had to wait long for a refill, even with such a large party. The drinks were perfect, anyone who got a crush loved them as well. Our server was SO friendly and accommodating, and was on top of her game. She systematically got orders, and we didn't wait too long for food. I remember being surprised how quickly food started coming out. She checked everyone who were served at the end to make sure everyone got their order correctly, and no one was missed. I personally got the grand mariner french toast and it was AMAZING. Everyone around me tried it and helped me finish it! It was a large portion and had a great crunchy outer crust and warm, gooey inside with thick pieces of bread. I would highly reccommend the dish and would order it again. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food, the lobster hash looked amazing. The beignet's were tasty as well :) They are not able to split checks but will divide it into a few groups, which was fine with us. We all had a great time and I would definitely recommend Mama's as a brunch spot for large and small groups alike! Can't wait to go back!! read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Grand Marnier French Toast - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The food is always good. The patio is great to sit outside one when it's nice out. The servers are always attentive and give good suggestions. read more

I checked out this spot during Baltimore's Restaurant Week with a friend. There was free street parking and when we walked up, everyone seemed to be hovering near the door so we knew we had selected the right place. Being that we made reservations, we were seated quickly upstairs. Since we were there for Restaurant Week, there was a pre-selected three course menu for $35. For my appetizer I selected the Maryland Crab Soup, for my entree I ordered the Crab Cake with (2) sides and for dessert, the bread pudding. The Maryland Crab Soup was solid. It was a cup of soup filled with vegetables flanked with (2) small crab legs. For my main course, I selected the crab cake because I was in Baltimore and it was one of their most popular dishes. The crab cake was tasty, not overly breaded and a good portion size. For my sides I had the mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. The main course was above average, but not amazing. I love bread pudding and one of the joys about ordering it at different restaurants is, it's never the same. Selecting this dish is always a wildcard and I'm always curious to see how it will be prepared. This bread pudding came in the size of a tea cup and it reminded me of a funnel cake with syrup on top. This was my least favorite item I had throughout the night. My overall experience at this restaurant was between average and above average. It was an experience that I don't need twice, but I'd recommend others to dine at MOMMA's if you're in Baltimore. read more

Had the perfect bowl of seafood chowder here to warm me up with the cold weather. Love that the outdoor dining area is pretty spacious and made for a good vibe. The menu here was a solid variety of seafood dishes, soups and sandwiches and the apps are perfect for a smaller group. Would give 5 stars but the service was pretty slow and had a little mishap with the checks. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Seafood Chowder Soup - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

We had great oysters and clams here! We shared oysters on the half shell, and clams on the half shell. Both delicious, though since we don't often see raw clams in Seattle, they were the bigger treat for me. Then we shared Clams Casino, which I haven't had since I was young in Philadelphia, and were excellent, and Oysters Rockefeller, also quite good. We got two sides, mashed potatoes and asparagus, and that filled out our meal. We sat outside, because we were tired of freezing AC, and it was nice, no view, but pleasant. The servers really work there, as they have to run up and down the stairs to deliver food! We had an excellent woman server, and loved our experience there. I think inside could get a little claustrophobic. The downstairs at least was small and dark, maybe it's just the bar. read more

Food arrived really slow I think the server forgot to put it in but food was good. The lighting is great and welcoming and everyone greets you with a smile. We had the oysters which was really good and fresh and pasta. read more

Mama's has average food and mediocre service, meaning that I will never come back of my own accord, but I won't fight against it if someone suggests visiting. I've been here twice since moving to Baltimore last August, and both times I had a rather average experience. FOOD 1. The first time I came, I ordered the Mama's Classic Salad ($14) which comes with mixed greens, 4 shrimp, ham, olives, hard boiled eggs, cheese, among other things. Pretty standard, nothing to write home about, and rather forgettable. 2. The second time, I ordered the Combination Steamer ($20) which comes with 6 clams, 4 oysters, 4 shrimp, and 6 mussels. I was pretty disappointed in the size of the mussels (which were microscopic), but besides that everything was (again) pretty average. SERVICE I did have some issues with service both times. 1. During the first visit, the service was polite but quite slow - to the point where even with a party of 7 people to keep myself distracted, I started to get fidgety. 2. During my most recent visit about a week ago, we once again had abnormally slow service - waters were not refilled, food came out slowly, and we were rarely checked upon. On top of that, we were charged $29 for an entree that was advertised as $24. We ended up going up to the cash register because it took such a long time for our waiter to come back. We pointed out the $29 mischarge and also requested that we pay our own gratuity instead of being charged the standard 18% for a 6 person party, because we did not feel that we received attentive service. I understand that nobody would be happy to be confronted with these issues, but I was shocked when the waiter told us that he would take off the $5 for the mischarge and that for tip, we "shouldn't pay him shit". We ended up leaving a tip regardless, but I was pretty disappointed by his rudeness. Actually, now that I'm re-living that most recent experience, I probably will not be back. 2 stars. read more

Who's down for some blue and blue's? I love mama's for their quaint, esoteric feel. Like I'm in on a secret. Though the restaurant is housed in a small row home, it's big on delicious goodness. While there I had the crab cake & the blue & blue (blue point oysters w/ PBR). If it's fresh seafood you want, I would suggest you check out mama's! It's also a very cozy date spot. Parking is a taste shotty as it located on square in Canton. read more