From reading the reviews, I noticed some people gave negative reviews about the service. Maybe they changed, but when my wife and I went to this place yesterday for lunch, the service was VERY good. The hostess and waitresses were very nice and our waitress checked on us every few minutes to ask us how each of our dishes/appetizers were. My wife said the raw oysters were some of the best that she's ever had. She said they tasted really fresh and not fishy at all. For my appetizer, I ordered their 'famous wings'. the waitress warned me that the mango bbq flavor is more of an acquired taste and it is tomato based. I was a bit scared so I ordered half of the wings in Old Bay flavor and hald in mango bbq. I actually enjoyed the mango bbq a lot more than the Old Bay ones. The Old Bay ones were a little too salty. For our main course, my wife ordered the 6 scallop dish with mac-n-cheese and mashed potatoes. the price on the menu said 'market price'. it ended up being almost $30! i didn't know scallops were so expensive. she said they were really fresh though (also a bit on the salty side). the mac-n-cheese and mashed potatoes are REALLY good. I ordered the single crab cake with mac-n-cheese and mashed potatoes as well. my crab cake was amazing! it was the best i've ever had (sorry to my wife who made me some before). there is really no breading/filling.. it is 99% crab meat that is baked. it is not oily/greasy at all. tasted great with a hint of lemon and their tartar sauce. despite some of the items being a little salty (Old Bay wings and scallops) we still really enjoyed this place and would come back if we were in the area. read more

Fun establishment in an equally fun area. I love the feel of the whole block with various bars, grills, and restaurants. All the food we tried was great, and you'll get a huge laugh from ordering the fish and chips. After dinner we grabed icecream and walked to the water to catch a beautiful sunset. Parking was surprisingly not an issue for a 5:3o dinner on a weeknight. read more

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There have some of the best mussels in town. This is one of my favorite happy hour spots to play. The mussels are $7.50 from 4-7pm. The shrimp are $16 for a pound. The Baracardi Mojitos are $5. Oysters go for a $1 each. There are plenty of other deals those are a few of my favorites. The service is great no long waits. Constantly checking to make sure you're good & enjoying your visit. If you're ever in the Canton area this is definitely a place to slide through. read more

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Came here for a couple drinks in the beautiful weather. I loved that they had so many varieties of crushes and that I was able to substitute the vodka for rum. However, I'm giving this place 3 stars for their service. When my friend and I walked in, we felt like they were too busy to attend to us. Yes, they were a bit busy but there needs to be a better system here with a clear hostess stand that is accessible to customers. Not good vibes here, I'd opt to get crushes elsewhere next time I'm in town! read more

This is the second time I have been to Mama's On The Half Shell. What a great place to get fresh seafood. The restaurant is a pub style place with a bar and tables downstairs and a second floor with tables and big windows to see the area. There is only street parking and if you come during the weekend be prepared to drive around before you find a spot. Both times we have sat upstairs because the downstairs bar area was just jam packed with people. It was a Saturday night both times. It is a very happening place to be. The service was very good. our waitress was very quick to come great us and take drink and appetizer orders. She was also very attentive to our needs I.E. refills, more appetizers, to go boxes. We started off with a dozen raw oysters. Since they had four different kinds the waitress described the difference in them and than let us have three of each so that we could try them all. very cool. They were all fresh and very flavorful. They ranged from smaller ones to really big meaty ones. The smaller ones pack more flavor but the bigger ones have more to eat. For entrees I had the Classic Combo Platter which comes with two fried oysters, two fried shrimp, two huge fried scallops, one crab cake, one huge piece of fried fish and two sides. I chose the Mama's Mac and cheese and the whipped potatoes. My girlfriend had the Crab Cake Platter which comes with your choice of one or two crab cakes and two sides. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING was delicious. There is no way you can leave without being full. The waitress did offer desert but we were so full we did not try any. Maybe next time lol. I would defiantly recommend Mama's to anyone looking for great, fresh seafood. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Crab cake with mac and cheese. - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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We were in town for work and we wanted an authentic Baltimore crab and oysters experience ! The ambiance is amazing & my food was so incredible! The crab although we came when crab wasn't in season was amazing . We were warned to stay away from the tourist traps like Phillips and get great food here and at Thames oyster house . We tried both and Mamas was my favorite ! My crab platter was 28 dollars but amazing and worth a one night splurge , my table got filet mignon, crab cake and bouillabaisse(28$) , the desserts however not too impressive at all, I love bread pudding and got the Shute chocolate bread pudding and it was a let down :/ so was the cookie dough pie , but since the food was out of this world that fixed everything! read more

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We were a large group and ordered a lot of different dishes, we all left with very happy tummies. Probably the best calamari I've ever had! The staff was super friendly and service was fast even though the place was full. They have a kids menu too. I look forward to going back. read more

Came here for sunday brunch. This is plain and simple. The food we ordered was incredible and the food other people order looked just as appetizing. The atmosphere is great and the prices were very fair. The service was friendly. Just a picture perfect recipe for a great place to come back. The dining room is cozy, and active. Always lots of people--a great sign that this is the place to be. Just for the record: We had the Grand Mariner French Toast and the grilled 4-Cheese sandwich with potatoes and fruit salad. The coffee was excellent. I'm sorry i don't have pictures of our meal but I'll go back next time to get some! read more

Great seafood in a real Baltimore classic row house setting. Love this for a meal ahead of a show at the awesome Patterson/Creative Alliance. The Cream of Crab soup is loaded with lump crab. Interesting takes on classics, and the classics themselves, including a Coddie! read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Tall and tasty Seafood Club Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I highly recommend this place and occasionally take clients here for lunch. I haven't been here for dinner in quite a while though. However I know it gets packed so call and make an attempt at a reservation. (not sure if they do that though) Alright, I personally think the crab cake here is better than G&M but not as good a value. Two crab cakes here equal to about the size of one crab cake at G&M. But I think the quality is better and there is almost no filler. Since most people will come in a couple or larger group, I recommend the double crab cake entree, split among two people. Mac n' Cheese as the side. For an app - get the crab dip but only recommend to when you're a hungry 2 person table or nicely shared among 3-4 people. I also recommend trying to get seated upstairs - it feels a little less stuffy up there. You must try this place at least once. read more

Be patient, you will have to wait for a place to seat, but you can wait at the bar as long as you need!!! Get the crab cake, the mac&cheese, the oysters, the shrimps... Get everything!!! And when you're done get an oyster shot. Then you will be half done read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - The best crab cake ever!!! - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I went there Saturday night for my aunts birthday dinner and haven't got off the toilet yet. I order a drink called here for a good thyme and it was the worst time of my life. The drink didn't taste to good but I didn't care to send it back just because my cousin order a drink and it was not right and the manager refused and gave her a hard time as far as wanting to take the drink back. I order crab egg rolls which I never received and decided to just order wings because everyone else order entree's and said it wasn't to good so I stuck with the basic. I let the host know I didn't receive my egg rolls and she was shocked but came back and said they didn't have any more. I guess that was a good thing because I have been sick from the food and drink I did have. #stomach virus and food and alcohol poison.. read more

Location: Canton. Sits on a corner. And one of the few restaurants I can find with outdoor seating. It's a winner in my book! Atmosphere: Casual and intimate. "Intimate" meaning small. We sat outdoors just to have more room to spread out. Service: Prompt. Friendly. Courteous. Nothing extraordinary, but definitely to my expectations. Food/Drink: So, people keep talking about this place...and I am SO glad I went. Fresh seafood, cooked to perfection, and it doesn't break the bank? How do two people have a cocktail, an appetizer, and two entrees for under $50?! At Mama's on the Half Shell, that's how. I had the Fried Oyster Po Boy and, although it wasn't served on a traditional French bread baguette like in New Orleans, it was still a very hearty and delicious sandwich. My SO had the shrimp salad sandwich: chunks of big shrimp...and not much else (the way shrimp salad SHOULD be). Hot, fresh French fries. And, if you're going to get a cocktail, bypass the Orange Crush (what they're famous for) and get their half-and-half cocktail (I can't remember the name, but it's on their cocktail menu). I do plan to return. read more

Met a friend for a drink and late dinner after a long day at work. I had not been back for years. I forgot how narrow it is in the bar area and how crowded it can get. The food was not nearly as good as I remember. I ordered some calamari and it was a little greasy and tuff. I ordered a lobster roll, boy that was a mistake. Probably the worse I have ever had. The lobster meat was good but that's where it ends. The roll looked and tasted like a hot dog bun. It was soggy and way too much butter. I could have stuck to a crab cake lol. Drinks are good and the service is fast. Stick to typical bar fare and you should be ok. read more

Happiness is yummy seafood on the East Coast!! Mama's on the Half Shell was recommended to my boyfriend and I by one of my boyfriend's co-worker. If you're a seafood lover, this is the place to come! Everything is so fresh, service is great and it's in a nice location. I ordered the Lobster Roll with Mac N Cheese and a glass of Merlot. The Lobster Roll with Mac N Cheese was about $30, the Merlot was about $8. The Lobster Roll and Mac N Cheese was SO GOOD. If you love Lobster, you MUST try this dish out! The server said that this was one of their best dishes too. It was drool in your mouth worthy. I'm still drooling thinking about it weeks later. Yum! My boyfriend ordered a chicken sandwich (he isn't a seafood lover), and he said his sandwich was "just ok". They obviously aren't known for their non-seafood dishes. Service here was great and the setting was wonderful. If the weather permits, I'd suggest sitting outside to eat!! I'd come back here if I'm in Baltimore again! Cheers! read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Lobster Roll and Mac N Cheese! Very good!! - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Love this place! Great happy hour specials and drinks! Sitting inside and outside are both great! Love the buck shuck oysters yummmmm

Great place for oysters in Baltimore!!! They have many varieties as well as delicious seafood entrees. Not to mention the strong cocktails they have that you will love. I recommend the seafood club. The shrimp salad was so fresh and paired great with their lump crab cake. Open late and had great music for a good time. read more

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

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Excellent food and service. Had the crab cake appetizer and clam chowder soup. Excellent. Lots of free parking too.

They may be slipping.....but this restaurant isn't bad! It has a great reputation. The atmosphere is fun. For a drink I got the orange crush, it's very sweet and tasted like orange Fanta. I prefer drinks with less sugar and I wouldn't get it again. For appetizers my table got the crab dip and the fried calamari. They were both OK. For dinner I got the seafood chowder, which didn't taste fresh and was VERY SALTY. I would not get this item again. I could not finish it. I also got the half pound of steamed shrimp- it was great. And true to the Baltimore area, it was covered in old bay. read more

Sigh. They're so nice and attentive, and the Manhattan and dozen $1/happy hour oyster on the half shell were excellent, but the seafood chowder was glop of miscellaneous seafood in a non-descript overly-thickened sauce, and the seafood platter that featured an good fried crabcake and a couple of excellent fried oysters also had a piece of fried fish that wasn't that very fresh or well-fried. I'd return for happy hour oysters and drinks, and I'd try the raw clams, but I'm looking elsewhere for my goto Baltimore seafood fix. Did I mention that I enjoy the bluesy music in the background, or that, like a lot of places, they don't turn on the closed-caption for sports-talk TV, which make it unwatchable? I will! read more

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

Mama's has earned its place among her sister restaurant Nacho Mama's as Baltimore restaurant royalty. I've probably been to Mama's on the Half Shell a dozen or more times and I've never been disappointed. There are so many ways to enjoy this spot and they're all great. Outside seating is of course always awesome. Right on the corner of Canton square is a great place to hang out and enjoy drinks and food. The bar area is awesome for a more high energy experience with oyster shooters. I like the beer shooters, the vodka shooters are too much and are pretty much just a gross shot of vodka to me. The high tops are similar to the bar and the tables are a nice casual/upscale pub type of vibe. The food is wonderful! I've never had a bad meal. This last trip we got some wings, buffalo and old bay, both cooked perfectly and delicious, although the old bay could have used more flavor. My meal was the Lunch Fish, an unfortunate moniker for their lunch fish of the day; this day it was tilapia with three grilled shrimp over top of barley with squash and edamame. Delicious! The fish was seasoned and cooked beautifully. The barley and veggies were cooked well but not mushy at all and the shrimp was a wonderful touch that finished it all off. The service was great as well. The three of us all left very happy and satisfied. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Buffalo and Old Bay wings and a side Caesar. - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Mama's is not a place that I would go every weekend. It is a little on the pricey side for me, but the food is always amazing. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday. We ordered two-dozen raw oysters and they were delicious. I just did not like reading that they were "large" when I consider them on the medium side. They were also a bit pricey. For dinner I ordered the soft shell crab special. I don't know what they were battered with,but they were awesome. The crab came with fried green tomatoes and rice pilaf that was addicting. My boyfriend ordered the fried oyster platter and was very happy with the sizes and breading for his meal. We each had several drinks that were good too. Our biggest issue was the service. It seemed as if there was one waiter for the entire bar area and outside. We waited a long time for everything except the actual food. I don't know if something happened or not, but one waiter for that amount of people is not fair to them or the patrons of true restaurant. I have to dock by one star for the service. It was pretty inconvenient in a Sunday night. We will definitely be going back for soft shell crabs. They should just be put on that menu... Permanently. Yes, they were that good. read more

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

Went back last weekend. I knew I would get back someday. The wait is ridiculous, but that happens when youre good. Yes I went back to the seafood pizza. But what gave me an even bigger erect...um...enthusiam this time was the mussels. They do em two different ways, if you get the ones with the beer chorizo and marinara sauce......OMFG..........go ahead and order extra bread...if I didnt have a date I kinda wanted to look smooth around I would still be sopping up the sauce. read more

New favorite restaurant!! This is a must if you are in town. Get the Bellini crush they go down easy. The crab soup was nice and spicy. We also ordered a big of apps and shared. First time eating raw oysters and I couldn't get enough of them so so good ! We also ordered mussels, crab cakes and streamed jumbo shrimp. Each one was perfect. The atmosphere was beyond awesome and the service was excellent. read more

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

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I had the Bouillabaisse. It was so salty I couldn't really eat a lot of it. This is a concern as sometimes over salted seafood may be a cover up for food that's on its way to expiring. It came with a piece of toasted cheesy bread which I also thought was inedible. I also had the seafood skins which were good. The restaurant itself has a nice ambience and the happy hour specials were good. The staff was very nice. Maybe I just caught them on a bad night because it seems like locals like this place...... read more

This location came highly recommend by a local who eats here very often. The interior is richly decorated, giving one the feel and wonder of what the building used to be used for. Portraits, brass, oversized chairs, dark, warm masculine colors. The seating choices are outside, the main and lower floors and upstairs. We were seated upstairs in comfortable tables that were a tad close to each other- no private conversation here- all can be heard. We arrived just before the lunch specials ended, and our server was able to still offer items from that menu. Our part of four ordered calamari, salad, fish with shrimp over rice and a burger. The overall feel was- overcooked and too salty. Even our local companion stated that the quality was not as it usually is. The calamari was fried just a bit too long. The fish was too salty- cooked too long. Shrimp was pretty good. The rice was plentiful and buttery (which may be a deterrent to some). The burger was a bit dry as per my companion. The salad was good. We are not sure if it was because we ordered the food too close to end of the lunch time, just overheated oil, but we were disappointed . I do believe this may be a fluke as the restaurant appears to be very popular and I would give it a second chance in the future. read more

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This is the best spot in Canton for seafood and dinner in general. I brought my parents here and my dad loved the bread. Even asked the waitress to bring some home. The crab cakes and mac&cheese are on point. If you are struggling to decide where to go, head to Mama's. If you aren't in the mood for dinner, they have a solid setup with brunch too. read more

Had high hopes. Food is overpriced for what you get, and it's not good either. Tried the fish, oysters and some other fried stuff which all disappointed. Atmosphere is loud and not intimate. Wouldn't bring a date here. read more

Every time I come I get a different experience which really depends on the time and the day I go. I never sit outside Bc it's either too hot or too cold for me but today I sat outside and the humidity was at a all time high and they did not have the mist on. The food is always normal the drinks is always normal there's really nothing that I don't like about that place and there is really nothing that I love about it either. Our server was delightful I can't remember her name but she had brown hair. My spinach was awesome now how could I forget that. It's a really good place for friends to hang out and get a better quality of food if you are out late Edit-I had brunch there today and it was amazing! I started getting crowded around 12:30 read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Lobster Hash & eggs..It was so good!!! - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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GREAT! The food was good, a little expensive, but definitely worth the money and the portions were enough to take home leftovers. The small touches make this place unique. The house dressing for salads was very tasty. Kind of a mix between brown sugar and good balsamic. The tartar sauce is also irresistible, but definitely not for those who can't take the heat... It's got some kick. The Mac & Cheese was very good, but also VERY greasy. I could literally drain the grease off with a spoon. The fried seafood was the same way, very heavy with grease. The seafood potato skins were awesome, loaded with tons of seafood, not the skimpy appetizer you'll find elsewhere. The pan seared scallops were the best I've ever had, perfectly seared with just the right amount of butter and lemon. The "whipped potatoes" were exceptional. No frills, just the way they should be. I'll definitely be going back for more and would recommend this to anyone! read more

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

This place has great food and nice for inside and outdoor dining. It can get busy because of the great food and service so I would recommend using open table to reserve a spot if you can. read more

Great stop right in the heart of Baltimore for some seafood. We got the scallops, crab cake, crab bisque and mussels. And do not skip out on the Derby Pie for dessert, it was like cookie dough in pie form. So good! The servers were so kind and helpful - definitely feel like we had a warm welcome to the Baltimore food scene. Being a seafood place - my only critique would be to try to sit outside, the smell is a bit strong inside (but it's also my pregnant nose). read more

DC Day trip. My group was grumpy of all the walking. They did not want to stay longer for dinner but wanted highway food. Somehow I convince them to make a pit stop in Baltimore. And this was by far the best part of the trip!! Wow. Everything we order here knocked us out. Crab cake sandwich - shrimp combo - gumbo - even the Mac and cheese. The fish was so fresh. If you are in DC area go to Half Shell. If you are in Philly get on 95 and go to Half Shell. If you are anywhere in the north east, go to Half Shell. Can not recommend enough!! read more

I have been a Mama's customer for many years. I am so disappointed by the service I received today. I was really craving their salmon BLT and went in. When I received the food it was nothing like the salmon BLT I know from the place, the salmon wasn't blackened at all. Even the bartender made a comment about it. He said he would send it back for me because he did not said grill and it looked grilled. It came back literally two minutes after. Exactly the same. So I looked at it and told him, I didn't want it and if he could take it off my check. He was very nice and said sure. A few minutes back the manager Adrian came back with the plate telling me that he was not going to take it off becauseI hadn't even tasted it... so I had no way of knowing that it wasn't "fine". I explained to him that I had been there many times before and it didn't look like that. He said I had to pay for it regardless and he could box it for me. So I brought it home for my boyfriend so I wouldn't waste my money and he said it had NO taste and that it was definitely not blacked. I am very disappointed by the service I received there today and the manager definitely needs to check whether he is up for the job. Coming back telling a customer I had to pay for it with an attitude. Not what a manager should do. He did not once apologized just came over to tell me I had to pay for it whether I ate it or not. read more

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

The place is a staple for native baltimore folks. Kara (our server) was awesome! We had oyster rockefeller, mussels, and tournados. Wow! Every thing was perfectly cooked.....and kara was sooooo pleasant. Great dining experience!,!, you come for the beer mussels.....but the rest is GREAT!!! read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Isish coffee ...with jameson and baileys! - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This place has good prices and good seafood. I've said it before. Baltimore and Montreal must have some of the best bar food around. The service wasn't always friendly the 3 or so times I dined here. Weekend nights are usually very cramped but again, the food is good. The seafood club sandwich is a tasty behemoth. read more

Mike the bartender was awesome! Went in for some drinks for a friends birthday. Enjoy one of the following crushes ($7.50): Grapefruit Orange Lemon or get crazy and mix them. The guy across from us at the bar got crab soup, which looked awesome. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - $6 - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Dat Crab Dip. We were in the area to explore the new neighborhood and heard some good things about Mama's. It was a little cold outside but warm enough to get a seat outside. We felt bad since there were only about 2 waiters serving about 12 outside tables, so we were a little more patient about getting our food and water refills. That being said, we ordered the crab and artichoke dip as an appetizer. Little did we know the portion is frickin' huge. We got 3 different types of crackers, carrots, celery and the crab dip itself came in a bread bowl. So much food for two people. AND we still had our entrees. The dip itself was a really nice consistency too, with the right portions of crab and artichoke. We got the fried oyster po' boy and the spinach salad. Twas great. The fried oysters were crispy, the coleslaw was crunchy, all on a roll. I guess I'm used to the baguette, but it was still a delicious sandwich. Spinach salad was on special, nothing out of the ordinary, but the lemon vinaigrette was very unique. Overall, I definitely have to come back with more people and try some other things. Did I mention the crab dip is good? read more

The nite is Young and I'm Restless Lol but I couldnt end my night without 2 Dozen of Mama's Oysters on a half shell! Deelish! Great Food! Superb Dirty Martini! And Outstanding Oysters!! #RawOysters #OysterRockerfella #ChargrilledOysters read more

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Another first! Came to Mama's for restaurant week~ 3 course meal for $35 The orders: Drinks: - Half and Half crush (half orange half grapefruit) Appetizers - New Orleans BBQ Shrimp - Fried risotto - 1/2 dozen oysters Entree - Pasta - Crab cake (came with 2 sides: asparagus, fried, Mac and cheese) Dessert - Bread pudding - Crème brûlée Comments: So glad i tried the half and half crush~ it was different and reminded me of a blood orange flavor. The bbq shrimp was good, but after trying my friend's fried risotto I wanted more! The crab cake was amazinggg, flavorful, and surprisingly filling ~~~ The pasta was equally amazing (definitely a very generous portion size). Environment: We sat on the first floor, which had multiple television screens, and there was a football game on so was on the louder side. Overall: Great food in a casual environment~ read more