This place gets crazy busy but they are like a well oiled machine. I could tell they take pride in not only the atmosphere with the dark walls with antique details but also the attentive and on key service ....and most importantly the food. We really wanted to sit at the bar but it was all full so we sat upstairs...not the best spot overall. I ordered the Bloody Mary, it came with pickled green beans and two green olives. I also ordered a dozen oysters, three of each kind.... Maybe a piece of paper showing the names of which type I was eating would've been cool. But really try the freaking oysters here! My date had the seafood chowder, creamy with dill,potatoes, and seafood in a big steaming mug, perfect soup. We shared the lamb shank with a red wine reduction sauce, barley, yellow beets, fresh Lima beans and roasted baby onions. All the other tables were jealous, it was a home run. At first I thought the dish was odd then it all worked so so so perfectly. The bill was around $70 and we both were satisfied read more

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

Step 1: Make reservations. Step 2: Order Maryland crab soup and single platter of crab cake with mac n'cheese and another side of your choice. Only order the combo platter if you have the stomach of a lion. Step 3: Win. read more

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The food had good flavor but was definitely not served hot enough. If I hadn't been starving I may have asked for it to be re heated. Decent service. Decent cleanliness. Nothing to write home about. read more

Okay - Mama's totally disappointed me this time. After choosing to come to typically reliable Mama's over a new spot...they screwed me. If it's possible to get salt poisoning - that's what I had after having a lunch of seared scallops from here. I had to cut off the seared surfaces of my jumbo scallops because of the overseasoning. My suspicion is that they used wet scallops, instead of dry - a big no-no for searing. Because wet scallops are soaked in a salt solution for preservation and plumping purposes, they are also cheaper. On the other hand, wet scallops will not sear properly - unless, you coat each side heavily with dry seasoning to make a crust. It's either this - or the cook got heavy handed with the old bay. The result: me sitting in a nearby coffee shop for an hour after lunch, unable to move because I felt so gross. After a ton of water to rehydrate and coffee to clear off my taste buds - I decided that I would avoid going back to mama's again. This makes me so sad because I've had such great experiences here before, but this was what I classify as an unforgivable culinary disaster Furthermore, I really didn't appreciate the waiter using an overly aggressive tone while correcting me with, "PAN seared scallops?" when I ordered "seared scallops." What a redneck. read more

Very very good, i just had dinner over there and it was excellent. I had the tenderloin sandwich and it was delicious with shoestring fries, my friend had the fish and chips and as yelpers have said the portions are humongous. No exaggeration there. I also ordered the mac and cheese as a side and it was fantastic, i am typically not a mac fun but this did it justice and it was good. I thought the grapefruit drinks were on happy hour but alas it was not, no biggie at almost $7 a pop its cheaper than most alcoholic mixed beverages. i will go there again that is for sure. read more

Mama's was suggested to my boyfriend and I on a visit to Baltimore when we asked for the best oyster house in the city... they lived up to it! We had the raw oysters, fresh broiled tilapia, green beans, mac and cheese, and chicken wings. Everything was delicious... could have done without the whipped potatoes as they tasted too thick and over-whipped, but everything else was so fantastic and we were so stuffed after sharing all this food, I did not miss the potatoes at all. The oysters were the best I ever had, they have market fresh each day, and we chose a mix of the 2 out of the 4 they had that day... great flavor, presentation, quality, cocktail sauce, yum yum! The ambiance is really cozy, the downstairs (where we sat) has a huge bar and tables in the front, dark wood and great woodworking adds to the old feel. We went on a Wednesday evening around 8pm and we did not have to wait for a table and everything was brought out in time for us. Canton is a great area, since I am not familiar with Baltimore, I wasn't sure of any neighborhoods outside of Inner Harbor/Fell's Point... boy did I feel stupid for being nervous! The area where Mama's is is a few block square where there are numerous bars and restaurants that is a very safe feeling, has cabs driving by so you can get a ride home, and there is a little park/walkway in the median between the blocks. Does not feel touristy and as always when I travel, I try to steer clear of chain restaurants.. this is a great option! read more

I can't express enough how beautiful and fresh the seafood is here. I haven't had the pleasure of trying everything on the menu, but I'm fairly certain that all items have a degree of quality that other restaurants deny their guests, especially when it comes to seafood. Beyond all doubt, Mama's serves THE best raw oysters. Sprinkle some Old Bay on them, a drip of vinegar and a little dab of cocktail sauce and you've got me drooling. Next to the oysters are their pan seared scallops. Good God Almighty, sweet baby Jesus in the manger. They are fantastic! And a comfort favourite of mine, their macaroni and cheese. Please do yourself a favour and get a side order of this. You won't regret it as it's rich, cheesy and right-out-of-the-oven delicious! The crab cake sandwich is succulent and the giant lumps of crab are exciting to see (Am I lame for being excited? Who cares.). Not to mention that they make an awesome John Daly and great Orange Crushes (both alcoholic drinks). Love this place! read more

Like many others we had high hopes for Mama's On The Half Shell. While I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the crab cake platter and the oysters Rockefeller. The service and attitudes of the staff overwhelmed the decent food. Upon walking in at 5:15 on a rainy Saturday evening no one was at the front area to direct us so we assumed you had to go upstairs. As we got to the top of the stairs the hostess stopped us and rudely asked if we had reservations (many open tables up there) we said no and she said we are full up here you'll have to sit downstairs. She proceeds to lead us back downstairs and pointed to a couple open tables and turned away. The waitress then (2nd rude person) proceeds to ask us if we intended to eat because these tables are reserved for people who are eating. Extremely irritated but again because of the reviews we stayed. It took the waitress another 5 minutes to bring us menus. We ordered a crush, an on-tap beer, and 2 shots of Jameson and oysters Rockefeller. 5 minutes go by and she finally brings the crush and says they are in the middle of changing shifts. 10 mins later she brings the on tap beer and then goes back for the 2 shots. It took another 20-25 mins to get the oysters. A group of 4 people came in behind us and had all of their drinks and appetizers long before us and we were a table of 2. When we did order our meals it still took forever to get our dinner they just kept bringing one plate at a time. The waitress then made the excuse about some party upstairs. Since we were sitting right by the entrance I could see everyone who came in I witnessed the hostess and the same waitress continue to be rude to every person of color who came into the restaurant. I did not see the same rudeness to any other patrons. Another couple who was sitting next to us, African American couple mentioned they had been treated the same way. It felt as if the staff could not wait to get you out of the restaurant and to turnover the tables quickly...especially if you were black. In my opinion the food would be rated a solid 3.5 but the service and staff was horrible and when we are back in Baltimore this will not be on our re-visit list. read more

I try to stop by Mama's anytime I can while visiting Canton area. They have a huge menu, their orange crushes and cream of crab soup are delicious, and I have yet to order a meal that I disliked. I have definitely liked some meals moreso than others, but they have great quality food at this establishment. The only thing that stinks (and this isn't a knock on them) is that there is always such a long wait and it is impossible to try to plan for a large party to come in and sit down on the weekend. Same goes for Brunch. I really don't understand why they wouldn't want to start accepting reservations on the weekends, but oh well, that is their prerogative. read more

The food here is amazing!!! I had the old bay wings for an appetizer which can be a full course it's self. The wings came out hot and were delicious. I order the stuff shrimp that had crab meat inside of it and it was out of this world. I would highly recommend lunch/dinner here. read more

I'm still on my hunt for the non-existent A+ grade crabcakes that will oh-so-blow-my-mind in MD. There are numerous praises about their crabcakes from chowhound and purely because of logistical reasons, I visited Mama's on the Half Shell while on a trip. Let's just say that everything came as a surprise when I visited Mama's. 1) Seemed more like a dive bar than a restaurant. It is SO loud in there....to a point where Mama's reminded me of packed college dive bars selling $1 beer pints. I can tolerate noise, but this was way too much. 2) Dirty. I can handle a somewhat filthy restaurant, but Mama's reminded me of a frat-house level of cleanliness. The tables were sticky and a weird stench permeated the restaurant. It wasn't appealing at all. 3) Food. Some claim that the crabcakes are some of the best in the city. I beg to differ. To me, these crabcakes, at best, are on the order of Clyde's or G&M. I would have been much more forgiving given the appropriate reasons for coming here, but for a place that charges almost $30 for some dishes I expect a LOT more in terms of cleanliness, friendliness, service, and quality. Obviously a lot of people will disagree with me b/c this place was jam packed. Hey if you wish to spend a lot of $$$ at a place like this please be my guest. I expect baseline level of cleanliness and service at these price points and I don't think I get that here. read more

We chose to dine upstairs, as the lower floor seemed to be pretty loud. The place is a bit rundown to me, and the old tables and chairs where we were seated, wobbled. My bf ordered the crab cakes, and they were just okay. We were given a generous portion of the caesar salad and baguette with a black olive spread. I did not enjoy it. I barely ate my entree which was salmon with shrimp and crabmeat in some kind of weird sauce. It looked very delicious, but it wasn't. I literally ate three bites and was done. Our waitress spent her time chatting it up with another customer, so we had to ask other employees for whatever we needed. We did not see her again after placing our order. Upon receipt of the check, we discovered that after 10 pm, 18% gratuity is automatically added. Blank stare... Mama's can kick rocks. We will not be back. read more

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

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Had dinner here with my son and two of his friends ... it was fantastic. The staff was friendly and did not rush us at all, even with a huge line outside. Started with John Daily's at the bar (with fresh squeezed lemons), then mussels, oysters and finally the crab club sandwich. I will definitely be back! read more

I ordered the cream of crab soup they had for their special and it tasted like creamed salt. It was disgusting. However, their other seafood was pretty good. Their cocktail shrimp were plump and juicy. I also ordered a fish sandwich was also pretty tasty. Their seafood is fresh and there is a good selection. read more

Oh Mama's how I love thee...brunch, lunch or dinner it doesn't matter, everything is fantastic! Brunch- Their Grand Marnier french toast is to die for! That and a grapefruit crush is a great way to start any day (only on Sundays though) You can sit outside, bring your dog and they will bring out a bowl of water. You will most likely have to wait for awhile if you go for brunch or dinner. But it is worth it. They have a great bar that gets very crowded but if you can snag a seat they have great drinks and their crushes are the best! Here's a list of my favorites: Crab Soup, Oyster Stew, Titanic Salad, Oysters(raw or grilled), Scallops, Awesome Tuna Tartare, The mac n cheese is the absolute best, Fried Calamari, Seafood pizza (too rich for me but I have tried it numerous times and it is amazing), crab cakes, Fish and Chips are fantastic! You really cant go wrong with anything on the menu and all of their seafood is amazing. read more

A pretty good meal was overshadowed by an amazingly frustrating process of getting our table. Five members of our party of 7 entered the restaurant, asked for a table of seven for lunch, and were told that we would not be seated until the final 2 members of our party arrived. We told them they were on their way, and wanted to sit down and order drinks and appetizers (they were coming from out of town, and were ~20 minutes behind us), but were repeatedly denied. Our group, which was comprised mainly of adults, was forced to squeeze into the entranceway waiting. The sixth member arrived, and the 7th was parking the car. We notified the hostess, who was unamused. We were told she had to see face of the last person before we would be allowed to sit at our table (which was empty and set, right in front of us, the entire time). They were not polite about it, repeating "sorry, this is our policy," as if the restaurant had no control over the policies that they create. How INCREDIBLY obnoxious. This isn't a fancy restaurant. It's lunch, and it wasn't terribly busy. (We would've left if there were a peer establishment nearby without a wait). That kind of attitude must be rectified. Besides that, our experience was a fine one, with pretty decent and reasonably priced seafood. We shared the fried oysters appetizer. It was a small portion, but the fried oysters were served in sauce on the half shell, which was pretty cool. I ordered the crab cake sandwich which was more substantially sized and very good, if a bit messy. The atmosphere is a cool one - the "random stuff on the walls" decoration scheme is usually one I dig, and there's a bar with TVs downstairs. It is a bit cramped, the 7 of us were pretty jammed into our table (making the seating process even more annoying). Overall, I wouldn't go back, since I am clearly forever scarred by those 25 minutes of waiting. Glancing at other reviews, we were not the only group that was mistreated. But don't let this review discourage you from a decent lunch if your whole party is arriving at the same time. read more

Best crab cake I've ever had! I am a huge fan of crab cakes, so I was excited to finally taste them in Maryland. I've had many crab cakes in California, and they come no where near to the quality and deliciousness of the crab cakes at Mama's on the Half Shell. My cousin recommended this restaurant while we were in town to watch an Orioles game. Boy was I glad our group accepted her suggestion. Unlike the statement made by another yelper that the restaurant is filthy, our table and area were very clean. Who knows, maybe he's an obsessive compulsive neat freak? Even the ultra trendy restroom was super clean. If I were a millionaire I would take my private jet to Baltimore just for one of those scrumptious crab cake sandwiches. The crab cake was plump and hardely had any filler. Think of a huge, thick hamburger patty, but all crab meat! The tartar sauce was also scrumptious. My fiancé had the fish and chips with Mac n' cheese. We were so shocked when his plate arrived because he only received a single piece of fish! However, that piece was gigantic! He kept joking about coming across the fish head while he ate it. We all tried his Mac n' cheese, which was also tasty. He claimed it is one of the best Mac n' cheeses he's ever had. Our server was great. He was very polite, attentive, friendly, and funny. I hate that I can't remember his name to give him credit for his awesomeness. He even stepped outside after we left the restaurant to talk to the guys in our group. We were all very pleased with the price of our meal as well. For the quality and amount of food, it was absolutely worth it! read more

Top 5 brunch places in Baltimore. The Grand Marnier French Toast is hands-down the best item on the brunch menu. Gotta try it even if you're ordering another brunch item (you can order the French toast by the slice). And don't get me started on the Bloody Marys. Like potato chips...you can't stop after having just one. The pickled green beans are a perfect compliment. After devouring a couple (huge) slices of French toast, I usually order the Huevos Rancheros. I could go on and on describing how good it is....but just take my word for it. I'm struggling to think of a negative comment..but just to be fair and unbiased; there is usually a 30 min wait (or longer) if you get there after 10am. And the acoustics of the old building make it extremely noisy. Lastly, sometimes the bar is understaffed and I've had to wait several minutes to get a drink refilled or to get the bartenders attention. Sometimes frustrating. Final remark. I have been to Mama's ~25 times in the past 5 years (for brunch or dinner) and the food had ALWAYS been amazing. Never disappointed with the food or drinks. read more

I live in Federal Hill, so I rarely make it "all the way across the harbor" But when I so, it's usually to go to Mama's for brunch. I could live on their bouillabaisse. I know it's not supposed to be a brunch dish, but as far as I'm concerned, it's the only thing on the menu. Huge plate of steaming seafood goodness on paella with this melty bread that must fall from heaven every morning. Crushes are excellent. Add a peach schnapps floater to get your morning going. No, I do not drink peach schnapps, or any other schnapps, on any other occasion ;) read more

SERVICE WAS FANTASTIC. However, food and drinks are disappointing. My cocktail was super watered down, that I couldn't even taste the alcohol. We had their maryland crab and mac n cheese ... honestly most memorable item was the mac n cheese. Cool hip area in bmore to hang out at but wasn't thrilled by the food. read more

I have been waiting to try mama's since I moved to Canton but it has always had such a long line. I ended up going on a Saturday for lunch with not much of a wait. It is a bit cozy in there, but I think that's part of the Baltimore charm. Staff was friendly but definitely very busy. I went with my dad and we both decided to order off the brunch menu. If you want some cheap bloody Mary's or mimosas this in the joint to go to. For food: We started out with the grilled oysters as the appetizers. I had nostalgia from New Orleans. My favorite item that we ordered. Large oysters in Parmesan garlic butter and a paprika butter. Delicious! My dad ordered the seafood omelette. This thing was massive! Stuffed with good size shrimp and crab meat. It came with a side of tots and a cup of fruit. My dads main complaint was the omelette seemed a bit overdone and was burnt and the tots were a bit soggy. Overall he still enjoyed the food and found it a really good value for what he got. I ordered the frittata. The frittata has smoked salmon, capers, goat cheese, and artichoke hearts. A little dry but a good portion size that comes in your cute personal size cast iron. Served with a frisee salad. I wasn't looking for something super heavy, so it did hit the spot. I needed a little bit of hot sauce to add some kick. Overall a wide variety of menu items that look really delicious, good value, and a fun Baltimore vibe. read more

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Although the food was out of this world, I will say I was a bit let down by the service. Two of my friends and I went to mamas on the half shell last week for lunch. It seemed very crowded, and there was no one to seat us, so we sat at the bar. Kara was our bartender, and the bar was not too busy. We waited for our check for 8 minutes, and became frustrated when we saw her take a shot with three young guys on the other end of the bar. I am a manager at a restaurant, and would never tolerate my staff drinking while at work. It proves for a very poor work performance. I will try the restaurant again, but will make sure to sit in the restaurant where I hope the service is much netter than we received. read more

Simply Awesome! Can I stop there? Because it was so amazing! I was visiting Baltimore and really wanted some good crab cakes. I was staying near the inner harbor and heard that a lot of the places close by use a ton of filler (thank you Yelp!). However, someone mentioned this place in a review and I decided to try it. Make a reservation if you know you're going to go or call ahead and see what the crowd looks like. This place gets busy and stays busy. And for good reason. The bar has some great creations, Orange Crush, not sure how many people reading this know the place Orange Julius, but the Orange Crush taste exactly like it, barely tasting the alcohol. Dangerous! I had the crab cakes, probably some of the best crab cakes I've ever had. Full of crab, pieces and pieces of crab. I can taste it now as I write! In addition to great crab there mac & cheese is ridiculously good. The menu has so much to offer, I'm sure there's not a bad thing on there. Seemed like a real local Baltimore crowd, so you know the food has got to be up to par and it was. I'm sure the next time I'm in the area I will make a stop there! read more

This place is a Baltimore staple for a reason! They have amazing varieties of seafood and drinks. I have not ordered anything I disliked. The portions are generous. The atmosphere is authentic and charming. It has a Baltimore feel to it and seems rustic yet clean. The old bay mussels are HEAVENLY... I do recommend that you avoid wearing white pants while eating them though :( The seafood club, oysters, cream of crab soup, and imperial seafood are also worth getting. One last note - the crab and artichoke dip is gigantic! It's tasty, but unless a table of 4 is sharing it, you will be too stuffed for your entree. It's a great item for happy hour and sharing among friends. Try an orange or grapefruit crush while you're there. This place is always busy, so expect to wait a bit or arrive early! read more

Whenever I visit my sister in Baltimore, I make sure that she brings me to a new restaurant. When I walked in the crowded hallway of Mama's on the Half Shell, I was a bit skeptical... I later learned that the place was definitely crowded for a reason! The wait was not too bad, we were seated relatively quickly at a high table near the bar. My sister ordered us appetizers since she had been to Mama's before, one of which was something called beer muscles. They were OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! The flavors were simple and complex at the same time, and we had to ask for two baskets of extra bread to soak up the delicious sauce that was left behind. I somehow managed to save a little room for my crabcakes and shoestring fries, which were both delicious. Dipping the shoestring fries in the beer muscles sauce works out pretty nicely too! I recommend Mama's on the Half Shell to anyone, seafood lovers or not! read more

Came to Baltimore for the night with my girlfriend to celebrate our anniversary, and naturally we wanted to enjoy a great seafood dinner. After scanning numerous websites and lists, we decided on Mama's. When we arrived, we were greeted by friendly staff who put us on the waitlist- 30 to 45 minutes for a table of 2 at dinner time on a Saturday. We went to the French restaurant next door to enjoy a beer while we waited for our table. When we sat down, we quickly ordered a broiled crab cake as an appetizer. It was delicious! A generous size of lump crab meat. Afterwards, we ordered our meal. I ordered crab soup as an appetizer, and for my meal the blacked tuna steak cooked rare with brussels sprouts and macaroni and cheese. My girlfriend ordered the pasta of the day, which was mushrooms, sausage, peppers, chicken, and shrimp with linguine tossed in a creamy tomato sauce. Both of these dishes were phenomenal. My tuna was cooked perfectly and came with a delightful lemon butter sauce. The skin had a nice, old bay seasoned char. The macaroni and cheese was also wonderful, although there was a LOT of butter. As for my girlfriends dish, it was delicious. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, and there was no shortage of sausage or chicken to go around. We left happy with a LOT of leftovers. Over the course of the meal, we noticed dishes all around us that we wanted to try- the bouillabaisse, the oyster appetizer, and more. Safe to say we will be coming back any time we return to Baltimore. If you're looking for a great place for seafood in Baltimore that is reasonably priced and without the wait times of some other places, try Mama's on the Half Shell! read more

We ordered several starters and the seafood club sandwich to share. Oysters were fresh, crab cake, steamed mussels, club sandwich (huge and a bit messy to eat) were all tasty. We ordered a wine bottle and were given plastic cups for that, could be because we sat outside. read more

Definitely gets busy at night, we reserved and had to wait even though the place has many seats. Sat upstairs the walls were filled with cool oyster related pictures and history tidbits. I had some sort of oyster sampler which was very good although I couldn't tell the difference between the oysters... Mac n cheese yummmmmmmmmmmmm and the crab cake was very good as well, would go back again!! read more

I've now been to Mama's four times, and had a great, extremely filling, experience at every visit. The grapefruit crushes are great, and they have a good selection of beers on tap, some that are seasonal. If I had one complaint, I'd say the menu is too big, but sometimes that's a good thing. Also, the only thing that I've ordered that I didn't LOVE was the garlic herb mussels. The sauce was a little heavy and creamy, like a pasta sauce. If you're going to go for mussels, get the beer mussels. They aren't in the happy hour selection, but are way worth it. I've also had, and thoroughly enjoyed, the mac n' cheese, wedge salad, various oysters, and seen others who have liked their burger. Oh! Dessert... I've shared the Derby Pie with a friend, but we had them add the sauce from the bread pudding on the side. I would return just for that again, it's deadly! B+ for service A- for food A+ for drinks A for atmosphere Overall, it's a solid establishment, and definitely has a strong following. read more

Orange crushes!!! I'm 100% sold. After I consumed two of these mama could have served me the worst food ever and I would still be singing her praises. Luckily, all the food was delicious too so even if you don't want to pre-game for your dinner you'll still enjoy it :) The bf is from Baltimore originally so he already knew about these fabulous drinks, but if you haven't heard of one...you gotta try it. A combination of fresh squeezed orange juice, some type of vodka, a dash of sprite and triple sec (i think?) they are sweet and far too tasty for their own good. Ooooh and the ice!! Teeny little crushed bits of coldness. I know...it's weird to love crushed ice so much. I can't help myself. The John Daly crush is also good (lemonade and firefly sweet tea vodka) but I had one and then went straight back to the orange. We also had dinner here...got the maryland style crab soup, steamed oysters, and the bacon wrapped scallops. The soup was tomato based and very yummy...it made me feel a little better about consuming all those juice/alcohol calories. Eek. Should've gone with the raw oysters, the steamed ones were just a bit too chewy for me. I miss you already Mama's. I need to find a place to get my orange crush fix in San Diego!! read more

Awesome Orange crush !! Very friendly waitress and hostess. You will not find better Lobster Rolls or Oyster Stew anywhere around here! Thanks again you guys read more

Great spot! Packed on a Friday night. Really good crowd drinks and food _ no wonder! Bartender Mike is a great guy! First time in the area but a great choice thanks to Yelp reviews. Only caveat - parking is nearly impossible in this neighborhood - great area lots of peiole out I parked 5 blocks away but felt very safe. I'll be back for sure Oyster shooters fried oysters were awesome Found out about their special "Orange Crush" drink too late read more

This place is oh so Divine! On a recent road trip to the nation's capital Washington DC, I made a pit stop to Mama's on the Half Shell! I was in the mood for crabs but they were not in season so I had to just settle for seafood! Boy was I blown away when I finally got to taste the food! I started off with some Connecticut cup oysters on the half shell and then we had some blue on blue's(blue point oysters & cocktail sauce served with 4 ounces of PBR as a shooter). Yummy! Then we had some grilled blue point oysters with parm herb butter! Of course I didn't stop there after a 2.5 hr drive he he he. The next dish we ordered was steamed P.E.I. Mussels with cajun butter. (slurp) =P Finally for the Entree we had the classic combo platter which consisted of fried shrimps, oysters, ginormous scallops the size of a scooter pie haha, cod fish and a jumbo lump crabmeat crab cake all served with fresh tartar sauce. Don't forget the perfectly cooked mash potatoes and bake macaroni and cheese. But most notable was the fried cod fish. Soooo Amazing! Trust me! I don't get wow'd often. The food was so good that I will probably need to take this drive again soon. The service was really friendly and attentive. If you have never been there I would say this is a must try! Go take a road trip and have fun! read more

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Well, I wish I could give you a review on the food. We were so looking forward to eating some fresh seafood and this place was given a high recommendation. We were a group of 10 so I called ahead to make sure they could accommodate us. The gentleman that answered the phone told me he couldn't give me an exact waiting time, but that he could accommodate us. He said we'd probably have to wait an hour or a hour and a half. We thought that was fine and took a few cabs from our hotel to Mama's on the Half Shell. When we arrived it was clear they were busy. No problem we knew we would have to wait. Well when I went to give the girl our name. She told me there was no way she could accommodate a group of 10. I said no problem she could split us into two groups of 5. She said she still couldn't do that because they didn't have enough tables to seat 5. So, I said ok well then split us up however you have to. And she said she would have to ask her manager about doing that. What?! I really don't understand what the problem was here. Perhaps she was new at her job? I really don't know. She was very flustered. Ultimately what upset me about this whole thing was that I called in advance to make sure they could handle a group of 10 and was told yes! When I mentioned this to her she said well I wasn't the one who answered the phone. Um, ok. We decided to go to Captain James for our final dinner in Baltimore instead. They were happy to accept the $350 we spent on dinner that night. read more

One of my favorite places to eat in Baltimore, I've recommended this place to several out of town visitors and they all have later thanked me . The down side to Mamas is the size , not enough room to handle the amount of business they attract. My favorite is the seafood skins & the Beer mussels , pretty much you won't be hungry or disappointed leaving from here Mama's sure ain't stingy on the servings. read more

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

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I love Mama's on the Half Shell. It's definitely in my top 5 of Charm City restaurants. It has a very large menu. I've never had anything bad here. I'm the kind of person that tends to stick to the same thing each time but I know others who have tried some of their menu items that also thought they were top notch! My favorites: the Old Bay wings... they are almost too big (if that's possible) but they are so yummy, especially if you dip them in their amazing homemade bleu cheese salad dressing. The mac-n-cheese... you just gotta get a side order. even if it's to pass around the table. The beef tenderloin tip sub with yummy gooey cheese and sauteed onions. It used to be on their "specials" menu but now it's on the regular menu and it's to die for! Be prepared to eat it with a knife and fork and not finish it all. French fries: slim cut fries - yum! Bon Appetit! read more

Saw reviews here on Yelp and decided to stop by this well-rated restaurant on my trip down to Baltimore. Got there around mid-afternoon and saw the long wait - which I usually don't mind especially if the food is going to be good - and decided to truck it out and wait for some good food. Overall, I didn't think it was worth the 1+ hour plus wait. Food was okay. I tried the crab cakes that people have been raving about and didn't think it was that exceptional. Although, I tried these after I experienced Faidley's crabcakes (I found Faidley's to be a lot better). I also found the Mac and cheese was good but not great. My friend tried the fish and chips which turned out great! I love anything crunchy or crispy and it came out of the fryer perfectly. Not too deeply fried or oily. It was just right. Too bad I didn't order it though. read more

I'm not a big seafood fan and get the Berger which was amazing. One of the best iv has which crazy for more of a seafood place. The crushes are great, the bartenders seem to not have a lot of turnover and know the locals. read more

If you like seafood or a place that caters to Baltimore dishes, this is the place for you. On weekends it can get crowded and loud and I highly recommend reservations (the average age also gets younger the later it gets). On a typical night I would say that the average age is about 30. On weeknights it is more of a local crowd and there is more elbow room to enjoy your fantastic meal. One note of caution- their crab cakes are disappointing- take a pass on them (all backfin with little or no lump and a little too much filler). I recommend the mama's house salad, tuna tar tar appetizer, mac and cheese, and any fresh oyster they have when you go. The on tap beer selection is pretty good too with some local favs regularly available. They usually have a catch of the day on the daily menu - that is always a great choice- especially if you top it off with sauteed lump crab meat. Yum. While you are there, be sure to take a look at the many pictures and items on the walls. You will find a picture of Babe Ruth's dad there (he was a local butcher) and many American Legion Post pieces that were found in the walls of this building when it was being renovated. read more

Wow. I cannot even put into words how bad our experience was at this place. Being huge seafood enthuaists, we thought this place seemed like a fun, funky place to relax. First of all, the doorman gave us attitude before even walking in the door. The hostess was rude and promised a 30 min wait, which turned into 60 mins. True, since we were out of town we didn't know to make a reservation, but no one was even trying to be nice to us. Once we did get a seat, we were next to a bunch of cheesy sorority girls with no style or table ettique. The food was boring, and we actually opted to hvae it wrapped up so we could leave. Seriously, if this place were to stop acting like some exclusive club that had interesting food, than perhaps it would have been ok. We ended up having a MUCH better experience the next day at a local mom and pop place, so our opinion of Baltimore eateries was left on a very positive note. read more