Stopped into Mama's last night to kill an hour before dinner. My friend had half a dozen oysters, which he really liked. We sat at the bar, and watched the guy open all of them. They work so quickly! I'm not an oyster person, so I didn't have any. I also didn't want to ruin my appetite, so I just had two drinks. ORANGE CRUSH. GRAPEFRUIT CRUSH. They were delicious. Fruity. Sweet. Smooth. Slightly tangy. Well blended. Boozy. Dangerous. I started sucking down the Orange Crush (*note to self: stop going to bars when you're thirsty. Or get a water first.) and my friend cautioned me to slow down. He pointed somewhere about 80% up the glass and said, "It's this much vodka, a splash of triple sec, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. You're going to get hammered." [score.] If you're anywhere in Baltimore, get down to Mama's on the Half Shell and get a crush (or two!). Now!! read more

So we came to Mama's on the Half Shell on a Sunday where we had birthday brunch intentions coupled with thoughts of oysters and assorted seafood on our mind. This is actually the second time that I'd visited over the last few months. It was a nice autumn Sunday with football games going and lots of people eager to step out for brunch. The restaurant has multiple levels so they typically always have space to seat you. Proving that this restaurant remains as a popular option in the area, I have had to wait a few minutes before being seated on both occasions, but it's never been an extensive wait. I was in a tequila kind of mood so I opted to go with the Mexican vacation. It definitely aired on the side of strong. For my second drink, I went with the orange crush, a much lighter vodka based cocktail, though a larger drink so they probably both get you to the same place at a different pace. Lol. We ordered 1 dozen oysters to start with. Though they had many options available, we settled on the blue point oysters that were most familiar to us. I ordered the crab imperial with mac n' cheese and green beans as my side. Had I realized it had a cheesy element, I would have skipped the side order of mac n' cheese. Just too much cheese on one plate for my taste. While the crab imperial sounded great in theory, it actually ended up being a bit salty. My date went with the crab cakes. The crab cakes never seem to disappoint. I'm pretty sure that's what I had last time as well. Service was nice and responsive and we never felt rushed. The only disappointment was that no televisions were on the second floor so we were unable to watch the games, but I guess that's a minor detail since there were lots on the 1st level. read more

$34. Really, $34 for this piece of fish?! We ordered the grilled rockfish to go. It was listed for "market price" but I was still surprised when we got the bill and realized it cost $34. No worries though, market price is market price. When we got home howeverrrr, I couldn't believe the looks of this dish that was priced at $34. Unbelievable. The thing is literally 2x4 inches. Needless to say this will be the first and last time we dine here. I'm taking my first bite now, zero flavor except for the saltiness of the grilled fish skin. I'm happy we didn't eat at the restaurant because with this level of dissatisfaction I definitely would have left zero tip, and regret punishing the waitress for the chef/restaurant's decisions after leaving. Can't find the post a pic option... read more

Irish Pub + Maryland Seafood = Mama's on the Half Shell. Prepare yourself for huge portions of delicious food. I got the Seafood Club with the 3 oz crab cake -- and DANG! it was a huge sandwich. I literally had to split the sandwich in half and eat it like an open-faced sandwich in order to fit it into my mouth. Lesson learned: Come hungry or prepare to take home leftovers. The wait staff was pleasant and the food came out in timely manner. Nothing to rave home about but nothing to complain about either. Final Verdict: I wouldn't say no to going back the next time I'm in Baltimore! read more

Went for the seafood in basil pesto pasta dish but they were not serving it that night...needless to say I was pee'd off from the start. So settled for the fish n chips, my date had the seared scallops and our guest had the seafood sample platter and crab cake platter. The fish I had was HUGE but was a little on the greasy side, I guess they rushed it since it was a Friday night and the place was packed. The portions they serve are very generous, Overall it wasn't bad but I think next time I'll try on a not so busy night so I can enjoy myself a little more. read more

Very cool vibe. Only had a beer here but I loved the atmosphere and the food looked really good and fresh. The bar was packed at dinner time and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Definitely will go here next time I'm in town and get me some seafood!!! I have heard the brunch is REALLLLLY good. read more

I forgot how much I love Mama's on the Half Shell in the charming neighborhood of Canton in Baltimore. I ate there yesterday, Saturday, February 26, with a friend and was in gastronomic heaven. Mama's on the Half Shell is the best place for seafood in Baltimore, hands down. For appetizers, we had the grilled Blue Point oysters and their tuna tar tare. Both were absolutely yummy. The oysters were grilled and served on top of a bed of sea salt. The tuna tar tare was diced and served with rice, seaweed salad, and wasabi. I've had their bacon wrapped scallops on previous visits and it was delicious. For the main entrees, my friend had their crab cakes and mac and cheese. He said it was delicious and their crab cakes hardly had any fillers. I had the fish and chips and it was literally a beer battered cod fish. The serving was HUGE and you can taste the beer in the batter. The chips were home made and their cole slaw wasn't too sweet. I'll be making more trips to Mama's this year since their menu is extensive and has something for everyone. It's definitely worth the trip to Mama's if you live in DC or Northern Virginia. You can have a pre-dinner or post dinner dessert at Vaccaro's Bakery down the street. Another Baltimore favorite. read more

This place used to be awesome. The chef's palette has gotten TOO salty. I know it sounds weird, but the last three times we have gone the food is just plainly oversalted! And I love salty food (I'm a smoker). With prices over $30, i expect every dish to be spectacular. I will not tolerate improperly seasoned food when spending that amount. Its a cooking basic. My last encounter I had terrible service. Our waitress Rachel seemed to judge us from the beginning as too young to leave a decent tip and ignored us for the rest of the night until we complained to the manager (we left a great tip out of spite). I understand it was busy, but we expect at least minimal service. It was my girlfriend's birthday and we felt like we were unwanted. The famed mac & cheese is not what it used to be. The bread pudding is BETTER than ever! And their coffee is pretty good too. Mussels were amazing. Oysters were meh. read more

So we came down to the area for the First Thursday Concert over at Canton Waterfront, since the main act wasn't performing til later, we decided to walk the area in search of food. We commonly use a rule of thumb when looking for a place to eat: "If it's Busy, It's Worth Trying". So while walking around we came upon Mama's, noticed that a lot of tables were filled, so we went in and gave our name, since it was just two of us, figured the wait couldn't be that long. I'm not gonna make note of the wait time. It was busy and people weren't jumpin up after they were done. Once we were called we had a 2-top upstairs. When we got up there I noticed that there a few empty tables, though one of them looked to be reserved for a large party. We started looking over the menu, and then realized that we wanted the same thing, so my partner changed his choice. He ordered a glass of the Resurection, which was pretty good. Whenever I see calamari on the menu, I'm inclined to order it, so we did, as well as the Fried Oysters to start. When they arrived to the table I noticed that the calamari were the "rings," needless to say, they were just so-so, in addition, the sauce that is served with them really did nothing for them. The Fried Oyster, 5 on the plate, always confuses me when two people are dining/sharing and there's an odd number, anyway, they sat on tarter sauce with in the shell. I don't know, I felt like I was eating more of the fried batter than the actual oyster. I would honestly off the Tarter sauce with the calamari instead. Our meals arrived, I ordered the Fish and Chips, but got the fries with it. The Fish was humongous, sitting on top of the fries, served with a small container of tarter sauce and a dish of cole slaw. Oddly, the first thing I went for was the cole slaw, I think I was overwhelmed by the monstrosity that was my fish. The cole slaw was actually really really good. After a few bites, I gathered the strength to take on the fish. It was ...... Ok, the batter was over fried making it tough to manage. The fries were fries, I guess I'm not a fan of Old Bay, it seemed that it had been sprinkled on the fries. Overall, I was not that impressed. My partner ordered the Seafood Melt, an open faced cheesy sandwich. He asked for the chips, again seasoned with Old Bay. I didn't try any of his meal since I was trying to get through mine. At one point he expressed that the cheese was too much and made it too salty. We finally finished and started to discuss the meal. We were both full, but it didn't come across as a good kind of full. My partner said that while we were downstairs waiting, he observed a table send back a plate. He wasn't sure of the conditions. Either way we paid the receipt, and headed out. Overall. It was nice to get out and try something new. Is it on the list to come back to, probably not. I'm sure there are better options for food In the area. Service was a 4 though. read more

Wonderful place to eat. We had 1) PBR shooter - 5 star 2) U-300 scallop - biggest scallop i've seen in my life. 5 star 3) mussells - great, get it 4) grilled ceasar salad - 4 star overall, the dining experience was on point. i would recommand to all of my friends. repeat! read more

We were so expecting to love the food here as the menu looked great and the crowds waiting implied a great place but in reality the food was really mediocre. The cream of crab was overly thickened with roux and the soft shell crab topping it was a bit past soft. The beer mussels were ok, but a bit on the salty side as were the oysters Rockefeller. But the biggest salt lick was the arugula and duck confit salad with beets. The chef must have dipped the beets in brine. They were inedible. The fish and chips were generously portioned, but unlike everything else under seasoned and WAY over battered. The high note was the fried oysters. They were plump and cooked perfectly and the remoulade was delicious. Note to waitress, when a customer points discreetly to ask what another diner is having, do not grab their finger and say it is rude. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Mussels and fries oysters. - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Crab cake was good, not as good as Faidley's and more expensive, too. Crab dip, was good, though. Wouldn't come here for the soup, either. I'm guessing HH is good, here, though I wasn't able to partake. read more

Good customer service, food and beer selection. Small but worth it. Got crab cakes, and my date got filet mignon.

First impression of Mama's on the Half Shell is the good location surrounded by several restaurants and pubs. The place is a bit packed, but the wait is not too long. Sitting at a bar provides another alternative. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. Orange Crush is fantastic. I ordered fried calamari as an appetizer. It comes in a portion that you can share with 4 other people. Fried oyster is great, too. Assuming that you love deep fried seafood, you will not regret coming here. Don't forget crab cake, which is a must to order! I did not have a chance to try their raw oyster bar. However, Oyster shooter for $4 looks great on the menu. read more

Staff was knowledgeable about menu items and any questions we had. The fried oysters are a great choice as an appetizer, with a crisp lights breading served on top of a delicious mustard sauce, on the half shell! As far as main dishes go; the crab cakes here are wonderful- a cake packed full of crab without added extra breading. If you can't chose a side; the macaroni and cheese is incredible. Topped with a light breading, and VERY creamy! Definitely a place to check out when in Baltimore; but be prepared with those stretchy pants!! read more

We were going to a "lite" this evening until we saw the menu here. Although most of these were all apps or 1/2 plates we just didn't think they would be so big )....Started with the seafood soup (best soup we have ever had), oysters (unreal, placed a second order), corn cakes with lobster salad and an old bay cream (house original to die for), boiled old bay shrimp (burned our fingers but worth it) , Caesar salad with an olive tapenade toast (off the charts).....then, Momma's homemade Mac and cheese and the best crab cake to have ever been served on a plate.....finished the meal with amazing creme brûlée....To top it all off......AMAZING SERVICE. read more

Great local spot to visit. Fresh seafood. The Salmon BLT is amazing. The kitchen closes by 11pm. Great service.

My first visit here was great. After that initial visit, my experience has gone down hill on a slippery slope. I guess it was the true definition of beginners luck.... My first visit, I ordered the beer mussels and crab cake sandwich. The beer mussels were really tasty! It came with shrimp and sausage as well. The crab cake sandwich was okay (I've had better). My 2nd visit, I ordered the fried calamari...hated it! They were big and over fried. I LOVE calamari and I am always on a quest to find good calamari- my quest was not fulfilled here. When it was time for the bill, my cousin and I split the bill. I paid my portion in cash and the rest was applied to her card. HORRIBLE IDEA FOLKS! They applied the entire charge to her card. How does that mix up even occur. What happened to the cash? Where was that applied? My 3rd visit, I came on a Saturday night around 10pm. Okay, I understand during these hours, this area turns into a night life area but carding my mother and my aunt was extremely rude! When we walked in, the bouncer asked for id, which was not a problem for me, since I do not look my age. He then proceed to ask my mother and aunt for theirs as well. They were completely caught off guard and you clearly could tell they were offended. If it is blatantly obvious, your customers are over 21 do not insult them by requesting for id. I asked the bouncer was it necessary and he smirked and said yes. After this he disappeared. There were many other customers who came in after us and were NOT CARDED....interesting.... My food was HORRIBLE. I ordered the wings and they were served to me in a pile of grease! Literally! I also ordered the mac and cheese. This was greasy as well. The first couple of bites were okay, but it was not until I reached the middle and saw the amount of grease. I understand that cheese often makes the dish oily, but this was disgusting! The only reason I gave this establishment "2 stars" is because my mom enjoyed her food. Three Strikes and You're Out....Sorry Mama's on Half Shell, but I'm Out! read more

I was here 6/9/2013. My group was not treated well AT ALL. We had a reservation for 8, 6 of us were there. They would not let us sit down. We stood in the waiting area for 20 -30 minutes for the two people. These two people would not have required another table so, I was baffled. Then we get seated at a table with a fly infestation!!!! There were flies all over the windows, flying all around our heads and our table! When I spoke to the manager, Mr. Rich, he looked at me nonchalantly, shrugged his shoulders and said, well there's nothing we can do about that. We left and went to the Olive Branch..... I have pictures of the flies. If I can find where to post them I will. read more

Great service, great old time vibe. Food was amazing. Got the fried oyster poboy and seafood chowder. Delicious. Must try if you're in the area. read more

Food is awesome, drinks are great, the wait not so much... usually a wait whenever I have been.. but the food being great is consistent and appreciated. I've been for brunch and dinner and have enjoyed the food and service equally. read more

This is by far my new favorite place! If I could have ordered the entire menu I would have. Everything was fantastic, Eleni was extremely knowledgeable about each and every single dish. We will most certainly be back!! read more

This is my go-to oyster and seafood spot every time I'm in Baltimore! Love the food and the cocktails. Great service and a fun vibe just add to it! read more

Last nite I took my family to dinner to Mama's on the Half Shell. Disappointment is an understatement. Let me start by saying, 2 years ago we had a fantastic experience. Friday night the service was sub-par, as well as the food. If the restaurant was crowded, I would understand, maybe the word is already out this is waste of money($358 for 6 people) and not great food. The waiter brought out dinner food, except for mine, which was easily 10 minutes after the table was served. I ordered the crab cakes, which should have been readily available. The wrong side was served, and it was cold. When I brought this to the waiter's attention, it took some time to get the mash potatoes($6) upcharge added to $30 crab cake, instead of the served mac and cheese($2 upcharge). I had to repeatedly request water refills, which is pathetic since we were sitting directly in front of the bar/hostess station. The very expensive lobster roll was tasteless, however, the crab cakes were delicious. When we were finished with the main course, all plates were cleared EXCEPT my end of the table. This was particularly wrong since they served the dessert directly in front of empty dinner dishes! I am not particularly critical , and frequently eat at all price range restaurants, but really felt a need to put this out there :-( read more

A friend was telling me about Mama's for a while so while visiting there a week ago I took the water taxi to Canton and found my way to Mama's. Raw Oysters and the fresh catch Blackened Rockfish were absolutely amazing. The staff is absolutely THE BEST! So, I made it back the next day...and the next day. Seriously 3 days in a row, its that good! I cant wait to get back to Baltimore! read more

Came here on a Saturday night. The service was amazing, the ambiance was very welcoming, but most importantly the food was amazing. This is hands down the best seafood spot that I have been to in Baltimore. Found this place while out on date night, by asking some locals. Absolutely delicious!! read more

A for food, it was awesome. Wonderful atmosphere and friendly service. My only detraction was it took us well over an hour to get in and out. We planned for 50 minutes but our apps were long and the coming in the MD crab soup was MIA. Would definatly go back, we loved the crab cake and the grilled oysters. The soft crab sandwich while generous was a but out of balance with with the thick white bread and over do of mayo. read more

We went here on a Friday before an Orioles ball game. The place is both a bar and restaurant. There are tables inside and out. We sat outside and enjoyed the wonderful weather of a May Day in Baltimore. We had six people in our party. Our server did good job keeping up with drink orders and refills. I got the seafood potato skins. They had shrimp, scallops and fish all covered with cheese. It had sour cream in the middle. Some other items ordered were the tenderloin sandwich and seafood sandwich. All of the sandwiches came with fries or another typical side. The food was good and tasty. It was just a little over priced in my opinion. read more

The service here is excellent. I love their crabcakes here. Tip: Don't make it a meal, as the sides aren't that great, just get a crab cake on the side. I recommend getting it with an orange crush. Michael Phelps likes to frequent this place so there is a good chance you could run into him here as he lives in the area. read more

Food and drinks are good. I gave a three star, however, due to the fact that this place is listed as taking reservations and they do not. Do not advertise a service you do not do. The hostesses may want to do a better job at that. #itsallaboutsemantics read more

My girls and I had brunch there Sat before the Wine Fest and it was OUTSTANDING!! First time eating there. I got the Grand Marnier French Toast and 3 way Crab/Lobster eggs Benny and shared it with my friend. It was to die for. I will totally go there again. I also had to get a Bloody Mary because it would not be brunch with out one. I love how they put the pickled green beans and olives in it. May my day. We also got to sit outside and enjoy the nice day. Service was great too. You cannot beat this place. I highly recommend it. :) read more

I was in search of a great crab cake and I found it. The meal we had at Mamas was perfect. We started out with a dozen oysters. You are able to mix and match as well. For entree we ordered the double crab cake platter with mac n cheese and a salad. The Mac and cheese was delicious and the crab cakes had huge lumps of crab. We will def be back!! read more

Whenever I have people come visit me from out of town while I lived in Baltimore, Mama's was my go to spot! I have never been disappointed with their food or drinks! I have been there for brunch, lunch and dinner and never had a bad experience with service or food. read more

Friendly server. Delicious food. A chill atmosphere. All things I very much appreciate. Companion and I feasted - we started out with oyster shooters (with beer.. PBR?), a dozen raw oysters (whatever kind was recommended), and mussels (red sauce). The oysters were fresh and super delicious. So we're the shooters, surprisingly. Then the crabcakes with Mac and cheese + salad as sides. Make sure you ask for plenty of bread to dip into the leftover mussel sauce. I felt like the price was appropriate with the quality and taste of food. Was definitely my kind of feast. read more

Here with Jane Gloria Brenda and Larry and Sylvia Jason you should be here oysters. Miss this place read more

It has become a "must go" place every time we're in Baltimore ever since a friend introduced us to the Mama's. Fantastic seafood, wonderful service and generous portions. Crab cakes, lobster roll, crab avocado, pan-seared scallops.... everything is so flavorful! read more

I am from out of town and was in search for places with the best crab cake. My host suggested Mama's on the Half Shell. I wanted to dine in, (they have an upstairs for diners) but because of restaurant week, there was a long wait. I opted for a seat at the bar on the first floor. The bar was packed because there was a game on, but the bartenders were great at attending to customers. I ordered the single crab cake platter (you can choose a double if you want). You get a choice of 2 sides for the platter -- I picked mac n cheese and rice. Both sides were delish and hit the spot -- food for the soul! Yes, mac n cheese did have a 1-inch deep pool of oil at the bottom of the cup. I decided to forgive the pool of oil because, hey, it's mac n cheese! Reviewers were all about the grapefruit crush, so I gave it a try and it's just as other reviewers say it is -- refreshing, not too sweet, and just perfect. Crab cake was meaty and oh so good. I would go there again for the crab cake. read more

Go for late night happy hour! Great deals on oysters, mussels, steamed shrimp, and their great crushes. I come here every time I'm in town for work. Relaxed environment and friendly staff. read more

I think this place actually deserves 3.5 stars, but alas... Pretty extensive menu / something for everyone, except maybe vegans. It's crowded pretty much all the time, so make a reservation! Service was friendly, albeit a bit slow. The server was kind about checking on the gluten-free status of something with the chef. I played it safe and got the pan-seared swordfish (under fish of the day) with smashed potatoes and mixed veggies. It was yummy. I also ate a bunch of french fries and some mussels off of my friends' plates. I say this because I did feel 'glutened' afterward, but it was probably my fault as I was hungry and not so careful. I think a Celiac would be fine here, assuming they are more vigilant than I was. read more

Went to Mama's for a friends birthday on a Tuesday night. We were a party of 15 and I must say that our waitress did a pretty good job with such a large group. I was actually very surprised, too, how packed Mama's was on a Tuesday night. When we first walked in, it was difficult to find a place to stand near the bar and I felt bad that I was standing right next to a table of people eating. The bar is long, but comes close the the wall where people are sitting, so it's difficult to move around, and not very conducive to standing against the wall behind where people are sitting. However, it was once a row home, so what do you expect? Let me first warn you that the portions here are huge- so be weary. My boyfriend and I both wanted a crab cake so we split the platter with two crab cakes and then shared an appetizer. It was the smartest thing we did, as it wasn't too much food. For drinks, I had the pomegranate martini, which was very good but sweet. I couldn't have more than one with my dinner, so instead I switched over to a dry martini, and that was smart. For an app, we split the BBQ shrimp. If you are looking for something for a group or people to share, don't choose this. It was only 2 shrimp which is enough for two people to share. (And not really worth the $9 that it costs, if you ask me.) The BBQ was just right, though, and we ended up dipping other food into it while there. On the side of this app was some of the cucumber salad, which I really enjoyed, however there really isn't much to it- just tomato and cucumber with some mayo-based dressing. Another group ordered the calamari, which I tried. It wasn't bad- you can taste some cinnamon with it, which was surprisingly very good. For dinner, we split the crab cake platter. THe crab cake's were HUGE and very good. Lots of crab meat in it, which was nice. Also, we got the mac and cheese and everyone was right- it's delish! Creamy and so good! We'd come back again, although I must say that the busy-ness of Mama's is a bit of a turn-off. We very rarely make reservations for dinner, so I'll have to remember that if we ever go back. read more