Cancel

Open app

Search

The Half Shell

4.4 (812 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Loading...

The Half Shell Photos

Business Info

THE HALF SHELL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - The Half Shell

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Whole Blackened Flounder w/ Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
Renee D.

After bar hopping around St. Simons Island, we stopped by The Half Shell SSI for oysters. There was about a 20-minute wait, so we walked a block up until our buzzer went off. I had a prosecco and ordered the blackened flounder special with mashed potatoes, broccoli, and mushrooms--everything was really good. The oysters from Tybee Island were fresh and hit the spot. Our waitress Jen was great, and we ended with a butter cake for dessert. We were celebrating a friend's birthday, and it was a solid experience overall. Definitely a place I'd come back to for a casual date night.

Bloody Mary Oyster Shooter
Al J.

The atmosphere here is incredibly relaxed. If you plan to visit on a weekend, be prepared for a wait, but it's absolutely worth it. The service is exceptional, and the food is simply outstanding. I can't wait to return and experience it all again.

Butter cake
Virginia B.

Two of us came here Sunday afternoon. This was my first visit but my friend had been here before. We were seated quickly and our waitress came and took our drink orders. It was cold and windy so we wanted something warm but all they had was coffee. The decor is nautical but the place is smaller than I expected. I had oysters that were broiled in butter and lemon and garlic. They were ok....didn't come with a side but I got the bacon wrapped green beans and they were very good. We had onion rings that were huge and done well, My friend had fried shrimp and was pleased. We had " butter cake" with ice cream for dessert, it was ok. This is not in my top five on Ssi but I'm glad we tried it.

Guerry N.

The Half Shell is our go-to spot on St. Simons Island, and you can usually find us there every Saturday. The staff is always friendly and welcoming, and the food is consistently good. Our sweet Annabelle Lee loved going with us, too. The staff always made a fuss over her, and she especially enjoyed her bacon-wrapped green beans. We cannot wait to bring MoonPie along once she finishes getting her shots. The oysters are always fresh, and the Oysters Frederica are one of our favorites. Honestly, you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Great food, great people, and a relaxed St. Simons atmosphere. It is easy to see why we keep coming back week after week

Broiled oysters
Josh W.

I found this little gem while walking around the area looking for a good dinner spot. I liked the look of it and thought it'd be good to try. Sometimes your gut tells you right and this was certainly the case. The service was excellent, the food was very tasty, and the ambiance was pretty relaxed. Our server Alie was very friendly and knowledgeable. The place has a somewhat divey local feel which we really liked. Here's what we got: -Line 39 Pinot Noir -Sweetwater 420 -Lemon and garlic oysters (broiled) -Mandarin orange and strawberry salad, poppy seed vinaigrette -Blackened mahi w/ sautéed vegetables -Grilled flounder special sautéed vegetables, sweet potato fries. We didn't wait long at all before everything was ready. My lady's really enjoyed the oysters and her salad. My lady's mom liked her flounder too. And overall, everything was very nicely priced. I could see stopping by here again.

Adam B.

We had a really good meal at The Half Shell. Started with the open-faced tuna tacos appetizer, which were fresh and well done. For dinner we had the crab cakes, crab BLT, and grilled shrimp, all served with sidewinder fries and a variety of dipping sauces. Everything tasted great and was nicely portioned. Cassie was our server and did a solid job--friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We also tried the drink of the day, the Mistletoe Martini, made with gin, elderflower, and cranberry. We went with gin and it was a good choice. Overall, a good experience with good food and service.

Melissa I.

Very family friendly. Instead of crayons, they hand out sticky sticks to create figures and objects with. The bathrooms are singles, so makes it much easier to contain littles. Had the open face tuna tacos, the flounder special, and chicken tenders. The open face tacos were not easy to eat but delicious. The flounder was really yummy. And our son loved the chicken tenders with fries. Def recommend

Sami G.

This place is a must stop when I visits SSI!! They have the best food and the best staff around. I absolutely love fresh oysters and these did not disappoint. We also had the burger, massive beer battered onion rings, salad and bacon wrapped asparagus. The onion rings were outstanding. This place is such a comfortable cozy place and we had a great booth. I truly love going there. Def recommend!!

Chicken tenders and fries from the kids menu
Jade C.

Came to SSI for a few days and ended up coming back here twice. Food was phenomenal. A little bit of a wait on Saturday night but we went right in on Sunday evening since it was raining. Apps: Oysters and shrimps were fresh. (Pic not taken but the calamari was so tasty too) The oyster shooters (my first time ever having one) is very reasonably priced and an experience! All the entrees came out fresh, fishes were cooked perfectly. The bacon wrapped green beans are to die for, a little bit of sweet with the savory, and I didn't feel guilty eating the whole batch because they're GREEN BEANS. Lastly, the butter cake? It sent me to heaven with each bite. If I ever came back to St. Simons again, (besides the beach), this would be my first spot to visit.

Sandra E.

My fiancée picked this spot for us to dine in for dinner. It has a divey feel with a great selection of seafood. Both drink and food menus are very reasonable with pricing. We ordered: Drinks: -Line 39 Pinot Noir -Sweetwater 420 Dinner: -Lemon and garlic oysters (broiled) -Mandarin orange and strawberry salad, poppy seed vinaigrette -Blackened mahi w/ sautéed vegetables --Grilled flounder special sautéed vegetables, sweet potatoe fries. We didn't have to wait long for our meals. They came out right away. I really enjoyed my salad and oysters. The oysters were not greasy or had too much butter. I loved the dressing that came with my salad. On the other hand, My fiancée and my mom liked their meal but thought it was a bit bland and could use some seasoning. Overall the experience was good and the service was great. Alie was our server and was really nice and very attentive. There are so many seafood places in the area. Not my favorite, But I thought they were fair.

Chef's Fish Special

Unbelievable food. 10/10. Had a lovely time with my girlfriend. Great food, great vibes, and great service! Would recommend to anyone in the area looking for some fresh seafood.

The half shell shot (tequila one) upgraded to Don Julio

See all

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Rusty J.
27
65
52

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Michael M.
140
75
113

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Laura S.
41
53
14

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Great oysters. Crab and clam chowder soup is also noteworthy. Great service. Go early...gets crowded.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Always good service. Tuna tacos and bacon green beans are tasty. Butter cake is a must!!! Delicious.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Always love seeing Ashely who makes the best Old Fashions. Service was excellent and food was great.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Great dog friendly restaurant. Good food, friendly and attentive service , very busy restaurant but worth the wait

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Karen F.
74
45
175

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Dave D.
3
110
10

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Pao H.
88
229
98

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Paula P.
163
45
114

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Steve O.
2
106
93

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Low key ambiance. Good food cooked as ordered. Service was attentive but not overly so. Fresh seafood & burgers.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Amy N.
50
26
16

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Ash L.
69
99
19

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Beth C.
1
30
11

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Hugh S.
1
175
0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 4 of 21

Ask the Community - The Half Shell

Do you have happy hour pricing for raw oysters?

Apologies, but we do not offer raw oysters on Happy Hour! Our oysters are Market Price and our Happy Hour applies to alcohol, only. The oysters are still delicious, though!

Do you have a gluten free menu?

Not menu but there are many gluten free options. This is primary a fish shack

Do they have Happy Hour?

Yes. Mon - Thu 5 - 6. Fri - Sun 4 - 6.

View All 5 Questions

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Seafood 327 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Barrier Island Brewing - Fish sandwich, fried

Barrier Island Brewing

4.6(306 reviews)
1.0 mi
•$$

One of the best places we visited while on the island. We tried to go a few weeks ago when we were…read morein town, but they were so busy and there was zero parking. So we made a second trip and weren't disappointed! The pretzel charcuterie board was absolutely fantastic! I loved everything about it. Especially the pretzel with the beer cheese. My husband had a pork chop sandwich and said it was delicious. You certainly get a lot of food for your money. Matt was a beast behind the bar. We were absolutely amazed at how quickly he was making multiple drinks and getting beer from the taps. He gets five stars alone! He was very personable and funny. Him and his sidekick Ryan ("Matt Ryan" LOL). Good vibes and a GREAT beer selection too!! I would definitely visit here again when in town. Highly recommend! Go early, parking can be a little difficult.

Stopped in for dinner with my wife at this local brewery…read more The business is located close to the pier but not in the pier area. The business has a small parking lot it shares with other businesses, there is also a small gravel lot beside it that you can park at. If you go at a busy time, parking can be a chore. Upon arrival, the business was busy with both inside and outside seating filled but we were seated immediately at a table with both bench and chair seating that shared the bench with other tables. There is also bar seating and you can sit at a high top that borders the brew stations. It took a few minutes for us to meet our server who took our drink orders. Soda for her and non-alcoholic IPA for me. It took our server a while to bring our drinks and she forgot my IPA so she had to go find it. Once we had our beverages, we ordered our food. We started with the bacon wrapped blue cheese dates - the dates are served on tooth picks and looked great but the blue cheese overpowered the flavor of everything else. My wife ordered the special of the day (not on everyday menu) which was shrimp tacos with a black bean pineapple salsa and house made chips and fries. I opted for the house burger with cheddar cooked medium and chips and fries. It took a long time for our food to come out and after observing our server chatting it with a table of her friends who were behind us, I am pretty sure she may have forgot to order it in a timely manner. When our food came it was auctioned off to us by another team member (no server to be found). My wife's tacos were overstuffed and fell apart. I tried one and the fried shrimp tasted really fishy to me, not like fried shrimp is supposed to taste. My burger was okay but nothing special. Really wanted to like this place but it did not live up to our expectations.

Photos
Barrier Island Brewing - Outside patio

Outside patio

Barrier Island Brewing - Fish tacos

Fish tacos

Barrier Island Brewing - Bacon wrapped dates

See all

Bacon wrapped dates

Indigo Coastal Shanty - SHANTY BLEU

Indigo Coastal Shanty

4.8(677 reviews)
5.9 mi
•$$

We tried Indigo Shanty for the first time while visiting the SSI and the Brunswick area, and it…read moreexceeded our expectations. We shared the plantains to start, which were delicious. My husband ordered the Pac-Rim Noodle Bowl with jerk chicken, and I had the Blackened Point Loma Fish Sandwich with sweet potato fries. Both meals were fantastic. The noodle bowl was full of bold, fresh flavors, and the fish sandwich was perfectly blackened and cooked just right. The sweet potato fries were a great addition. It's refreshing to find a restaurant that's a little different from the usual fare and executes everything so well. Great food, a welcoming atmosphere, and an experience that has us looking forward to our next visit. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Brunswick.

Monday afternoon lunch, party of 3. Here is what we liked: *…read moreCool vibe just feels and looks fun. * Sat on the patio, took maybe 3 minutes to be seated. It is a small place. We were greeted immediately upon entering. Everyone was nice. *Patio is cool with the large tree growing in the middle of it. * All 3 of us got a variation of the jerked chicken. * Jerked chicken tostadas were just flavorful and delicious. *Calypso nachos with the jerked chicken, the pineapple paired well and just good nachos. *Pac-rim salad with jerked chicken, big serving and a nice crunch with the cabbage Cole slaw paired with a peanut vinaigrette and the jerked chicken. Delicious. * Our serve was attentive but not over burdening. Checked in, was super pleasant, just darn right nice. *Chocolate bread pudding was recommend and it was moist and warm with a good scoop of vanilla ice cream. The caramel drizzle was the highlight for me. What could of been better: *A me thing for nachos, when piled high the bottom gets soggy before you can enjoy them. Great visit, want to come back and try some other items.

Photos
Indigo Coastal Shanty - The Sesame Crusted Catfish was truly incredible.  I will forever compare whatever future catfish I eat in my lifetime, to theirs.

The Sesame Crusted Catfish was truly incredible. I will forever compare whatever future catfish I eat in my lifetime, to theirs.

Indigo Coastal Shanty - PAC-RIM NOODLE BOWL

PAC-RIM NOODLE BOWL

Indigo Coastal Shanty - Porch seating is great when the weather cools down.

See all

Porch seating is great when the weather cools down.

Mr Shucks Seafood - Pound cake

Mr Shucks Seafood

4.5(66 reviews)
0.1 mi

Excellent food and unparalleled service. One of the best restaurants on St. Simons…read more Was helped by multiple, highly attentive servers. The owner was present during the serving process and ensured to check on us multiple times. The menu has plenty of great options.

Stopped in here last night at this locally owned St Simons sit-down seafood location for dinner…read more We arrived around 7pm and were told by the hostess that it would be a 30 minute wait. We opted to wait in the lobby on the benches they provide. While waiting we noted that they have indoor seating, outdoor starting in a screened in porch, and bar seating which is first come first serve. After a short wait, the hostess took us to our table, a two-top covered with butcher block paper. We met our server who was polite and promised us some samples of shrimp (that we never got - but other tables did). Our server did a great job answering questions we had about the menu and even provided some helpful suggestions. Please note, the tables a located close together, so if the table beside you has a loud talker, you can feel like part of their convo. We opted for 2 shrimp dinners (16 shrimp with 2 sides and choice of bread or hush puppies - get the hush puppies). I opted to have my shrimp served fried and broiled with cocktail sauce. For my sides, I ordered the garlic potatoes (roasted potatoes with their garlic butter - like a shrimp boil) and fried okra with a side of ranch. My wife opted for the shrimp dinner with cole slaw (their slaw is closer to a vinegar base with a sweet taste) and the garlic potatoes. We waited a little longer than we expected for our food and we noted that tables that were seated after us got their food before we did. Not sure if it is bc of what we ordered or bc our service was slow When we got out our food, it was well prepared and tasted great. Also, their portion sizes are generous and filing. Good option for a meal.

Photos
Mr Shucks Seafood
Mr Shucks Seafood - Blue crabs

Blue crabs

Mr Shucks Seafood - Feast with 8 crabs and steamed shrimp and low country boil

See all

Feast with 8 crabs and steamed shrimp and low country boil

The Half Shell - seafood - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...