We were very disappointed last night at the hard shell. Wow what a difference from last year! We went to celebrate our 18th anniversary like we celebrated there last year. This was our meal- my husband ordered the lobster roll. How in the world can you overcook a lobster is beyond me. Growing up in NE I told my husband it def won't be as good. But we never expected this, it was actually dry, and had a corrugated look. I ordered the scallop/shrimp orange rice. There was so much salt on both! there was no flavor at all on the scallops! the shrimp barely. We decided to order dessert for a savior but when we got a piece of well worn paper with the listing of deserts we should have turned back. It took a while to get our desserts, I ordered the bread pudding that did not say there would be strawberries on it. The waiter apologized saying he should have told me. It was real dry and appeared to have sat a while. I sent it back. My husbands brownie and ice cream he said was pretty good. We spent a lot of money for well below average food. We should have walked out but we didn't,we were tired from working all day.The special drinks we ordered were good. However, the waiter pointed out that we got the wrong specials-it was a old menu the hostess gave us. The bartender did make them though. The fried oysters were good for the appetizer. Last year we also got a complentary dessert for our anniversary which was a nice gesture. This year no, but they did take off the bread pudding on the bill. Needless to say we will never go back there. So disappointed for a special occasion. I hope this helps others. read more

Love The Hardshell! They have a phenomenal happy hour that I would argue is one of the best kept secrets in the Midlothian area! Their cocktails are very unique and worth trying a few! Their twists on mules will give you the opportunity to experience a variety of tastes while maintaining the classic feel of mules. Their appetizers are a great price point and could be made a whole meal if you time it right. I'd recommend you sit on their patio. While it may overlook a parking lot, they have furniture, a gate and shrubs that make you feel like you're not in a strip mall. read more

The Hard Shell Bellgrade - My Old Kentucky Home is my favorite - Seafood Near Me - Midlothian, Virginia

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Not what it used to be. Place seems to be taking a dive in the last few years. Ever since their renovation the food flat out sucks. The blackened mahi I had was severely overdressed and looked disgusting. I guess adding a plantain chip to the rice makes them super cool... They have zero, I mean ZERO shrimp dishes and only three types of fish. That's tells you how they scoured their food. Salmon, mahi mahi and rockfish. Won't be going back. read more

Yesterday my family threw a large baby shower with over 30 people in it. We rented the side room for the occasion. Everything that we asked for help or otherwise we promptly were given assistance. We had a buffet of heavy appetizers and alcohol. Our shower was about 3 hours long. The drinks made by the bartender Eva and the sweet servers were awesome!! Food was brought out at the perfect time, and all plates were cleared as soon as they were finished thanks to the hard work of the two that we lucked out getting!!! The only reason for not 5 stars was the extremely argumentative gentleman who was going to serve our party. Everything my mom wanted to with flowers on the buffet and stuff he told her to take it off. No way that was happening. Chris the manager took over and pulled him from the room and saved the day. Thank you Hardshell!!!! read more

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The ambiance was nice, the service was fine, and the food tasted good. However, in my entire adult life, I have never left a restaurant hungry. The entire point of a restaurant is to satisfy your hunger, and that simple expectation was not met. My wife and I both ordered a cup of lobster bisque to start. The portion was as expected and it was delicious. Our drinks from the bar were good and as expected from a restaurant of this perceived caliber. When it came to entrees, we both order the lobster roll with a side Cesar salad. While the salad was a normal portion, the lobster roll was half the expected size; I thought we must have ordered the kids meal. My wife and I are small people, so I cannot imagine how an average size person could leave full on that portion. We discussed ordering an additional lobster roll to split, but decided we would still leave hungry if we did that. Ultimately, after spending over $100 on food, we made the decision to stop at Chic-fil-a and order a sandwich for the ride home. For a place named 'Hard Shell' with a lobster as its mascot, it just seemed like ordering the lobster roll would be a safe bet. read more

The Hard Shell Bellgrade - Lobster Roll and side Caesar Salad - Seafood Near Me - Midlothian, Virginia

First, the food was good; however, the rating is so low because the service was atrocious. Point of fact, my party arrived at 7:05 pm for a 7:15pm reservation and were seated right away. Next, waters were given for our table, then crickets for 30 minutes. Granted the restaurant was busy: other tables did have their orders taken. My party became a bit perturbed and rightfully so. However, I waited patiently to see if management would notice. Alas, they did not notice on their own. Once the orders were finally taken, after we mentioned the excessive wait, for the restaurant week course the process was smooth. Too bad it took 40 minutes for this to happen. In fairness, management gave the table a free appetizer; however, the damage was done. This was a celebration dinner too. I may give them another chance: in 6 months. As per the pictures below, the food was delicious. I only wish the service had been on par. read more

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I really want to like the Hard Shell in Belgrade it just always seems to miss the mark for me. The food - I just always find the food kind of ok. Nothing special. I have had better at the downtown location The bar - it ends up being a little too small. It would be nice if it opened up more to the outside in the summer. Actually this summer close to 9:30pm we came in. Bar was a little crowded so we went outside. No bartender waitress service on the outside chairs so I would wander in to get a few more drinks with others needed something (about 5 of us). I think they must close around 10 so as 10 approached I went to walk in to get another drink and the door was locked (there were still customers inside). I knocked on window and they came and opened door saying they wondered where we were (we were only sitting outside the whole time). Recommendation: open up the bar to the outside or at least have a waitress out there covering additional patrons. As far as the food - I'm not sure what to say. My wife did go without me the other Sunday for brunch and she said it was very good. Maybe I need a recommendation for the chef's specialties next time I go. read more

Always a great experience dining here at The Hard Shell. Wonderful dinner and atmosphere to celebrate life and friends! read more

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Nice ambiance. Food was tasteless. I got the NY strip with shrimp and asparagus. I had begged steak at Outback Steakhouse. Then my friend ordered the truffle fries they tasted like air and bad decisions. And the mashed potatoes were bland like cafeteria food. At this price point I expect way better food. The steak seemed as if it didn't rest long enough and they just rubbed a little pepper on it. I've tried this place in the past and convinced myself that maybe it was just a one off. But this place just isn't good. Please learn to season the food more: it was so bland. read more

Had to try this place because it had been recommended several times and is pretty close by. I was surprised that it was on the small side. Nice caSual atmosphere and great service. The she crab soup was awesome and really enjoyed my grilled lobster tail. The only complaint is the distance from the table to the booth bench was too far making it slightly uncomfortable and it was a little noisy. read more

The Hard Shell Bellgrade - She Crab Soup - Seafood Near Me - Midlothian, Virginia

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Had a lovely meal with great friends while taking advantage of the happy hour raw oysters. Two had the seared salmon and shrimp, my wife had grilled lobster tail and I had the Hard Shell seafood pasta. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal and our waitress was adorable and efficient. We will definitely be coming back. read more

The portions are big. The burger was a perfect combination, but lacked a little flavor. The customer service and the fries made up for it. Great environment all around. I recommend read more

Went here for happy hour. Ordered from the happy hour menu. It had 1/2 pound of steamed shrimp, tuna tacos and other items. I ordered the tacos and 1 pound of the shrimp. Food was ok. When I got my bill I realized the shrimp was charged much more than listed. When I asked I was told only the 1/2 pound was on happy hour. One pound is full price. I should have ordered 2 half-pound orders. It always amazes me when businesses do stupid stuff like this. They made a couple of extra dollars off me, but I will never come back to this restaurant just blocks from where I stay in Richmond for work. And I sure won't recommend them. read more

Great food Great beer Great service Thanks Eva and TC. Had a great time before we had to head back to kcmo. Great place y'all need to check it out. read more

My first time eating at The Hard Shell and it did not impress me enough to go back. The cleanliness and decor of the restaurant was superb as well as the service. It was the food that was less than in my opinion. We started with the she crab soup and the crab dip. It taste like it came from a can and someone put some crab meat on top of it. Definitely wasn't on the level I thought this restaurant served. We ordered from the brunch menu, crab benedict and steak and eggs. The steak was a tough piece of sirloin, the seasoning was too much. The eggs were salty and the crab Benedict was was bland. It just wasn't 5-4 star food, I definitely will not return to Hard Shell. read more

The food is average for the price. The happy hour was the only reason we came there and understood why it was reduced to 5:30pm but unless you're retired it is almost impossible to get there before happy hour is over. read more

It was okay. We were a party of 5 but the food was cold when we got it. The SheCrab soup was underwhelming, basically a bisque with a sprinkle of crab meat on top. It was mediocre seafood and appetizers (I also had fries and calamari). Service was good and we didn't have to wait but probably won't go back. read more

Martini and fish tacos were on par! The fish tacos were very filling-not always the case with fish tacos- and had great flavor, and just the right amount of heat! read more

Massive disappointment, had the ordacity to charge me for extra shrimp when i told them i was allergic to celery. Guys, put it on the menu that you serve it with celery not just steamed shrimp. First order of steamed snow crab came out almost frozen. Supposed to be fresh steamed. Then the replacement had obviously been cooked multiple times. this was shocking for what is supposed to be a high end restaraunt. Will not be returning or recommending to my clients read more

Came in for lunch the fried oyster po boy with fries. I have to say the food and service on very good. Waitress was very nice and assisted with question about the menu. read more

The Hard Shell Bellgrade - Fried oyster po boy - Seafood Near Me - Midlothian, Virginia

The food is delightful and fresh. We had the rib eye, crab legs, littleneck clams, and scallop appetizer. It was busy, but it was Valentine's Day weeknd. But we didn't wait long for our table. Staff was nice and accommodating. Pricey, but the food was worth it. read more

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The atmosphere was great the service was remarkable Our waiter was very polite and professional I was there for valentines day lunch and with that being said the service was still top notch there was very little wait for food and drinks Can't wait to go back read more

The Hard Shell Bellgrade - Pan chicken 10/10 - Seafood Near Me - Midlothian, Virginia

What a disappointment. We picked Hard Shell to celebrate my daughters nuptials. From the moment our server took our drink order, it all went downhill from there. We had to ask for lemon and ice for our water ( 4 times) 45 minutes later we received it. One person in our party asked for mashed potato instead of French fries, she said she would ask if that was possible (?). Received meal with French fries, asked the server why they couldn't do mashed, she said they couldn't , next thing you know, a side of mashed was delivered. I believe she just didn't ask. It was not a pleasant interaction with our server. Our food did not make up for this experience either, Calamari was over cooked, potatoes were cold and the steak was tasteless. I'm sorry to say that we will not be returning read more

I really wanted to like this restaurant but outside of having a wonderful server and liking the layout of the restaurant it was very hard to find any positives. I took my husband here for an early dinner on Father's Day, before the restaurant became crowded and the kitchen would be overwhelmed. I started with a mojito which fell flat with no fizz at all. For appetizers we selected the BBQ ribs. The ribs were tender, sweet and perfectly cooked. For entrees my husband selected the shrimp and scallops and I opted for the fried oysters. The shrimp and scallops are served with sticky rice and soy ginger butter sauce. Unfortunately, the seafood was over cooked and rubbery. The rice was also over cooked and cold. And this dish was flavorless which was very surprising. My oyster entree was equally disappointing. The oysters were small and at points there was no oyster only fried breading which was unseasoned. The sautéed spinach as cold and the whipped potatoes also flavorless. Richmond has so many wonderful restaurants but this is not one of them. read more

The food was cooked perfectly and the service was great! My only issue was the dishes and presentation of the dishes. Our filet was basic, asparagus. Everyone does steak with asparagus. You would figure for the price, you would see a signature style. The bar has much to choose from, but are limited to what is popular in the area. I would not return here but I would recommend to anyone to try this place once. read more

Look, I don't have any problem paying $160 or way more for dinner when everything clicks and the experience and food are worth it, but tonight was meh at best. Our waiter had a bit more personality than a wet blanket, but not much. The raw oysters were full of shell chips, maybe a first time shucker? The lobster bisque was insanely butter rich with no notes of seasoning or salt, just pure full cream dairy. The truffle fries were on point and salted to perfection. Arugula salad and wedge were amazing, as were the tuna tacos and hangar steak. The service was intermittent and slow, especially for a socially distanced/lower occupancy restaurant. I've eaten here 4 times previously with no complaints, this time not so much. This was my wife and son and my first restaurant meal in a year since COVID and it left a lot to be desired. read more

We've dined at this location several times and have always been satisfied with our service and food. We went back Sunday and we were very disappointed. We were seated in a dark side room. I'm assuming it was because they were renovating. So that was okay and couldn't be avoided. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The problem came with the food. The menu has changed up and the selections were not as appealing. The salads came with the dressing already on them. Who does that? Other than Olive Garden. And it was very sparse, like it was sprayed on. My husband ordered the Lobster Chowder and when it came it was a huge disappointment to look at. It was a gelantenous blob. Very unappetizing. He said he could taste a few pieces of minced lobster but it was mainly potatoes and he could have eaten it with a fork. We won't be going back read more

Our first visit and during a very busy Easter Brunch. Nice menu and very good food. Excellent service from the entire staff, despite it being extremely busy. Interesting drinks too. We'll definitely be back. read more

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Rating explained: Reservations for 4:00 p.m. for party of 3 on Easter Sunday SERVICE: 5 STARS Promptly greeted and seated upon arrival. We didn't have to hunt for Hunter! Our waiter was very attentive without being intrusive and was helpful with all questions. Great manner about him...we wanted for nothing. APPS: 5 STARS 1. Pan Roasted PEI Mussels - bacon, tomatoes, garlic, white wine, butter, grilled baguette - The mussels prepared this way, with the bacon, were probably some of the best we've ever had...and being New Englanders...we've had our fair share. These are outstanding! 2. Flash Fried Calamari - chipotle aioli and a sweet chili sauce - Simply put...they were delicious! Tender from start to finish! Highly recommend. ENTREES: 3 STARS Mother and Hubs each ordered a House Specialty...Grilled Shrimp & Scallops served with orange sticky rice, seared asian vegetables, soy ginger beurre blanc. They both had the same experience...the shrimp were flavorful and cooked well, and though the scallops were cooked well also, they were tasteless. There were only 3 scallops and 3 shrimp so they felt the veg and rice (both tasty they said) were a bit of a 'plate filler' BUT...however tasty the starch and veg, one doesn't expect a $25.00 price tag for sides, especially when 1/2 the protein was tasteless. Too bad...it looked delicious. I ordered the New York Strip Steak, served with whipped potatoes, asparagus, jumbo lump crab, lemon beurre blanc. I'll start with the presentation...though pretty on the plate, I don't particularly care for having my food stacked one on top of the other. And this is the reason...the hot steak placed on top of the asparagus turned the veg brown. Bright green tips and brown middles is not how I like asparagus. The steak was ordered medium and what I got was two thirds medium well with medium in the center as the ends were thinner than the middle. Come on people...even I know it's best to have a piece of meat equal in thickness front to back! That said, the first bite was yummy...very well seasoned and I think the juiciest bite of the night. The steak went downhill fast though, as what moisture it had was long gone by the time I was 1/3 done and the buerre blanc soaked into the mash. I did ask for more of that though...the steak needed the moisture. And while I appreciate a little fat on the outside of a strip...gristle I don't. Too much of that, on top of over cooking...not my favorite dish. Had it been a bit better cut and cooked to order, the $29.00 price tag would be reasonable. As it was...not so much. DESSERTS: 4 STARS The desserts were another story...Hubs raved about the cheesecake and Mother loved the tart and tangy key lime. I had the creme brullee and I think it needed a bit more in fridge to set (which is why I gave desserts a 4 and not a 5), there was a really nice burn on the sugar that added a layer of flavor you don't usually get with this dessert. Plus, it had a great crack! So overall, taking everything into consideration, I think a rating of 4 is fair if taken into context. Price wise...not too bad considering 6 top shelf cocktails, two shared appetizers, 3 entrees, and 3 desserts...all for $171.00. Had the entrees lived up to expectations and lived up to the service, appetizers, and the desserts, that wouldn't have hurt a bit. read more

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We went for Christmas Eve dinner and it was our first time there. The food was really good. I ordered the oyster sampler as an appetizer and loved the variety of oysters. My mom ordered the she crab soup and it was just so-so. For the main course I ordered shrimp and grits and it was perfect. I love when grits are thick cut and the shrimp was huge. My mom ordered the crab fettuccine and it was also good. Not as creamy and rich as normal fettuccine Alfredo which was a nice change. Highly recommend the bread pudding for dessert! It was pure heaven. Overall I loved the atmosphere. The only reason I did not rate higher was due to service. Our waitress was also serving a large party and kept forgetting about us. We had to ask twice for our bread and watched our appetizers sit on the bar ready for pickup for over 5 minutes. read more

I am giving 2 stars for what it used to be. I am a seafood lover who would go to The Hard Shell about once a month... However considering my last 2 experiences I probably will not go back. My first bad experience I thought was a fluke... Came up with an excuse... it may have been a rough night in the kitchen you know everything can't be perfect every time so we overlooked my cold pasta and my husband's overcooked filet mignon and also the gnat that was flying around. BUT this time was waaay worst than the last. My fish was beyond overcooked and didn't seem fresh, my spinach was salty, and my husband's oysters were definitely overcooked and too salty to eat. We are not the type of ppl to send food back, however we did inform our waitress who basically said hope it's better next time. She probably knew it was not tasty from the food we left on the plate and didn't want to go bags. Unfortunately, we will probably give The Hardshell a break for a while. read more

Went for dinner with some clients. Enjoyed a couple of Scotch on the rocks with the friendly bartender. Ordered a couple of appetizers to start-scallops & calamari. Both were very good. Ordered a bottle of French Chardonnay to go with our Rock Fish fillets over asparagus and a rice and mushrooms. First timer for the rock fish and I have to say it wasn't bad - was on special since it is in season now. My client had a lobster tail and thought it was amazing. Overall, it was a good experience. read more

The Hard Shell Bellgrade - Seafood Near Me - Midlothian, Virginia

Change your sign outside to say that Brunch ends at 2:45 not 3:30 which is on the sign outside. The Manager was a bit ' matter of fact this is how it is'. The time when I got there was 3:10. change your signage. Nowadays, restaurants need customers more than we need them. Show some customer service. read more

Absolutely the worse brunch we've had in Richmond. "Eek! Methinks not." doesn't even come close to how bad this was. The only nice thing I can say is that the server was good and very pleasant. As for the awful food though... First and foremost She Crab Soup is NOT just cream of crab soup with a pinch of canned crab meat placed on top. It should have blue crab, should have roe, and shouldn't taste like it was made with just cream, crab base, and corn starch. Gross. Crab Benedict is my favorite brunch item and what I base most reviews on for new places, but I HATE HATE HATE when you use Thomas English Muffins. ESPECIALLY for places that are supposed to be higher end such as Hard Shell. A minuscule, dry crab caked sat atop a store bought English Muffin, topped with a fully cooked egg (WRONG), and some surprisingly decent Hollandaise. The poached egg and its runny yolk is a key point of this dish, so fully cooked egg on top is no better than that gross egg you get in a McMuffin. The side of eggs over easy I ordered were literally brown. As if the pan was so hot with scalded butter in it that the eggs browned in seconds and had to be removed instantly. The edges were crispy, the yolks were firm, and the whites were dark. I skipped this entirely. Here's the worst part though. How do you over cook pancakes? Furthermore, how do you overcook pancakes, not realize it, and not take the 2 minutes it takes to recook them? You could literally drum on these bad boys, and it took a fork and knife and LOTS of sawing to get pieces off. The final straw, fruit salad should have more than melon, grapes, and scant pineapples. How about some strawberries, blackberries, apples, maybe even a raspberry? Anything????? I'll never return, nor recommend this for anyone. read more

I recently visited Hard Shell for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. This is definitely the best restaurant that has opened in this space in the past 10 years. The decor is vastly improved over the past restaurants. Outdoor seating is great too. I came with a group of friends and we shared several appetizers. The Lobster dip is terrific, and the crab cocktail was full of flavorful, choice lump crab meat. On the disappointing side were the crab soup, which is decent but not the best I've had, and the Shrimp Pot stickers, which were 99% noodle and 1% shrimp. The pot stickers need a lot of improvement. But overall, the seafood here seems very fresh and high-quality which goes a long way to an enjoyable dinner. the price is reasonable but not cheap, and the service could use some improvement but our waitress managed to do just well enough to prevent us from getting annoyed.. read more

Not bad. Went with family for a nice dinner. My aunt and friend had lobster tail (sorry, going to Maine each year, so don't eat lobster anywhere else) Hubby had steak and it tasted ok but he loved the green beans with it. grilled, nice. I had GRITS, with Shrimp. Yep, GRITS. I was born in Virginia and some southern food is just the best. Shrimp and grits, a hit! Loved it. A nice monday night meal with some fabulous folks! read more

I'm so excited about this new location. I love the food at the Hard Shell but was not fond of the space and location of the Cary St. restaurant. This one is located in the Shops at Bellgrade off Huguenot Rd. Easy to find and lots parking. The restaurant has the same inside decor, lots of dark wood and brick, as the other location except the space is large. The full bar area is separated from the restaurant by a wall so the dining area is calmer and quieter. LOVE it! There is seating outside in front of the restaurant as well. We were greeted and seated quickly for an early dinner without reservations. The bar area was quite full and busy. What can I say other than the food and service were top notch. The plating is spot on and lovely. My steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and was melt in the mouth tender. The fish special was beautiful and flavorful. The asparagus was cooked perfectly. I highly recommend the Hard Shell (either location) for an enjoyable night out. read more

I visited Hardshell on 07/27 to celebrate my 30th birthday. I can only say I am disappointed with the overall experience we had for my party of almost 15 people. The server was not very friendly. I would think she would be excited about serving us as she was receiving an automatic 20% gratuity. I would like to add we ordered multiple appetizers, drinks, and entrees so you could only imagine the amount of money she made. I was a server myself so I understand how demanding this job can be but I would've rather had another server that wanted to wait on us. As I stated, we spent a lot of money at this place and I was celebrating a huge milestone. The manager NEVER came to greet us and make sure we were having a great experience. My filet mignon was undercooked but I decided to just take it home and give it to the dog. My parents in law food was salty and had to get sent back. Manager still never came though it is proper restaurant etiquette. Crab dip was mostly cream cheese. Drinks were average. I could honestly go on and on. This was my first and last experience at this restaurant. Maybe the downtown location restaurant experience is different but I would advise to avoid this location if possible. Not worth it at all! read more

I'm really surprised at how good this Hard Shell location is. This is probably the restaurant to beat in the north Chesterfield area. We got rockfish with risotto and salmon, both of which were expertly done. A fried oyster appetizer was great. The only disappointment was the she-crab soup - way too creamy. I had muted expectations for the meal, expecting it to be over-priced, but I was happily wrong. A caveat - the portions are not massive. They aren't skimpy by any means, but sometimes people expect a giant piece of fish at a seafood restaurant, and they don't do that here. read more

We went to the Hard Shell for the first time as part of a large party for a birthday celebration. The staff bent over backwards to handle us well and provide some special attention. Located in a shopping center off Huguenot. The restaurant itself is very classy, with a huge fireplace to the left as you come in. Interesting, the appetizers were better than the entrees. I sampled several apps, the best of which were the lobster dip (six stars!) and the calamari, both of which were superb. Several in our group raved about the She-Crab Soup. The salads are also large and well done. Maybe I ate too much, but the grilled shrimp entree was a bit of a disappointment... only a few shrimp and a very average presentation. (In full disclosure I must admit that our server tried to steer me in another direction.) My wife's Pecan-Crusted Salmon was better. I ordered a slice of Key Lime Pie for dessert and it was wonderful. So if I went back, I might just order an appetizer, salad and dessert. read more