We had a late lunch here on Valentine's Day. We had wonderful service and one of the best meals we have had anywhere. We started with the fried oyster appetizer and the potstickers. Both were excellent. We then tried the crab soup and we both really enjoyed it. I had the crab cakes and my husband had the shrimp and scallop entree. I can honestly say they were the best crab cakes I have ever had. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his meal as well. Our server was very attentive and our meal was served quickly but the courses did not overlap. We will definitely be returning here again. read more

Just took my wife here for our anniversary. I was not overly impressed. I had heard how great the food was and that it was pricey. The food was good, not great for what you pay. I was really looking forward to some tasty she crab soup and still need to keep looking. I have to say I would go elsewhere if I am going to pay that much for a meal. read more

We went for dinner to take advantage of the Sunday crab leg special, 2lbs for $20. We sat outside a day the patio was lovely. Some patrons came later on that were smoking heavily so it was difficult to fully enjoy the ambiance. I am surprised management didn't say something to them for causing disruption. Overall the service was good, we ordered fried oysters as an appetizers and it was tiny for 2 people. We wanted creme Brule for desert apparently they were out- which was disappointing bc according to our server theyre known for it. The crab legs were awesome and our server was pretty attentive. I would return again. read more

My husband and I are fairly new residents of the Richmond, VA area. We were excited to find a seafood restaurant that was fairly close to home and that had such good reviews. We decided to make dinner reservations for Father's Day. I can't begin to tell you how bad our experience was...so much so that we walked out...all before we had the opportunity to taste the food. First...when we walked into the restaurant there was a stale odor and the floor around the hostess desk was littered..not particularly inviting. The hostess was on the phone apparently taking a reservation...she looked up at us and didn't say anything...just continued to talk for quite a long while. I expected that she might, at the very least, nod to us to let us know she was aware of our presence...nothing! A waitress passed by several times and eventually the hostess motioned to her to seat us. Before we could sit down, my husband had to ask the waitress to pick up food off the floor by our table. Our drink order was taken and my drink came out with black specs in it. I advised the waitress of this and her immediate response was that it was the (pulp from the) lemon in the drink. She never looked at the drink and when another waitress passed by, overhearing the conversation, she looked at the drink and acknowledged that she saw the specs. She took the drink and had it replaced. In the interim, I looked around the restaurant and at the top of the booth we were in, found unsightly dust balls. The light fixture at our table was also full of dust. Initially I picked up my drink and decided to situate it closer to me. For some odd reason I turned over the cocktail napkin and was disgusted to find quite a bit of red residue on it. The napkin had clearly been used by a patron before us. At that point, simultaneously, my husband and I decided to get up and leave. The restaurant didn't feel clean and we simply could not trust eating the food...nor would we want to in such an uncomfortable environment. There is clearly a disconnect between the ratings that are publicized for Hard Shell and the reality. While I cannot comment on the quality of the food, I'm clear that this is not a restaurant I will return to nor would I ever recommend it to anyone...to the contrary. Renée G. read more

A group of us decided to give the Hard Shell a trying during Richmond's Restaurant week and it did not disappoint. The she crab soup was creamy and loaded with chunks of tasty crab meat. Being a crab lover, naturally I decided to get the crab linguine. The entree was rich with parmesan and was extremely filling. For desert I decided on the chocolate torte which was a great finishing course. This is definitely a place to enjoy your company and to take breath between different courses. read more

My husband had heard good things about the restaurant and took me for Mothers Day and my graduation. He had crab pasta and I had to give him some of my crab cake. We had key lime pie for dessert and there was absolutely no lime flavor to it. Our server seemed surprised that we had any criticism. I don't know if I can recommend Hard Shell, but may try again. Maybe it was just a bad day read more

We went here just as the weather began to turn nice. We went in the early afternoon with the idea that we could sit outside and enjoy some appetizers, a cocktail, and the beautiful weather. The weather was fantastic, but that's where any awesomeness ends. We sat outside and were treated to a steady breeze of cigarette smoke coming from the kitchen employees who kept coming outside to smoke. Additionally, the restaurant chose the exact moment of our arrival to start planting flowers in the flower boxes on the fence surrounding the outdoor dining area. The manager and a server dumped potting soil into the flower box right beside our table, sending a cloud of dirt into our drinks. The manager comped the drinks and one of our appetizers, but they did not stop their work. The food was just okay, not something that would keep me coming back. read more

The service and atmosphere was great but the food was not. Got the fish and ships and they screwed it all up. The cod was undercooked and the fries were old and stale. I would have given them a 1 star but the server was nice. I mean how do you mess up fish and chips?!?!? Either they don't care or they need a cook or chef that cares. Will never go again and I recommend you search elsewhere for good eats. read more

I came here with my family for my sisters birthday dinner. While we understand we were a huge party, the service was disgraceful. We waited over 2 hours for cold food. They continued to put food randomly on the table and tried to act like it was fresh. One of our guests ordered pasta, it was ice cold, so she requested a new one. They simply placed the pasta in the microwave and admitted to doing so. My dad's chicken was undercooked as well. We had a few children in our party who were practically in tears because they were hungry. Management said they would rectify the situation and failed to do so appropriately. I drove four hours to spend time with my family to this restaurant. While I don't ever regret spending time with my family, it's unfortunate that my sisters birthday was derailed by cold food and poor service from the back end. I will not be recommending this place to my friends or other family members. Our server was very accommodating and it's unfortunate that his team was unsupportive of his great efforts. read more

Took my fiance here last year for her birthday. The lobster wasn't too bad, but the rest of the stuff on the plate was just horrible. It's like they didn't even cook the vegetables, they were rock hard. read more

Better then I thought. Blacken Mahi mahi was good. Nice presentation. Outdoor searing is nice on a nice day. Wine selection by glass limited but was good. Atmosphere was nice on a Monday. Would go back. read more

The lobster was nicely flavored and very moist. The filet was nicely grilled, I could even taste the "grill taste" if you know what I mean but it lacks some flavor and a tad dry. I am willing to give them another shot although it was not very filling this time. Cocktail on the other hand was completely disappointing. Overall decent but not somewhere I had to come back to. read more

Great place for seafood lovers. The oysters are fresh and tasty. The seating and service could be improved, but I enjoy going here and the prices are reasonable. read more

By far one of the best seafood restaurants in the Richmond area. Warm and romantic ambiance that is always perfect for a date. The seafood selection is always extensive which is further enhanced by several nightly specials. Wide selection of raw oysters. If you are looking for well prepared seafood, that isn't deep fried, then The Hard Shell is what you are looking for. read more

My son recommended this place to me. I was pleasantly surprised. Cozy atmosphere and good wait staff. I had the best lobster chowder I have ever had (and I am from New England and own a lobster boat)!! The arugula salad was exceptionally nice too. Only reason for not giving 5 stars was that the shrimp pot stickers were disappointing. They were clearly handmade (big plus) and big and puffy, but the filling was almost non existent. Truly, a 2 1/2 long pot sticker with barely 1/4 teaspoon - yes teaspoon not tablespoon- of filling. The filling was so minimal I could not even taste it. The other dishes served looked great too and I will be back! read more

I dined here for the first time during Richmond Restaurant Week and was very excited to see how cute the outdoor seating is downtown. Overall service was very slow and plates were delivered at unsatisfactory temperatures. I began with the she crab soup which had great flavor but was luke warm. For my entree I had the duck which I found to be chewy, over cooked, and sliced to thick. I do eat duck often, so my expectations for this dish are probably stricter than the average customer. The accompaniments were nice and the asparagus was cooked perfectly. For dessert, the waitress suggested the Kentucky Derby pie since the items listed on the menu had been 86ed. By this point service had all but disappeared, we saw our assigned server very few times as others delivered our food and our water glasses ran empty. When the pie did arrive, the server apologized for the wait stating that the lag was due to the pie finishing in the oven. From my restaurant experience, that is untrue - we would never bake a fresh pie mid service, we would 86 it. Plus, upon inspection the whipped cream had separated, and the pie was edible hot but not oven hot - it had clearly been sitting under heat lamps. Out of curiosity I decided to go to the restroom since you walk past the kitchen and I counted 13 plates in the pass. That wouldn't have bothered me had they been for a large table, but they weren't. The plates ranged from salads to desserts and were clearly behind on pick up. I will eat here again as I feel I miss ordered and should have stuck to seafood instead. Plus the lag in service and poor food temperatures were clearly a FOH issue not a HOH issue which could have easily been a few call offs or over booking. However if I see the same issues again next time, I'd pass on trying it again. read more

Took a large group of 25 to The Hard Shell and the food and service was incredible! I would highly recommend this place for a larger group gathering. The fixed group menu including numerous options. read more

I brought my fiance here for a nice dinner during our drive back to Florida from the Northeast. We tried the oyster sampler. All were great, and we especially loved the Chesapeake oysters. She had the surf and turf. The filet was tender and tasty, and the lobster was sweet and the sauce was fantastic. I had the pan seared scallops and shrimp. I can honestly say that I wish this restaurant was located in our hometown. We would eat here every week. In addition to the excellent fare, our server JJ made excellent suggestions, and serve everything up with a big smile. read more

I am not a Fish and Oyster eater and I thought that this was one of the best places to eat in Richmond. I would recommend this to anyone.

Wow - I think this place has the best prices for seafood yet - and the night I dined there was a lobster special - it was great! $14.99 - I had a salty dog - not sure any restaurant in Richmond is used to making this one - but it was good - had a nice glass of chardonnay with the lobster - wait staff was excellent - As a single diner I was glad to have some conversation as they were decorating for Christmas - they had the best clams yet - I have been there twice and both good both times - no grit! and the mussels were good also - I am one to usually order a couple of appetizers instead of an entree so I can try a couple of things. So far, after a year of Richmond dining, I would say this place is where to go for seafood downtown - Not sure everyone knows that. read more

Great food. Bit of Asian in them. Went for our anniversary and desert was on the house!! Crab cake was one of the best in town!

Love, love, love the Hard Shell. We have been long time customers and are never disappointed. The staff is courteous and knowledgeable and do what they can to create a great experience for the customers from 2 tops to Parties. Highly recommend. Especially great specials on Sundays or Mondays. Great wines, too. read more

My husband and I ate there on Christmas Eve. My husband had the prime rib with lobster tail and I had the fillet mignon -- both were delicious, and I also had the creme brulee (yum!). The service was friendly and attentive without being obtrusive. The restaurant manager also made a point to visit our table (as she did with other parties in the restaurant). The brick walls and decor, in addition to the attitude of the people who work there, attributed to a warm comfortable atmosphere. read more

Our first choice to eat dinner out at when we don't have the kids! Very intimate/romantic environment and we always get amazing service! The food is excellent. We LOVE to start with the lobster dip and shecrab soup!! Our favorite entree is the lobster and filet. I would highly recommend this restaurant!! read more

I've heard some good things about this place, and it's a great location in Shockoe. I'm usually only in Richmond during the week, so maybe they focus on doing a great job on the weekends and skimp on the business traffic. Very overpriced, small portions, and outside of the shecrab soup, the food was subpar. The tuna was chewy, so the texture was off, so it didn't seem fresh. The bar service was really good the few times we've been. read more

Sunday brunch was awful. The kitchen could not handle the 8 tables that were there. Food came out after 45 minutes cold and undercooked. As mad as we were we could only laugh when an order of blueberry pancakes came out on a plate with one pancake. The waitress told us "we'll have more for you later." Paid the bill and ran. Worst dining experience ever! Not even worth one star!! read more

Went there early New Year's Eve for dinner. We received a gracious greeting and we were prompted seated at a window table. The service could not have been better. The portions were a bit small and even appeared smaller on the huge round plates. I had the salmon which was excellent, however the accompanying small scoop of mash potatoes tasted as if they were instant. My wife had the crab cakes which were nicely done, again the side left something to be desired. White rice with no taste, as if it was left over from a Chinese carry-out. We love the RRG's other restaurants and will give the Hard Shell another try. Being it was New Year's Eve read more

Great service, super food and craft beer. On street parking usually a miss but there is paid parking nearby.

Stopped at this place on our way back from VA Beach and was a bit disappointed. You think with the cool name they would have better selection of seafood. We ordered oysters for app. and my girlfriend ordered crab and they were both nothing to brag about. The crab was overcooked and barely had any crab inside the legs. I ordered a steak and it was overcooked. The server did take the initiative to get my meal prepared correctly but it did not have any seasoning; No salt or pepper. I would not visit this place again and it is overpriced for the quality of food you get. read more

First off let me state that if there was an rating for a -1 I would have chosen that. The experience and serviced I received was absolutely unacceptable. I called and made reservations for 8pm. I arrived and when I walked in there wasn't anyone at the door. A number of workers looked at me as if they had seen a ghost I am a black female by the way. No one came to me to ask if I needed assistance. 5 minutes later I decided to ask a worker can someone assist me please. He asked did I have a reservation I told him yes and he stated he would clean out a booth and come back to get me. He cleaned the booth and disappeared. As I'm waiting a white couple comes in and within seconds another man comes to them and says do you have reservations and they said yes he said right this way and he sat them at the booth they young man cleaned for me. I went behind them as he sat this couple and said I have now been waiting 10 minutes no one has seated me and this was the table that was cleaned for me. I asked for the manager and her apology was not sincere at all. She said we can sit you over in this corner if you'd like. I sat there just to wait until my date got there while he was looking for a parking space. I sat an observed how fast white couples were coming in the door and being seated within seconds. As my date arrived he can tell I was very upset when he came in. I told him how I was treated and I didn't want him spending his money in this establishment. As we sat there and debated a waiter never came to ask us if we were ready to order or anything. As we were getting up to leave with our coats in hand someone decided to approach us to ask if we needed anything and we said we were leaving. We went to Tobacco Co and had a wonderful dinner. This goes to show never under estimate someone by the color of their skin and think we don't have money to spend because we do. We are well educated successful citizens. I will never patronize this restaurant. I never write reviews but this needed to be told to advise other customers where they are spending their money. Thank you for reading this review. read more

My wife and I have lived in Richmond since 1998 - there are many fine restaurants here. We do not feel that The Hard Shell is one of them. Last night, our niece and nephew took us to dinner there. We had never been prior to this, but had viewed the menus online and, being familiar with both the offerings and their high prices, we were expecting the very best. We were very, very disappointed. We will not be returning to The Hard Shell. First of all, we grade the ambience as a B. Not bad, but classy restaurants usually do better. Secondly, we gave the service a grade of C. Our wait person did a good job of checking on us, but she was very abrupt and cold - no personality and lacking the warmth and courtesy to introduce herself. She never smiled and had that greasy spoon sort of pounce-on-the-table kind of approach. And now for the food, which I personally give a grade of F. As an appetizer, I ordered a bowl of the lobster chowder. The very best I can say about it is that it was luke warm and bland. I kept salting it for at least a bit of flavor. The few lobster chunks were almost completely tasteless. And it was SO full of potatoes that I would have thought it should have been called "Potato Chowder (with a slight hint of Lobster). Horrible stuff. For my entrée, I ordered the Cast Iron Rib Eye, done medium rare. When the steak came, it was huge, almost completely covering the potatoes and asparagus that came with it - so there was no presentation worth mentioning. Everything was just slightly above luke warmth. The steak was done rare, not medium rare - but I decided to eat it anyway, as sometimes I like steaks done rare. Half the steak was almost impossible to chew - full of gristle. The entire steak had some occasional gloppy chunks of viscous fat that would coat the inside of my mouth as if I had just sipped from a glass of warm blubber. The potatoes and asparagus were bland - the asparagus had just a tiny bit of texture. read more