Great location, parking across the street, food was awesome, ambience of the place is great and they have a good drinks menu. We ate a combo of snow, dungenous and lobster and it was all delicious! Staff were really attentive and friendly read more

Nice restaurant with a good bar area for single diner. Menu is seafood forward but does off a good range of other dishes. Rockfish is always one of my favorites. Service is always friendly. read more

The atmosphere is very welcoming. Our server Taylor did a great job at handling all 8 of us with no problem as she was kind and attentive throughout our meal. I compliment the menu for confusing me with so many great choices. They don't have too many items on the menu, there just wasn't anything listed that I didn't want to try. Looking around at my family's meals, everything seemed of high quality and everyone was pleased. Lobster dip: the dip itself is creamy and the pita chips are buttery with a light crisp. Fried Calamari: the sweet chili sauce goes well with the batter. Bouillabaisse: the warm flavor of the tomato sauce brought out the freshness of the shrimp, crab, mussels, oysters, and potatoes. It was very fulfilling with the right portion and balance of the different ingredients. read more

The Hard Shell - Bouillabaisse: mussels, oysters, shrimp, crab, potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This may be my new favorite restaurant and I don't even eat seafood! I chose this restaurant because my husband was craving seafood for New Year's Eve and it had non-seafood/gluten free options for me. The restaurant could be perfect for a romantic date night but also for a more casual nice dinner. We ordered a salad to start and my husband also got mussels. We each got a cocktail since they had a full bar and they were delicious! I chose a steak with fries and it was amazing! I would absolutely eat that steak once a week or more! The service was good and it was a perfect date note with my husband. We will be back! read more

We went to The Hard Shell few times while we were in Richmond on business trip. Everything was top notch, great atmosphere. I especially loved all the appetizers- mussels, scallops, arugula salad, oysters, sashimi. Steak and lobster was also amazing! Alex and all stuff were professional and friendly. Definitely will be back if I'm in Richmond. read more

See all

So not worth the money. They have no culinary acumen. The skills of the kitchen are very weak. They do shuck oysters well. BUT SO I. Only do that, they'll be fine.NO GO!!!!! read more

Came here on Wednesday night during restaurant week. I was impressed with the atmosphere here right away - clean and sharp. Good for large parties or just 1 or 2 people. My starter was the she crab soup, entree was the steamed seafood (shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels, corn, potatoes), and dessert was the key lime pie. I was served a bread basket before anything came out. I usually wouldn't write about that, but it was exceptional. The bread chips with seeds on top were probably the best tasting thing I've ever had out of a bread basket. The regular bread was also warm and fluffy. The soup was great. When it came out I thought it looked a little creamy, but it was perfect. I liked how it was topped with crab to add a little extra meat to it. The entree was fantastic. I love shellfish and this was a great blend. Everything I ate was delicious and don't have anything bad to say about any part of the dish. My favorite was the clams. The potatoes had a great seasoning and couldn't get enough of them either. The key lime pie was actually my favorite part of the meal; it was light and tart and capped everything off perfectly. This was a great meal and I would definitely recommend this location. The regular menu seemed a little pricey, but comes with the territory of downtown / seafood. I would return, but I don't frequent this area of Richmond often. I'm glad they had a restaurant week deal that encouraged me to come out and try it. read more

See all

Food was great, drinks was delicious, and the bartender was awesome. Loved the ambience, definitely a spot to take a significant other or a work buddy for after work drinks. Will be visiting again! read more

The Hard Shell - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

One of Richmond's best. In the two+ years that I've been dining out in Richmond, my recent experience at The Hard Shell was the best I've had. The service was outstanding and the food was delicious. Cocktails were very good. We had oysters and they were also delicious. One of the few, possibly the first, restaurant in Richmond that I'd like to visit again. Highly recommend. read more

The Hard Shell is a true gem in heart Richmond. Its rustic exterior and cozy dining space are reminiscent of a maritime tavern. We have visited countless times and it is clear to see that the owners and staff place a heavy emphasis on high quality cuisine, restaurant experience consistency and servitude. The food is crafted with excellence and the prices are incredibly reasonable. I recommend visiting during restaurant week, for exquisitely plated dishes and exclusive menu items. read more

Food was very high quality with low imperfections coming from the preparation. Steak was cooked to the desired amount and the service was frequent. Worthy Richmond Spot read more

See all

Great service, thank you, Alex. The food was amazing. I had the Mahi blackened and my husband had the shrimp & scallops. We recommend these entrees. Super presentation, perfect temperature, and very tasty. Kudos to the chef. read more

Great food and ambience. Ordered some oysters and scallops. Portions of oysters are great. But portions of scallops could see some improvement. read more

The Hard Shell - Seared Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Overall a decent restaurant but it needs more oversight of operations. The service was good but not outstanding (yeah I know , tough to find help... not my problem). My crab cakes were very good although on the smaller side. My wife had the rock fish and it was OK but definitely not fresh. I travel all over and eat out frequently so I'm being generous with a 4 star but I like the atmosphere and feel it has potential to be great but it will not be if management does not work with the staff. read more

Where to begin? My husband and I decided we wanted to try somewhere new for our anniversary and a co worker mentioned the Hard Shell, after some research and looking at their menu, I decided to go ahead and make a reservation, and it asked if this was a special occasion- I checked "anniversary". This was our first "date night" in MONTHS since we just had a baby, so I was definitely looking forward to being kid free for a few hours and getting out of my "mom clothes". Upon arrival, we were seated outside.. OK great. Jessy(?) our server promptly took our drink order- I ordered a bottle of Merlot while my husband got a beer. After delivering our drinks, Jessy rushes us to get our appetizer, he was also anxious to get our dinner order- I politely asked him if we could have a few more minutes. For starters, I saw some of y'all got bread? Not sure if that had to be asked for or what, but we didn't get any. We also weren't told the specials for the day were (but we overheard other severs telling their customers). Moving on, our food, the appetizer we chose was the lobster dip, which was great. Our entrees include the filet mingon and the NY strip with lump crab meat. The food itself was overall very good, minus on over cooked steak. My overall complaint was being rushed, for the amount of money you spend there, you want to take your time to enjoy it, and we definitely didn't get to experience that. We were out within a hour, when we had planned to be there for a lot longer. So, yes, I feel cheated. $140 later, plus parking fees, and the money I had to pay a babysitter. My anniversary was far from great as for our night out. We won't be dining here again, at least not for our "date nights". read more

Outstanding. Everything I had was so thoughtfully done. The baked clam appetizer with bacon. Boom! The shrimp and scallops with a poke vibe (only better.) if you're looking for a dinner experience this is your spot! read more

The ambiance was nice and the manager was very courtesy and helpful. There was a small hiccup that wasn't that serious to me that he took care of without blinking which was much appreciated. Had the lobster and crab cake and it was delicious. Customer service A1 food even greater read more

See all

So I have been to the Hard Shell Downtown a handful of times and really enjoy it. I've been the most more recently, as it is near to my job. I immediately love the aesthetics of the place. It has a clean and inviting look. Every time I have been here, the service has always been great and the food is delish! The last time I was there was for lunch. We ordered the Parmesan Truffle Fries with horseradish aioli - those were so yummy that I really didn't want to share with my friends! For my entree, I really had a hard time choosing, but decided to go with the Cajun Chicken Wrap with their house cut fries (The next time I went, I got it again with a lovely salad). The wrap was very flavorful, I was pleasantly surprised! I definitely cleaned my plate! And for dessert, I had a piece of carrot cake, my favorite. I was actually pleased that it was this gigantic piece like most places serve, however, the price wasn't any cheaper lol I am really wanting to go back to on Sunday for their crab leg special. That's what I had the first time I went there several years ago. I love crab legs and from what I remembered, I really enjoyed them here. Definitely recommend the Hard Shell Downtown! read more

See all

And just like that, the Hard Shell is outstanding, again, on all fronts-excellent service, best fried oysters in town in a great setting-in or out!! Tonight was a lovely night to enjoy delicious food in an outdoor setting!! Can depend on the same service inside and out!! Still my one and only for fried oysters!! Thank you guys!!!! read more

Nothing out of the ordinary. Just a simple ordinary restaurant. Mahi mahi fish entree was totally overcooked. I was not a fan of the ambiance or the food as such. Thanks. read more

First time and everything was good. The staff/waiter, food and ambiance were great! I recommend

This is my favorite seafood restaurant in Richmond. Everything is consistently delicious. My favorite app is the fried oysters and my favorite entree is the hard shell pasta. It's a great way to get all the seafood in one delicious dish. There is a patio so you can choose to sit outside when the weather is nice. The wait staff is always friendly and attentive. read more

The Hard Shell - Hard shell pasta - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I usually love the Hard Shell, but during my most recent visit..it was a lot to take in. I love the atmosphere and feel of this restaurant. It's a cute, romantic spot downtown, not too big. I probably wouldn't recommend going during peak times or on holidays. They don't seem to have a full staff and when there are large parties it can get pretty loud. This was disappointing because I could barely have a decent conversation without having to almost yell or ask "huh" a bunch of times. Normally I enjoy the food as far as the seafood, but this time I wanted to switch things up and try their steak. The steak was okay, but not my favorite. Next time I will stick with just seafood. read more

The Hard Shell - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Went for Valentines day food was great, atmosphere was relaxing as well. I had pictures but don't know what happened. read more

The Hard Shell - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Service was great! Emily was my server and she was on it!! Food was delicious I ate every single bite. Ambiance was on point too. Definitely will be coming back. Also my boyfriend is vegan and they were able to whip him up a delicious pasta. read more

See all

We went here for a birthday dinner last nights Food was amazing and our server was fantastic. Even our picky eaters enjoyed their meal.

I live in New York and stopped in Richmond one night on our way to Florida. This restaurant is right there near my hotel so went to give it a shot. Wasn't expecting much but wow, this restaurant really impressed me! We ordered Arugula salad and oysters for appetizer, and crab cake, hard shell pasta and roasted rockfish for entree. Also ordered some bread as saw in other reviews the bread is good. Everything came out perfect! Especially the crab cake and rockfish. Crunchy on the outside and so juicy and tender on the inside. One of the best I've ever had! Even all the sides were so delicious - from Brussels spouts to corn to mashed potato. And the bread was hot and fresh from the oven! Service was also really good. Thank you for an amazing meal! read more

See all

Great cute little spot downtown! I came here for the first time on Wednesday. I'm a big fan of seafood, so I had to try this place. My waiter was Tim, and he was great! He told us the specials that night and I decided to try it out. I got the lamb & lobster special which came with mashed potatoes, asparagus and a demi-glaze type sauce. Everything was so tasty and cooked perfectly!! I also ordered the imperial margarita and wow, that drink was delicious! The manager also stopped by my table; Kirstin. She asked how everything was and made sure we were having a great experience. She was wonderful!! Overall, the staff and managers were great and the food was delicious. I definitely want to come back and try more stuff off the menu. I highly recommend coming to this place! read more

The Hard Shell - Imperial margarita - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

Pretty expensive mediocre food. Dined here at 9pm on a Friday night and the place was relatively empty. There was only one other party dining inside. Service was ok. The appetizers came out fast but the entrees took awhile to come out. I don't mind waiting if it's for good food. I won't knock on the bread too much since it was free but it was not even warm when brought to the table. The fried calamari was halfway decent as the breading was half mushy half crunchy. It came with a chipotle sauce as well as a sweet and sour sauce. I ordered the blackened mahi mahi and was underwhelmed. For $20.95 I received a small, pitiful, bland piece of mahi mahi. I doused it in tabasco sauce. It was perfectly cooked though. The coconut rice that it came with was mushy. I also got to try the "lobster chowder" which was actually crawfish chowder that only came with a few pieces of crawfish. Decent flavor, though. read more

See all

Very disappointing I ordered mahi-mahi blackened. It came with spinach and sticky rice sticky rice. Unfortunately to my mahi is hard on herbal lack of flavoring, Totally disappointing food is horrible. Will not recommend nor will I revisit the establishment. Totally disappointing. read more

Amazing foot and atmosphere! My table got the calamari for an appetizer, and we also got the filet mignon, fried oysters, and ribs as entrees. I paired my steak with the cab sauv, also delicious. They were all flavorful and well priced. We topped it off with the chocolate truffle tart with raspberry sauce. 10/10 all around! read more

The Hard Shell - 6 Oz. Filet Mignon Entree - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Hmmm... Yelp, normally we pretty much agree with our ratings. But 3 Stars? Of course I honor everyone's opinion, but the meal that I had with my fiancee and her parents was at least a 4. My personal experience and meal is why I give it a 5, so let's take a look. --Food: So we ordered a wide spread of things. 2 Appetizers, 3 Main Dishes, 1 Salad, and 2 Desserts. Amongst our items included Shoestring Fries with Chipotle Aioli, Glazed Ribs with Onions, Simply Grilled Salmon with Dill Creme Fraiche sauce, Seafood Pasta, Sesame Tuna with Asian Vegetables, a specialty salad, a Chocolate Chip Brownie with ice cream, and a Chocolate Pecan pie slice. They also give french bread as well as sesame crackers. I didn't sample my dinner party's items so I can only comment on my own. (But I did submit them to letting me take photos of their food, hah. I apologize for using flash in my photos which is normally a big no-no, but it was too dark). - French Fries: Oh man. I'm a huge fan of fries. I prefer thin and / or crispy fries, and these fries are fantastic. They are noticeably salty, but they are seasoned so deliciously. The chipotle aioli is also fantastic. Quite honestly they may have been some of the most delicious fries I've ever had. - Tuna: Cooked to a medium well deliciousness and covered in sesame seeds, this was really quite a treat. The rice ball in the middle of the plate combined well with the pan fried / steamed vegetables. The presentation was very nice and everything seemed to go well with the other components. I felt that nothing was simply a garnish, and even the pickled ginger which normally cleanses the palette tasted appropriate mid-dish. I would get this dish again. --Cost: It's a more upscale restaurant. Entrees cost anywhere from $20 to $40 with some of the Lobster and Steak combos being in the $50 range. I don't feel I was shorted on food for the price, but it is a bit costly. They do have some specials, which seemed like they featured some of the main menu items for 10% - 20% off. --Atmosphere: The lighting is nice and the layout is small but intimate. There is a parking lot across the street, so that's nice. It is a bit loud with the TVs going (although they are quiet) and most of the tables filled, but not too loud that we couldn't hear eachother. --Service: Every staff member was cheery and informative. The wait wasn't extreme, especially if they're cooking and preparing each dish. My guess is that given the relatively small size of the dining area, there is a relatively small amount of chefs. No complaints. --Overall: An overall 3 star rating of The Hard Shell honestly confuses me a bit. I guess I can understand it if the main complaint is lack of food as the plates aren't towering with food, but in my opinion the portioning is appropriate. The reviews mentioning subpar food may come to a difference of taste opinion, or perhaps an off night. My experience tonight here was at least a 4.5 and the rest of my dining party enjoyed their meals. The Hard Shell is somewhere I'd definitely go to again on a special occasion. If and when I return if I feel that the food falls short I will certainly update this review, but for now I'm giving The Hard Shell my full approval. read more

See all

One of the worst experiences. Came here for restaurant week with some friends after a stressful week, excited. Service: Our server came to us and did not introduce his name. Then we found a spider on our table, and told him about it. He PICKED IT UP WITH HIS FINGERS PINCHING IT, and put his hand on our bread basket. Talk about disgusting. Did not apologize about it until after he came back. When he did come back to wipe the table, he said, "Sorry you guys had to go through that, spiders are serious business". We didn't need a smart aleck response to that. Overall, rude service. Food: Qualify is awful. My pan seared salmon was not seared. Just pretty much baked with a glaze. I would have rather had RED LOBSTER. all the food was overcooked and dry. The lobster was a bit undercooked. Creme brûlée was no good. The top was nooooot crunchy. It wasn't creme brûlée at all. More like pudding. Atmosphere is pretty loud, not so much fine dining at all. Would definitely not come back again. Expected better service for the price range of this place. Keep in mind, I don't normally write bad reviews. More good than bad if anything. read more

The Hard Shell - Pan seared salmon: overcooked and dry. - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Allow me to set the mood; It was an overcast and rainy evening...However; Mr. RVA didn't allow that to keep him in his humble abode. I casted off in search of the hidden treasure, and by God, I found it! Candles adorned the tables in this cozy, yet chic spot. Business professionals conversed about their latest ventures as "Invierno," by Brother Andy Caldwell, played in the backdrop. This cool locale garnered Best Seafood from both Style & Richmond Magazine. The funny thing is, we've all probably passed this 1995-established restaurant on the way to our late night extravaganzas, in the Shockoe Slip; and never truly paid attention. Well, Ladies and Gentlemen of Discovering RVA, let's open this treasure chest together, The Hard Shell. . Appetizer 1- Tuna Tartare- Chunks of sushi grade tuna atop an artistic spread of ponzu, creme fraiche, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. . Amazingly Refreshing! . Appetizer 2- Oven Roasted Oysters- Chesapeake Bay Oysters roasted with garlic, butter, parmesan & herbs, served with lemon quarters. . Entree- Stuffed Main Lobster- Lobster in a half Shell stuffed with a lump crab cake, accompanied by a potato croquette with hints of horseradish, grilled asparagus, & accented by the house tartar sauce. . Wine Pairing- a glass of Pinot Grigio, King Estate, Acrobat, OR . Krystal- I should call you "Ms. All Around The U.S." RVA certainly welcomes you and I look forward to seeing you place your mark on the city. Thank you for your hospitality, service, recommendations and conversation. Cheers to you. . Gentlemen's Tip- Any man of decent character already knows how to treat a woman and the simplest rules of common courtesy. These choices all come to us naturally. A gentleman doesn't need a reminder to do the right thing; he walks tall, sure of both his words and actions. . #discoveringrva . #804 #rva #richmond #richmondva #rvadine #rvaeats #Rvafood #lifestlye #foodies #foodshare #foodstagram #foodiesofinstagram #yummy #foodblog #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpost #foodography #delicious #delish #foodpic #eating #foodandwine #foods #foodie #eeeeeats #foodiegram #igfood #forkyeah read more

See all

It's a beautiful day in Richmond and we have found this excellent restaurant on the internet for lunch. The restaurant is collated in the new part of the city, right next to the James River with the nearby parking area. The are a few 2-hour free parking right in front of the restaurant. It is a very nicely decorated and cozy restaurant. The foods and services are great as well. We had the Pan Roasted Mussels for appetizer, and for the main courses, the Angus Burger, the Blacken Tuna Sandwich and the Cajun Chicken Wrap. They were all very goods and went well with the Santa Julia Malbec. Highly recommended. read more

See all

One can't say enough about how great this place is service was on point food was simply amazing we sat outside and enjoyed people watching as we ate and drank. We visit Richmond as a girls trip about every 4 months this place will always be a stop for us. Go enjoy the food and drinks. Happy hour is a plus too. Wanna sit at the bar on our next visit. Great place with a great vibe. read more

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and while we were satisfied with the ambiance and service, we found the food so-so for the price point. Formal yet not stuffy, small yet not cramped. It's a great date spot. We ordered each of the specials (wahoo fish and porterhouse steak). Both were pretty unremarkable- wahoo was pretty bland and steak was not as tender as we would've liked for the price. I will say- the scallop appetizer was VERY good. We should have ordered this as an entree. Won't rule out coming back (seems like HH would be a good choice), but will stick to seafood staples on the next visit. read more

The food, the service and the ambience was outstanding. My boyfriend and I actually went two nights in a row so we could taste more food and drinks from this place! read more

Solid 3 stars. Great atmosphere, friendly service, good food, but nothing extraordinary. We came here on New Year's Eve. We started with lovely apricot old-fashioned cocktails while we perused the menu. Here is the rundown on the food. Appetizers: Shishito peppers - very generous portion and mildly spicy peppers. Good but would have been great with more char and some finishing salt. Calamari - again, very generous portion with lots of tender "rings". A bit heavy on breading but quite tasty. Great tartar and Asian inspired sauces for dipping. Entrees: Filet mignon and lobster - excellent. Perfectly cooked medium rare steak with generous lobster tail. Solid mashed potatoes underneath. Asparagus was plain and just ok. Lobster stuffed with crab - OK. The lobster was great but the crab meat stuffing was runny and a bit strong. The potato croquette on the side was divine. Crispy outside and creamy, well-seasoned inside. Broccolini on the side was fine. Ribeye - good. The steak was perfectly cooked medium rare with an excellent herb butter. Not as tender as some ribeyes but for the price nicely done. Brussels sprouts- tasty but were served lukewarm. We tried the much-touted key lime pie and were disappointed. Tasted like cheesecake. Our waiter said others commented the same recently. Maybe a change in recipe? He was kind enough to take off the bill although we did not ask. The only other consideration was the kitchen rushed the entrees. They came right as we finished appetizers. We noticed this with other tables as well. Maybe it was due to New Years Eve rush. Bottom line is we had a very enjoyable dinner and had none of the service issues other reviews cited. The food is standard seafood/steaks. read more

In town visiting and looking for a good seafood spot near my hotel. Really nice atmosphere... laid back. Service was excellent. The food was......... good. Crab dip though was a no go, tasted like cream cheese no crab. Would I come back... iono maybe. read more

See all