We had dinner at the Shell last week. It was a random walk in for us. We ordered the Mediterranean Branzino, Chilean Seabass, Seared Scallops and Sizzling Garlic Shrimp, Goat Cheese Salad. The food was extraordinarily delicious. The fish were cooked to perfection. The tastes of all the food was balanced (no excessive sauces etc). All four of us had a great culinary experience. We had Pear Tartlet, Affogato and the Shell Lava Cake for desert and all of it was done just right. Considering this is my first Yelp review ever, take my word for it and try out The Shell at 635 Amsterdam Ave. New York (just in case there are other restaurants with this name). read more

From the friendliness of the entire staff to the attention to all details, Everything was great. Incredible food and outstanding service!! Can't wait to come here again on my next trip to NYC. read more

There's genuine appeal here. It's a comfortable, easygoing place in a great neighborhood, and the kitchen shows real promise -- the pasta was cooked properly al dente, and the drinks are reasonably priced without the markup you'd expect from a spot trying this hard to impress. The wait staff was attentive and friendly. The seafood, though, needs some attention. The shrimp cocktail was a touch rubbery, the seared scallops came out a bit small and overcooked, and the Spanish octopus had the same issue. It's an easy fix -- these are delicate proteins that just need a lighter hand and careful timing. Get that right, and the rest of the menu could really shine. For the neighborhood, the price point runs a little high given where the food currently lands, but there's a solid foundation to build on. Worth keeping an eye on as they find their footing. read more

What a great local find. Everything was capably prepared. The Tuna Tartare was gorgeous. My wife's Branzino was a little bit overcooked for our taste. It was me ordering a second flight of oysters that probably threw the kitchen's timing off. Pricing is fair for the cost of ingredients. read more

SO and I were in the neighborhood and stopped here for dinner. The establishment is very spacious and they also have outside seating when the weather allows. We arrived during happy hour and ordered a few drinks along with a dozen oysters...the drinks were cold and the oysters were fresh. We also ordered the chef's special salad and a seafood soup (special) for appetizers...both were great starters. For entrees, we shared the crab cake and the fish and chips both of which were very tasty. Bottom line, the food and service were excellent. read more

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We were both in a seafood state of mind so we decided to try this restaurant. Our meal was outstanding! We started with 1/2 dozen Shell Oysters which were fresh and flavorful! I could have shared another 1/2 dozen but we decided to share the Spanish octopus instead. It was delicious but we thought a little small. It came w/ some creamy polenta which complimented the dish perfectly. For our entrees, my husband went with the Squid Ink Linguini and Mixed Seafood which had nice portions of calamari, garlic shrimp, little neck clams and P.E.I. mussels. I went with the Seafood Spanish Paella w/ garlic shrimp, P.E.I. mussels, little neck clams and soffritto calasparra rice. Both were delicious but I think he had the winning dish. The service was fantastic. Music wasn't too loud and there's outside seating. We will definitely be coming back! read more

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We had my sister's and niece's milestone birthday (50th & 21st) celebration at The Shell Restaurant. What a great choice!! From the moment we arrived the staff made us feel incredibly welcome and went above and beyond to make the evening special. The atmosphere was vibrant, yet elegant, perfect for a family and friends celebration in NYC. Every dish was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, and the service was attentive without ever feeling rushed. They gave us all the space we needed for our huge party and handled our larger group seamlessly and made both birthday guests feel truly celebrated. A special thank you to the team - specially to the owner, Val, who was great to deal with during the planning of this birthday dinner, Rangu, who is also the owner AND an awesome Bartender, and to Anna and Christian who were great and attentive servers! If you're looking for a restaurant in NYC for a special occasion, this place is a gem - great food, drinks, ambiance, & service!! Highly recommend! read more

This pan roasted chicken might've been my favorite meal on my week long trip I'll start there. No wait to sit down on a Thursday night at 9pm only 1 other person in there at this time at the bar watching the game Is it an exaggeration to say this chicken was the best thing i tasted this week? Garbanzo beans and spinach i didn't know were the perfect pairings to it. Laker game on in the background even better for me to glance at. Customer service was great Margaritas served that everyone complimented and the brussel sprouts pretty good too Coming back next time I'm in town read more

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We have never been to the shell before and were pleasantly surprised with how good everything was. My parents don't eat shellfish or meat so they were concerned about eating here but there was a lot they could eat. I had the sexy UWS lady solely because of the name. It was not too sweet, not too strong, cold. The perfect cocktail to sit outside and enjoy! Then for salad I shared the goat cheese which had all my favorite things in it. For the main dish I got the risotto. It did take a long time for our food to come, 30 mins to be exact. But we all enjoyed our mains very much. Would definitely come eat here again! read more

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Right after I graduated from NYU my parents took me to The Shell Restaurant to meet my grandma and grandpa who were in the neighborhood. I didn't order a lot though my family let me try what they were eating. I loved the oysters. There was a great deal. The oysters were delicious and I couldn't believe that they weren't expensive although it might have been happy hour prices. The french fries were really good too and I loved that I could bring my dog to the outdoor seating area. The restaurant is clean, the people who work there are also really nice, and the prices are great. If the prices are still the same I could see myself ordering up to thirty oysters though I could see how that might make someone sick. I'm happy that I know someone who lives close by so that I could easily come here again or even walk here. The location is great for a restaurant on the upper west side and the restaurant seems to be doing pretty well! read more

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Food 9/10 service 10/10 ambiance 10/10 it's so cozy. Check out this spot at least once a week. It's so worth it! Try their pre fix $55 for an app and entree w| dessert read more

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Came here for a quick dinner with my family and was pleasantly surprised. The food and cocktails were great and the service was extremely attentive. We probably tried everything on the menu considering it was a big group, standouts to me were the crab cake, the mussels, and the garlic shrimp. I ended up having a shrimp and scallop risotto special which was very good and VERY filling. Also to note, the spicy sauce they give with complimentary bread was so good haha. Great spot for a casual bite in the neighborhood, especially if you're in the mood for seafood. read more

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cute informal place with nice outside patio on upper Amsterdam. Excellent seafood. Calamari a la plancha grilled and seasoned perfectly. The signature paella was also delicious; rice was wonderfully crispy at the pan. And if you order the paella for two, it comes with a bottle of wine. And a lovely helpful staff. We're headed back. read more

I came to The Shell with my fiancé and two friends for a dinner on a Wednesday at 6pm. We made a reservation in advance which honestly may not have been necessary for a dinner so early in the night. However by 7:30pm the place was packed so it may be worth making a reservation to guarantee a table without waiting. I had never been to this place but had heard about it from a friend who really liked their happy hour. We decided to try it, especially because of their fantastic NYC Restaurant Week deal. This is such a cute little spot that gives cozy neighborhood spot vibes. We were greeted so warmly, they made us feel like we were regulars. The service was truly spectacular-- the waiters were so attentive of all our needs and made themselves available to ensure we were happy. They had their regular menu but I thought the NYC Restaurant Week deal was truly top notch: $45 for a generously sized appetizer, an entree and dessert? Unbeatable! I tried: - calamari a la plancha: very good app! The calamari was cooked perfectly, it was super tender. The flavor was amazing, with the right level of seasoning. It came over a parsley oil that complimented the umami flavors of the dish well. My fiancé tried the mussels and really loved them! - Bronzino: another very amazing dish! The flavors with the olives, the capers, and tomato sauce had the perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and acidic. This came over a bed of black rice with Parmesan that had the nicest earthy flavor and chewiest, hearty texture. Loved this dish! Felt very filling and substantial. - chocolate lava cake: delicious, rich chocolate flavor! Came with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Unfortunately, the cake was too overdone so it was more like a brownie as opposed to a lava cake but I would come back to give it another chance because I can only imagine how good it is when it's a lava cake! - tiramisu: this was so light, and had the perfect level of sweetness. Really enjoyed it! My fiancé ordered this but I ended up eating most of it since I liked it so much and it felt so light at the same time. Overall, I loved this place. I thought the service was excellent and memorable making this restaurant stand out to me from the places I've been to lately. The food was also amazing. The quality of ingredients was exceptional, the seafood felt so fresh and was perfectly seasoned. The restaurant was clean and spacious-- with a very cozy, and relaxed feel that makes it perfect for any occasion: from a first date, to a spontaneous Happy Hour walk-in after work. Their deals are also amazing! This was a hidden gem and I'm so happy I found it. Will definitely be coming back in the near future. Highly recommend read more

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The food and service was wonderful at this neighborhood eatery! I sometimes forget the plethora of restaurants that are on Amsterdam... always room to explore. The setting was calm; good for groups and singles alike. There's a full bar with seating and a good view of outside from almost every seat. The restaurant week menu was nice too. I will definitely return. The chili oil and fresh bread was a highlight of my dining experience. read more

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Cuisine: 4 Service: 7 Decor: 6 Value: 3 Overall: 4 Honestly, after reading all the positive reviews, I thought this was going to be a hidden gem. Italian is one of my favorite cuisine types and I absolutely adore all forms of seafood. However, this meal turned out to be a very average meal, if not a total disappointment. Let me first start by saying that pictures can be deceiving, even my own. Based on what I saw online, I thought that the prices were good for what you get. Unfortunately, portions are smaller than you think because the close ups paints a false image. Most seafood were tiny, even the jumbo shrimp was normal sized. Here is a list of all the dishes we tried. P.E.I Mussels (1/10) - Just had this dish the other day where the mussels were plump and juicy. These were not the same quality. Tiny and shriveled up like they were overcooked. Sauce was nothing special. Terrible. Valeciana Clams (3/10) - Extremely salty! Overcooked again. You know this for a fact when most of the clams have already fallen out of the shells and landed in the sauce. This should not happen in a seafood restaurant. The Shell Caesar (5/10) - An average Caesar salad. Slightly overdressed and a bit too salty. Puglia's Burrata (7/10) - One of the better dishes of the night. Creamy cheese with fresh firm tomato and basil works so well with balsamic vinegar. Citrus Crusted Chilean Seabass (8/10) - Hard to screw up this one since the fish is so delicious on its own. I wouldn't called the brushed on sauce as a citrus crust though. Best item of the night for sure. Seafood Spanish Paella (1/10) - Wow! The rice was soggy and mushy as hell. Nothing like what a paella should be. Once again, why are the clams and mussels so tiny and all shriveled up? Shrimps were small and dry too. Squid Ink Linguini & Mixed Seafood (6/10) - Flavor of the sauce was very good, as expected from all the seafood. However, the tiny seafood was just again the low point. Fresh Tagliatelle & Wild Mushroom (3/10) - Pasta was not al dente and broke easily. Mushrooms were cut into minuscule pieces. Maybe they just like things small. Flavor was forgettable since I was focused on the sad texture. Maine Lobster Ravioli (5/10) - There was more hype for this dish than any other. Therefore, the fall is greater due to expectations. The ravioli were blah, and the tiny chunks of lobster were overcooked, while the sauce was meh too. Risotto w/ Jumbo Prawns & Scallops (7/10) - One of the specials of the night and better item we tasted. The truffle saffron sauce was quite delicious, while the rice was only slightly undercooked. I wouldn't call the seafood jumbo by any means, but they were "huge" compared to others. I don't like to write bad reviews, but I also don't want to sugarcoat anything when it's my honest opinion. The service is fine, and the restaurant looked okay. Lots of outdoor seating is actually very nice, but we dined in due to the rain. Unfortunately, I came for the food and it just fell very short of a near perfect Yelp rating. read more

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Stumbled upon such a gem during my short time in the UWS! My parents and I just wanted a nice dinner before we headed back home, and I saw this place with good ratings on Yelp. I didn't expect much but WOW!! We ordered the Spanish octopus, squid ink pasta with mixed seafood, and the lobster ravioli. We walked in without reservations so the three of us sat at the bar. Every dish. SO DELICIOUS!!! Spanish octopus is a great shareable dish. The cook on it was really good. Not too rubbery and well seasoned. The squid ink pasta with mixed seafood was my mom's absolute favorite - varied assortment of seafood and very generous with the portion size of it! The pasta was cooked well and it all paired really well together. The sauce was also amazing with the complimentary bread. My personal favorite was the lobster ravioli - not too salty, nice chunks of lobster on top and the sauce was divine! Service was also so friendly and welcoming ! Would return! read more

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Exceptional, outstanding, predictable and always satisfying. Can't wait to return. Love it !! read more

Food was absolutely phenomenal! Staff was friendly and the vibes were so nice. Will definitely be coming again for dinner service! read more

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Food and service were great. Drinks were strong and on point. Menu was what you'd expect. Nice addition to that area for a seafood restaurant. read more

My new favorite UWS restaurant and best service I've ever experienced! Everything about this restaurant was amazing and I haven't stopped raving about them to friends and family. Sizzling garlic shrimp so flavorful yet a nice light appetizer. Sea Bass and seafood paella - fresh seafood, nothing overcooked and everything was packed with flavor. Pear tartlet was a great way to end dinner and was delicious. Can't wait to return when outdoor seating is available. read more

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What a great surprise! Dinner at The Shell tonight was excellent from start to finish. The Caesar salad was crisp and fresh, the seared tuna beautifully done, and the pappardelle with shrimp rich and perfectly balanced. Wrapped it up with a creamy tiramisu that was just right. Great service and a warm, modern vibe -- will definitely be back. read more

Was average food and service. Pictures look way better than what you experience. I think there are better options for the price read more

My mother is very hard to please - she likes things a certain way and the servers at the shell gave her everything she wanted and more ! Her salmon was cooked perfectly and she has been begging me to go back ever since. I had a pasta dish and it was also delicious. It was a little noisy but there was a large party there. They also do great specials that we have to go back and try ! read more

Visited during happy hour and was pleasantly surprised by this local neighborhood spot. There was also ample seating in the restaurant and it was fairly empty for a weekend. My small party tried the following items: - The Shell Oysters: The oysters were fairly large sized, with decent flavor, and not gritty. While I am not the biggest oyster person, these definitely satisfy the craving. - Chef's Special Salad: A lot of veggies, but only about half a filet of salmon. The salmon was well cooked, but just wish the portion was a bit larger. - Maine Lobster Ravioli: The highlight of this meal! The ravioli was cooked perfectly, with a soft, creamy interior and chewy exterior. The sauce was not overwhelmingly heavy and went well with the ravioli. - Butterfly Shrimp: This was a very standard small bite style appetizer sized dish. The shrimp batter was light and crispy (maybe a little more fried than I would have preferred), but I would not say this is a must order here. Our experience was solid and the food was good overall. Staff were friendly and attentive throughout the meal. read more

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Good service, nice staff and ambience. I am going there again tonite for the 3rd time, this time bringing my 2 dogs which the receptionist welcomed when I asked if I could bring them and sit on their patio. She even offered on her own that if it rained they would make sure we got an umbrella to sit under! read more

Came here for happy hour and was pleasantly surprised at the items on the happy hour menu. We had oysters and clams. The draft beer selection was small but good. Service was also very good. read more

The Shell Restaurant - Homemade Tiramisu - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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Just came for restaurant week with a friend. The staff here are absolutely lovely. Rangu, behind the bar. Jorge and Christian on the floor. Even the gentleman and lady by the host stand were so kind and welcoming. Everyone was so accommodating and attentive during our visit. We dined on the patio because the weather was quite nice. Food here is immaculate -- the calamari super tender. Branzino was so fresh and delicious. Drinks were amazing too. Saw they had a happy hour so definitely hoping to catch that in the near future. read more

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The food here is fabulous! I had the risotto for dinner and pecan pie for dessert. Delicious! Jose was a wonderful waiter. Super attendant to us. read more

I HIGHLY recommend The Shell for the friendly, welcoming service from everyone, adult ambiance and decor and just amazing food. My spouse and I celebrated our anniversary dinner here and couldn't believe the value and portions for the price! The oysters from the Happy Hour menu were delicious and big. We couldn't pass up the seafood paella for 2 special for $64 INCLUDING a bottle of wine!!! WHAT? The bread pudding was warm and comforting with the right balance of density and airiness. Check out the menu and don't skip the SPECIALS section for sure!!!! We can't wait to return! Thank everyone at The Shell. read more

The Shell Restaurant - Some of the amazing SPECIALS with great pricing! - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Employees were so amazing. And I didn't want the food to end! I had the branzino and it was amazing!

Comfortable neighborhood restaurant. The daily happy cocktail offerings are reasonably priced and tasty. There also is a 3 course prix fixe menu for early dining. The food is good enough to return. The Salmon was prepared well. There is a large sidewalk seating area. The room decor doesn't align with the food. The service is attentive. read more

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I would like to give it 3.5 stars. There's not much ambience but nice service and the food is pretty good but nothing special. A bit pricey for what it is. read more

Friendly staff and clean space. Love the interior/decor. I only went for drinks and ordered two apps from the happy hour menu. The shrimp tostadas were delicious. Unfortunately one of the shrimp was not deveined and I cleaned it myself. The calamari was good too but a very small portion for the price. I will give it one more try and go again for their prefix deal. read more

The Shell Restaurant - Happy hour fried calamari - small portion for the price. Tasted good though. - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Food 5/5 Service 10/5 Ambience - casual 5/5 One of my favorite go-to place after my work in upper west side! Definitely hands down the spot for the freshest oysters and killer dry martinis. The staff is super nice, and the vibe is casual. I love hitting up their happy hour from 4-6 pm every day after work. You gotta try their oysters, they're a must! Love seeing every staff here, having good conversations with my colleagues and enjoying my after work hours. Thank you for being here! read more

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I first discovered this lovely restaurant last year, and had dinner there with friends a couple of times. On my birthday this year some friends offered to take me to dinner, and I was happy to be able to introduce them to The Shell. There were 7 of us in all, and they accommodated us very nicely. Service was friendly and professional. We ordered many dishes, and they were all great. Special mention to the cooked-from-scratch paella, the Spanish-style octopus and the pappardelle with shrimp. The lava cake and pear tart were also delicious for dessert. The restaurant is not large, but it has a spacious and airy atmosphere. I'll look for another chance to go back there soon. read more

The service is lovely. The owner is present and service is very good. However, it is very pricey for a restaurant with small formica tables and decor like a coffee shop. We have gone for special dinners but the decor does not go with a special dinner. Food is good not amazing....octopus was over cooked black linguini good but very little seafood. Hope the decor and table size upgrades. read more

I hosted a small birthday celebration for my son and 4 friends on Thursday night, and it was delicious! This is my 5th time eating at The Shell, and they never disappoint. The food is always fresh and tasty, and the service is outstanding. The Sancerre was a delicious accompaniment to the meal. We started with Spanish octopus, a dozen oysters, and an order of steamers. I had the Chilean sea bass, which was perfectly prepared and enough for 2 meals for me. Others had the lamb chops and branzino. For dessert, I had the pear tart à la mode, and others had the molten lava cake. They surprised us with a candle-topped square of tiramisu, and a Happy Birthday refrain that the entire restaurant joined in on. I couldn't have asked for more. This is my favorite seafood restaurant on the Upper West Side, and I plan to return there soon. read more

Great service. Efficient and yet very friendly and accommodating. Great menu choices. Happy Hour menu is perfect. The outdoor space is not crowded, but quite roomy and spread out. And that's why we are "regulars". KN read more

The food was delicious and the service was great. The prices were a bit high ($45 for halibut) but this is the new norm at restaurants. This is why I don't dine out as much as I used to. read more