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    Half Shell

    4.5 (44 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Half Shell Takeout or Delivery

    Half Shell Photos

    Business Info

    HALF SHELL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Half Shell

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    Reviews With Photos

    Raquel S.

    I stopped in on a Monday to try the $25 lobster roll special. The regular price is $36 so this is a really good deal--and it comes with a side. The lobster roll I had was pretty good but there was a shell in it and I think I bit into a whole garlic clove which I wasn't expecting. I like that they serve the melted butter on the side so you can control the amount yourself. This place probably gets really packed on the weekends due to its location.

    Hania A.

    Food was great. We ordered chargrilled oysters, tuna nachos, smash burger, lobster roll, and crème brûlée to share. Cocktails were good but a little on the sweet side. Ambiance outdoors was nice and chill. Service was just OK, could have been A LOT better. Food was very slow coming out from the kitchen. Indya was our waitress and she could have been friendlier. The last straw for me was when she brought out dessert and just plopped the plate down without saying anything and walked away. And the cleaning crew picking up plates from our table could have been a little more professional as well. What can I say, it's still Charlotte where great service is hard to find...so it is what it is.

    Tuna nachos
    Amanda C.

    We started with the tuna nachos. Definitely good, even just the nachos by themselves had some kind of seasoning on them that made them flavorful by themselves. However the star of the show was the lobster roll. That had to be the BEST lobster roll I have ever had! I don't know what it was specifically but I don't think I breathed until I finished eating that whole thing! The bread was toasted and buttered to perfection, they didn't skimp out on the lobster meat which was flavorful and dripping with yummy goodness! The service was great and the outside seating was nice. I will definitely be returning!

    Happy hour 1/2 price oysters 3-6
    Wendy J.

    Went for happy hour. ridiculously good three different types of butter, half price oysters between 3 and six.

    Mike S.

    Half Shell is a newish seafood restaurant and raw bar located in the Linea Tower which is part of a hot new development located on Hawkins Street. I was excited to come in here the other night with some friends as I've been craving some oysters. Overall I would rate my visit as ok but felt it missed the mark a few times as well. The oysters were good although the hot sauce it came with had a unique flavor and I found myself kinda wishing I had some Tabasco sauce instead. I ordered a hot lobster roll and while it was prepared and buttered well there wasn't a whole lot of meat on it especially for the price. I would say the highlight of my meal was the desert, I got a slice of key lime pie which I hadn't had in a while so that was a nice throwback for me and it was quite good. Probably the most head scratching and frustrating thing about my evening was the fact that they do not validate parking in their own building. If you want to park in their garage you have to sign up for an app and pay not an insignificant sum. I don't know if this is an issue between them and their landlord but either way it is a part of the dining experience so be aware that if you plan on driving you will likely have to find street parking nearby. You will have to pay for that as well but it will be cheaper than using the garage. It's a nice looking place and the vibe and atmosphere were good. I think if I was in the area or even at Club West (Sycamore) right next door I would maybe come in for a cocktail or some oysters, but I don't know if I would rush back to plan a dinner date here. Plenty of room for improvement but maybe they will work out the kinks.

    Bread service
    Lawren R.

    My boyfriend and I came here on a Saturday afternoon and we were absolutely blown away. We sat on the patio(beware of the flies). Everything we had was remarkable! I have no bad notes. Go to half shell asap!

    Hot buttered lobster roll and chargrilled oysters with rosemary garlic butter
    Danielle S.

    Absolutely loved Half Shell. As a New England native I love my seafood and this could rival any coastal northern restaurant. The staff was so friendly and kind, and all of the food we had was delicious and fresh. Sitting outside on a nice day is a perfect vibe!

    Grilled mahi sandwich with asparagus
    Carol R.

    I ordered a grilled mahi sandwich with asparagus to go. Not super exciting, but it was good.

    Alexis P.

    New spot in the heart of south end. Decided to give it a go! Sat outside since it was nice weather. Great location right off the rail trail it was easily accessible. My server was awesome and was helpful with everything I asked for regarding the menu items. Went during happy hour which is from 3-6pm on Mon-Thurs. I ordered one of each oyster on the happy hour menu. As well as the most popular tuna poke nachos. Nice crispy wonton chips and plenty of tuna.

    Oysters
    Taylor P.

    My first time coming to half shell and the experience was like no other. First off Tonee is so vibrant and very kind! Everything came out so quickly, the service is extremely friendly, and Tonee was awesome, gave us a lot of really good recommendations. The ambiance is very nice and classy - perfect for relaxing after a long day of work. The food is also out of this world. The oysters were so good, we did a mix of all the options they had available and each oyster tasted completely different from the next but still really good. Will definitely be coming back and especially to see TONEE!!!!!

    Mixed oysters
    Morgan M.

    Eden was a great waitress and all of the food and drinks were fabulous. Tuna nachos 10/10 Warm lobster roll 10/10 Shrimp po boy 6/10 Mezcal margarita 10/10 Pimm cocktail 10/10

    Oyster tasting flight
    Matthew B.

    Had a great experience here. The oysters were great, the wine selection was organized so you could pair appropriately. I ended up also getting the chilled lobster roll and enjoyed it a lot. Service was really good, and the waiter gave us his opinion for people trying oysters for the first time. The music was great, and the vibe was kind of upscale casual.

    Crème brûlée & chocolate cake
    Sophie P.

    Our first time at Half Shell and Tonee honestly made the entire experience so special From the moment we sat down, he was so warm, so thorough, and took the time to walk us through the menu in the sweetest way. He explained the differences between all the oyster options so clearly and made sure we knew exactly what to try, which made the whole night feel extra thoughtful and elevated We ordered a few different types of oysters, added a caviar bump for the full experience, and it all felt like the cutest little girl dinner moment But truly, Tonee was the highlight. His energy was so good, so attentive, and so genuine, and he made our first visit feel fun, easy, and memorable in the best way. He didn't just take our order.he actually made the experience better by being so patient and knowledgeable, and that kind of service really stands out. Between the beautiful seafood spread, the cozy vibe, and Tonee's amazing energy, it was such a perfect first time and definitely one we'll be talking about again

    Sea glass martini, espresso martini

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    7 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Food was delicious and reasonably priced. Our server was great and so much fun! Will definitely be back.

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    6 months ago

    Tonee was amazing! He was a fantastic server and the food was awesome. Great experience!

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    7 months ago

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Half Shell

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    Stopped in to Backstage for the Christmas pop up and was not disappointed. It's Christmas overload…read morein the best way, if you're looking for something fun and kitschy. They have a Christmas drink menu, mostly sweet, but they also offered to make some minor modifications. I had the Koala LaLaLa, which was more tart with some apple and bitters. Probably not everyone's jam, but I loved it. All the bartenders were great-Star kept us laughing, and they moved quickly considering how busy the place got. I recommend going early to get a good spot to people watch. I plan to come back at least one more time during the holidays. 10/10!

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    Half Shell - seafood - Updated September 2026

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