We ate here on a Wednesday night, so service was speedy. Ambience is outdoor/indoor cafe style, and anytime it's not Friday or Saturday night the mood is relaxed. I'm not much of a seafood person, but my wife is. Thankfully they had a burger on the menu! Double smash burger and fries for me, Serafin's fish tacos for her. The burger was good, I liked the fact that the smashed patties weren't smashed too thin. So often all I get is meat crust, these had body as well. The burger and fries were great, but when I saw and tasted the fish tacos I immediately knew I'd be getting them next time. I only got a bite, but it was yummy with the sauce. read more

Half Shells - Double Smash Bacon Cheese Burger with fries - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

See all

I hate writing this review because Half Shells at LaCenterra used to be one of my go-to places, but this visit was disappointing. The highlight of our experience was the service. Our server was friendly, attentive, and had a great attitude from start to finish. Unfortunately, almost everything else felt like a step backward. The menu has been reduced dramatically. Once you take away the oyster selections, there are very few entrée choices left. Many of the dishes that kept me coming back are no longer offered. The drink menu has also been cut down significantly. They used to have a much better selection, and it just doesn't feel like the same restaurant anymore. Another frustration is that they're in an area with poor cell service, yet customer Wi-Fi is no longer available. Whether you're trying to check a message, work while you eat, or simply stay connected, it's almost impossible. As for the food, it was just okay. Nothing was bad, but nothing stood out either. I ordered the crab cake with the arugula salad and a shrimp cocktail. Ironically, the small arugula salad that came with the single crab cake was the best part of my meal. The crab cake and shrimp cocktail were fine, but neither was memorable or something I'd come back for. Overall, it feels like Half Shells has lost much of what made it special. Between the limited menu, reduced drink options, lack of Wi-Fi, and average food, it's no longer the destination it once was for me. I truly hope they reconsider some of these changes because I'd love to see this restaurant return to what made it such a great place to dine. read more

See all

The Bloody Mary was ok-- small but the big shrimp was big but tasted very fishy shrimpy like it's old and went bad. I spat out that shrimp. The gumbo was delicious. The Mediterranean Sea bass was pretty good. Daughter loved her bacon cheeseburger Service was great! read more

See all

The food was pretty good. The service was friendly, but not outstanding. The prices are reasonable. There are some nice tables under a covered patio overlooking the LaCenterra green space. I would come back here, especially with friends or family who like oysters or fresh fish dishes. The prices are reasonable. I stopped by on a late Saturday afternoon. They were not busy. Four or five other tables were occupied. Here's the thing...if a customer orders a soup/bisque and a half-dozen buttery grilled oysters-- they should be offered some bread or crackers. I shouldn't have to ask for some borderline stale saltines. And...once my plates and beverage have been cleared, I shouldn't have to wait 10 minutes for the server to come back and ask if I'm ready for the check!?!?! Yes! What else are we doing!?! Then I had to stop the server from immediately running off once she dropped the check! Just rubbed me the wrong way. read more

Half Shells - Half-dozen Grilled Oysters, garlic butter - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

See all

A nice place for lunch while walking La Centerra. Dog friendly too. We like walking La Centera with our dog(s) and most of the restaurants are dog friendly. Half Shells is great because while you dine there is often something happening on the green Try the charbroiled oysters! read more

See all

I've actually been here more than once. I stopped in to the best of my recollection sometime last summer and had a drink at the bar. The windows were open so you could sit along the sidewalk at bar level and be served which I think is a very nice feature of this restaurant. However, this time I actually died not only was the waitress phenomenal, took her time, explained options, including the option of an old fashion, which is my favorite of all drinks, but then further took the time to point out the East Coast oysters. I'm an oyster fanatic so to point those out was absolutely the proper thing to do . In addition to that we had a dip or spread, which was quite good and some boiled shrimp, all of which were phenomenal and well worth what they cost. There are so many fine dining restaurants in Katy and Richmond. It is now becoming increasingly difficult to make a selection however, if you want just a simple seafood dish quite good a wonderful drink and equivalently pleasant service half shells is a great option. I'll be back. read more

Second time trying half shells as a little early Mother's Day brunch and the meal went swimmingly (hehe). Okay but for real though seafood in general is so hard to find done well when eating out. You're either getting seafood that's maybe a little sus or you're getting a tiny sliver of fish for like half a car payment. How about a middle tier option for all us seafood enjoyers where we just want a good little taste of the sea? Boom here's Half Shells. I've had the fish and chips before and now the FishWich and I'm not lying when I say this FishWich is TOP 2 mayhaps even the top dawg in terms of fish sandwiches I've had. Okay for the fish and chips I'm looking for a two things. Flaky/crispy batter with a good fish meat amount? Check. Second is the Tartar sauce banging? Now note this is critical. Tartar sauce for fish and chips is like Robin to Batman. Pippen to Jordan. Ernie to Bert. Half shells got that. Overall fish and chips is way above average no wonder it's on the favorites list but hold up. I gotta speak on the FishWich. Okay as a child I grew up on the Filet-o-Fish. Look you can fight me I loved that meal as a kid and if I'm feeling wild I'll run it back as a nostalgia meal. So imagine my surprise when I bite into this FishWich and it's like a legitimately UPGRADED filet-o-fish. I want to be very clear, I LOVE the filet-o-fish. So to be eating a fish sandwich that not only reminds me of that, but to have even more meat, that bangin tarter, that hint of cheddar cheese. Woo I had a moment. I also went with fried pickle chips and they're noting to sneeze at actually. Thin. Crispy. Delicious. And here's the thing fried pickles chips get cold fast that's just in their nature. But even when colder if you can still get that littlest of crunch that's such a huge W. Service here is always so kind whether it's in person or over the phone. The place also has a half inside and half outside sitting area so you get the best of both worlds! If you're a fellow filet-o-fish lover or you're looking to take the family out for a nice little seafood adventure, consider stopping by Half Shells for a moment! read more

Half Shells - Fishwich W/ Fried Pickle Chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

Solid 4 stars Gumbo tasted burnt (probably because of the roux which overpowered the whole dish Host did a great job Eh service - did not clear plates the entire time nor ketchup etc - not attentive Got the shrimp tacos - wish they would have indicated on the menu it was fried shrimp otherwise pretty good "Best PoBoy in Houston" - the hubby Fries - Soggy Calamari smacks - both the aioli and the spicy sauce perfectly paired with the crispy garlicky calamari Great vibes especially overlooking the green. Love that they off mocktails. Overall, room for improvement in regard to table service, but otherwise great food and ambiance. read more

See all

This may be a long review because I have a lot to say. My husband, sister and I literally walked up on this restaurant because we were starving and left another store in the same shopping center. We walk in and felt like celebrities when we got to the hostess stand. Two hostesses were standing there as if they had been waiting just for us. The general manager, George, walks over and takes us to our seats. We decided to sit at the outside bar because it was such a pretty day and we got the best of both worlds: inside and outside. As we're being seated, George says "that's the owner" and points to a man just enjoying the scenery. What do we do? Walk over and introduce ourselves. Bill, the owner, was just as welcoming and asked questions to get a quick intro of us. We really appreciated that. So we get to our seats and baby, Jason and Stephanie come right over to introduce themselves and give us the run down on the menu because it was our first time. As they were giving us the quick tutorial, George comes over with a "welcome wagon." It's a sample dish for all first timers. We ordered a dozen and a half of oysters (12 chargrilled) and 6 raw. I don't fool with raw oysters but from the look of my husband's face every time he ate one tells me they were delicious. The chargrilled...all I can say is lip smacking good. I ordered a house salad with the green goddess dressing and a cup of the crab bisque. My sister got the lobster and shrimp grilled cheese and my husband got the pick 2 combo: catfish and shrimp. George recommended the hot honey chipotle sauce on the side for his shrimp. Because we all got different things, we decided to eat family style. I am sure the people around us hated us with all the moans and bar slaps we gave with this food. Y'all. I could go on and on so what I am going to say is GO SEE FOR YOURSELF and thank me later!! read more

Half Shells - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

The food was actually really good. The crawfish had some heat lol but it was good. A bit salty but I lov d it over all. The lobster bisque soup was really delish! Can deff see myself coming back for a bowl of that. I got a Forst guest welcome with a sample plate and enjoyed all the soups. My least favorite is the gumbo. The service was great. I loved the hospitality and the respect. The ambiance is whatever you make it! Grab a Margarita $5 or just grab some crawfish. Either way its something for everyone!! They have a beautiful patio view . Will be back read more

Half Shells - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

I wanted Chargrilled Oysters so I stopped here for Happy Hour since they were on the menu. I was not impressed. The restaurant was clean but it was empty. I sat at the bar and the service was average. The oysters were small, some of them were the size of a dime and nickel. The Shrimp and Crab Queso was mushy and bland, I didn't even finish it. I don't think I'll be eating here again. I should have followed my first mind and went to Rouxpour where the oysters are bigger and taste better and their drinks are better. read more

See all

Great food, fantastic service, great for birthday celebrations and family gatherings.

Half shells gave my family and I are great happy hour experience! We were visiting Texas from California and found this spot while exploring. The staff was super friendly upon our arrival and had us seated immediately. They have a great outdoor patio, indoor, and bar seating. We sat outside where they have shaded tables and table in the sun. We ended up getting the sampler appetizer which was a hit! Everything plated was so tasty and the sauces were definitely the stars of the show. The fried pickles were our favorite. We also ordered their $5 mimosas. They had a strong champagne presence and had a good variety of flavors including pineapple, orange, and cranberry. We ended up loving our experience and went back with the rest of our family later that evening. read more

See all

Love this place. Service is always attentive and friendly. Sat outside today which was nice and the community was having a Star Wars event for kids. Food was fresh just like last time. Got fried cod and blackened shrimp. Chargrilled oysters and crawfish. Forgot to take crawfish picture. Place was clean and maintained. read more

See all

Not half shells, by any means! This is the whole mullusk. We didn't know what to expect just from looking over the menu on-line, but wow, were we surprised! In a good way. The food was fab!!! The service, Frank was our server, was outstanding and the venue was very inviting and open. And I do mean open! The side of the restaurant was opened glass doors overlooking a park area which made for a delightful seating arrangement. The fish and chips were perfectly cooked, hot and yummy. The salmon green salad was superb and the fried oysters on a tortilla chip with Pico was stunningly relish! read more

Half shells:(LaCenterra/Cinco Ranch) Server:Faye Manager:Parker/George Military Discount: Yes(15%) WiFi: No(No Service SOS) Bathrooms: both were occupied(don't know) Cleanliness: inside good, outside all tables needed to be wiped down. Server Faye was great, pleasant attentive, prompt. Managers, do they have them here? (Read at the end) WiFi - No good, couldn't connect to anything Outside tables all dirty even though it was noon(1 hour after opening) Ordered Seafood Platter had catfish, shrimp, and oysters.(upgrade to cod for additional charge) Pricey, food was under seasoned, fish upcharge was ridiculous, spinach mushroom risotto (no mushrooms, no risotto,(fixed but didn't look right ) tasted even worse. 2 pieces of fish, similar to the size of the fish sticks served by your mom in pre-school, taste wasn't bad, just very bland. 5 shrimp (grilled) very good, 5 oysters(fried) good internal color, spinach with almonds good, 2 small hush puppies good, Chocolate addiction cake(best thing on the order) price insane at $10.49 for a piece of mousse cake. Parker manager came by after I asked the server for the managers names. He seemed to be a nice fellow, I did ask about the portion size of the fish, he commented that depending on how the cook cuts it(impressed that it's not a Sysco item) they may have to give a third piece, which makes me think they're ripping you off on the upcharge unless you ask. I have to say if you're a cinco ranch resident with too much money and too much time, this may be the place for you if you like mediocre food and want to give away your retirement. Overall 3 stars (Just because of the servers attentiveness) and the addition of the military discount. Price: $33.09 Seafood Platter $23.49 Cod $1.99 Chocolate cake $10.49 subtotal $30.57 Tax $2.52 Total cost w/tip: $40.29 A little pricey for fish and chips. read more

See all

First time trying this new seafood restaurant in La Centerra with a friend. I ordered grilled fish and shrimp for dinner. I especially enjoyed the frozen margarita...so tasty. For starter the seafood chowders so good I almost licked the bowl...LOL. Also, the key lime pie was delicious not overly sweet. The service was good although it was a crowd on Friday night. I will definitely be back to try more items so let's support local. read more

See all

What happened to the menu here? Where did the seasoning and flavor go?! And why on earth did they discontinue the creamy jalapeño soup and the crab bisque?! They were both so delicious! When I started going to Fish City Grill over 9 years ago, the food was so flavorful, and the portions were larger. I always got the blackened shrimp with mixed veggies, and it was always hot, fresh, and well seasoned. I always loved the way they cooked the zucchini squash blend. I went for lunch today after a long break, and I couldn't have been more disappointed in the menu changes since the name change. Both my blackened shrimp and my daughter's fried shrimp were so bland, I suspect they only used a tiny bit of plain salt & pepper. The green beans tasted like they were steamed in plain water, and that was it. Even the hush puppies tasted less flavorful than before. The portions seemed small. We left unsatisfied and still hungry. So disappointed to see how much this place has changed over the last year or so. When I mentioned all of this to a friend, she said she had the exact same experience recently. read more

I came up to this side of town for a YES event, and rolled in an hour early. So what do we do when we're bored, and hungry? We eat! And so I did. I've NEVER been to this area, so it was all new. They have a little green space for the little humans to roam and scream, and so they did. Very picturesque. Being a Thursday at 6p, it wasn't too crowded, and I got a nice seat outside without a wait. I wasn't tryna gorge, so I went with an app and a drink. Who doesn't like Chargrilled Oysters, amiright?! So I ordered that and a Hurricane. Noor was helping me out today. She was attentive, and fast with the service. As I was waiting for my order, Parker rolled up with a sampler of their soups and a shrimp on the house for first timers. The Cab Bisque was DELISH. I would buy that. 2nd place was Roasted Jalapeno soup, 3rd was the Clam Chowder, and 4th was the gumbo. Shrimp was great too. The oysters were very tasty. I enjoyed the stuffing. Garlic and savory. The hurricane was very photo friendly, and tasty. I would recommend you mix it, but it does look cool when layered. Just sayin. Overall, will be back, they have one in Pearland. I'm about it. Thank you to Noor and Parker for a great experience, and great food! I never went inside to know what the facility is like, so TBD on that. read more

See all

We came here for lunch. Great customer service! My wife had the seafood platter and I had the fish and shrimp. The fish was cooked perfectly and was well worth the cost, which was not that expensive. We loved the experience! read more

Half Shells - Fish and shrimp - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

This is our 2nd time to go. This time for lunch. Everyone was pleasant and helpful. Small indoor cafe area but has outdoor tables that over see the green area, which we sat last time to listen to the band and let the kids play. We sat inside today. Tea was freshly made and refreshing. Got one to go in the end. Hubby got the pasta/shrimp dish. Was light for pasta. Shrimp were nicely seasoned. I got the crab bisque, it was good but seemed a little burnt. But it was still good and warm on the cold day we went. The bread was fresh and soft. I had the roasted jalapeño soup. Had a great flavor. Nice and smooth. read more

See all

The service, food, and ambience were AMAZING! Look no further this is the place where you want to taste delicious seafood! read more

Half Shells - Blackened Rainbow Trout with wilt spinach and mash potatoes! Absolutely delicious! - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

Nice little spot! This is the old Fish City Grill for those history buffs! Ambiance - 4/5 - Located in La Centerra Ranch, this is a good sized place that would be good for groups. Staff - 5/5 - Friendly, helpful, and patient. Food - 4/5 - What we ordered (didn't order too much): Sampler - 4.5/5 - Good ole fried stuff of Calamari, Fried Pickles, Shrimp/Crab Queso. Smokin Hot Shrimp - 5/5 - Recommend. Not too spicy, but very flavorful. Grilled Chicken & Sausage - 4.5/5 - Served on red beans & rice. Definitely recommend. Rainbow Trout - 4/5 - Lighter dish, so I recommend for those on a health kick. We really came here to just check out the area and grab a few drinks. We wanted to try other restaurants in the area as well, so we didn't really get to order too much. Overall, definitely glad we stopped by, and I see myself coming back in the future. read more

This was our first time sitting in to eat and the experience was great! LaSean was an excellent server, very polite, and knowledgeable of the ENTIRE menu (including the items on the wall). We will be returning and requesting her as our server. The environment is very relaxing and can entertain all ages. read more

Half Shells - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

See all

I was in town visiting family and we ventured to the Cinco Ranch shopping area. So many food choices and we ended up going to Half Shells and it didn't disappoint! We had an entree and an appetizer and our excellent server Kyle let us try the soups and oyster nachos as an added bonus. The soups were fantastic. I wish I lived closer! But I know I'll be back. The app was a delicious shrimp and crap queso which was absolutely fantastic. And the entree we split was one of their specials, a grilled mahi mahi fish taco with candied bacon, and other accouterments. Oh and my bevy was delicious too. Can't compliment the place enough. Outstanding service from beginning to end. read more

See all

The food I selected was really good. What I especially liked about Half Shells is that you can customize your order. I wanted the Calamari, but also wanted the pasta. Stephanie, the cashier/server got my order just the way I wanted, and it was delicious. Because the weather was so nice, most of the customers were outside on the patio. My order was to go, and I was able to get two meals out of it. read more

See all

Everything was excellent from the service to the food to the drinks. Definitely coming back. read more

Half Shells - Espresso Martini w a toasted marshmallow - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

Very friendly staff and well made food, plus a rotating list of interesting specials. Portions are well sized and everything seemed perfectly executed. Ambience inside was nice, with a seafood vibe. Outside overlooks one of the green spaces, so a nice place to chill over some drinks and oysters. read more

See all

Food was great and fresh. The service was good too. The waiter was attentive and friendly and they are pet friendly so we got to take our fur babies and ate out in the patio. So it made for a peaceful ambience on a day with nice weather. read more

The service was really good and my son had beautiful rainbow trout huge, well seasoned, the keylime pie is good, very attentive staff and friendly. Laid back vibe about $20 and under per plate average meal. Awesome price for the quality! read more

Half Shells - Scallops with bacon wrapped shrimp, delicious spinach and mashed potatoes. - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

See all

Great experience on a Friday night! Our waitress was very attentive. Drinks were great. The food was so well balanced. I really loved the chalkboard special and wished it were a permanent menu item. Fish was cooked perfectly. Portion size was great. We also loved the bread pudding. The new decor is bright and beautiful. Really enjoyed our time here. We had a bad experience when it was fish city grill and were hesitant to return but are glad we did. Hope it keeps up! read more

See all

We visited Half Shells last night and the food was okay. I ordered the shrimp and crab stuffed flounder and my daughter ordered the kids fish and corn on the cob. My daughter is not a picky eater, but she could not eat the fish. When I tried it, I noticed how stringy and chewy it was. The restaurant did replace her fish with shrimp. We were thankful for how understanding the waitress and manager were. That is why I am giving the restaurant 3 stars instead of 1. My dish was just okay. The stuffing was runny and the pieces of crab were not as visible. Our waiter was kind and helpful and the manager was as well. The cook in the kitchen stared at us as we ate most of the time we were there. It was quite odd and frustrating. It was as if he wished we weren't there to begin with. There weren't any other customers dining in the restaurant due to how late it was. With that said the other servers and employees let us know how unsettling it was to have us come in 45 minutes before closing. We told the server that we were going to watch a movie and would be returning afterwards. They shared that it is totally fine and the kitchen would not be closing until the restaurant closed. With that said, we were rushed through our meal and my daughter felt so uncomfortable the entire time. It was quite disappointing. We will not be returning and would not recommend this restaurant read more

I order the crab cake which was fresh and flavorful, then we ordered oyster nachos which were fried to perfection and the pico de gallo was fresh. My mom ordered the catfish and shrimp combo and the shrimp was super fresh and flavorful. The customer service was great, the restaurant was clean and everyone was friendly. read more

Great food. Great service. The crab bisque was excellent. The GM greeted us with a welcome platter.

The place is a nice place to hang out if you have kids. There's a play area right in front of the store. Food was ok and nothing special. Service was good. read more

Food was amazing! Sitting outside listening to the band made for the perfect ambiance! Service was amazing and very timely!

There is some confusion here on what is potentially good food. Good food is not shrimp and grits swimming in a gelatinous pool of lukewarm butter. Shrimp that are shrimp, but taste like the Gulf of Mexico at low tide as if the tuna boat had recently been cleaned. Gumbo that has been over salted to the point it taste like a salt lick. French fries that are rationed as if they are precious and while I agree, french fries are precious giving someone 19 french fries hidden under two greasy pieces of cold Catfish isn't precious. Red beans and rice exactly 1/8 cup rice to 1/8 cup beans. The American menu gives french fries rice and beans away as much as we give away napkins. There is no reason to ration these cheap staples. Now having to wait 22 minutes to get a corrected bill after saying two of the meals were not fit for human consumption. Only to hear the general manager and the cook say behind my back that's the first time today we've had complaints on those items? Makes you kind of wonder how many complaints they had gotten that day. Tables around us had similar complaints, and the general manager was very upset and mouthy after he was requested to bus a table. Needless to we will not be going back. Nice atmosphere but horrible service and food. House salad was overdressed dripping in salad dressing LIMP. Waitress was kidnapped and we never say her again, hope they release her! We went for burgers after this! Smash Burgers it was extremely delicious Expensive $$$ We paid for only one entrée and appetizer for total of $58. The meals unfit for human consumption were removed from the bill. I was held hostage for a total of 28 minutes while they figured out how to remove the items. read more

Half Shells - Shrimp and grits in a gelatinous mass of cold butter, greasy off tasting shrimp - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

See all

Food was excellent, Emma was a great server and her suggestions were fantastic! Sat on the patio and enjoyed the nice breeze! Perfect lunch!

Food and service was amazing! I sat at the bar and Stephanie was super nice and very welcoming. Even went out of her way to get a special made appetizer for me without question. Sorry, I ate it and didn't get a picture, but I'll definitely be back! read more

Half Shells - Fried shrimp platter - Fish & Chips Near Me - Katy, Texas

Service and food were outstanding. Our first time here. Chef came out with soup and oyster nacho samples, all were fabulous. We had Blackened shrimp only, lobster and shrimp grilled cheese, fish & shrimp combo, and fish and chips. Everything was tasteful and fresh. Will definitely be back. PS. Prickly pear margarita hit the spot on a hot Saturday afternoon. read more