[[HIGHLIGHT]]There's something comforting about a classic, no-frills seafood spot by the water, and Shells Seafood delivers exactly that.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is the kind of place that feels like it's been around forever, in the best way. Spacious for the area, lively without being chaotic, and backed by attentive service that keeps things moving even when it's busy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu is extensive, and then just when you think you've seen it all, there's a specials board tucked away with even more to choose from. If you can time your visit right, Tuesday is the move. They run a buy one pound, get one pound half off deal on snow crab legs, and it's easily one of the best values around. The snow crab legs are fresh and satisfying, and the Dungeness crab holds its own as well. Both pair perfectly with their rich, drawn butter, simple but done right. Portion sizes here are no joke. The shrimp skewers are almost excessive in the best way. Three skewers loaded with roughly eight shrimp each, so you're looking at around two dozen shrimp total, all a solid medium-large size. It's the kind of dish that makes you pause when it hits the table. The shrimp pasta is another standout and clearly a house favorite. It's packed with flavor and easily one of the more memorable dishes on the menu. Good enough that ordering a second one to-go actually makes sense. The clam chowder, though, was the one miss. While it's loaded with plenty of clam meat and has a hearty base, there's a slightly smoky flavor that throws it off. If you're a chowder fan, it might not hit the mark. Probably something to skip next time. As for the crab cakes, they passed a pretty tough test. A Maryland native at the table gave them a strong approval, which says a lot. Pro tip: Get there early, ideally around lunch, if you want to lock in that snow crab deal. It's popular, and you don't want to risk missing out. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall, this is a reliable, crowd-pleasing seafood spot that leans into big portions, solid execution, and a relaxed coastal vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Whether you're a local or just visiting St. Pete Beach, it's an easy recommendation and definitely worth a return trip. read more

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My girlfriend and I ended up coming back to Shells as we try to hit this spot once every couple of months. The food is always delicious and very reasonably priced. We decided to come here the night before Valentine's Day, after sunset, and it was well worth it. She got the crabcakes, I got a side salad and a bowl of the clam chowder, which I think is the best chowder in all of St. Pete. She got the shrimp and scallops pasta, while I got the seafood deluxe pasta, and it was out of this world. I had enough to take home for the next night, and we both split the desserts, which we also could only eat half. Our service was amazing, very attentive, and was there when we needed her to be. We cannot wait to go back again in the coming months. read more

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We finally tried this St Pete beach staple. Service was friendly and pretty speedy. We were a large group and got to try many different dishes. We had to try their famous new England Clam Chowder. It was tasty with a decent amount of clam, but it tasted a bit like raw onion and it arrived warm, but not hot. The calamari was over breaded for me. The Shrimp pasta was creamy and garlicky. The fried Redfish was good, but might be better blackened. The potatoes were just boiled with butter on top and not very exciting. read more

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Excellent food, service, environment and staff! Went looking for oysters and were not disappointed at all. They were fresh and juicy and not just in flavor, size too. Also got their popular smash burger and was very satisfied being an avid Burger connoisseur if I do say so myself. Grilled and seasoned well with my group comparing it to a Krabby Patty with its pleasant presentation. Lastly, couldn't have asked for better staff! Almost felt like having a meal with old friends with how friendly they all were. Environment was very casual with a seaside shack vibe while being cozy and comfortable. read more

Came here yesterday for dinner. The food was good, I wish they had Maui mahi tacos, but they only have shrimp. My hubby got one of their platters and loved it. We got the Mac and cheese for my son and it was Kraft Mac and cheese. That was extremely disappointing because I thought it would have been homemade. My son wouldn't eat it. I'm not sure I'd come back, but I know my hubby would. read more

Great place, great food, great everything. One of the most consistent places down here in St Pete Beach. I had the Smash Burger, knocked it out of the park, and a side of fries. In general, this place is just amazing, very friendly, and welcoming. read more

We loved shells! If you're in town, you won't regret coming here. Happy hour all day and great food. Get the shrimp and crab dip for apps. Our server, Jen, was phenomenal! We will definitely be back!! read more

Shells Seafood - Shrimp Pasta - Seafood Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

Nothing fancy but good food, big servings, and great prices! I had the clam chowder which was good but had an ingredient I couldn't identify that wasn't my favorite. The shrimp pasta was big and tasty. I thought I would take some home but surprised my self by finishing it. The rainbow trout special was a big 10 oz and half made it home. Juan was a great server, [[HIGHLIGHT]]I liked the eclectic mix of music and they have a parking lot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Shells Seafood - Specials - Seafood Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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Very delicious seafood restaurant. We got some wonderful crab legs, shrimp and salmon. Great place, friendly service. This was a busy place but our server was right on it and food came out right on time. read more

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The crab legs were delicious and so was the blackened redfish. The sides were just ok, not very flavorful. Will probably try somewhere else for seafood next time. read more

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The snow crabs were very disappointing this time. They were unusually small, and the meat was difficult to remove because they didn't seem to be cooked properly. It really took away from the experience since snow crab is usually one of the highlights for us. The jambalaya still had good flavor, but it was noticeably greasier than usual, which made it less enjoyable. The portion size also felt much smaller, which was surprising. Overall, the quality just didn't match our previous visits. Crab legs are priced at $25 for the first pound, with each additional pound just $20, for Tuesday special only. Service was good no complaints there. read more

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The best Lobster Bisque I've ever had... also calamari and shrimp pasta were to die for, very friendly staff, make you feel welcomed, definitely will come back! read more

I have been going to Shells snce the 1990's when they had more locations including Orrlando. I was at St. Pete and it was OK. I had the pasta and shri,p and it was ok. I used to have the tortellini nd shrimp pasra but they mo longer m ake it. They should makec the tortellin and shrimp. It so much better. They also closed the Tampa location or whatever reason. St. Pete isabout one hour and 30 minutes away, so we cant go often. They should bring back tortellini nd shrimp. It was a great dinner.​ read more

We go here about once a month year around. The food is pretty reliable. There appears to be a pretty high turnover of staff which is unfortunate as they don't always seem up for the job. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Our biggest complaint this week, was the absolutely horrible music being played at loud volume.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Dinners are to be enjoyed. Eating with engagement and paced. This music made you anxious, wanting to eat fast, and get the heck out of the place. A truly bad situation[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. We asked if they could at least turn the music down, if they couldn't change it to a more appropriate set for eating. They came back, and said "corporate" dictates what we play and we can't change it. SERIOUSLY??? You have two restaurants in all of the universe, and you have a "corporate" mandate to play some of the worse music known to man??? We are likely to at least delay coming back, if we even come back, as I don't pay to listen to this horrible music and certainly not when I am eating. read more

My friend and I went to shells after the beach one day and it was amazing. There are not words to describe how good the food and service was. We have went to a few other seafood places and this one tops them by far! The service was quick. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat outside on the patio at night and the vibes were perfect.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered oysters, crab, clams, red fish and clam and lobster soups. All of it was so good! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Very local feeling and cozy restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I got the rumrunner to start. Then order the clam chowder and calamari to share and these were all equally good. Then I ordered the fried red fish for an entree which was very good. Would come back. read more

Shells Seafood - Red fish entree - Seafood Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

My granddaughter went with kids fish and fries. My wife chose the fish sandwich with fries. While I went with the crab legs (so yummy). This is a Military friendly restaurant. read more

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Fabulous service. Always great food. Never been to this beach location and they were able to accommodate 18 of us within a 20 minute call. Got the lobster and snow crab. Always get the seafood pasta and shrimp pasta you can never go wrong. They had a happy hour deal when we got there so got margarita. read more

Shrimp pasta excellent! Fried calamari was excellent but a little more crusted than I prefer. The marinara was unique with a little spice. The key lime pie was ok Would definitely come back ! read more

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Jen was great. Recommendations helped navigate a group of 7. Reasonably priced and service was on top of it!

Based on other reviews I was really looking forward to this place. The staff was super nice however the food was not up to par. I ordered the shrimp trio and didn't realize till I bit in that the shrimp was still raw. The shrimp was overlapped on the skewer and didn't cook evenly. Serving raw food is a big NO NO. I especially have a sensitive stomach and easily get sick from improper food prep. My husband had the Jambalaya and he said it tasted good but a bit too tomato. The manager did come over to try and make it right, however raw food is a deal breaker for me and a basic food 101 no no. I believe I wasn't the only one to send back a meal as the table down from us also sent back the shrimp platter. read more

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Service was great! Food was not very good though. Just plain, not much flavor. Fried shrimp was the best thing that we had. read more

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We were floored by how this place has plummeted since the original owner handed over the reins. What used to be our go-to spot for treating family and clients is now the culinary equivalent of a rerun from Kitchen Nightmares. Dinner felt less like a meal (with no salad, soup, or even a bread roll) and more like a cautionary tale. At over $25 a plate, we expected something edible, maybe even enjoyable. Instead, we got crab cakes that doubled as dental hazards--loaded with crunchy shell bits no one asked for. The shrimp was overcooked into tiny, rubbery tragedies. The rice was barely there and bland enough to forget mid-bite. But the worst part was definitely the "seasoned vegetables"--a wilted, sour mess of undercooked carrots and soggy onions and peppers that tasted like they'd been rescued from the compost pile. Quite literally. My partner's plate was no better: cod, scallops, and shrimp, all served in paper cups on a paper tray like some sad seafood picnic. Two miniature potatoes and a pat of melted butter rounded out the sad affair. Everything was over-fried, flavorless, and downright chewy--not in a good way. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We weren't alone, either. Another table near us was deep in their own "what happened to this place?" conversation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Sadly, this once-beloved restaurant has cooked its last meal for us. We won't be back--and we'll be steering others clear too. read more

Shells Seafood - A poor excuse for a dinner - Seafood Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

Thank you for the experience! We came here twice. We had to come back for their Tuesday special $20 1st lb of a legs. For every lb after that is $15. Can't beat the price. We ordered 3 lbs. We also had their fried mix seafood. Cod was delicious. Fries are delicious. We can pass on the slaw and veggies are stripped so I was not fond of that. Scampi was buttery. Too much butter. Waitress are awesome. They were all nice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was packed on Tuesday so you might have to wait a bit or go when they open.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Shells Seafood - Snow Crab Legs* - Seafood Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

Go on Tuesday and get a bargain. Crab lanes are on sale on Tuesdays. Buy one get one in a discount. Service is wonderful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Got a family owned atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The shrimp pasta was the star of the show and really deserves 5/5. The crab legs were just okay. We didn't have great service (after we finished eating we waited ten minutes before we could find her to ask for the check). The staff was friendly and [[HIGHLIGHT]]we sat outside and enjoyed the weather.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We also had the clam chowder and it was really good. I would easily come back again for the pasta, the sauce is amazing. read more

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This has to be one of my fav St. Petersburg / Treasure Island seafood spots that I've tried. I love their crab cakes so much, and their french fries have this delicious sweet but salty seasoning on them. I haven't tried any of their cocktails yet, but they had a nice selection to choose from. Our service was superb. We had several servers sharing around our tables constantly making sure we were taken care of. They were all super friendly and happy to be there. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I loved the vibe. They had TVs in the bar area with spots on, and they also had a separate dining room or two off to each side.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I love this spot and will be returning! read more

Stopped in for an early dinner on a Saturday. We were seated promptly. Greeters did not look particularly enthusiastic. Come to think of it, none of the wait staff did really. Except one server, who of course was not our server. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance was weird. The windows are half covered with wood shutters to give the appearance of a seafood shack from the outside I guess. Inside it was dark with a lot of small directional lights. It's just weird to be in a dark shack when we are literally across the street from the beach on a breezy day[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Ordered two dishes and a dessert. First was the fried cod. It was not bad. But not a lot of batter/breading. So the chunks of fried fish we got seemed to fall apart easily. Would've been more pleasant if the pieces of fish were larger. Substituted the vegetables for the potatoes. The broccoli I received was apparently dipped in butter prior to serving. Also received the slaw, which had too much mayo in it. Too goopy. No thanks. Next dish was a grilled grouper sandwich. It was actually superb! Market price was $27, which made for an expensive sandwich. But I had no complaints. Definitely the best part of the meal. The only thing holding it back was that we ordered it with fries instead of potatoes. Fries were undercooked and limp and covered in seasoning that did not look natural or appetizing. Did I mention they were limp? Again, no thanks. Lastly, we ordered the key lime pie. First of all, it was a humongous piece of dessert. Maybe too big. And the crust was on the exaggerative side. At $10, it would've definitely been a value if it tasted good. But it did not. Barely any lime flavor at all. I've had many many many pieces of key lime pie in my day. And this is one I want to forget. Overall this entire meal was just a big... meh. If not for the grouper sandwich, I'd tell you to stay away from this place completely. Try somewhere else if you can. read more

Fresh seafood at reasonable prices. The clam chowder is outstanding. Good service.

Update maybe the worse server I've ever had. Table presence bad and didn't bring everything not once but twice in the same meal. As a local who has eaten here often was very disappointed in the food quality along with the service. Might be time to try new seafood restaurants. read more

Everything our party of 7 ordered was delicious! The service was amazing. Our server, Jennifer was so friendly and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is fun, family friendly, clean, and comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I highly recommend the Jambalaya and the decadent key lime pie was the best we have ever had!! You will not be disappointed with Shells Seafood!! read more

Long time local resident here... and a huge fan of shells First, there is no better value on delicious food than right here. The portions are huge and almost all entrées are under 20 bucks! Imagine that... now, throw in the fact that you can have a cocktail for about six bucks! Yum! And a pretty strong pour to boot ...You don't even have to go to a dive bar to get that price on a drink!!!! The service is outstanding. I want to mention the owner. He is such a kind older gentleman. He could really use the additional business and I would personally appreciate if anyone would patronize his restaurant. He makes sure to go to every table and say hello. Give it a shot! I am so certain that you will like it, If you don't like it, please reply to my review read more

very casual seafood place with lots of options! [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance could have been a little cleaner, but it didn't bother us too much.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] our waitress forgot a few things, but she was incredibly sweet to us. our party had the calamari, clam chowder, grouper special, and the pastas. everyone loved what they had! I had the shrimp and scallop pasta and the sauce was delicious. read more

Shells Seafood - Seafood Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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Had the crab legs and my husband had the shrimp pasta. Absolutely amazing! The service was tremendous and food came out very quick!

Food was awful. Waitress was nice, but [[HIGHLIGHT]]ambience was very chain restaurant vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Would not recommend.

My favorite spot at St. Pete Beach !! Definitely worth visiting. Been here three times total now across the years and I will keep it coming. Food here is amazing. The pasta is sauced up just right with delicious seafood scattered across. The clam chowder is a must and starts your meal just right. The server was so nice and was giving out the realest recommendations. Overall, Shells has a great dining area and you really get the feel of being at the beach but eating well in a restaurant. read more

Shells Seafood - Classic Seafood Pasta - Seafood Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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This place has some of the best clam bisque I've ever had, the shrimp noodles were also superb. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's very charming![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

4 stars for some great fish tacos. We ordered the mahi mahi tacos and the shrimp tacos, $13.95. The dishes come with two tacos and chips and salsa but you can substitute for fries. If you check in with Yelp you can score a free margarita too! Nice little treat after the beach. Service is quick and friendly. The space inside is just typical dining seating with a tropical vibe. They did add a new large tiki style patio outside. Overall it's a solid place to grab some seafood! read more

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All in all, a very good experience. When I first walked in, I wanted to check out the menu and the places. They were so nice and helpful. Came for lunch and the server was also super helpful and explained the menu, the sauces, the specials and fresh fish. I ordered the salmon Felix with lobster cream sauce, lump crab, & red peppers. I debated upon that and the Mahi with shrimp, scallops and sun dried tomato sauce. Since my hubby got the chicken with the sun dried tomato sauce, I picked the salmon. I loved the char on it and everything was so good. I dont like to order salmon out bc I make it at home . It was def a great flavor and unique that what I usually have. Both orders come with rice and veggies. I liked my asparagus better than the mixed squash veggies my hubby had. Great place with lots of options. More for fish and seafood and pasta and some for chicken and meat. I did like the space of this restaurant bc it was nice and spacious and they found a plug so I could plug my phone in. There was no one around us but they are definitely popular bc they filled out real fast. read more

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Well looking at the rating for this place and the number or reviews I assume what I say here isn't going to be much different than the others. This place is amazing. Walking up it doesn't look like too much. It's off to the side and doesn't have the best presence, but inside (or outside) the chef is making pure goodness. We both had the blackened grouper with a crab concoction ($8 extra) with asparagus. My mom had potatoes and I had the fries which were both amazing. I have had grouper many times many places but this was by far the best I have had to date. I never eat all my food but I definitely ate all of this! Our server was also amazing - April. One of the most friendly servers I had while visiting the area. She had so much personality and provided great service all at the same time. I didn't sit inside but the outside is nice. It can be a little hot but they have fans to help. I think I'm going to go back prior to leaving the state! read more

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