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    The Half Shell

    4.4 (801 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

    The Half Shell Photos

    Business Info

    THE HALF SHELL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Half Shell

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    Melissa I.

    Very family friendly. Instead of crayons, they hand out sticky sticks to create figures and objects with. The bathrooms are singles, so makes it much easier to contain littles. Had the open face tuna tacos, the flounder special, and chicken tenders. The open face tacos were not easy to eat but delicious. The flounder was really yummy. And our son loved the chicken tenders with fries. Def recommend

    Adam B.

    We had a really good meal at The Half Shell. Started with the open-faced tuna tacos appetizer, which were fresh and well done. For dinner we had the crab cakes, crab BLT, and grilled shrimp, all served with sidewinder fries and a variety of dipping sauces. Everything tasted great and was nicely portioned. Cassie was our server and did a solid job--friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We also tried the drink of the day, the Mistletoe Martini, made with gin, elderflower, and cranberry. We went with gin and it was a good choice. Overall, a good experience with good food and service.

    Broiled oysters
    Josh W.

    I found this little gem while walking around the area looking for a good dinner spot. I liked the look of it and thought it'd be good to try. Sometimes your gut tells you right and this was certainly the case. The service was excellent, the food was very tasty, and the ambiance was pretty relaxed. Our server Alie was very friendly and knowledgeable. The place has a somewhat divey local feel which we really liked. Here's what we got: -Line 39 Pinot Noir -Sweetwater 420 -Lemon and garlic oysters (broiled) -Mandarin orange and strawberry salad, poppy seed vinaigrette -Blackened mahi w/ sautéed vegetables -Grilled flounder special sautéed vegetables, sweet potato fries. We didn't wait long at all before everything was ready. My lady's really enjoyed the oysters and her salad. My lady's mom liked her flounder too. And overall, everything was very nicely priced. I could see stopping by here again.

    The half shell shot (tequila one) upgraded to Don Julio
    Elizabeth D.

    I had the triple tail crab crusted it was excellent. Also the green beans wrapped in bacon were awesome

    Sami G.

    This place is a must stop when I visits SSI!! They have the best food and the best staff around. I absolutely love fresh oysters and these did not disappoint. We also had the burger, massive beer battered onion rings, salad and bacon wrapped asparagus. The onion rings were outstanding. This place is such a comfortable cozy place and we had a great booth. I truly love going there. Def recommend!!

    Chicken tenders and fries from the kids menu
    Jade C.

    Came to SSI for a few days and ended up coming back here twice. Food was phenomenal. A little bit of a wait on Saturday night but we went right in on Sunday evening since it was raining. Apps: Oysters and shrimps were fresh. (Pic not taken but the calamari was so tasty too) The oyster shooters (my first time ever having one) is very reasonably priced and an experience! All the entrees came out fresh, fishes were cooked perfectly. The bacon wrapped green beans are to die for, a little bit of sweet with the savory, and I didn't feel guilty eating the whole batch because they're GREEN BEANS. Lastly, the butter cake? It sent me to heaven with each bite. If I ever came back to St. Simons again, (besides the beach), this would be my first spot to visit.

    Sandra F.

    My fiancée picked this spot for us to dine in for dinner. It has a divey feel with a great selection of seafood. Both drink and food menus are very reasonable with pricing. We ordered: Drinks: -Line 39 Pinot Noir -Sweetwater 420 Dinner: -Lemon and garlic oysters (broiled) -Mandarin orange and strawberry salad, poppy seed vinaigrette -Blackened mahi w/ sautéed vegetables --Grilled flounder special sautéed vegetables, sweet potatoe fries. We didn't have to wait long for our meals. They came out right away. I really enjoyed my salad and oysters. The oysters were not greasy or had too much butter. I loved the dressing that came with my salad. On the other hand, My fiancée and my mom liked their meal but thought it was a bit bland and could use some seasoning. Overall the experience was good and the service was great. Alie was our server and was really nice and very attentive. There are so many seafood places in the area. Not my favorite, But I thought they were fair.

    Gluten free menu

    Gluten free menu! Everything was very delicious and our server was very friendly! Highly recommend the crab bisque!

    Blackened shrimp with grits
    Anngie S.

    The ambiance was good, the service was great.. so nice, polite. I would give the decor/vibe/service 5/5.. The food was the disappointment honestly... it all lacked flavor. The shrimp and grits were good but had so many green peppers m, they were the feature in the dish... the Mahi was blackened but again lacked any flavor at all, none. The grits as a side tasted like thick mush/cream of wheat more than grits, it was sweet and so thick it took on the mild of the cup, it was in like jello-o I'd go to Porch any day for fried shrimp and grits. We were hopeful but having at add salt to everything but the salad was sad. The pictures are amazing but very deceiving.. server Jen was great though and the drinks were great too!

    Kids menu
    Kelly B.

    I found recommendations in my social media posts about this place and I as excited to try it on my first trip to St Simons. We visited the Saturday craft market located just behind the restaurant and then walked up and got seated immediately. Super cute Beach vibe and saw triple tail Fish on the board but wasn't. Instead it was flounder. No worries, the grilled flounder and delish and well sauced. Our young server was a beautiful young lady who was attentive and friendly. We could not believe how fast our food came. The shrimp came out almost instantly and our main course 15 min later. The shrimp ceviche is really like a shrimp salad -super delish! It's great for splitting between 3 people as an app. The wonton strips served alongside were a great choice. Our meal -flounder, green beans wrapped in thick bacon, and red cabbage cole slaw were exactly what we imagined. All delicious! I could not add anything more but we had a wonderful experience and cannot wait to go back. If you want a TV, then sit back n the outside patio to eat your meal. Clean bathrooms!

    Big booth inside

    My husband and I were walking around at the Vintage Market and in the parking lot next door and stopped into Half Shell as soon as it opened. The place was super clean and AC WAS AMAZING! We sat at the bar and the bartender was great (Walter needs a raise! lol) . His quick service and bubbly personality was top notch. We didn't eat much but we did order the calamari and I can say it's the best I've had. The fried cilantro takes it to the next level~ Yummy! If you visit SSI, definitely go early and get in.

    Eddy H.

    I visited this restaurant for the first time with my daughter on Mother's Day. She had previously dined there and spoke highly of their seafood. We were initially told that there could be a 20 to 30 minute wait, but we are pleasantly surprised to be seated almost immediately. Rather than each of us ordering an entrée, we decided to share a couple of appetizers, a bowl of crab bisque, and a side of their french fries. The food was amazing. Everything tasted fresh and very flavorful. We shared peel and eat shrimp as well as the crabcake. The restaurant has a nautical themed vibe which is perfect for the area. I would definitely recommend and consider returning to this restaurant. Cheers

    Flounder, pasta & shrimp!

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    2 years ago

    More a bar than a restaurant. Food was adequate. Service was superb. Presentation of food was so-so.

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    2 years ago

    Low key ambiance. Good food cooked as ordered. Service was attentive but not overly so. Fresh seafood & burgers.

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    Page 4 of 21

    Ask the Community - The Half Shell

    Do you have happy hour pricing for raw oysters?

    Apologies, but we do not offer raw oysters on Happy Hour! Our oysters are Market Price and our Happy Hour applies to alcohol, only. The oysters are still delicious, though!

    Do you have a gluten free menu?

    Not menu but there are many gluten free options. This is primary a fish shack

    Do they have Happy Hour?

    Yes. Mon - Thu 5 - 6. Fri - Sun 4 - 6.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Palmer's Village Cafe - French Toast & Potatoes

    Palmer's Village Cafe

    4.5(837 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    This place is one of St.Simons Island's hidden gems! Featuring a mix of seafood and American-style…read morecuisine with some southern flair, the food is quite delicious! I highly recommend their buffalo crab dip, a concoction that is a buffalo cheese dip served with fresh lump crab. You can really taste the crab in this dish. They don't skimp on it at all. The most clever thing that they did here, though, is to serve it with wonton chips. It's something that's truly unique, as most restaurants would serve a dish like this with regular chips. The wonton chips are a treat unto themselves, having great wonton flavor. However, when you combine it with the dip, it really takes it over the top. Highly recommend. For my entree, I had their Cajun Alfredo pasta. It is linguine served in a "Cajun-spiced Alfredo sauce". It is "served with tasso and smoked sausage", and you can choose to have it with either chicken or wild GA shrimp. In either case, once again, they do not skimp . You get a heaping portion of either chicken or shrimp, and the sauce is very tasty. It is just as described, an Alfredo sauce with a little Cajun flavor, though it is not spicy. It is served with no sides, but no sides are necessary as it is a hearty portion all by itself. Very delicious. The most impressive thing that I saw is that the owner is very hands-on. They have these new-fangled mobile electronic lamps, and the owner came by and noticed that ours wasn't quite working. He replaced it immediately himself. He was very friendly and chatted us up. He also went around and was serving and clearing tables himself. It seems that if you eat here, there's a strong possibility that you could end up meeting the owner! Meeting him was a very nice touch. The only thing that I had a hard time with here was choosing a dish because everything looked so good on the menu! Delicious food and great service. I strongly recommend this place!

    We checked out Palmer's Cafe shortly after their recent renovation and on one of their first nights…read moreopen for dinner--so glad we did! The space looks great, and it was exciting to see them expanding into dinner service. I went in craving a good burger and ordered the Smashburger, upgrading to the truffle fries... and wow. Sooo good. The burger was perfectly cooked, flavorful, and everything you want from a smash-style burger. The truffle fries were absolutely worth the upgrade--crispy, indulgent, and hard to stop eating. Overall, a great first dinner experience post-renovation. We're excited to come back and try more of the dinner menu. Highly recommend checking it out!

    Photos
    Palmer's Village Cafe
    Palmer's Village Cafe - Salmon on risotto

    Salmon on risotto

    Palmer's Village Cafe

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    The Half Shell - seafood - Updated June 2026

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