Like many restaurants today, they have limited seating due to the COVID thing. As a result, we had to wait for a table. It was well worth the wait. I had the blackened shrimp. Wonderfully prepared and the waitress was excellent. Highly recommend The Half Shell. read more

Yesterday was my first visit to St Simons Island and I was lucky to stumble across The Half Shell. As soon as I walked in I was warmly greeted by the bartender Ashley who made my entire experience top notch. It was the end of a very long and taxing weekend for Ashley and staff, as it was the weekend of the Florida v Georgia football game (I was unaware St. Simons was a big destination for the UGA fans). Nonetheless, the staff went the extra mile to make sure we had the most enjoyable time we could ask for. In these trying times where quality employees are hard to find, The Half Shell should be very proud of their employees as they are the best anywhere in the world. I would recommend this place to everyone! read more

The Half Shell - Awesome epoxy and oyster shell bar top. - Seafood Near Me - Saint Simons Island, Georgia

Awesome service! Great food!! The restaurant had a great environment and created a great experience for us!

This is the real thing. Put this on your list. Get there early unless you want to wait. Shrimp and grits was amazing. Sheep head fish cooked perfectly. Early dinners get a 2 for one drink deal too. read more

The Half Shell - Seafood Near Me - Saint Simons Island, Georgia

Nice place, food was pretty good, servers were nice. The outdoor seating was nice. Overall solid restaurant

Our favorite place in Saint Simons, great fresh seafood plus land lubbers fare too. Wonderful for appetizers or just cocktails too read more

Sat at the bar. The small seating area allows for a busy, energetic vibe with personalized attention to detail. Staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and inviting. My wife and I split three different kinds of oysters. We appreciated we could order 1/2 dozen and graze on St. James, VA Oysters over and a glass of wine. read more

The oysters are amazing and the Blue Crab BLT was INCREDIBLE. The crab bisque was some of the best I've ever had. Common theme about a lot of places on the island...the service was great & friendly. read more

Best crab cakes! Better than Barbara Jeans even! And we love the crab cakes and BJ... Best raw oysters! Everything was priced very reasonably and the portion is just right (abundant). We came back for dinner in two days after a delightful lunch. Will highly recommend. read more

Good drinks, pleasant beach-side atmosphere, food a mixed bag. The blackened shrimp were fabulous. The Caesar salad under them was so-so. The calamari tacos were good. The bloody Marys were great, with okra pickles and a shrimp. The atmosphere was pleasant and bar-like inside, café-like outside. The waiters and waitress were very used to dealing with tourists and not all that invested in their work, though they were fairly efficient. This is a tourist destination ... not bad, not wonderful. Like many tourist destinations it gets lots of good reviews (better than the place really deserves) ... it's OK, but not great. read more

Ordered the ahi tuna tacos, the oysters, and the butter cake. Everything was good but a bit small on portion size with the main entrees that my friends ordered. The butter cake was delicious! read more

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Had a great time. Got there on a Sunday night around 7 o'clock and they quoted a 35 minute wait which was very accurate. The hostess was very nice. We were drawn to the place because the yelp reviews were excellent and it was a really nice joint like atmosphere. The bar is very small we wish we could sit at the bar because it was really cool but we sat in the bar area which was fine. The food was very good for the price that you paid and the service was awesome can't complain. Would come again. I got the $19 blackened shrimp with the grit side so I felt like I was getting a cheaper version of the shrimp and grits very well worth it. The grits were awesome. The shrimp were very good. Not extraordinary but very good read more

We are down fromNJ for the month and have been delighted with St Simon's Island so far. We had lunch at the Half Shell today. What a treat! Steamed shrimp with some kind of magical cajun butter sauce. Amazing! Hubby had a dozen raw oysters and loved them. Grilled mahi and flounder for entrees were fresh and cooked very well. I had green beans wrapped in bacon and they were outstanding! This place is dog friendly, and we enjoyed the company of a sweet and lovely golden retriever (and his humans). All in all, great food, friendly service and the chance to meet new folks and fur babies! Will be coming back for sure! read more

Wow. I've been coming to SSI for 30+ years. I don't visit every year, but I have my favorite places. Tonight I wanted to try someplace new, did some research and decided on an early dinner at The Half Shell. I started with a cup of the Crab Bisque. It came out quickly, and it was hot! I don't know about you, but so many places I go when I order a chowder or a bisque it comes out barely above room temperature. I find myself gulping it down in order to finish it before it becomes too cold and quite unpalatable. Not this bisque! And it was, honestly, the best crab bisque I have ever eaten. I followed that with a plate of fried Georgia shrimp and onion rings. The onion ring order was based on a few reviews here. They did not disappoint. And, hot enough that I had to let them cool for a moment to save my tongue from trauma. Service was fast and friendly. I arrived early on a Monday evening, shortly after they opened. By the time I finished my bisque the restaurant was half full and the bar (where I was sitting) was completely full. That speaks well of their reputation. I'll. Be. Back. read more

I wish I could give this place more than five stars! Every restaurant on the island is good, but this place is above and beyond. They have local crab and local oysters, not just local shrimp. And everything is delicious! It tastes like seafood, not like deep fryer. But not overpriced! This is *tasty* fresh seafood for the same price as deep fried frozen clams somewhere down the street. The steak is also great, for no-shellfish folks. I recommend the Sweet Rickshaw cocktail! read more

The Half Shell - Seafood Near Me - Saint Simons Island, Georgia

Yelp reviews highly recommend the Half Shell and we were not disappointed. Most importantly the staff pays close attention to Corvid 19 requirements - masks on each staff member and tables and menus are disinfected between guests. Outside seating was available and extremely comfortable with the fans - in spite of a very humid Georgia evening. I felt safer there than any other restaurant during our trip. The Half shell has a nice selection of cocktails and beer. We chose the Bloody Mary based on a previous experience. This drink has been rated the best on St. Simons Island and there is a reason. The taste and the appearance are memorable - Jimmy Luv's Bloody Mary Mix, a healthy dose of vodka, glass rimmed with Old Bay and shrimp and pickled okra for garnish. For dinner, my husband and i selected the catch of the day - red snapper. Mine was grilled and his was crusted with crab and grilled. Delicious - moist, flakey, and not overly seasoned. (The plate looked so good I began eating before I remembered to take a picture.) Sides range from the normal steamed broccoli/veggies to French fries (sweet and russet), cheese grits and onion rings. The broccoli probably should have stayed a bit longer in the steamer for most people, but I am okay with al dente veggies. The beer battered onion rings were heavenly! I know I will be back for them if nothing else. Service could not have been better - attentive but not overly so. We weren't rushed even though we occupied a highly sought after outside table. The Half Shell goes on my list of must restaurants to visit while in St. Simons. read more

The Half Shell - Grilled Red Snapper with lemon cream sauce - Seafood Near Me - Saint Simons Island, Georgia

Wow, based on a recommendation from a local resident we headed over to the Half Shell for our final dinner before returning to our winter homes. What a wonderful surprise - the Oysters, shrimp and tuna (all fresh) were amazing and we were sorry that we did not visit this restaurant earlier. The staff were very attentive, the ambiance was coastal and exuded charm, all the seafood was delicious. We were all surprised with the quality and freshness of each of our dishes. This is a must should you find yourself visiting Sea Island. read more

Fantastic place. Get the oysters, sit at the bar and drink s cold beer and watch them shuck em. Had the daily special...blackened golden tile....amazing. Also recommend the bacon wrapped green beans. read more

Initially our bar experience while waiting for a table was not good, but once we sat at our table, that was made up for. We had Carter, who was excellent. Great recommendations for this restaurant & other great local options around the island. Everything we ordered was delicious. Side recommendations: cheese grits & the bacon wrapped green beans - can't go wrong! read more

We sat outdoors, although restaurant was full we had quick seating and very friendly service. Blue crab bisque was delicious, and overwhelming - so very, very rich, - just get a cup. No view, but outdoors was pleasant. Tables fairly close together, but not uncomfortable. read more

We love their peel and eat shrimp, crab cakes and salads. My husband enjoys their fresh catch specials. Always good and FRESH!

I got take out and ate it so quick I forgot to take a photo! The seared tuna tacos were so balanced and refreshing. Not too heavy, hit the spot. Butter cake was amazing, great way to end a meal. A definitely must try local spot! read more

This place has potential but it was at best average. We had a dozen raw oysters, crab cakes, fried shrimp, and onion rings. The crab cakes were mostly cake without any recognizable crab. The onion rings lacked flavor. The shrimp and oysters were good. read more

My wife and I just had one of the best experiences at The Half Shell restaurant tonight. Our server, William, was excellent with his suggestions, his attention to customers, and his knowledge of the different items on the menu! We had steamed oysters that were perfectly prepared, Crab Bisque that was delicious, and our dinners were grilled/blackened grouper. Great service, great food equals great evening! read more

Nice beach restaurant with great oysters and service. I loved the calamari and crab cake BLT

Old fish camp style, way better than fish camp flavor. We ate here for dinner while in town on business. We came around 6:30 and got just in between the early crowd and the later crowd and were seated inside right away. The decor reminds me of an old camp or fish camp type place. The food seemed to be way ahead of camp food. Our server offered up the specials which included triple tail (an amazingly tasty sea critter) that you could order blackened with a low country risotto. I went for that and it was delicious. First I'd like to say the portion of fish filet was good. Sometimes when you order the "special" it's like they are rationing it waiting for Jesus to come back and multiply the fish to feed 5K people, but I digress, Half Shell gives you a full 8oz of triple tail, which might as well make it a quad tail. The portion was great but the flavor was even better. The fish was cooked and seasoned perfectly and paired with the low country risotto it was fantastic. I will say that the server mention some of what was in the risotto and I heard corn and I thought he said sausage, but I found a couple mushrooms in mine- which I don't suspect was a mistake, I think that was part of the recipe and I missed it. Luckily I didn't go into convulsions or see little purple leprechauns running around with chain saws, I just picked them out and ate the rest of my meal. We had a good time and the food was delicious! The only odd thing I would note is we both ordered garden salads and when we unwrapped our silverware from our napkins we found neither of us had a knife. Now I don't suppose St. Simons Island has an incredibly high murder rate by way of knife, so I'm not sure the reason behind leaving us defenseless against our salads but when we asked for our salad samurais the server brought two like he heard that request all the time - because he does. Maybe there is a high population of transient kleptos dine and dishing with dinnerware, but it seemed odd. If you want some quality fresh seafood this is a great place to go! Enjoy! ******* My Standardized Yelp Ratings 5 stars - This is for a place that I see as one of the best at what they do (steaks, sandwiches, BBQ, seafood, etc). 5s are for places I've been several times (typically) at least and never had an "off" experience. The food quality, service, price and atmosphere are all going to meet or exceed expectations. 4 stars - This is for a place that is good, I would drive a little out of the way to go, and the food and service is good, but maybe not amazing. Also for me, this could also be a great place that serves Pepsi products - automatic 1 star loss - bad management decision. 3 stars - This is for a place that I view as standard. Nothing special, nothing lousy, not a place you'd avoid like the plague, but a place that is not one you really look forward to either. 2 stars - This is for a place that had something go wrong or something perpetually wrong. The food and or service is likely consistently suspect here (they probably serve Pepsi too). 1 star - I can't see wasting time writing a review on a place that gets a 1 star. This is for a place that should consider closing. read more

The Half Shell - Blackened triple tail with low country risotto. - Seafood Near Me - Saint Simons Island, Georgia

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DELICIOUS! I would have to say it was worth the 2 hour wait! EVERYTHING from the shrimp ceviche, fried calamari and fish of the day (mahi) tacos to the crab cake plate was so full of flavor! The entree most amazing was the BBQ shrimp and grits and the sides (bacon wrapped green beans, slaw, fries, sweet potato fries and grits). We drove to St. Simons island from Jekyll island and it was very much worth it! read more

The fried oysters were very juicy and cooked just right. The Cajun oysters had the perfect amount of heat and cheese; for all the oysters you have to ask for saltines if that's what your used to. The salad was very refreshing with the homemade ranch as my dressing. I tried both the grilled and fried shrimp and both were super fresh. I honestly don't think you could go wrong with anything you'd want to order here! Enjoy!! read more

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The Half Shell was so good! I didn't even think about taking pictures until it was too late. My family is all about getting different plates and sharing so I was able to try a bunch of different things! The bacon wrapped green beans are a must. Just do it. The sweet chili sauce had a very good flavor without too much spice. (I don't like spicy) I also had the red snapper special with the lemon butter sauce... so. good. If fish isn't your jam I also stole half of my husbands crab cake blt and oh man..I'm picky with my crab cakes. Just the right amount of breading. On top of the awesome food, we had even better service. We all gave it 5 stars. read more

On Jekyll Island for vacation with the family and found this place on Yelp. They were one of the only places close to us open a little later (9:30pm). From Jekyll Island it takes about 30 minutes to get there. We were having a later dinner and called ahead since we would not get there until 9pm and it closed at 9:30pm. They told us it would not be an issue and it wasn't. We finished around 10pm with no issues and no one pushing us out the door. We were the last guests to leave though. :) Ordered the calamari appetizer that came with a type of sweet sauce for dipping. Fantastic and fresh tasting. FYI the calamari comes with fried parsley mixed in with the batch of calamari. Strange, but not an issue. I had the crab cake BLT without the bacon. The crab cake was very fresh and tender. One of the best crab cakes I've ever tasted. Side of onion rings that are enormous rings. Excellent sandwich and onion rings. The service was excellent!!! Our waitress was named Chelsea and she did an awesome job!!! Very polite and helpful. All the wait staff was friendly and helpful. When our waitress stepped away for a moment, another one was walking by and asked if we needed anything. We told him we did and he went and got it for us. What great service!!! Excellent experience at this restaurant and we'd definitely come back here again. Great people and great food!!! Thanks!!! read more

The Half Shell - Seafood Near Me - Saint Simons Island, Georgia

This was our first visit to the Half Shell and we couldn't have been more pleased. Along with the comfy atmosphere, the service was friendly and efficient. The fish tacos were the best I've ever eaten, the coleslaw was exquisite, and the fries were wonderful. My wife described the fried oysters as top notch. Our soft drinks were refilled without hesitation and the bill delivered and processed very smoothly. We will certainly be back again soon. read more

Very good menu. Nice place to eat, inside or outside, and a cool staff. We went for quick eats: oysters and boiled shrimp, so pretty easy pleasers and expectations were met. Also a decent group of bourbon. My only complaint -- and not just for here, but other locations on the island -- they do their boiled shrimp in what appears to just be plain water and then sprinkle old bay seasoning on the shells when they are done. Boiled shrimp needs to be boiled with some flavor in the water... get those onions, bay leaves, old bay seasoning IN the water so that the shrimp actually has flavor and not just from the seasoning sprinkled on after. read more

Duncan was an incredible server, we absolutely adored him and wish him the best in his next chapter! We wanted to give him + the manager a big hug after our meal. I had the paloma which was great, oysters were great, and the grouper fish tacos were decent. What we really raved about was the butter cake! It was very similar to what I know as chess pie, buttery sweet goodness. We loved it so much we came back for 4 more orders of butter cake the next night! read more

When you go to The Half Shell do yourself a favor and order the BBQ shrimp and grits. Oh my! We are longtime locals and we love this place. They are very popular so most of the time there's a wait, but so worth it. read more

Wonderful server George! Great beverages and ceviche! Husbands salmon was fantastic My salad was ok Great place with outdoor seating so we walked along the waterfront and pier after dinner. Nice walk to the lighthouse as well! Would recommend to anyone visiting this beautiful island! read more

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Enjoyed our meal. Got the casual seafood house meets sports bar vibe. Would definitely go back, even if just for the oyster shooters! read more

The Half Shell - The Bloody Mary oyster shooters were great!! - Seafood Near Me - Saint Simons Island, Georgia

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Love to come here, live on The Island but disappointed in the drinks and the oysters. Don't know what else we would order. Wish I didn't have to write this. Food is mediocre. read more

Busy, popular place with excellent fried seafood and a buttermilk pie to challenge your beloved grandmother's version. Attentive, professional staff. You can order a fish taco for a lighter meal, but it takes some discipline. The bar has sports channels and is regularly filled. Oysters, well you can go over the deep end on them: plain or Rockefeller. It is terribly hard to stop with just one dozen. If you eat reasonably, it is moderately priced. If you go deep into the oysters, it gets more expensive. Sometimes you might have a 10 to 15 min wait. Quicker seating outdoors. Leave your name and sit on a bench to wait. Alternatively you can walk to the adjacent tea shop and peruse your next gift tea. The casino park's live oaks are a short walk as well. The wait goes by fast. I gave four stars because I like lots of options to eat lean. My spouse rates this as his #1 moderate restaurant for the beer, oysters and fried shrimp. read more

I was super excited about this place - it seemed like it wasn't very touristy, which I hoped would equate to really good seafood. The interior is cool and laid back - I loved it. And the service was great - very attentive and quick. We started with the crab bisque which I thought was delicious. It had LOTS of crab in it and was a great start to the meal. Then I received my entree which was fried shrimp - what a huge disappointment. The shrimp and breading were over cooked and tough. It didn't seem like they were using the large, plump GA shrimp that other restaurants in the area use - these were small and not good. The crab cakes were also a big disappointment - these were definitely "tourist" crab cakes made up mostly of filler. They seemed like frozen patties that had been heated up and were mushy. Our drinks were great and if we had just come in for drinks and a snack, this would have been a 4 or 5 star review. But the food quality was sadly more like a 2. They are obviously catering to people who don't know what good seafood should be - such a shame. read more

Average food. Nothing too special. Was hoping for good seafood since it was near the coast but it was items I could make at home tbh