Half Shell Oyster House
| Address: | 2500 13th St #1, Gulfport, MS 39501, USA |
| Phone: | +1 228-867-7001 |
| Site: | halfshelloysterhouse.com |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Working: | 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–10PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 5
MA
Matt McCowan
Took husband, father in law, party 6 here yesterday for Fathers Day meal. Realized they were very busy but here are my compliants. 1st being placed just inside entrance on floor with very heavy foot traffic of staff. It was so loud we had to yell out our selections with cupping hands to give waiter correct order. Gave up, just pointed out item from menu. 2nd, was so loud we had to lean forward and yell to each other across table to talk. 3rd, my son and I ordered yellow swordfin tuna cooked to medium. His was perfect, but mine was white and dry. 4th, husbands oysters were overcooked to point of hard: size was Small ( inch or just over, small in our definition). He ate 4, left rest, and would not allow me to have recooked. 5th shrimp Alfredo too dry, not enough sauce for pasta. On positive note, 3 of 6 orders were perfect. Redfish Orleans, One of yellow tuna steak was cooked perfectly medium, not dry. Shrimp and grits was great. Bananas foster cheesecake great. The atmosphere was missing. Traditional jazzy New Orleans sound replaced with elevator music, but only heard when went to restroom. On previous 3 visits music was there, one of reasons we wanted to treat our Fathers of the Day. Our placement in restaurant very very loud and each time door opened, youd feel hot air swoop over our head causing our area to be hot. It was bad placement in restaurant, 3 of 6 courses majorly flawed. Lastly service may have been as best it could have been. Not enough staff to manage seats filled, keep teas refilled and more important cold tea, not enough ice, was lukewarm temperature . My suggestion to Half Shell Gport- do away with 6 seat table on main floor just inside doorway-convert to larger station for Host greeting. This position will always be loud, unless acoustic treatment done. Waiters-waitresses must have route of travel to patrons. This my other complaint-very heavy foot traffic, distracting to our eating. Another reason to do away with this specific table of 6. Previous 3 visits, was placed on other end toward oyster bar. Much more quiet. Im not one to post, but feels this warrants it. It was miserable dine out yesteady for 3 fathers in our party of 6. Renee M., not Matt M
EM
Emily Steele
Came here for the oysters, but ended up intrigued by the shrimp that came from the gulf right there beside us. Maybe well get the oysters next time because I hear they are the best you can find. This is located on a cute little street, close to the water, close to hotels, and down just a bit from a main shopping area. Theres parking close to the building on two different streets. We arrived just before the dinner portions were served, so we had the option and went for lunch portions. Prices for lunch is reasonable, whereas the dinner prices are rather expensive (but you do get a larger sized portion). I had the shrimp and grits with jalapeno hush puppies. My son had the pasta with shrimp and a side of okra. The okra was the BEST okra Ive had. Fried perfectly, didnt taste of the grease it was fried in, tender okra on the inside of the breading. Lovely taste. I kept sneaking another bite when he wasnt looking. He loved his pasta and shrimp. Plenty of shrimp in the bowl, pasta sauce wasnt too rich and just the right amount covering tender noodles. My shrimp were cooked perfectly. Peeled, but with the tail on. Not too chewy, not tough, not shriveled. Perfect. The grits were cheesy, garlicy, and delicious. The sauce over the grits and shrimp was rich, but not too rich to enjoy it. I wanted another bite to make sure I really did just taste sauce that good. Another bite. Finished the whole plate!! I even went back to the tails I just pulled off to finish off any sauce there. The hush puppies were slightly spicy, but not too spicy to where I didnt eat all of them. I like the New Orleans feeling of the inside of the restaurant. Iron railings. Brick walls. Jazzy photos. Wood floors. Very cozy environment. Staff was quick to acknowledge us when we walked in and quick to check on us at the table. Will definitely return if we ever visit this part of the country again.
EV
EVERYTHING NYCEE
Im only giving the 1 star because the atmosphere was nice. Me and 2 of my companions arrived at approximately 5:35pm, Sunday 5/15/16. There were about 5-6 tables with people seated and being served (they werent really that busy from what we could see.) Our waitress took 15 minutes to greet us, 12 minutes to bring our drinks (1 water/1 top shelf Margarita/2 sweet teas); & 20 minutes to bring our appetizers ( dozen oysters on the half shell and a cup of soup.) Mind you that we placed our enitre order when we ordered drinks. By this time @least 3 other groups of people had come in, were seated and eating their appetizers. After waiting 45 minutes to an hour for our entrees (dinner salad and 2 grilled fish meals), watching others get their foods and service, we were DONE! I called for our waitress... and when she put that good ole church finger up - I was furious. I told her to Just bring the bill for what we had, that I was not interested in waiting another minute for anything. Suddenly our food was ready. Waitress asked if I wanted the food boxed to go. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME RIGHT? I told the waitress Again to cancel our order and give me the bill for what we had so we can go get something to eat. Her excuses: she had to put in the oysters 1st, we didnt understand, blah blah blah, we were slammed (BS)- and finally-the truth... " I am sorry-I hate when this happens". By 7:20 pm this adventure had come to an end. Unfortunately we are unable to truly comment on the food but the experience is what it was.
WI
William Harrison
The first date night the wife and Ive had for months and the experience was horrific. We waited the normal 45 minutes to get in which is average but then when seated, we were seated next to a closed table surrounded by towels as the Third world repair job on the AC unit caused a major leak. We sat patiently for 20 minutes waiting for our waiter to stop flirting with the bartender to take our drink order. 15 minutes later our drinks arrived (FINALLY). We ordered a dozen Rockefeller oysters that tasted fantastic but it only took 83 minutes to arrive, 83 minutes! The wife was infuriated which made great table talk. We ate them oysters starvin style and patiently waited for our main course, tuna steak and the snapper plate. 75 minutes later our stud server offers some gumbo while apologizing for the waterfall which was as thick as stew. We polished off the gumbo anticipating our main course. 43 minutes later we received our dishes. The wife loves the tuna (A+) but the burned, sloppy, way over seasoned butter filled snapper was my breaking point. I patiently waiting for the wife to eat the lovely looking tuna just so we could go home for me to make a sandwich. IF the wife and I ever get another date night, this will not be the place we spend 4 hours at. 4 stars on the AC waterfall !
JO
Joe Powell
What has happened to the service at the Half Shell in Gulfport. Have been there twice in the last month and the service was terrible to lousy. The first time was the week before Mothers Day. Ordered a dozen charbroiled oysters, and cesear salad with grilled Shrimp and a house salad. Took 35 minutes for the oysters and over a hour to get the salads. The shrimp was fried, not grilled, was offered replacement, but did not want to wait another half hour to get it. Ice tea drinks were never refilled. 2nd time ordered the same except no shrimp, another half hour wait for oysters, And this time a party of 8 who ordered 15 minutes after we got our oysters, got their salads before us. Second time was a late lunch, us, the party of 8, and three other couples in the place. Had to ask to have our drinks refilled. Once a fluke, twice a pattern. Sorry we will go to Biloxi, from now on. Dont go back to places with bad service a third time.
