Half Shell Oyster House

Right on the corner in downtown Tuscaloosa this small chain offers a plethora of seafood options a full bar and a really interesting decor. First off the char grilled oysters are the star. Buttery smokey grilled flavor combined with some of that oyster sea brine is an unbeatable combo. They also offer snow crab claws which we enjoyed in the New Orleans sauce. It is a pity only the claws though. Also a small crab fork would be very helpful for both these dishes. The bar has a few draft beers I think an IPA is the best pairing with many of their spicy offerings. The large interior has upstairs dining plenty of open bar seating and booths to cater to your preference. Prices are higher given it's seafood several hours from the sea but not outrageous just be prepared. Personally I really enjoyed thought it was worth the dinner experience and would recommend.

This was an exceptional experience! Our server, Chris (?) was absolutely fantastic. He was very polite and attentive. Great job on him! The atmosphere is very nice but a little loud for quiet conversation. The food was also very good. The New Orleans Oysters were amazing. The steaks were good, but to me lacked flavor without the Creole sauce. The other items were also very good. Exceptional place for a Father's Day dinner with the family.

Stopped in for the evening on business and saw this gem across the street from my room at Embassy Suites. The atmosphere was fun and the food was delicious! I sat at the bar and our bartender was immediately attentive. The oysters were wonderful and my Cajun Redfish was on point. I ate the oysters to fast to take pictures. Sorry, I'll definitely be going back. I'll upload more pictures. If your gonna be in Tuscaloosa anytime soon, it's very much worth your time and money!

I wanted to experience southern food and I was not let down! Oysters, gumbo, catfish and crawfish sauce were excellent! (Not all consumed at the same time) key lime pie was the best I ever had! Friendly staff, great atmosphere, you need to eat here, especially if you want to try a southern dish!!!

Food was really good. Had a longer than expected wait to get seated. Redfish Oreleans had really good marination of Orleans sauce. Jumblaya soup was also awesome.

Perfect spot for a date night !! The food was fresh and so delicious. Our server was very attentive. And the atmosphere was comfortable and spacious. I will be suggesting this place in the future !! There are also plenty of tv’s to watch football

Nice place. Crab cakes were good but the food was very salty. Service and southern hospitality are always outstanding.

This was the first place we dine and it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS and worth every penny Oyster 1000/10 Fried crab claws 1000/10 Gumbo 8/10 Jalapeño Hush puppies (Dangerously Delicious/10 I personally had the Redfish Orleans was phenomenal and paired nicely with sweet potatoes crème & red beans and rice 10/10 my company had the Stuffed Seafood Portabella paired with sweet potatoes crème & garden salad. 10/10 - Coming back for the oyster ✨ it felt like Nola for second 😉

Great recommendation from my coworkers in Tuscaloosa! I needed one last dinner to complete my trip, and I definitely was not disappointed. Start the experience with an ice-cold Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan. So tasty, so cold; I had it about half gone by the time the waiter sat it down to take my order! (It was 92 degrees outside...lol). I decided to go with 2 of their signature menu items: the Oysters Orleans (when at an oyster house) and the Voodoo Shrimp Po'Boy....wow! Saving the best for last, let's start with the Po'Boy. The voodoo sauce is awesome, and there had to be about 25 shrimp on it. The French bread was warm on the inside and had a nice flaky crust. I would suggest no lettuce, tomato, or pickles. The additions just got in the way. Now, what I should have ordered a couple dozen of and made my entire course: the Oysters Orleans. I usually enjoy raw oysters, but I thought I'd try these charbroiled oysters topped with cajun sauce and parmesan cheese. I added some additional hot sauce and then enjoyed the most delicious oysters I have ever tried. I would go out of my way to stop here just for the oysters! Very quick service, very good food, and I think a relatively inexpensive price for an upscale restaurant. I definitely recommend (get the oysters!).

Super cool building had us intrigued- service was great, and appreciated. Plenty of meal selections, and decently prepared. With a name like "Half Shell" though would have been thankful for some Oysters from other regions. Recommend!

Food was good as always. However service from our waiter was horrible. We had a table of 8 and we knew it would be a wait. It was Alabama graduation day. Our server was only handling a couple tables. When we finished our apps, he never removed the plates with empty shells. I spilled water attempting to give him the plate and he ignored and never assisted in offer towel or removal over other plates. When our food arrived it was only half the table. Then 10 minutes later the other orders came out except for the person who was paying the bill. They had to wait an additional few minutes. No apologies either. No refills on drinks offered. Also didn't even asked if I wanted another Manhattan( missed opportunity for sales). Oh one other thing, they forgot my sweet potato brûlée , had to flag the hostess/ manager to remind them. Only to be told they were behind on those Our waiter brought it to the table( again no apologies. ) OMG. It was not brûlées the butter was cold and the sugar was still grainy. I did let the hostess know of our disappointment on our way out. Which was met with "oh. Okay, thank you". Do better please. When I find my receipt I will update you on waiter name.

We were able to walk in as a family of 6 around 8pm on a summer Saturday and sit right down--a win as the tiniest ppl were about ready to crash. The staff was nice and the decor/design of the restaurant is fun. The food was lacking in flavor. If you're truly into Cajun food or love New Orleans cuisine, this place likely isn't going to cut it for you. We had to add salt to just about everything that came out. The only items with no complaints were the shrimp poboy and the children's cheeseburger.

I'm low key upset that I didn't discover this place earlier. We came here on a date night just to try out some oysters and ended up having one of the best oysters AND the most juiciest and cooked to the perfection stakes!!! Actually I take that back; I had the best stake in my whole life tonight at the Half Shell Oyster House, Tuscaloosa! We also ordered some shrimps which were alright, and got fried okras and French fries as our 2 sides that came with the stake. I also tried their grilled pineapple jalapeno margarita which was amazing! All the staff were so nice and the atmosphere was so cozy and gorgeous. Overall this place made our date night one of the most memorable ones and I can't wait to visit this restaurant again in my next trip to Tuscaloosa!!

Me and my boyfriend came to Half Shell to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. While our food did take a while to come out our serve Isaac was awesome and apologized several times and thanked us for our patience. He seemed so stressed about how long the food took but we were enjoying our time. Isaac was great and we will most definitely come back soon for another great meal

Consistent and good! We were so glad to spend some time here on a non-game day meal. The oysters were freaking fantastic, we all had redfish entrees that were amazing and the service was perfect. Thank you for a lovely let evening!!

Back just two weeks later from my first visit. The inside of the restaurant was very comfortable and not the freezing cold experience of my last visit. I sat in the bar area at a high top. I started out with a half dozen Oysters Bienville and they were excellent, albeit quite rich. Next, I had some seafood gumbo, this, too, was superb containing generous chunks of seafood. For my entree I had the Refish Orleans, very good but the Cajun sauce, although it had great flavor, was overdone with the amount on the plate; I believe that the kitchen attempts to give the fish another life by creating an environment for which the fish could swim. Bottom line, food here is very good, downtown setting is convenient and comfortable, and my service tonight was excellent (thank you Trey!).

I ate my entrée so fast I didn't remember to take a picture. So I guess I'll have to give you the 1000 words. Here are some of the things I loved about this restaurant: The food was delicious. The Louisiana style crab claws were perfectly cooked and so flavorful. The garlicky sauce was the perfect touch. The service was excellent. The staff was friendly and attentive, and they were happy to answer any questions I had about the menu. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. It was a great place to relax and enjoy a meal with friends or family. I also wanted to add that I really enjoyed the community feel of the restaurant. I met some amazing patrons while I was there, and we all chatted for a while about our experiences in Tuscaloosa. It was a great way to learn about the city and meet some new people. Sorry no picture of the entree I was too busy talking and eating...At least I did remember to post the margarita!

Ok, this restaurant is amazing! Tuscaloosa is lucky! The corner spot on University Avenue is a perfect location. We had a window seat near the large bar. There was great seating at the bar too. The menu is extensive, and everything we ordered was delicious! The artichoke appetizer, Cajun potatoes, mahi, hush puppies, green beans- all cooked to perfection. The service, thank you Taylor, was great. This is our new "go-to" spot in Tuscaloosa!

A group of us went here for a late Friday night dinner and got seated in a second floor loft area. The service was on point and our server accommodated several special requests. The fish dishes were nicely prepared and my shrimp and grits was excellent (but could have had some Andouille sausage added to kick it up a notch.). Pricing was reasonable and they had an excellent selection of wines.

When in Tuscaloosa, you aren't probably thinking of seafood, at least I wasn't. The wife picked this spot and I was very pleasantly surprised. The vibe is low key, with an atmosphere that allows for conversation. I had the Tuna Esplanade and she had the seafood pasta. She rated it 4 stars due to small pieces of seafood. My tuna was perfectly cooked, I like medium rare. The sides were delish as well. All in all, a solid dinner. Oh yea, our server was great too.

I have dined at Half shell several times over the past few years, and it has been a pleasant experience. I recently opted for the blackened redfish paired with asparagus and fried okra, and the flavors were on point. The sauce that was served with it was very good. The environment was a perfect balance of cozy and lively which added to the overall dining experience. While the staff is friendly, the pace can be a bit slow and we weren't checked on very often. It doesn't ruin the experience by any means, but a more prompt service would enhance the experience. While the pacing could be improved, Half shell overall offers a tasty and reasonably priced menu, a comfortable atmosphere, and friendly staff. I will probably be back here in the next few months!

Service was great. Ambiance was fabulous. Food was delicious. Overall Great experience!!!! We had the sweetest server Carleill charbroiled oysters were fantastic!

An excellent late dinner of a bowl of seafood gumbo, Royal Reds with Broccoli and fried okra, and a catfish dish with a super seafood cream sauce served over rice. The gumbo is the best we've had beside my great aunt's. Our server, Nicole, was very friendly and efficient. I loved the old building and stained glass.

It quite literally disgusting. Seafood cooked under heat lamps? No thanks. I made the mistake last time I went of ordering steak, took my dog a few hours to chew it because it was so tough and I eat steak rare. Go across the street instead

Lunch with friends today 5/21/24. I I ordered blackened redfish and side salad. A good regular size salad came 1st. I know it's a lunch menu but my entree was just fish. All that was on this plate was just the fish, a tiny portion of dipping sauce and a small piece of lemon nothing else. So bite after bite was just fish. Come on now how much does a little rice cost? Lunch was pricy for no more than it was. So since I'd just about eaten all the salad I just ate fish. This plate would have been a lot more appetizing with a base under the fish, a thin layer of rice or pasta or something! A small portion of a pretty veggie maybe on the edge of plate or a roll! The fish was cooked good but I had to drink all my tea to break up the meal a bit. Service by waitress good but my friend got a salad but it wasn't the salad she ordered.

We had dinner there May 20th, it was awesome. Food was great, shared a dozen Orleans oysters (our favorite), I had the Orleans filet and my wife had the Red Fish Orleans. The meal was amazing. Kat was working at the bar, she is the best. Very attentive and caring. She is very friendly , beautiful, and smells really nice (lol). The place is always very clean and organized, absolutely our favorite place in Tuscaloosa. Thanks for a great evening.

Yup. The Oyster Rockerfellers, will rock you! Redfish anything on this menu is good. Their sides are delish. Their apps are on point. I have not one complaint. Service is great. We never have to wait. The servers keep the glasses full. The pacing of the meal is worth the price. Too bad no pics....its all gone!

Half Shell Oyster House has Great food and friendly service. Always enjoy dining here.

Very nice location. Everything was clean. Very busy place. The grilled oysters were the best plain. And then we had the sample of the different type of roasted oysters. The Orleans was very good. The shrimp dip was good could've used some more spice in it. we did get the seafood bisque. That was very good for some of us. The gumbo was real dark so if you don't like a very dark flavored gumbo, don't get it, but it was good for the people who like a dark gumbo. The red fish with the shrimp on top was tasty, but the redfish was a little overcooked.and the pasta with the shrimp in it was seasoned as well. All of the food was good, but not the standard. I would expect the price I was paying. Everything needed a little bit more seasoning.

Great Dining Experience in a Very Chic Restaurant!!!! I was in Tuscaloosa earlier this for business. As I was looking for a place to eat for dinner I came across the Half Shell Oyster House. The restaurant had great reviews and it was located in the downtown core which is where I wanted to eat and explore that evening. What really hooked me was the 'Summer Feature Items' One was an Ahi Tuna Tostada and the other feature was a Cobia Succotash. I had heard of Cobia prior to my visit but I had never tried it before. That alone helped to decide, this is where I wanted to eat. Half Shell is a very well-designed place to eat. Nice decor and it has two levels for dining. Since I was alone I decided to eat in the bar area. It was a great choice as got a really good view of the rest of the restaurant. The hostesses were very friendly and found a nice spot to eat my dinner. My server was amiable and very accommodating. I explained that it was my first time there and was looking forward to the Cobia. Unfortunately for me, they were fresh out of the Ahi Tuna Tostada, but she gave me some great recommendations. I started off with a nice house salad and Cheddar Cheese Grits, and as my appetizer, I tried a bowl of Royal Reds. Royal Reds are known as 'The crowned jewel of Alabama Shrimp and can be identified by their large size, rich crimson colour and their naturally salty and flavourful taste that has been compared to both Lobster and Bay Scallops. What a treat, I really enjoyed them. Next top was the Cobia Succotash, which was served browned over a bed of corn and back bean succotash topped with cilantro chimichurri and avocado sour cream. The fish was firm but very tender and not too 'fishy', and with the way it was served, it was a great intro to Cobia. The whole dining experience, from the service to the vibe, made it a great meal and I got to try some new foods, so that was a bonus too. If you are a seafood lover and happen to be near one of the Half Shell locations, give them a shot and hopefully, you will experience something new!!

Fantastic oysters and overall great food. Redfish with creole sauce was solid as was seafood pasta.

My oh my!! If you are in the mood for a trip to New Orleans, but just don't have time for the traveling, pop on in to the Half Shell Oyster House. The surroundings make you feel like you are in the French Quarter and the food and service will transport your taste buds right to the Big Easy. The interior is straight out of the Quarter, and the ambiance is all Old New Orleans. The Redfish is fabulous and can be ordered in several delightful presentations. Nice oysters, raw, Bienville, Rockefeller, or grilled are available.

Chargrilled and Orleans oysters were excellent...best I had were at Neyos in NOLA and the ones at Half Shell were neck and neck with them! Don't get me started on the Crab and Shrimp dip..sooooo good! Nice atmosphere and great service. We will definitely be back.

Love Love Love! all the food is fresh! The service is amazing. The wait is usually long, but just grab a drink and hang out it's part of the experience! Bathrooms are downstairs, so just an FYI for anyone who has trouble with stairs. All around, wonderful places to go enjoy a meal!

Wow, this was such a great experience and really turned our views of Half Shell around. We have visited multiple locations across the state over the years and this was by far the best! Our waitress was fabulous and so patient when I couldn't make up my mind. The food was absolutely delicious and well prepared.

I love Half Shell restaurant. The food is very delicious and the waiter served hot and fresh.

This is an awesome restaurant if you love the feeling of New Orleans and seafood! The service is great and the food never disappoints. Great for dates and just grabbing a bite alone. I also love the drinks here as well!

Half Shell is a good, consistent restaurant for a tasty meal. The table started off with a dozen raw oysters, which were gone almost instantly. There were a few entrees ordered. The almond crusted chicken was delicious and the sauce is especially great. I will say my side salad came with only two croutons which I thought was a bit lazy. Two orders of the Royal Redfish and they absolutely raved about the dish. The star of the table was the side of sweet potato crème brûlée - absolutely delicious!

We just happened upon this place on our way through to Atlanta from Texas. Great service, nice ambiance, and very flavorful food. Chargrilled Orleans Style oysters are delicious. My favorite- their Bloody Mary! So good we stopped again on our way home. J.J. was awesome!

We had a date night here tonight and we were blown away. From the drinks, to the food, to the service. Overall just amazing. First off, the look and feel of this place is cozy and nice and clearly Orleans themed without it being gaudy. For drinks, we tried to watermelon splash and the Caribbean Long Island. Both hit it out of the park. If you like watermelon jolly ranchers you will love the watermelon splash. The Caribbean Long Island is a typical Caribbean drink but amazing none the less. We started our meal with the oyster Rockefeller and while they weren't the best oysters ever, they were still delicious. My fiancé got the ribeye with the asparagus and sweet potato creme brûlée. The ribeye was a ribeye, nothing crazy but this isn't a steakhouse so can you really can't be mad. However, those sweet potatoes were ADDICTIVE. They are sweet, but buttery and heavenly. The asparagus was really good, just something you could t eat a whole lot of. I ordered the redfish orleans with gumbo and the jalapeño hush puppies. The fish was amazing, but my absolute favorite thing was the sauce and the crab meat on the top. This is probably some of the best crab meat I've ever had. The gumbo was really good, the crawfish is a great touch. My hush puppies were slightly over fried but the taste made up for it. For dessert we tried the featured dessert, tonight it is the pecan praline cheesecake and I think we ate the slice is a solid 3 seconds. The flavor was perfection, the cheesecake was light and I've never had that before. I don't think I could eat any other cheesecake after this slice. We are officially spoiled. Our server was Matty, he's an absolute gem. Super sweet, super attentive, and very good at his job. 100% recommend asking for his section!!

Have tickets to see Earth Wind and Fire at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Stopped here because it is so close to the venue It was a nice evening with my spouse. We received great service and enjoyed a nice classy place for a change Food was great! The price is a little high, but it is nice to enjoy a classy dinner sometimes.

This place is amazing! Super friendly and knowledgeable- I took every suggestion the bartender made and was so happy I did. Best bisque I have ever had in my life! I wanted to lick the bowl...just WOW! Last night I had the Redfish Orleans with sweet potatoes (bartender had the cooks put it in oven for a sugar crust....just incredible) and the cup of bisque. Today I am back for a BOWL of that amazing bisque (seriously, the flavors are balanced perfectly) and oysters...trying 3 different kinds. Oh and the blackberry margaritas! If I lived here...I would be here every week lol

Friends and I were making our way from Central Texas and stumbled onto Half Shell Oyster House while on the way to North Carolina. We spent the previous night in NOLA, and the only thing we didn't get was some tasty oysters on the half shell. Well, they nailed it! Add on another dozen with the cooked sampler and this was #halfshellheaven. Charbroiled, Bienville, Rockefeller, and Orleans all perfect bites. Only complaint was the tough garlic bread; kinda felt like an afterthought. Entrees had a similar flare with me selecting the Seafood Pot Pie. I expected a foodservice vendor puff pastry atop this dish; pleasantly surprised with this dish. Although I thought initially the bread topping was kinda lacking..it gained strength paired with the delicious filling. Friends had the Seafood Pasta, Herb Crusted Mahi, and Royal Reds. Huge props for the sides too with Gorgonzola Asparagus and Sweet Potato Creme Brulee. Start to finish this was the best meal of our trip even beating out New Orleans by a smidge. OK, more interested in dranks there...guilty! Multiple locations!

Terrible management and some awful bartenders. The most disgusting men's room of any downtown restaurant. Sad to see how this place has fallen, especially compared to the other locations.

Great place. We visited during a visit to Bama. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a restaurant on Bourbon St. The Mahi was great and the oysters were tasty.

Nice place a little under spiced for me but next time I will ask for it to be. Great service, good beer choice. Clean and fresh

I'm not too big on oysters, but my boyfriend gives them an 8.5 out of 10! I also ordered the shrimp alfredo, but forgot to take a picture. It was super yummy, and the perfect size for someone with a small/medium appetite. My boyfriend ordered the Royal Reds, and he says they were great as well! Service was great, and the ambiance was also nice. The music was not loud, so that was great.

Food was great, services was great!! Very nice and clean setting!! Although parking is a little tight

Half Shell Oyster House in Trussville has a New Orleans feel and the flavors are definitely Creole and Cajun in flavor and texture. Their crab cakes with friend green tomatoes is wonderful as is their red fish. They have absolutely, hands down the best French fries in town. It's worth going to Half Shell just to get their French fries with catsup. They have a bar for mixed drinks which are delicious. And desserts are delicious and different. I highly recommend this restaurant and the friendly, efficient staff that make dining there a most pleasurable experience.

In town for UofA graduation, Oyster House came recommended. We had a 45 minute wait on Saturday night, to be expected - and it went quickly after we snagged a seat at the bar. We were watching our Avs beat the Nashville Predators on one screen and the Kentucky Derby on another, with some tasty drinks. I got the Blackberry Margarita and I thought it was awesome. The others in my party enjoyed their drinks too. Barkeep was friendly - understandably busy but pleasant to chit chat with when she had time. We were seated for dinner at a high top in the same bar area which was just fine by us. I asked our server what she liked on the menu and she suggested the Spicy Shrimp Po Boy with Jalapeno Hushpuppies - so that's what I got. It was pretty darn good. I really loved the sauce on the po boy. It was just a lot of bread which wasn't the ratio I was hoping for... didn't stop me from nearly finishing it. The hushpuppies were good too - flavor was awesome. They were a little dry though... maybe some dipping sauce would have helped. I don't eat hushpuppies often so I'm not sure, that might be taboo. Other party members ordered a caesar salad with salmon and asparagus on the side and one got the stuffed portabellas - I think they liked their meals just fine. Listen. Was it good? Yeah! Was it great? Not really...but not every experience is! And that's OK. I'd still suggest to anyone visiting that they check it out and just offer realistic expectations - a good meal in Tuscaloosa, AL with friendly service and a lovely atmosphere.

My daughter and I sat at the bar and shared blackened mahi, fried green tomatoes, crab cakes, caesar salad, jalapeño hushpuppies and cheddar grits. Everything except the grits was exceptionally delicious. I got my fix of Southern fare. Service was prompt and as a non-drinker the bartender dis not push alcoholic drinks on me: seltzer and lime, thank you very much. I will return the next time I am in Tuscaloosa to visit my daughter.

I was treated to a good meal at half shell oyster house. I was greeted with warmth by bartenders Hannah and later Chase. I planned to grab a slow and comfortable dinner, and they made sure that I was not rushed, or left wanting attention. A bartender that has taken care of me before, JJ, suggested that I try the oysters bienville, and I loved every bite. For my main course I had the surf and turf. Oysters, crab, steak, asparagus, and broccoli: this dinner checked every box. 9/10 best meal I've had in months. I hope to make my way back again soon.

Great oysters and even better handmade margaritas! CJ makes a killer margarita and he doesn't mind sharing his secrets!

Great atmosphere and good food..would definitely recommend....the blackberry martini was delicious , so I had seconds and the seafood platter would be a great choice for 2 people...

Sat in this established for 20 minutes without being acknowledged by any staff member, multiple staff members walked by without taking our drink order or anything.

Very excellent service and food. Would highly recommend this place to anyone. I had the redfish Orleans it was excellent.

A must to go while I am at the beach them cheese grits and shrimp it always busy you may have to wait a while but definitely worth it

Everything was absolutely amazing, the food, the service ,the atmosphere. If I could give 10 stars I truly would.