Half Shell Raw Bar

Seafood restaurant · Key West

Half Shell Raw Bar

Seafood restaurant · Key West

231 Margaret St, Key West, FL 33040

Highlights

Casual fish house with picnic tables & waterside seating in a former shrimp-packing facility.

231 Margaret St, Key West, FL 33040 Get directions

halfshellrawbar.com

@halfshellrawbar

$$ · Menu

@eater

"Located in the Key West Historic Seaport, Half Shell Raw Bar was once a shrimp warehouse, but since the 1970s, it’s been a restaurant locals, fishermen, and visitors flock to for oysters on the half shell, peel and eat shrimp, and seafood towers, which are shucked to order. With dollar bills glued to the ceiling and license plates from all 50 states lining the walls, this place has a dive bar/saloon feel, but diners of all ages are welcome. Grab a picnic table and say hi to the pelicans (observe, but don’t feed them). Inside the restaurant, Half Shell Fish Market stocks a daily seasonal seafood selection and always has smoked fish dip and conch salad to go, in addition to house-made Key lime mustard, cocktail, and tartar sauces." - Allison Ramirez

The Best Restaurants to Know in the Florida Keys

View Postcard for Half Shell Raw Bar

@eater

"What was once a shrimp packing building is now a watering hole for fishermen, locals and out-of-town visitors. Half Shell Raw Bar sits right on the Key West Bight Marina and serves up oysters, clams and peel ‘n’ eat shrimp. Don’t expect linen napkins at this iconic joint, but do enjoy the view and its seafaring characters." - Olee Fowler

Waterfront Dining in Key West: 10 Great Spots - Eater Miami

View Postcard for Half Shell Raw Bar

Mei Mei Chan

Google

Love this place. Exactly what we wanted...Casual and fun. The staff there is friendly and fun. They don't care if you took too long to decide or ask a million questions. Everything is super fresh and just as described. I wish we lived much closer so we could be regulars.

André

Google

Authentic seafood spot with a good Menu to serve any craving. Service was friendly and the food was served fast. Worth a trip especially during happy hour to take advantage of the offers on drinks and food. Pricing was reasonable.

Colton Bailey

Google

This is speaking for Happy Hour The restaurant was not packed, so the service was pretty quick. We got a few things off the happy hour menu. All the items were fresh and tasty! -1lb Peel and Eat Shrimp Cocktail was awesome, It's simple and fresh, and I'm fairly certain there was more than an Lb. They did not skimp! -Conch fritters: They were pretty good, your standard fritter -Coconut Shrimp: Same as above, standard but good. No complaints, Standard no-frills seafood joint. I would absolutely go back.

Flori-Dave Johnson

Google

Hit up happy hour! Conch ceviche and calamari were amazing!! Great view and waterfront! Our server was amazing as well! Best prices in the keys.

Varun Vijay Rao

Google

What an amazing find! And if you make it during happy hour, they have fresh oysters for $22.99 by the dozen. Also great is the conch ceviche. One of the best sunset views in Key West. This place is located right on the water and if you're lucky, you may get an outside table. The decor is rustic with license plates from all over dorning the walls and the ambience is quintessentially Key West!

Johnny Looseround

Google

We were in Key West for 2 nights. The first night we went here on a suggestion from the hotel because they have a great happy hour. Angela served us and was great, chatted, personable and kept the glasses filled. Food was great tasting, the fried seafood plate seemed a little light for the price, great food, just a little less. The fried oysters were great. We went back the second night again for happy hour. This time we got the fried seafood sampler and fried shrimp appetizers. Much better portions and still tasted great. Lisa was our waitress and she was great too. If you're in Key West and looking for a good happy hour and good food, start here.

Vinnie 1973

Google

I'd avoid this Tourist Trap and head elsewhere. I'm a Florida Native and a friend took us here, the worst seafood I've had in years. I didn't even want to try the 🦪. Being with a group I sucked it up and ordered the lobster rolls ...awful, fishy taste; I ate a couple of bites and was done. It's very close to the boats and marina so it's very convenient. Pass on by, there's other spots, trust me.

maricel pulido

Google

We went for the happy hour seafood. I was disappointed with the ceviche but my kid and husband thought the raw oysters were great. We liked the cocktail and other sauces for our friend seafood. We tried all 4, tartar, jalapeno something, keylime mustard, cocktail. Jena was our server and she was great.

Rusty O.

Yelp

Give the Waterview five stars This place feels like a tourist attraction for locals. Or did I get that backwards? Excellent place to grab a lunch, with quick service, knowledgeable staff, and the food is pretty good Came on a Saturday afternoon for lunch, and a few brews. This experience really was a good time. Located in the center of it all, just off Duval Street, parking was a premium, but I found a spot really quick right in front! This is a great place to consider to take in the marina views, have a few cocktails, and a nice lunch or dinner. While there are many choices in Key West for restaurants, I think I would come back here.

Kyle B.

Yelp

Had an awesome dinner at Half Shell Raw Bar. Great location, right off the dock. The place was clean with lots of views of the water. Our server Amber was fantastic. She used to be an x-ray tech. Give her a raise! The peel and eat shrimp were my personal favorite. Very plump flavorful shrimp. The drinks were nice and cold. Amber brought us plastic bags of ice to keep stuff cold. The oyster poboy was really good. Great fries too. Would recommend.

Rachael R.

Yelp

Fantastic Happy Hour‼ Cool vibes and waterfront dining - what more can you ask for? Stopped by around 5pm and there was plenty of seating on the outside perimeter. If you're sensitive to the sun, sit inside - don't sit near the water and then pull the curtains closed! It ruins it for the rest of us! Anyway, back to the experience- Jackie was our server and she was top notch. Even shared a conversation and a few laughs. We ordered Conch Fritters, Fish Dip, 2 Dozen Clams on the Half Shell, a pound of Chilled Peel & Eat Shrimp and 4 beers. Total with tip was $84 for two - this could not be beat anywhere on the Island. Everything was fresh and delicious. We rated Conch Fritters across Key West and these come in 2nd out of 6. Had there been a little more spice in the mix, it would have been declared the winner and awarded 1st place. An enjoyable evening, good vibes, good food and good service. Definitely worth a visit during Happy Hour!

Paul M.

Yelp

Our server was fantastic I'll add her name once I get my check, Angela. We were seated by the docks and made it in time for happy hour. We also ordered fish and chips and calamari. The portion on the fish and chips was a bit smaller than I would have liked but the quality was good. The calamari portion was great. All in all I'll be back we were very pleased.

Daren R.

Yelp

Million dollar water view...Specialty angler grub here. Happy hour specials 430pm - 630pm Oysters dozen $22.99. The Mahi Mahi is locally caught and freshly served. This is a must see this 50 year anniversary restaurant.

Karen H.

Yelp

I can't believe this is my first review for the Half Shell Raw Bar! It is my favorite seafood place in the Keys. We stop here every time we visit and are always happy with any of the seafood dishes we have. They have the most amazing lobster when in season so I would suggest you try it. We also loving bringing our fresh catch and having it cooked to perfection. You can sit next to the dock and have amazing views of the boats and water. Our last visit we had a few manatees hanging out by the dock which made it extra special

Marisol F.

Yelp

For a long time, this was one of our favorite happy hours, then it was sold and everything changed; happy hour was boring and lacked seafood (they ditched tuna and other ocean food for quesadillas. And the regular dinners were just so-so. So, we stopped coming and after about 10 years we finally returned. We figured if they are still in business then maybe they've fixed things. Turns out the happy hour is back to basics (oysters, clams, calamari, shrimp... SEAFOOD); not much of a bargain though. Service was just okay... the whole visit was good but nothing special.

Roger S.

Yelp

This institution has been in Key West for over 50 years, serving the best freshest raw bar in town.

Kristin D.

Yelp

We visited & loved it! We ordered conch ceviche, a dozen oysters, a poke salad & fresh grouper sandwich - it was amazing! Service was fantastic & the view was stunning. Island time!

Elise M.

Yelp

The view is good but the food is mediocre and overpriced. I went to a happy hour at another place down the road and spent a similar amount of money for better quality and variety.

Maria T.

Yelp

Although everything was not perfect... We really enjoyed our meal here. When we returned from our snorkeling excursion, we decided to eat at one of the restaurants near the dock. We were originally going to go to the Boathouse Bar and Grill... But after checkimg the menus at both places... we decided to have dinner at the Half Shell. The prices were much more reasonable. We were seated outside with a view of the water. The service was great. The food - all but the rice - was delicious! Loved the oysters. The steaks were executed a perfect medium rare. The pasta and shrimp scampi was rich and satisfying. The rice was unfortunately inedible, hard as a rock. Perhaps the rice was sitting too long under a warmer. Our server gave us new, freshly cooked rice and it was much better. I would definitely recommend this place!

Brittany P.

Yelp

wonderful happy hour specials, great service & wonderful location. we stopped in 2/20/24 for happy hour snacks - and ended up getting entrees as well because the seafood was so delicious. the space is huge ! we sat outside by the water and it was getting a bit chilly due to the wind on the water. i ordered the clams, which were on special for happy hour. 16 clams, in a delicious butter sauce. the hot lips had good flavor, i wish they'd thrown some bacon in em. great HH deal ($6)

Patrick L.

Yelp

Fantastic experience, my favorite during my time @ key west! Got a tip from our fishing charter to take our catches to this place and they would cook for us-5 pounds of snapper, grunt, and grouper. The kitchen nailed it!! Went with a split between fried and blackened, and to be honest I couldn't pick a preference between the two. These came with delicious red potatoes! Located right next to the pier, enjoy the views with your meal!

René S.

Yelp

For being right at the ocean I would have expected better quality of seafood . I guess I was spoiled when living on the coast in Spain

Taylor M.

Yelp

Food is, as one would hope, very fresh. I would say it's reasonably priced as well. Service was attentive. The location and energy are fun - just know you're essentially outside. Maybe reconsider before stopping in on a super hot and overly humid day. Went a couple times the last time we were in the area. Ordered the same drinks on separate visits (frozen daiquiris) and they were totally different. Experiences are relatively inconsistent but it's worth the gamble. I'll definitely be back in the future.

Cathy L.

Yelp

Nice place right on the water. Conch chowder and clams good. The restaurant has a fun vibe.

Bally L.

Yelp

We wanted to try this spot as we saw it was rated pretty highly for seafood and as a raw bar. We had already eaten prior, so we wanted to stop just to try a couple of items. We were seated at the bar that was decorated with a bunch of car plates from different states (pretty cool). We ordered a dozen oysters on the half shell and the oysters rockefeller. The oysters were huge! I'm not particularly a fan of bigger, meatier oysters, but they tasted fresh. Similar to the oyster rockefeller, the buttery mixture was pretty good. I would give this place a shot if you're in the area.

John M.

Yelp

We had dinner at the Half Shell Raw Bar last week. The seafood dishes & Service were both fantastic. We will return soon.

Javier H.

Yelp

Update my review still really really good staff is top notch we felt like nothing Fried so we went with steamed clams and steamed mussels great choice very tasty had to get an extra order of garlic bread to soak up all the great broth we ordered a side of yellow rice very nice . This place has a great dive bar on the water feel . Fish are jumping all over as you throw bread in the water really fun atmosphere try this place it great

Mariah M.

Yelp

Second time we've been to this raw bar, and definitely recommend the baked sampler. It's very good and changes up the flavors nicely! We also had the coconut shrimp and Buffalo shrimp. I bought the chicken fingers for my son. I give 4 because quality isn't 5 star but we've been back for the oysters so I'll give them that! Service was nice and accommodating.

Robert B.

Yelp

The Oyster Po Boy was not good. I passed by the tell tale signs - fish covered in cheese. The fries were soft. The drinks are small. The fritters are all bread and the seasoning is bla, zero conch. The grilled Mahi Mahi was so so. The seafood boil was good, not great. The chicken tenders were good. The Bread Pudding was outstanding. It was all grossly overpriced. The staff was excellent. Bottom line come at Happy Hour or try somewhere else. The Bread Pudding was the only thing worth ordering.

Angie J.

Yelp

The service was okay and the atmosphere is fun, but there is definitely better oysters on the island. They were gritty, so a bit disappointed in that. This place is good for a beer but I would leave it at that.

Eric W.

Yelp

Let's see I guess there biggest hit was they need better fans and the service was lacking. Waited 10 min before someone came to our table.... I guess lack of communication? Anyway I got to jalapeño poppers and popcorn shrimp with I really enjoyed both. However their ceviche was good but the chips taste like they were cooked in old oil . For bar food I may go back if it is a different season.

Shannon W.

Yelp

Tons of seating, great views, amazing dill potato salad, oysters were so good - I mean what is there not to love?! We had lunch here and really enjoyed it. Great service too. Highly recommend!

Vivienne G.

Yelp

Okay place for happy hour. A little bit of a dive bar feel. Conch fritters were tasty. Calamari was chewy. Other places around the area had better eats and drinks.

Seema Z.

Yelp

This is a perfect spot to stop by after ur trip to dry tortugas national park. We got in just in time before their happy hour ended at 6.30 pm. We tried the oysters on half shell, raw clams and Buffalo shrimp. All the choices were amazing and our server was attentive with a big crowd. The bar itself has a very dive bar feel and is a place to visit for the music and ambience. It's rigjt off the marina so perfect for the key west sunset ! Must visit.

Mike B.

Yelp

The food was average. We had oysters and clams, which were good. SHIRMP PO BOY 6/10 nothing special, It was filling. The banana bourbon bread pudding was AMAZINGGGGGGG!!! Please give it a try, It was delicious. Service was good. Only bad thing is the restaurant get hot because it's an outdoor kind of place. They do have fans inside to cool you off. Overall 7/ 10 for the restaurant.

Rhiannan H.

Yelp

Our server Aida was extremely friendly and super accommodating. We brought in our own fish and the kitchen cooked it amazingly! The Stuffed Jalapeños (cream cheese) were great as well. The inside is very laid back, no A/C just fans. So it can get warm. A lot of Wooden bench seating type tables.

Ryan D.

Yelp

Perfect location old Florida vibe, I would love to leave a better review unfortunately the food was horrible. My buffalo shrimp was definitely past the fresh date and taste like dishwashing chemicals. Probably a good place to grab a beer

Todd ..

Yelp

This is my favorite place to get Gulf Oysters with an ice cold beer. If you want more than appetizers they also have a good selection of other seafood.

Rebecca L.

Yelp

Haven't been for 18 years and it was just the same! So, so good! We got there at 4:15. We had enjoyed a late breakfast in Key Largo and then drove down to Key West. We did all the touristy stuff and then landed at the place we remembered being delicious. Our server was AWESOME! As we were 15 minutes shy of Happy Hour, she put our entrees- 2 Shrimp Po Boys, an Oyster Po Boy, and a Fish and Chips- in first and our apps- flaming lips and conch fritters- in second so they would be half price. Our food was delicious. The service was better. I've been to Key West 3 times. Every time, I've gone to Half Shell- the first visit we went twice. I assure you that every time I go, I will return- delicious food, good prices, great vibes!

carolina s.

Yelp

Best claws in key west!! Seriously never a bad time, the service is great and the atmosphere is the essence of key west vibes.

Ray D.

Yelp

Great location and friendly, if a little over-worked, staff. We had: fish dip, 6x fresh oysters, fried chicken with fries, Catch of the day sandwich, and 2x fish and chips. The fish was pretty good, didn't expect the flavour and texture but it really worked. The oysters were small but tasty and the kids liked the fried chicken. The fish and chips was really poor: soggy and lacking flavour with either a reheated bake feeling or oven baked from the store bought freezer. Great location but I've had a better fish supper out of a dire fish&chip shop in Glasgow, Scotland, at 2am in the pouring rain.

Kimberly F.

Yelp

Oysters were amazing , clams were great ! The steak was amazing Tastey drinks. Wonderful view.

Amanda O.

Yelp

Loved the food here! Wasn't too big a fan of the long picnic table seating but I enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The servers were so sweet as well.

Elaine A.

Yelp

Fabulous food, service and atmosphere. The quality of this restaurant hasn't changed in 30 years!!

Lisa O.

Yelp

We had 14 pounds of fish that we caught!!!! We cooked 10pounds and gave 4 pounds to the staff/others! Angela and the chef get way above the possible reviews. Never got to meet the cook/chef BUT he/she did an amazing job!! We had fried, blackened and grilled! Everything cooked to perfection!! Had several sides as well! Angela BY FAR THE BEST SERVER I THINK I'VE HAD! Pleasant and attentive! Angela was just so nice!!! Thanks for such a great experience!!

Robyn M.

Yelp

Food was delicious. Ambience was great. Amazing service and view. Rum Runners are some of the best in town.

Tina K.

Yelp

Four stars for the environment & our server! Unfortunately I didn't catch her name, but she was attentive & friendly! Food was alright, definitely wouldn't choose to eat there again. Ceviche was bland, & the fish was over cooked & dry. Definitely a fun place to go to dinner but unfortunately a little disappointed with the food.

Brittney C.

Yelp

We were craving fresh oysters and conch ceviche for our third night on the island. Half Shell Raw Bar did not disappoint! Great food and and even better service. Angela was super friendly and funny. Highly recommend this place!

Carmelo S.

Yelp

Great atmosphere and service. I had fresh oysters and the buffalo shrimp was great!

Bob S.

Yelp

HAPPY HOUR?? We ordered 2 draft beers at happy hour then looked at the Happy Hour menu only to find that most of the HH menu items have doubled since last year. $22.00 per doz. of raw oysters for example. We decided to go someplace else. Got our check for $9 for 2 half priced HH beers. Paid the tab, left a tip, and left for good. There are way too many much better HH on this island.

Larry S.

Yelp

Great oysters, expensive. Grouper special was really delicious. Wife enjoyed her shrimp Louis salad. Coco shrimp delicious! Service was prompt!

Dawn W.

Yelp

Normally like to try several different places when Vacationing but the seafood happy hour was just the best we went to and so good we had to go back twice. The staff all friendly and great service both at the bar and seated. The cold shrimp was so fresh and the spicy shrimp had a nice kick of flavor.

Erin B.

Yelp

Always a staple on our visit. We had the stone crab today and it didn't disappoint. Steamed clams and shrimp also on our go to list. Sit by the water!

Erin L.

Yelp

Love this place! Came here twice during our trip to Key West because the food, service & atmosphere were all so good. The Oysters, conch, blackened snapper, tuna - it was all delicious! The Key Lime Pie cocktail was amazing! We'll be back next time we get to the Keys!

Barbara B.

Yelp

Food was marginal and overpriced. The only saving grace was the view and our waiter.

Sal R.

Yelp

Right by the waterfront. Enjoyed the atmosphere and a quick bowl of chowder and some frozen drinks.

Nik H.

Yelp

A good place for a low key lunch. Great fish sandwich and oysters. Good bartender. Great value

Eris T.

Yelp

Service is 2 out of 5. We came here 3 times because the location is great and happy hour is decent. Only one of our waitresses was friendly. Half hour is decent. We tried raw oysters (meh), shrimp (great), fries, calamari (meh), and fish dip. Raw Oysters are massive (in a bad way)

@eater

The Best Restaurants to Know in the Florida Keys

View Postcard for Half Shell Raw Bar

@eater

Waterfront Dining in Key West: 10 Great Spots - Eater Miami

View Postcard for Half Shell Raw Bar

Mei Mei Chan

Google

André

Google

Colton Bailey

Google

Flori-Dave Johnson

Google

Hit up happy hour! Conch ceviche and calamari were amazing!! Great view and waterfront! Our server was amazing as well! Best prices in the keys.

Varun Vijay Rao

Google

Johnny Looseround

Google

Vinnie 1973

Google

maricel pulido

Google

Rusty O.

Yelp

Kyle B.

Yelp

Rachael R.

Yelp

Paul M.

Yelp

Daren R.

Yelp

Karen H.

Yelp

Marisol F.

Yelp

Roger S.

Yelp

This institution has been in Key West for over 50 years, serving the best freshest raw bar in town.

Kristin D.

Yelp

We visited & loved it! We ordered conch ceviche, a dozen oysters, a poke salad & fresh grouper sandwich - it was amazing! Service was fantastic & the view was stunning. Island time!

Elise M.

Yelp

The view is good but the food is mediocre and overpriced. I went to a happy hour at another place down the road and spent a similar amount of money for better quality and variety.

Maria T.

Yelp

Brittany P.

Yelp

Patrick L.

Yelp

René S.

Yelp

For being right at the ocean I would have expected better quality of seafood . I guess I was spoiled when living on the coast in Spain

Taylor M.

Yelp

Cathy L.

Yelp

Nice place right on the water. Conch chowder and clams good. The restaurant has a fun vibe.

Bally L.

Yelp

John M.

Yelp

We had dinner at the Half Shell Raw Bar last week. The seafood dishes & Service were both fantastic. We will return soon.

Javier H.

Yelp

Mariah M.

Yelp

Robert B.

Yelp

Angie J.

Yelp

Eric W.

Yelp

Shannon W.

Yelp

Tons of seating, great views, amazing dill potato salad, oysters were so good - I mean what is there not to love?! We had lunch here and really enjoyed it. Great service too. Highly recommend!

Vivienne G.

Yelp

Okay place for happy hour. A little bit of a dive bar feel. Conch fritters were tasty. Calamari was chewy. Other places around the area had better eats and drinks.

Seema Z.

Yelp

Mike B.

Yelp

Rhiannan H.

Yelp

Ryan D.

Yelp

Todd ..

Yelp

This is my favorite place to get Gulf Oysters with an ice cold beer. If you want more than appetizers they also have a good selection of other seafood.

Rebecca L.

Yelp

carolina s.

Yelp

Best claws in key west!! Seriously never a bad time, the service is great and the atmosphere is the essence of key west vibes.

Ray D.

Yelp

Kimberly F.

Yelp

Oysters were amazing , clams were great ! The steak was amazing Tastey drinks. Wonderful view.

Amanda O.

Yelp

Loved the food here! Wasn't too big a fan of the long picnic table seating but I enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The servers were so sweet as well.

Elaine A.

Yelp

Fabulous food, service and atmosphere. The quality of this restaurant hasn't changed in 30 years!!

Lisa O.

Yelp

Robyn M.

Yelp

Food was delicious. Ambience was great. Amazing service and view. Rum Runners are some of the best in town.

Tina K.

Yelp

Brittney C.

Yelp

Carmelo S.

Yelp

Great atmosphere and service. I had fresh oysters and the buffalo shrimp was great!

Bob S.

Yelp

Larry S.

Yelp

Great oysters, expensive. Grouper special was really delicious. Wife enjoyed her shrimp Louis salad. Coco shrimp delicious! Service was prompt!

Dawn W.

Yelp

Erin B.

Yelp

Always a staple on our visit. We had the stone crab today and it didn't disappoint. Steamed clams and shrimp also on our go to list. Sit by the water!

Erin L.

Yelp

Barbara B.

Yelp

Food was marginal and overpriced. The only saving grace was the view and our waiter.

Sal R.

Yelp

Right by the waterfront. Enjoyed the atmosphere and a quick bowl of chowder and some frozen drinks.

Nik H.

Yelp

A good place for a low key lunch. Great fish sandwich and oysters. Good bartender. Great value

Eris T.

Yelp

Half Shell Raw Bar

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