Shell Oyster Bar

Extremely Disappointing Visit to Shells Oyster Bar I visited Shells Oyster Bar with a friend, and unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. I ordered the catfish lunch, and my friend got the full platter. She didn’t receive any hush puppies with her meal, so we brought it to the staff’s attention, and they brought her just two. Meanwhile, the hush puppies I received were hard as a rock. I bit into one, immediately spit it out, and let our server know. Instead of offering to remake them, they suggested microwaving them—something I found completely unacceptable, especially in a seafood restaurant. Who microwaves hush puppies and serves them back to a customer? That alone was enough to make me lose my appetite. Beyond the food, the service was unsettling. When I asked for a drink refill, the server walked over toward me, then turned around and assisted a white male customer first, handing him ketchup while completely ignoring my request. I don’t want to immediately call it racism, but the difference in treatment between Black and white customers was hard to ignore. The energy in the restaurant felt off, and I didn’t feel welcomed or valued. I originally thought Shells was a solid, local family-owned spot, and I was excited to try it. I don’t mind supporting white-owned businesses—but I expect fair treatment and decent food. Sadly, neither were provided. I won’t be back and cannot recommend Shells Oyster Bar to anyone who values good food and respectful service.

Shell Oyster Bar is hands down one of the best spots in town! My son and I split a dozen garlic-nuked oysters (amazing!) and both had the Shrimp Dinner Plate—everything was fresh and full of flavor, and you have to try their homemade cocktail sauce (perfect mix of horseradish and hotsauce). The atmosphere is laid-back and welcoming, and the service was excellent. Everyone there was super nice. If you're looking for a classic Tallahassee Oyster Bar or just want the best seafood in Tallahassee, this is the place to go!

Shell closes at 330pm, and has for over 15 years, so heads up! They always have great fresh oysters, panacea farm raised. The grouper sandwich was very good, but mine was just a handful of actual nuggets, not the big filet I've been served in the past. Servers are friendly. If you go, get there by 325p to get served! Enjoy!

This is a wonderful local restaurant! I just recently found it. The crab claws and the grouper are my favorite. The shrimp is good as well. My husband loves the raw oysters. The homemade cocktail sauce is amazing! It has such good flavor! The food has always been hot and fresh! The service has always been great!

My family and I came here a few weeks ago while we were in town. My sister wanted some oysters, and I had read some decent reviews. It's a small space, but we were seated pretty quickly. Please know that they only take cash. My sister, niece, and nephew all ordered some oysters (nuked). The girls also ordered a side salad with their meals. Between our table, we had a good mix of seafood. The wait staff was friendly, but what I didn't particularly like is that they only gave the girls 1 oz of salad dressing. They asked for another side of dressing. The waitress seemed to be slightly bothered that they asked for more. She informed us that that's a .50 charge for extra. At this point, we were like okay (what were we supposed to do/ say). I'd advise you if you're gonna order a salad and don't like it dry, to be prepared to pay extra or bring your own salad dressing. The fried crab claws were good but REALLY tiny. The size surprised me. I don't think I've ever seen claws that small. My niece ordered the steamed shrimp, but they were cold. We asked if she could get some more, the waitress told us they didn't replace the shrimp, and if she warmed them in the microwave, they'd overcook. That's really unfortunate, especially since they were served cold. After looking at the plastic bowl that the shrimp were served in, it appeared that they had already warmed them over before serving them to us in the first place. I wouldn't advise ordering the steamed shrimp. It's one of the easiest and fastest ways to prepare shrimp, and they seem to not know how to do it properly. So, we had to pay for my niece to get some fried shrimp. The shrimp were fried good, as well as the fries. My fish was really salty, but, at this point, I was OVER IT and was ready to go. If there is some place other than this restaurant that you can go for seafood; then I'd suggest going there first. If it's oysters you crave, then perhaps, this is the place. I'm pretty sure this was my first and last visit.

Heading to Mt. Dora, FL. My husband decided he wanted oysters for lunch... I picked well, oysters couldn't have been fresher! The onion rings were homemade and monstrous and the grouper sandwich was delicious.. I had a hard time putting it together for a sandwich, but I managed! We also hadan the bowl of crab claws, 12 bires but good. The place is definitely not fancy.... but everyone is friendly and the prices are great. Order a dozen oysters and they'll shuck them right in front of you! Don't forget to bring CASH!!!

This place is a hidden gem in Tallahassee. The food is amazing! I visit during lunch and am in the door as soon as they open as the place is small and they fill up fast! Once you’ve had their nuked oysters, you’ll see why. As you’re walking in, the waiters are taking your orders and by the time you’re seated, you have drinks and apps served. This place moves fast. But you don’t feel rushed. Everyone is super friendly. Don’t come in expecting fine dining. Your food is served in reusable baskets, with packaged silverware and paper cups. But who cares when you’re being served fresh, hot seafood and great sides! The only downside is that they are CASH ONLY which can be a bit inconvenient for those of us who rarely carry cash. Other than that, I have no complaints. Love this place!

This is a dime. Keeping it simple never tasted so good. I will never grow tired of this yummy spot. The oysters and shrimp are to die for good. If there is a food institution in Tallahassee, Shell Oyster Bar is it. It has been around for years and for damn good reason. Fresh is all you need to know. Every darn item on the menu is delicious 😋 👌🏼. There is nothing like gorging on freshly shucked oysters and fried shrimp 🍤. It just doesn't get any better, anywhere close. Another great feature is the BYOB policy. We roll in with a bottle of bubbles and a few beers, sit at the bar and just enjoy. The folks that run the joint are super hospitable. You cannot help but leave completely satisfied. Enjoy!

Great old Florida seafood restaurant. The food and service are great at a reasonable price for quality seafood.

You would never look at this place from the street and even think it was a restaurant- it looks like an auto body shop. But it's clearly one of those "if you know you know" local places. We had excellent oysters and the sides like the bean salad, potato salad and macaroni salad are all unique. The oysters are shucked on site and the staff is friendly. Note- it is CASH ONLY. The decor could definitely use a facelift but no one seems to mind! Worth a look.

This is now our favorite local seafood restaurant since The Other Seineyard and The Fisherman's Wife closed. To be honest, if we had tried them much sooner then they might have been our favorite when those others were open. It ain't pretty on the outside. This was probably a warehouse in it's prior life. There are only a few parking spaces and you will walk through a chain link gate space to get to the entrance which will actually be to your left rather than straight ahead as it would initially appear. The inside is bright and comfortable and much newer than the exterior. There are several tables plus a bar for those who want to pull up on a stool and slurp a dozen raw oysters. Their fried seafood is fried just right and tasty. You will get plenty and we always end up taking some home. Their coleslaw deserves special mention as it is my favorite in town and I always get extra to take home and enjoy for a couple of days. It is the finely shredded variety but what they wet it with is what makes it so good. Service has been excellent. Wait staff is friendly and will check on you often. You just need to know that this is a Cash Only restaurant in making your decision to dine here.

The wife and I took the grandkids to experience Shells again. They loved the first trip a year ago. Well Shells did not disappoint! Our waitress was friendly, attentive and efficient!!! Our food was delectable and all the staff was happy. The ambiance does leave a lot to be desired but I think that's part of the catch' , get it? We will be back , price was up there but we never have a problem when we visit such a great place for the value of. In other words, worth every penny!!! Yum yum

You want classic north Florida food, service and hospitality this is definitely your place. Best freshest seafood around. We have been coming here for over 40 years.

BEST fried shrimp in Tallahassee! Light batter, not heavy. Cole slaw is awesome as well.

BRING CASH! The food was super fresh and had an amazing taste and texture. Service was working hard and doing really well. Definately coming back.

This place is cash only - they make sure you understand with at least four signs along the way. Not a big deal for me, but may be for some. I get they have been in business for a while, kudos to them. The food portions and sizes definitely are not in line for the premium they charge. I ordered a lunch special with two protein selections and it was probably about a half of a fish fillet. The Cole slaw side was in a 1 oz cup. Definitely would not recommend.

The best hole in the wall seafood joint in Tallahassee. Was going there at the South Monroe shack when they only served oysters and drinks when I was under 10 years old.

This place knows how to fry food right. Batter was extremely light, crispy, fresh, and hot. Myself and my friend both ordered the oysters, probably wrong time of the year since they were small, which made it way more batter than oyster. Coleslaw was OK, nothing that stood out to me as outstanding and the hush puppies that are prepared before service were room temperature. I prefer hot. Be prepared to pay cash, be prepared to interrupt the cashier while she's got people in line checking out or picking up takeout. Then you wait in the real wait line which wasn't too long considering the crowd. The tables are so close together that I could practically eat off the one next to me, the noise was so loud we had trouble chatting, and the server was so to the point that I felt like I needed to have my order ready ASAP. I think once you get used to the drill it's a good place but for us, meh. Also, the parking lot needs some help. I saw a car go off of a small hill where the cement tire stop was broken and at the bottom of the hill. Clearly someone else had made the same mistake. Give it a try, you might like it better than we did because the food really did look good on other plates. I think we just ordered wrong and the noise wasn't for us.

The perfect hole in the wall joint to grab a quick bite of yummy seafood. The staff is awesome because it's family owned. My only tip is to being cash and have some of their fried shrimp!

Great food with great service. I had the fried oysters but haven't been there in more than a year. Will definitely visit this restaurant whenever I visit the Tallahassee area.

I ALWAYS make sure to stop by when I'm home. I grew up eating Apalachicola Oysters and recently, on my last trip (11/24/2021), they replaced it with Cedar Key Oysters. Are they just as delicious? YESSS! Are they big?! YESSS - of course, you get your fair share of smaller ones, too. The Cedar Key is the BEST. I have eaten expensive East & West Coast oysters that are sad & small - they overcharge for them and I can't say it enough, LOCAL FLORIDIAN oysters are UNIQUE and AMAZING. Maybe I'm biased because FL is my home for +24 yr. Or forever Since being a child and I'm proud! =) My dad said he used to get a dozen oysters for $12 - that's crazy to think it used to be that price compared to it costing $15.99/dozen now...still totally worth it if you want to dine in. They shuck the oysters in front of you, so it's ultra FRESH! I don't usually steer away from raw oysters, but you could also order other fried seafood. I know it's an absolute hole in the wall - the decor could use a facelift and my only one small complaint is that the main parking lot is tiny! This place isn't about service, it's all about the top notch oysters. Seating is limited because this place is small. The locals know about this hot spot for a reason! ;-)

So you would never know this place existed it is a hidden gem. CASH ONLY. The lunch or dinner specials are great deals with 2 sides and a drink. We had an order of fried oysters, that was breading was so light and the oysters were delicious. We also ordered the crab cakes, which we equally as delicious. For sides we had French fries that were crispy and not greasy, coleslaw that was chopped and very tasty (mayo based) and extra hush puppies. From service to food this is a great find.

Today, Jan 7, I was looking forward to taking a buddy to Shell Oyster. Website hours indicated opening at 11. Found where they posted on Christmas Eve they'd be taking a break til Jan 9. Sorry for raising a fuss. See y'all soon for the best friend shrimp around!

Everything was fresh, great service the shrimp and oysters was delicious everything was good not over cooked but cooked just right.

Great food and service! Everyone loved their meals and you can tell this restaurant knows exactly how to cook fish! Can't wait to return!

One of my favorite local restaurants. The seafood is always fresh. I always order the combos, shrimp and fish or oysters (they've gone way up in price because of a light oyster season) with their delicious homemade cocktail and tartare sauce. The sides are also tasty. I personally like their macaroni salad the most, but all the sides are good. They also have a raw oyster bar when they shuck fresh oysters for you. I've heard great things about that. Make sure to bring cash because that's all they take! Everyone is very friendly. The only negative I have is that they charge $1 for the extra sauces. Too much for a tiny container...

I go to Shell Oyster bar once a week or pick up two pints of oysters a week the food is awesome in every way the service is amazing and the staff is awesome it beats any seafood restaurant around for sure it Tallahassee I have tried them all ! Tim Redding sr!

Good food, good service, yummy oysters. Even hired them to serve at a wedding. Remember - cash only & bring your own beer, if that's what you fancy with a cold dozen. Definitely try their home mixed cocktail sauce.

I ordered a crab claw plate with sides of cheese grits. I honestly can't believe they gave me this plate for a meal, this wouldn't even feed a child. The grits are very watery & oily. A rip off is an understatement, won't ever spend money here again.

I have been going to Shell's for decades. Literally from the time they were a little place on South Monroe next to the fruit market. They have moved to a larger location around the corner, but nothing else has changed. I like my oysters raw, and I can easily consume 4 dozen at one sitting, and I do it fearlessly, even out of season. There is no place else I would do that, but it's because I trust them. I have even had Leroy cater one of my parties (just Oysters!) many years ago. Their fried seafood is also excellent. Okay, I'm going to stick my neck out on this one and say that it is probably the best place to go for fresh seafood in town. There might be a brief wait around lunch time, and the place is by no means fancy, but service is friendly and fast. Shell Oyster Bar is, quite simply, a Tallahassee tradition and landmark...

Friday is a busy day at Shell's. We arrived early and were seated immediately. It took my companion a while to go over the menu but o knew what I wanted. The lunch fish with scallops, cheese grits and the veggie salad. My brother ordered the shrimp and crab cake, slaw and French fries. The cheese grits were incredible and the veggie salad was a perfect blend of sweet and vinegar with beans, peas, onions and other things. My fish, which were catfish nuggets were perfectly fried. The scallops were sweet and I had over a dozen in my order. My brother's shrimp were perfect. He ate all of his crab cake without sharing and I stole two of his fries. I'm not a fry fan but could have used more. The sweet tea was great. I can't wait to go back and next time, I'll probably have the same thing. At night, they have a BYOB and grouper on the menu. Next time!

Nothing fancy to see here. Shell serves excellent raw and fried oysters. No frills needed. Thin fries. Sweet, fine coleslaw. The fried shrimp basket is probably my favorite meal here. Walkable from the capitol building. Wasn't terribly busy for lunch today. I would eat here more than I do if they were open past 6pm. Bring cash and your own beverage, if you are so inclined. You may be able to grab a 6-pack across the street at Proof if you didn't plan ahead.

Best oysters in town! Great service and wonderful people! We also order a bushel every year at thanksgiving!

This is the place to go for the freshest, most delicious oysters and seafood! Interestingly, it's located in a run down shack behind a car repair shop and only accepts cash. Inside however, is clean and buzzing with activity from the customers enjoying their meals and company to the young man behind the bar shucking piles of oysters amazingly fast! We started our meal with a dozen raw oysters which arrived less then 5 minutes later and so, so fresh and absolutely delightful! I could have made a meal of the oysters alone, which I did the following day. My husband ordered the fried oyster burger with a side of macaroni salad which he said was absolutely delicious. (I'm going to be using that word a lot - everything was that fresh and good!) My order was fried shrimp with sides of cole slaw and potato salad. Again... oh so delicous! All the sides are house made and it shows in the wonderful flavors. We were so blown away by this place that we made a point to return the following day to enjoy all this amazing food before we left town. It's heart breaking that we don't live in the area as we'd dine here often!

A cash only, near dive, but with fresh oysters and VG fried fish etc. crispy fries. Extras as usual but above average. Always good friendly laid back service. BYOB if desired. We always take a nice bottle of wine. A real treat to not be paying a 100%+ markup. We go a few times per year.

Always good. Be aware that the prices of oysters have risen. A lunch combo with oysters is $18.

Doesn't look like much but it's great, fast, fried, fresh seafood. Typical southern seafood. The shrimp could have been cooked a bit more but still great. It's ice tea land, all good. You're all sitting on top of each other and you better get there early for a seat or you'll be standing around for a long time. I've been there and left when we couldn't get there soon enough. You get what you pay for, reasonably priced. If you want upscaled,move on. It closes soon after lunchtime. It's Cash Only; you've been forewarned. It's a must do for fresh fried seafood in TallahasseeFL if you're not wanting to go to Wakulla County, home of the best seafood restaurants in this area of Florida ‍

Shell Oyster Bar is a Tallahassee institution. On my office wall, I have three photos encased in a frame. The photos are of 1. Shell Oyster Bar, 2. the old Tallahassee Waterworks and 3. The Tallahassee Train Station. I had the fortune of meeting Leroy Milligan (and Billy, his teenage son at the time) back in 1987 when I first came for undergrad. At the time, the five (maybe six, but I'm pretty sure it was five) bar-stools in the old service station building at the corner of FAMU way & South Monroe were where you'd get freshly shucked Cedar Key and Apalachicola Bay oysters. There was no need for a menu. You had three choices of beverages (Co'Cola, Swee'Tea, and Water) and one choice of food (Oysters) unless you count the crackers on hand. Even though Shell Oyster Bar relocated years ago to its present location - I can't help but think of it as "The New Place" and when I go - I ALWAYS prefer to pony up to the bar rather than sit at the tables. It doesn't bring back the glory days entirely, but at least it's a start. Shell Oyster Bar isn't a place - it's a feeling. It's where you go to commune with the goodness that comes inside an oyster shell. It's been decades since I've sat down at the bar to a couple-dozen oysters shucked by Leroy himself. His son Bill is usually at the bar these days but often, there are others. Regardless, when I come for a couple dozen - I can close my eyes and feel taken back to that old shed of an oyster bar - screened door slapping the door-frame as each patron came in from the long line outside. I don't know enough about the relationship between Leroy and the Oystermen in the gulf. My sense is that he's done business exclusively with only a handful of harvesters as he's built a reputation over the decades of having only the most sublime of oysters on the half-shell. For those interested, here are a few "factoids" about Apalachicola Oysters that I've learned over the years: 1. Apalachicola (at least up until a few years ago) was the last place in the U.S. where wild oysters were (by law) harvested by oystermen on small boats using tongs. 2. Big Bayou (on the saltier western part of Apalachicola Bay) is said to be the source of the most flavorful Apalach' Oysters. 3. I'm pretty sure that all other Gulf Oysters are pretty much sold as generics - i.e., non-appelation - EXCEPT Apalachicola Bay oysters. My love for oysters precedes my relationship with Shell Oyster Bar - but it's been intensified THANKS to Shell Oyster Bar over the years. (addendum:) I grew up in Spain and Germany (the son of a french mother and an American (USAF) father. I know all about the world-famous Belon oyster that defined Paris's 19th-20th century oyster bar culture. I also lived in Seattle for three years during the mid/late nineties - so I'm pretty familiar with the PNW varieties - notably the Quilcene, the Kumamoto, the Olympia and the Kushii. (I know I'm mixing up sources with types - sue me!). Anyway - all of this is to say that while I appreciate the delicate and nuanced oysters from other parts of the world (at least, France and Puget Sound) - I'll take an Apalachicola oyster over any of them - any day!

Good local place for fresh seafood. The nuked oysters are great. The fries are great. I like how they lightly fry the shrimp and oysters for their lunch special. The macaroni salad was a tasty side dish surprise.

This has been on my list to try for a while but I was still surprised at how good it was! It's kind of hidden but boy is it a find! There's a little parking lot and it's over by the new Proof (and apparently people from Proof tend to park there when that lot fills) so parking is limited. We were able to find a spot though. Heads up - they only take cash. But everything is reasonably priced and totally worth it! I went with a friend and we split a dozen raw oysters and the fried shrimp meal. The oysters are amazing! Super fresh and yummy! The fried shrimp was also super good, as were the cheese grits we got as a side! They make their own cocktail sauce in-house and let me tell you that alone is worth the trip. You can also buy a bottle of it to take home! One of the best things about this place was how FAST it was! We ordered and were immediately served the oysters. By the time we finished those, the fried shrimp were coming out. We were seated, ordered, ate, chatted, paid, and left in less than 30 minutes. The service is also great! Everyone was super nice and helpful! Will definitely be going back!

The best seafood in town hands down! The fried shrimp is just to die for- the breading is perfect and never over cooked. The hush puppies are perfectly cooked and plain, none of that wacky veggie stuff in there. Raw oysters are always fresh and delicious. I will continue to visit Shell time and time again!

Very friendly and proper service for locals and visitors alike. Five of us visiting from Miami felt very welcome. The fried seafood specials were tasty, good iced tea. All tasted fresh.

Superb fresh oysters, currently $14.25 a dozen. Perfect fried shrimp with a light hand on the batter. Yummy coleslaw. We'll go back one more time before we leave Tallahassee. We arrived at 11 am and had no trouble parking although it's easy to see it can be a problem. CASH ONLY.

Great cocktail sauce, but 'nuked' aka microwaved oysters are not my thing. Actually not fair to the oysters who sacrificed their lives either! :-( Really a dive, and not the good kind either. Staff was less than enthusiastic and just seemed to have dreams that were never realized; probably died after eating nuked oyster. I was not recommended to this spot, but saw en route to Florida A & M's campus. My thought pattern was "I am in Florida, so how bad could it be". Even called ahead and was told that they were gulf oysters - yea! And I am sure they would've been tasty if steamed per usual or even raw. They cocktail sauce was the only saving grace. Will make sure that I go to Birds, as was heavily recommended but unfortunately closed on Sunday & Mondays. #lessonlearned

Old school oyster shack that has been a Tallahassee staple. Upon walking up to the building I was greeted by the cook I'm guessing who made me feel welcomed. As I entered the hall before the dining room. In this area are pictures of the old Shells which I remember from college, area colleges paraphernalia and other information related to the history of the place. I was greeted with smiles and open conversation in the dining room area. This is not your high end restaurant so don't expect it. It is a down home family run place. Unlike your usual oyster restaurant where your oysters come out on ice with lemon, mignonette, cocktail and horseradish these simply hit the table on a plate or lunch counter tray. You will find Shells' homemade cocktail and tartar sauces and hot sauce (crystal) on the table. The oysters were fresh, meaty and delicious also the are already loose so after adding the condiment for your choice you can just suck them from their shell. Um um good. I simply dressed mine with hot sauce and a little cocktail. No need for lemon or anything else. During this trip I also had the fried shrimp lunch with three bean salad and cheese grits. Yes I love grits. The salad was tangy and a welcomed side to all of the fried items. The shrimp were fresh and lightly breaded to allow their sweetness to be the highlight.

This is a great place for lunch if you want some really fresh seafood. They offer a lunch special that comes with 2 sides and a tea and is priced very reasonably. I opted for the fried oysters and fried fish (which was pollock), and both were very very good. Fried perfectly. Oysters had great size. The sauces they serve it with are incredible; they have a house made cocktail sauce and a very good homemade tartar. For sides I got potato salad and macaroni salad. The potato salad was not much to rave about, but the macaroni salad had great flavor and was definitely unique compared to others I've had. Their raw oysters are very good too and priced better than anywhere else in the city. When we went (9/27), they were currently at $10/dozen which is the best deal in town right now from my knowledge. Overall this is a great place for lunch. I'm glad I don't live closer to here because I'd be blowing through dollars tearing up some seafood.

If you are looking for local oysters at a great price, or fresh seafood that is fried to perfection, head on over to Shell. Located in an alley off of FAMU Way, parking can be a challenge. But once you park and head on in, you'll be transported to a stereotypical fish shack. There's a counter at the back, with seating, where the staff shuck mounds of fresh, local oysters. The rest of the room is filled with plastic tablecloth covered tables, each with the requisite condiment trio: hot sauce, cocktail sauce, and tarter sauce. The menu is straightforward: oysters raw or nuked, a variety of fish served fried, avid traditional sides (fries, hush "pups", coleslaw, macaroni salad, etc). We arrived for dinner on a Friday night (they're open until 6:30 Friday nights; earlier on other nights) and were the only people there (aside from what appeared to be family friends hanging out at the sitter bar). We quickly decided on a dozen raw oysters (local, at $9/dozen), 2 fish sandwiches, one dinner combo platter, and an order of "pups" for the table. The oysters came quickly and were outstanding: briny, sweet, and large. The bowl of pups, on the other hand, were a tremendous disappointment. They were ice cold. When I told the waitress she took them away and brought the same bowl back, this time containing soggy, mushy hush puppies (the same ones I sent back) that had been nuked. When I complained I was told that their kitchen was small, and the lunch crowds large, so they precook all of the hush puppies in the morning so that they can use their fryer for the fish and French fries. That means we were served hush puppies that were likely cooked 8 or more hours earlier and that sat in a tray all day. If I were you. I'd avoid them (I'd also avoid the salads, as you can see them all pre-plated, uncovered, in the cooler). But you're here for the fish, and they do an exceptional job with the fish. The sandwiched contained three large pieces of perfectly fried fish on a fresh bun with lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce. The fries on the side were hot and tasty. The combo platter contained a huge portion of fried fish: shrimp, scallops, crab claws, fish, etc. A great choice if you're hungry. A few notes: the place is cash only, so stop by the ATM first. And while they don't serve beer, you can bring your own. If the pups had been made fresh, this would be a 5 star review. But everything else was so good, we will soon return.

I hesitate to review this local restaurant as I'm afraid it will be impossible to get in once the word is out. While my brother was visiting last month we took him and he raved about it ALL. Before returning to Tallahassee for the holiday he said "we're going back". So we did on Wednesday. Such a perfect choice before all the turkey day fixins! Shells is well known to many locals as a simple place to get fresh, hot seafood accompanied by the usual sides, i.e., hush puppies, french fries, cole slaw and more. But y'all the batter they coat the shrimp in melts in your mouth, as do the shrimp. Grouper is a different breading but equally flavorful and fresh tasting. While the lunch specials come with two sides and a tea, you MUST order the onion rings. They are huge and enough for the table. Again, melt in your mouth um um good! The service is friendly and attentive, as are the owners. Hours are limited as is the seating (only about a dozen tables), so check first before you head there. Oh yeah, not easy to find, but it is directly across from Proof brewery and Tally Mac Shack is behind it. But maybe I shouldn't tell you because it is Tallahassee's best kept secret! However, support local business!!!

Never judge a book by its cover. That is definitely the case with Shell Oyster Bar. You'll hear about this famous joint and go looking and if it weren't for the overflowing lot you'd miss the unassuming shack. Without question, parking is an issue. This establishment has a huge following and while I've been many times, I am amazed by how packed it is each time. To get across just how much I love Shell's, I moved here in January and it is the food establishment I've frequented the most. Always fresh, my friend and I always order the shrimp lunch basket with a plethora of shrimp, fries, the most amazing coleslaw you'll ever experience and 2 hush puppies. The shrimp are coated in a light but delicious coating. Hush puppies are equally delicious but disappointing is that you only get 2. I like to order an extra order. On my next visit, I'd like to try their grits. A few notables: Be sure to bring cash. It is a cash-only establishment. They do not serve beer or wine but you are welcome to bring your own as many do. Lastly, get comfortable sitting with others. They will fill every available seat. Service is quick, fast and friendly!

All of the yums, and nice people? Yes please. Probably my favorite spot for fried shrimp/oysters in town. Crawfish are also good when in season. BYOB if you're feeling festive. Bring cash and be prepared to get to know your neighbor diners - it's pretty cozy. Please don't ever go away.

A small, basic building with a lot of history behind it. Come early as parking is a challenge and bring cash, as they take no other forms of payment. Details aside, the food is extremely reasonable and quantities are large for the price. I have not tried everything, but I have had their raw oysters and many of their fried items (which is the majority of the menu). The fried items can't be cooked any better. The seafood is cooked to perfection and the oil must be changed frequently as the breading is always light in color and clean tasting. Their cocktail sauce seems to be their own blend / recipe (though not confirmed) and it is delicious. This is a must-try establishment is you ave never been before.

It reminds me of house by the docks, but this little place has some of the freshest seafood in the Tallahassee area. The 3 of us shared a dozen of raw oysters, an enormous basket of seafood & chips, and a grouper sandwich. I really wanted to LOVE the oysters after all the raving reviews, but I'm assuming it just happened to be a bad batch. They looked absolutely mouth watering, but one slurp - chew - swallow left a really bitter taste on my palate. Truly disappointed, but the rest of our meal made up for that sour start. When the fish, crab claws, clams, and oysters were battered & fried over a bed of fries & hush puppies, that was a whole different story. It just brings out the freshness and sweetness of the seafood like it was just pulled up from the dock. That cup of iced sweet tea helped wash down all that fried goodness. Left fairly satisfied and full without hurting our wallets.

This place is disgusting... I have lived here for 10 years and always heard how great it is... waitresses are wearing sleeveless shirts to serve food... the cocktail and tarter is left out on the counter to fester bacteria instead of being in a fridge... the plates of pre-shucked raw oysters and pre-prepped salads are stored together in a fridge in plain view of customers... ordered fried oysters... so much breading, greasy, and uncleaned with lots of grit and hard chunks... they taste like the fryer oil hasn't been changed in a year- ugh... terrible terrible... but as I looked at the clientele I can see why they go there for 'good' food.... disgusting

Tucked away across the street from Proof's new location is a local spot, Shell Oyster Bar While this place is small in size their food speaks volumes. Their crab cakes are unlike crab cakes I am used to esting. So much so I found myself questioning what to do with them. Seeing no other option, I took the plunge. That first bite ensnared me and I couldn't stop. They sort of resemble tostones becauase they are fried flattened golden brown disks. They pair wonderfully with onion rings. This was a wholesome food experience shared with colleagues. The likes of which that keep me coming back. These "little" restaurants remind me what Tallahassee was like before the area was built up. They harken back to a period where Tallahassee had more open spaces devoid of development. This place managed to survive and continues doing what it does best, serve seafood since 1945.

I'm back to Tallahassee and here I'm back to Shell again! My raw oysters weren't that good this time, only 2 out of 12 oyster were good. The homemade horseradish hot sauce, the pungent with the spicy heat of papers, on the table enhanced the flavors of good and not so good oysters (or should I say disguised the bad flavors). My lunch special, fried oysters and shrimps, were good as how I remembered. What shined was the sweet and soft meat shrimps with a crunch outside. They were delicious. Yellow grits with cheese were creamy and dreamy and American mustard flavored potato salad that I opted for my lunch special sides were always my favorite.

They best seafood restaurant in north Florida. The Oyster Bar excels in service, taste, quality of food, and reasonable cost. Tallahasseeians should explore this gem if you havent already. It is not a place for dress up or place settings with multiple forks, spoons, and knives. It is just the best seafood in Tallahassee.

Oh Shell Oyster Bar...how I've missed you all these years. (I have lived in Jacksonville for nine years, and forgot about Shell Oyster Bar in my periodic travels back to Tally). My brother was in town for my wedding, and never heard nor ventured here during his undergrad and grad school time at FSU. If you haven't been told to look for or find Shell Oyster Bar, you probably would pass it en route around FAMU. It is the quintessential "hole in the wall." Their fried shrimp and sides are all delectable (cheese grits, coleslaw, hush puppies, potato salad, and macaroni salad). I could have gotten the lunch meal (less shrimp and only one side), but I was in a greedy mood; so, I ordered the dinner. I got to salivate and enjoy 20 or so shrimp, cheese grits, and potato salad. The two hush puppies it came with weren't enough, so I ordered a side order for the table. Everyone left full, and in a food induced euphoria.