Half Shell

I want to kick myself for not coming here sooner!Knew I wanted king crab, but there was no way I was going to be able to eat 21 oz of it, so the server recommended I get the appetizer portion and it was 3 meaty legs. He even was nice enough to show me the easiest/cleanest way to crack them and get the most meat out effortlessly. So sweet and juicy and delicious. Comes with a mustard butter, which is chefs kiss! Also had a bowl of clam chowder, which was just as good as the crab. The vibe is dive bar meets oyster bar, and it's pretty perfect. Only accepts CASH! They do have an ATM inside!

can't beat the king crab we have been going here since the mid 1980's and it's wonderful.A dive bar with great seafood and nice servers, strong cocktails. You won't be disappointed. it's cash only, extremely casual, very fun for all ages and consistently good.

Half Shell has been around since the '60s, and I'm surprised that I haven't written a review on this place!Their menu offers various apps, an oyster bar, and shellfish/seafood/meat options.Coming here for a small get-together is popular, and we've tried:+Deep Fried Clam Strips - served with house cocktail, tartar, and sweet & sour sauce+Fried Jumbo Shrimp - served with house cocktail, sweet & sour sauce, and lemon+Dressed Smelts - lightly breaded and fried, served with fries and house cocktail+King Crab Legs - we prefer the version that's chilled, served with mustard sauce and lemon; they also have an option where it comes on a bed of fries with garlic butter and lemon+Snow Crab - served on top of a bed of fries with garlic butter and lemon+Charbroiled Jumbo Shrimp & Vegetables - with grilled onions, peppers, tomatoes, and friesThe seafood options are fine, and service can be hit-or-miss.Street parking can be found in the area.+hit-or-miss service+good for small get-togethers+street parking available

I've had this place bookmarked for as long as I've been on Yelp, I'm 10yrs in Elite status, no telling how long I've been on here, but yeah this visit was LONG overdue!!! Thank God they're still open. That's a blessing in itself! Anywho, craving king crablegs, so we decided to drop by. We came in right before closing, but we were able to get seated and eat. We ordered fried shrimp, king crablegs, & snow crablegs. We also ordered 2 Mai tai's. Everything came out quickly and was fresh and hot. They don't season the crablegs, but their butter sauce is AMAZING!!!! That sauce was GOOD! The staff was friendly but hurried due to them nearing closing time. Which was fine. I live an hour or so from here, so that's why it took years to come by, but I'd come again if in the area.

Great shellfish here in the city! Nice little corner place with a patio and insides pretty charming and like a Maine Fishing Bar.

We came in for a date on a Saturday evening and had our choice of seating. It wasn't crowded at all and had a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The crab cake appetizer was amazing and fresh, our waitress was also very attentive, kind and patient. I had the shrimp po' boy, it was buttery, warm, and delicious. My partner went with the cheeseburger, which he got medium well, with a side of fries. He said the burger was exceptional and a good portion for him, and he was especially hungry that day. We loved the atmosphere and the food was tasty and came out quick. Can't wait to go back!

Great, very casual seafood place with outdoor dining. I love to visit in the summer so I can sit outside (basically just a fenced off part of the sidewalk but it works). The inside, which is mostly below ground, is a little dark and divey which could also be fun if that's the vibe you're looking for. Service is a little slow but not a problem on a nice summer afternoon. They don't take reservations so if you're looking for a table outside I'd recommend getting there a little on the earlier side. I enjoyed the shrimp cocktail, oysters, fried clams, and the fun cocktails. The king and snow crab platter was definitely the highlight - would probably be enough for two people to share, my party of 3 split it along with a few other smaller things. Overall definitely worth a try if you're a seafood lover!

This is such a cute divey place and you can tell the server (maybe the owner) really cares. We went for an early Saturday dinner. We started with the clam chowder which was good and hot! It came out so quick next up was the king and snow crab combo. The fries were great. We had to ask for some regular melted butter as it comes with more of an herb butter. The portion was great. We split between two. The king crab was huge and the snow crab was great definitely more fishtail and larger than you get at most places. My fiancée also ordered the frog legs which were good but a bit unseasoned given he didn't like the sauce served with it. They don't have ranch so the owner brought us this spicy siracha ranch to try which I thought was a nice gesture. It was good. Overall great quality and quantity you don't often find for such a reasonable price in Chicago. It is cash only so be prepared.

1. King Crab Legs - 22oz, garlic butter, lemon2. Strawberry Margarita - Volcan Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, Strawberry Puree, Fresh Lime JuiceNo complaints about the food and drink. Crab legs cooked to perfect tenderness. The fries were crispy and seasoned. I don't have anything to say about the underground restaurant interior since I dined outside. The outdoor dining area is relaxed, not cramped, and conveniently located across the street from a Trader Joes! Employees were nice and helpful. Cash only unfortunately so be careful what you order.

The seafood was mediocre, our waiter forget about us but if was pretty busy so could've been then that service was pretty good though and the ambiance was chill and they had a jukebox, but it really smelled in their and if you want a spacious , this is not the place.