Half Shell, Inc
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 549-1773
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Orchard Street
- Directions:
- El: Brown Line to Diversey; bus: 22 to Broadway/Diversey Pkwy; 36 to Clark/Diversey Pkwy; 76 to Orchard St
- Best of Citysearch:
- Budget Date Spot 2008
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 11:30am-10:30pm, Sun 12pm-10:30pm
Message from Half Shell, Inc
Restaurant and pub with a raw bar and fine seafood since 1968
- Great Neighborhood
- Pub and Oyster Bar
- Take-Out
Paid advertisement by Half Shell, Inc.
Editorial Review for Half Shell, Inc – by J.P. Anderson
The Scene
Set back from the street and down a narrow flight of stairs, Half Shell hides in a dark, low-ceilinged room decorated with Christmas lights and nautical-theme bric-a-brac. Regulars drink steins of draft beer at the bar--Chicago accents abound--while straight-talking servers nonchalantly go about their business.
The Food
If you don't know about Half Shell, it's because Chicago seafood lovers know how to keep a good secret. And who wouldn't be protective of such huge, perfectly fried shrimp and succulent king crab legs? The menu also features scallops, catfish, red snapper and dungeness crab, but those legs are the stars. Full of tender meat and needing no more than a squirt of lemon, they're delicious in a combo with beef tenderloin: Get two big legs, a half-dozen tender chunks of beef, grilled veggies and shoestring potatoes all piled atop toast--with a sucker for good measure.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoHit the ATM before you hit Half Shell--checks and credit cards are not accepted.
User Reviews for Half Shell, Inc
11/10/2007 Posted by abescott
As the other reviewers state- this place has great food. Fried oyster appetizers were clean and crisp. King crab legs were GREAT seemed like every table had an order. Huge pieces of succelent meat. The fried shrimp were A+ as well. Great portions with both being served on bed of french fries. Very small dining area and cramped tables- I wouldn't exactly call it romantic more of a dive bar that would be uninteresting if not for the food. Total bill was $75 for appetizer, 2 entrees and 4 beers.
Pros: Great value
Cons: Parking- cramped seating
10/21/2007 Posted by katherinedonald
My Pop used to sneak me in here when it was a biker dive bar in the 70s/80s when I was a youngster and The Turk was the Boss. So aside from many fond memories it is one of my favorite value-for-money places in Chicago AND the best seafood place I have been to and I have been everywhere, from up to downscale. When you enter the Half shell you think you are going into a cave--it is in a basement and has a few tables with Christmas lights left up year round. The service is no frills, and luckily the menu doesn't change much. The shrimp are large and excellent and when softshell crabs are in season (usually in June) they actually prepare them correctly which is saying something about their seafood know-how since most restaurants I have been in (even ridiculously overpriced Loop and river North places), do not prepare them properly. The women's restroom has a bathtub in it. May this place stay open forever. My favorites--softshell crabs in season (usually June), fire roasted clams, and the crab specials. If you don't like seafood don't go--aside from a few side dishes (decent house salad), it's seafood served with a lollipop and lettuce leaf, and there aint much else (there's tenderloin & shrimp too). It's a romantic place, but also they will accommodate kids (but they have to like seafood AND not run around since it is dark!).
Pros: great prices, tasty seafood, nice relaxed atmosphere
Cons: for me there aren't any, but be aware the waitstaff won't hover, CASH ONLY
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