When you drive by and see this restaurant is in a basement of an old brownstone, you might not know what you were getting into But this is a great casual, no frills seafood place. The oysters, crab legs, mussels, etc. are superior with superior Price's Considering Chicago is quite a distance from the ocean, the seafood is as fresh as if you were in San Francisco or Maine!

For the man who said they wash their oysters....Obviously you're not a big oyster eater. When oysters are farmed they actually have mud in them. Maybe you'd rather eat mud rather than eat the oyster. Great food great value. Recommend to anyone.

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.

I went one day at lunch time and ordered a dozen raw oysters at the bar. The oysters were the worst I've ever had.

The kitchen actually *washed* the oysters, removing all of the nectar!

I've never ever seen this done at any restaurant before. The oysters were rendered plain, with hardly any taste. They were fairly fresh, but were so bland that I ate 3, paid up, and left. I will never ever go back to this place again. Absolutely horrible.

I stopped into Half Shell tonight and can honestly say it's the second best seafood I've had in Chicago - slightly behind Dirk's Fish and Gourmet Shop on Clybourn. The difference? Price! Half Shell, as a RESTAURANT, was about ? more affordable than Dirk's - a retail seafood shop. AMAZING! I'll definitely be back to Half Shell, but, per the handwritten messages from the owner posted on the door I won't think about wearing a tank top, sporting a baseball cap, or paying with anything other than cash. Make sure you don't either or else you'll be asked to comply with house rules!