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We’re New Orleans inspired original dishes to the table with a side of Southern hospitality. Half Shell offers delicious southern cuisine with a New Orleans flair. The menu consists of fresh local oysters and seafood, steaks, monthly specials, pasta dishes, a full bar with craft cocktails, and more. Mimicking a French Quarter atmosphere, the restaurant décor includes stained glass, wrought iron railings, local artist murals, exhibition-style oyster grilling bar, and period architecture and light fixtures.
Upscale-casual Southern seafood restaurant/bar serving oysters & po’ boys, plus steak & cocktails.
Hours
| Thursday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Monday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 417 3rd Ave SW, Cullman, AL 35055
Phone: (256) 615-4250
Website: http://halfshelloysterhouse.com/
Menu Photos
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Half Shell in Cullman, AL
A modern two-story building with signs for Half Shell oyster house and Goat Island. Group of nine staff members standing and squatting in front of a restaurant …
Half Shell Oyster House
Half Shell Oyster House offers fresh Gulf Coast seafood, premium oysters, hand-cut steaks, and Southern-inspired dishes in a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Half Shell Oyster House, Cullman – Facebook
417 3rd Avenue SW Suite 115, Cullman, AL, United States, 35055. Links. . halfshelloysterhouse.com. Contact info. . halfshelloysterhouse. . (256) 615-4250.
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Reviews
Kelsey Scott
Tonight was our first time at any Half Shell. We decided to split the Sampler, ordering: 2 orders of Oysters Orleans, Grilled Argentinian Shrimp, Fried Crawfish Tails, and the Crab Cake.
Every single thing we tried was incredible! Full of flavor & satisfying. Our very helpful server recommended the Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato as the side, and it was so sweet and decadent that we opted out of ordering a dessert item.
All things considered, the food was affordable, the staff was great, the atmosphere was perfect, and the food was even better than expected.
Cannot say enough good things about Half Shell Cullman, and we will be back soon!
… moreEvery single thing we tried was incredible! Full of flavor & satisfying. Our very helpful server recommended the Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato as the side, and it was so sweet and decadent that we opted out of ordering a dessert item.
All things considered, the food was affordable, the staff was great, the atmosphere was perfect, and the food was even better than expected.
Cannot say enough good things about Half Shell Cullman, and we will be back soon!
Colton Stricklin
My wife and I visited the day after Valentine’s Day. We ordered the Voodoo chicken for an appetizer. This stuff is amazing. She ordered the 6oz filet medium and I ordered the Mahi Savannah. The Mahi Savannah was outstanding. One of the best pieces of fish I have ate in a long time. The filet was the disappointment of the meal. Typically, I expect a filet to be a thick cut of meat. This cut was thin, overcooked, and dry. Had to ask for some A1 multiple times. Pretty sure our waiter gave it to the wrong table the first time. We also ordered the caramel apple martini and espresso martini. Both drinks were delicious.
… moreJustin
Came here after going to the Christmas parade and Christmas tree lighting. Someone local told me the place is great. Plus they had oysters, so figured I’d try it out. Upon entering it looks very high class and I felt underdressed. Very chill place tho and everyone that works there is very polite. The interior is brimming with old world architecture and chandeliers. Our server Hannah was extremely attentive to our needs and very pleasant to talk to. The wife loved her dish so much she was bout to lick the plate and the oysters I got were the freshest, and unlike anywhere I’ve been to before, the put a spoon under the oyster flesh so it literally is fall off the shell oysters. Loved that detail. Can’t recommend this place enough. The music there made me feel like I was in an upscale jazz club or piano bar. Another great detail. So check it out and Ask for Hannah 🙂
… moreClint Watson
If you love classy upscale elegant atmosphere combined with sports, live bands , outdoor venue and a beautiful night life scene then Half Shell Oyster House is the place for you!
After talking with the waitress (Alex) who was my tour guide of the menu, drinks and the history of the establishment, which she did an amazing job at all of the above and never let me sit with an empty glass for long!
The restaurant has only been open for about 3 months but they are already growing fast in the popularity pool of Cullman and further around.
Half Shell has amazing food (especially the oysters! , I mean you kinda half too with a name like Half Shell Oyster House right?) but let me tell you , they did not disappoint!
Oh the flavor! I personally loved the original charbroiled and couldn’t go wrong with that but I also fell in love with the “Award winning Oysters Orleans flavor” that is one of their big sellers and i can totally see and taste why! It’s has a small kick but with an explosion of New Orleans smoky cajun sauce and parmesan and pairs perfectly with an ice cold beer!
The other flavor of oysters that they had were called “Oysters Bienville” they are topped with herb, mushroom, crab, Gulf shrimp , and bacon along with Italian bread crumb mixture and they really good too!
They also serve the oysters up with toasted bread and lemon slices which is perfect if want to use a piece of the bread like an edible sponge spoon to sop it up and make sure you don’t miss out on any of that amazing flavor!
For adult beverages I had a long island with light on the sweet and sour and it was perfect besides that just Michelob from a bottle poured into ice cold glasses. They have multiple beers on tap and a huge variety to choose from when it comes to wine, liquor, and beer. For beer besides draft they also they have cans and bottles. They do not have any IPAs yet but are working on partnering with some to get even more choices for everyine to enjoy!
They also had some ongoing deals such as right now they have “buy one oyster sampler get half off on any kind of other dozen oysters as long as they’re the same value” and you can have them raw or cooked. I love them both ways but my favorite is chargrilled!
Speaking of chargrklled the man behind the grill is a Master and the flavor is there along with the char from the grill!
Also the oysters are chargrilled right behind the bar!
So it’s not only cool but tickles my inner fat kid when I see him prepping my order!
As far as the rest of the food, it’s cooked in the kitchen.
The atmosphere is very upscale in my opinion. I am Lawrence county/Morgan county redneck hillbilly nerd and I absolutely loved it.
It seemed as though everyone was modestly dressed as I showed up in a tank top and shorts and Crocs with a hat but didn’t catch any odd looks or vibes from anyone staff or other customers, which even if they did I wouldn’t care but it’s just makes it that much better to not have that in the air when trying to enjoy yourself on one of your only days off work.
My only negatives which are of personal preference is that I never really enjoy “Rockerfeller oysters” no matter where I go it’s just not my thing but out of all the ones I have tried at many other establishments icluding famous oyster restaurants these were the best I’ve had yet even though they still weren’t my cup of tea.
Besides that my only other negative which again is just personal opinion is that they don’t have Michelob on draft or I don’t believe they did, which isn’t a deal breaker but I just don’t understand why more places don’t have that on tap but Im always inclined to explore other flavors as well for the experience and may find a new favorite!
I will definitely be back with the wife for a date night without a doubt and they had sooo much more I want to try food wise I can’t wait to come back multiple times and see the bands and watch sports games and more at!
5/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
… moreAfter talking with the waitress (Alex) who was my tour guide of the menu, drinks and the history of the establishment, which she did an amazing job at all of the above and never let me sit with an empty glass for long!
The restaurant has only been open for about 3 months but they are already growing fast in the popularity pool of Cullman and further around.
Half Shell has amazing food (especially the oysters! , I mean you kinda half too with a name like Half Shell Oyster House right?) but let me tell you , they did not disappoint!
Oh the flavor! I personally loved the original charbroiled and couldn’t go wrong with that but I also fell in love with the “Award winning Oysters Orleans flavor” that is one of their big sellers and i can totally see and taste why! It’s has a small kick but with an explosion of New Orleans smoky cajun sauce and parmesan and pairs perfectly with an ice cold beer!
The other flavor of oysters that they had were called “Oysters Bienville” they are topped with herb, mushroom, crab, Gulf shrimp , and bacon along with Italian bread crumb mixture and they really good too!
They also serve the oysters up with toasted bread and lemon slices which is perfect if want to use a piece of the bread like an edible sponge spoon to sop it up and make sure you don’t miss out on any of that amazing flavor!
For adult beverages I had a long island with light on the sweet and sour and it was perfect besides that just Michelob from a bottle poured into ice cold glasses. They have multiple beers on tap and a huge variety to choose from when it comes to wine, liquor, and beer. For beer besides draft they also they have cans and bottles. They do not have any IPAs yet but are working on partnering with some to get even more choices for everyine to enjoy!
They also had some ongoing deals such as right now they have “buy one oyster sampler get half off on any kind of other dozen oysters as long as they’re the same value” and you can have them raw or cooked. I love them both ways but my favorite is chargrilled!
Speaking of chargrklled the man behind the grill is a Master and the flavor is there along with the char from the grill!
Also the oysters are chargrilled right behind the bar!
So it’s not only cool but tickles my inner fat kid when I see him prepping my order!
As far as the rest of the food, it’s cooked in the kitchen.
The atmosphere is very upscale in my opinion. I am Lawrence county/Morgan county redneck hillbilly nerd and I absolutely loved it.
It seemed as though everyone was modestly dressed as I showed up in a tank top and shorts and Crocs with a hat but didn’t catch any odd looks or vibes from anyone staff or other customers, which even if they did I wouldn’t care but it’s just makes it that much better to not have that in the air when trying to enjoy yourself on one of your only days off work.
My only negatives which are of personal preference is that I never really enjoy “Rockerfeller oysters” no matter where I go it’s just not my thing but out of all the ones I have tried at many other establishments icluding famous oyster restaurants these were the best I’ve had yet even though they still weren’t my cup of tea.
Besides that my only other negative which again is just personal opinion is that they don’t have Michelob on draft or I don’t believe they did, which isn’t a deal breaker but I just don’t understand why more places don’t have that on tap but Im always inclined to explore other flavors as well for the experience and may find a new favorite!
I will definitely be back with the wife for a date night without a doubt and they had sooo much more I want to try food wise I can’t wait to come back multiple times and see the bands and watch sports games and more at!
5/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Nichole Taylor
Update 2/13/26: We decided to give the Half Shell Oyster House another try and are so glad we did. The raw oysters were cleanly shucked, not a single shell in them. The entrées we had were fabulous. I had the seafood pasta and my husband had the catfish lameuse and they were both fantastic! We also had the fried crab claws that had a delicious batter and fried to perfection while maintaining moisture of the meat. Completely different dining experience from out last. We will be back soon!!
Original review: Let me start off by saying we were SO EXCITED for Half Shell Oyster House to open, however our experience today was sadly disappointing. We chose an off peak time to visit, in the hopes to avoid a large crowd, so we went at about 2:30. We had to wait about 5 minutes for a table to be cleared, which wasn’t bad however when we get to the table my husband notices there is something wet all over his seat. The hostess went to get a towel to clean it up but used a soaked towel that only made more wetness, so my husband spent the entire meal with a wet bottom. While we were waiting on our food, there was a fire at the grill that smoked up half the restaurant and the cook had to ask for help(we were seated with a direct view of it). Apparently my husband’s oysters were on the grill because they were char-burned instead of chargrilled. We don’t like to send back food so he said he would just eat them and note it for future reference. I chose the raw oysters and while they were nice large oysters, whoever was shucking them needs more training. We both had large chunks of shell in almost every oyster (2 dozen), I even chipped a molar on the shell (yes I chew my oysters). The only positive I can report is our waitress. She was so kind and responsive. After we finished our meal I showed her all of the shell pieces that made it into my mouth and told her that whoever did the shucking may need additional training, understanding its a newly opened restaurant. She was very kind and apologetic and insisted on removing the charge for the oysters which was not my intention. I am just so disappointed in our experience. Maybe we “hyped it up” too much anticipating the opening, even so very disappointing.
… moreOriginal review: Let me start off by saying we were SO EXCITED for Half Shell Oyster House to open, however our experience today was sadly disappointing. We chose an off peak time to visit, in the hopes to avoid a large crowd, so we went at about 2:30. We had to wait about 5 minutes for a table to be cleared, which wasn’t bad however when we get to the table my husband notices there is something wet all over his seat. The hostess went to get a towel to clean it up but used a soaked towel that only made more wetness, so my husband spent the entire meal with a wet bottom. While we were waiting on our food, there was a fire at the grill that smoked up half the restaurant and the cook had to ask for help(we were seated with a direct view of it). Apparently my husband’s oysters were on the grill because they were char-burned instead of chargrilled. We don’t like to send back food so he said he would just eat them and note it for future reference. I chose the raw oysters and while they were nice large oysters, whoever was shucking them needs more training. We both had large chunks of shell in almost every oyster (2 dozen), I even chipped a molar on the shell (yes I chew my oysters). The only positive I can report is our waitress. She was so kind and responsive. After we finished our meal I showed her all of the shell pieces that made it into my mouth and told her that whoever did the shucking may need additional training, understanding its a newly opened restaurant. She was very kind and apologetic and insisted on removing the charge for the oysters which was not my intention. I am just so disappointed in our experience. Maybe we “hyped it up” too much anticipating the opening, even so very disappointing.
Jordan Broadhead
Everything we had was delicious! Probably the best redfish I’ve ever had. The sweet potato creme brulee side was basically a dessert. Service was great and the atmosphere would make for a great date night. For the quality of food and experience the bill was less than we thought. We’ll be back!
… moreEric Gore
The food was great. I genuinely enjoyed the ribeye steak and it was cooked to a perfect medium rare. Service was decent but slow at times and the lighting was a bit low for my liking.
… moreStephanie K
Perfect for an anniversary or a more upscale celebration. We felt out of our element due to the fancy table setups. Others were dressed as we were so it was fine. We also went up the stairs/ramp and wasn’t sure if that was the correct entrance and went back down the ramp to the entrance to the outdoor seating. Entrance was not clearly marked. Food was delicious, service was perfect. Will we return? Maybe for a celebration of some type.
… moreBrian Mccombs
We both had the 13 oz. steaks and mashed potatoes the steaks had a little too much fat but both were tender and good . We also ordered the voodoo shrimp appetizer and it was good.
… moreKelly Elrod
My husband got the oysters Rockefeller. It was only served with a lemon slice so we had to ask for horseradish and crackers. One of the oysters had a pearl in it which was pretty neat but could have been dangerous. He ordered the red fish which seemed to be a little on the drier side. I ordered the triple burger that was advertised with provolone but it came out with a cheddar American cheese. I thought for $15 it would have came with lettuce, tomato, onion (so I asked for it) I also got a Caesar salad and it was lacking some elevation. The red beans and rice was tasty and the hush puppies needed some type of whipped honey butter or sauce to bring out the flavors that were buried in the cornmeal and onions.
… more