Half Shell Oyster House
2500 13th Street
Gulfport, MS 39501
228-867-7001
Dining Room – Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Oyster Bar: Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.- until; Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
www.halfshelloysterhouse.com
By Jane Feehan
Opened in August by the same folks who own High Cotton Grill, Half Shell Oyster House is a welcome addition to Gulfport’s short list of good restaurants. It’s a notch or two – maybe three – above High Cotton and – wow – the oysters are great. So is the atmosphere in this renovated early 20th-century downtown Gulfport building.
I dined on charbroiled oysters in drawn butter and they threw in another – a barbequed variety – a recent menu addition; they were fresh and delicious. I also ordered Chicken Half Shell, grilled and topped with an Alfredo sauce accented with sun-dried tomatoes, capers and artichoke hearts; this sauce was light and supercharged with flavor. I can’t remember as tender a chicken breast. The meal came with an excellent side salad and better-than-average Balsamic dressing on a chilled plate.
Half Shell’s menu is extensive featuring, other than oysters, fresh fish, shrimp, chicken, steak, veal and pasta entrees. They also serve burgers, Po Boys and sandwiches – and seafood gumbo. Desserts include Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding and Bananas Foster Cheesecake.
This is a busy place, even on a Saturday afternoon – a solid endorsement of its good food. Full bar. Service: excellent. Moderate prices. ©2009 All rights reserved.
