Food was excellent (fried shrimp and crab cakes, coleslaw slaw, cheese grits) as was the service.
Im giving 5☆ for the atmosphere because Shells is a local mainstay and hasn't changed at all since I can remember.
Food also came out super fast.
Highly recommend but fair warning, parking kinda is terrible once the lot is full.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Shrimp Basket with Fries, Crab Cakes
Rob A
Great sea food!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Real Kimberly Thomas
Great food, great chef the oil way very clean and everything was wonderful! The server was great and we will return!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jobie Smith mendez
Really good service doesn’t take cash and you need a bigger sign saying that. Good food thoe
Lee Kissell
This was my first visit to Shell's, and I was very pleased. The staff was friendly, and my shrimp and oysters were fantastic. This is one of the dying breed of true North Florida gems that is well worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wes Thompson
Shell closes at 330pm, and has for over 15 years, so heads up!
They always have great fresh oysters, panacea farm raised. The grouper sandwich was very good, but mine was just a handful of actual nuggets, not the big filet I've been served in the past.
Servers are friendly. If you go, get there by 325p to get served! Enjoy!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
erica kimble
Extremely Disappointing Visit to Shells Oyster Bar
I visited Shells Oyster Bar with a friend, and unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. I ordered the catfish lunch, and my friend got the full platter. She didn’t receive any hush puppies with her meal, so we brought it to the staff’s attention, and they brought her just two. Meanwhile, the hush puppies I received were hard as a rock. I bit into one, immediately spit it out, and let our server know.
Instead of offering to remake them, they suggested microwaving them—something I found completely unacceptable, especially in a seafood restaurant. Who microwaves hush puppies and serves them back to a customer? That alone was enough to make me lose my appetite.
Beyond the food, the service was unsettling. When I asked for a drink refill, the server walked over toward me, then turned around and assisted a white male customer first, handing him ketchup while completely ignoring my request. I don’t want to immediately call it racism, but the difference in treatment between Black and white customers was hard to ignore. The energy in the restaurant felt off, and I didn’t feel welcomed or valued.
I originally thought Shells was a solid, local family-owned spot, and I was excited to try it. I don’t mind supporting white-owned businesses—but I expect fair treatment and decent food. Sadly, neither were provided.
I won’t be back and cannot recommend Shells Oyster Bar to anyone who values good food and respectful service.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sharon Mullins
We stopped on our way to Panacea, FL and again on the way back home. The food was delicious!!! Highly recommend !!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Huang CuiQing
Best oyster bar in town
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jimmie Thomas
I brought one of my students and teachers from Baltimore to Tallahassee for a music conference. They said they weren’t that hungry. They ate everything and want to make sure we revisit before we leave town.
If you're looking for some good seafood and don't care if it's not a dress up type place.. Go here. I had a grouper sandwich and loved it. The type of sandwich you have to eat some of the grouper before it can actually be a sandwich if you know what I mean. I hope to be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Tatiana Jackson
I the best shrimp in town
Christopher Stewart
Great oysters
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Theodore Tomes
The oysters are salty dogs, they are good and delicious the shuckers shuck them quick and they are clean when you suck them out the shell yummy good service is great very friendly family atmosphere I always enjoy myself
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Oysters, Fish
Karen Sechen
I don't normally eat fried foods, but I always make an exception at Shell's Oyster Bar. The fried shrimp and the onion rings are fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Shrimp Basket with Fries, Shrimp
Food was excellent (fried shrimp and crab cakes, coleslaw slaw, cheese grits) as was the service.
Im giving 5☆ for the atmosphere because Shells is a local mainstay and hasn't changed at all since I can remember.
Food also came out super fast.
Highly recommend but fair warning, parking kinda is terrible once the lot is full.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Shrimp Basket with Fries, Crab Cakes
Great sea food!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, great chef the oil way very clean and everything was wonderful! The server was great and we will return!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really good service doesn’t take cash and you need a bigger sign saying that. Good food thoe
This was my first visit to Shell's, and I was very pleased. The staff was friendly, and my shrimp and oysters were fantastic. This is one of the dying breed of true North Florida gems that is well worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shell closes at 330pm, and has for over 15 years, so heads up!
They always have great fresh oysters, panacea farm raised. The grouper sandwich was very good, but mine was just a handful of actual nuggets, not the big filet I've been served in the past.
Servers are friendly. If you go, get there by 325p to get served! Enjoy!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Extremely Disappointing Visit to Shells Oyster Bar
I visited Shells Oyster Bar with a friend, and unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. I ordered the catfish lunch, and my friend got the full platter. She didn’t receive any hush puppies with her meal, so we brought it to the staff’s attention, and they brought her just two. Meanwhile, the hush puppies I received were hard as a rock. I bit into one, immediately spit it out, and let our server know.
Instead of offering to remake them, they suggested microwaving them—something I found completely unacceptable, especially in a seafood restaurant. Who microwaves hush puppies and serves them back to a customer? That alone was enough to make me lose my appetite.
Beyond the food, the service was unsettling. When I asked for a drink refill, the server walked over toward me, then turned around and assisted a white male customer first, handing him ketchup while completely ignoring my request. I don’t want to immediately call it racism, but the difference in treatment between Black and white customers was hard to ignore. The energy in the restaurant felt off, and I didn’t feel welcomed or valued.
I originally thought Shells was a solid, local family-owned spot, and I was excited to try it. I don’t mind supporting white-owned businesses—but I expect fair treatment and decent food. Sadly, neither were provided.
I won’t be back and cannot recommend Shells Oyster Bar to anyone who values good food and respectful service.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We stopped on our way to Panacea, FL and again on the way back home. The food was delicious!!! Highly recommend !!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best oyster bar in town
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I brought one of my students and teachers from Baltimore to Tallahassee for a music conference. They said they weren’t that hungry. They ate everything and want to make sure we revisit before we leave town.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
If you're looking for some good seafood and don't care if it's not a dress up type place.. Go here. I had a grouper sandwich and loved it. The type of sandwich you have to eat some of the grouper before it can actually be a sandwich if you know what I mean. I hope to be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
I the best shrimp in town
Great oysters
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The oysters are salty dogs, they are good and delicious the shuckers shuck them quick and they are clean when you suck them out the shell yummy good service is great very friendly family atmosphere I always enjoy myself
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Oysters, Fish
I don't normally eat fried foods, but I always make an exception at Shell's Oyster Bar. The fried shrimp and the onion rings are fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Shrimp Basket with Fries, Shrimp
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