Downtown Gulfport has been on the up and up, speckled with coffee shops, stores, and restaurants. So many of the buildings stand in their original form, representing a wonderful piece of coastal history.
Once such structure is the Kremer Building. Built in 1903, the Kremer Building, has experienced multiple renovations, lived through various storms, and housed a plethora of different businesses. Today, it is home to one of the most standout restaurants along the Gulf Coast: Half Shell Oyster House. Opening its doors in 2009, the Half Shell is one of those quintessential spots where you know you can always enjoy an incredible meal and experience true Southern hospitality.
Plate after plate at the Half Shell was a great culinary experience. Between the handcrafted libations and the skillfully prepared meals, I was in for a treat and one you can easily replicate. The Pink Pearl Martini was a sweet way to start off my meal, infusing housemade sweet and sour, grapefruit, and Pearl Pomegranate Vodka. I enjoyed this drink alongside the Orleans Snow Crab Claws, which immediately became my Half Shell favorite. I’m already a huge fan of Half Shell’s Orleans sauce, a buttery blend of house seasonings with a spicy NOLA flair, so sautéing snow crab claws in this delicious sauce is next level eating.
Another starter perfect for sharing is the Uptowner Quesadilla. Half Shell cuts their steaks in-house and lets nothing go to waste. Filet and ribeye steak trimmings come together with mushrooms, onions, and cheese and are served with a homemade Dijon horseradish sauce. It’s a quesadilla lover’s dream.
But you can’t visit the Half Shell without experiencing their oysters in some fashion. Whether raw or charbroiled, you can’t go wrong with this Coastal Mississippi staple. The Oyster Sampler is my absolute go-to, featuring a selection of Charbroiled Oysters and Oysters Bienville, Rockefeller, and Orleans. Between the butter, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, shrimp, and breadcrumbs, each variation was so yummy and brought its own something special to the table.
As a whiskey lover, the Southern Pecan Old Fashioned was easily my favorite cocktail. The Praline Pecan Liqueur and brown sugar simple syrup, along with the Sazerac Rye, made for a sweeter-than-usual Old Fashioned, but the sweetness was definitely welcome and added a new twist to an old classic. It was also yummy pairing alongside my array of entrees.
The Catfish Lameuse is Mississippi delight featuring blackened Mississippi farm-raised catfish over a bed of white rice. The Lameuse sauce is a rich seafood cream sauce that adds the perfect finishing touch. Because I’m obsessed with Half Shell’s Orleans sauce, the Redfish Orleans was perfect. Blackened redfish and shrimp are topped with that signature Orleans sauce and finished with lump crab meat and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Nine out of 10 times, this is my Half Shell order. But if you are really looking to dive into an incredible meal, the Big Easy Surf and Turf is just what you need. A 7-ounce filet, cut in-house is served over a housemade crab cake that is little stuffing and ALL crab. Topped with Bearnaise, lump crab, and Parmesan, it’s the surf and turf of your dreams and a Half Shell signature dish.
When it comes time for dessert (yes, dessert!), the Triple Chocolate Martini and Bananas Foster Cheesecake is the perfect indulgent combination. 360 Chocolate Vodka, Chocolate Liqueur, and heavy cream are poured into a chocolate-swirled glass, reminiscent of an adult chocolate milk. Half Shell’s cheesecake variation on the famous Bananas Foster was rich and decadent, right down to the spiced rum sauce.
What started as a simple concept to bring deliciously prepared food to a coastal crowd has grown into a 14 location strong franchise spanning three states. With a dedicated staff and a loyal fanbase, Half Shell shows no signs of slowing down. But like any true Gulf Coast staple, the Half Shell is true to its roots and continues to give so much back to the communities which have garnered and supported its success for 15 years.
Half Shell Oyster House
2500 13th St., #1, Gulfport
228.867.7001
www.halfshelloysterhouse.com
Hours:
Sun-Thurs, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
