676 W. Diversey Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614
If it’s great seafood you seek, you’ll find it in spades at Half Shell, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. It’s a pretty simple joint- just a small menu offering all sorts of fish and sea creatures set in a garden level space which creates a dark, almost cave like vibe (garden level in Chicago means slightly below ground). In the summer, there is a small outdoor seating area for those who don’t want that “octopus’s garden” feeling! No frills here and the service is brusque almost to the point of rudeness but Half Shell has been going strong for over three decades and upon receiving your more than ample sized entrée, you’ll understand why.
The menu begins with a variety of appetizers, both hot and cold. Of course, fresh oysters on the half shell are a given! With items ranging from fried jumbo shrimp to Russian caviar, you can accommodate your taste buds and wallet as you like. As for entrées, the menu skews heavily toward fried food in the $12-17 range but also offers grilled fresh fish as well as lobster and crab offerings at market value, which can bring the price closer to the $30 range. Each entrée comes with French fries, an appropriate sauce for dipping and a small multicolored lollipop. I can’t speak for the lollipop but the grilled swordfish with garlic lemon butter was delectable and my boyfriend’s sampler of perch, frog legs, shrimp and squid with tartar and horseradish sauces was quite yummy. All around us, diners were merrily digging into the sea’s bounty right there in Chicago.
Fancy it is not and service is not five stars but with its full bar and consistently excellent seafood Half Shell is definitely a noteworthy restaurant. Bring cash and a hearty appetite!
