Mama's on the Half Shell
5.0 ★ average from 5 reviews
Popular tavern offering ample portions of stick-to-your-ribs seafood & a big oyster selection.
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Recent reviews
- ★★★★★Aisha
I drove all the way from Philadelphia to Baltimore just to try the famous cream of crab soup, and it did not disappoint! First, I have to give a shoutout to our waiter, Sharif. His service was outstanding—attentive, knowledgeable, personable, and just had great energy from start to finish. He made the experience even better with his recommendations. He suggested the half-and-half soup (half Cream of Crab, half Maryland Crab Soup). While I appreciated the recommendation, it just wasn’t for me. The Maryland crab soup had so many vegetables and flavors that it overpowered the creamy side. I ended up exchanging it for a full bowl of the Cream of Crab Soup, and that was absolutely the right choice. Rich, creamy, packed with crab, and exactly what I drove there for! I ordered the Shrimp & Chicken Alfredo, and it was very good. At first, I wasn’t a fan because the sauce was a little soupy, but once everything blended together, it actually worked really well. The chicken was seasoned perfectly, which elevated the entire dish and made the pasta even better. I’d definitely order it again. My son ordered the Chesapeake Chicken over mashed potatoes, and it was delicious. The chicken was flavorful, and the mashed potatoes paired perfectly with it. His only complaints were that the asparagus was oversized and could’ve used more seasoning, and overall he felt the dish needed a little salt. We also tried the Crab Dip Bread Bowl, and it was excellent. It had a rich, creamy base, and the crackers balanced the flavors perfectly. Every bite was satisfying. To drink, I had the Lavender Lemonade mocktail (I added my own liquor), and it was refreshing, light, and perfect for the summer. Overall, the food, atmosphere, and especially the service made the drive completely worth it. If you’re looking for authentic Maryland seafood and an amazing bowl of cream of crab soup, Mama’s on the Half Shell is definitely worth the visit. I’ll absolutely be back!
- ★★★★★Vlad Souboch
10/10 experience and the perfect way to finish our Baltimore trip! Our family of five was visiting Baltimore for a wedding, and we stopped at Mama’s before heading to the airport. We are so glad we did. Our server, Sharaf, was incredible—easily 10/10 service. He was attentive throughout the entire meal and genuinely made it his priority to ensure that we had a great experience. The happy-hour $1 oysters were fresh, delicious, and an amazing deal. We enjoyed them so much that we ordered 48! The crab cake was perfectly cooked with real chunks of crab, the mac and cheese was delicious, and the beer selection was great. Without bad-mouthing another establishment, we had tried a different Baltimore restaurant earlier in our trip and left disappointed by a watery orange crush and a mushy, expensive crab cake. Thank goodness we stopped at Mama’s before our flight, because it gave us the authentic Baltimore food experience we had been hoping for. We cannot say enough good things about Sharaf. He even brought us complimentary orange crushes because he wanted us to experience a proper Baltimore classic—and we are glad he did. His hospitality made the meal especially memorable. Excellent food, amazing service, and a wonderful final impression of Baltimore and its people. We will 100% be back anytime we are in the area!
- ★★★★★Lawrence Sator
If you’re anywhere near Baltimore, make the trip to Mama’s on the Half Shell in the Canton section it is absolutely worth the drive! Megan was the life of the party 🎈🎊🎉 and completely elevated our entire experience. Her energy, personality, and attention to detail made the night unforgettable. She didn’t just serve us, she created a vibe that made us feel like VIPs from start to finish. The food? Incredible. The cod fish was cooked to perfection, and the portions were enormous, definitely come hungry! Every bite was fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. And we can’t forget Yah-Yah and Shareef, (forgive me if I misspelled your names) their hospitality added another layer of excellence to the evening. Together, they made the atmosphere warm, welcoming, and genuinely enjoyable. This wasn’t just dinner, it was an experience. We had an amazing time and will definitely be back for more! 🔥🍽️ Follow for more🔥🔥 ~Lawrence
- ★★★★★Sharon D Gray
Our dining experience at this location was just as amazing as at Owings Mill; consistency overall with delicious food and excellent customer service. Our server Pedro made excellent recommendations from drinks to appetizers and our entrée, he did not disappoint. My daughter enjoyed at least 4 different oysters from sweet to briny. I had the fried oysters which were divine along with the French onion soup which was also delicious. My husband had the crab stuffed rockfish and loved it. I think we found our new dining out seafood restaurant.
- ★★★★★Todd Moore
It was alllllmost a 5-star food experience. First, go here. It's great. Vibe and food are on point. The only reason I rated the food a 4 was because the creme brulee just wasn't there. Other than that, everything we had was amazing!