Page 82 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2024

DINING HALF SHELL OYSTER
Oyster Sampler.
ADDRESS
2500 13th St., #1 Gulfport
CONTACT
228.867.7001
WEBSITE
www.halfshelloysterhouse.com
HOURS
Sun-Thurs, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
story and photos by Kimberly C. Rasmussen
82 | October 2024
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
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