A place where good food brings good people together, and where every meal feels like coming home.

OUR STORY BEGINS WITH A CHALKBOARD

There’s no secret formula here — just fresh seafood, great hospitality, and a place where everyone feels welcome. Half Shells was built on the idea that the best neighborhood restaurants serve food people crave and create experiences people return for.

From freshly shucked oysters to classic seafood dishes, everything we do starts with quality ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s a place where the drinks are cold, the seafood is fresh, and guests quickly feel like regulars.

Our founders

BUILT ON FRESH SEAFOOD & REAL HOSPITALITY

What began as a small neighborhood restaurant in Dallas grew into a family of seafood restaurants built on fresh ingredients, warm hospitality, and a place where guests feel like regulars. Founders Bill and Lovett Bayne created Fish City Grill with one goal: serve great seafood in a welcoming, neighborhood setting.

As the brand grew, so did the opportunity to expand that same spirit. Half Shells was created to bring the same commitment to fresh seafood, oysters, and genuine hospitality to even more communities.

Today, Fish City Grill and Half Shells continue to grow — while staying true to the simple idea that started it all: serve great seafood and treat people right.

— Lovett & Bill Bayne

Our Values

The Way We See It.

SERVING SEAFOOD, SERVING PEOPLE

We believe in serving people — with kindness, laughter, and the kind of warmth that makes strangers feel like neighbors.

NO SCHMUCKS. EVER.

We don’t hire them, we don’t serve like them, and we don’t act like them. We treat our guests and teammates with respect, honesty, and good humor — because life’s too short for anything else.

FRESH, HONEST, AND ALWAYS MADE FROM SCRATCH

Gulf-inspired seafood, daily chalkboard specials, and recipes made by hand — it’s how we honor the coast and the communities that keep us cooking.