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The Hard Shell - Downtown, Richmond, VA

The Hard Shell - Downtown

4.7 (1822)
$31 to $50
Seafood
1411 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 16 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for business meals
Located in downtown Richmond's historic Shockoe Slip, The Hard Shell Restaurant is known to locals as one of the best seafood restaurants in town. With a new fresh look; The Hard Shell features sleek booths, lots of light and a vibrant city feel. The Hard Shell has Richmond's widest variety of fresh and local seafood. Menu items include signatures such as filet and lobster, shrimp and scallops, lump crab cakes. Patio requests honored when possible but tables are first come, first served. Happy hour is available at the bar and on the patio and is first come, first served. Private dining & reservations are available. Dress is casual.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 10:30 am–4:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–4:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    The private dining room accommodates parties up to 50 guests. The Hard Shell offers custom menus and bar packages to suit every event. The private dining room is the perfect place for dinner programs, wedding functions or celebrations.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Richmond
  • Cross street
    14th St
  • Parking details
    The Hard Shell validates parking after 5pm daily in the garage at the corner of 14th St. and Cary St. directly across from the restaurant.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,822 people are saying

The Hard Shell - Downtown reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Virginia

    Healthy

  • Virginia

    Seafood

  • Richmond

    Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Hard Shell - Downtown offers a delightful dining experience with "excellent food and service." Known for its seafood, guests rave about the "delicious she crab soup" and "fantastic calamari." The atmosphere is inviting, and attentive staff enhance the experience. Highly recommended for its "great vibe" and "outstanding" dishes.

1,822 Reviews
  1. Holly VIP

    Oklahoma City188 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The restaurant was quite busy, but the service was excellent. The wedge salad was perfect with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and gardens. The pan seared scallops were delicious. The steamed seafood combo was yummy. It had clams, oysters, shrimp, crab legs, corn, and potatoes. This was our second visit.

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  2. Jamie VIP

    Philadelphia41 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great seafood apps and entrees but steak so so. Stick to the fish and seafood!

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  3. Jack

    Richmond2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    We went for Richmond Restaurant Week. Steak and Lobster: the steak was overcooked and gamey. Shrimp and Scallops: the scallops were overcooked, rubbery and too salty. The veg in this dish was salty to the point of not being edible. The Key Lime Pie was great; well-balanced, tangy and sweet. The service and staff were great. Solid cocktails, mediocre wine list. Overall, a mildly disappointing experience. Not a place I'd go back to.

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  4. Vikki

    Philadelphia8 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Really enjoyed our dinner here, the restaurant itself is beautiful and the menu has a lot of great choices. My husband and I both enjoyed our food and craft cocktails . But the best part of the experience was was the service, our waiter was amazing, he jumped back behind the bar and made my drink himself because he felt it was taking too long that is a great waiter! Just wish I could remember his name. We will definitely go again and recommend to friends.

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  5. Sherman

    Richmond7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Restaurant week at the hard shell was excellent. The warm crab dip appetizer and the Seabass entrée were both just excellent 

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  6. Sandy

    Richmond1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We decided to go out to eat for Easter Dinner and luckily chose The Hard Shell. I had the pan-seared salmon with tomato farro and it was absolutely delicious. The salmon almost melted in my mouth. My companions had the sesame tuna, blackened mahi-mahi, and the pasta with shrimp and scallops, and they were extremely happy with their choices. No one had leftovers to bring home. Our server was attentive but non-obtrusive. All around a great experience!

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  7. Amy VIP

    Richmond23 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I caught up with an old friend over dinner, and we both had an excellent experience. The staff was attentive and professional, and we were seated at the front window with a great view of Cary Street. Our meals were delicious as well. She had the tuna -- which was perfectly prepared. My salmon was fantastic -- a great sear on the outside, and tender and flaky on the inside. A fantastic evening all around!

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  8. Rebekah

    Treasure Coast3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had the rock salt margarita, crab cake and lobster tail. All amazing and delicious!

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  9. Megan

    Philadelphia1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Insanely good food. I wish I could eat there every night. I would have gotten everything on the menu if I could

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  10. Michael

    Richmond6 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    My first visit and last. Food was not bad but not good either. They crab dip had too much cream cheese in it and not enough crab meat. Dip also missing cheese. My crab soup came out cold and missing the crab. Must have been crab flavoring they put in it. We had the Crab and Ribs main entree. It was just OK. Nothing about the meal would convince me to come back again.

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FAQs

The Hard Shell - Downtown offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (804) 643-2333.

The Hard Shell - Downtown is rated 4.7 stars by 1822 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Virginia
  4. Richmond
  5. Richmond

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 16 times today
Google Map for The Hard Shell - Downtown

1411 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Additional information

  • Cross street
    14th St
  • Neighborhood
    Richmond
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 10:30 am–4:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–4:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steak
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    The Hard Shell validates parking after 5pm daily in the garage at the corner of 14th St. and Cary St. directly across from the restaurant.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    The private dining room accommodates parties up to 50 guests. The Hard Shell offers custom menus and bar packages to suit every event. The private dining room is the perfect place for dinner programs, wedding functions or celebrations.
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