Shuckers Oyster House — Restaurant in Carrollton

After my first visit a couple of months ago, when I was completely blown away by the crab legs and the craft beer selection, I booked a 40th birthday party for my boyfriend on the spot. Shuckers' owners were exceptionally easy to work with in the planning phase, offering me several thoughtfully compiled menus at various price points, all of which were more than reasonable.

Saturday, we arrived to the restaurant for the party to find that they'd gone far above and beyond just putting out food and drinks for us. The patio was beautifully decorated with tasteful beach decor, including sea net table runners, crafty sand and shell candle holders as centerpieces and even a custom made pallet wood sign announcing our party, with permanent markers for guests to use to sign their names on it as a take-home keepsake of the event. They'd also cordoned off an adjacent area for us to set up corn hole boards because I'd mentioned in passing that we might bring a few sets.

As a corporate event planner, I was impressed before I ever took a bite of food.

Then I took a bite of food.

OK...Make that a whole bunch of bites, because everything was incredibly delicious. We had fried pickles, chicken fingers, peel-and-eat shrimp, hush puppies, fried shrimp, gator bites, gumbo with garlic bread and fried oysters. Every single item was presented not only beautifully but strategically to keep it fresh and appetizing throughout the three hour party. The Shuckers folks were attentive throughout the event, whisking away empty plates, refilling drinks and making bar runs for our guests the entire time.

It was everything I'd hoped it would be and more. They have customers for life in us, and I'm willing to bet they earned 30 or so more last night as well. Everyone who came complimented the entire event and raved about how good all the food was.

During the night, just like on my first visit, I observed the owners personally greeting almost every customer, getting to know a little about them and sincerely asking if there was anything they could do to make their food or their visit a little bit better. They take a genuine personal interest in making sure that every diner has a meal and an experience that makes them happy.

As for me, I wouldn't change a thing. Thank you, and...

Let me first start off by saying that we have always enjoyed the food here. OUR dislike was very poor customer service wise. We went there this past Wednesday with a party of 15 family members to celebrate a birthday within our party. Well, She said we couldn't be seated until the entire party was present, we had 4 that weren't there yet, very shortly 3 of those 4 showed up and the last one was caught up in traffic and wouldn't be there for at least another 20 minutes. The person that was going to seat us asked if this was our entire party, I said no, we have one more that's not here yet and that if we couldn't be seated we would take our business elsewhere. She sarcastically began telling me how it was the "policy" and all restaurants even Long Horns observed the same policy, I said No they do not, we do more than our share of eating out with large parties like this and have never been refused seating of such a large party with only a small quantity not there yet. She also said well go ahead go somewhere else if you want LOL, you're dang right at that point we walked out and spent our money elsewhere. Now, if this restuarant had been busy, I could understand her position on their "policy" or if half of our party was not there yet, but at the point when only one was not there yet, and there was only 3 small parties of 2 to 4 each in the resturant to begin with, (practly empt),, they should have seated us when we first walked in the door. The restuarant we went to asked nothing about how many of the party was actually there, they just immediately took us to their largest table and seated us and made us feel very welcomed. My suggestion to this restaurant would be to improve their customer service beginning with the owners, because after we left, I was told she was the owners wife that refused to seat us. Even though we have always enjoyed the food there, we also enjoy good service, something they were seriously lacking Wednesday evening. My money, my choice, your loss Shuckers. Not just Wednesday and not just by me, but a party of 15 and mostly will not return. Those 15 will influence countless others over the months and years to come. Also, you are Not Long Horns and they would have seated us and took our money as they always have...

My sneaky friends just had a surprise birthday luncheon for me at Shuckers bc they know it’s my favorite place. It was so fun! They planned it at 1 pm when the lunch rush was nearly over. (Smart gals!) Some had never been to Shuckers but enjoyed it and vowed to come back.

I have posted reviews elsewhere so am repeating here: Food: We go to the beach frequently and I have never had fried shrimp anywhere that is as good as Shuckers. It’s even better than any at Calabash. (Seriously, I have been saying this for years - actually since the first time they opened back in 1999 or 2000.) The breading is not too thick and not too thin. It's just right. I love their shrimp basket! Husband loves their oyster basket. The fries are sooooo good and crispy. I dip them in the cocktail sauce. Sometimes the cocktail sauce is not as horsey as we like it so we ask for a bit more horseradish. No problem! The slaw is good, I just wish there were more of it and maybe a bit more or thicker sauce to marry the flavors. It always tastes fresh!!! The basket is consistently good. We never get anything else because the basket is what we like! But I will make it my goal to try something different. Service: The staff always seem happy. That says a lot! The actual service is pretty good. It's a bit spotty depending on how busy it is. As we are retired, we go late lunch or early dinner and recommend you do too. Ambiance: I love the music they play and the decorations are fun! It’s like a day at the beach! Suggestion: Could you do a week night M-Th senior citizens hour 4-5 or 5-6? That would make me love you...