Shell Shack — Restaurant in Mesquite

Before anything—we were hungry and meeting with friends, so it was either this or go home. We didn’t have many options, and Shell Shack was one of the only places open.

We got there around 11 PM on Thursday (they close at 1 AM), and right away, we ran into issues. A sweet lady at the front (it was her first day) asked if we had physical IDs. I told her I had a picture of mine, and she went to check if that was okay. Instead of a supervisor handling it, the bartender (Xavier, whom we later found out was NOT a manager) stepped in and told us we needed physical IDs just to enter—not just for alcohol, but to EAT.

His excuse? Something about “18-21-year-olds coming in with guns,” how if the police came and we didn’t have physical IDs, they’d get in trouble, and that it was “policy” and Mesquite’s curfew. Meanwhile, he told us we could ask the people at the bar for their IDs—so why were WE singled out?

Mind you, I’m 23 years old and with my mom. Instead of letting it go, we had to drive 20 minutes back home and 20 minutes back just to get my ID.

Here’s the kicker: when we returned, NO ONE checked our IDs. We watched multiple groups walk in without being asked, including two younger-looking girls who went straight to the bar and ordered drinks from him! He said he didn’t ask for their ID because they’re regulars and he knows them. Well the police wouldn’t know that now would they? Xavier avoided looking at us the entire time. When we confronted him, he kept repeating, “I understand” but clearly didn’t. He even tried walking away mid-conversation. When we asked for his name, he straight-up LIED and said “Chris Redfield” (yes, the video game character). Our actual waiter later told us his name was Xavier. Be so for real.

And after all that? The food was overly salty. I’ve had seafood boils from multiple places, and I have never had one this salty.

Overall, this was a terrible experience. Unfair treatment, unnecessary hassle, and subpar food. I won’t be back. If I could give ZERO...

I LOVE the food here!! My wife and I always start with 1/2 dozen raw oysters….always awesome! I always order 1lb of dungeoness crab with potatoes, kitchen sink, mild. Delicious!!! Wife usually gets the shrimp boil or the fried shrimp and fries. Fries have changed since we first started coming since they first opened….womp womp. The biggest issue this establishment has is the staff. When you spend $100 for 2 people to eat, there is a small expectation of some sort of good service. It was great back in the day, but the last few times we have come here the service is lack luster…..at best. Our waitress gave the feeling that she could care less about what we needed. We had to ask for utensils. She just threw our food in front of us. Before, they would ask if we wanted our seafood poured into the tray. This last time, the waitress said, “you can pour it on your tray, right?”. I just said yes. SMH. I typically tip 20-25% for just average service. Unfortunately, I could not justify more than a 10% tip on our last visit. Poor service equals poor tip. My wife and I are easy though. The bar is the central focus of this establishment and I get it. That is where they make their money. However, until they partition the bar to separate it from customers looking to enjoy a dinner, it is just somewhere that has good food when you don’t mind only good food. Luckily, my wife and I don’t mind the atmosphere, but if service does not improve, we will make the extra 20 minute drive to go to The Boiling Crab in Dallas. Bottom line…..the crab boil is fantastic!! Service sucks. Enjoy the food but ignore the poor service. Tip...

First and last time visiting this place. Service was horrible, food was cold, my catfish was ok.. hush puppies were super greasy and cold and hard. Asked server for more hot fries because mines were cold and old, but my husband’s were warm. We were done with our fish before we got the fresh fries back. Initially received our meal before we even got our drinks. Our waitress Angelica kept disappearing. I normally give the benefit of the doubt when people are short staffed however there was HARDLY any customers. We came in at about 8pm and by 9:10 my husband was walking around trying to find someone to cash out our ticket. Finally the bar guy came in sight so my husband asked him to cash us out and when he turned around he saw our waitress sitting. At this time it was only my husband and I, two other young men that just received their meals and one other lady walking around for someone to cash her out as well. So there were not a lot of people at all to be this slow. We wish we would have just waited the hour for a table at Cheddars or gone to Raising canes. At least I would have gotten satisfied. Pictures are of the old cold fries I never ate and the new fries she brought after we had finished everything. Side note they only look good because of the quality of the camera. SMH Only reason my husband didn’t ask for a supervisor is because we didn’t want to have to wait there any longer b/c all of the workers kept...