Pros
- Fresh seafood. Mama's has a huge selection of some of the freshest seafood in town, including...
- Raw oysters. The selection changes daily, but you can be assured that Mama's oysters on the half shell always will be plump and tasty
- Cocktails. Mama's makes delicious mint julips and uses a juicer to freshly squeeze oranges, lemons, and other fruits whose juices it uses in cocktails
- A lively, happening atmosphere. Mama's is a place to be in Canton
- Outdoor seating. A surprising rarity in Baltimore, Mama's has a handful of tables along Linwood Avenue
Cons
- Popularity means you'll definitely have to wait for a table on weekend nights
- Downstairs space is primarily a bar - so it's loud
Description
- Address: 2901 O'Donnell St.
- Phone: 410-276-3161
- Hours: Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Prices: Appetizers: $4.99-$13.99; Sandwiches: $7.99-$13.99; Entrees: $14.99-$30.99
- Parking: Street/valet on weekend nights
Guide Review - Mama's on the Half Shell
For a town on the water, it was shocking how few down-home seafood restaurants populated Baltimore's urban neighborhoods - before Mama's on the Half Shell. The restaurant and bar has become a Canton staple in its young existence, as the weekend crowds can attest.
Housed in a corner brick building with a first-floor bar and second-floor dining room, Mama's offers all the cornerstones of a solid seafood restaurant. Its raw oysters come from waters all around the country, as do other steamers, including clams, shrimp, and mussels.
An extensive choice of appetizers dot the menu, and the seafood potato skins and fried calamari are among the best. The seafood club stands apart. It's a delicious thee-ounce crab cake or three fried oysters above shrimp salad, lettuce, tomato, mayo, smoked applewood bacon and swiss cheese.
The fish in the fish and chips is a huge piece of cod intensely fried in PBR beer batter, but fair warning: it comes with actual chips, not fries. The fried shrimp are particularly tasty, and like all entrees (including several steak options) come with choice of two sides. The homemade mac and cheese is so rich, creamy, and delicious, it can knock you blissfully unconscious.
The long, wooden bar downstairs can get very crowded. Nightlifers flock here for the orange crush and mint julep cocktails. A better bet for dining is the room upstairs, intimate but not stuffy. Try and snag one of the seats next to the fireplace. Mama's has filled a real need, and it's done it with style and flair, while not losing its neighborhood roots.
