July, 2007

Rating : 8 out of 10

Tariff : Lunch for 3

• 3 entrees
• 3 fountain drinks
• tip (counter jar)
• $30

Atmosphere

The Shrimp Shack, which sits just before the causeway bridge to Harbor Island on Highway 21, is famed among locals and tourists alike for its local seafood. It's an old time spot and you have to be up for that sort of local flavor in order to enjoy it. It's run by the Gay family and is situated practically across the street from the Gay Fish Company's docks and shop. If you choose to dine in you have three options: the indoor shack itself (where the order windows are) basically a screened porch that has a few tables and some counters with benches, the screened gazebo with one central table and counters/benches all around, or several picnic tables outside.  If you're going with the easy flow of Southern life you can take your pick, but if it's too gosh darn hot for you then there's always take out!

Service

No service to speak of--don't get me wrong, people are friendly, but it's very basic--you go up to place your order at one window and then you pick up your order at a different window. There are condiments on the tables and self serve refills of iced tea out on a counter. You bus your own tray.

Food

We had the grouper sandwich--a big piece of sweet white fish breaded and fried on a hamburger bun--and two of the famous shrimp burgers. The shrimp burgers aren't exactly light, but they are good! The recipe looks to be practically all shrimp, cleaned and chopped and mixed with just enough binder (egg?) to hold it together before deep frying. It is very much different than a crab cake made with bread crumbs and then pan fried, which are good here, too, by the way! The sides we tried this time were crinkle cut fries, which weren't anything great--a lot like the frozen kind; hushpuppies--large, fluffy lumps of deep fried cornmeal batter that tasted great with the ketchup/horseradish sauce; and tangy slaw, juicy and light--a good contrast to the heavier fried dishes. Other sides are fried onion rings, sweet potato sticks, red rice and green beans. Aside from seafood dishes there are chicken dishes and burgers. Outside there's an ice cream vending machine--fun for the kids to grab a popsicle after dinner.

When we cook in we often buy our fresh shrimp at Gays across the street. But for us, a visit to the sea islands islands wouldn't be complete without at least one stop at The Shrimp Shack.

The Shrimp Shack
1925 Sea Island Parkway
St. Helena Island, SC 29920
(843) 838-2962