Shellfish Cow Restaurant in South Oxfordshire

Friendly staff, attentive service, lovely food, happy to adapt to suit dietary preferences. We had steak and the seafood roast with cocktails and wine. Not sure which was the lighter red, we were given two sample to try which was really helpful.

This will be a fondly-remembered casual birthday dinner-- everything about the experience was delightful. Each dish was faultlessly prepared, and Louis, our server, was simply perfect. Indeed, I'm sending special love to Louis for dressing my (fresh and exquisite) lobster tableside, sparing me the waste, mess and misery of wrestling with it myself. If only all restaurants did this! I'm not proud and was very grateful for his skilled assistance. A charming meal altogether, delicious, fun and without friction. I have friends who keep talking about visiting Shellfish Cow, and I intend to return with them in tow.

From start to finish sensational. Booked for my partners daughters 13th birthday, amazing food along with amazing service , service in particular made the experience that extra bit special live lobster brought to the table , can’t wait to return

Fantastic food and atmosphere. The shellfish roast was perfect for two and the paprika sauce was delicious.

Brilliant seafood restaurant. The Shellfish roast with the paprika sauce was excellent and a huge amount of food for two. Staff were great and lovely atmosphere.

What a fun experience we had dining at The Shellfish Cow. It is not obvious from their website that The Shellfish Cow is based on a shared dining model, so one platter for the table to share. Their menu and the specials on their blackboard gave a list of possibilities, but you can easily adjust them to your own preference. The platter we chose consisted of mussels, prawns, langoustine and crab claws, and we asked to substitute the mussels for scallops and this was readily agreed. The dish was excellent, and came in a delicious sauce. We were provided with lobster pickers and shell crackers, a hammer, a bowl to clean our hands in, many napkins and two aprons. Oh how necessary those aprons were! The food was really of a very high quality.

Highly recommend 5 stars Really enjoyed our family meal celebrating my son’s birthday . The sea food platter and the lobster was very delicious. Everything from food, service and atmosphere was spot on . Thank you to the member of staff who looked after us . My son loved the lobster experience and the surprise birthday treat . Will definitely go back again .

Awesome restaurant so friendly and comfortable The food is insane! Thank you so much for a wonderful night!

Brilliant place very friendly and very helpful shellfish fantastic and tasty well worth a visit

Love this place. Excellent food and attentive waiter who went the extra mile to make our anniversary special. Seafood fresh and succulent, and the dressings we chose were bold but well-balanced. Probably our favourite seafood restaurant in the Oxfordshire/Berkshire area.

Food was solid; service was great!

We have enjoyed our summer seafood platter very much. Generous portion and everything tasted very fresh. Amazing service. The menu was short but a good selection. Would have appreciated more dessert options though.

First, and certainly not our last, visit to The Shellfish Cow today. Adored the quirky surroundings, ambience, service and food. Our waiter, Louis, couldn’t do enough for us and was absolutely charming. Pricey but most certainly worth it and a rareity to find a seafood restaurant with such a good variety on offer. Although we didn’t opt for the steaks I am sure that they would be as exquisite. Thankyou so much Louis 😁

My husband and I went to the Shellfish Cow to celebrate my birthday. We had a fantastic meal - probably one of the best we’ve had! Our waiter was absolutely lovely: great recommendations which really enhanced their dinning experience. We had garlic and chilli prawns and the lemon and ginger scallops to start - absolutely divine. Followed by the best ribeye steak ever. Full marks to the chef. The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant is really funky and cool.It was midweek and quiet, but I don’t know why, this is a gem of a place- can’t wait to go back!

Delicious crab oysters and steak with friendly service and lovely rose wine Highly recommended near the centre of Henley

My family and I recently dined at Shellfish Cow in Henley, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The food was exceptional, with each dish showcasing fresh ingredients and exquisite flavors that pleased both adults and kids alike. The seafood was particularly memorable, perfectly cooked and seasoned to highlight its natural taste. What truly made our visit special was the staff. They were attentive, friendly, and incredibly welcoming, making us feel right at home. Their professionalism and warmth enhanced our overall dining experience, ensuring that both the adults and the children had a fantastic time. If you're looking for a family-friendly restaurant with exceptional food and wonderful service, Shellfish Cow in Henley is a must-visit. Highly recommended!

The food was very good. You don't have to be afraid of eating bad fish and getting sick. The employee who served zns was very friendly and helpful. The menu is very clear, but not suitable for vegetarians. The food looked very good and tasted very good too. The only thing I have to complain about is that even if you order a lot, you hardly get full. We ordered a menu for three people, a lobster and half a kilo of mussels. There were four of us and we weren't hungry anymore, but we weren't exactly full either. Still a very good restaurant. I can only recommend it!

Genuinely one of the best seafood meals we've had in the UK. Luis/Louis was an effortlessly skilled waiter, with a host of solid recommendations, who in many ways made the evening. The food was as fresh I've found away from the coast, and the passion for high quality presentation was clear. The chef, although we didn't meet, clearly had a specialty for seafood, and the scallops, prawns and Mussels in particular were perfectly cooked. If you enioy seafood, and you are within 20miles of Henley, make sure your visit. We will be back very soon I'm sure.

We had a lovely dinner in Shellfish Cow. We highly recommend this place!

Wonderful! Restaurant is super quirky, small and cosy. Fairy lights at the bar, fun wallpaper, long stem candles for the vibes. Service was lush. They were all so sweet and were so attentive and were very helpful. Atmosphere was cosy and sweet. It wasn’t actually too busy when we came by on a Saturday night at 6pm so there wasn’t too much of a buzz but the music lifted the vibes. We went for the Seafood Roast with extra bread. Consisted of crab claws, mussels, prawns, langoustines, corn on the cob and hasselback potatoes in a butter/paprika sauce. Ordered 3 cocktails (Apple Martini quite strong/sour but could be the chilli syrup in it!) all came down to £109 for everything. Was my partner’s birthday as I emailed them asking if I could decorate the table (they were fine with this!). When we didn’t order deserts they brought out a scoop of the nicest, thickest vanilla ice cream with ‘Happy Birthday’ written on the plate :) it was a very kind gesture! Only thing I’d say is there was a bit of sand in all the mussels we ate but they were still yum and I’d put the music a tad louder to make it a bit less quiet when you’re eating! :) Will definitely be coming back!!!

Very nice looking restaurant and lad doing the service was great so no problems with that, but the food not good. Lobster cooked in fish stock ?, really, more like boiled water with a bit of celery and onion chucked in, tasteless and over cooked so tough. Devilled crab ok but again not exciting.

Amazing food and lovely staff!!

We visited Shellfish Cow in Henley on a Tuesday evening, 25/6, to celebrate our wedding anniversary. There was a lovely atmosphere, and we received a warm welcome from the owner/manager Jo, and our waiter Louis. Food was absolutely delicious, we shared scallops, prawns and sirloin steak with salad & fries. Such an enjoyable, relaxed evening in a unique restaurant, with a perfect balance of professionalism and friendliness from our excellent and efficient waiter Louis. We will be back!

Shellfish Cow is an excellent restaurant. This was our second visit having visited during the regatta last year and it was just as good the second time round. The food is delicious and the portions are generous. Staff are very friendly and welcoming. Can’t wait to go back again!

Best espresso martini’s I’ve ever had. Not only did we have a great lunch, we had a great server Louis who attended to our needs and was great!

Such great food and the service is great. It is a sharing restaurant and I went with my family and 4-5 dishes was enough for the 4 of us

Amazing food, lobster was nice and sweet, oysters fresh, will be visiting again

Popped in for some late lunch and got the seafood roast, the bread and house salad to share between two. It was absolutely delicious and so fresh and the bread is a must for absorbing all the sauce once the seafood was all gone! The staff were really nice and accommodating and the price was very reasonable for the quality of the food. Would recommend to anyone who loves seafood and will definitely be back!

Food was excellent, lovely crab and steak, but the service was terrible. Restaurant was only half full and it was only 7pm, but we only got served half our drinks, then ask for wine bucket, then the ice! Starters arrived, we then had to ask for cutlery, plates and napkins. The mains arrived and no salt or pepper on the table! We were informed that 2 members of staff were sick, but when you’re paying over £50 per person for a meal it’s not what expect for a nice meal and the conversation is about poor service.

Relaxing. Amazing customer service. Talked you through different options. Cheese board is a must. Chocolate biscuits and frozen grapes. I know sounds odd but it works. Grapes act like a sorbet to clean your pallet and Chocolate makes the Cheese creamier. You guy waiting on is brilliant. Family business. Please try you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic little restaurant selling, as its clever name implies, shellfish and steak. Several of the shellfish dishes are served tapas style; perfectly cooked, these are ideal for sharing. A relatively small core menu is supplemented by monthly specials, with platters, whole crabs and whole lobsters also available. Delightful flavours, well presented and supplemented by a great wine list, with everything available by glass as well as by the bottle

A really good evening out. Food was exquisite. We enjoyed a relaxed but stylish dining atmosphere, warm helpful service, good cocktails and a fantastic menu. We opted for the fresh oysters, crab tostada, lobster and sides - all excellent. For us it was a treat at the price point but very good value so well worth a visit.

My partner and I had a wonderful meal at Shellfish Cow. The food was sublime and the service was attentive and friendly. GO! It's worth it.

Amazing evening.. made so welcome and service from then on remained at a high standard.. As for the food, well this was incredible.. Honestly one of the best meals I have ever had. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

Friendly service, beautiful seafood and a lovely bottle of white wine, need I say more??? Loved it!

We booked for my husband’s birthday bash, was a surprise dinner with friends. I was a bit nervous because I wanted to make sure we all had a really good nite out. Got to get a babysitter, taxis and all that jazz 🤗 We received a very warm welcome by Jo-Anne and the staff, the food and wine was fab, fresh and tasty, everything you could wish for and more! Sorry I haven’t got any pictures for you, was too busy stuffing my face! We are all hooked on the Shellfish Cow and looking forward to going back soon. Thank you

A decidedly very positive experience: from booking via email (friendly and quick response), to the welcome, the service, the food and the concept for sharing dishes. Small detail, but much appreciated, is giving the possibility to choose shrimp whether to take shelled or not. I gave 4 stars to the food, not for the quality, but for the offer we found available on Saturday. We arrived for dinner at 6:30pm and both the crab and lobster were not available - we were a little disappointed. I opted for a good surf&turf: sirloin and shrimp ;-). All very good. As for desserts, they could complete the menu with a chocolate cake or something similar. Excellent service and very attentive to the customer. Should we return to the area, we will definitely return to taste their dishes... and who knows, maybe we will find a nice crab to welcome us!

Great little seafood place with friendly, attentive staff and a charming ambience. Presentation and freshness of the food is excellent. Highly recommend it if in Henley.

Fantastic quality seafood properly cooked with great service.

Wow, the food was amazing. shellfish roast really tasty Will recommend it to family and friend

What a amazing evening the staff was fantastic and so friendly the food was out of this world I had the shellfish roast and omg best thing I every eaten in my life 5*to the chef and 5*to the staff I will be defo coming back for more delicious food

Table of eight, mixed ages including baby. Friendly and efficient service. Delicious food. Warm and welcoming decor. Highly recommend

This is a spectacular restaurant, with the most amazing, friendly staff. The food was perfect. We were blown away with how wonderful this place is. Would highly recommend.

I had the most wonderful birthday meal with my mother and partner. Our waiter was so friendly and good at explaining the menu. We had a sharing seafood platter which was phenomenal, followed by a steak which had an unbelievably delicious sauce. The decor is unique and stylish, and has a fun yet fancy vibe to it! I also thought the price of the food was very reasonable too. I will be returning soon for more amazing food.

Had the shellfish roast, was super satisfying and the paprika and full roast garlic bulb in the buttery sauce was fantastic. The portion is for two but could easily serve 3. My only two criticisms are: I felt the shellfish roast just needed a second salt seasoning after it was served, you can lose the delicate flavour of the crab meat and langoustines in the sauce otherwise. Get some bibs in for people ordering, part of the experience and then less time spent worrying about spilling on clothes. Could sell them too! Great service, great food, good Sancerre and the lunch menu looks really fairly priced for a revisit.

We took the decision to try this place based on the reviews also the fact meant to be a fish restaurant...when we do a searching for a fish restaurant in Henley this is the one that pop up as the best...but it was a complete disappointment all the ways, the menu on that day wasn't inspiring and no other fish option for a main course, the dish we choose "Shellfish Roast", no seasoning, tasteless, it was like a paprika soup...the combination of corn on the cob, roast potatoes, all bulb garlic not even cut, inside the sauce with shellfish is an unusual combination and not discussing taste of each one but if you tried shellfish from your local fishmongers you will have more taste. The board with the daily Chef recommendation instead to put in a position easy to read for the most of the customers ( like the bottom of the room side the kitchen door) it was facing another hall...the information should be visible to everyone. The tools to break/open the crab claws very inadequate....too small. We came for food and not looking for drinks...we ate everything that doesn't mean it was enjoyable....but a respect for the resources available.

Delicious seafood and very helpful staff! Would come back!

Lovely restaurant. Very accommodating. Nice family run business. Gorgeous food. Would recommend.

Great evening with family. Food was really good, lovely for sharing. Great service, would definitely recommend!

Lovely lunch yesterday in Henley. The Cataplancha is value for money sweet fat scallops, juicy mussels and plenty of prawns. The chilli ginger has a nice spicy kick. Wines are reasonably priced too

Lovely restaurant with fresh seafood and amazing steak. How lucky to have this in Henley hundreds of miles away from the sea. All food also suitable for children.

A brilliant restaurant. From the minute we walked in, we were so well looked after. The food was off the charts, we were well guided with the menu after a conversation, and the manager Louis was the very best host. If you haven’t been, go. Couldn’t recommend it enough. Can’t wait to go back 🦐🦞🦀

Went to this restaurant with my son who loves seafood and we weren’t disappointed, everything was fresh and would visit again!

Service is so nice, food is so nice. Zero regret to have dinner here on Valentine’s Day!

Small independent restaurant. Lovely seafood. And the sorbet was fab. Great staff who stayed very calm despite a woman who was moaning after she'd eaten all her meal, and only then decided to raise something as an issue. The only reason I've given 4 stars and not 5 is the lack of proper beer. Moretti does not count. 😀

Very nice tapas sort of restaurant, fish and meat are excellent, I love the quirky atmosphere and good service

Had a great meal here last night. Very relaxed and so friendly. Delightful staff - brother & sister I believe and Mum cooking. We shared the Seafood Roast, that contained langoustine, prawns, mussels, crab claws, corn on the cob and hassleback potatoes swimming in a very tasty sauce that I think was smoked paprika based?. Haven't had such a thing before and it was delicious but maybe a tiny bit over-cooked, but that may have been the nature of the dish - an inevitable outcome of roasting everything together in the sauce?? Followed by sharing a cheeseboard that was generous - it would have been a lot for a single serving so I reckon maybe they extended it as we were sharing - which speaks volumes for the restaurant! Our first visit and I'm sure we'll be back!

We had the most gorgeous time at Shellfish Cow! Outstanding mussels (highly recommend the garlic and lemon sauce), and great meaty prawns; also some dangerously good cocktails! Perfect fun dinner spot, with great interiors and lovely attentive staff.

Love it friendly atmosphere great food and gorgeous cocktails

Really nice meal with friends for a birthday. Staff were amazing. Atmosphere was great! Couldn’t have been a better evening.

Such a lovely experience. Staff knowledgable and welcoming the bartender was very fun! Food amazing, we loved the shellfish roast!

We had an excellent meal here, cooked by the owner and served by his son. We'll be back!

LOVED it. Best place we tried in Henley, when staying for a few days. Family run restaurant that cares you have a good time and will try their best about everything. Husband liked it and he is really picky about things! I liked the decor, like the flamingo wallpaper toilets with Frida Kahlo painted on the back of clam shells! Hubby is gluten free and on a keto diet and there were loads of gluten free options, plus no symptoms of having eaten gluten the next day so they do take care. I had the halloumi orange and beetroot salad and hubby had the steak and both were great. We also shared some prawns. They don’t do starters it’s kind of like tapas in that you share dishes. I also loved my espresso martini and husband was impressed you cna get more expensive wine by the glass. Would definitely recommend 🌟

Been a while since we visited this brilliant family run restaurant. Deep fried scallops to start, which were delicious and an amazing shellfish roast. We have had the platter before so this was a delightful change. Fries and bread was enough as very full. Cocktails beautifully presented. Thank you for a great evening and we shall definitely be back

Absolutely amazing meal, food was delicious and fab service! Thoroughly recommend 😍

The worst seafood restaurant I have ever eaten in and I love seafood. First time I have ever felt to moan and leave a bad review. But wow what an awful, disappointing meal. My boyfriend and I went out for a rare date night and decided to try here we choose the shellfish roast, may as well been called the shellfish boil! It was all boiled to an inch of its life so it was the blandest seafood swimming in some red oily sauce! The hassleback potatoes were boiled potatoes with the cuts in. I don’t mind paying for decent seafood but £69 for that and I feel like we have been robbed. Avoid at all costs so disappointing

Amazing find in Henley! Beautiful seafood and wonderful atmosphere. Thank you!

What a delicious lunch! Tried half a dozen King prawns in provencal and half a dozen scallops in chilli garlic. Amazing!. Husband had the steak and liked it. The restaurant is run by a family and their personal touch is expressed in their service ambience and the decor. They were so warm and welcoming and added an extra sparkle to my 40th birthday. Thank you Shellfish Cow. Oh and the cocktails were gooooood.

Had such a great time here. Service v friendly, food excellent and the owner is a lovely lady. Will definitely return.

What a place! First time at this Henley restaurant. Quiet night in November but warm welcome from 19 year old Louie, the son of the owners. Looked after us perfectly. Food amazing. Best mussels I have had and Shellfish Roast to share was a fantastic combination. We must support small independent restaurants like this over the boring chains. Strongly recommend going. BTW cocktails were delicious.

From the outset,I was REALLY impressed by Louis ,the owners son,answering the phone WITHIN 3 rings-VERY professional as I have been customer facing in 10 years previously! Because it was my 60th birthday,my son Luke and myself,who are avid seafood lovers-chose this restaurant because Luke lives in Bracknell and myself in Watford -thought it was the best option. We arrived at 6.30-we’d booked for 7-but Louis informed us,we had the whole restaurant to ourselves 😂! Being on a Tuesday,I suppose it was “off peak “but who needs a full ,loud crowd to create a great atmosphere and ambiance! The music,being 70/80s disco music was great background and really satisfied me as it was “back in day”music for me! We chose a cocktail for me-mind blowingly delish!! Luke had a Spanish beer which I chose for second drink! As for the food-unbelievable-my Caribbean mum RIP-would have greatly appreciated it 🙏 If you get the chance,get down there and experience their fantastic,resilient family run “homely “food restaurant for yourself! Louis even extended their hospitality to providing Luke with MY birthday ice cream 😂if you get a chance ,get down and experience this restaurant for yourselves ,guys,words fail me !! Keep up the great work guys-Luke and myself will be down for the crab claws next time 😂ps they have got items on their menu apart from seafood as well ! And thanks to mum ,great meal,Thanks 🙏

Excellent food in both taste and presentation. The family all enjoyed their seafood whilst I had a lovely steak.

Lovely lunch would recommend the lunch menu sharing cataplan, great mix of scallops, prawns and mussels. We also had the special of soft shell crab which was amazing. Great chilled atmosphere and lovely service. We will definitely be back.

The only thing better than the food was the service. Emily seated and served us, she took us through the menu with recommendations with great advice and without being overbearing. When we ordered too much food for the table we were swiftly moved to a bigger table. Guinness was expertly pulled and from the extra cold tap. Maldon oysters were on the menu and top quality

If you judge a place on the loos these are picture perfect. Food was great (and good value) the surroundings playfully fun and the staff friendly. Had a great afternoon and will definitely go back

Chose this as somewhere different for our anniversary. Lovely interaction with staff who were all good fun. Food was delicious - we were nervous about portions and how it might be presented - but didn’t disappoint. Dressed crab was beautiful, and steak and prawns were lovely and brilliantly cooked. Flavours were awesome and the bill felt really reasonable when it arrived. Have had to promise the kids we’ll bring them next time.

Amazing food. Fresh fish and beautifully cooked steak. The best meal I've had for a while. Highly recommend.

A real find, I have driven past this restuarant so many times. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, excellent oysters and to die for steak. I can't say enough about this place, we will be returning as I could eat the whole menu. delicious. Oh and the...

Family service amazing. Decor 💯 check out the ladies toilet. Food was exceptional. Scallops. Mussels and steak highly recommend. It’s a must hidden gem. Thank you xx

Wow the wife could not fault the cataplana and the sirloin I had was really succulent we will be back

The ambience here at shellfish cow is just great, the service is awesome and the food is just delicious and delightful. Sea food here is a great choice, muscles with ginger and chilli is a must try and the steak is just done perfectly for mouthwatering. I would recommend that anyone to go and try out may be a little expensive but worth it in my opinion. Customer service is top notch and felt great being there. Parking can be a little challenging there are paid street parking but sometimes hard to find a space. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Although pouring with rain outside, the restaurant we were warmly welcomed. Friendly atmosphere and well decorated. The food was excellent. The best Soft Shell Crab I have had in this country - really good. Unfortunately it is one of their Specials which they change each...

Really nice. Doesn't look like anything special from the outside but the inside, the food, the service, the experience was fantastic.

we had decided to go to this restaurant for a pre theatre dinner. From the minute we arrived we were made to feel very welcome. Specials were explained but my wife decided on the oysters and prawn tacos i went for 500g of mussels done...

We’ve had another delicious dinner here tonight. The food is outstanding, the best food we’ve had in a long time. Thank you

High quality establishment overall with a great relaxed setting inside. Loved the unique set-up of the menu, with all dishes made to share. Steak was cooked brilliantly and the garlic bread with oil accompaniment were particular standouts (worth adding as an extra for the table).

Excellent restaurant in Henley. The food is amazing, decor is lovely and staff are great. A lovely dinner out doesn't get much better than this 10/10.

Very nice place to go out. Fresh food, nice atmosphere , highly recomended:)

Amazing meal at the Shellfish Cow yesterday evening 30th August 2023. Our first visit to the restaurant, celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary. We were served by the wonderful Georgia who was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and gave us excellent recommendations. We shared a small...

Ordered the 3lb crab, mussels and rib-eye steak and it was all excellent! It was perfect amount for two people and the flavor was amazing The level of service and decor was excellent and would recommend to anyone who loves shell fish and steak!!

The seafood platter was great. You'll need the toolkit it comes with. The steak was also tender and very well cooked. Best to book, we didn't, but they took our number and fortunately managed to fit us in. Glad they did. Very pleasant evening, food and service.

Wow. Best seafood Ive had in a long time. Got a shock when I saw how big the crab was. Service was excellent. Looking forward to going back.

We had dinner at the Shellfish Cow and chose the cold fish platter. A great variety of fish including lobster and crab, accompanied by a very good NZ Sauvignon Blanc. Sacha looked after us wonderfully and special mention to the owners for the excellent, nostalgic...

We frequent both of the shellfish cow restaurants and are always overwhelmed with the quality of food we are served each time. The staff are exceptional and there is usually a vast array of fresh lobster and crab sizes. However! My only bug bare is your opening times during the day, I often go past in the day (late lunch around 3-5) in the hope you guys are open for a seafood brunch. Highly recommend to anyone passing by or just looking for genuinely great seafood with an amazing atmosphere.

What a gorgeous little find! Friendly, fun, and utterly delicious. Would recommend to anyone! Just fabulous! Loved the crab and paprika sauce.

Lovely food and service. Highly recommended.

My wife and I were on a short break in Henley, and saw the reviews of this restaurant on Tripadvisor, so decided to give it a go. And we were not disappointed. The staff were fantastic, welcoming us, explaining the ethos of the food, and...

Food was very blan. Very small portions for family pack. Air conditioner made the food cold quickly because the lids were removed when put on the table. Very over priced overall for what we got for a party of 6 people.

Really enjoyed our dinner - the freshness and quality of the seafood made us feel like we were dining in Cornwall. Can’t believe we’ve got something so nice on our doorstep.

We had the shellfish roast. It was just amazing!! Such value for money and totally delicious!! Definitely coming again!! 😋