By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News
The lakes drew Shuck Me Seafood to the area bringing fish, shrimp, oysters and more to RM 2222 near River Place Boulevard.
“The owners wanted to be near the lake,” said Bill Curci, chief operating partner for Shuck Me. In this case they are by two, Lake Travis and Lake Austin.
Shuck Me owners Roger and Monica Haverkamp fell in love with Four Points. They come down from the Fort Worth area to do business and visit friends in Steiner Ranch and Lakeway.
“They are down quite a bit and thought this was a great spot for a restaurant,” Curci said. They found the former Black Walnut Cafe site, which closed during the pandemic, and the remodel began.
The Haverkamps run a concrete business and they also fish competitively as tournament bass anglers. They decorate all their five restaurants with family photos and decor.
“It’s decorated with a lifetime of family and friends fishing,” Curci said.
“The marlin over the bar was donated by an Austin guest. Her husband passed away and she asked if we wanted it.” Another Austin guest dropped off four mounted largemouth bass dating back as far as 1980.
“The feel of the space is both eclectic and collected, like the fish shacks you might find located near just about any body of water… with shiplap and colorful accents,” one report shared.
Shuck Me serves grilled plates of grouper, trout and k-bobs of quail and shrimp ― and even a whole fried red snapper. It has fried baskets featuring: catfish, shrimp, oyster and even frog legs.
“We have Gulf oysters and the best Blue Points in Four Points,” Curci said. Oysters are served on the half shell, or grilled three ways, including classic oysters Rockefeller.
“We’re also known for our lobster chowder,” Curci said. Austin market additions include Cajun shrimp pasta and traditional shrimp and grits.
The eatery also has a collection of po-boy sandwiches that come with a side of “Shuckpuppies.” And Shuck Me’s low country boils are served with red potatoes and corn on the cob.
Land lovers can enjoy grilled chicken, burgers and pasta alfredo.
The Haverkamps recruited Curci to operate their five restaurants.
Prior to Shuck Me, Curci worked for over 40 years in restaurant management. He helped run such chains as Bennigan’s, Rainforest Cafe, Texas Roadhouse, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
As the story goes, the Haverkamps had run H&H Concrete On Demand Inc. in the first restaurant building right next to their Southlake, Tex. (near Fort Worth) home, Curci said. A friend approached Roger to open a restaurant and that building was transformed into the first restaurant in 2017.
Curci shared that the name “Shuck Me” appeared when the restaurant was still under construction. Roger once received a call informing him that one of his H&H drivers destroyed a brand new mixer truck, which cost around $300,000.
“He was with a bunch of people, and everything he could think of [to say] was, ‘Shuck me,’ ”Curci said. “And someone said, ‘Hey, oh my God, that’s the name of your seafood restaurant.’”
The second location was opened in Hochatown, Okla. in 2018 and the third opened in Fort Worth in 2020. Austin was fourth this year in April and Denton opened fifth not long after.
In the next month or so, the Four Points site plans to add signage facing RM 2222 and a playground.