Joe's Stone Crab

03/13/08

My favorite restaurant in Miami

by AH206

I couldn't believe all the bad reviews on Joe's. I've never had anything except impeccable service at Joe's. Value is great and the food is unbelievable. Everything from the variety of breads they start you off to the salad, potatoes, grilled vegetables, crab right down to the desert. You can't go wrong. You may have to wait if you not a regular, but I still think it would be worth it.

• Pros: Service, Food, Ambience
• Cons: Crabs are pricey, but still a good value

07/03/09

Excellent food and ambiance

by lcosta02

My wife and I go to Joes at least a dozens times when it's open. The stone crabs are the best in Miami. The seafood bisque is delicious, as are the grilled tomatoes, and world famous hash browns. And you better save room for the world's best key lime pie!

• Pros: atmosphere, stone crabs, key lime pie
• Cons: long waits at all time

02/16/09

Average

by foodluva13

Kind of a poor atmosphere. I thought the food was okay though. The ciopinno was good and the stone crab was good. GET THERE EARLY!!!!

• Pros: Stone Crab
• Cons: Extremely expensive, bad atmosphere

01/19/09

Worst dining experience ever

by pmh8001

We went to Joe's on 1/18 because it is supposed to be amazing but what they don't tell you is there are no reservations or calling ahead and typical waiting times are 2 hours...unless you are willing to pay. I watched over a hundred people get seated before me who had arrived after because they are willing to slip the head waiter who is in charge of seating 20-40 bucks. This would be fine if a few people did it but it seemed it was the accepted method of seating with far more people being seated in the greaser line than who were not willing to pay extra for a table at a place where a meal for two costs 125-150 dollars. And this is all under the table cash something Joe's might want to watch out for if the IRS ever comes to visit. The atmosphere...you feel like you are in a cafeteria in highschool, large rooms, loud with silverware clanking everywhere. I was disgusted and I can't believe this restaurant is touted as Miami's finest, will never go back.

11/19/08

Joe's Stonecrab House - A Unique Experience

by mjgintoli

Joe's history is interesting! And that in itself yields to an atmosphere that sparks my imagination of what it must have been like in the days of old!

I like to get there early before they open and walk through the line of waitstaff. That early presentation is fun! The staff has always been pleasant and accomodating.

The stone crabs are great - but how can you ruin a stonecrab? But - the big BUT.... how do they ruin bread? For a restaurant of this reputation I would think that they can serve WARM (or at least room temp) bread!

Best deal on the menu??? A heaping order of sweet fried oysters for $6.95!! Soups are good too!

05/01/08

Great food and atmosphere...spotty service

by tervin

I can't say anything bad about the food...it's all great. I'm not sure it makes sense to get stone crabs here though. The only thing that makes them different from any other place that serves them is the dipping sauce which is good but I'm not sure it's worth the price difference. The rest of the food is great. Pay particular attention to the random entrees like fried chicken or the burger...very cheap and amazing. Their house salad is also great. My 1 complaint is that I've had mixed service there...the last time I went the waiter was distracted, rude and pushed the whole table to the larger crabs that cost a lot more. This contradicted the recommendation of our previous server who was fun, courteous and recommended the second smallest size for the best value.

03/07/08

worse service ever!!!

by bestoffood

How can I start? As we walked in, the very "not welcoming" faces greet us. We asked for a table for 4. My husband met us there after work to eat with us to say good bye to my parents, leaving to go back to Brazil. You will not believe what just happened? As my husband arrived, he told the waiter he was there to meet someone. But because our table was for 4 ONLY, my husband was not allowed to seat with us, the waiter wanted to seat him in the opposite side of the restaurant all by himself. We just pulled an empty seat from the table beside us. Our very nice waiter opened the table and there was enough space for him to seat. Then some crazy lady came over rude as she could be, yelling at us, pointing fingers at us, saying that my husband had to leave, saying" I don't have to explained myself to you, I am calling the police if you think 5 people will be seated in a table for 4. ?You told us 4 people, so only 4 people can seat down". I was horrified by the situation. Then the owner, Hitler wife, I am guessing, came to talk to us, but instead of apologizing for the rude lady before, noooo, she went rude on us. I would think the owner priority is customer service and to make sure customers are happy. But the opposite happened. Our waiter, poor guys, was hiding because he was so embarrass, he said. The whole restaurant was looking at us. The table beside us were horrified as well, even invited my husband to seat with them, because they had 4 people in a table for 6, but they could not let 5 people seat in a table for 4. In the end, the owner let as stay, but seriously, nobody was hungry anymore, we didn't have time to go somewhere else because my parents had to catch a fight. There are so many nice seafood places out there, never ever ever going back. Oceanaire is a great substitute! And the people are so nice. Oh please don't order the chowder soup, bad, bad bad... it was the worse experience in a restaurant in my life.

• Pros: nothing
• Cons: horrible service, rude owner.

11/04/07

adequate food, but not worth the hassle

by schmidtj2k

This place is a joke, no reservations, no planning. Saturday night 2.5 hour wait, unless you slip the Maitre De cash. Waited for the 2+ hours and got some appetizers, was so disgusted by the scene, we just left and got some pizza on the street. Everyone in the bar was waiting for a table and so the mood was sour. I heard the food was excellent, but who wants to eat at 10:30pm at night? Suggest you get there early, like blue plate special early, or order it to go. Better yet go to a real restaurant that takes reservations. Miami has a lot of choices, make use of them.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Long wait, no reservations

10/19/07

Great Service and Excellent Food

by drhoss

Prompt seating - showed up without reservations

Great Service - Waiter knew his food and was very helpful

Excellent Food - Beginning of Crab season, quality was great

Roll up your sleeves an dig in, A bit pricy....but worth it.

• Pros: Great Service, Excellent Food
• Cons: A Bit pricy

06/26/07

Best Stone Crab Ever

by scarletreality

This is one of the best restaurant's I've ever been to! I can't believe I only ordered shrimp cocktail when I went here as a child!

It is pricey...but well worth it. They have very, very good service (but they aren't stuffy either). The stone crab is out of this world and if you go you just have to have it! Even the sides are great! Try the spinach.

This place has the whole package.

• Pros: Stone crab, Service