Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant – Miami’s Seafood Must
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If you are visiting Miami Beach and are looking for great seafood, Joe’s Stone Crab is an absolute must visit. This popular Miami institution recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. The restaurant comes from humble beginnings, opening in front of Smith’s bathing casino as a beachside seafood counter in 1913. Since then, Joe’s Stone Crab has become a Miami landmark, blossoming into a full service restaurant and serving some of the best seafood and land fare around.
As the name suggests, Joe’s Stone Crab is famous for their preparation of stone crab claws. The restaurant claims to be the first to serve this delectable delight, and they are certainly good at what they do. Typically starting at around $50 per serving, the stone crab claws come in medium, select, large, and jumbo sizes. Although the stone crab may not be cheap, it is the restaurant’s featured dish…and it is delightful!
For diners who are looking to try something other than the signature dish (and for those who may wish to go easier on their wallets), Joe’s Stone Crab offers a host of savory seafood options. You may wish to start with the tasty seafood bisque or the yummy house cole slaw. Entrées typically run between $20-30 per item. Some of these main course options include the pan roasted snapper, orange teriyaki glazed grouper, and the sesame seared yellow fin tuna. Land fare lovers will also find that the menu sports an excellent 20 oz. prime bone-in dry aged ribeye as well as a 10 oz. filet mignon with a wild mushroom beef jus. For desert, enjoy a taste of South Florida and try a slice of Joe’s Original Key Lime Pie.
Some of the “fun” with dining at Joe’s Stone Crab is with the waiting…and I don’t mean waiting tables. As famed as the restaurant is for its stone crab, it is just as famous for its long lines. Joe’s Crab Restaurant does not accept reservations, so if you can’t wait, try to come during off-peak hours. During the weekend dinner rush, wait times for a table can exceed upwards of two hours long. So, if you’re coming for a Friday night dinner, be sure to get there early…or bring a book. If you’d like to avoid the line altogether, simply call ahead and order from the take out menu.
Part of what makes Joe’s Stone Crab so popular is its limited availability. The restaurant is only open during stone crab season. If you are planning to visit Miami Beach outside of the October through May stone crab season, you are S.O.L. Joe’s Stone Crab packs it in for the summer season. However, Joe’s Stone Crab now ships its stone crab meals directly to your door. You can choose from 11 different meal options to be shipped overnight to anywhere in the continental United States. Joe’s Stone Crab guarantees that the crabs will arrive “fresh, ice-cold, and ready for cracking.” These meal packages even come with a cracking board, mallet, and instructions – as well as cocktail forks and bibs to keep you well-groomed. BONUS!
If you are coming to Miami and want a taste of the best seafood around, don’t let the long lines scare you. Make sure to check out Joe’s Stone Crab – it is worth the wait!
