Service was pretty good. My family of three, arrived right before the lunch rush, then proceeded to take forever to order due to the huge selection of combos, crab buckets, and steampots. I was 1.5 mason jar margaritas in to our visit before we finally got everyone's order sorted out. My mom ordered boiled shrimp appetizer (served hot) , which were really good. They aren't de-veined, so be forewarned if biting into a shrimps partially digested last meal makes you squeamish... like it does my mom. Mom's King Crab bucket (steamed) was good. I had it all cracked and shelled for her within a few minutes. My son's eastern seafood platter was good. Stuffed bacon wrapped shrimp were a little too spicy for him, but it was good. Crab cake was huge. Fish was crispy. Onion strings weren't crispy butted a great taste. Sam Adams Steampot was excellent. Crab, lobster claws, clams, sausage. Corn and potatoes almost stole the show. They were excellent. Expect to spend a decent amount if everyone in the party has different tastes. Total with tip, ran a it $150. Will go back when the occasion calls for seafood again.
(4)
Jaimie T.
While I would almost always prefer a local seafood place to a chain, I can't complain too much about the food at Joe's Crab Shack. My family drags me here every now and then for a big get together with visiting relatives. Being from New England, seafood is pretty much a staple in our diet. Some of the entrees are a little pricey, but I guess that's to be expected at any seafood establishment. I thought the Samuel Adams beer batter fish & chips were pretty good. Nothing to write home about, but I guess fish & chips never really are. The steampots give you the most bang for your buck since you get sausage and corn in addition to your seafood of choice. If you decide to get an appetizer, my favorite is the crispy calamari. Nothing else I've tried there has been very memorable. Other than being super touristy, Joe's Crab Shack isn't necessarily a bad choice for a meal. The staff has a good time dancing and entertaining the guests. There's a playground outside for little ones and you can eat outside as well. With that being said, I'd probably choose somewhere with fresh seafood over Joe's if I were given the chance.
(3)
Dianna B.
Met a friend here for lunch. It was time to catch up as it had been far too long. Let me say up front, I am NOT a sea food fan. We went here because it was close to both of us. We were seated immediately and our Waitress was awesome. She was there immediately, and the place was nearly empty. We started with the new crab cakes as an app, and while I don't usually eat them, they were tasty! Our mains were the lobster boil- his choice. Mine was the shrimp. The lobster boil produced a big female lobster filled with Roe. And my friend was in heaven. he really enjoyed that extra treat. My shrimp were Amazing! They were done to perfection, though I could have done without the fries. Will I come back? Not on my own, this is not my choice of place, but it might be fun with a group.
(3)
Jacob F.
I know I know its a chain seafood place.....But i love it. Food is always reliably good. I always get a steam pot. Crab legs and more crab legs. What more do you need. Plus it is a great atmosphere. great place for a birthday dinner or other celebration. Good food, Good drinks and good fun.
(5)
Warren R.
Not a place I'm likely to come back to. It's loud, touristy, badly decorated, and the dancing that they make their waitstaff do every 30-45 minutes is just embarrassing. So, after a lengthy wait we get seated at a picnic bench, because those are comfortable. The waiter came by, and I asked him what types of bourbon they carried. "Johnny Walker?" was his reply. I informed him that was scotch, and not to worry about it, just get me an Old Fashioned and try to have the bartender use a call bourbon instead of well. He seemed confused. My wife asked him what their house white wine was, and he replied with "ummm...chardonnay?" Anywho, we order drinks and we get the Classic Sampler as an appetizer. After a considerable wait (hey, dancing is more important than delivering food and drinks), beverages are served. Pretty sure that it was the worst Old Fashioned that I've ever consumed, but at least it had alcohol in it. The appetizer arrived, and I did find the great balls of fire tasty, and actually spicy. The crab dip and calamari left much to be desired. We tried to order a Honey Peach Smash, which comes with Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey muddled with peaches and mint because it sounded refreshing, and you get to keep the mason jar. However, they were out of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. Determined to get that mason jar, I ordered a Mason Jar Margarita. For my main course I ordered the Lobster Daddy Feast. The ladies ordered the KJ Steampot and Joe's Classic Steampot. Our main courses arrived, but then we had to wait a few minutes for our waiter to bring us the proper utensils. My crab and lobster were solid, and the ladies enjoyed their steampots. For desert the ladies ordered the Seasonal Cobbler and the Campfire Smores, I had a Red Stripe. We were informed that they were out of the cobbler (not sure who's in charge of ordering, but you have failed) so Key Lime Pie was subsituted, which the ladies said tasted awful. Although the main courses were pretty decent, I just can't give you a three, because that means A-ok, and I feel you're a step below that.
(2)
Jenette S.
My friend and I happened to be in the area and wanted crabs. The restaurant is fun and family friendly. The hostess was able to seat us right away and we sat by the bar. We missed happy hour by 10 mins (story of my life) but we were there for the meal anyways. Got the pot filled of 2 crab legs and corn and mussels for about $35. You're paying for the presentation because I can do a lot of damage with $35 that would feed a family of 4 on crab legs and mussels and potatoes and corn .... the meal I had was very good but I left hungry and for spending $35 on a 'pot of food', that's a bit annoying. Service is good and everything but prices are a bit outrageous for what you get.
(3)
Rachel S.
I like it a lot. Nice environment. Nice staff. They will sing and dance! A lot of fun. And the food is so good! Queen crabs and snow crabs are the best!
Joe's Crab Shack is kind of expensive for a chain restaurant but the food is pretty good. They do have good deals on $2 Tuesdays though. You can get a small plastic cup of draft beer or a hurricane and choose between smaller versions of four of their regular appetizers. I know they have weekday happy hour specials too. I had the Joe's Classic Steampot and it had tons of food. It was seasoned well and I took home a lot of leftovers. You get two types of crab, shrimp, and smoked sausage. I also got to try my girlfriend's fish and chips that were fried in Sam Adams beer batter. Very good and crispy. Our waitress was nice but the tables weren't that clean. I would think that a slow weekday would make for a cleaner restaurant but I know that this place has been on Dirty Dining before. With so many other options in the area I'd rather go to a fresh seafood place instead if I could.
(3)
Hillary V.
I am a big believer in seafood. I just plain love it, so naturally I was weary about having it at a chain. I was very wrong though. Joe's Crabshack was actually very tasty. We had two different steam buckets that features lobster, snow crab, shrimp, and oysters. All were just wonderful. Even the sausage, potatoes, and corn that were steamed along with the seafood was tasty. My only compliant would be that our service wasn't extraordinary. It was a bit slow, but that could be because the bartender was serving us instead of a waiter, not sure why. Overall, I was very pleased.
(4)
Brooke K.
The only reason Joe's is getting 4 stars is because we love the food there and the food is pretty consistent. My husband and I sat outside because of the beautiful weather and the service was horrible. I forget the name of our waitress (Ashley maybe?). We sat down looked at the menu, decided, and then sat around waiting. A manager spoke to another table for a moment but didn't say anything to us. After about 5 minutes our waitress came by to take our drink order. We told her we were ready and placed our order. The food came out quick enough but we were semi annoyed that she didn't bring any butter out with the crab & lobster and when we asked for the corn we had ordered she responded that she was waiting to ring it in...I don't remember what the reasoning was and I didn't care, I just wanted my corn please. We finished eating and sat around waiting some more...it took about 10 minutes for her to reappear so that we could ask for the check. She said she would go print it out. About 5 minutes later we have our check and we give her our card. Another 5 minutes and we get our card back. My big pet peeve is sitting around waiting for our server, especially when it comes time to pay. I understand if they're busy but she wasn't. Some of the other tables were looking pretty annoyed too. Other than the lousy service it was the same great food that we're used to.
(4)
Wayne D.
I was hungry. Joe's Crab Shack's menu had choices. The Samuel Adam's Steampot was the choice. Several snow crab legs, American lobster claws, steamed clam, small potatoes, corn on the cob and a large sausage came to the table steaming hot. Diving in, it became apparent that several clam shells were abent a clam body. I pulled several into a pile and dumped in the table's waste bucket. I said nothing because there was plenty y of other items. Unannounced, a server put a dish of new clams beside my pot. She said my main server, T., had noticed my action and he directed a correction. Well done. The steam pot satisfied my hunger. Tasted good. Service was excellent. Ambiance was comfortable.
(4)
Justin C.
Look, I think the food is very good, but it's just not worth the effort. The service is bad, the dancing is absurd, it's noisy and obnoxious, I want to enjoy the food, again, I've been there twice and I'm a local, but I'll never go again unless they make it a little bit more mature. Considering the price you pay per person ($25-35), it's like walking into a Chuck-e-Cheese. Can't talk, too loud, too hot to sit outside, Oh, god, the dancing. What the flying truck? Very touristy, it's embarrassing to be a Floridian. I think the only way to enjoy this meal is to get it to-go. I mean, I'd rather eat in my car than deal with that BS.
(2)
Brenda D.
We tried the fried scallops and lobster bisque. Wasn't impressed. Can't beat the scallops from New England! It was a little loud and one of the servers acted like he had one too many. Maybe he was just high on life!! I don't think we'll be going back. :(
(2)
Kym D.
We had a great lunch celebrating Father's Day! The food was delish and the service was great. When we arrived we were a little worried about a wait, but they took our cell number and texted us when our table was ready. Amazing flavor and taste.
(5)
Leann C.
I can't believe they don't have horseradish so I can make the cocktail sauce spicier. What kind of seafood restaurant doesn't have horseradish? They said they don't even carry it anymore!! Won't be back for shrimp. I'd rather go to Crab shack on Gandy!! They have horseradish. And old bay!
(2)
Brenda M.
Amanda has some seeking skill. Did she really get me to order desert when I wasn't even hungry? Only four stars because the seating was a little on the bad customer service side but Ananda was expedient and i like it:) Enjoying the rain in the patio was cool.
(4)
Darrell H.
Great service incredible food for any seafood lover! Very family-friendly! Also have great drinks!
(5)
D M.
I got the $2 fried chicken app; 2 stars, too salty. $2 beer & the 33 shrimp 3 different ways. The tiny popcorn shrimp were glued together, the coconut shrimp were OK but the shrimp with shells on them were the greasiest, saltiest things I was ever served. I had to wash my hands after handling them. They sucked! I ate them last after using a napkin to get the grease off them. I would have sent the whole thing back if I would have tried them first. $17.11 with tax. About $10 too much. Good service at the bar.
(2)
Jaime S.
We have been here 6 times in the past few months we get the steam pot for two and it's just enough. We love it here and the food is delish and the people are fun.
(5)
Robbie B.
As always Joes does not disappoint entirely. Every business has a flaw because the focus is never all on every aspect of it. Seems they focus on Advertising more than service and food quality. Because i know how the kitchen their works and how they order their food and from where, i must say it's not the best. Pinchers has top of the line food and presentation overall. However, it is not to deter Joes Crab Shack, from getting a good review by others. I would recommend trying places (corporate) like this, a few times before putting your experience, or maybe build on to it. After all Corporate structured businesses are all about quantity not quality. Joe's Seems to be an in between type. Steam Pots are not worth it anymore like it used to be when they first presented them. Still good - I recommend the Dungenous crab, or it's really just a waste of money because snow crab is better and fresher local and cheaper at places like Pinchers.
(3)
Mark S.
It's been a few years since I was at Joe's Crab shack. I sat at the Bar to eat since I was alone. The bartender was very busy and was able to give decent service. My dissapointment was in the crab. I ordered one of their pot combos. I was up charged to add Dungeness to my order. When the order came out the dungeness was in small pieces not even a cluster. It looked as if I had the remants in the bag. Not something I would expect out of a $30+ dish. I don't remember it being like this a few years ago. I probably will not return.
(2)
Sharon B.
We really enjoyed our service and food when we came to this restaurant while we're on vacation. Our server he was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. My boyfriend ordered seafood pot w/ garlic favor, daughter had seafood Alfredo, and I had burger w/ fries (I do not eat seafood & glad Joe's had other options). . All of our food was delicious including the apple dessert w/ ice cream. We enjoyed the food so much that we went back again for Thursday happy hour at the bar from 4-7pm. We will definitely recommend this location & on top of that after you eat if you have kids. They also have a playground for them to play on as well.
(5)
wendy s.
Stopped in for lunch and was disappointed with menu selection and service. Dinners however are great.
(3)
April S.
I took my son and boyfriend here last night for their birthdays. The food is so good. We started with the crab nachos, so amazing, ton of crab on there. Then for the dinners we each got a different steam pot. Each of the pots had plenty of food. When you eat these you feel like a kid. You get so messy, but that's the fun of it. I will say though that the steam pots have a bit of a kick to them. Oh and the corn that comes in them.... ugh..... so good. Sweet, crunchy, perfect. I could probably just get a few ears of corn and been happy. Then we had the key lime pie, (I don't like key lime pie, but this one was so yummy) and the Apple pie with ice cream. Lets say by the end of it I wished I could unzip my belly.
(5)
Michael T.
Good food but there wasn't a shrimp on a treadmill. I was looking forward to the shrimp on a treadmill.
(3)
Marcy R.
Food is awful....have not been for over a year....will not go back. They have changed their clam chowder to a yellowish, pudding type that tastes worse than it even looks. Nothing tasted good....cost with tip for 2 people was 65.00 with only one drink! Yuck!!
(1)
Donald W.
This place is great, the food is good but can cost you a few dollars,but well worth it. So come try them out I think you will like it too.
(4)
Sandra T.
I had the shrimp stuffed with crab cream cheese and jalepenos. What can I say besides yummmmmm
(5)
Tonya V.
Food is okay but not worth the price. They are way over priced my husband and I split a meal had 2 drinks bill was $75. Will never go back again
(3)
George F.
Went in for a late lunch after a long day at the softball fields. 4 pm We were starving and we tried to go to Ceviche but they did not open till 5 pm. So we turned in a couple of driveways down the street into Joe's Crab Shack. We were seated right away and ordered beers and food. Clam Chowder 4 stars lots of diced clams Garlic Clams 5 stars really garlicky salty and spicy Ceaser's Salad 4 stars simple side salad New Orleans Pot 4 stars crawfish, shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes in a spicy Cajun sauce. The sausage was the not good tasted like a big Hot Dog. Service was very good, our server was attentive and knowledgeable and had the kitchen make the chardonnay garlic clams to order. Good experience
(4)
Amber W.
Went with my mom a few nights ago. I understand when a restaurant is busy and there is a little bit of a wait, so we ended up waiting an hour for our table. That certainly isn't the issue, we understood that there are only so many seats and with a lot of people coming in, you are going to wait. But the problem was that we had to sit through that dance routine at least 3 times before even our appetizer came out. Our waitress was too busy dancing to even refill our drinks. Then the manager came out after we had waited an hour for our food and apologized in the most insincere way possible. She was rather rude and seemed like we were being a burden to her by being there. My mom's salad was warm and my pasta was cold. Won't be making my way back there for a long time.
(2)
Elise H.
Long wait to get in. Might have been because we were here during spring break? Food was OK but not impressed with the price. One person in our party had to inquire if what he got was actually the appropriate portion size because there was barely any seafood in his pot. They made it right but not without a little push back. A woman came around and made balloon animals. We got a peacock! Nice touch for kids, wait time, etc. Typical vacation restaurant. Punny bibs and cutesy drinks in souvenir cups. Overall I have had better at Red Lobster.
(3)
Roldan L.
Service is everything right? ... this place sucks came in with the family, it was terrible I felt like I was asking for a free meal never again!
(1)
Judy D.
I have never had a good experience here but our neighbors wanted to go again. I have to admit it was very good. From the server (brandon) who was extremely friendly to the food that was very good, I would definitely go again. My boyfriend got the clam basket one of the best we've ever had. I shared the snow crab with my friend and it was very good though a lot of work. Please do not eat outside the Flies were crazy and we had to move inside. We will be back on Tuesday when there are lots of specials. Check it out you might be presently surprised.
(4)
John H.
One of the most disappointing meals I have experienced in a very long time. The salad was ok as a starter but everything was downhill from there. I ordered the shrimp boil which has boiled shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. The meal was over spiced which I was ok with but the shrimp were so over cooked you could barely peel them and once they were peeled they took on the texture of rubber. The portions are large but does it really matter if you get a large portion of below standard food. Will not be going back to Joe's which is too bad because I like the atmosphere.
(1)
Kristi R.
What a great place! Had so much fun and the food was great! Our server Myles was hilarious! Definitely recommended!
(5)
Lynn E.
I like the food but I would like for them to make part of the outdoor porch no smoking. I would like to sit outside sometimes also when thec weather is nice
(4)
Duane D.
This place is just o.k. There are much better places for seafood and crabs in Clearwater. The food is good, and the massive "steam pots" are impressive -- but the whole menu is a little pricey. Nothing is under about $12, and most entrees are about $20. However, the service is slow. The little half-hearted dance that the staff does every so often is just not that impressive. All in all, it is fine for a chain crab restaurant -- but nothing to rave about.
(3)
Brianna M.
Food was eh, crab legs were a little cold and potatoes a little mushy. Overall it was not good enough for the amount it cost. $60 and still hungry :/
(2)
David B.
Avoid this place, multiple failed health inspections, roaches found in service areas and in soda lines, green mold in soda lines.
(1)
Tiffany B.
I feel like this place deserves a solid 3 1/2 stars, but since there are no halfsies, I'm bumping them down to 3. If I was basing my review solely on food I'd give it 4 stars- my garlic and herb steamed snow crab legs we're really good, and my husband said his burger was fantastic. The reason I'm giving them 3 is because the environment is just terrible. I know it's a touristy place, but good lord! There's tacky kitschy decor, and then there's "I think my eyes are bleeding". Joe's falls into the latter category. Plus, it's so incredibly loud and the service isn't the best- I'm talking 20 minutes for a drink refill. Would I give them another shot? Sure, but it's not on the short list.
(3)
Linda D.
The food was super expensive and the worst seafood I've ever had. The lobster was way overcooked and flavorless. I spent almost $100 on dinner for three. We ordered two buckets and appetizers. The bathrooms are not very clean at all either. Not going back ever. I gave them another chance as this was my second time eating there, but never again. We left disappointed at spending that much money and still being hungry.
(1)
K G.
Service slow and food was over cooked....don't think I'll come back. Too much money for what we got.
(2)
Breonna L.
I wish I could it 3.5, but I guess 4 is closer than the 3 for me. - The server was nice but disappeared for large amounts of time. - The food was delicious. I had fish and then apple crumble dessert. Both were delicious, delicious and delicious! - One star (really 1 1/2) taken away because it took FOREVER to receive our food. The place was steady. It wasn't busy but after 30 minutes I started wondering if they had to catch the fish in the sea first.
(4)
Ken D.
STEAMPOTS-STEAMPOTS-STEAMPOTS! OMFG! I adore this place! The drinks are great the place is fun! The staff was having a crappy day the other night and I way over tipped cause i felt bad and like them so much! The mussles diablo app is so good I usually order two! did you hear me! I double it right up!Im upset im not there now! lol! Most places I never feel full when I eat seafood,but here,Im so satisfied I just think to myself 'this must be how Hugh Heffner feels all the time! I just have a nice ride over the bridge and Im about as happy as I can get:) Thank you Joes!
(4)
Zadmat O.
This was ok and sea food was over cooked. Had crab legs and shrimp, mussels and clam bucket, was ok, the sausage was amazing though! High priced for quality.
(3)
Orlando H.
We had a great time on our first visit ever to Joe`s. Therefore, it was my moms birthday so we decided to stop for lunch. Unfortunatelly, my food was way too salty. I am a guy that eats his food on the salty side, yet my platter was way too salty. I told the waiter and was shoched she did not offer to exchange platter. My biggest shock was when the final bill came and I was charged for same. You could see if you look at my plater that I only had taken a bite or two out of it. It wasn`t like I wanted a free meal...I am glad my mom on her birthday had a decent time with her crab legs. However, this was our last trip to Joe`s for the wife and me.
(2)
Matt M.
I feel sick. It was barely edible, but I was hungry, I wish I had gone some where else. And at 13 bucks for a take out appetiser it wasn't cheap either. Inside was dirty and with a film of sticky grease that you get in fast food places. Your shoes stick to the floor, the menus are sticky and dirty. All in all,, nasty.
(1)
Bubble T.
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh. I live this. Any place that gives you a bib to eat. Get ready. "Check" means get/great. Crab legs- check, shrimp- check, crawfish-mmmmmm Somewhere good, some were great.... The steam buckets come w corn, potatoes, and sausage.... Check check cheeeeeeck.... That sausage has this European seasoning flare.... I live by an eastern block butcher that makes the meanest sausages and this was up to caliber...
(4)
Joanne T.
Buckets are half price until tomorrow, if u have the email coupon. Food was delish. Ask for Steve, he was a great server. Kids loved the playground outside. Definitely gave them motivation to eat their lunch.
(4)
Elana L.
This isn't the place to go if you want fresh food. We watched them open little baggies in the back and dump on each plate before it was delivered to the table. Also, the only flavors on our food were salt, salt, salt, butter, butter and more butter. That's ok if I'M the one cooking. :) But not if I'm paying someone else to cook. :) On this particular night the computers crashed and our food took forever to get to our table. They ended up asking people that were waiting for a table, to leave b/c it was too difficult for them to take orders and calculate bills. To put it gently, the management acted like the a natural disaster had just happened. (even the smallest of cafes can read hand written orders and calculate a total) Anyway, that was a rare occurrence, I'm sure, I just wasn't fond of the food.
(2)
Debbie T.
We went to Joes Crab Shack for the first time Sunday. Decor is cool and fun. They use your cell as a beeper to tell you if your table is ready. Restaurant including tables, bathrooms very clean. Food was a little bit of a wait but it's made to order. We ordered two steam pots, shrimp platters and lobster salad. No complaints with food. Better than red lobster but no cheddar buns :) The restaurant was relatively busy. Our server was Jordan who was helpful with a big smile. She presented us with bibs each with a saying on them. Manager Dakon checked in on us which was nice. Only negative was the servers were not smiling but Jordan was. Would recommend to any family and plan to go again
(4)
Lisa R.
Very good except the shrimps were overcooked. Great atmosphere and fun for group of friends!
(4)
Dena P.
If you like seafood you don't have to prepare this is the place to go! They have a lot of different types of seafood for you to pick. I normally would go for the crab pots which are amazing but a bit pricey for me. If I had money I would get them all the time~ Whenever I am craving crawfish I would go to Joe's for them. They serve them for a good price and they are good. They don't serve them with potatoes or corn like a real cajun crawfish boil but it's good enough. I have table finding places that serve up crawfish so I have settle with Joe's because it's super close to me. This place is normally pack at all times of the day. They have a really fun environment to eat in. It is also very kid friendly because they have their own playground. There's inside and outside dining area and also a bar. I really really love their crab pots though!
(4)
Dana G.
I recently tried Joe's for the first time. As a frequent vacationer to the Clearwater area we usually stick with Crabby Bills but we were in the area so we tried this. Bad decision. The service was horrible! After reading reviews I wish I had have done that first it seems to be an issue at this location. I wrote in to let them know about my experience but since I did not have the cheque number and couldn't remember exactly what I ate two weeks ago I was dismissed. As a member of the restaurant industry I fully believe in second chances but after this experience I realized it is not always deserved. Make the drive to the beach you won't regret it!
(1)
Joel C.
I have been progressively disappointed here. If they are not running out of stuff, then the service is bad. Don't know if I'll be back.
(3)
Jc N.
nice decor and feeling when you walk in. service was prompt and friendly. All the food we ordered was good, nothing great and the spices were alright. If you order grilled it seems that it dries the crab out. over all the prices seem a little high but still reasonable for all that you get. Best part is that they have a playground outside for kids and places to sit. If your nearby its worth to stop in and try something they have lots of options.
(4)
Rachel M.
Well, I chose this place this time, and I kind of regret it. I wanted something differerent but every time I try something different, they kind of let me down. Our waiter was very new. He could have said he was, but it was obvious. You know when you ask how certain things are on the menu, and they do the best to explain it to you, or give you their best BS answer, lol. Well, he just gave me a blank stare and I said I don't know. Okay, well thinking in my head, you wont find out, then fine. So I ordered a fish, and I did ask is it spicy. don't like spicy, he said definitely no not spicy at all whatsoever. I do handle more spicy than I think but it was way spicy. Well, you know he totally just said that and was clueless. I asked for something else. The plate was too expensive to just ignore. The manager came and she was very nice. I picked something else out, a lobster tail with scallops and shrimp. It was good but a lot of salt. My husband had the steak which was pretty salty. All in all just okay. we sat outside, and our dog was able to be there. that was good. It was a scorching hot day but it was shaded and provided a tiny bit of breeze. That's about it on that end. I won't be back.
(2)
Cassie H.
Great coconut shrimp. Huge portions. Great service. Nice atmosphere but loud and party like so if you're not into that don't be surprised. Shrimp was less than $15. Kids get cute unique balloon characters. I have found my new favorite seafood place.
(4)
Mary M.
The food here is great and you get a lot for what you pay for, however the service here is eh. By the time we were seated it took us 10-15 minutes for a server to even come near us for a drink order, never mind food. Seeing as my family is in the hospitality industry we were not to say the least happy about this. When a waiter did come to take our drink order we were ready to order our food as well, and because of our long wait we received a free appetizer. bus boys however are like the little saviors of this place, they are excellent. over all food is great, wait staff is meh.
(2)
Heri425 ..
Cajun crabs are the best ive had but they are pricey. I wish I could take my family more often but too expensive to really enjoy the seafood menu with the whole family. Most of the times ive gone there I have waited 40-45 minutes before I get food. I may go once every couple months. Cant complain about the food. It has been really really good seafood.
(3)
Verina A.
Food was great, waiter was full of energy but the spicy sauce for the crab legs was a little too spicy. Crabs were amazing though and were so easy to crack and take out of the shell
(4)
Julie C.
LOVE this place~! We live over in North Tampa but this place is def worth the drive. Perfect on the weekend for a scenic drive and seafood! The drinks are awesome, customer service awesome and seafood def awesome!! Great portion sizes too! We will def go back again and again! :)
(5)
April N.
It's not a good sign that you're being told that the wait is 35-45 minutes for the first available table and you see that half of the deck is empty. For us, it went downhill quickly after that. Once you finally are sat, your waitress comes over four or five minutes later complaining that they just triple sat her section, that it's rude and the least they can do is help her. Sorry...? Yes, I agree it isn't a pleasant situation but your customers don't enjoy hearing about it- that's something to bring up to your coworkers/manager, or your best friend over a stiff drink after your shift is over. It took an additional fifteen minutes to get drinks out to our table. The table next to us was sat after, had more people, and got their drinks before we did. Being a person that lives in Florida but doesn't like seafood can be challenging when going out to eat. When heading to somewhere like Joe's, I don't expect a melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon. I expect the bare minimum, not all that exciting chicken caesar salad or a plain ol' steak. It's not fair to expect steakhouse cuts from a seafood place, and I know this. However, when I order a steak "medium rare", it should not come out well done- temperatures are temperatures regardless of where it's being cooked. When the waitress did return, she tried to give me some speil about how steaks can't be cooked medium rare without a signed consent after the mad cow outbreak, and that local regulations flat out disallow any non-steakhouse to cook meat less than well done. ...what? No, really.... what? I had gone somewhere one week prior and wasn't informed of such restrictions and waivers. I think what makes it worse is that it was pretty obvious everyone knew she was lying, and that she knew no one believed her. That didn't stop her though. The only five stars I can give are the five stars of effort she put in to trying to make me believe that, rather than to just ask the kitchen to refire the steak. She eventually did take it back to have it refired, and had sent the manager over. We had the chance to vent our frustrations at the slow service and scarce waitstaff, poorly cooked steak, bad cover story, another overcooked dish (this one a fish dish), and the lack of mussels in my fiance's steampot. Also to Joe's credit, the manager brought out a plate of five mussels for him, at no charge. When my steak came back the second time, it was still more on the medium/medium well side of the scale, but at that point everyone else in the party had finished eating and I didn't want to wait for a second refire or another dish, so I just ate it. None of us had been asked if we wanted refills for our drinks, so we all only had one glass of whatever it was we were drinking, whether it be liquor or just plain water. This mediocre meal and experience wound up setting us back about $175, and only one of the four of us enjoyed their meal. It's just not worth it.
(1)
Rob W.
I have eaten here on numerous occasions. The food is good, I like the soft shell crabs, fried of course. The staff makes it a fun experience with their performance, and the atmosphere is quite nice.
(3)
Spencer L.
The food is always delicious and great service - attentive and very friendly.
(4)
Nicole M.
I went here at 4 pm on a Monday. The place was dead, so I found the ideal time to avoid the lines. Go me! First off, I came here when the news was breaking about the Boston Marathon tragedy, and every tv was on blast bc ESPN went to news coverage. That did not set the tone at all. Every person, including myself, was preoccupied, and rightfully so. So that is my disclaimer. We did get seated right by a tv, because the look on my face registered complete disbelief, due to the fact that I had been on the beach all day. The waitress took our drink and food order and disappeared. Didn't see her much after that. I got the fire grilled seasoning on my queen crab. Holy salty. I was going through water like nobody's business. I would NOT recommend that. The boy got the garlic herb seasoning and that was much more milder. We realized we're already spending loads of money, we might as well get dessert. I told her I wanted the s'mores cake and she disappeared before the boy could order his apple crumble. Had to tell her when she came with my dessert. The cake was COLD. The only hot thing on the dessert was the marshmallows, which didn't make any sense to me. It was also too rich, and the portion is huge. Definitely meant to be shared. My bill (two crab pots, and two desserts, and ice water) came to 75 freaking dollars. Way too expensive! I didn't even order an appetizer, soda or alcohol. No,thank you.
(2)
Cathy G.
We love Joe's crab shack. We've been here several times while on vacation. 2 times last April and once last week. The food is always delicious and the service very good - attentive and very friendly. We love the Steampots! We've had Joe's Classic and also the Spicy Ctirus...which was very spicy. We'll probably go back one more time before we leave to go home. And they have a playground, just outside of the patio which is an added bonus for us, since we have little ones. Love this place and I'd definitely recommend it!
(5)
Jesse E.
Pricey but the crab legs were good I recommend the queen crab more meat in the legs... Not to crazy with there dipping sauces and for there mixed buckets not really worth the price
(3)
Jeff E.
Joe's crab shack is one of those places you feel like you shouldn't like, but in the end, you have a blast. First, the food is great. They have a very good selection of seafood, you can pretty much get all of your standard fried seafood, along with some nice little extras, such as crawfish. Every time I have been here, my food has been cooked perfectly. The fried food is always nice and crispy, I have never gotten a soggy piece of fish. The steam pots, while a little on the pricey side, are amazing, and you will definitely be in crab heaven. I also like the appetizers, they have a few unique offerings, like the Balls of Fire, which are nice little diversions from your normal appetizer fair. Service has always been great, the servers always are smiling and make sure to check on you repeatedly. The manager stops by at least once or twice, and always leaves a card with their name on the table. I will mention that Joe's does make their servers dance around the restaurant once every 30-45 minutes, its goofy, but if you have children, the kids always seem to love it. My biggest con is that I have never ever walked in here and sat down right away. Generally I will wait anywhere from 15-45 minutes, and I have seen wait times over an hour on the weekends. Otherwise though, if you are looking for a more relaxed casual seafood restaurant, Joe's is the place to go.
(4)
Autumn K.
The food is excellent, if overpriced. Especially in a seafood area like ours. Let me repeat that first bit: The food is excellent. Delicious. No complaints there. Huge portions, great flavor. I'm knocking 2 stars off their review for 3 reasons: 1. Waiting. It can take forever to get a table, forever more to get a drink and order, and then forever times infinity to get anything else once your food shows up. 2. Crazy kids. I know Joe's isn't responsible for your bad parenting, but this place seems to encourage kids to run around like feral children pulled from the jungles of India. No, ma'am, it's not adorable that your kid sits in my booth and asks me about my meal. If I wanted kids in my booth, I'd have a few of my own. 3. Shtick. Joe's is loud. Really loud. Loud on the eyes, loud on the ears. The decor is over the top, and every half hour the waitresses are forced to do a little half-hearted line-dance number, and you are forced to endure it. Given how long it takes to get in and out of there...yeah. 4. More shtick. Along with the line-dancing, they now also ask/prompt/beg you to let them take a picture of you eating your meal. Because you'll want to remember this totally crazy happy fun time joy joy joy experience, right? No, dude, it's dinner. Here's the thing: If Joe's had their staff spend less time dancing and trying to hock Joe-wares (A t-shirt with a mildly clever VD joke? Of course I want one! Fail.) and more time actually waiting on tables, their service would be better and I'd add a star to the place. For the price, I'd much rather drive down to the beach and have a great meal at Frenchy's, Keegan's, or Guppy's. All delicious. All with way less feral children, line-dancing waitresses, and no VD jokes.
(3)
Kathy W.
Gross. Salnon greasy. Shrimp greasy. Fries greasy and mushy. Tea takes like dishwater. Service VERY slow. Dont waste your time or your money. Very overpriced for a mediocre meal at best.
(1)
Gary T.
I was in the mood for crab so I tried Joes in Clearwater. The atmosphere was decent and the staff was friendly but, the Dungeness crab was frozen and warmed up. It was not very tasty and one of the legs was rotten and stunk like dead fish. I had the seafood gumbo. It was OK. Overall, $40+ was alot for what was served. I was disappointed and would not go back there.
(1)
David J.
We won't make this mistake again. We didn't check Yelp before stopping in on a whim and, apparently, that wouldn't have saved us since there are a fair amount of good reviews. That's very surprising since it seems pretty unlikely that the place is that much different than it was just a few months ago. The food was bad, the service was worse and the atmosphere is like a sad attempt to be fun that completely missed the mark and just ended up annoying. I hate being so negative, but I hate being anything other than honest even more so there you go.
(1)
Charles S.
I've been coming here since it first opened..you can never go wrong with the crabs
(5)
J D.
If I could give zero star I would. Service was non existent, seafood was over cooked and obviously frozen. I go to clear water once a year, your on the bay, DON'T go to a chain seafood place, allow me to have made this mistake for you. There are plenty of decent - great places literally all over the island
(1)
Regina S.
First time ever going to "joe's". It will not be the last. Service was super good, prompt and very friendly even though they were super busy. Food was GREAT and I took so much more home for later. Ordered a drink which I got to take a glass home and thank goodness it was not all watered down or undrinkable.
(5)
Salil J.
Great service. Though a trifle slow the Maine Grille- lobster sans meat. S disappointment. Key lime pie was fresh and good.
(3)
Carrie F.
Great crab & Tyler out server was great. I will be going back for those 2 reasons. The place itself is loud & the lighting isn't great. We originally went on a Friday night BIG mistake. It was a sh*t show. My boyfriend went to put our name in & 10 minutes later came back because no one had helped him. We left & went back on a Sunday afternoon it was a lot less crowded. We were seated right away.
(4)
Christian P.
I want to hate this place with all of my being, but I can't. Look-how-crazy-we-are decor, waitresses who do a too-long song and dance routine on top of the table, photographers who take your picture and put it online and a load of stupid merchandise to advertise the crabs you apparently got at Joes. I want to burn a hole in the screen with hatred for all of these things...but I CAN'T! The food is good. It was so good I refrained from flipping the table, cutting the fake shark swallowing a scuba diver down from the ceiling and smashing the photographer's camera with it in front of all the tourist from Ohio laughing way too hard at a stupid VD joke on a cheap t shirt. It's delicious. I got crabs at Joe's and I liked it.
(4)
Michael P.
Seriously, this is the most disorganized and unsanitary restaurant you will ever visit. which I recommend you not to. Also the management is ridiculous, all you gotta do it say one thing is off about your food and they will void it off....so with that being said .. how do they even make money?? their food is horribly prepared, Looks like the kitchen just threw the food on the plate like they were practicing for a dart tournament. ( which is very disappointing considering you have waited 45 minutes to sit down and another 45 minutes for your meal) are you even hungry anymore??? not to mention, the service was terrible... one thing I noticed sitting outside is a lot of the servers sneak around the corners on their phones and to smoke cigs and possibly do drugs. Who knows? Some of them seem to be under the influence just by how unaware they are while walking past you. or maybe they are just unfriendly... worst atmosphere. then they dance, and not fun dances, rap music in a country line dance,,, uhhhhhh... wow. i was uncomfortable and dissatisfied. Not to mention while I was eating the ambulance had to come because their were so many kids on the playground, one got seriously injured and was bleeding profusely. Not to mention our server was probably too busy in the bathroom admiring his looks because we didn't see him after we ordered until he came back and cleverly informed us he was adding 18% gratuity to our party of eight. Two of the people were newborn twins and didn't even eat. SO YOU DIDNT DO ANYTHING FOR US but charged us a great tip for you. Pathetic and of course the ridiculous management allowed this. Worst place ever and they shouldnt be tucking in those tshirts.. looks very unprofessional.
(1)
HR M.
The most UNiMPRESSIVE Joes ever. Been here 3 times in 4 months. Each time for worse. Last time.
(1)
Eugene S.
Thanks God for Joe's Crab Shack! This is a PERFECT place for seafood! We've being going to Shack at Long Island, NY, and really happy that we found one at Clearwater, Fl while at vacation. Like I said, there's no better place for seafood! Enjoy!!!
(5)
Richard I.
My wife and I decided on a late lunch on a week day while traveling through Clearwater so we stopped in at Joes. It was 3:00 PM and the place didn't look very busy and the hostess sat us immediately. We sat for about 10 minutes before a waitress showed up to take our drink order which took another 10 minutes to arrive. I ordered the blackened Mahi sandwich and my wife ordered the same but she did not like it blackened because she doesn't want it spicy. Waitress said that would not be a problem as we could have the wife's grilled instead of blackened, okey. The food is delivered and the waitress disappears and guess what, wife's Mahi is blackened, darn, where's the waitress, gone like a magicians assistant. It's pushing four o'clock, had to flag down the hostess to locate our waitress (GPS might help, oh did I mention I only got half my order of onion strings, she'll bring those later, LOL). Now, she arrives with a full order of onion strings and I ask about the Mahi and she recommends we speak with the manager, GREAT someone in charge. He explains that blackened is only color and all the Mahi is seasoned alike with pepper and old bay and some other spices. I never heard of this before, can I get a fellow reviewer to clarify this. Anyway, the waitress should have been educated in this Mahi matter so I would not be here writing this essay. Now it's almost 5:00 PM and I'm trying to beat the rush hour back to Tampa for dinner. LOL. PS: The manager did comp my wife's lunch, thank you. C
(2)
Jay Y.
The gimmicky singing and yelling may be ideal to keep kids entertained but is otherwise fairly annoying. Watching their commercials made me want to try their clam bakes but it turned out to be cooked and then just placed in to the bucket. The seafood came out mildly warm and I seriously worried whether I was going to get food poisoning from it. The place does have a nice large bar area if you're looking for beers and some appetizers but otherwise this place is like the Chuck E Cheese version of Red Lobster, both in food quality and environment..
(1)
Robert B.
Don't bother unless you have all day for lunch. 40 minutes to get a water and soup + salad. And the place is 1/3 full. No apology from anyone. Every customer here is complaining and I get the feeling this is business as usual.
(1)
Kara C.
We were pleased with the food . I ordered one of the steam pots with lobster and crab legs - great"!!! My bf had the fried shrimp and calamari. He was pleased. Our server was good keeping up on us until the end and when we asked for checks disappeared for almost 20 minutes. Otherwise not bad place .
(3)
William C.
Way too pricey, for what you get. A little loud. If I was basing this review solely on the food, I would give it a solid 3 stars. The wife and I had the "Classic Steam Pot" each, four drinks total and that was a $100.00 lunch. I don't recommend.
(2)
Ace R.
The food is great! It is a little pricey, but worth every penny.
(4)
Shauna E.
Expect to wait for a table, especially on the weekends. We went around 4:45 today and waited 20 minutes for a table. Food is always really good--fresh seafood, great sides, interesting sauces. If you feel like splurging, get the steam pots. I'm in love with their queen crab! Always perfectly cooked and you get a great amount for the price. The service is never top notch but usually not terrible either. Definitely a kitschy place but a lot of fun. The staff dances and plays games at random intervals which is a lot of fun.
(4)
Paul M.
I found the place that provided me enough popcorn shrimp for one setting. No compliants about the food and quanity. The assistant manager Selma has a super personality and fun. She is a joy to have in the business. She is a keeper. I went during early dinner on a Sunday "Veteran Day". Disappointed Joe's does not offer veterans discounts. Also, the outside seating does not have a non smoking section.
(3)
Rich D.
I've got mixed emotions about Joe's Crab Shack. When I lived in Charlotte with its dearth of good seafood, Joe's offered up at least an alternative to Red Lobster. But when a seafood restaurant is competing against so many excellent seafood restaurants in an area like Clearwater/Tampa, my expectations are raised significantly. I can quickly think of a dozen seafood places in the area, including authentic local beach shacks, that offer up their fresh catch of the day with flavors that I like better for my tastes. But in my experience Joe's does what it sets out to do pretty well, serving up a formula of entrees to large crowds, all the while entertaining your kids very well. In my many visits to Joe's over the past decades in several locations, my kids/grandkids always seem happy to go and seem to have a good time. They've always enjoyed the playground, the decor, and the good times had by the servers. So on a recent visit by five other family members aged 79 to 4 to the area, they voted to go to Joe's in the middle of the afternoon, as it was on the way to the airport and our time was limited. To be fair, my pasta-laya (a shrimp and andouille sausage cooked in a garlic butter sauce full of mushrooms, bell peppers and onions over penne pasta) and bowl of gumbo didn't provide any earth shattering flavors, but on balance, everything was cooked and seasoned reasonably well. Everyone else enjoyed the variety of entrees they had, too. Our service was very prompt, as it should have been since the restaurant was almost completely empty. I found the prices just a bit high for the quality. As I mentioned previously it's hard for me to give Joe's high scores, as their competition sets the bar very high. But overall everyone seemed to enjoy their meal, and I'm sure I'll be dragged back there next time my family is in town. I'm confident they would score Joe's higher than I do: Atmosphere: 4 Service: 4 Food: 3 Value: 3
(3)
K L.
Over-rated and overpriced. Had the East Coast sampler . . . Shrimp were rubbery, fish & fries were lukewarm. I'll head to a local place on the beach next time.
(2)
Poli P.
Always crowded everytime we go, but the atmosphere is so laid back, the service is great, decent prices, and the food servings are so large, we just love it.
(5)
Christopher H.
Since I'm on the road full time I wind up eating out all the time. while I attempt to try out new places, some weeks are harder than others. And every now and then you just want something you know is going to be safe. That's what I thought I was getting at Joe's. Wrong. Well, at least I'm assuming I'm wrong. See - I couldn't even sit a the bar for more than about 2 minutes until the smell of the bar just overwhelmed me - it smelled like wet, old, rotting wood. I didn't want to stick around to see how the food would turn out.
(1)
Clemmon H.
Decent place not so good service. But the food is pretty good though. Don't get a lot for your money
(3)
J M.
Fun atmosphere, but the food is average at best.
(2)
Melissa H.
Today was my 38th birthday. My mother took me to lunch and we decided to visit Joe's Crab Shack. Neither one of us had ever been, so we were excited to try it out. The decor & atmosphere is very casual and eclectic. Our server's name was Kelsey. She was very friendly and did a great job of checking on us at appropriate times, even refilled our drinks without us having to flag her down. My mother and I both had a cup of the NE Clam Chowder. It was perfect in taste & temperature. I ordered The KJ Steampot (Snowcrab legs, mussels, & seared scallops with corn on the cob & red potatoes). There were hints of garlic, citrus, and black pepper in the buttery juice. I would have liked a bit more flavor to it, but all in all it was delicious & perfectly cooked. My mother had the Crab Stuffed Shrimp with fresh veggie medley (broccoli, squash, zucchini, etc) and dirty rice. She ate it all, so that says a lot. For desert, which we were really pushing it because we were so stuffed by that time, but the cheesecake was calling our name. We decided to split a plain piece of cheesecake, and Thank God we did. It was the HUGEST piece of cheesecake I have seen since moving here from NJ 9 years ago. Three, maybe even 4 times the size E&E Stakeout Grill serves for only a $1 more. Let me tell you what.... even if you're allergic to seafood - and have absolutely NO reason to visit Joe's Crab Shack, if you love cheesecake JUST GET THE CHEESECAKE! Seriously, it's THAT good. I'm still unable to walk right from eating so much food earlier today. I could really go for a long nap. Dinner? Forget it, I'm good till Thursday... LOL We highly recommend Joe's Crab Shack! What are you waiting for? Go!! BTW - the woman's bathroom has really cool mosaic tile walls and was spotless; there's a children's full-sized playground outside past the deck for those restless children to release some pent up energy while your waiting for your food; and there's also a very friendly squirrel, who I have decided to call "Fluffy", who will come up to you and even pose for a picture.
(5)
Susan R.
We wanted seafood and had a 2 hour layover. Joe's was a place we had enjoyed before. The food was delicious but pricey, $40 for 2 sandwiches, one split dessert, and a beer. After reading your reviews, I would still recommend Joe's. It is indeed dated but the food is worth it!
(4)
Patricia V.
Excellent crab. Great service, great price, and a whole lotta crab. Can't beat this place for the money. Won't go anywhere else for crab!
(5)
Cyndee H.
I am not crazy for seafood but you can't beat this place if you have kids. We love going and sitting on the patio and letting the kids play on the playground and sand - and we actually get to have adult conversations. It's like having date night without having to get a baby sitter. It is a casual place and centrally located so people come after a day at the beach or whatever. So if you're in shorts and flip flops - no worries The wait staff also sing and line dance every half hour or hour - you'll know when they annnounce the "shack is shaking" I particularly like their chicken ceasar salad - be warned it is huge!
(3)
Jia Z.
I've never been to joe's crab shack.. So this review is just for this particular one I've ever been to. I love the idea of different crabs to eat along with mussels and fried ouster etc. a lot of meat inside these big crabs but it wasn't juicy. The whole meal seemed really salty to me and I was so thirsty afterwards. The decor inside is neat and I loved the balloon services where they'll make a hat or a cat/dog for you (not only for kids) my overall experience was only average... I love seafood but it wasn't up to my standards I guess and the it was too pricey or this type of quality (over $100 for 2 people??) They did do a little dancing every once in a while...
(3)
Jillian K.
Shared a Steampot with a friend. No complaints.
(3)
Jennifer P.
Love it! Great food and drinks. Family friendly
(4)
Con C.
First time crab eater. It was an excellent experience. The place is lively with music and friendly service. The crab was fresh and absolutely tasty. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars was because the place is a bit old and needs a bit of love. Some call this "character", I call it "run down".
(4)
Jennifer P.
This place is awesome. I like that we had no trouble with parking -as it was a Friday night. We were seated at the bar, only for a short drink, and then our table was available with hardly any wait period. I thought waiter was excellent. He made a suggestion for us as far as the menu, and we were not sorry. We had some entertainment, staff was pleasant, happy, even danced !!! Even though it was a little hot outside we sat on patio. Very nice place, I would go again. *We have been there twice now, food was excellent both times, and you get enough food where you have leftovers for sure. :)
(5)
Tiffany W.
I give this place 3 stars. They are casual dining and a chain. We had the trio shrimp (grilled/coconut/shrimp with crabmeat). Also had a bucket of steamed crab that includes 2 small potatoes and an ear of corn. I usually prefer not to go to chains but this was an exception as we couldn't find anything interesting in this area. I thought the crab wasn't fresh enough. If you have seafood you've got to have it fresh, esp when it's steamed. There are some eateries closer to the beach that prob woudl have been better choices.
(3)
Victor M.
The header for Joe's Crab Shack says "Alcohol: Full Bar and Noise Level: Very Loud." NO KIDDING! My wife and I went to Joe's last Saturday night (8/31/13). We were seated next to a table full of young -- and VERY LOUD-- women. Each seemed to be trying to out-screech the other, a situation made worse by the delivery of another round of drinks to the table. My wife and I got up to see if there was another table we could move to. Not finding one, we decided to leave. Although we had only gotten our drinks, we stopped on the way out, and my wife asked to speak to a manager. A guy who identified himself as the general manager came out to talk to her. His response to her complaint: "This is a celebratory restaurant." No apology, no attempt to find us another table, no caring whatsoever. Apparently "celebrating" includes the privilege of saying "to hell with the other customers, we're gonna have FUN!" I am convinced that he was weighing the monetary intake from a large table full of drinkers against the two us, neither of whom had ordered any alcohol. His basic attitude was "deal with it." Well; we have dealt with it. That Crab Shack is off our list until and if the GM is replaced with someone who knows how to deal with customers who make complaints and how to control rowdy customers who are disturbing others. If you like a very loud restaurant managed by a guy who doesn't give a damn about his customers, then by all means hit this Joe's. You'll be happy.
(1)
Lisa P.
Feels like we just got home from vacation. What a great restaurant. Terrific seafood. Great prices and wonderful energy. Service was top notch. They allow you to just sit and enjoy the vacation feeling. Only thing that was missing was the sunburn !!!!! Highly recommend
(5)
Marco P.
Friendly staff but VERY slow service.
(3)
Eric F.
This place is a bit over the top, but in a good way. We went the last night of our spring break in early Mar 08 with a party of 4. The waiter was quite nice and accommodating. I split the crab bucket with my friend. The waiter brought us two bibs, claw crackers, and other tool. We had a lot of fun digging into the crabs and dipping the meat into a small cup of clarified butter. The sausage and corn that came with was also delicious. My friends had the bbq salmon which came with some nice healthy veggies and the crab cakes, which seemed OK. Overall, a fun place to dine if you're going to tackle some crabs.
(4)
Chris C.
Lousy service most of the time. Waaaay too loud. They seem to cater to running/screaming kids - seen them terrorizing the place both times we went. Got some left over plastic in my salad the second time, waitress apologized but didn't even offer to replace the salad.
(2)
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Address :2730 Gulf to Bay Blvd.
Clearwater, FL, 33759
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Desi A.
Service was pretty good. My family of three, arrived right before the lunch rush, then proceeded to take forever to order due to the huge selection of combos, crab buckets, and steampots. I was 1.5 mason jar margaritas in to our visit before we finally got everyone's order sorted out. My mom ordered boiled shrimp appetizer (served hot) , which were really good. They aren't de-veined, so be forewarned if biting into a shrimps partially digested last meal makes you squeamish... like it does my mom. Mom's King Crab bucket (steamed) was good. I had it all cracked and shelled for her within a few minutes. My son's eastern seafood platter was good. Stuffed bacon wrapped shrimp were a little too spicy for him, but it was good. Crab cake was huge. Fish was crispy. Onion strings weren't crispy butted a great taste. Sam Adams Steampot was excellent. Crab, lobster claws, clams, sausage. Corn and potatoes almost stole the show. They were excellent. Expect to spend a decent amount if everyone in the party has different tastes. Total with tip, ran a it $150. Will go back when the occasion calls for seafood again.
(4)Jaimie T.
While I would almost always prefer a local seafood place to a chain, I can't complain too much about the food at Joe's Crab Shack. My family drags me here every now and then for a big get together with visiting relatives. Being from New England, seafood is pretty much a staple in our diet. Some of the entrees are a little pricey, but I guess that's to be expected at any seafood establishment. I thought the Samuel Adams beer batter fish & chips were pretty good. Nothing to write home about, but I guess fish & chips never really are. The steampots give you the most bang for your buck since you get sausage and corn in addition to your seafood of choice. If you decide to get an appetizer, my favorite is the crispy calamari. Nothing else I've tried there has been very memorable. Other than being super touristy, Joe's Crab Shack isn't necessarily a bad choice for a meal. The staff has a good time dancing and entertaining the guests. There's a playground outside for little ones and you can eat outside as well. With that being said, I'd probably choose somewhere with fresh seafood over Joe's if I were given the chance.
(3)Dianna B.
Met a friend here for lunch. It was time to catch up as it had been far too long. Let me say up front, I am NOT a sea food fan. We went here because it was close to both of us. We were seated immediately and our Waitress was awesome. She was there immediately, and the place was nearly empty. We started with the new crab cakes as an app, and while I don't usually eat them, they were tasty! Our mains were the lobster boil- his choice. Mine was the shrimp. The lobster boil produced a big female lobster filled with Roe. And my friend was in heaven. he really enjoyed that extra treat. My shrimp were Amazing! They were done to perfection, though I could have done without the fries. Will I come back? Not on my own, this is not my choice of place, but it might be fun with a group.
(3)Jacob F.
I know I know its a chain seafood place.....But i love it. Food is always reliably good. I always get a steam pot. Crab legs and more crab legs. What more do you need. Plus it is a great atmosphere. great place for a birthday dinner or other celebration. Good food, Good drinks and good fun.
(5)Warren R.
Not a place I'm likely to come back to. It's loud, touristy, badly decorated, and the dancing that they make their waitstaff do every 30-45 minutes is just embarrassing. So, after a lengthy wait we get seated at a picnic bench, because those are comfortable. The waiter came by, and I asked him what types of bourbon they carried. "Johnny Walker?" was his reply. I informed him that was scotch, and not to worry about it, just get me an Old Fashioned and try to have the bartender use a call bourbon instead of well. He seemed confused. My wife asked him what their house white wine was, and he replied with "ummm...chardonnay?" Anywho, we order drinks and we get the Classic Sampler as an appetizer. After a considerable wait (hey, dancing is more important than delivering food and drinks), beverages are served. Pretty sure that it was the worst Old Fashioned that I've ever consumed, but at least it had alcohol in it. The appetizer arrived, and I did find the great balls of fire tasty, and actually spicy. The crab dip and calamari left much to be desired. We tried to order a Honey Peach Smash, which comes with Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey muddled with peaches and mint because it sounded refreshing, and you get to keep the mason jar. However, they were out of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. Determined to get that mason jar, I ordered a Mason Jar Margarita. For my main course I ordered the Lobster Daddy Feast. The ladies ordered the KJ Steampot and Joe's Classic Steampot. Our main courses arrived, but then we had to wait a few minutes for our waiter to bring us the proper utensils. My crab and lobster were solid, and the ladies enjoyed their steampots. For desert the ladies ordered the Seasonal Cobbler and the Campfire Smores, I had a Red Stripe. We were informed that they were out of the cobbler (not sure who's in charge of ordering, but you have failed) so Key Lime Pie was subsituted, which the ladies said tasted awful. Although the main courses were pretty decent, I just can't give you a three, because that means A-ok, and I feel you're a step below that.
(2)Jenette S.
My friend and I happened to be in the area and wanted crabs. The restaurant is fun and family friendly. The hostess was able to seat us right away and we sat by the bar. We missed happy hour by 10 mins (story of my life) but we were there for the meal anyways. Got the pot filled of 2 crab legs and corn and mussels for about $35. You're paying for the presentation because I can do a lot of damage with $35 that would feed a family of 4 on crab legs and mussels and potatoes and corn .... the meal I had was very good but I left hungry and for spending $35 on a 'pot of food', that's a bit annoying. Service is good and everything but prices are a bit outrageous for what you get.
(3)Rachel S.
I like it a lot. Nice environment. Nice staff. They will sing and dance! A lot of fun. And the food is so good! Queen crabs and snow crabs are the best!
(5)Jess D.
My girlfriend I come here a lot. Every time it's been pretty great. She always gets the King Crab, and they don't have the paella anymore sadly, which was my regular dish. So we come tonight on a Monday for dinner. My lady tried the Classic Crab dinner, and I tried the Grill Shore, a new dish with shrimp wrapped in bacon, cheesy potatoes, corn on the cob and mahi mahi. My food was good, I was a little disappointed in the potatoes for lack of cheese. For the classic crab plate, my fiancé didn't like the fact that the menu made the dish sound like it had more crab than the King Crab plate. Other than that she enjoyed it. Our server was great - she was friendly, fast, and attentive. Her name is Laura - ask for her!
(4)Taylor G.
Joe's Crab Shack is kind of expensive for a chain restaurant but the food is pretty good. They do have good deals on $2 Tuesdays though. You can get a small plastic cup of draft beer or a hurricane and choose between smaller versions of four of their regular appetizers. I know they have weekday happy hour specials too. I had the Joe's Classic Steampot and it had tons of food. It was seasoned well and I took home a lot of leftovers. You get two types of crab, shrimp, and smoked sausage. I also got to try my girlfriend's fish and chips that were fried in Sam Adams beer batter. Very good and crispy. Our waitress was nice but the tables weren't that clean. I would think that a slow weekday would make for a cleaner restaurant but I know that this place has been on Dirty Dining before. With so many other options in the area I'd rather go to a fresh seafood place instead if I could.
(3)Hillary V.
I am a big believer in seafood. I just plain love it, so naturally I was weary about having it at a chain. I was very wrong though. Joe's Crabshack was actually very tasty. We had two different steam buckets that features lobster, snow crab, shrimp, and oysters. All were just wonderful. Even the sausage, potatoes, and corn that were steamed along with the seafood was tasty. My only compliant would be that our service wasn't extraordinary. It was a bit slow, but that could be because the bartender was serving us instead of a waiter, not sure why. Overall, I was very pleased.
(4)Brooke K.
The only reason Joe's is getting 4 stars is because we love the food there and the food is pretty consistent. My husband and I sat outside because of the beautiful weather and the service was horrible. I forget the name of our waitress (Ashley maybe?). We sat down looked at the menu, decided, and then sat around waiting. A manager spoke to another table for a moment but didn't say anything to us. After about 5 minutes our waitress came by to take our drink order. We told her we were ready and placed our order. The food came out quick enough but we were semi annoyed that she didn't bring any butter out with the crab & lobster and when we asked for the corn we had ordered she responded that she was waiting to ring it in...I don't remember what the reasoning was and I didn't care, I just wanted my corn please. We finished eating and sat around waiting some more...it took about 10 minutes for her to reappear so that we could ask for the check. She said she would go print it out. About 5 minutes later we have our check and we give her our card. Another 5 minutes and we get our card back. My big pet peeve is sitting around waiting for our server, especially when it comes time to pay. I understand if they're busy but she wasn't. Some of the other tables were looking pretty annoyed too. Other than the lousy service it was the same great food that we're used to.
(4)Wayne D.
I was hungry. Joe's Crab Shack's menu had choices. The Samuel Adam's Steampot was the choice. Several snow crab legs, American lobster claws, steamed clam, small potatoes, corn on the cob and a large sausage came to the table steaming hot. Diving in, it became apparent that several clam shells were abent a clam body. I pulled several into a pile and dumped in the table's waste bucket. I said nothing because there was plenty y of other items. Unannounced, a server put a dish of new clams beside my pot. She said my main server, T., had noticed my action and he directed a correction. Well done. The steam pot satisfied my hunger. Tasted good. Service was excellent. Ambiance was comfortable.
(4)Justin C.
Look, I think the food is very good, but it's just not worth the effort. The service is bad, the dancing is absurd, it's noisy and obnoxious, I want to enjoy the food, again, I've been there twice and I'm a local, but I'll never go again unless they make it a little bit more mature. Considering the price you pay per person ($25-35), it's like walking into a Chuck-e-Cheese. Can't talk, too loud, too hot to sit outside, Oh, god, the dancing. What the flying truck? Very touristy, it's embarrassing to be a Floridian. I think the only way to enjoy this meal is to get it to-go. I mean, I'd rather eat in my car than deal with that BS.
(2)Brenda D.
We tried the fried scallops and lobster bisque. Wasn't impressed. Can't beat the scallops from New England! It was a little loud and one of the servers acted like he had one too many. Maybe he was just high on life!! I don't think we'll be going back. :(
(2)Kym D.
We had a great lunch celebrating Father's Day! The food was delish and the service was great. When we arrived we were a little worried about a wait, but they took our cell number and texted us when our table was ready. Amazing flavor and taste.
(5)Leann C.
I can't believe they don't have horseradish so I can make the cocktail sauce spicier. What kind of seafood restaurant doesn't have horseradish? They said they don't even carry it anymore!! Won't be back for shrimp. I'd rather go to Crab shack on Gandy!! They have horseradish. And old bay!
(2)Brenda M.
Amanda has some seeking skill. Did she really get me to order desert when I wasn't even hungry? Only four stars because the seating was a little on the bad customer service side but Ananda was expedient and i like it:) Enjoying the rain in the patio was cool.
(4)Darrell H.
Great service incredible food for any seafood lover! Very family-friendly! Also have great drinks!
(5)D M.
I got the $2 fried chicken app; 2 stars, too salty. $2 beer & the 33 shrimp 3 different ways. The tiny popcorn shrimp were glued together, the coconut shrimp were OK but the shrimp with shells on them were the greasiest, saltiest things I was ever served. I had to wash my hands after handling them. They sucked! I ate them last after using a napkin to get the grease off them. I would have sent the whole thing back if I would have tried them first. $17.11 with tax. About $10 too much. Good service at the bar.
(2)Jaime S.
We have been here 6 times in the past few months we get the steam pot for two and it's just enough. We love it here and the food is delish and the people are fun.
(5)Robbie B.
As always Joes does not disappoint entirely. Every business has a flaw because the focus is never all on every aspect of it. Seems they focus on Advertising more than service and food quality. Because i know how the kitchen their works and how they order their food and from where, i must say it's not the best. Pinchers has top of the line food and presentation overall. However, it is not to deter Joes Crab Shack, from getting a good review by others. I would recommend trying places (corporate) like this, a few times before putting your experience, or maybe build on to it. After all Corporate structured businesses are all about quantity not quality. Joe's Seems to be an in between type. Steam Pots are not worth it anymore like it used to be when they first presented them. Still good - I recommend the Dungenous crab, or it's really just a waste of money because snow crab is better and fresher local and cheaper at places like Pinchers.
(3)Mark S.
It's been a few years since I was at Joe's Crab shack. I sat at the Bar to eat since I was alone. The bartender was very busy and was able to give decent service. My dissapointment was in the crab. I ordered one of their pot combos. I was up charged to add Dungeness to my order. When the order came out the dungeness was in small pieces not even a cluster. It looked as if I had the remants in the bag. Not something I would expect out of a $30+ dish. I don't remember it being like this a few years ago. I probably will not return.
(2)Sharon B.
We really enjoyed our service and food when we came to this restaurant while we're on vacation. Our server he was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. My boyfriend ordered seafood pot w/ garlic favor, daughter had seafood Alfredo, and I had burger w/ fries (I do not eat seafood & glad Joe's had other options). . All of our food was delicious including the apple dessert w/ ice cream. We enjoyed the food so much that we went back again for Thursday happy hour at the bar from 4-7pm. We will definitely recommend this location & on top of that after you eat if you have kids. They also have a playground for them to play on as well.
(5)wendy s.
Stopped in for lunch and was disappointed with menu selection and service. Dinners however are great.
(3)April S.
I took my son and boyfriend here last night for their birthdays. The food is so good. We started with the crab nachos, so amazing, ton of crab on there. Then for the dinners we each got a different steam pot. Each of the pots had plenty of food. When you eat these you feel like a kid. You get so messy, but that's the fun of it. I will say though that the steam pots have a bit of a kick to them. Oh and the corn that comes in them.... ugh..... so good. Sweet, crunchy, perfect. I could probably just get a few ears of corn and been happy. Then we had the key lime pie, (I don't like key lime pie, but this one was so yummy) and the Apple pie with ice cream. Lets say by the end of it I wished I could unzip my belly.
(5)Michael T.
Good food but there wasn't a shrimp on a treadmill. I was looking forward to the shrimp on a treadmill.
(3)Marcy R.
Food is awful....have not been for over a year....will not go back. They have changed their clam chowder to a yellowish, pudding type that tastes worse than it even looks. Nothing tasted good....cost with tip for 2 people was 65.00 with only one drink! Yuck!!
(1)Donald W.
This place is great, the food is good but can cost you a few dollars,but well worth it. So come try them out I think you will like it too.
(4)Sandra T.
I had the shrimp stuffed with crab cream cheese and jalepenos. What can I say besides yummmmmm
(5)Tonya V.
Food is okay but not worth the price. They are way over priced my husband and I split a meal had 2 drinks bill was $75. Will never go back again
(3)George F.
Went in for a late lunch after a long day at the softball fields. 4 pm We were starving and we tried to go to Ceviche but they did not open till 5 pm. So we turned in a couple of driveways down the street into Joe's Crab Shack. We were seated right away and ordered beers and food. Clam Chowder 4 stars lots of diced clams Garlic Clams 5 stars really garlicky salty and spicy Ceaser's Salad 4 stars simple side salad New Orleans Pot 4 stars crawfish, shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes in a spicy Cajun sauce. The sausage was the not good tasted like a big Hot Dog. Service was very good, our server was attentive and knowledgeable and had the kitchen make the chardonnay garlic clams to order. Good experience
(4)Amber W.
Went with my mom a few nights ago. I understand when a restaurant is busy and there is a little bit of a wait, so we ended up waiting an hour for our table. That certainly isn't the issue, we understood that there are only so many seats and with a lot of people coming in, you are going to wait. But the problem was that we had to sit through that dance routine at least 3 times before even our appetizer came out. Our waitress was too busy dancing to even refill our drinks. Then the manager came out after we had waited an hour for our food and apologized in the most insincere way possible. She was rather rude and seemed like we were being a burden to her by being there. My mom's salad was warm and my pasta was cold. Won't be making my way back there for a long time.
(2)Elise H.
Long wait to get in. Might have been because we were here during spring break? Food was OK but not impressed with the price. One person in our party had to inquire if what he got was actually the appropriate portion size because there was barely any seafood in his pot. They made it right but not without a little push back. A woman came around and made balloon animals. We got a peacock! Nice touch for kids, wait time, etc. Typical vacation restaurant. Punny bibs and cutesy drinks in souvenir cups. Overall I have had better at Red Lobster.
(3)Roldan L.
Service is everything right? ... this place sucks came in with the family, it was terrible I felt like I was asking for a free meal never again!
(1)Judy D.
I have never had a good experience here but our neighbors wanted to go again. I have to admit it was very good. From the server (brandon) who was extremely friendly to the food that was very good, I would definitely go again. My boyfriend got the clam basket one of the best we've ever had. I shared the snow crab with my friend and it was very good though a lot of work. Please do not eat outside the Flies were crazy and we had to move inside. We will be back on Tuesday when there are lots of specials. Check it out you might be presently surprised.
(4)John H.
One of the most disappointing meals I have experienced in a very long time. The salad was ok as a starter but everything was downhill from there. I ordered the shrimp boil which has boiled shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. The meal was over spiced which I was ok with but the shrimp were so over cooked you could barely peel them and once they were peeled they took on the texture of rubber. The portions are large but does it really matter if you get a large portion of below standard food. Will not be going back to Joe's which is too bad because I like the atmosphere.
(1)Kristi R.
What a great place! Had so much fun and the food was great! Our server Myles was hilarious! Definitely recommended!
(5)Lynn E.
I like the food but I would like for them to make part of the outdoor porch no smoking. I would like to sit outside sometimes also when thec weather is nice
(4)Duane D.
This place is just o.k. There are much better places for seafood and crabs in Clearwater. The food is good, and the massive "steam pots" are impressive -- but the whole menu is a little pricey. Nothing is under about $12, and most entrees are about $20. However, the service is slow. The little half-hearted dance that the staff does every so often is just not that impressive. All in all, it is fine for a chain crab restaurant -- but nothing to rave about.
(3)Brianna M.
Food was eh, crab legs were a little cold and potatoes a little mushy. Overall it was not good enough for the amount it cost. $60 and still hungry :/
(2)David B.
Avoid this place, multiple failed health inspections, roaches found in service areas and in soda lines, green mold in soda lines.
(1)Tiffany B.
I feel like this place deserves a solid 3 1/2 stars, but since there are no halfsies, I'm bumping them down to 3. If I was basing my review solely on food I'd give it 4 stars- my garlic and herb steamed snow crab legs we're really good, and my husband said his burger was fantastic. The reason I'm giving them 3 is because the environment is just terrible. I know it's a touristy place, but good lord! There's tacky kitschy decor, and then there's "I think my eyes are bleeding". Joe's falls into the latter category. Plus, it's so incredibly loud and the service isn't the best- I'm talking 20 minutes for a drink refill. Would I give them another shot? Sure, but it's not on the short list.
(3)Linda D.
The food was super expensive and the worst seafood I've ever had. The lobster was way overcooked and flavorless. I spent almost $100 on dinner for three. We ordered two buckets and appetizers. The bathrooms are not very clean at all either. Not going back ever. I gave them another chance as this was my second time eating there, but never again. We left disappointed at spending that much money and still being hungry.
(1)K G.
Service slow and food was over cooked....don't think I'll come back. Too much money for what we got.
(2)Breonna L.
I wish I could it 3.5, but I guess 4 is closer than the 3 for me. - The server was nice but disappeared for large amounts of time. - The food was delicious. I had fish and then apple crumble dessert. Both were delicious, delicious and delicious! - One star (really 1 1/2) taken away because it took FOREVER to receive our food. The place was steady. It wasn't busy but after 30 minutes I started wondering if they had to catch the fish in the sea first.
(4)Ken D.
STEAMPOTS-STEAMPOTS-STEAMPOTS! OMFG! I adore this place! The drinks are great the place is fun! The staff was having a crappy day the other night and I way over tipped cause i felt bad and like them so much! The mussles diablo app is so good I usually order two! did you hear me! I double it right up!Im upset im not there now! lol! Most places I never feel full when I eat seafood,but here,Im so satisfied I just think to myself 'this must be how Hugh Heffner feels all the time! I just have a nice ride over the bridge and Im about as happy as I can get:) Thank you Joes!
(4)Zadmat O.
This was ok and sea food was over cooked. Had crab legs and shrimp, mussels and clam bucket, was ok, the sausage was amazing though! High priced for quality.
(3)Orlando H.
We had a great time on our first visit ever to Joe`s. Therefore, it was my moms birthday so we decided to stop for lunch. Unfortunatelly, my food was way too salty. I am a guy that eats his food on the salty side, yet my platter was way too salty. I told the waiter and was shoched she did not offer to exchange platter. My biggest shock was when the final bill came and I was charged for same. You could see if you look at my plater that I only had taken a bite or two out of it. It wasn`t like I wanted a free meal...I am glad my mom on her birthday had a decent time with her crab legs. However, this was our last trip to Joe`s for the wife and me.
(2)Matt M.
I feel sick. It was barely edible, but I was hungry, I wish I had gone some where else. And at 13 bucks for a take out appetiser it wasn't cheap either. Inside was dirty and with a film of sticky grease that you get in fast food places. Your shoes stick to the floor, the menus are sticky and dirty. All in all,, nasty.
(1)Bubble T.
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh. I live this. Any place that gives you a bib to eat. Get ready. "Check" means get/great. Crab legs- check, shrimp- check, crawfish-mmmmmm Somewhere good, some were great.... The steam buckets come w corn, potatoes, and sausage.... Check check cheeeeeeck.... That sausage has this European seasoning flare.... I live by an eastern block butcher that makes the meanest sausages and this was up to caliber...
(4)Joanne T.
Buckets are half price until tomorrow, if u have the email coupon. Food was delish. Ask for Steve, he was a great server. Kids loved the playground outside. Definitely gave them motivation to eat their lunch.
(4)Elana L.
This isn't the place to go if you want fresh food. We watched them open little baggies in the back and dump on each plate before it was delivered to the table. Also, the only flavors on our food were salt, salt, salt, butter, butter and more butter. That's ok if I'M the one cooking. :) But not if I'm paying someone else to cook. :) On this particular night the computers crashed and our food took forever to get to our table. They ended up asking people that were waiting for a table, to leave b/c it was too difficult for them to take orders and calculate bills. To put it gently, the management acted like the a natural disaster had just happened. (even the smallest of cafes can read hand written orders and calculate a total) Anyway, that was a rare occurrence, I'm sure, I just wasn't fond of the food.
(2)Debbie T.
We went to Joes Crab Shack for the first time Sunday. Decor is cool and fun. They use your cell as a beeper to tell you if your table is ready. Restaurant including tables, bathrooms very clean. Food was a little bit of a wait but it's made to order. We ordered two steam pots, shrimp platters and lobster salad. No complaints with food. Better than red lobster but no cheddar buns :) The restaurant was relatively busy. Our server was Jordan who was helpful with a big smile. She presented us with bibs each with a saying on them. Manager Dakon checked in on us which was nice. Only negative was the servers were not smiling but Jordan was. Would recommend to any family and plan to go again
(4)Lisa R.
Very good except the shrimps were overcooked. Great atmosphere and fun for group of friends!
(4)Dena P.
If you like seafood you don't have to prepare this is the place to go! They have a lot of different types of seafood for you to pick. I normally would go for the crab pots which are amazing but a bit pricey for me. If I had money I would get them all the time~ Whenever I am craving crawfish I would go to Joe's for them. They serve them for a good price and they are good. They don't serve them with potatoes or corn like a real cajun crawfish boil but it's good enough. I have table finding places that serve up crawfish so I have settle with Joe's because it's super close to me. This place is normally pack at all times of the day. They have a really fun environment to eat in. It is also very kid friendly because they have their own playground. There's inside and outside dining area and also a bar. I really really love their crab pots though!
(4)Dana G.
I recently tried Joe's for the first time. As a frequent vacationer to the Clearwater area we usually stick with Crabby Bills but we were in the area so we tried this. Bad decision. The service was horrible! After reading reviews I wish I had have done that first it seems to be an issue at this location. I wrote in to let them know about my experience but since I did not have the cheque number and couldn't remember exactly what I ate two weeks ago I was dismissed. As a member of the restaurant industry I fully believe in second chances but after this experience I realized it is not always deserved. Make the drive to the beach you won't regret it!
(1)Joel C.
I have been progressively disappointed here. If they are not running out of stuff, then the service is bad. Don't know if I'll be back.
(3)Jc N.
nice decor and feeling when you walk in. service was prompt and friendly. All the food we ordered was good, nothing great and the spices were alright. If you order grilled it seems that it dries the crab out. over all the prices seem a little high but still reasonable for all that you get. Best part is that they have a playground outside for kids and places to sit. If your nearby its worth to stop in and try something they have lots of options.
(4)Rachel M.
Well, I chose this place this time, and I kind of regret it. I wanted something differerent but every time I try something different, they kind of let me down. Our waiter was very new. He could have said he was, but it was obvious. You know when you ask how certain things are on the menu, and they do the best to explain it to you, or give you their best BS answer, lol. Well, he just gave me a blank stare and I said I don't know. Okay, well thinking in my head, you wont find out, then fine. So I ordered a fish, and I did ask is it spicy. don't like spicy, he said definitely no not spicy at all whatsoever. I do handle more spicy than I think but it was way spicy. Well, you know he totally just said that and was clueless. I asked for something else. The plate was too expensive to just ignore. The manager came and she was very nice. I picked something else out, a lobster tail with scallops and shrimp. It was good but a lot of salt. My husband had the steak which was pretty salty. All in all just okay. we sat outside, and our dog was able to be there. that was good. It was a scorching hot day but it was shaded and provided a tiny bit of breeze. That's about it on that end. I won't be back.
(2)Cassie H.
Great coconut shrimp. Huge portions. Great service. Nice atmosphere but loud and party like so if you're not into that don't be surprised. Shrimp was less than $15. Kids get cute unique balloon characters. I have found my new favorite seafood place.
(4)Mary M.
The food here is great and you get a lot for what you pay for, however the service here is eh. By the time we were seated it took us 10-15 minutes for a server to even come near us for a drink order, never mind food. Seeing as my family is in the hospitality industry we were not to say the least happy about this. When a waiter did come to take our drink order we were ready to order our food as well, and because of our long wait we received a free appetizer. bus boys however are like the little saviors of this place, they are excellent. over all food is great, wait staff is meh.
(2)Heri425 ..
Cajun crabs are the best ive had but they are pricey. I wish I could take my family more often but too expensive to really enjoy the seafood menu with the whole family. Most of the times ive gone there I have waited 40-45 minutes before I get food. I may go once every couple months. Cant complain about the food. It has been really really good seafood.
(3)Verina A.
Food was great, waiter was full of energy but the spicy sauce for the crab legs was a little too spicy. Crabs were amazing though and were so easy to crack and take out of the shell
(4)Julie C.
LOVE this place~! We live over in North Tampa but this place is def worth the drive. Perfect on the weekend for a scenic drive and seafood! The drinks are awesome, customer service awesome and seafood def awesome!! Great portion sizes too! We will def go back again and again! :)
(5)April N.
It's not a good sign that you're being told that the wait is 35-45 minutes for the first available table and you see that half of the deck is empty. For us, it went downhill quickly after that. Once you finally are sat, your waitress comes over four or five minutes later complaining that they just triple sat her section, that it's rude and the least they can do is help her. Sorry...? Yes, I agree it isn't a pleasant situation but your customers don't enjoy hearing about it- that's something to bring up to your coworkers/manager, or your best friend over a stiff drink after your shift is over. It took an additional fifteen minutes to get drinks out to our table. The table next to us was sat after, had more people, and got their drinks before we did. Being a person that lives in Florida but doesn't like seafood can be challenging when going out to eat. When heading to somewhere like Joe's, I don't expect a melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon. I expect the bare minimum, not all that exciting chicken caesar salad or a plain ol' steak. It's not fair to expect steakhouse cuts from a seafood place, and I know this. However, when I order a steak "medium rare", it should not come out well done- temperatures are temperatures regardless of where it's being cooked. When the waitress did return, she tried to give me some speil about how steaks can't be cooked medium rare without a signed consent after the mad cow outbreak, and that local regulations flat out disallow any non-steakhouse to cook meat less than well done. ...what? No, really.... what? I had gone somewhere one week prior and wasn't informed of such restrictions and waivers. I think what makes it worse is that it was pretty obvious everyone knew she was lying, and that she knew no one believed her. That didn't stop her though. The only five stars I can give are the five stars of effort she put in to trying to make me believe that, rather than to just ask the kitchen to refire the steak. She eventually did take it back to have it refired, and had sent the manager over. We had the chance to vent our frustrations at the slow service and scarce waitstaff, poorly cooked steak, bad cover story, another overcooked dish (this one a fish dish), and the lack of mussels in my fiance's steampot. Also to Joe's credit, the manager brought out a plate of five mussels for him, at no charge. When my steak came back the second time, it was still more on the medium/medium well side of the scale, but at that point everyone else in the party had finished eating and I didn't want to wait for a second refire or another dish, so I just ate it. None of us had been asked if we wanted refills for our drinks, so we all only had one glass of whatever it was we were drinking, whether it be liquor or just plain water. This mediocre meal and experience wound up setting us back about $175, and only one of the four of us enjoyed their meal. It's just not worth it.
(1)Rob W.
I have eaten here on numerous occasions. The food is good, I like the soft shell crabs, fried of course. The staff makes it a fun experience with their performance, and the atmosphere is quite nice.
(3)Spencer L.
The food is always delicious and great service - attentive and very friendly.
(4)Nicole M.
I went here at 4 pm on a Monday. The place was dead, so I found the ideal time to avoid the lines. Go me! First off, I came here when the news was breaking about the Boston Marathon tragedy, and every tv was on blast bc ESPN went to news coverage. That did not set the tone at all. Every person, including myself, was preoccupied, and rightfully so. So that is my disclaimer. We did get seated right by a tv, because the look on my face registered complete disbelief, due to the fact that I had been on the beach all day. The waitress took our drink and food order and disappeared. Didn't see her much after that. I got the fire grilled seasoning on my queen crab. Holy salty. I was going through water like nobody's business. I would NOT recommend that. The boy got the garlic herb seasoning and that was much more milder. We realized we're already spending loads of money, we might as well get dessert. I told her I wanted the s'mores cake and she disappeared before the boy could order his apple crumble. Had to tell her when she came with my dessert. The cake was COLD. The only hot thing on the dessert was the marshmallows, which didn't make any sense to me. It was also too rich, and the portion is huge. Definitely meant to be shared. My bill (two crab pots, and two desserts, and ice water) came to 75 freaking dollars. Way too expensive! I didn't even order an appetizer, soda or alcohol. No,thank you.
(2)Cathy G.
We love Joe's crab shack. We've been here several times while on vacation. 2 times last April and once last week. The food is always delicious and the service very good - attentive and very friendly. We love the Steampots! We've had Joe's Classic and also the Spicy Ctirus...which was very spicy. We'll probably go back one more time before we leave to go home. And they have a playground, just outside of the patio which is an added bonus for us, since we have little ones. Love this place and I'd definitely recommend it!
(5)Jesse E.
Pricey but the crab legs were good I recommend the queen crab more meat in the legs... Not to crazy with there dipping sauces and for there mixed buckets not really worth the price
(3)Jeff E.
Joe's crab shack is one of those places you feel like you shouldn't like, but in the end, you have a blast. First, the food is great. They have a very good selection of seafood, you can pretty much get all of your standard fried seafood, along with some nice little extras, such as crawfish. Every time I have been here, my food has been cooked perfectly. The fried food is always nice and crispy, I have never gotten a soggy piece of fish. The steam pots, while a little on the pricey side, are amazing, and you will definitely be in crab heaven. I also like the appetizers, they have a few unique offerings, like the Balls of Fire, which are nice little diversions from your normal appetizer fair. Service has always been great, the servers always are smiling and make sure to check on you repeatedly. The manager stops by at least once or twice, and always leaves a card with their name on the table. I will mention that Joe's does make their servers dance around the restaurant once every 30-45 minutes, its goofy, but if you have children, the kids always seem to love it. My biggest con is that I have never ever walked in here and sat down right away. Generally I will wait anywhere from 15-45 minutes, and I have seen wait times over an hour on the weekends. Otherwise though, if you are looking for a more relaxed casual seafood restaurant, Joe's is the place to go.
(4)Autumn K.
The food is excellent, if overpriced. Especially in a seafood area like ours. Let me repeat that first bit: The food is excellent. Delicious. No complaints there. Huge portions, great flavor. I'm knocking 2 stars off their review for 3 reasons: 1. Waiting. It can take forever to get a table, forever more to get a drink and order, and then forever times infinity to get anything else once your food shows up. 2. Crazy kids. I know Joe's isn't responsible for your bad parenting, but this place seems to encourage kids to run around like feral children pulled from the jungles of India. No, ma'am, it's not adorable that your kid sits in my booth and asks me about my meal. If I wanted kids in my booth, I'd have a few of my own. 3. Shtick. Joe's is loud. Really loud. Loud on the eyes, loud on the ears. The decor is over the top, and every half hour the waitresses are forced to do a little half-hearted line-dance number, and you are forced to endure it. Given how long it takes to get in and out of there...yeah. 4. More shtick. Along with the line-dancing, they now also ask/prompt/beg you to let them take a picture of you eating your meal. Because you'll want to remember this totally crazy happy fun time joy joy joy experience, right? No, dude, it's dinner. Here's the thing: If Joe's had their staff spend less time dancing and trying to hock Joe-wares (A t-shirt with a mildly clever VD joke? Of course I want one! Fail.) and more time actually waiting on tables, their service would be better and I'd add a star to the place. For the price, I'd much rather drive down to the beach and have a great meal at Frenchy's, Keegan's, or Guppy's. All delicious. All with way less feral children, line-dancing waitresses, and no VD jokes.
(3)Kathy W.
Gross. Salnon greasy. Shrimp greasy. Fries greasy and mushy. Tea takes like dishwater. Service VERY slow. Dont waste your time or your money. Very overpriced for a mediocre meal at best.
(1)Gary T.
I was in the mood for crab so I tried Joes in Clearwater. The atmosphere was decent and the staff was friendly but, the Dungeness crab was frozen and warmed up. It was not very tasty and one of the legs was rotten and stunk like dead fish. I had the seafood gumbo. It was OK. Overall, $40+ was alot for what was served. I was disappointed and would not go back there.
(1)David J.
We won't make this mistake again. We didn't check Yelp before stopping in on a whim and, apparently, that wouldn't have saved us since there are a fair amount of good reviews. That's very surprising since it seems pretty unlikely that the place is that much different than it was just a few months ago. The food was bad, the service was worse and the atmosphere is like a sad attempt to be fun that completely missed the mark and just ended up annoying. I hate being so negative, but I hate being anything other than honest even more so there you go.
(1)Charles S.
I've been coming here since it first opened..you can never go wrong with the crabs
(5)J D.
If I could give zero star I would. Service was non existent, seafood was over cooked and obviously frozen. I go to clear water once a year, your on the bay, DON'T go to a chain seafood place, allow me to have made this mistake for you. There are plenty of decent - great places literally all over the island
(1)Regina S.
First time ever going to "joe's". It will not be the last. Service was super good, prompt and very friendly even though they were super busy. Food was GREAT and I took so much more home for later. Ordered a drink which I got to take a glass home and thank goodness it was not all watered down or undrinkable.
(5)Salil J.
Great service. Though a trifle slow the Maine Grille- lobster sans meat. S disappointment. Key lime pie was fresh and good.
(3)Carrie F.
Great crab & Tyler out server was great. I will be going back for those 2 reasons. The place itself is loud & the lighting isn't great. We originally went on a Friday night BIG mistake. It was a sh*t show. My boyfriend went to put our name in & 10 minutes later came back because no one had helped him. We left & went back on a Sunday afternoon it was a lot less crowded. We were seated right away.
(4)Christian P.
I want to hate this place with all of my being, but I can't. Look-how-crazy-we-are decor, waitresses who do a too-long song and dance routine on top of the table, photographers who take your picture and put it online and a load of stupid merchandise to advertise the crabs you apparently got at Joes. I want to burn a hole in the screen with hatred for all of these things...but I CAN'T! The food is good. It was so good I refrained from flipping the table, cutting the fake shark swallowing a scuba diver down from the ceiling and smashing the photographer's camera with it in front of all the tourist from Ohio laughing way too hard at a stupid VD joke on a cheap t shirt. It's delicious. I got crabs at Joe's and I liked it.
(4)Michael P.
Seriously, this is the most disorganized and unsanitary restaurant you will ever visit. which I recommend you not to. Also the management is ridiculous, all you gotta do it say one thing is off about your food and they will void it off....so with that being said .. how do they even make money?? their food is horribly prepared, Looks like the kitchen just threw the food on the plate like they were practicing for a dart tournament. ( which is very disappointing considering you have waited 45 minutes to sit down and another 45 minutes for your meal) are you even hungry anymore??? not to mention, the service was terrible... one thing I noticed sitting outside is a lot of the servers sneak around the corners on their phones and to smoke cigs and possibly do drugs. Who knows? Some of them seem to be under the influence just by how unaware they are while walking past you. or maybe they are just unfriendly... worst atmosphere. then they dance, and not fun dances, rap music in a country line dance,,, uhhhhhh... wow. i was uncomfortable and dissatisfied. Not to mention while I was eating the ambulance had to come because their were so many kids on the playground, one got seriously injured and was bleeding profusely. Not to mention our server was probably too busy in the bathroom admiring his looks because we didn't see him after we ordered until he came back and cleverly informed us he was adding 18% gratuity to our party of eight. Two of the people were newborn twins and didn't even eat. SO YOU DIDNT DO ANYTHING FOR US but charged us a great tip for you. Pathetic and of course the ridiculous management allowed this. Worst place ever and they shouldnt be tucking in those tshirts.. looks very unprofessional.
(1)HR M.
The most UNiMPRESSIVE Joes ever. Been here 3 times in 4 months. Each time for worse. Last time.
(1)Eugene S.
Thanks God for Joe's Crab Shack! This is a PERFECT place for seafood! We've being going to Shack at Long Island, NY, and really happy that we found one at Clearwater, Fl while at vacation. Like I said, there's no better place for seafood! Enjoy!!!
(5)Richard I.
My wife and I decided on a late lunch on a week day while traveling through Clearwater so we stopped in at Joes. It was 3:00 PM and the place didn't look very busy and the hostess sat us immediately. We sat for about 10 minutes before a waitress showed up to take our drink order which took another 10 minutes to arrive. I ordered the blackened Mahi sandwich and my wife ordered the same but she did not like it blackened because she doesn't want it spicy. Waitress said that would not be a problem as we could have the wife's grilled instead of blackened, okey. The food is delivered and the waitress disappears and guess what, wife's Mahi is blackened, darn, where's the waitress, gone like a magicians assistant. It's pushing four o'clock, had to flag down the hostess to locate our waitress (GPS might help, oh did I mention I only got half my order of onion strings, she'll bring those later, LOL). Now, she arrives with a full order of onion strings and I ask about the Mahi and she recommends we speak with the manager, GREAT someone in charge. He explains that blackened is only color and all the Mahi is seasoned alike with pepper and old bay and some other spices. I never heard of this before, can I get a fellow reviewer to clarify this. Anyway, the waitress should have been educated in this Mahi matter so I would not be here writing this essay. Now it's almost 5:00 PM and I'm trying to beat the rush hour back to Tampa for dinner. LOL. PS: The manager did comp my wife's lunch, thank you. C
(2)Jay Y.
The gimmicky singing and yelling may be ideal to keep kids entertained but is otherwise fairly annoying. Watching their commercials made me want to try their clam bakes but it turned out to be cooked and then just placed in to the bucket. The seafood came out mildly warm and I seriously worried whether I was going to get food poisoning from it. The place does have a nice large bar area if you're looking for beers and some appetizers but otherwise this place is like the Chuck E Cheese version of Red Lobster, both in food quality and environment..
(1)Robert B.
Don't bother unless you have all day for lunch. 40 minutes to get a water and soup + salad. And the place is 1/3 full. No apology from anyone. Every customer here is complaining and I get the feeling this is business as usual.
(1)Kara C.
We were pleased with the food . I ordered one of the steam pots with lobster and crab legs - great"!!! My bf had the fried shrimp and calamari. He was pleased. Our server was good keeping up on us until the end and when we asked for checks disappeared for almost 20 minutes. Otherwise not bad place .
(3)William C.
Way too pricey, for what you get. A little loud. If I was basing this review solely on the food, I would give it a solid 3 stars. The wife and I had the "Classic Steam Pot" each, four drinks total and that was a $100.00 lunch. I don't recommend.
(2)Ace R.
The food is great! It is a little pricey, but worth every penny.
(4)Shauna E.
Expect to wait for a table, especially on the weekends. We went around 4:45 today and waited 20 minutes for a table. Food is always really good--fresh seafood, great sides, interesting sauces. If you feel like splurging, get the steam pots. I'm in love with their queen crab! Always perfectly cooked and you get a great amount for the price. The service is never top notch but usually not terrible either. Definitely a kitschy place but a lot of fun. The staff dances and plays games at random intervals which is a lot of fun.
(4)Paul M.
I found the place that provided me enough popcorn shrimp for one setting. No compliants about the food and quanity. The assistant manager Selma has a super personality and fun. She is a joy to have in the business. She is a keeper. I went during early dinner on a Sunday "Veteran Day". Disappointed Joe's does not offer veterans discounts. Also, the outside seating does not have a non smoking section.
(3)Rich D.
I've got mixed emotions about Joe's Crab Shack. When I lived in Charlotte with its dearth of good seafood, Joe's offered up at least an alternative to Red Lobster. But when a seafood restaurant is competing against so many excellent seafood restaurants in an area like Clearwater/Tampa, my expectations are raised significantly. I can quickly think of a dozen seafood places in the area, including authentic local beach shacks, that offer up their fresh catch of the day with flavors that I like better for my tastes. But in my experience Joe's does what it sets out to do pretty well, serving up a formula of entrees to large crowds, all the while entertaining your kids very well. In my many visits to Joe's over the past decades in several locations, my kids/grandkids always seem happy to go and seem to have a good time. They've always enjoyed the playground, the decor, and the good times had by the servers. So on a recent visit by five other family members aged 79 to 4 to the area, they voted to go to Joe's in the middle of the afternoon, as it was on the way to the airport and our time was limited. To be fair, my pasta-laya (a shrimp and andouille sausage cooked in a garlic butter sauce full of mushrooms, bell peppers and onions over penne pasta) and bowl of gumbo didn't provide any earth shattering flavors, but on balance, everything was cooked and seasoned reasonably well. Everyone else enjoyed the variety of entrees they had, too. Our service was very prompt, as it should have been since the restaurant was almost completely empty. I found the prices just a bit high for the quality. As I mentioned previously it's hard for me to give Joe's high scores, as their competition sets the bar very high. But overall everyone seemed to enjoy their meal, and I'm sure I'll be dragged back there next time my family is in town. I'm confident they would score Joe's higher than I do: Atmosphere: 4 Service: 4 Food: 3 Value: 3
(3)K L.
Over-rated and overpriced. Had the East Coast sampler . . . Shrimp were rubbery, fish & fries were lukewarm. I'll head to a local place on the beach next time.
(2)Poli P.
Always crowded everytime we go, but the atmosphere is so laid back, the service is great, decent prices, and the food servings are so large, we just love it.
(5)Christopher H.
Since I'm on the road full time I wind up eating out all the time. while I attempt to try out new places, some weeks are harder than others. And every now and then you just want something you know is going to be safe. That's what I thought I was getting at Joe's. Wrong. Well, at least I'm assuming I'm wrong. See - I couldn't even sit a the bar for more than about 2 minutes until the smell of the bar just overwhelmed me - it smelled like wet, old, rotting wood. I didn't want to stick around to see how the food would turn out.
(1)Clemmon H.
Decent place not so good service. But the food is pretty good though. Don't get a lot for your money
(3)J M.
Fun atmosphere, but the food is average at best.
(2)Melissa H.
Today was my 38th birthday. My mother took me to lunch and we decided to visit Joe's Crab Shack. Neither one of us had ever been, so we were excited to try it out. The decor & atmosphere is very casual and eclectic. Our server's name was Kelsey. She was very friendly and did a great job of checking on us at appropriate times, even refilled our drinks without us having to flag her down. My mother and I both had a cup of the NE Clam Chowder. It was perfect in taste & temperature. I ordered The KJ Steampot (Snowcrab legs, mussels, & seared scallops with corn on the cob & red potatoes). There were hints of garlic, citrus, and black pepper in the buttery juice. I would have liked a bit more flavor to it, but all in all it was delicious & perfectly cooked. My mother had the Crab Stuffed Shrimp with fresh veggie medley (broccoli, squash, zucchini, etc) and dirty rice. She ate it all, so that says a lot. For desert, which we were really pushing it because we were so stuffed by that time, but the cheesecake was calling our name. We decided to split a plain piece of cheesecake, and Thank God we did. It was the HUGEST piece of cheesecake I have seen since moving here from NJ 9 years ago. Three, maybe even 4 times the size E&E Stakeout Grill serves for only a $1 more. Let me tell you what.... even if you're allergic to seafood - and have absolutely NO reason to visit Joe's Crab Shack, if you love cheesecake JUST GET THE CHEESECAKE! Seriously, it's THAT good. I'm still unable to walk right from eating so much food earlier today. I could really go for a long nap. Dinner? Forget it, I'm good till Thursday... LOL We highly recommend Joe's Crab Shack! What are you waiting for? Go!! BTW - the woman's bathroom has really cool mosaic tile walls and was spotless; there's a children's full-sized playground outside past the deck for those restless children to release some pent up energy while your waiting for your food; and there's also a very friendly squirrel, who I have decided to call "Fluffy", who will come up to you and even pose for a picture.
(5)Susan R.
We wanted seafood and had a 2 hour layover. Joe's was a place we had enjoyed before. The food was delicious but pricey, $40 for 2 sandwiches, one split dessert, and a beer. After reading your reviews, I would still recommend Joe's. It is indeed dated but the food is worth it!
(4)Patricia V.
Excellent crab. Great service, great price, and a whole lotta crab. Can't beat this place for the money. Won't go anywhere else for crab!
(5)Cyndee H.
I am not crazy for seafood but you can't beat this place if you have kids. We love going and sitting on the patio and letting the kids play on the playground and sand - and we actually get to have adult conversations. It's like having date night without having to get a baby sitter. It is a casual place and centrally located so people come after a day at the beach or whatever. So if you're in shorts and flip flops - no worries The wait staff also sing and line dance every half hour or hour - you'll know when they annnounce the "shack is shaking" I particularly like their chicken ceasar salad - be warned it is huge!
(3)Jia Z.
I've never been to joe's crab shack.. So this review is just for this particular one I've ever been to. I love the idea of different crabs to eat along with mussels and fried ouster etc. a lot of meat inside these big crabs but it wasn't juicy. The whole meal seemed really salty to me and I was so thirsty afterwards. The decor inside is neat and I loved the balloon services where they'll make a hat or a cat/dog for you (not only for kids) my overall experience was only average... I love seafood but it wasn't up to my standards I guess and the it was too pricey or this type of quality (over $100 for 2 people??) They did do a little dancing every once in a while...
(3)Jillian K.
Shared a Steampot with a friend. No complaints.
(3)Jennifer P.
Love it! Great food and drinks. Family friendly
(4)Con C.
First time crab eater. It was an excellent experience. The place is lively with music and friendly service. The crab was fresh and absolutely tasty. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars was because the place is a bit old and needs a bit of love. Some call this "character", I call it "run down".
(4)Jennifer P.
This place is awesome. I like that we had no trouble with parking -as it was a Friday night. We were seated at the bar, only for a short drink, and then our table was available with hardly any wait period. I thought waiter was excellent. He made a suggestion for us as far as the menu, and we were not sorry. We had some entertainment, staff was pleasant, happy, even danced !!! Even though it was a little hot outside we sat on patio. Very nice place, I would go again. *We have been there twice now, food was excellent both times, and you get enough food where you have leftovers for sure. :)
(5)Tiffany W.
I give this place 3 stars. They are casual dining and a chain. We had the trio shrimp (grilled/coconut/shrimp with crabmeat). Also had a bucket of steamed crab that includes 2 small potatoes and an ear of corn. I usually prefer not to go to chains but this was an exception as we couldn't find anything interesting in this area. I thought the crab wasn't fresh enough. If you have seafood you've got to have it fresh, esp when it's steamed. There are some eateries closer to the beach that prob woudl have been better choices.
(3)Victor M.
The header for Joe's Crab Shack says "Alcohol: Full Bar and Noise Level: Very Loud." NO KIDDING! My wife and I went to Joe's last Saturday night (8/31/13). We were seated next to a table full of young -- and VERY LOUD-- women. Each seemed to be trying to out-screech the other, a situation made worse by the delivery of another round of drinks to the table. My wife and I got up to see if there was another table we could move to. Not finding one, we decided to leave. Although we had only gotten our drinks, we stopped on the way out, and my wife asked to speak to a manager. A guy who identified himself as the general manager came out to talk to her. His response to her complaint: "This is a celebratory restaurant." No apology, no attempt to find us another table, no caring whatsoever. Apparently "celebrating" includes the privilege of saying "to hell with the other customers, we're gonna have FUN!" I am convinced that he was weighing the monetary intake from a large table full of drinkers against the two us, neither of whom had ordered any alcohol. His basic attitude was "deal with it." Well; we have dealt with it. That Crab Shack is off our list until and if the GM is replaced with someone who knows how to deal with customers who make complaints and how to control rowdy customers who are disturbing others. If you like a very loud restaurant managed by a guy who doesn't give a damn about his customers, then by all means hit this Joe's. You'll be happy.
(1)Lisa P.
Feels like we just got home from vacation. What a great restaurant. Terrific seafood. Great prices and wonderful energy. Service was top notch. They allow you to just sit and enjoy the vacation feeling. Only thing that was missing was the sunburn !!!!! Highly recommend
(5)Marco P.
Friendly staff but VERY slow service.
(3)Eric F.
This place is a bit over the top, but in a good way. We went the last night of our spring break in early Mar 08 with a party of 4. The waiter was quite nice and accommodating. I split the crab bucket with my friend. The waiter brought us two bibs, claw crackers, and other tool. We had a lot of fun digging into the crabs and dipping the meat into a small cup of clarified butter. The sausage and corn that came with was also delicious. My friends had the bbq salmon which came with some nice healthy veggies and the crab cakes, which seemed OK. Overall, a fun place to dine if you're going to tackle some crabs.
(4)Chris C.
Lousy service most of the time. Waaaay too loud. They seem to cater to running/screaming kids - seen them terrorizing the place both times we went. Got some left over plastic in my salad the second time, waitress apologized but didn't even offer to replace the salad.
(2)