For an upcoming trip to Miami, a friend has highly recommended this restaurant as a must-do. Very popular according to my friend. Not that I do not trust his recommendations but it is still good to get opinions from others who have been. So, is the crab and seafood at this place as wonderful as I am being told?

Michelle,
I believe you're referring to Joe's Stone Crab in south Miami.
It is:
Crowded,
Noisy,
Expensive,
A tourist trap,
And it is wonderful...a must see if you're there.
You need to sit in the bar for a while...it has magnificent carvings. And by the way, the stone crabs are great!

gc shouldn't we chastise her for the "fat finger"?

Joe's is no more a tourist trap than any of the numerous places you same people recommend for New York -- Becco, Carmines, John's Pizza: all tourist traps, but all very good.

Same with Joe's. Sure you wait but unless you're a spoiled ingrate you'll have a wonderful time.

Since there are always questions about Joes (overated) Stone Crabs, I've taken the time to create a decision matrix for Miami visitors.

Do you know them at the restaurant.....if YES go to item (6)if NO....go to item (4)

Did you make a reservation.....if YES..go to item (4) If NO go to item (3)

Do you have $30 - $40 crisply folded in the palm of your hand? if YES go to item (1) if NO go to item (3)

Do you have < $30 crisply folded in the palm of your hand? if YES go to item (4) if NO go to item (3)

1) Please sir/madam right this way!!

3) Go directly to the bar or back of the line...don't call us we'll call you!

4) Have a seat our in the waiting area and we'll let you know when your table is ready....ho ho hee hee!!!

IRS are you listening?

Bring $ for the guy at the door or be prepared to wait. that's the story at Joes

I have no quarrel with people who go there and pay hugely for the privelege, so long as they're happy. But I'm always amazed when people say, "they have the best stone crabs". Stone crab claws are stone crab claws. They are removed from the crab on the boat and usually cooked then chilled right there. Joe's stone crabs are no different than the ones you'd get at any other place or at a seafood market for a fraction of the price.

It's sort of like going to a great and expensive restaurant and having them bring you a plate of three Oreo cookies and charging you $20 for them. Some people would say they are the best Oreos in the world. Now if you enjoyed the restaurant so much that you didn't mind paying that much for three Oreo cookies, that's fine. Just don't pretend they're better than the Oreo cookies you'd buy at the store.

Patrick.....GOOD analogy! and so true, save your bucks and go to Publix!

I'll still vote for a seat at the bar to watch the ridiculous goings on and dinner elsewhere.

Hi Patrick, lost track of your post to me. I think we should do lunch in Naples sometime. We'll just have to figure out a time and place.

LilMsFoodie

Right on, Patrick! As the owner of a Tampa Bay seafood market/restaurant, I couldn't agree more. And Richard, you can't get them at the grocery store - at least not the chains in St. Petersburg. They all sell some weird frozen species for cheap cheap - not at all the real thing. Ask if they're from the Gulf of Mexico. If you don't get a straight answer, or if they're priced under $10/lb, they're not the real thing. And one more thing - this is just my opinion, but eat them chilled, not hot. Because if you order them hot, that means they're being re-heated - too much opportunity for overcooking the delicate meat. Better to make a little mustard sauce and eat 'em cold...every bit as good as lobster!

I'm not a stone crab fan, but my wife enjoyed them (and we both enjoyed the casual, laid back atmosphere) at Monty's which is right down the road from Joe's.

Monty's is set right near a marina and has outdoor seating with a band playing in the background, we really enjoyed it (but didn't necessarily enjoy the poor service and mandatory 18% gratuity added in).

I ,personally,LOVE JOE'S--have been ging there for years--

The secret-
Get there at 5pm when they open-then there is no need to TIP the maitre d'.
You get seated right away!

Also Joes DOES have the best stone crabs in the area- they get firs pick off the boats--

Have been to Monty's in Coconut Grove and in Boca and also to Pete's in Delray Beach- and none of them hold a candle to the tradtional dining of the freshest stone crabs at Joe's.....

Along with the heashed browns and home made cole slaw===

Michelle- Just remember that all the sides are enough for 2-4 people.

The bread is some of the best on the beach!

And the Stone Crabs are the best....
Set you back a bundle ,but definitely worth the drive!

Thanks much for all the responses. Did not realise this restuarant created so much of a stir! I have to say that I am loathe to wait in line for a half hour for food far less 3 hours. Neither am I much of a crab lover and my husband does not touch the stuff. I get the sense that the crab is THE thing on the menu and for which people stand so long in line. I was hoping that it would be a great place for seafood in general as my husband and I both love a good piece of fish. I think we will pass up on this one and just check out some of the other places around South Beach. Thanks again for the responses.

Michelle, if your husband won't touch crab, you're not a fan eiether and neither of you like to wait in line anywhere more than 1/2 hour, why bother to ask in the first place?

Michelle,

I have been to Joe's half a dozen times and always enjoy the entire experience. While the stone crabs are good, there is plenty else to appreciate on the menu.

Yes, it is expensive. And, yes, there are other places that have stone crabs that may be just as good. Joe's, however, is one of those "destination" restaurants that you visit for the overall dining experience.

All of the people I have taken there have been impressed by not only the food, but the service and atmosphere as well. Give it a try.

Strive

To x: I asked because I knew nothing about the place other than what my friend told me so thought it might be a good idea to ask other opinions, because I thought that it might be known for seafood other than the crab,(reasonable expectation don't you think) and because I had no clue that one would be required to stand in line for more than an hour on average to get in!! My friend said not more than 45 minutes tops. Does that answer your questions??

I went a few years ago, decided AGAINST waiting 3 hours, and went next door to "Joe's togo". Picked up a ton of claws, sauce, key lime pie (about $60 for 2), got a sixpack at the local 7-11, and ate it on the beach.

Same food, half price, better ambiance.

Went to Monty's too - I couldn't tell the difference between the restaurants. Stone Crabs are virtually identical in quality wherever you go.

Coachboy

The observations on the stone crab quality is interesting (and valid). Same thing with lobster (where is the *best* lobster pound in Maine question often seen here). Doesn't matter. Lobster is lobster. You pick them out of the pound alive and they'll taste the same whether you eat them at L'High Falutain or Loud Larry's Lobster.

Joan...no no no stone crab could never be as good as lobstah, though this may just be a case of "you can take a girl out of New England, but you can never take the New England out of the girl". gt; Interesting thoughts on the reasons for eating them cold too. I do like them heated, maybe because I'm trying to make them taste like lobster, but you have a good point! I'll try to convert. PS...How 'bout those Bucs??

Yes Olive, you should eat crab cold with warm SF french bread. Yum!!!!

Boy there's going to be a real freak show in San Diego if last Sunday's stadium shots were any indication!!!

As a general rule, one could assume that a place called "Joe's Stone Crabs" would be known for stone crabs, just as John's Pizza would be known for...

I understand not wanting to wait, but with the right attitude it's actually great fun and excellent people watching. The term "tourist trap" implies that out of town, non-repeat customers go there and the restaurant treats you like crap because they know you won't be back. Nothing could be further from the truth. Joe's is a favorite of plenty of people, from the rich and famous, to politicians, to the average Joe.