Joe's Stone Crab

[ulterior epicure]

My family and I had a simple, light lunch at Joe's not too long ago. It was our first time in Miami, and thus, at the original.

I've been to Joe's Seafood, Prime Steaks & Stone Crab in Chicago, a collaboration between Joe's Stone Crab and the Chicago-based Levy Restaurant Group, and I have to say, that the atmosphere of the original one in Miami, though similar, is much better. In large part, this is because the restaurant has bright windows that (on a sunny day, like the day we went), lets in gobs of wonderful sea-side sunshine. The one in Chicago is much darker - the main dining room tucked away from natural light and much more masculine and steak-housey.

Service here was stellar. It's the type of brassy but attentive march of the penguins - efficient, slightly gruff, but accommodating tuxedo'ed men and women.

The food is way over-priced, but very good. (You can see and read more detailed information about what we ordered and ate by clicking here.) I saw it as paying for the experience more than the food. I have no idea what the going rate is for stone crab claws. I won't pretend to know. What I do know is that $34 seemed like an awful lot of money to lay down for seven ("Select" size) claws. But they were good - cracked and prepped all ready for you to de-shell (just enough to make you believe you actually got the experience of eating shell-in crab without all the mess)... so, I guess, I was more than fine with $34 for 7 "Select"-sized claws as the going rate.

I absolutely abhor iceberg lettuce. I rarely meet a salad using iceberg that actually appeals to me. When I see/hear people ordering it, I want to pull my hair out. Let's just all admit that the famous steak house "Wedge" is just a vehicle for blue cheese and bacon - it's not a salad at all. This being said, Joe's "Chopped Salad," - a mix of iceberg, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and carrots all chopped up and tossed with canned black olives, honey-roasted peanuts and feta cheese managed to tame my violent objections to the appearance of the otherwise worthless lettuce. It was the vinaigrette, actually... it was wonderful. It could have made moldy bread taste like a slice of heaven. For the same reason, the restaurant's "Lettuce, Tomato, Onion" salad though spartan, seemed inspired. The recipe is on Joe's Stone Crab's website.

I know that everyone RAVES about Joe's key lime pie. They're famous for it (and, apparently, everything else on their menu). I found this beautiful wedge disappointing. I think that a few things contributed to my disappointment:

1. The pie had obviously been pre-cut and stored in a deep refrigerator. It was served near-frozen. This is one of the biggest turn offs for me. While I don't mind a chilled, pie, I really should haven't to cut my pie with a fork and knife. The cold state also negatively affect the state of the curd. The curd had hardened and became a terribly rich play dough-like consistency that made an unpleasant eating experience - it was like eating frozen paste - you had to let the curd melt in your mouth, which totally numbed the tastebuds... I couldn't taste the graham crust.

2. The curd was too sweet. Only when I studied the picture that I took of it did I noticed (but not at the time we ate it) that there appears to be something poured over the pie - like a sugar glaze (you can see it dripping down the sides of the pie). I wanted more of the key lime tang.

Am I convinced that Joe's Stone Crab has the best stone crabs? No. Am I convinced that they have the best key lime pie? Definitely not. Am I convinced they can do magical things with iceberg lettuce. Absolutely. Was I pleased with my overall experience at Joe's? As punch.

I can see Joe's becoming a special light lunch tradition if/when I visit South Beach in the future. Otherwise, I can be happy knowing I've been once.

Note to admins: I searched for a Joe's Stone Crab thread on the Florida forum and (surprisingly) found none. In the great possibility that one or more existing threads about this restaurant slipped through my rather loosely-constructed search, please do sprinkle your fairy dust and merge at will.

Edited November 4, 2007 by ulterior epicure (log)

[markemorse]

I ate at Joe's 3 times back in January, and I have to say that though I enjoyed the experience(s) as a whole, the food was unimpressive until I ordered the Grilled Lobster Reuben on my last visit: what a sandwich...next time you stop in for a light lunch, get one (or two)....

[ulterior epicure]

I ate at Joe's 3 times back in January, and I have to say that though I enjoyed the experience(s) as a whole, the food was unimpressive until I ordered the Grilled Lobster Reuben on my last visit: what a sandwich...next time you stop in for a light lunch, get one (or two)....

Oh my, that does sound good. We were pretty much on a quick one-stop shop mission this time. Also, we were restricting our appetites in anticipation of a large dinner planned that evening, that we certainly didn't want to spoil. Next time.

Edited to add: I noticed (online) that this sandwich is only offered on their "Take-Out" menu. markemorse, did you order this in-house or take out.

Edited November 3, 2007 by ulterior epicure (log)

[markemorse]

I ate at Joe's 3 times back in January, and I have to say that though I enjoyed the experience(s) as a whole, the food was unimpressive until I ordered the Grilled Lobster Reuben on my last visit: what a sandwich...next time you stop in for a light lunch, get one (or two)....

Oh my, that does sound good. We were pretty much on a quick one-stop shop mission this time. Also, we were restricting our appetites in anticipation of a large dinner planned that evening, that we certainly didn't want to spoil. Next time.

Edited to add: I noticed (online) that this sandwich is only offered on their "Take-Out" menu. markemorse, did you order this in-house or take out.

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Oop, yep, that was take-out in fact. Certainly they'd serve you one at the table if you asked all nice and everything, wouldn't they?

[CaliPoutine]

Next time your in S. Florida, you might want to try Billy's Stone Crabs. I've never eaten there, but I have heard good things.

We'll be in the area for Xmas so I might give it a try.

[ulterior epicure]

Oop, yep, that was take-out in fact. Certainly they'd serve you one at the table if you asked all nice and everything, wouldn't they?

I don't see why not. Did you happen to take a picture of it?

[markk]

Next time your in S. Florida, you might want to try Billy's Stone Crabs.  I've never eaten there, but I have heard good things.   

We'll be in the area for Xmas so I might give it a try.

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I have eaten at Billy's Stone Crabs several times, the last time (funnily enough) having been on December 25, 2006.

The stone crabs were hideously awful.

I'd had them there before twice and they were fine, though I've had other things there that had seen better days.

So last Christmas, having eaten way too much food in Miami and seeking something light and refreshing for Christmas Dinner for a change, and wanting to take advantage of them being in season, we went to Billy's. The crabs were old (old) tasting, with off putting odors and tastes. Considering that this is their primary business item, they have to have known what they were serving. I'm not talking about one bad claw, I'm talking two full orders.

We complained to our server that the flavor and smell were off, and he went back to the kitchen and returned to tell us "as far as we know, they're fresh".

So, I'll never go back, and in good conscience, I couldn't advise anybody to go there, especially at Christmas-time.

What bothered me the most is that they served them - what I mean is, they'd have done way better to realize that the batch they had was off and to tell people they were out of them.

[markemorse]

Oop, yep, that was take-out in fact. Certainly they'd serve you one at the table if you asked all nice and everything, wouldn't they?

I don't see why not. Did you happen to take a picture of it?

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Didn't, sorry...it's not much to look at really though anyway....

[Miami Danny]

It's really a shame that you had a bad meal at Billy's. I've eaten there a dozen times and the claws were always fresh.

I wouldn't go out of my way to go to Billy's, but if you're up that way, it's a good alternative to driving down to South Beach to Joe's. Pricey? Stone crab claws are like lobster-you're not getting them cheap. Incidentally, they're not called Joe's Stone Crab or Billy's Stone Crab for nothing. If you don't love stone crab claws, don't bother.

Edited November 4, 2007 by Miami Danny (log)